Emissivity evaluation of human enamel and dentin.

Human enamel and dentin temperatures have been assessed with non-contact infrared imaging devices for safety and diagnostic capacity and require an emissivity parameter to enable absolute temperature measurements. Emissivity is a ratio of thermal energy emitted from an object of interest, compared to a perfect emitter at a given temperature and wavelength, being dependent on tissue composition, structure, and surface texture. Evaluating the emissivity of human enamel and dentin is varied in the literature and warrants review.

Dysbiosis in the oral microbiomes of anti-CCP positive individuals at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: An increased prevalence of periodontitis and perturbation of the oral microbiome has been identified in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The periodontal pathogen may cause local citrullination of proteins, potentially triggering anti-citrullinated protein antibody production. However, it is not known if oral dysbiosis precedes the onset of clinical arthritis.

Awareness, practices, training, and confidence of Paediatric Diabetes Care Teams in relation to periodontitis.

Diabetes and periodontal disease are non-communicable chronic diseases that have a bi-directional relationship. The European Federation of Periodontology and International Diabetes Federation recommend patients with diabetes should be screened for periodontal disease and referred to a dental professional where appropriate. This study investigated the awareness among Paediatric Diabetes Care Teams across England and Wales of diabetes as a risk factor for periodontal disease.

Prevalence of Periodontal Disease and Periodontopathic Bacteria in Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Protein Antibody-Positive At-Risk Adults Without Arthritis.

Importance: The prevalence of periodontitis is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontopathic bacteria can citrullinate proteins. Periodontitis may, therefore, be an initiator of RA and a target for prevention. Periodontal disease and periodontal bacteria have not been investigated in at-risk individuals with RA autoimmunity but no arthritis.

Paediatric periodontal screening methods in undergraduate dental schools.

Introduction: Many forms of periodontal diseases affect children and adolescents. The simplified basic periodontal examination (BPE) is a screening tool for children aged seven to 17, which enables early recognition of such diseases. This study aims to investigate and compare methods of periodontal health assessments in the 'under-18s' across dental schools in the UK.

Thermal Maps to Characterize Human Dental Enamel and Dentin.

The crown of a human tooth has an outer layer of highly-mineralized tissue called enamel, beneath which is dentin, a less-mineralized tissue which forms the bulk of the tooth-crown and root. The composition and structure of enamel and dentin are different, resulting in different thermal properties. This gives an opportunity to characterize enamel and dentin from their thermal properties and to visually present the findings as a thermal map.

Surfing the spectrum - what is on the horizon?

Diagnostic imaging techniques have evolved with technological advancements - but how far? The objective of this article was to explore the electromagnetic spectrum to find imaging techniques which may deliver diagnostic information of equal, or improved, standing to conventional radiographs and to explore any developments within radiography which may yield improved diagnostic data. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Medline, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and PubMed Databases. Boolean Operators were used and key-terms included (not exclusively): terahertz, X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infra-red, magnetic resonance, dental, diagnostic, caries and periodontal.

Partial least squares path modelling for relations between baseline factors and treatment outcomes in periodontal regeneration.

Background: Some clinical outcome variables in periodontal research are mathematically coupled, and it is not feasible to include all the mathematically coupled variables in an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis. The simplest solution to this problem is to drop at least one of the mathematically coupled variables. However, this solution is not satisfactory when the mathematically coupled variables have distinctive clinical implications.

Direct and indirect effects of interdental hygiene in a clinical trial.

Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in dental research test the efficacy of interventions on more than one outcome variable. Univariate methods, such as the t test or analysis of covariance, cannot evaluate the efficacy of interventions on multiple outcomes simultaneously. The aim of this study was to use structural equation modeling (SEM) to re-analyze a RCT, comparing the effects of pre-curved interdental brushes and flossing on probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque indices, and bleeding on probing (BOP) measured at baseline, intermediate, and final examinations.

Periodontal diseases in children and adolescents.

Unlike in adults, currently there are no nationally agreed guidelines for the assessment of periodontal diseases in children and adolescents. This paper considers the range of periodontal diseases that can affect youngsters and documents a simple periodontal screening system for the younger age groups. It includes principles of periodontal diagnosis and management for the practitioner to apply to the young patient and considers when to treat in practice and when to refer to a specialist.

Attitudes, awareness and oral health-related quality of life in patients with diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge diabetic patients have of their risk for periodontal disease, their attitude towards oral health and their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQL). One hundred and one consecutive patients (age range 31-79 years) recruited from a diabetic outpatient clinic participated in the study. Twenty-seven per cent of participants had type 1 diabetes, 66% type 2 and 7% did not know what type of diabetes they had.

Is there a temporal trend in the reported treatment efficacy of periodontal regeneration? A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.

Background/aim: The aim of study was to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate whether or not there was a temporal trend in the treatment efficacy reported in the randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) on guided tissue regeneration (GTR) or enamel matrix protein derivatives (EMD) in the treatment of infrabony defects.

Material And Methods: The treatment outcomes were changes in probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Weighted multilevel and ordinary regression analyses were performed to test the temporal relationship between treatment effect difference or treatment effectiveness and publication years.

Comparison of interdental cleaning methods: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although interdental cleaning is an integral component of home plaque control for periodontally involved patients, limited data exist on the periodontal benefits of commonly used interdental cleaning methods before definitive root surface debridement is undertaken. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of a customized interdental brushing technique and a customized flossing technique on clinical periodontal outcomes prior to root surface debridement in chronic periodontitis cases.

Methods: This was a single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Evaluating the quality of active-control trials in periodontal research.

Aim: The increasing popularity of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) has raised the issue of their quality. Frequently overlooked are the differences between superiority and equivalence trials. The purpose of this study was to apply specific methodological criteria to evaluate the quality of active-control trials using studies that compared guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with enamel matrix derivatives (EMD).

Validation of a model to evaluate the role of radiographs in the diagnosis and treatment planning of periodontal diseases.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were (i) to see if an indirect method of design (paper patients) could be developed for study of change affected by radiographs on diagnostic outcome and planned treatment of periodontal patients and (ii) to investigate the effect of the nature of clinical examination on the value of radiographs in reaching a periodontal diagnosis. Paper cases could allow the design of examiner blind studies where repeatability could be assessed.

Methods: 201 patients were assigned to one of four groups and clinically assessed according to group specifications.

Problems of correlations between explanatory variables in multiple regression analyses in the dental literature.

Multivariable analysis is a widely used statistical methodology for investigating associations amongst clinical variables. However, the problems of collinearity and multicollinearity, which can give rise to spurious results, have in the past frequently been disregarded in dental research. This article illustrates and explains the problems which may be encountered, in the hope of increasing awareness and understanding of these issues, thereby improving the quality of the statistical analyses undertaken in dental research.

Statistical power for analyses of changes in randomized controlled trials.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are widely recommended as the most useful study design to generate reliable evidence and guidance to daily practices in medicine and dentistry. However, it is not well-known in dental research that different statistical methods of data analysis can yield substantial differences in study power. In this study, computer simulations are used to explore how using different univariate and multivariate statistical methods of analyzing change in continuous outcome variables affects study power, and the sample size required for RCTs.

Collinearity in linear regression is a serious problem in oral health research.

The aim of this article is to encourage good practice in the statistical analysis of dental research data. Our objective is to highlight the statistical problems of collinearity and multicollinearity. These are among the most common statistical pitfalls in oral health research when exploring the relationship between clinical variables using multiple regression analysis.

Ratio variables in regression analysis can give rise to spurious results: illustration from two studies in periodontology.

Objectives: For over a century, statisticians have highlighted concerns about the inappropriate use of ratio variables in correlation and regression analysis. However, little attention has been paid to these concerns in medical and dental research. The use of ratio variables in correlation and regression analysis can give rise to spurious results due to inappropriate model specification and mathematical coupling, leading to serious misinterpretation of data and consequently to incorrect study conclusions.

Use of the basic periodontal examination and radiographs in the assessment of periodontal diseases in general dental practice.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the use of the basic periodontal examination (BPE) by general dental practitioners (GDPs) and their selection of radiographs for the assessment of periodontal disease and (2) whether this selection concurred with existing selection (referral) criteria.

Methods: Three mailings of a self-completion questionnaire were sent to 800 GDPs working in the National Health General Dental Service in England and Wales. Dentists were presented with six clinical scenarios for which they were asked to describe their use of radiographs.

Radiographic equipment and techniques used in general dental practice: a survey of general dental practitioners in England and Wales.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the self-reported use of panoramic radiography, D- and E-speed film, rectangular collimation, film holders, equipment fitted with a long spacer cone (>200 mm) and the bisecting angle and paralleling techniques by general dental practitioners and to see if use was related to the dentists' age and postgraduate qualifications.

Methods: Three mailings of a self-completion questionnaire were circulated to 800 general dental practitioners working in the National Health General Dental Service in England and Wales.

Results: A response rate of 74% was achieved.

Periodontal diseases in children and adolescents: 2. Management.

Many of the periodontal diseases affecting children and adolescents can be successfully managed in general dental practice. The decision to treat the young patient in the practice setting or to refer to a periodontal specialist will depend on the complexity of treatment, patient factors and the expertise of the practitioner. Treatment should be provided in three phases: the initial cause-related phase is aimed at controlling microbial plaque; the corrective phase is intended to restore function and aesthetics; supportive periodontal therapy is aimed at preventing recurrence and progression of periodontal disease.

Gingival recession-its significance and management.

Objectives: To review the prevalence and current concepts of the mechanisms and aetiology of gingival recession and present the principles of assessment and management of the patient with gingival recession.

Data And Sources: The literature was searched for review and original research papers relating prevalence, mechanisms, aetiology, assessment, and treatment of gingival recession using Medline and manual tracing of references cited in key papers otherwise not elicited.

Study Selection: Studies with gingival recession as focus and pertinent to key aspects of review.

Periodontal diseases in children and adolescents: I. Aetiology and diagnosis.

A number of periodontal diseases, some forms of which can be aggressive, can affect children and adolescents. Plaque is the key aetiological agent but local and systemic factors that can modify the response of the periodontal tissues to plaque may be identified from the history and during examination of the child or adolescent. Periodontal screening should be an integral part of the dental examination of younger individuals.