Toothbrushing and transient bacteremia in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

This study was made to determine whether and to what extent bacteremia occurred after toothbrushing in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Twenty patients were selected, all with negative history of heart or hematologic disorders. These patients had not taken antibiotics or had a history of a cold in the previous 30 days.

Vertical dimensional changes of the lips in the North American black patient after four first-premolar extractions.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the vertical dimensional changes of the lips in the North American black patient after four first-premolar extractions. A sample of 15 patients treated at the Orthodontic Clinic of Howard University College of Dentistry was selected. Pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms were traced on acetate tracing paper: landmarks of the skeletal and soft tissues were identified, and angular and linear measurements were made.

Toothbrushing and transient bacteremia in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

A study was made to determine the extent of bacteremia experienced by patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances during periods of routine oral hygiene--namely, brushing the teeth. Sixteen orthodontic patients made up the population--11 who practiced good oral hygiene and five who demonstrated poor oral hygiene. Blood was drawn aseptically from the median cubital vein of the subjects before and 15 minutes after brushing the teeth.

A survey to evaluate the management of orthodontic patients with a history of rheumatic fever or congenital heart disease.

A survey concerning the orthodontic management of patients with a history of rheumatic fever or congenital heart disease was mailed to a random sample of 500 orthodontists throughout the United States. Two hundred thirty-two surveys were completed and returned. Analysis revealed that 88% of the respondents were aware that they should screen for patients with a history of rheumatic fever or congenital heart disease, only 11% used the antibiotic regimen recommended in 1977 by the American Heart Association (see Fig.