Oral health indicators poorly predict coronary heart disease deaths.

Several earlier studies have suggested that development of coronary heart disease (CHD) is causally related to oral infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between oral health indicators and CHD deaths. Out of a nationally representative sample, 6527 men and women aged 30-69 years participated in the health examination with a dental check.

Evaluation of salivary tests and dental status in the prediction of caries increment in caries-susceptible teenagers.

We evaluated caries increment in connection with salivary caries-related findings and dental status in teenagers by carrying out a retrospective follow-up, lasting on average 28 months. A total of 66 adolescents, mean age 15.2 years, were selected by their susceptibility to caries, as clinically defined at a routine checkup.

Association between root caries occurrence and periodontal state.

To analyze the occurrence of root caries in relation to the periodontal state, we examined clinically a representative sample (n = 4,777) of Finish adults, aged 30 years and older. Our definition of root caries included primary decay on root surfaces, and a subject's periodontal state was described according to the presence or absence of gingival inflammation or periodontal pockets and subgingival calculus and/or overhangings. Subjects with a healthy periodontium seldom (4%) had any caries on root surfaces, whereas 15% had caries in conjunction with gingival inflammation, and 17% in conjunction with deepened pockets.

Effects of carbon dioxide, Nd:YAG and carbon dioxide-Nd:YAG combination lasers at high energy densities on synthetic hydroxyaptite.

The aim of this study was to determine the crystalline structure and chemical alterations of synthetic hydroxyapatite after irradiation with either CO2, Nd:YAG or CO2-Nd:YAG combination lasers at high energy densities of 500-3,230 J.cm2. Further, dissolution kinetics of the lased material were analysed and compared with those of unlased apatite.

Irradiation of human dental tissues with CO2-, Nd:YAG-, and CO2-Nd:YAG combination laser.

Extracted third molars were used to study the effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation combined with CO2 laser beam on dental hard tissues. The specimens were studied with SEM after lasing and the size of the impact areas and beam penetration into enamel and dentin were planimetrically analyzed. High-energy CO2 laser (e.