Analysis of patients utilizing emergency dental care in two Finnish cities.

The use of emergency dental services was surveyed by interviewing patients seeking treatment during hours of organized emergency service in two large cities in Finland. It was spread rather evenly over all the days of the week. Marked differences were found between the volume of dental emergencies in the two cities.

Free amino-acid content of wax-stimulated human whole saliva as related to periodontal disease.

This content was analysed in patients with chronic periodontitis and in control subjects. In periodontal disease, it was characterized by higher mean concentrations of glycine, proline, tyrosine and delta-aminovaleric acid than in controls (p less than 0.001).

Salivary content of patients with subjective symptoms resembling galvanic pain.

Analyses of whole and parotid saliva were performed in ten patients with subjective symptoms resembling galvanic pain and in their eight asymptomatic counterparts. Salivary flow rates, protein, IgA, lysozyme, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium phosphate, copper, and magnesium contents were measured. The concentrations of protein, sodium, chloride, and phosphate in the whole saliva of the patients with symptoms were significantly higher, but concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and IgA were lower than in the asymptomatic controls.

Free amino-acid composition of wax-stimulated whole saliva in human subjects with healthy periodontium, severe chronic periodontitis and post-juvenile periodontitis.

The free amino-acid composition of wax-stimulated whole saliva of 3 subjects with different periodontal status was determined. The amino acids were analysed by gas chromatographic separation on a packed column and determined as their N-heptafluorobutyrylisobutyl esters. In 2 patients with periodontal diseases, the salivary concentrations of proline and glycine were significantly elevated, suggesting increased collagen and protein degradation and their increased release from the inflamed gingiva.