Publications by authors named "Peter T Gakunga"

Dental tissues follow a systematic pattern of development and several radiological methods have been developed and validated. This study aims to develop and validate a reference data set (RDS) for dental development of Hispanic children and to compare the mean age using the Demirjian and Moorrees tooth developmental stage (TDS) systems. A total of 600 Dental Panoramic Tomographs (DPTs) of Hispanic children aged 6 to 17 years were obtained and reference datasets (RDS) were developed by scoring all the maxillary and mandibular teeth in the left side of the arch according to the Demirjian (8 stage) and Moorrees (14 stage) scoring systems.

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Objectives: To investigate the antimicrobial potential of organo-selenium compound when applied as enamel surface sealant or primer (DenteShield™ [DS]) around orthodontic brackets to prevent enamel demineralization.

Methods: Human teeth were randomly assigned to seven treatment groups (15/group): control (No primer or sealant), Leopard light primer (LLP), DS Primer (DS-P), DS Enamel Surface Sealant (DS-S), Pro Seal, Opal Seal and combined DS-P/DS-S (DS-PS). Following etching, the tooth surface was coated with their respective material (except control group) and a bracket was bonded on each treated surface.

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Aim: Although fluoride interventions have the most consistent benefit in preventing caries, caries still develop in high-risk individuals. Authors have evaluated the effectiveness of toothpastes containing surface prereacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler in preventing tooth demineralization.

Methods: Human tooth enamel blocks were randomly assigned to six groups (30 blocks/group): no treatment (a), and toothpaste containing either 1500 ppm fluoride as sodium monofluorophosphate (NaMFP) (b), 0 wt% S-PRG (b), 1 wt% S-PRG (d), 5 wt% S-PRG (e), or 20 wt% S-PRG (f).

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NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) is the primary electron donor for cytochromes P450, dehydrocholesterol reductase, heme oxygenase, and squalene monooxygenase. Human patients with specific mutations in POR exhibit severe developmental malformations including disordered steroidogenesis, sexual ambiguities and various bone defects, similar to those seen in patients with Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS). To probe the role of POR during bone development, we generated a conditional knockout mouse (CKO) by cross breeding Por (lox/lox) and Dermo1 Cre mice.

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Introduction: Our objectives were to determine whether observer and patient sex and race or ethnicity determine esthetic preferences for lip positions.

Methods: Four independent panels each consisting of 30 lay judges viewed pretreatment silhouette profiles of 10 European American, 10 Japanese, and 10 African American Angle Class I and Class II orthodontic patients. The panels included European Americans, Hispanic Americans, Japanese, and Africans.

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