Skin effect of facial cleansing combined with an electric sonic device.

Background: New technologies, such as sonic devices, have been developed to optimize the skin cleansing process and improve its efficiency. To evaluate the effectiveness of these cosmetic procedures, skin bioengineering is an objective method to assess the biophysical parameters of the skin.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the effect of facial cleansing on the physiological properties of the skin by comparing a cleansing process with cosmetic product applied manually to cleansing with cosmetic product associated with the use of an electric sonic device.

Accessory parameters in conformal mapping: exploiting the isomonodromic tau function for Painlevé VI.

We present a novel method to solve the accessory parameter problem arising in constructing conformal maps from a canonical simply connected planar region to the interior of a circular arc quadrilateral. The Schwarz-Christoffel accessory parameter problem, relevant when all sides have zero curvature, is also captured within our approach. The method exploits the isomonodromic tau function associated with the Painlevé VI equation.

Topical fluoride for caries prevention: executive summary of the updated clinical recommendations and supporting systematic review.

Background: A panel of experts convened by the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs presents evidence-based clinical recommendations regarding professionally applied and prescription-strength, home-use topical fluoride agents for caries prevention. These recommendations are an update of the 2006 ADA recommendations regarding professionally applied topical fluoride and were developed by using a new process that includes conducting a systematic review of primary studies.

Types Of Studies Reviewed: The authors conducted a search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library for clinical trials of professionally applied and prescription-strength topical fluoride agents--including mouthrinses, varnishes, gels, foams and pastes--with caries increment outcomes published in English through October 2012.

A simulation model for designing effective interventions in early childhood caries.

Introduction: Early childhood caries (ECC)--tooth decay among children younger than 6 years--is prevalent and consequential, affecting nearly half of US 5-year-olds, despite being highly preventable. Various interventions have been explored to limit caries activity leading to cavities, but little is known about the long-term effects and costs of these interventions. We developed a system dynamics model to determine which interventions, singly and in combination, could have the greatest effect in reducing caries experience and cost in a population of children aged birth to 5 years.

Costs and savings associated with community water fluoridation programs in Colorado.

Introduction: Local, state, and national health policy makers require information on the economic burden of oral disease and the cost-effectiveness of oral health programs to set policies and allocate resources. In this study, we estimate the cost savings associated with community water fluoridation programs (CWFPs) in Colorado and potential cost savings if Colorado communities without fluoridation programs or naturally high fluoride levels were to implement CWFPs.

Methods: We developed an economic model to compare the costs associated with CWFPs with treatment savings achieved through averted tooth decay.