Parents in the operatory.

Dentists who treat children must continually evaluate methods for managing patients. Psychological, physical and pharmacotherapeutic techniques have been described, reviewed and questioned in papers and presentations throughout the history of dentistry. This evaluation is important because it provides avenues for controversy and change, leading to improved patient care.

Adhesion of direct restorative materials.

The development of adhesive restorative systems has been a major focus in dentistry. Materials that can attach to tooth structure make it possible to take a far more conservative approach to restorative dentistry.

New horizons in periodontics. The challenge for diagnosis.

Contemporary periodontics offers successful treatment for most cases of periodontitis. The data analyzed in this paper suggest, however, that a large percentage of the population in our region suffers from established, overt periodontitis and does not receive periodontal therapy. Guidelines and the sensitivity and specificity of detection, using present-day clinical procedures of periodontal pocket probing and radiograph analysis, are described for the detection of patients with established, overt periodontitis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease.

The relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease was evaluated in 2,878 Pima Indians of the southwestern United States. Two independent measures of periodontal disease, probing attachment loss and radiographic bone loss, were used to compare prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. In all age groups studied, subjects with diabetes had a higher prevalence of periodontal disease, indicating that diabetes may be a risk factor for periodontal disease.