Observations on achieving total practice success.

A doctor or group practice that understands the design of what the practice wants to be and develops a strategy to accomplish that end will invariably achieve a high level of performance. Performance areas in contemporary practice administration cover a wide area including growth, transition, and succession. Due to the wide and demanding areas in practice administration, it is important to address any practice planning effort in a comprehensive manner rather than a piecemeal approach.

Adjuncts used to enhance the results of guided tissue regeneration.

Guided Tissue Regeneration involves procedures designed to regenerate lost periodontal structures. There are several adjunctive procedures used in conjunction with barrier membranes. This review article discusses the most commonly used adjuncts and the benefits and limitations of each.

Cyclic AMP-receptor proteins in the enamel matrix.

Cyclic AMP receptor proteins (cARP) are present in a variety of cell types. Intracellularly, they are the regulatory (R) subunits of type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA: E.C.

Cyclic AMP-receptor responses to hypergravity.

Background: Altered gravity (G) encountered during spaceflight causes physiologic changes in humans and in experimental animals. In addition to weightlessness (0G) in space, sharply increased G forces are exerted on the spacecraft during the lift-off and reentry phases. Previous studies showed major changes in cAMP-associated activity of rat heart muscle after spaceflight, indicating that (hormone) signaling pathways may have been affected.

Relative solubilities of hybrid ionomers and compomers by acid impingement.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relative erosion/solubility for hybrid glass-ionomers and a compomer using the jet-impingement technique with lactic acid of various molarities. The materials studied included Dyract, Duet, Vitremer, Advance, Fuji-II LC, and Fuji-I, Ketac Cem and Modern Tenacin as the control. Data were analysed using ANOVA and Tukey's comparison test.

Temporomandibular disorders and science: a response to the critics.

This article was prepared by the above authors and submitted to members of the TMD academic community for their endorsement. A total of 120 people signed an endorsement; their names are available on request.

Who should determine the medical necessity of dental sedation and general anesthesia? A clinical commentary supported by Illinois patient and practitioner surveys.

Many third-party payers try to deny benefits for dental sedation and general anesthesia. The term "not medically necessary" is often applied to these services by third-party payers. The label is poorly defined and varies from payer to payer.

Illinois Dental Anesthesia and Sedation Survey for 1996.

Dentists in the state of Illinois who possess a permit to administer sedation or general anesthesia were surveyed. A 71% response rate was achieved. Of the respondents, 86% held permits for deep sedation/general anesthesia and 14% held permits for parenteral conscious sedation.

Compliance with infection-control procedures among Illinois orthodontists.

The authors of previous studies have reported an increasing percentage of orthodontists complying with infection-control procedures in their offices, yet compliance was found to be less than ideal. In this study we surveyed Illinois orthodontists to evaluate their compliance with the infection-control guidelines established by the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This study is an addition to a small number of studies in the field of orthodontics on infection-control procedures.

Treatment of the patient receiving Coumadin anticoagulant therapy.

Minimizing the risk of bleeding as well as the risk of thromboembolism in dental patients being treated with anticoagulants is a common challenge for practitioners. This article features tips on evaluating and managing these patients.

Predicting bleaching results with computer imaging.

Vital bleaching can be a relatively unpredictable treatment. Photographs of previous cases and cosmetic imaging, although useful, may lead to unrealistic expectations on the part of the patient. The high-tech mystique of computer imaging and viewing one's own teeth has a significant impact on the dental patient.

Study of devitrification of Dicor glass.

The nucleation and crystallization of tetrasilicic fluormica crystals in the Dicor group of glass ceramics is not as well understood as the crystallization sequence of trisilicic mica in the Macor group of glass ceramics. The main aim of this investigation was to obtain kinetic data of crystallization and to examine the devitrification process at different stages of heat treatment during non-isothermal heating. The kinetic parameters, such as the activation energy, Ec, the reaction order, n, and the frequency factor, v, for the devitrification reaction were computed using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (JMA) equation and the data from differential thermal analysis (DTA).

Cyclic AMP-reactive proteins in human saliva.

This study was conducted to compare cyclic AMP-reactive proteins (cARP), the secretory form of regulatory (R) subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in human whole saliva with that of parotid fluid. Additionally, experiments were done to determine whether secretory cARP is altered by environmental stimuli. Earlier work showed that R subunits are present in parotid fluid and in salivary glands of rats.

A clinical comparison of collagen membranes with e-PTFE membranes in the treatment of human mandibular buccal class II furcation defects.

Guided tissue regeneration procedures using non-resorbable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membranes have become accepted therapy in treating moderate furcation defects. Resorbable collagen membranes have also been found to support regeneration and preclude the need for surgical removal. The present study compares their effectiveness with e-PTFE membranes in treating human mandibular Class II buccal furcation defects over a 12-month healing interval.

Evaluation of thermal cooling mechanisms for laser application to teeth.

Experimental cooling methods for the prevention of thermal damage to dental pulp during laser application to teeth were compared to conventional treatment in vitro. Pulp temperature measurements were made via electrical thermistors implanted within the pulp chambers of extracted human third molar teeth. Experimental treatments consisted of lasing without cooling, lasing with cooling, laser pulsing, and high-speed dental rotary drilling.

Sequelae of unrecognized, untreated mandibular condylar fractures in the pediatric patient.

The mandibular condyle is a commonly involved site of maxillofacial trauma in children. However, this injury is often overlooked on initial physical examination in the emergency department. In cases involving blunt trauma to the chin it is important to suspect possible injury to the condyle of the mandible, as this type of facial injury can result in a spectrum of facial growth disturbances during the patient's later years.