The effect of personal protective equipment on high-and low-dental fear patients.

Purpose: This investigation was designed to examine both high- and low-dental-fear patients' perceptions about and anxiety responses to personal protective equipment (PPE) as presented in a videotaped, simulated interaction between oral healthcare worker and patient.

Methods: Sixty-two individuals representing a convenience sample presented at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Dental School and were screened for eligibility. The Dental Fears Survey was administered to participants to assess level of dental fear.

The computer bandwagon--has everyone else jumped on?

A survey of 1,179 dentists in Kansas and Missouri was mailed in an effort to determine their current use of computers. There was a completed return of 458 surveys (39 percent). Of those responding, 64.

Effects of the Nd:YAG laser and combined treatments on in vitro fibroblast attachment to root surfaces.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of the Nd:YAG laser either alone or in combination with root planning or air-powder abrasive treatment on fibroblast attachment to non-diseased root surfaces. 28, 4 x 4 mm root specimens and four disc-shaped root specimens 6 mm in diameter were obtained from unerupted 3rd molars. The root segments were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups: (1) control; (2) laser-only treated; (3) laser treated followed by root planning; (4) laser treated followed by air-powder abrasive treatment.

How personal protective equipment affects perceptions of dentists.

In this study, 248 college-educated young adults completed the Dental Fears Survey. Subjects then viewed one of two slides of a dentist. In one slide, the dentist wore no PPE at all; in the other, the dentist wore gloves, mask, glasses, face shield and lab coat.

Effect of vitamin C and vitamin E on prostaglandin synthesis by fibroblasts and squamous carcinoma cells.

Dietary levels of vitamins C and E have been associated with cancer prevention and to a lesser extent with therapeutic enhancement of cancer treatment. Inhibition of prostaglandins (PGs) by pharmacological agents has been demonstrated to enhance immunocompetence, and to suppress growth of tumors in animals and humans. We report here on the effect of vitamins C and E on PGE2 production by human gingival fibroblasts and SCC-25 oral squamous carcinoma cells.

Intraoral vesicles occurring after alginate impressions.

In 47 of 227 dental students intraoral vesicles developed after multiple alginate impressions. The lesions were generally solitary and clear, and appeared within 24 to 48 hours after the impression. They were most frequently located inside the vermilion border of the lips and resolved spontaneously in 2 to 5 days.

Impact of overbite on indicators of temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that deep overbite is associated with symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). This finding was directly tested by deliberately constituted groups of deep and normal overbite subjects matched for age and sex. Eighty-one subjects participated.

Chemical characterization of lased root surfaces using Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy.

Recently lasers have been recommended as an alternative or adjunctive therapy in the control and treatment of periodontally diseased root surfaces. The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to characterize the chemical structure of lased root surfaces using Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR/PAS). Cementum samples, 6 mm x 2 mm, were cut from the root surface of extracted non-carious, unerupted human molars.

Trends in dental treatment rendered under general anesthesia, 1978 to 1990.

While it is generally accepted that the prevalence of dental caries is decreasing, many institutions report an increase in the demand for dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. This paper compares the characteristics of patients and types of dental treatment delivered under general anesthesia at the same hospital during 1978-1980 and 1988-1990. Patient records for children, who received dental care under general anesthesia during the two time periods examined were reviewed.

Effectiveness of chlorhexidine and sodium fluoride in reducing dentin hypersensitivity.

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine, sodium fluoride, and sequential rinses of chlorhexidine (Cx) and sodium fluoride (NaF) on dentin hypersensitivity. Forty-four adult patients with dentin hypersensitivity on three teeth were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatment rinses: (1) placebo; (2) 0.12% Cx; (3) 0.

Revisiting the post puller.

The removal of an intraradicular post is frequently part of retreatment and the fabrication of a new coronal restoration. This article highlights the use of a post puller for safe and effective removal of an intraradicular post in conjunction with retreatment.

Effect of retinoids and carotenoids on prostaglandin formation by oral squamous carcinoma cells.

Several studies have correlated the excessive production of prostaglandins (PGs) with tumor promotion and the suppression of the immune response. Inhibition of PGs by pharmacological agents has been demonstrated to enhance immunocompetence, and to suppress growth of tumors in animals and humans. In this study we examined the effect of retinol (I), all-trans-retinoic acid (II), N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (N-4-HPR) (III), canthaxanthin (CTX) (IV), and beta-carotene (beta-CT) (V) on the bioconversion of 14C-arachidonic acid (AA) to PGE2 by squamous carcinoma cells of the tongue, SCC-25.

The effects of subgingival irrigation with chlorhexidine and stannous fluoride. A preliminary investigation.

This pilot study compared the effectiveness of subgingival irrigation with 0.12% chlorhexidine, 1.64% stannous fluoride, and sterile saline, in addition to scaling and root planing, on levels of Bacteroides porphyromonas and the clinical parameters bleeding tendency, probing depth, and attachment level.

Scaling and root planing: removal of calculus and subgingival organisms.

Scaling and root planing studies have shown that despite the best efforts of skilled clinicians, it is almost impossible to achieve calculus-free roots. Flap access nearly doubles the operator's ability to remove calculus. Furcation areas, however, continue to harbor significant amounts of calculus after scaling and root planing with or without the benefit of a flap.

Microbiological studies of carious dentine from human teeth with irreversible pulpitis.

Aerobic and anaerobic cultures were made from 29 extracted teeth with irreversible pulpitis to identify the predominant flora in different parts of deep carious lesions. Most isolates were Gram-positive rods, in which lactobacilli were the most frequent organisms, then other Gram-positive, non-branching rods. Gram-positive cocci were the next most common; only a low number of Streptococcus mutans was recovered.

Assessment of Proplast-Teflon disc replacements.

This retrospective study reports the findings in the follow-up of 31 temporomandibular joints in which Proplast-Teflon (Vitek Inc, Houston, TX) replacements were used. Among the problems noted were pain, malocclusion, restricted opening, and degenerative changes in the condyle and fossa.

Oral presentation of Wegener granulomatosis.

Although the mouth is often involved in Wegener granulomatosis, oral lesions as the initial sign are rare. This case report documents the importance of considering Wegener granulomatosis in patients with unique oral lesions. The most common lesion is a friable-granular-hyperplastic gingivitis associated with alveolar resorption and tooth mobility.

Restoration of mandibular continuity defects using combinations of hydroxylapatite and autogenous bone: microscopic observations.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess by light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy the healing of mandibular continuity defects reconstructed with varying ratios of an alloplastic hydroxylapatite implant material (HA) mixed with autogenous bone (AB). This study reports the microscopic observations of implant and control sites at 6 and 18 months postsurgery. The results confirm the biocompatibility of dense HA granules.

The effectiveness of a leadup activity on performance in an operative preclinic laboratory course.

Preclinical technique curricula seldom provide training in those prerequisite skills that may facilitate performance in a large class of procedures. Instead, students typically progress from simple to increasingly difficult preparations and it is assumed that positive transfer occurs between them. Another strategy that may provide greater benefits is the leadup activity, which closely simulates the criterion tasks, but eliminates one or more complexities thought to interfere with prerequisite skill acquisition.

A theory of motor performance and its applications to preclinical dental skill acquisition.

This article reviews one theory of motor performance that was derived from a large body of research findings. The validity of any theory depends on the extent to which it can generate testable hypotheses. Based on a number of applied investigations in the preclinical setting, several predictions developed from this theory have been supported.