Changes in the oral cavity might reflect psychological disorders in some patients.

Aim: The treatment of oral dysesthesias, such as burning mouth syndrome, can be challenging. Patient acceptance of the role of psychological etiological factors might be improved if there are clinical signs that patients could confirm themselves, which could be used as reinforcement of clinical discussions. Published associations between psychological disorder and various oral signs and symptoms are not suited to this purpose, as they are ambiguous in origin and implication.

IL-12 and related cytokines: function and regulatory implications in Candida albicans infection.

IL-12 is a cytokine with links to both innate and adaptive immunity systems. In mice, its deletion leads to acute susceptibility to oral infection with the yeast Candida albicans, whereas such mice are resistant to systemic disease. However, it is an essential component of the adaptive response that leads to the generation of Th1-type cytokine responses and protection against disseminated disease.

Temperature changes accompanying near infrared diode laser endodontic treatment of wet canals.

Introduction: Diode laser endodontic treatments such as disinfection or the generation of cavitations should not cause deleterious thermal changes in radicular dentin.

Methods: This study assessed thermal changes in the root canal and on the root surface when using 940 and 980 nm lasers at settings of 4 W/10 Hz and 2.5 W/25 Hz, respectively, delivered into 2000-mum fibers to generate cavitations in water.

Cavitational effects in aqueous endodontic irrigants generated by near-infrared lasers.

Introduction: Laser-generated pressure waves may have application for removing debris and smear layers from root canals. Past work has employed middle infrared erbium lasers. The present study examined whether near infrared 940 and 980 nm diode lasers (Biolase Ezlase and Sirona Sirolaser, respectively) could induce cavitations in aqueous media.

Salivary and serum levels of substance P, neurokinin A and calcitonin gene related peptide in burning mouth syndrome.

Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an enigmatic condition with the aetiopathogenesis remaining largely obscure. However, a neuropathic basis for BMS continues to be an area of active clinical and research interest.

Aim: It is becoming increasingly evident that certain oral disorders may be modulated by imbalances in certain neuropeptides such as substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) therefore we measured SP, NKA and CGRP in the saliva and sera of BMS patients as well as controls.

Laser fluorescence assessment of the root canal using plain and conical optical fibers.

Introduction: Traditional culture-based techniques for assessing infection of the root canal system are difficult to use and prone to error. Real-time assessment of the microbial status of the root canal system using laser fluorescence would help address these limitations.

Methods: This study evaluated the performance of thin optical fibers of different diameters, with either plain or conically modified ends, connected to a KaVo KEY 3 laser with an inbuilt 655-nm laser fluorescence diagnostic system.

DIAGNOdent laser fluorescence assessment of endodontic infection.

Introduction: Real-time assessment of the microbial status of the root canal system would be useful in clinical endodontic practice for determining endpoints of biomechanical treatment. This laboratory study used an existing laser fluorescence device, the DIAGNOdent (KaVo, Biberach, Germany), in a proof-of-concept study.

Methods: Visible laser red light (wavelength 655 nm) was used to elicit fluorescence emissions in the near-infrared range from infected and uninfected root canals.

Perspective: Electronic systems of knowledge in the world of virtual microscopy.

Across a broad range of medical disciplines, learning how to use an optical or light microscope has been a mandatory inclusion in the undergraduate curriculum. The development of virtual microscopy (VM) technology during the past 10 years has called into question the use of the optical microscope in educational contexts. VM allows slide specimens to be digitized, which, in turn, allows the computer to mimic the workings of the light microscope.

Effects of oral health education and tooth-brushing on mutans streptococci infection in young children.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of maternal dental health education and tooth-brushing instruction on the levels of mutans streptococci in pre-school children.

Methods: One hundred and seven children (44 boys and 63 girls) with a mean age of 20.5 months, randomly selected from a community child health clinic within a 2-week period, participated in this study.

Acquisition and loss of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Prevotella intermedia over a 5-year period: effect of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice.

Objectives: The present study describes the natural history of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Prevotella intermedia over a 5-year period and the effect of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on these organisms in a normal adult population.

Material And Methods: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 504 adult volunteers. Probing pocket depths (PPD) and relative attachment levels were measured using an automated probe.

The effect of a triclosan-containing dentifrice on the progression of periodontal disease in an adult population.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of unsupervised, long-term use of a 0.3% triclosan/2% copolymer dentifrice on the progression of periodontal disease in a general adult population.

Methods: Five hundred and four volunteers were enrolled in a double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

A longitudinal study of interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms and periodontal disease in a general adult population.

Background: Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that a specific polymorphism (allele 2 of both IL-1A +4845 and IL-1B +3954) in the IL-1 gene cluster has been associated with an increased susceptibility to severe periodontal disease and to an increased bleeding tendency during periodontal maintenance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between IL-1 genotype and periodontitis in a prospective longitudinal study in an adult population of essentially European heritage.

Methods: From an ongoing study of the Oral Care Research Programme of The University of Queensland, 295 subjects consented to genotyping for IL-1 allele 2 polymorphisms.

The sensitivity and specificity of clinical assessment compared with bitewing radiography for detection of occlusal dentin caries.

Purpose: This prospective, cross-sectional study examined the sensitivity and specificity of clinical assessment compared to bitewing radiographs in the detection of occlusal dentin caries in permanent molars.

Methods: Subjects were 481 children aged 5-12 years from a school-based dental clinic. Occlusal surfaces of 1929, sealed and unsealed first and second permanent molars were examined clinically and scored using specific criteria.

Dental erosion in children: a literature review.

Epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of dental erosion in children varies widely between 2 and 57%. Changes seen in dental erosion range from removal of surface characteristics to extensive loss of tooth tissue with pulp exposure and abscess formation. Symptoms of dental erosion range from sensitivity to severe pain associated with pulp exposure.

Pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption as an entity of occult caries.

"Occult" or "hidden" caries refers to occlusal caries which is not diagnosed clinically because the occlusal surface appears ostensibly intact, and radiographs show radiolucencies in dentin. The prevalence of occult caries has been reported to range from 2.2% to over 50% of permanent molars.

Preventive dentistry for the general dental practitioner.

Although the prevalence of dental caries has decreased gradually in the past three decades in the Australian population, dental caries remains the primary reason for tooth loss in Australia. At the community level, total health expenditure on the treatment of dental caries (and its consequences) is substantial. Accordingly, caries prevention is an important focus at both the individual and community levels.

The prevalence of pre-eruptive dentin radiolucencies in the permanent dentition.

Purpose: Although intracoronal radiolucencies in radiographs of unerupted teeth have been reported for several decades, the prevalence of this condition remains unknown. This study determined the prevalence and associated dental conditions of permanent teeth showing pre-eruptive dentin radiolucencies in bite-wing radiographs of school children attending two school dental therapy training centers.

Methods: There were 1959 subjects (934 males and 1025 females), each providing a set of bite-wing radiographs which showed the crowns of unerupted permanent teeth.