Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A L Symons

Publications and source records attributed to A L Symons.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The effect of a vital bleaching technique on enamel surface morphology and the bonding of composite resin to enamel.

This study examined the effect of a nightguard vital bleaching procedure on enamel surface morphology and the shear bond strength of a composite resin luting cement to enamel. Extracted human teeth were bleached for 1 week using a vital bleaching product. Control teeth were brushed with a fluoride toothpaste and processed similarly to the bleached teeth, however the bleaching product was substituted with artificial saliva in the night guards. Teeth were stored in artificial saliva for 24 h, 1, 6 or 12 weeks and then examined for any surface changes using light and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of etching surfaces with 37% phosphoric acid was examined at the scanning electron microscope level. The shear bond strength of composite resin luting cement to both buccal and lingual surfaces of bleached and control teeth was determined. Light microscopy investigation suggested the bleaching process resulted in a loss of mineral from enamel which was evident 24 h after bleaching and was sustained following 12 weeks storage in artificial saliva. Scanning electron microscopy showed a definite change in the surface texture of the bleached enamel surface. Acid etching of the bleached enamel surface produced loss of prismatic form and the enamel appeared overetched. The mean shear bond strength between composite resin luting cement and etched enamel tended to be lower for bleached enamel surfaces, however no significant difference in shear bond strength was noted between control and experimental groups. The results of this study suggest that bleaching resulted in changes to the surface and subsurface layers of enamel. Although surface changes were observed in the etched enamel, the shear bond strength of composite resin luting cement to etched bleached enamel appeared to be clinically acceptable.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Decreased growth hormone receptor expression in long bones from toothless (osteopetrotic) rats and restoration by treatment with colony-stimulating factor-1.

Growth hormone (GH) is known to regulate growth and development of skeletal tissues. This study examined the distribution of growth hormone receptor (GHR) expression in tibias from normal and osteopetrotic tl/tl rats. For normal 2 week-old rats, GHR expression was detected immunocytochemically in cells of the articular and epiphyseal cartilage, primary and secondary ossification centres, zone of resting cartilage and bone marrow. Within the marrow, GHR immunopositive cells were concentrated in the central cone and largely excluded from the zone of immature progenitors at the periphery. For the marrow haemopoietic compartment, GHR expression was almost restricted to the nucleus in large mononuclear cells, adipocytes and megakaryocytes. A population of small lymphocytelike cells in the marrow periphery expressed GHR on the plasma membrane. GHR was not detected in mature erythroid cells, macrophages, granulocytes, or osteoclasts. The expression of GHR was significantly reduced in bone marrow cells of the tl/tl rat (p < 0.001) compared with normal animals. Injection of recombinant CSF-1 into tl/tl rats every 48 hours for 2 weeks from birth restored GHR-positive cells to the central core of the marrow space. The most striking change was the appearance of substantial numbers of mononuclear cells expressing abundant GHR on the cell surface. We infer that these cells are a novel subset of CSF-1 responsive cells involved in bone resorption. The differences in relative expression of GHR by bone marrow cells in untreated and CSF-1-treated tl/tl rats suggests a CSF-1-dependent recruitment of cells bearing surface GHRs.

Animals↗

A family case report: disturbances in tooth form and eruption of the second premolar.

This report describes a family who demonstrated anomalies of tooth form and eruption of the lower second premolar. Observation of the second premolars remaining in the mother's and father's dentitions included ectopic eruption with impaction and substantial spacing between the first and second premolars. Four siblings were also examined--three boys aged 15, 14 and 12 years, and one girl aged 11 years. Anomalies of the second premolar recorded in the males and female include: congenital absence, ectopic eruption with impaction, delayed eruption and spacing. Associated anomalies included: congenital absence of other permanent teeth and spacing. It appears that the defect in tooth form and eruption is of a genetic origin, affecting both males and females. The condition(s) did not appear to be associated with a syndrome and the human papilloma virus lesions noted in all family members were not considered to be related to the dental defects. This family demonstrated two anomalies of the lower second premolar: congenital absence and disturbance in tooth eruption. The question raised by this case report is whether these two anomalies are inherited as separate traits or whether failure of tooth eruption is a variation in expression of the same genetic factor that results in oligodontia.

Adolescent↗

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) bioactivity and inhibition of IL-1 bioactivity in supernatant fluid from cultured microphthalmic (mi) mice teeth of different ages.

A functioning dental follicle and bone resorption are necessary for tooth eruption. In the microphthalmic (mi) mouse, bone resorption is defective and teeth fail to erupt. Local bone metabolism involves the production of cytokines such as interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The production of these cytokines by dental tissues during eruption may be fundamental to tooth movement. Molars from mi mice were cultured and supernatants tested for the presence of these cytokines using bio-dot blotting and ELISA. A thymocyte bioassay was used to test supernatants for IL-1 bioactivity and IL-1 inhibition bioactivity. IL-1 alpha and TGF-beta were detected in all supernatants. Supernatants demonstrated no IL-1 bioactivity but inhibited IL-1 bioactivity which varied with concentration of supernatant, age and animal. This study demonstrated that cultured developing teeth secrete IL-1 alpha and TGF-beta however, concentrations varied in normal and pathological states. While IL-1 alpha was present in the supernatants, all demonstrated a variable ability to inhibit IL-1 bioactivity. This ability may influence local bone metabolism and hence tooth eruption.

Aging↗

In vitro development of lower first molars from the osteopetrotic microphthalmic (mi) mouse.

While the precise mechanism of tooth eruption remains unknown it has been established that for tooth eruption to occur a functioning dental follicle is essential and normal bone resorption is required. In the osteopetrotic microphthalmic (mi) mouse, teeth fail to erupt and development is affected. In the present study, an organ culture technique was established to culture successfully lower first molars from normal and affected mi mice so as to determine if developmental defects were intrinsic to the dental tissue or whether such defects were a result of local environmental factors. Tissue was cultured for up to 13 days and development assessed morphologically at varying time intervals using standard light microscopy. Teeth developed similarly in both animal groups studied. The only variation in the appearance of cultured tissue occurred in the cervical loop region with more curling evident in dental tissue from the affected animals. The results of this study therefore showed that dental tissue from both normal and affected mi mice can be cultured for up to 13 days and that there is no difference in their development. It would appear that these teeth have the same ability to develop and consequently erupt, however the local environment influences tooth development and alters the eruption potential.

Ameloblasts↗

Anomalies associated with hypodontia of the permanent lateral incisor and second premolar.

Apart from the molars the most commonly congenitally absent tooth is the second premolar followed by the permanent lateral incisor. From a total of 5127 patients, congenital absence of the permanent lateral incisor occurred with a frequency of 2.2 per cent and absence of the second premolar with a frequency of 3.4 per cent. In association with hypodontia of these teeth other dental anomalies were observed. Absence of other teeth was observed as the most likely associated dental anomaly. Other anomalies recorded included disturbances in spacing of the dentition, and problems associated with tooth eruption and exfoliation.

Anodontia↗

Ectopic eruption of a maxillary canine following trauma.

Traumatic events at an early age may lead to developmental dental anomalies and ectopic tooth eruption. A case is reported in which a traumatic injury at two months of age resulted in the development of supernumerary teeth in the upper right premaxillary region. The maxillary canine ectopically erupted or transposed into the space left by the missing central incisor and eliminated the need for a prosthesis in this region.

Child↗

Physiological root resorption of primary molars.

Physiological root resorption of primary molars was assessed using bitewings and orthopantomograms. Thirty-six per cent of teeth examined demonstrated reduced root resorption of one or more roots. Excepting the lower first primary molar, the present study recorded a relatively high incidence of uneven root resorption during the exfoliative process, particularly evident for the upper second primary molar. Discrepancy in size between the premolar and its predecessor, as well as the position of the developing permanent tooth in relation to primary root structure influences the pattern of root resorption. Therefore, constant monitoring of teeth demonstrating uneven resorption is required to avoid the complications associated with over-retained teeth.

Child↗

Dental abnormalities associated with a chromosome 2 deletion.

This case report describes the dental and physical anomalies observed in a young female patient who had a chromosome abnormality involving deletion of the q 33-q 35 region of chromosome 2. The dental dysplasia observed in this patient is proposed to be of genetic origin but the complication of anoxia at birth makes it difficult to assign the intellectual and physical impairments solely to the genetic deletion.

Child, Preschool↗

The floor of the pulp chamber following pulpotomy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of pulpal floor damage caused by operator error in a standard pulpotomy exercise, and to determine if this damage produced significant changes in dentin morphology and thickness at the base of the pulp chamber. One hundred and fourteen primary molar teeth were utilized in this study, 61 having pulpotomies and the remainder untreated. The dentin thickness in the furcation was measured on all the teeth and the pulpal floor morphology was examined using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The difference in thickness of dentin in the furcation of pulpotomized and non-pulpotomized teeth was not statistically significant. Less than fourteen per cent of pulpotomized teeth showed damage to the pulpal floor and this damage was only minimal in all cases. This study therefore suggests that damage to the pulpal floor during preparation is unlikely to be a factor contributing to failure of pulpotomies.

Dental Pulp Cavity↗

Agenesis of the permanent lateral incisor: distribution, number and sites.

Agenesis of the lateral incisor was examined in 112 patients (42 males and 70 females). The distribution of this condition was assessed according to site, symmetry of the anomaly and the number missing for both males and females. Hypodontia of both maxillary lateral incisors was the most common form of agenesis recorded, with the absence of lateral incisors in the maxilla occurring in 91 per cent of the sample studied. Hypodontia in the maxilla was recorded more frequently in females (61 subjects) than in males (30 subjects) at a ratio of 2:1 respectively. Absence of lower lateral incisors was rare.

Anodontia↗

Agenesis of the second premolar in males and females: distribution, number and sites affected.

One of the most common anomalies of the dentition is congenitally absent second premolars and this form of hypodontia may occur as an isolated trait or in association with a syndrome. Using radiographs and clinical examinations, hypodontia of second premolars was assessed in 176 subjects (80 male and 96 female). Distribution of the hypodontia was assessed according to site and number missing in males and females. No significant differences were observed in males and females with respect to the number of premolars absent, sites affected or symmetry of the agenesis. Agenesis of a single second premolar was the most common form of this hypodontia with absence of three second premolars occurring least frequently.

Anodontia↗

Disturbances of tooth form and eruption in the microphthalmic (mi) mouse: a light and electron microscopic study.

Changes in the surrounding alveolar bone occur during tooth eruption. The microphthalmic (mi/mi) mouse suffers from osteopetrosis and lack of bone resorption; tooth form and eruption were examined in both affected mi/mi mice and unaffected litter-mates to determine the effect of osteopetrosis on tooth development and eruption. Paraffin sections of mandibles from 3, 7, 10, 13, 15 and 20-day-old mice were examined by light microscopy after staining with haematoxylin and eosin and for stable acid phosphatase activity. Mandibles from 15- and 20-day-old mice were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of odontoblasts was observed in 15-day-old mice. Tooth eruption was significantly reduced in the mi/mi mice; the bone of affected mice increased in area with increasing age and marrow spaces narrowed. There was little bony remodeling in the mi/mi mouse, as indicated by layers of reversal lines. This lack of bone resorption affected tooth eruption and root formation. No abnormalities were detected in odontoblasts, suggesting functional normality, but the wide predentine layer in the mi/mi mouse may indicate an alteration in dentine mineralization.

Animals↗

Adaptation of eight modern dental amalgams to walls of Class I cavity preparations.

An in vitro study was conducted in which a range of amalgam alloys was condensed into Class I cavity preparations. The force of condensation and increment size were varied to determine the effect of these operator variables on the adaptation, of the alloys investigated, to the prepared cavity walls. Specimens were sectioned, metallographically polished and examined using light and scanning electron microscopes. For each specimen ten random points on the pulpal and both vertical walls were selected to measure the adaptation of the amalgam to the tooth structure. For the Class I cavity preparation the adaptation of all alloys to the vertical walls was better than the adaptation to the pulpal walls. The overall adaptability of the alloy did not appear to be determined by the particle size, shape or composition. Condensation force was the most important factor in influencing adaptation of amalgam to the cavity walls. Heavy condensation forces produced better adaptation for all alloys particularly when condensing small increments.

Dental Alloys↗

Adaptation of dental amalgam to the cavosurface margin of Class I cavity preparations.

The adaptation of a range of amalgam alloys to the cavosurface margin of Class I cavity preparations was examined for two condensation techniques. The marginal contour of amalgam condensed into the cavity preparation and packed approximately 1 mm past the cavosurface margin was compared with amalgam margins of restorations which were packed to final contour with minimal carving. The effect of burnishing and/or polishing the cavosurface margin was compared with carving the amalgam to the cavosurface margin. Specimens were sectioned, metallographically polished and examined using a light microscope. The technique of overpacking amalgam produced a greater number of acceptable amalgam margins at the cavosurface margin than the condensation technique of packing to final contour, the best cavosurface margin was produced when specimens were burnished and polished, the carved margin being the least desirable. The cuspal incline also influenced the quality of the marginal finish with the difficulty of marginal finishing increasing with the steepness in cuspal incline.

Dental Alloys↗