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Biomedical subjects

A Sheiham

Publications and source records attributed to A Sheiham.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

The epidemiology of dental caries and periodontal disease.

Dental caries and periodontal disease are common in industrialized countries and caries is increasing in non-industrialized countries. The predominant method of coping with the disease problem has been to treat rather than prevent the diseases, an approach which has obviously failed to cope with the problem as shown by the results of the International Collaborative Study of Dental Manpower Systems (58). Epidemiological evidence suggests that a food policy directed at lowering the refined sugar consumption level to about 10 kg per person per year in conjunction with fluoride supplementation of the diet would virtually eliminate dental caries in industrialized countries. Health education to improve the effectiveness of toothbrushing will reduce the progression of periodontal disease to a rate compatible with keeping teeth for a life-time.

Adolescent↗

How dental conditions handicap the elderly.

A sociodental investigation was carried out among 254 elderly people living at home in Nottinghamshire. The aim of the inquiry was to ascertain whether this group of people were handicapped by their dental conditions. The dental status of the sample was generally poor. 74% were edentulous and the condition of the full dentures worn by many of the subjects was unsatisfactory. A high proportion (59%) of the subjects had lesions of the oral mucosa. Many members of the sample were orally handicapped, either functionally or socially. 32% complained of oral pain and 30% claimed to have difficulty chewing. Also, subjects were embarrassed by the appearance of their teeth and by their dentures dropping during social contact. The perception of handicap, however, was not strongly related to dental status.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Assessing the periodontal treatment needs of a population.

A longitudinal study was conducted on 106 patients attending a dental school and undergoing periodontal treatment, to assess the relationship between some commonly used periodontal indices and the time taken to treat periodontal disease. The data were analysed by assessing the times taken for examination motivation, scaling and surgery for persons with ranges of indices such as D.I., C.I., O.H.I., G.P.I. (Ging), G.P.I. (Perio), G.P.I. (Comp) and P.I. A one-way analysis of variance was carried out to test the significance of trends. Next, a Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated for each index and its components and treatment time. The index which correlated most closely with examination time was the P.I. The G.P.I. (Ging) was the best predictor of motivation time and three indices, C.I., G.P.I. (Perio) and P.I. correlated significantly with scaling times. The P.I. and G.P.I. (Perio) correlated with surgery time. By converting periodontal indices into treatment times, planners can estimate with a fair degree of accuracy the time and resources required to carry out periodontal treatment for a population.

Adult↗

Assessing the periodontal treatment needs of a population.

A longitudinal study was conducted on 106 patients attending a dental school and undergoing periodontal treatment, to assess the relationship between some commonly used periodontal indices and the time taken to treat periodontal disease. The data were analysed by assessing the times taken for examination, motivation, scaling and surgery for persons with ranges of indices such as D.I., C.I., O.H.I., G.P.I. (Ging), G.P.U. (Perio), G.P.I. (Comp) and P.I. A one-way analysis of variance was carried out to test the significance of trends. Next, a Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated for each index and its components and treatment time. The index which correlated most closely with examination time was the P.I. The G.P.I. (Ging) was the best predictor of motivation time and three indices, C.I., G.P.I. (Perio) and P.I. correlated significantly with scaling times. The P.I. and G.P.I. (Perio) correlated with surgery time. By converting periodontal indices into treatment times, planners can estimate with a fair degree of accuracy the time and resources required to carry out periodontal treatment for a population.

Dental Health Surveys↗

Is there a scientific basis for six-monthly dental examinations?

This review of the need for 6-monthly dental checks was limited to persons aged 12 years and more, because there are no data on the rates of progression of diseases of the primary dentition. Dental caries in the permanent teeth is a very slow disease, and takes about 2 years to progress through the enamel. Persons having dental examinations at intervals longer than 6 months were not at a disadvantage. They did not have more severe dental caries or periodontal disease than those attending at intervals of 6 months. Neither was there any evidence that an interval of more than 6 months would affect the prognosis for orthodontic treatment. Oral malignancies are rare in British populations, and routine 6-monthly screening to detect oral malignancies is unreasonable.

Adolescent↗

International collaboration and research in the organization of the education of dentists and the public.

The dental curriculum in Western countries is still heavily biased towards technical competence in restorative procedures. Despite the evidence from many countries that curative dentistry has failed to make a significant impact on dental health, there is a reluctance to change to a preventive emphasis. Unfortunately dental education in developing countries is being modelled on the same pattern even though this is totally irrelevant to local needs and resources. The greatest need is for health education designed to influence the lifestyle of people in a way which will reduce the prevalence of dental disease. Unfortunately the dentist's present training does not fit him to play an effective part in such a programme.

Curriculum↗

Testing therapeutic measures for controlling chronic gingivitis in man: the results of two studies.

A previous paper described a suggested protocol which could be used for testing therapeutic measures. In this paper the protocol has been used as a basis for testing experimental toothpastes over short and medium periods of time. The effects on plaque and gingivitis of a chlorhexidine paste used for 4 weeks, and of two other experimental products used over 8 weeks, have been investigated. Statistically significant improvements in gingivitis were observed during the use of chlorhexidine and one of the experimental pastes compared with their respective placebo pastes. The benefit observed for the experimental paste became evident when the data were analyzed considering only participants with 'frank' gingivitis. The findings have also been presented in various ways in attempts to express the benefits of the therapeutic measures in clinical terms by using arbitrarily determined success criteria.

Adolescent↗