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Biomedical subjects

B A Burt

Publications and source records attributed to B A Burt.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

High-fluoride drinking water, fluorosis, and dental caries in adults.

This study measures the prevalence and distribution of dental fluorosis and coronal caries in lifelong adult residents of two New Mexico communities. One community has a natural fluoride concentration of approximately 0.7 mg/L in its drinking water, optimum for the climate, and the water of the other community is naturally fluoridated at approximately 3.5 mg/L, five times optimum. The differences between the communities in amounts of dental fluorosis and any reduced susceptibility to dental caries associated with higher levels of fluorosis, particularly in molars, the teeth most susceptible to decay, are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Findings from the Dental Care Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey, 1983.

This report describes the prevalence of edentulism, problems associated with use of dentures, and reported use of fluoride products in the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. The statistics reported are based on a sample of 105,182 people about whom information was collected using the 1983 Dental Care Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in Mexican American children aged 5 to 17 years: results from southwestern HHANES, 1982-83. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

This paper describes the estimated prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in 2,550 children, 5 through 17 years of age, who resided in five southwestern states of the United States and were examined in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) of 1982-84 of the National Center for Health Statistics. Dental caries in the Mexican American children was predominantly a disease of occlusal surfaces of molars; few smooth surfaces of posterior and anterior teeth were affected by caries. This intra-oral distribution of dental caries strongly supports the use of fissure sealants as a preventive procedure. Filled tooth surfaces contributed about 66 per cent of the total DMFS (decayed, missing, filled surfaces) scores. The analysis also shows that about 50 per cent of the 17 year old Mexican Americans had five or more filled or decayed teeth. Mild gingivitis was prevalent (76.9 per cent) in the Mexican American children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Prevalence of deep periodontal pockets in New Mexico adults aged 27 to 74 years.

The purpose of this study was to describe the distribution of advanced periodontal destruction (pocket depth equal to or deeper than six mm) in continuous residents, aged 27 to 74 years, of Lordsburg and Deming, New Mexico. The distance from the free gingival margin to the base of the gingival crevice or pocket was measured on the facial and mesiofacial sides of six index teeth. The presence of supragingival calculus, subgingival calculus, and plaque, as well as gingival bleeding around the index teeth, also were evaluated. Of the 372 examinees, only 46 individuals (12.4 percent) had at least one deep pocket equal to or deeper than six mm on at least one site on the six index teeth. Age was significantly associated with prevalence of deep pockets, although about 80 percent of those aged 47 to 74 years did not have deep pockets. Of those with deep pockets, 89.1 percent had fewer than four tooth sites (out of 12) affected. The only significant risk factor of the presence of deep pockets, other than age, was the number of teeth with plaque accumulations. Age and the number of teeth with plaque explained only 10.5 percent of the variability in the prevalence of deep pocketing, suggesting that risk factors other than those included in this study may be important. The results of this study indicate that destructive periodontal disease occurs at selected sites within the mouth, and that about 87 percent of the adults over age 27, in this population, do not have deep pockets in the six index teeth examined.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Root caries in an optimally fluoridated and a high-fluoride community.

The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence and distribution of root caries in two New Mexico communities. One community, Deming, had a natural fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L in its drinking water, optimum for its climate. The other, Lordsburg, was naturally fluoridated at 3.5 mg/L, five times the optimum. Dental examinations were carried out on 151 adults in Deming (mean age, 39.8 years) and 164 in Lordsburg (mean age, 43.2 years); only persons born in the communities were included. Prevalence of root caries was 23.8% in Deming and 7.3% in Lordsburg; mean number of lesions was 0.69 in Deming and 0.08 in Lordsburg (p less than 0.0001). Although there was more gingival recession in Lordsburg, Root Caries Index scores were five times greater in Deming. Root caries was more prevalent in older age groups, and was correlated with coronal caries experience in both communities. Root caries was correlated with plaque and calculus scores in Deming only. Logistic regression showed that city of residence was the major predictor of root caries, with other significant predictors being age, education, gingival recession, and loss of periodontal attachment. When combined with previous research, these results confirm that root caries experience is directly related to the fluoride concentration in the drinking water.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Dental benefits of limited exposure to fluoridated water in childhood.

The effect of limited exposure to fluoridated water in childhood is of potential importance in highly-mobile modern society, but the subject has not been well-studied. This longitudinal study assessed caries experience and S. mutans proportions from fissure plaque in school-children who lived for at least the three years of the study in a non-fluoridated community (0.2 mg/L). Residence histories permitted division of the cohort into those who had lived all their lives in non-fluoridated communities, and those who had lived for some time previously in a fluoridated community. The children were aged 6-7 years at the beginning of the three-year study. Children with previous residence in the fluoridated communities developed 26.8% less caries in their permanent teeth during the study than did the children who had lived in non-fluoridated communities all their lives (p = 0.04), and had 29.8% less caries after three years (p = 0.02). Differences between the groups in S. mutans proportions from fissure plaque, sampled at six-monthly intervals throughout the study, could not be demonstrated. The dental benefits observed could not be attributed to socio-economic differences between the groups. Despite evidence that the benefits of limited ingestion of fluoridated water are topical in nature, the fact that many of the affected teeth in this study were unerupted at the time of the fluoride exposure means that pre-eruptive benefits cannot be ruled out.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and oral hygiene among older Americans.

Recent research has suggested that susceptibility to destructive periodontal disease may not be as universal as was previously thought. This report analyzes data from a representative national sample of 11 338 American adults aged 25-74, examined in a national survey in 1971-74. Results showed that 46.1% of those aged 65-74 were edentulous, but half of the dentate persons in that age group were diagnosed as free of destructive periodontal disease. Periodontal (PI) and oral hygiene (OHI-S) index scores in this group were significantly better in those persons who had lost fewest teeth. When persons aged 65-74 who retained 25 or more teeth were compared with younger adults who also had 25 or more teeth, OHI-S and CI scores were similar. It is hypothesized that maintenance of oral hygiene levels corresponding to OHI-S scores of 0.3-0.6, and calculus levels corresponding to CI scores of 0.1-0.2, is sufficient to maintain a dentition free of periodontal disease throughout life. Slightly higher OHI-S levels (0.7-1.3) and CI levels (0.3-0.6) might be compatible with acceptably low levels of periodontal disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The future of the caries decline.

Dental caries declined in prevalence and severity among schoolchildren in the United States during the 1970s, although it still remains a problem in some areas. The decline could have started well before the 1970s, even though it was only recently identified. Caries should continue to decline as long as fluoride use remains around current levels. Use of fluoride toothpaste seems to be increasing. Sugar consumption is stable, although sucrose consumption as a proportion of total sugar consumption is declining. Increased tooth retention is thought to increase the risk of root caries in older persons, but the continued use of fluoride toothpaste should minimize any such increase. The main growth area for fluoride use may be in toothpastes. Monitoring caries trends in the future will require good data on the epidemiology of caries in young and middle-aged adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The cariogenicity of soft drinks in the United States.

The cariogenicity of soft drinks was evaluated in 3,194 Americans aged 9 to 29 years who were examined during the NHANES I survey conducted from 1971 to 1974. A significant positive association was found between the frequencies of at- and between-meal consumption of soft drinks and high DMFT scores. These associations remained even after accounting for the reported concurrent consumption of other sugary foods and other confounding variables. The results of this study underscore the need for further evaluation of the relation between adhesiveness of sugary foods and dental caries and more research of the cariogenicity (or lack of it) of diet drinks. "Pure cariogenicity" is suggested as a term to apply to gram-for-gram comparisons, whereas "effective cariogenicity" also considers amount and frequency of consumption. Dentists and auxiliaries, in their dental health education, should not imply that sugary solutions are less cariogenic than sticky snacks, for there may be no difference in effective cariogenicity in modern American society.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Fissure sealants: clinical and economic factors.

Existing data on the economics of sealant use are insufficient to permit firm conclusions; an additional handicap is that both data and attitudes are based principally on results with first-generation sealants when it is clear that greatly improved materials are now available. The limited data plus the preceding discussion of issues, however, do allow the following statements by way of conclusions. In public programs, few would argue that the cost-effectiveness of sealants would be enhanced by: (a) Using trained auxiliaries to apply sealant to the fullest extent allowed by law. (b) Applying the most recently developed sealants in which retention rates appear to be most favorable. (c) Their application in areas where proximal caries is low. This means many communities in the United States at present, especially fluoridated areas. Although marginal benefits have not been determined, sealants would appear to complement the use of fluoride. There is less clarity on other areas where some tradeoffs would be required, for the nature of the tradeoffs cannot be specified. These areas include: (d) Whether the program should be based on a single application or whether there should be annual checks and reapplications. Reapplications will push effectiveness closer to 100 percent, but will incur greater costs. The ideal situation would be virtual 100 percent retention of sealant over a long time following a single application, but that outcome is unlikely in a public program. (e) Whether all molars and premolars should be sealed. There is general agreement that first and second molars should be sealed as soon as possible after eruption because of their susceptibility to occlusal caries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1984

Patterns of community-based prevention programs.

Prevention of dental caries is most effectively and efficiently achieved by community-based methods, whether in economically developed or developing countries. The role of the private practitioner is a dual one: to support the establishment of appropriate caries-preventive programs such as water fluoridation, salt fluoridation, supervised ingestion of fluoride tablets, and supervised programs of mouthrinsing with fluoride solutions and with such programs in place, to provide personal preventive care to that relatively small number of caries-susceptible people who will still need individual attention. The development of community-based programs is especially critical in those developing countries where the population is growing rapidly and caries is becoming more prevalent, for with their limited resources the only hope of controlling caries is with cost-effective community programs. Control of periodontal disease requires community education, but to be successful it will also require preventive care from practitioners. Even in the economically-developed countries there is a need for greater awareness of periodontal disease among both practitioners and the public. In many of these countries, now that caries is becoming better controlled, the time is ripe for considerably more prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. Its control, in the developing countries, poses special problems, and will have to depend heavily on public education for a considerable time yet. Both community-based programs and private practitioners have important roles to play in the prevention of the most prevalent oral diseases, but these roles need to be carefully defined to avoid wasteful duplication if maximum benefit is to be obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Epidemiologic patterns of smoking and periodontal disease in the United States.

The adverse effect of smoking on periodontal health has been demonstrated in the analysis of the dental and smoking history data collected from a representative sample of the US population. The association between poorer levels of periodontal health and smoking remained even after accounting for age, sex, race, oral hygiene, socioeconomic status, and frequency of daily toothbrushing variables. When the analysis was restricted to smokers only, no clear-cut association was demonstrated between periodontal disease and the duration of smoking or the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The results of this study suggest that dental practitioners should try to discourage their patients from smoking for reasons of periodontal health as well as general preventive care.

Adult↗