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Biomedical subjects

B Peretz

Publications and source records attributed to B Peretz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Professional education and practice arrangements: are there gender differences among paediatric dentists in Israel?

AIM: To assess gender differences in professional education, practice setting and working arrangements among dentists in Israel, who primarily treat children. SUBJECTS: All 112 participants in the meeting of the Israeli Society of Dentistry for Children that was held in February 1999. METHODS: A questionnaire completed during the meeting. RESULTS: Seventy participants (63 per cent) completed the questionnaire and returned it. There were 43 females and 27 males. Less than half of the population were specialists (40 per cent of the females, 48 per cent of the males). No significant differences were found in the educational background and working in academia between females and males. With regard to practice arrangement, males significantly reported more frequently working in two clinics or more, than females (P = 0.049), and working in clinics with general practitioners (GPs) and specialists in various fields in dentistry, while more women reported working with either GPs or specialists (P = 0.007). In all other variables, no significant gender differences were found. The results of our study show that paediatric dentistry in Israel appears as a branch of the profession which shows great sexual equality of opportunity.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Composite crown-form crowns for severely decayed primary molars: a technique for restoring function and esthetics.

Current developments in esthetic dentistry center around new techniques and materials that improve the ability of the clinician to provide esthetic services. This article describes a step-by-step method of placing composite crown-form crowns on severely decayed primary mandibular molars. The described technique allows for restoring, as close as possible, form and function lost to caries in an esthetic mode in cases of severely decayed primary molars that would have required stainless steel crowns had they been treated traditionally. Disadvantages of this treatment mode are that dryness may not be prevented in the proximal margins, especially where subgingival carious involvement is encountered and the margin areas may be contaminated with gingival fluid or blood. Although no long-term follow-up has been reported for the technique, when strong opposition by the parent or child to the stainless steel crown is encountered, and a desire for esthetic restoration is strongly expressed, the composite crown-form crowns may be considered as an alternative.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Children with baby bottle tooth decay treated under general anesthesia or sedation: behavior in a follow-up visit.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the behaviors of a group of children, who were treated for baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) under general anesthesia (GA) or under sedation in a dental school environment in a routine follow-up examination, and to assess the dental anxiety levels of the parents. Sixty-five children, who were treated for BBTD in the Pediatric Dentistry clinic of the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine between 1995-1997 under GA (34 children) or sedation (31 children). The parents of these children agreed to attend our clinic for recall examination 13 months post treatment following a telephone conversation. Frankl's behavioral scale and the sitting pattern were recorded for each child. In the sedation group, Frankl's scores of the present visits were then compared to the scores recorded at the initial examination visit that were obtained from the dental records. The accompanying parents were asked to note the number of visits to the dentist in the past two years, and to complete Corah's dental anxiety scale (DAS). No difference was observed between the children in both groups. Most of the children in the GA and in the sedation groups sat alone on the dental chair, without the assistance of the parents. Parents of the sedation group showed higher scores than the GA group in the total DAS (9.35 and 8.90 respectively), however these differences were not statistically significant. It is concluded that children treated for BBTD under GA or under sedation at a very young age behave similarly in a follow-up examination nearly 13 months postoperatively.

Anesthesia, Dental↗
PubMed1999

Dental anxiety among patients prior to different dental treatments.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate dental anxiety among patients anticipating various dental treatments. One hundred and eighty patients who were scheduled for specific dental treatments at the School of Dental Medicine, the Hebrew University--Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel participated in the study. Patients were anticipating one of the following dental procedures: scaling, filling, root canal therapy, preparation for crown, periodontal surgery or extraction. For each of the six dental treatments, 30 patients were selected at random. Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) questionnaires were completed by the patients while waiting for their treatments. The results indicated that extraction caused the highest score, followed by scaling (though not significantly). Patients in the 35 to 49 year age group showed the highest total DAS scores. Women demonstrated higher total DAS scores than men. The relative influence of gender, type of treatment and age on the anxiety scores is demonstrated by using logistic regression, which revealed gender to have the strongest impact on the DAS scores, followed by the type of treatment and age.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Reframing--reappraising an old behavioral technique.

Successful reframing converts notions of unpleasantness to notions that are acceptable to the parties involved. However, the basic precursor to successful reframing is that the message conveyed must be consistent with the individuals 'meta' way of thinking and consistent with concepts of reality.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1999

Morphometric variables of the primary second molar in children with Down syndrome.

Thirty-seven second primary molar teeth of children with DS were examined from casts of 6 girls and 8 boys aged 7-14 years, obtained from two centers for DS in Jerusalem and Haifa, Israel. One hundred and eighty-two primary second molars of normal children were examined from dental casts of 26 boys and 21 girls, which were taken for routine orthodontic evaluation. The following variables were examined on the teeth: all the inter-cuspal distances, the angle between the cusps, the area within the line connecting cusp tips, maximal buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions, maximal perimeter of the occlusal table, maximal area of the occlusal table, maximal perimeter of the tooth crown from occlusal view, and maximal area from occlusal view. The results indicate that the second primary molars in individuals with DS are generally larger in the external dimensions (bl, md) than teeth of normal children, with larger inter-cuspal distances ('internal dimensions'). No significant change in the angles between the cusps were recorded. Thus, it seems that DS second primary molars retain the same cuspal shape of normal teeth, but with larger proportions. Sexual dimorphism was found to be more pronounced in the DS children. It is suggested that in DS, there may be a transitory acceleration in mitotic activity of developing enamel organs at about the early stage of gestation, which persists during the initial stages of mineralization of the primary teeth. The initial acceleration would then be followed by the widely recognized retardation in growth, reflected in smaller permanent teeth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Assessing an active distracting technique for local anesthetic injection in pediatric dental patients: repeated deep breathing and blowing out air.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of an active distraction technique that included the repeated breathing and blowing out of air on the pain behavior and facial display of children receiving local anesthesia injections prior to dental treatment. Fifty children between the ages of 3 and 7 years and who were undergoing dental treatment in a pediatric dental clinic were selected for this study. The children were randomly assigned to an intervention group or to a control group. The intervention group of 25 children was told to repeatedly breathe deeply before and during the administration of the injection and to blow the air out. The 25 control group children were given the injection in the slow manner without the repeated breathing and air blowing. Children in the intervention group demonstrated significantly less eyelid squeezing (P = 0.04). Also, more children in the intervention group than in the control group significantly expressed their wish to have the same technique used during the second visit (p = 0.033). Children in the intervention group generally demonstrated less hand and torso movements, less eyebrow bulging, and expressed less pain than in the control group. Boys significantly reported less pain after the injection. The results of this study indicate some advantages of distraction techniques (deep breaths and blowing air) prior to and during the administration of a local anesthetic injection in children.

Anesthesia, Dental↗
PubMed1999

Behavior of dental phobic residents of large and small communities.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize differences among dental phobic patients in past dental experience between residents of standard metropolitan areas (SMSA), and non-SMSA. Over a period of 1 year, the records of 41 dental phobic patients were evaluated. These patients were attending a special Israeli Defense Force clinic designed to treat dental phobics. The mean time since the last routine visit in both groups was 12.42 +/- 6.54 years and the mean age at which the patients had had their last routine dental treatment was 14.56 +/- 4.62 years. Over a two-year period prior to the present visit, the main reason for SMSA patients to seek any dental care was dental pain (P = 0.015). All other variables that compared the dental behavior of SMSA patients with non-SMSA patients showed no difference. The findings suggest that the availability of dentists in the SMSA did not increase the seeking of dental care. The fact that SMSA residents were more likely to seek care because of pain suggests that residents of non-SMSA areas were more likely to tolerate pain without seeking care. These findings underscore the need for proper behavioral and pain management during childhood.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Morphometric analysis of developing crowns of maxillary primary second molars and permanent first molars in humans.

The purpose of this study was firstly to characterize the changes occurring in size and form of the mineralizing maxillary second primary molar and first permanent molar crowns, and secondly to determine if similar changes in size and form characterize enamel apposition in the crowns of these teeth. Twenty-five primary second molars and 20 maxillary permanent first molars at various stages of development, found in archaeological excavations in Israel, were examined for a number of measured variables using image analyser software. Teeth were divided into two groups according to their stage of development: stage I included all teeth at an early stage of development in which mesiobuccal-cusp height was less than 5 mm for the primary molar and 5.9 mm for the permanent molar; stage 2 included all teeth in later stages of development where mesiobuccal-cusp height was greater than these values. In the primary molar, a significant increase was found between the two stages in almost all variables. Significant correlations were also found between all intercusp distances and the external variables. Strong correlations between height of the mesiobuccal cusp and all external and internal variables were noted in stage 1, but fewer in stage 2. In the permanent tooth, no increase was observed in intercusp distances and very few correlations were found between and among the variables. The results suggest that a change in the shape of the maxillary primary second molar occurs during formation, with the lingual cusp tips moving lingually and distally, and the distobuccal cusp tips moving distally. No change occurs in the shape of the maxillary permanent first molar during crown formation. Growth of the maxillary primary second and permanent first molar crowns occurs in 'bursts' of development.

Age Determination by Teeth↗
PubMed1998

Dental anxiety among patients undergoing endodontic treatment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dental anxiety expressed among patients undergoing endodontic treatment with respect to some social and dental parameters. The dental records of 98 patients, 42 men and 56 women who were referred for root canal treatment to an endodontist, were examined. Patients completed a Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS). Dental experience, time of last visit to the dentist, and symptoms of tooth were recorded. The mean DAS scores were higher than scores reported in other countries (9.4 +/- 3.3). Women demonstrated higher dental anxiety than men. Patients with higher education demonstrated lower dental anxiety. No difference was found between patients experienced in endodontic treatment and those who were not, patients who suffered previous pain in the treated tooth and patients who did not. Women in their mid-thirties to mid-forties and men in their twenties expressed the highest DAS scores.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Modified cuspal relationships of mandibular molar teeth in children with Down's syndrome.

A total of 50 permanent mandibular 1st molars of 26 children with Down's syndrome (DS) were examined from dental casts and 59 permanent mandibular 1st molars of normal children were examined from 33 individuals. The following measurements were performed on both right and left molars (teeth 46 and 36 respectively): (a) the intercusp distances (mb-db, mb-d, mb-dl, db-ml, db-d, db-dl, db-ml, d-dl, d-ml, dl-ml); (b) the db-mb-ml, mb-db-ml, mb-ml-db, d-mb-dl, mb-d-dl, mb-dl-d angles; (c) the area of the pentagon formed by connecting the cusp tips. All intercusp distances were significantly smaller in the DS group. Stepwise logistic regression, applied to all the intercusp distances, was used to design a multivariate probability model for DS and normals. A model based on 2 distances only, mb-dl and mb-db, proved sufficient to discriminate between the teeth of DS and the normal population. The model for tooth 36 for example was as follows: p(DS) = (e(30.6-5.6(mb-dl)+25(mb-db)))/(1 + e(30.6 5.6(mb-dl)+25(mb db))). A similar model for tooth 46 was also created, as well as a model which incorporated both teeth. With respect to the angles, significant differences between DS and normals were found in 3 out of the 6 angles which were measured: the d-mb-dl angle was smaller than in normals, the mb-d-dl angle was higher, and the mb-dl-d angle was smaller. The dl cusp was located closer to the centre of the tooth. The change in size occurs at an early stage, while the change in shape occurs in a later stage of tooth formation in the DS population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Response to nitrous-oxide and oxygen among dental phobic patients.

The present study evaluated the records of 27 patients (20 men, 7 women) who were treated under nitrous-oxide (N2O) and oxygen sedation due to extremely high dental anxiety. Corah's DAS and Kleinknecht's dental fear survey were completed by the patients. Patients who responded positively to the gas were categorised as N2O+ patients, whereas those who responded negatively were categorised as N2O- patients. A mean DAS score of 19.3 +/- 1.6 was observed for the entire population. No significant difference was found between N2O+ patients and N2O- patients in any DAS item, nor in the total scores (19.4 +/- 1.35 and 18.67 +/- 2.24 respectively). Only in answer to the question, 'Has fear of dental work ever caused you to cancel or not appear for an appointment?' were the scores of N2O- patients significantly higher than of N2O+ patients. No differences were found between patients who reported pain as the source for their dental anxiety and those who did not; between patients with gag reflex and those without, between patients who had never had any dental treatment and those who had, and between patients who required two or three appointments before administration of the gas with respect to successful treatment under N2O and oxygen sedation. Among the N2O- group, significantly more patients did not attend for two appointments or more. The results suggest that lack of keeping previous dental appointments may indicate patients' possible negative response to nitrous-oxide and oxygen sedation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Attitudes of parents towards their presence in the operatory during dental treatments to their children.

The purpose of the present study was to assess attitudes of parents toward their presence in the operatory, while their children undergo dental treatment. One hundred and four adults, who accompanied their children to dental treatments were asked to complete a questionnaire before the dental visits. The survey consisted of three sections sociodemographic information of the children and family, sociodemographic information of the parents, and preference of parents regarding staying with their children in the operatory, and willingness to assist the dentist when the behavior of their child could not be completely handled by the dentist. Most of the parents expressed a wish to be present in the operatory (70.2%). No sociodemographic variable of the parents or children was found to significantly influence the attitude of the parents toward their presence in the operatory. Most parents (58%) said they were willing to assist should the dentist not succeed to manage their children. Our results demonstrate a general trend among parents to be with their children in the operatory when they undergo dental treatment and to actively assist the dentist when behavioral problems are encountered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Children's sense of pleasure from nitrous oxide therapy during dental visits.

The purpose of the present study was to measure feelings of pleasure by children who were undergoing dental treatment under nitrous oxide therapy during consecutive treatment sessions, and at a six-month follow-up visit. Fifty-two children between the ages of 3 and 5 years (mean age 4.3 +/- 1.06) children, who required two or more operative treatment visits participated in the study. At the conclusion of the initial treatment and after sufficient time for the effects of the nitrous oxide therapy to subside, patients were asked about their feelings from the gas. At subsequent visits, patients were asked the same questions at the beginning of each treatment session. The same was done at the beginning of a six-month follow-up visit. In general, there was a decrease in pleasure among those who experienced three or more visits. Extraction, in addition to operative treatment, did not result in a decrease in the sense of pleasure from nitrous oxide therapy. A similar response was observed in the recall visits when the reactions of the children were compared with the reactions at the last dental appointment. It is concluded that the sense of pleasure is strengthened through the second visit, but that the sense of pleasure and ability to cope is overwhelmed by the inconvenience of the dental treatment at the third visit.

Anesthesia, Dental↗
PubMed1997

Morphometric variables of developing primary maxillary first molar crowns in humans.

The following morphometric variables were examined in 18 primary maxillary first molars at various stages of development, collected from archaeological excavation sites in Israel: perimeters and areas from the occlusal view; buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions and intercusp distances; the angle between the line joining the distobuccal, mesiobuccal and lingual cusps; and the height of the mesiobuccal cusp. An image-analysing technique comprising a photographic camera, a monitor, a computer with appropriate software and a digital caliper was used. Significant correlations were demonstrated between most variables. Teeth were divided into two groups according to their stage of development: stage one included all teeth at an early stage of development in which mesiobuccal cusp height was less than 5 mm; stage two included all teeth in later stages of development where mesiobuccal cusp height was greater than 5 mm. All external variables showed an increase in size between the two stages (while, among the internal ones, only the angle between the cusps showed a very small increase). The small sample is a limitation but the results suggest the following: (1) growth of the primary maxillary molar crown occurs with 'bursts' of development ; and (2) a change in the shape of the crown occurs during its formation where the mesiobuccal cusp moves buccally and distally, and the lingual cusp moves mesially.

History, Ancient↗
PubMed1997

Acetylcholinesterase promotes regeneration of neurites in cultured adult neurons of Aplysia.

Aplysia, a marine mollusc, has significant amounts of acetylcholinesterase in its hemolymph, reaching maximum levels in the adults with reproductive maturity [Srivatsan M., et al. (1992) J. comp. Physiol. 162, 29-37]. Since hemolymph of mature Aplysia is neurotrophic to Aplysia neurons in culture [Schacher S. and Proshanski E. (1983) J. Neurosci. 3, 2403-2413], we examined whether acetylcholinesterase is a hemolymph neurotrophic factor. Dopaminergic neurons from the pedal ganglia of young adult Aplysia were maintained in culture in defined medium or defined medium supplemented with hemolymph. After 24 h, neurons in defined medium supplemented with hemolymph were well attached to the substratum and exhibited multiple, long neurites. In contrast, neurons in defined medium alone attached poorly and exhibited one or two short neurites. When acetylcholinesterase was inhibited with a specific, membrane-impermeable inhibitor (1,5-bis(4-allyldimethylammoniumphenyl)-pentan-3-one dibromide) which binds to its catalytic and peripheral anionic sites, the neurotrophic effect of hemolymph was significantly reduced. However, inhibition of the catalytic site alone with membrane impermeable echothiophate still resulted in enhanced neurite growth. An analogue of acetylcholine, carbachol, which is not hydrolysed by acetylcholinesterase, did not interfere with neurite growth when added to the supplemented medium. Acetylcholinesterase isolated from the hemolymph and highly purified human acetylcholinesterase also promoted neurite growth in Aplysia neurons. These results show that i) acetylcholinesterase circulating in the hemolymph promotes neurite growth of adult neurons in culture; ii) the growth promoting action of acetylcholinesterase is independent of its function of hydrolysing acetylcholine and iii) the peripheral anionic site of acetylcholinesterase appears to be involved in neurite regeneration.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1997

The influence of a patient-management course to dental hygiene students on the dental anxiety of their patients.

This study investigated the effect of teaching dental hygiene students a course in caregiver-patient relationships on their patients' dental anxiety, and patients' feelings toward known anxiety-provoking stimuli. The study group (twenty-five men and twenty-five women) was treated by a class of dental hygiene students following a behavioral course given after the first visit. The control group (twenty-four men, twenty-six women) was treated by another class without the intervention. Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and a twelve-item questionnaire identifying specific anxiety-provoking situations were completed by the patients before initial visit and after the third visit. A significant reduction in DAS within the study group was observed after the intervention. In both groups, women demonstrated higher anxiety. No significant difference was found in the twelve-item questionnaire after intervention in both groups. These findings suggest that a four-hour behavioral course to a class of dental hygiene students was an influencing factor in reducing their patients' levels of dental anxiety.

Chi-Square Distribution↗