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Biomedical subjects

H Worthington

Publications and source records attributed to H Worthington.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Sugar, drinks, deprivation and dental caries in 14-year-old children in the north west of England in 1995.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between dental caries and reported drink consumption. DESIGN: A cross-sectional caries prevalence study including reported drink consumption. SETTING: Secondary schools across the former North Western Region of England. SUBJECTS: A random sample of 6,014, 14-year-old children. RESULTS: The mean DMFT of the sample was 2.74. The reported mean weekly consumption of cans of carbonated drinks was 5.66, with a range of zero to 42. There was a significant gender difference in drink consumption and a significant correlation between the reported weekly consumption of cans of carbonated drinks and DMFT. Logistic regression analysis showed tea drinkers had a significantly lower DMFT than coffee drinkers and that this effect was independent of the addition of sugar and the number of cans of drink consumed. Reported use of sugar-free carbonated drinks was not associated with better dental health. CONCLUSIONS: Reported consumption of sugared drinks and carbonated drinks was associated with significantly higher levels of dental caries. Drinking tea was associated with lower levels of caries. Sugar-free drinks were not associated with better dental health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The prevention of failed appointments in general dental practice.

AIM: To identify those patients most likely to fail to attend dental appointments. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the attendance pattern of patients. SETTING: A National Health Service practice in Kent. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Dental records of 1000 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data (age, gender, plaque score, treatment planned, whether the patient was exempt from charges, distance between their home and the practice) were related to attendance history. RESULTS: 34.8% of patients receiving income support and 24.8% of children failed to attend compared with 18.6% of non-exempt adults. Differences between non-exempt adults and children [per cent difference 6.2%, CI = (0.6%, 11.8%)] and for those receiving income support [per cent difference 16.2%, CI = (6.2%, 26.2%)] were significant (P < 0.05). A significant improvement in the appointment failure rate was achieved using telephone reminders. CONCLUSIONS: Patients exempt from dental charges (mainly children and those receiving income support) were more likely to have failed to attend for their appointment. Whereas the attendance of children may be outside their control in some cases, we hypothesise that factors such as poverty in the group receiving income support may be an important influence in whether these patients feel able to attend for their appointments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Panoramic mandibular index as a radiomorphometric tool: an assessment of precision.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the intra-observer repeatability and inter-observer reproducibility of the measurements used in deriving the Panoramic Mandibular Index (PMI). METHODS: Two observers measured 21 dental panoramic radiographs independently of each other, both repeating the measurements after a period of 1 week. The measurements were then evaluated using a number of statistical methods. RESULTS: All sets of compared measurements, both within and between observers, demonstrated significant positive correlations, with no significant difference between measurements Precision, however, was poor and variable. CONCLUSION: The main difficulties in obtaining consistency in repeated measurements were related to individual morphology and radiodensity. In order to improve the validity of the PMI as a measure of local bone loss, repeatability of the measurements should be improved. Suggestions as to how this, might be achieved are discussed.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1997

Predicting which adult patients will need treatment over the next year.

This prospective study was conducted to determine factors important in predicting which regularly attending adult patients would receive first, restorations or extractions for any reason (receiving treatment) and, second, restorations or extractions undertaken specifically for caries (receiving treatment related to caries). Baseline and incremental clinical data were obtained from 24 general dental practitioners on a group of their regularly attending, dentate adult patients over a 12-month period. The patients completed a postal questionnaire with questions relating to dental health behaviour, attitudes, knowledge, and social factors. Complete data were obtained from 2553 patients. Thirty-one variables were identified as potential predictors for the two dependent variables receiving treatment and receiving treatment related to caries, and logistic regression models were fitted. Receiving treatment was associated with having fewer sound teeth and more anterior fillings, posterior fillings and crowns (P < 0.001). The dentist's prediction of the need for treatment related to caries and the patient's own prediction of the need for a filling were also important in the model (P < 0.001). Some of these variables, together with having received recent medical treatment and taking sugar in tea or coffee were also found to predict treatment related to caries. The model for receiving treatment related to caries was more successful at predicting the patient's individual risk but the model for receiving treatment was slightly better at classifying patients into whether or not they received treatment. It is reassuring that the common assumptions made by the dental practitioners of their patient's risk have received statistical validation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Measurement of tooth mobility in children using the periotest.

This study investigated the use of the periotest for measuring tooth mobility of upper permanent incisor teeth in children. A total of 160 children, with equal numbers of boys and girls aged between 9 and 16 years had two periotest readings made on their four upper incisor teeth. In all 1,280 measurements were collected and analysed. The results showed that the second periotest readings were statistically significantly higher than the first. Periotest readings were lower for girls than boys of the same ages. The periotest may have a place as a diagnostic tool in paediatric dentistry and dental traumatology, however, further research is necessary before the periotest can be used to assist in the diagnosis and assessment of healing of traumatised teeth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Dietary intake of micronutrient antioxidants in relation to blood levels in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To document habitual intakes of micronutrient antioxidants in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in light of studies reporting subnormal levels of ascorbate and selenium in this patient group. METHODS: Dietary intakes of vitamin C, selenium, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and sulfur amino acid precursors of glutathione were assessed using the 7 day weighed record in 12 patients with SSc and in 12 healthy control subjects. The intakes of the first 4 substances were examined in relation to plasma/serum levels, while intakes of sulfur amino acids were examined in relation to urinary inorganic sulfate. RESULTS: Antioxidant and sulfur amino acid intakes were similar in patients and controls, although the patients had lower levels of selenium (median 74 compared to 87 milligrams in controls; p = 0.014) and of vitamin C in plasma (median 6.0 compared to 11.1 milligrams/l in controls; p = 0.08). Inorganic sulfate concentration in urine was similar in patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that reduced blood levels of the water soluble antioxidants selenium and ascorbic acid in patients with SSc are not due to dietary deficiency. Other explanations must therefore be sought.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Oral health index.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Health Status Indicators↗
PubMed1995

A radical view of gallstone aetiogenesis.

It is proposed that gallstones stem from insufficiency of micronutrient antioxidants relative to the load of oxidants and/or oxidation-prone substrates within hepatocytes in such a way that ancillary hepatobiliary resources, including bilirubin with lactoferrin and mucin, are mobilized to combat oxidative stress but inadvertently promote lithogenesis. Aberrant activities of hepatic cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases and of haem oxygenase are integral to this template, because differential inhibition or activation of these enzymes would help to rationalize the spectrum of human gallstone composition and also the different outcomes when animals are fed the same lithogenic diets. The hypothesis is based on a decade of work on another lithogenic disease, chronic pancreatitis. It accommodates observations on human and experimental gallstones, it is testable and, as shown by studies of chronic pancreatitis, has implications for primary disease prevention.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The effect of three dentifrices and a dental gel on plaque formation: a six week clinical study.

A six week single-blind clinical study was conducted to compare the effect of three dentifrices and a dental gel on the formation of dental plaque. On the criterion of their baseline plaque scores, male and female adult subjects were allocated to groups by restricted randomisation. The subjects used their assigned dentifrice twice a day and were examined for the presence of plaque after three and six weeks use. The results showed that the dental gel significantly reduced plaque when compared with the three dentifrices. There was no significant difference among the dentifrices with regard to plaque formation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Investigation of the children referred to a dental hospital with avulsed permanent incisor teeth.

The management of children referred to a dental hospital because of avulsed permanent incisor teeth was considered in a retrospective study. The group consisted of 49 children between the ages of 6 and 14 years. Most of the children (60%) had their avulsed teeth stored dry while only 7% had them stored in milk, and 19% in saliva. Following avulsion the majority of the children attended a dental surgeon or general hospital. Twenty-three children contacted health care personnel within 30 minutes but only 13 had their teeth replanted in this time period. Thirty-six children had 46 incisors replanted. No relationship was demonstrated between the place or personnel who replanted the teeth, and a successful outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A radiographic investigation into bone resorption of mandibular alveolar bone in elderly edentulous adults.

Clinical experience suggests that severe alveolar bone resorption can limit the success of complete denture wearing. The loss of bone mineral with age occurs throughout the skeleton, which contributes to the high incidence of bone fractures later in life. Women are more commonly affected by some of these fractures. The decline in serum oestrogen concentration following the menopause has been implicated in the aetiology of these fractures. We have found that age is important in determining the bone resorption observed in females but not in males.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Variation in meals and sleep-activity patterns in aged subjects; its relevance to circadian rhythm studies.

The study was performed upon a sample of aged and non-institutionalized subjects. Information was obtained by questionnaires and diaries on personal factors during a typical week. A random subset was subjected to a more detailed analysis of the composition of their meals. Results showed that increasing age was correlated with: a decreased day-by-day variability in an individual's time of retiring, rising and eating meals; earlier sleep times; increased frequency of daytime naps and nocturnal awakenings; and decreased physical activity. These results occurred both in subjects living alone and in those living with company. Day-by-day differences in the composition of meals tended to decrease with age. When differences between individuals were considered then these tended to increase with age. Some implications of these findings for studies of circadian rhythmicity in aged subjects--in whom the timing of circadian rhythms becomes more erratic and amplitude falls--are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

The effectiveness of two test dentifrices on dental plaque formation: a 1-week clinical study.

A 1-week, double-blind clinical study was conducted to compare the effects on plaque formation of two test dentifrices with a placebo dentifrice. Male and female adult subjects received an oral prophylaxis and were randomly allocated to three study groups. The subjects used the dentifrice three times daily and were examined for the presence of plaque after seven days. The results indicated that one of the two test dentifrices, containing 0.3% triclosan, 2% of a copolymer, and 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate in an insoluble sodium metaphosphate abrasive system, significantly reduced plaque formation by 16% when compared to the placebo dentifrice.

Adult↗