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Biomedical subjects

L W Blank

Publications and source records attributed to L W Blank.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

A comparison of two prophylaxis angles: disposable and autoclavable.

In a clinical trial, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of stain, plaque and debris removal, as well as patient and hygienist acceptance, of the disposable prophylaxis angle vs. the autoclavable prophylaxis angle. Thirty patients received a dental prophylaxis by hygienists for up to 45 minutes. A clinician performed blinded pre- and post-prophylaxis evaluations for stain, plaque and debris. A matched pairs t-test determined significant differences (P < .05) between groups. Significantly less stain, plaque and debris remained following use of the disposable vs. the autoclavable angle.

Dental Equipment↗
PubMed1997

Carbon dioxide laser for de-epithelialization of periodontal flaps.

Regeneration of mineralized and soft connective tissue components of the attachment apparatus is the main goal in the treatment of periodontal diseases. Often, apical migration of epithelium (long junctional epithelium) effectively prevents the formation of bone and connective tissue attachment after periodontal surgery. The purpose of the present study was to compare conventional periodontal surgery combined with carbon dioxide laser and conventional periodontal surgery alone with respect to epithelial elimination and degree of necrosis of mucoperiosteal flaps. After signing a consent form, five patients with at least two comparable bilateral periodontal defects needing pocket elimination surgery participated in this study. The investigators randomly divided each side into test and control sites. Each patient received oral hygiene instruction and initial therapy prior to surgery. At surgery, the test site received a sulcular incision and carbon dioxide laser de-epithelialization of the outer and inner aspects of the flap. The control group received reverse bevel incision only. The surgeon performed open flap debridement on all teeth. At the time of surgery, the surgeon did a biopsy of each site and submitted specimens for histologic evaluation. A matched pairs t-test was used to analyze the data. The results show significant differences between the carbon dioxide laser and reverse bevel incision with respect to sulcular (P < or = 0.025) and gingival (external) (P < or = 0.01) flap surface epithelial elimination and tissue necrosis (P < or = 0.005). These results should be replicated with a larger number of subjects. The carbon dioxide laser eliminated sulcular and gingival (external) epithelium without disturbing underlying connective tissue. This finding supports the concept that the carbon dioxide wavelength has little or no effect on tissues beyond the target. However, neither laser nor blade eliminated all the epithelium. Researchers observed chronic inflammation in the control and test sites, with a predominance of plasma cells. Lining the sulcular and gingival (external) lased areas, investigators found coagulation necrosis covered by fibrin and coagulated blood. The laser appears to effectively remove epithelium at the time of surgery; however, future long-term, well-controlled quantitative histologic studies are needed to evaluate the effect of repeated carbon dioxide laser de-epithelialization of the gingival (external) surface of mucoperiosteal flaps at intervals during the healing period.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1995

A clinical evaluation of a resin-modified. Glass ionomer restorative material.

Compomers, resin-modified glass ionomers, were developed to improve the physical properties and clinical handling of glass ionomers. Compomers can be designed to be light-activated and used as restoratives or liners. This article reports data collected up to 12 months after placement of both compomer restorations and liners and is part of an ongoing study evaluating the performance of this material. Based on this data, the authors conclude that this new generation of light-activated glass-ionomer restoratives provides clinical results comparable to those recorded for composite resins at 12 months.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1994

The relationship between first presentation and subsequent observations in heavy calculus formers.

There are few studies that provide information on the natural history of calculus formation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between pre-scaling baseline calculus scores, the time since the last prophylaxis before baseline, and scores 8 weeks after scaling in a group of presumed heavy calculus formers. Scaling and polishing were completed on 203 subjects with Volpe-Manhold Index (VMI) calculus scores of 7 or higher, and the date of the last prophylaxis was noted. All were re-examined after 3 weeks. The group included 45.8% males and 54.2% females; the mean age was 41.74 (range = 24 to 72). Racial mix was 57.6% African-American, 39.9% white, and 2.5% other. The mean baseline VMI score was 24.07 (SD = 15.38, range = 7-97). The VMI scores were directly related (P = < .001) to the date of the last scaling and were highest in subjects whose last scaling was more than 2 years earlier (33.67) and least in subjects whose last scaling was less than 6 months previous (15.12). At 8 weeks the mean VMI score was 9.96 (SD = 7.30; range = 0-41). The VMI scores at this time were inversely related (P = < .05) to the date of the last scaling before baseline and were lowest in subjects whose last scaling was more than 2 years earlier (9.07) and highest in subjects with the last scaling less than 6 months previous to baseline (13.07).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Clinical evaluation of castable ceramic veneers.

Laboratory fabricated veneering of discolored or malformed anterior teeth is becoming a widely used technique. Etched Dicor and Dicor Plus ceramic veneers cemented with Dicor Light Activated Cement with Fluoride is one technique available to the practitioner. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of castable ceramic veneers and the cementation system. Forty-three Dicor and 18 Dicor Plus veneers were placed in 12 patients. An intraenamel preparation was completed with a bullet-nosed diamond bur in an ultra-speed handpiece with air-water spray, and a polyvinylsiloxane impression was made. All veneers were fabricated on dies by the same laboratory technician and placed by one practitioner. The restorations were examined by two evaluators at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year, using modified Ryge criteria.

Ceramics↗
PubMed1991

A 5- and 8-year clinical evaluation of a posterior composite resin.

Class I and II posterior composite resin (Ful-Fil) restorations were placed and were clinically evaluated, according to the US Public Health Service criteria, at baseline, 6 months, 5 years, and 8 years. At 5 years/8 years, alpha scores were assigned to the following percentages of restorations: 16%/31% for color match; 65%/62% for marginal discoloration; 74%/54% for cavosurface marginal discoloration; 100%/100% for axial contour; and 81%/65% for anatomic form. At 5 years/8 years, 56%/33% of Class II restorations had tight proximal contacts; 45%/44% had light contacts; and 0%/22% had no contacts. Transient postoperative sensitivity was reported in 6% of the restorations. Indirect evaluation indicated that there was an average of 64 +/- 35 microns of wear at baseline (because of overfinishing), 105 +/- 67 microns at 6 months, 217 +/- 76 microns at 5 years, and 253 +/- 82 microns at 8 years. At 5 years, three of the restorations, and at 8 years, four additional restorations, were clinically unacceptable because of recurrent caries and/or excessive wear. Final success rates of 90% and 77% at 5 and 8 years, respectively, were calculated.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Urgent treatment in operative dentistry.

This article has described the treatment for a variety of restorative situations requiring urgent treatment. Successful management of these situations begins with a thorough knowledge of their possible causes and is reinforced by a careful history and a complete examination using all available diagnostic tools. By applying modern treatment modalities we have the ability to reduce the pain and discomfort associated with urgencies classified as restorative in nature.

Dental Occlusion↗
PubMed1979

The gingival response to well-finished composite resin restorations.

Within the limits of this study, the following conclusions are made: 1. Well-finished and contoured composite resin restorations do not adversely affect the health of the gingiva. 2. The gingiva exhibits less inflammatory response to a well-finished and contoured composite resin restoration than to an open carious lesion. 3. The gingival inflammatory changes which do occur are independent of the presence of well-finished and contoured composite resin restorations. 4. Observation over an extended period of time is necessary to determine if composite resin restorations ultimately become gingival irritants.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses' oral health assessments of nursing home residents pre- and post-training: a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to determine if instruction in how to perform the MDS (Minimum Data Set) oral health assessment and RAP (Resident Assessment Protocol) Summary required by federal regulations will improve nurses' accuracy of the assessments. Fifty residents, admitted within 90 days before a training lecture, were assessed by 18 nurses. A 30-minute training session demonstrated how to perform an oral examination, including hands-on practice under a dentist's supervision. Seven to ten days after the lecture, the nurses re-examined the same residents. These assessments were compared with the admission assessments and a dentist's findings (reference). The results of this study indicate that a 30-minute training session made a significant difference in improving nurses' accuracy in completing the assessments with regard to oral health status and treatment need.

Aged↗