Public support for fluoridation: the role of the dentist in avoiding apathy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
M A Lennon
Publications and source records attributed to M A Lennon.
Pre-transplant gingival hyperplasia predicts severe cyclosporin-induced gingival overgrowth in renal transplant patients.
The relationship between the pre-transplant periodontal status and the development of post-transplant gingival overgrowth was investigated in a longitudinal study. The periodontal condition of 35 patients was examined on 2 occasions while they were on the transplant waiting list and then at 4-6, 10-12, 16 and 20 weeks post-transplant. At each visit the plaque index, the bleeding index and a pocket index (CPITN) were measured. Dental impressions were taken of the pre- and post-transplant gingival condition and used to make stone models which were used to score the gingival overgrowth index (GOI). The patients divided into 3 distinct groups having severe (n=13), mild (n=16) or no post-transplant gingival overgrowth (n=6). Only 1 of the patients had taken cyclosporin prior to inclusion into the study. All the patients who developed severe overgrowth had evidence of gingival hyperplasia before the transplant. There was no difference in the serum cyclosporin levels between the three groups (chi2<2.28, p>0.319). Furthermore, there was no statistical difference for any of the periodontal indices. This study indicates that the hyperplastic gingival inflammatory response of some individuals appears to be potentiated by cyclosporin resulting in severe post-transplant overgrowth. In other patients the same reaction may allow the fibroblastic activity to occur to an extent where it produces a mild clinically apparent overgrowth.
Chi-Square Distribution↗
Isolation of bioactive compounds from Helix aspersa nerve tissue and the effect of pQPPLPRYamide on heart, esophagus and central neurons of H. aspersa and rectum of Anodonta woodiana.
1. Both acetone and methanol extraction was used to isolate bioactive compounds from 1000 Helix aspersa brains. 2. Seven compounds were isolated of which four were identified as follows: Ha-1, 5-hydroxytryptamine; Ha-3, GSPYFVamide; Ha-4, pQPPLPRYamide; Ha-5, SGYLAFPRMamide. There was insufficient material to identify Ha-2, Ha-6 and Ha-7. 3. Ha-4, pQPPLPRYamide, was found to excite the heart of H. aspersa, relax the esophagus and both excite (mainly) and inhibit central neurons. In addition, this peptide contracted the rectum of Anodonta woodiana. 4. It is concluded that pQPPLPRYamide is an example of a new molluscan peptide family, designated as PRYamide.
Animals↗
Oral heath status of 12-year-old children in Nepal in 1994.
A survey of twelve-year-old Nepalese children was undertaken in 1994 according to the WHO pathfinder methodology and examination criteria. The study sample was drawn from randomly selected schools within the capital city, and two randomly selected urban settings, together with children drawn from schools in four randomly selected villages within rural Nepal. Three hundred and sixty children were examined. Drinking water samples were obtained from all sources at each examination site and subsequently analysed for fluoride content. The overall caries experience in the country was found to be very low or low. Analysis of drinking water samples revealed that with the exception of one town in the south of the country, all sites had low fluoride levels.
Cariostatic Agents↗
Risk factors associated with tooth wear in teenagers: a case control study.
OBJECTIVE: To measure the association of various aetiological risk factors with tooth wear in 15-year-old school children. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A case control study conducted one year after a prevalence study (Milosevic et al., 1994). The 80 children, identified from the prevalence study with palatally and/or occlusally exposed dentine, acted as cases. The control group were systematically selected from every tenth name on year registers. The only matching criteria were age, gender and school. All children answered a questionnaire detailing the risk factors and the tooth wear was further scored by one examiner (AM). SETTING: Ten randomly selected schools in Liverpool. PARTICIPANTS: 102 children participated out of a possible 160, an overall response rate of 64 per cent. Of the 54 controls, six had developed tooth wear into dentine during the 12-month interval following the prevalence study and were therefore excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: The odds ratio on 37 matched pairs was 1.7 (95% CI 0.72, 3.87) for grinding and clenching teeth and 2.6 (95% CI 0.91, 7.45) for carbonated drink consumption. Eating pickled food other than pickled onions was significantly more frequent in cases than in controls. Other potential aetiological factors which were not significantly associated with tooth wear in this group of children included stomach upsets, frequency of tooth brushing, weight/body shape and drinking fruit juice or using ketchup/sauces. Conditional logistic regression analysis of the paired data showed that carbonated beverage consumption was on the borderline of significance (P = 0.055) as a predictor for tooth wear in teenagers either on its own or allowing for the effect of tooth grinding. CONCLUSIONS: The frequent consumption of carbonated beverages is probably related to tooth wear. Future case control studies should seek to incorporate around 100 to 160 cases.
Adolescent↗
Dental health related behaviours in toddlers in low and high caries areas in St Helens, north west England.
The aim of this investigation was to compare the dental health behaviour of toddlers in low caries (A) and high caries (B) communities in St Helens. Parents of 60 children aged between 17 and 20 months in community A, and 68 in community B were interviewed at home. Using 24-hour dietary recall, sugar intake was recorded as sugar episodes-a sugar episode being a half-hour period during which any amount of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) was consumed. Exposure to fluoride was recorded according to the number of times fluoride toothpaste was used and whether a fluoride supplement was given in the 24-hour period. The median sugar episode score for community A was 6 per 24-hour period (interquartile range 5 to 8), compared with 10.5 (7 to 13) for community B. Sixty per cent of parents in community A compared with 37% in community B reported brushing their child's teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. The respective figures for use of fluoride supplements were 12% and 6%. It is concluded that patterns of dental health behaviour are established early in children's lives, and that marked differences exist between communities within the same district. Recommendations are made for oral health promotion policy.
Dental Care↗
Enamel defects in the deciduous dentition as a potential predictor of defects in the permanent dentition of 8- and 9-year-old children in fluoridated Cheshire, England.
It is claimed that dental fluorosis in both deciduous and permanent teeth is increasing in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. What is unclear is whether fluoride-induced enamel opacities in the deciduous dentition are associated with the subsequent appearance of enamel defects in the permanent dentition. The aim of this study was to establish whether a relationship existed between the presence of diffuse enamel defects on the deciduous molars and permanent incisors of schoolchildren who were lifetime residents in an optimally fluoridated community in Cheshire, England. The dentitions of eight-and nine-year-old children were examined by two examiners, each unaware of the findings of the other. There was a significant increased risk of diffuse enamel defects in the permanent incisors for those children who presented with diffuse defects on their first deciduous molars (Relative Risk, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 2.0) or second deciduous molars (Relative Risk, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.36 to 2.54). In light of these findings, it is worth considering the potential of the presence of enamel defects in deciduous molars in children aged 1 to 3 years as a predictor of the future appearance of similar lesions in their permanent incisors.
Case-Control Studies↗
An analysis of papers published in the British and European Journals of Orthodontics.
UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to assess the type, subject, setting and methods of papers published in British Journal of Orthodontics (BJO) and European Journal of Orthodontics (EJO) between 1989 and 1993 to allow all published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to be identified and a comparison of the papers published in the journals to be made. A hand search of all papers published in BJO and EJO between 1989 and 1993 was performed, and the type, subject, setting, and methods of each paper were classified and recorded. Of the studies, 59.3 per cent related to clinical orthodontics, but only three RCTs were identified in each journal. This comprised 2.8 per cent of the clinical research papers which were analysed. The remaining studies used non-randomized controls or were uncontrolled. Significant differences were found between the type (P < 0.001), subject (P < 0.001), setting (P < 0.01) and methods (P < 0.05) of papers published in the two journals. Relatively more papers in BJO were case reports, clinical opinions and update articles, reported on orthodontic materials or assessed methods of measuring the outcome of treatment. Ninety per cent of papers in EJO reported the results of research projects and relatively more papers, than in BJO, were related to animal studies, and were laboratory based or epidemiological. OBJECTIVES: To identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and compare papers published in two orthodontic journals. DESIGN: A retrospective, observational study. SETTING: The British Journal of Orthodontics (BJO) and European Journals of Orthodontics) (EJO). DATA SOURCE: Papers published between 1989 and 1993. METHOD: A hand search of all papers was performed. The type, subject, setting and methods of each paper were classified and recorded. RESULTS: 200 papers were identified in BJO and 275 in EJO. Six RCTs were identified which represents 2.8 per cent of clinical research papers. Significant differences were found between the type (P < 0.001), subject (P < 0.001), setting (P < 0.01), and methods (P < 0.05) of papers published in the two journals. More papers in BJO were case reports, clinical opinions, and update articles, and reported on orthodontic materials or assessed methods of measuring the outcome of treatment. Ninety per cent of papers in EJU reported the results of research projects. More papers were related to animal studies; were laboratory based on epidemiological. CONCLUSION: Despite the RCT being regarded as the 'Gold Standard' for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions and materials only six (5.1 per cent) of such studies used this method. Significant differences in the type, setting and subject of papers published in BJO and EJO between 1989 and 1993 were found.
Animals↗
The growth of new dental practices established in the North West of England and North Wales between 1985 and 1990.
This study examined the growth of 52 new dental practices established between 1985 and 1990 in the North West of England and North Wales. Growth was measured from the number of estimates (equivalent to a course of treatment) submitted by the practice to the Dental Practice Board since the practice first opened. Values ranged from less than 1000 estimates up to 12,000 estimates during the first 24 months; the modal value was between 2000 and 2999. The number of estimates was not associated with the resident population to dentist ratio for the surrounding locality.
Dental Facilities↗
Putting Yiamouyiannis into perspective.
Few names crop up so often in the context of water fluoridation as that of John Yiamouyiannis, an American who has campaigned hard to stop this public health measure not only in the United States but in other countries such as Britain. During 1993, Yiamouyiannis was given considerable air time by the BBC, appearing on its prestigious You and yours and Nature programmes where he denigrated the efforts of local health authorities to reduce tooth decay by means of fluoridating their water supplies. His dramatic claims about fluoridation--in particular, that it increases people's risk of dying of cancer--must understandably alarm those who take them at face value. So just who is John Yiamouyiannis? And do his allegations hold up? This review of his career is based on publicly documented records and statements.
Fluoridation↗
Welsh water should reinstate fluoridation on Anglesey.
In 1992, Welsh Water withdrew the successful water fluoridation scheme on Anglesey. Despite evidence of the benefits of water fluoridation and the rise in number of children with tooth decay since the scheme's withdrawal, Welsh Water is still not prepared to re-establish the scheme.
Child, Preschool↗
Site progression of loss of attachment over 5 years in 14- to 19-year-old adolescents.
The aims of this study were (1) to monitor the progression and patterns of progression of loss of attachment > or = 1 mm on a site basis over a 5-year period in adolescents, and (2) to relate the presence of oral deposits and inflammation to the subsequent development and progression of loss of attachment on a site basis. 167 subjects were examined at ages 14, 16 and 19 years. Loss of attachment > or = 1 mm, plaque, subgingival calculus, gingival bleeding and gingival colour change were assessed on the mesio-buccal sites of the 1st molars, 1st premolars and central incisors. Each site was treated separately in the analysis to avoid the problem of within-subject site dependence. Sites were classed as progressing, non-progressing or fluctuating according to the probing attachment level measurements at each of the 3 examinations. During the 5 years of this study, a total of 542 sites in 128 subjects progressed; 1136 sites in 162 subjects did not progress; 43 sites in 30 subjects had fluctuating attachment level measurements. Sites which subsequently progressed had significantly more plaque, subgingival calculus and gingival inflammation than non-progressing sites at the baseline examination and throughout the study (p < 0.001). Between 55-57% of the maxillary 1st molars and 46-49% of the mandibular incisors progressed. In contrast, there was no progression of loss of attachment on over 80% of the maxillary central incisors and mandibular 1st premolars.
Adolescent↗
Some operational aspects of school-milk fluoridation in St. Helens, Merseyside, UK.
St. Helens is a small industrial town situated about 20 km east of Liverpool. It lies in an area of social deprivation and, by UK standards, dental caries experience is high (e.g., dmft at 5 years = 2.8; DMFT at 12 years = 2.7). Water fluoridation is an important part of the government's strategy for improving oral health in such areas; however, in large parts of St. Helens, implementation of water fluoridation is complicated by reason of the multiple sources of water supply. The aims of the St. Helens study are therefore to examine the technical, organizational, and legal aspects of the fluoridation of school milk as an alternative public health approach. In the UK, children attending nursery units (kindergartens) from ages 2-4 years and infant schools from ages 4-7 years are eligible for 189 mL of milk to be consumed each day at school. These two schemes are funded or subsidized by the Departments of Health (UK) or the European Community, respectively. A preliminary review of the possibility of using school milk as a vehicle for fluoride has been published recently (Jones et al., 1992). The current paper will review progress over the past 12 months, including the response of schools, dairies, and other organizational considerations.
Animals↗
Dental public health: CPITN as a strategy towards better periodontal health.
The CPITN has been widely adopted in health services planning. Studies widely used for service planning indicate that deep periodontal pockets are an infrequent manifestation of the need for periodontal treatment and that a substantial amount of periodontal care can be done by dental hygienists. However, so far, CPITN data has not been helpful in placing periodontal treatment needs within the context of general health needs, partly because it is often presented in terms unfamiliar to health service planners and in categories not immediately meaningful to decision makers in the health sector. Finally, there is very limited data showing the use of CPITN for evaluating changes in periodontal status; the limited experience in evaluating change would suggest that further research is needed on the most appropriate format for data presentation and the statistical analysis of such data.
Adult↗
The prevalence of tooth wear in 14-year-old school children in Liverpool.
The prevalence of tooth wear was assessed in a random sample of 14 year old school children in Liverpool. A total of 1035 children were examined in 10 schools of whom 526 (50.8 per cent) were male and 509 (49.2 per cent) were female. Three hundred and seven children (30 per cent) had exposed dentine, mainly incisally, and this occurred significantly more often in males than females (P < 0.01). Of these children, 80 (8 per cent) also exhibited exposed dentine on occlusal and/or lingual surfaces. This occurred mainly on the occlusal surfaces of the first mandibular molars and the lingual aspects of the upper incisors. A slight positive association was found between tooth wear and the level of social deprivation in the electoral ward in which the school was located.
Adolescent↗
Fluoridation in Britain today.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Frequency of examination of children by dentists working under different payment systems in the United Kingdom.
The aims of this study were, first, to determine the frequency of dental examination of child patients by general dental practitioners working under a fee-for-service or capitation payment system in eight areas of the United Kingdom and, secondly, to consider how the frequency of examination varied by dentist payment system, by area, by age of the child and by dentist. The number of examinations carried out by 198 general dental practitioners over a one-year period for 17,389 children aged 0-15 years was recorded. The mean number of examinations per year for children treated by dentists working under the fee-for-service system was 1.7, and for those treated under the capitation system 1.6; this difference, although small, was statistically significant. The dentist and the age of the child were also shown to be related to the number of examinations but not the area in which the dentist worked.
Adolescent↗