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Biomedical subjects

N B Pitts

Publications and source records attributed to N B Pitts.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Scottish dentists' preferences for remuneration and their opinions on the scope of General Dental Service treatment.

A questionnaire was sent to a list of what was considered to be all dentists currently in practice in the General Dental Service (GDS) and Community Dental Service (CDS) in Scotland; 72% responded. The dentists were asked to indicate the general method by which they would prefer to be paid, given a choice of fee for item-of-service, salary or capitation. Opinion was split among the GDS respondents, between fee for item-of-service (34.9%), a salaried system of payment (32.6%), or a service based on differing remuneration systems for the dental care of adults and children (22.5%). Only 22.6% of GDS respondents said they would prefer a capitation system for the treatment of child patients. Most CDS respondents said they preferred to be salaried. Dentists in both services were asked if they felt there was a need to extend the range of treatment items which are currently permitted in the GDS; most felt that there was. About 80% of all respondents felt that there was a need to allow payment for various items of preventive dental care within the GDS. Almost a third of GDS respondents also mentioned various items of restorative dental treatment which they felt should be funded (a concern which fewer CDS respondents (6.7%) mentioned). Few respondents suggested any other additional types of treatment items.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Image analysis of radiolucencies in approximal enamel: a comparison of xeroradiographic and conventional film images.

Xeroradiographic and conventional film bitewing images of radiolucencies in approximal enamel were compared using a computer-aided image analysis system. Densitometric analysis of the conventional film types used in the study showed that the "lead foil free" film exhibited lower overall density when compared with conventional D-speed film. Computer-aided image analysis of radiolucencies in approximal enamel found that xeroradiographs depicted a higher degree of demineralization and a larger area than conventional radiography with the "lead foil free" film.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

An in vivo evaluation in children of the HPL bitewing device.

The HPL bitewing device, a new beam-aiming collimating bitewing film holder, has recently been developed. The aims of this study were to assess the practicability of using the new device clinically and to compare the diagnostic yield obtained with the new technique with those obtained using a conventional freehand method and the Rinn XCP instrument. For each of the three techniques a pair of bitewings was taken of 30 randomly selected patients aged 6-15 years. These bitewings were evaluated for technical errors using seven different criteria, including the number and severity of overlapping contacts. The results show that the HPL method produced the greatest number of unoverlapped surfaces and the smallest proportion of moderate and severe overlaps. For five of the seven criteria, the HPL method produced fewer technical errors than the other two methods. Assessment of the acceptability of the procedures to the children revealed few differences between the three radiographic techniques. Further studies of the new technique, involving larger numbers of patients and sequential radiographs, are indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Finishing of amalgam restorations: to what degree is it necessary?

This paper attempts to elicit from the literature evidence to guide the clinician in deciding what degree of finishing and polishing is appropriate for amalgam restorations. Much of the justification for the polishing of amalgams has, in the past, been empirically based. Comprehensive scientific investigation into the validity of this practice does, however, present a number of methodological problems which have yet to be successfully overcome. An attempt is made to define what is meant by the term 'polished' (in a clinical context) while the benefits of polishing, as far as they are known, are discussed. The roles that cavity preparation, carving and burnishing play in the finishing of a restoration are reviewed, as is the conflicting evidence regarding their respective advantages and disadvantages. The importance of marginal adaptation, the relationship of polishing to secondary caries, and the dilemma in choosing (in appropriate cases) between the replacement of a restoration or its improvement by polishing are also considered.

Dental Amalgam↗
PubMed1989

Origin, training, and subsequent practice location of Scotland's General and Community dentists.

In view of the continuing concern, in the United Kingdom (UK) and many other countries, over the maldistribution of dental manpower and the far-reaching plans now being contemplated to correct existing imbalances, it was felt to be necessary to document the current situation in Scotland. This study set out to identify the origins, place of training, and subsequent practice locations of Scotland's General and Community dentists. A questionnaire was sent to a list of all General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and Clinical Community Dental Officers (CCDOs) in Scotland. The final response rate was 72%. 85% of respondents had received the majority of their secondary school education in Scotland, and a total of 92.5% of respondents had received their undergraduate dental training at one of the three Scottish dental schools. Factors elicited as being associated with practice location choice included school of dental training, location of a dentist's original home and relatives, and, to some extent, market forces in terms of "demand for dentists" in some areas in Scotland.

Community Dentistry↗
PubMed1988

The effect of varying diagnostic thresholds upon clinical caries data for a low prevalence group.

This study investigated the impact of employing differing diagnostic thresholds on clinical caries data in studies of groups with low caries prevalence. Data from clinical examinations of 287 Hong Kong dental students were analyzed by means of the CARIES microcomputer software package. This software allows for re-calculation of raw data according to three different diagnostic thresholds (D3, D2, and D1). When "enamel" and "initial" lesions (as defined by WHO criteria) were included in the calculation of DMFT, its value increased from 3.0 (D3) to 5.9 (D1), while the percentage of individuals considered "caries-free" decreased from 28.2% to 7.0%. Little change was found in the magnitude of the intra-examiner reproducibility, when calculated at each threshold, for a random 10% of the subjects. It was unfortunately not possible to calculate inter-examiner reproducibility in this study. The use of criteria which might be misinterpreted as being similar, but which use differing effective diagnostic thresholds, can dramatically influence the reported level of dental caries. In view of these findings, it may be necessary for the question of diagnostic thresholds to be re-examined and to receive greater emphasis in future studies.

Adult↗