Ethnicity, location, age, and fluoridation factors in baby bottle tooth decay and caries prevalence of Head Start children.

Baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) is a term applied to a specific form of rampant decay associated with inappropriate bottle or breast feeding of infants and young children. Although the prevalence of BBTD has been studied in individual ethnic groups, comparison studies are rare. Head Start children have frequently served as study subjects for assessing the prevalence of BBTD. The purpose of this study was to compare BBTD and caries prevalence among Head Start children who are members of four ethnic groups in five southwestern States. Age, residence, and fluoridation status were also compared for the total sample and ethnic categories. The sampling process was a stratified random site selection; it was used to obtain data on 1,230 children. This number constituted 3 percent of the children enrolled in Head Start in Public Health Service Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) where the study was conducted. The criterion for determining the presence of BBTD was based on the number of carious deciduous maxillary incisors observed. The severity of the condition was reported as two of four and three of four of the target teeth affected. Thus, two levels of severity are reported. BBTD was prevalent in approximately 24 percent and 15 percent of the total sample, depending on the severity criterion used. Native American children had a significantly higher (P less than 0.05) prevalence than Hispanic, white, and black subjects. Rural children had significantly higher (P less than 0.05) prevalence of BBTD than nonrural children for all ethnic groups except whites. The prevalence of decayed and filled (df) surfaces of primary dentition was significantly greater for all rural than for non rural groups (P< 0.05).Children attending centers showed no significant differences based on fluoride status for the total sample or other variables. BBTD and caries prevalence increased with age. Studies are needed to identify predisposing factors among the ethnic groups and residence status in order for more effective preventive regimens to be developed, implemented,and evaluated.

Evaluation of effects of application of a citroxain-containing dentifrice.

The benefits to the patient of the removal of tooth deposits is well documented. Should such removal provide the additional effect of "whitening" the tooth surface, an additional cosmetic benefit would be provided. This study documents that a Citroxain-containing dentifrice provides all of these benefits.

Dental care utilization among dental students.

The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of needed dental care actually received by dental students during their dental education. This was accomplished by a review of dental records for recent Baylor College of Dentistry graduates. Collected data included restorative, periodontal, endodontic and extraction procedures planned and dental care actually accomplished prior to graduation. Comparisons of these findings were made based on gender, ethnicity and academic standing of the sample subjects. The sample size of 134 included 98 males and 36 females; 111 were Caucasian and 23 Minorities. Fifty-six individuals were in the upper academic third of their class, 37 in the middle third and 41 in the lower third. The treatments required were primarily operative dental restorations (7.28 +/- 7.19 surfaces per student), crowns (0.43 +/- 1.22 units per student) and extractions (0.90 +/- 1.58 per student). Periodontal and endodontic needs were minimal. Students received approximately 60% of the required care during their dental education. Minimal relationships were identified between gender, academic standing and ethnicity and the students' care needs and treatments. The results suggest a relatively low priority for receiving needed dental care among dental students.

Sodium retention from mouthwashes.

Sodium intake from food and other sources must be carefully monitored in patients with hypertension and other disorders. Retention of sodium was measured during routine use of three commercially available, nonprescription mouthwashes: Cepacol, Plax, and Viadent. A test group of 17 adults rinsed with 15 ml of the three mouthwashes, and with 5% saline and distilled water as experiment controls. Sodium not recovered in the expectorate was considered to be retained for absorption by oral or other tissues. The sodium in each product (in mg/l) varied widely: Viadent, 144; Cepacol, 410; and Plax 5320. The analyzed expectorate revealed approximately 33% of the sodium in the 15 ml used for rinsing was retained, amounting to 0.7 mg for Viadent, 1.9 mg for Cepacol, and 28.3 mg for Plax. The results indicate that persons on sodium-restricted diets should be aware that some brands of mouthwash may be a potentially significant source of sodium.

Dental treatment needs among hospitalized adult mental patients.

This survey determines the dental care needs of hospitalized adults with psychiatric and mental disorders. Comprehensive clinical and radiographic oral examinations, conducted on 33% of the patients in a large state mental hospital, found that extensive unmet needs existed in this population. The major requirements were for prophylaxis, calculus removal, and periodontal therapy. The patients' needs varied depending on several demographic factors, including length of hospitalization and psychiatric diagnoses.

Indices used to evaluate signs, symptoms and etiologic factors associated with diseases of the periodontium.

Oral indices are reviewed and classified. The methods of using indices are discussed and a number of the periodontal indices are compared using a tabular format.

Epidemiologic survey of accidental dentofacial injuries among U.S. Army personnel.

This epidemiologic study of accidental dentofacial injuries to U.S. Army personnel was conducted to determine the frequency and distribution patterns of accidental dentofacial injuries to soldiers. Administratively, it was anticipated that this data would permit identification of high-risk groups and would suggest feasible preventive measures. This 9-month study was conducted on 16 Army posts with a combined population at risk of 210,500 soldiers; a standardized data collection form was completed by the dental corps officer treating the injury case and then was mailed to a central collection site for analysis. The data from this dentofacial injury study clearly reveal that differential risks exist for various military subpopulations. While the overall U.S. Army accidental dentofacial injury rate was 37.7 cases/10,000/year, this rate varied greatly for specific subgroups with high-risk factors including young males, lower enlisted ranks, recent recruits, and combat training posts. The primary specific causes of these injuries were fistfights (nearly 30%), sports (over 20%), and vehicles (about 15%).

Evaluation of a simplified caries index for use by the US Army Dental Corps.

The evaluation of a simplified caries index was undertaken to determine the validity and reliability of the index when applied to a military population. Although certain internal assumptions of this simplified caries index were not upheld, the index did rank order the populations by severity of caries experience when compared to the DMFS index. High interexaminer and intraexaminer reliability scores were demonstrated.