ABSTRACT
There are several dental complications associated with cocaine abuse, including adverse reactions to dental anesthetics, post-operative bleeding, and cellulitis, which can lead to necrosis of orbital, nasal, and palatal bones. Following is a report of the initial treatment rendered to a patient who had destroyed most of her hard palate over a ten-year period of cocaine abuse. There are no classic socio-economic or educational profiles for abusers of cocaine. Drug abuse victims may present as patients in any dental office. Though there are certain classic physiological and psychological symptoms of their condition, they may not display symptoms at all.
Subject(s)
Cocaine-Related Disorders/complications , Maxillary Diseases/therapy , Nose Diseases/therapy , Oral Fistula/therapy , Palatal Obturators , Palate, Hard/drug effects , Respiratory Tract Fistula/therapy , Candidiasis, Oral/therapy , Dental Fistula/therapy , Denture, Complete, Upper , Denture, Overlay , Female , Humans , Maxillary Diseases/etiology , Middle Aged , Mouth Rehabilitation , Nose Diseases/etiology , Oral Fistula/etiology , Respiratory Tract Fistula/etiology , Root Canal TherapyABSTRACT
This article is a brief overview of the evolution of the U.S. Air Force Dental Service with special emphasis on the simultaneous development of the specialty of prosthodontics within the Dental Service. Of special note is a review of the outstanding Air Force Training programs and Area Dental Laboratory system.
Subject(s)
Aerospace Medicine/history , Military Dentistry/history , Prosthodontics/history , Dental Service, Hospital/history , History, 20th Century , Hospitals, Military/history , Laboratories, Dental/history , United StatesABSTRACT
A checklist is presented for use in evaluating and planning the treatment of patients for complete-denture therapy. A thorough explanation of each item and classification included in the checklist list also is presented. Classifications from the classic prosthodontic literature are used wherever possible and their sources are referenced appropriately.
Subject(s)
Denture, Complete , Mouth, Edentulous/rehabilitation , Patient Care Planning , Dental Records , Denture Design , Humans , Medical History Taking , Mouth, Edentulous/classification , Mouth, Edentulous/pathology , Patient Care Planning/classification , Physical ExaminationABSTRACT
This review of complete denture esthetics addresses the process of tooth selection, tooth arrangement, and characterization of the denture bases. The guidelines discussed in this article are all gleaned from the classic prosthodontic literature. These principles, which were developed over the past century, coupled with state-of-the-art materials are artificial teeth enable contemporary dentists to fabricate complete dentures with a level of esthetics never before possible.
Subject(s)
Denture Design , Denture, Complete , Esthetics, Dental , Color , Dental Materials , Dental Occlusion , Denture Bases , Humans , Surface Properties , Tooth, ArtificialABSTRACT
This article offers an alternative barrier technique that not only places the barrier in the dental treatment room, but also places it under the direct supervision and control of the dentist. A known hepatitis B carrier was selected for immediate denture treatment to illustrate and test this proposed barrier technique.
Subject(s)
Dentists , Hepatitis B/transmission , Infection Control/methods , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Universal Precautions , Aged , Disinfection/methods , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
This article promotes preprosthetic surgery that has been adequately planned and properly executed and that is an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan. In addition, this paper promotes the development of preprosthetic surgery teams to select, plan, and treat preprosthetic surgery patients. Prosthodontists should take a more active role in the referral, selection, and treatment planning of preprosthetic surgery patients, because it is the prosthodontist who will restore the patient's dentition. Prosthodontists and surgeons need a greater understanding of each other's capabilities and limitations, and need to work together as a team.
Subject(s)
Denture, Complete , Oral Surgical Procedures, Preprosthetic/adverse effects , Dental Implants , Denture Design , Humans , Malocclusion/surgery , Patient Care Planning , Patient Care Team , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
A technique has been described for fabrication of a radiation therapy stent that can help to stabilize the head when adjustable alignment devices are used to position a patient during radiation therapy. The technique can save time for the radiotherapist, enhance accuracy in treatment, increase patient comfort, and save the dentist time in stent fabrication.
Subject(s)
Head , Radiotherapy/instrumentation , Splints , Acrylic Resins , Equipment Design , Humans , Immobilization , Radioisotope Teletherapy/instrumentationSubject(s)
Fingersucking , Protective Devices , Child, Preschool , Equipment Design , Female , Humans , Intellectual DisabilityABSTRACT
Several effective measures to reduce xylene exposure of clinicians during the extrinsic coloring of facial prostheses have been described. These measures can be used to modify the xylene exposure problem until an adequate ventilation system can be installed in the treatment room.
Subject(s)
Environmental Exposure , Maxillofacial Prosthesis , Xylenes/adverse effects , Humans , Occupational Diseases/prevention & control , Protective Devices , Safety , VentilationSubject(s)
Head and Neck Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Radiation Protection/instrumentation , Tongue , Adult , Aged , Equipment Design , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Patients who receive radiation therapy to the head and neck suffer potential complications and undesirable side-effects of this therapy. The extent of undesirable responses is dependent on the source of irradiation, the fields of irradiation, and the dose. The radiotherapist determines these factors by the extent, location, and radiosensitivity of the tumor. The potential undesirable side-effects are xerostomia, mucositis, fibrosis, trismus, dermatitis, photosensitivity, radiation caries, soft tissue necrosis, and osteoradionecrosis. Each of these clinical entities and their proposed management have been discussed.
