The effectiveness of a counterrotational-action power toothbrush on plaque control in orthodontic patients.

This study compared counterrotational-action power toothbrushing with manual toothbrushing in effectiveness on plaque control and gingival health in 20 randomly selected orthodontic patients at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. A blind two-group crossover design was used. Gingival and plaque scores were recorded, and a prophylaxis was given to bring the plaque score to zero. Ten subjects received counterrotational power brushes, and ten subjects received manual brushes. Instructions appropriate to each brushing method were given by a hygienist. At 30 and 60 days, plaque and gingival scores were recorded and a prophylaxis was given. At 60 days the subjects who were using power brushes were switched to manual brushes, and the subjects who were using manual brushes were switched to power brushes. At 30 and 60 days, plaque and gingival scores were recorded and a prophylaxis was given. Plaque and gingival scores were significantly less (p less than 0.01) after brushing 2 months with the counterrotational power brush than with the manual brush. This finding was irrespective of the sequence in which the brushes were used.

The effectiveness of a patient-applied tooth desensitizing gel. A pilot study.

Potassium nitrate has been found to be an effective ingredient for reducing dentinal hypersensitivity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a patient-applied 10% potassium nitrate glycerine-based gel in decreasing dentinal sensitivity on cold on teeth with exposed dentin apical to the cemento-enamel junction, 12 patients, each having 3 hypersensitive teeth, were tested. The patients were divided into 3 treatment groups: group 1 was treated with a glycerine-based 10% potassium nitrate gel: group 2 was treated with a glycerine gel without potassium nitrate; and group 3 received no gel and no treatment (control). Following brushing and flossing, groups 1 and 2 applied the gel to the test teeth using custom-made soft acrylic trays, for a period of 5 min/day for 4 weeks. Patient responses to cold water stimuli of 20 degrees C, 10 degrees C and 0 degrees C, were measured at baseline (week 0), then at 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week intervals. Group 1 patients showed a significant decrease in sensitivity to cold at week 2 only. The group 2 patients showed a significant decrease in sensitivity to cold after 3 and 4 weeks. A statistically significant decrease in sensitivity was noted between group 2 and group 3 patients at week 3. The most sustained decrease in sensitivity to cold was found on teeth treated with plain glycerine.

The loss of occlusion and its effect on mandibular immediate side shift.

Mandibular immediate side shift is a lateral movement of the condyles at the commencement of mandibular laterotrusion. Amount of mandibular immediate side shift has been found to vary among patients and bilaterally within patients. Factors responsible for variance in mandibular immediate side shift have been suggested but not thoroughly investigated. Because of the clinical importance of the mandibular immediate side shift, this study attempted to demonstrate that one suggested factor--the loss of occlusion--would result in increased mandibular immediate side shift. Subjects were placed into one of four groups that had a varied amount of occlusion. Surprisingly, among groups no differences were detected in the amount of mandibular immediate side shift. Therefore loss of occlusion as a suspected cause of an increase in the amount of mandibular immediate side shift was not substantiated. Restorative therapy recommended on the basis of such an assumption will most likely prove inaccurate.

Surgical templates for immediate denture insertion.

Criteria for an ideal surgical template for immediate dentures were presented. Laboratory and clinical studies were made of five types of templates. The Biostarformed template with improvements, followed by the sprinkled acrylic resin template, best fit the established criteria (Table I).