Interactions of sanguinarine and zinc on oral streptococci and Actinomyces species.

Sanguinaria extract, which contains benzophenanthridine alkaloids, has been used as a folk medicine for many years. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC values) for sanguinarine were determined for common and etiologically important plaque bacteria. Because the efficacy of sanguinarine is believed to be enhanced by zinc, isobolograms were assessed to determine their mode(s) of interaction. Hydrogen ion concentration influenced the inhibitory activity of both sanguinarine and zinc. For sanguinarine, at the optimum pH (6.5), MIC values were 4 or 8 micrograms/ml for Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus sanguis, Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii. MIC values were 0.125-0.50 mmol Zn/ml. MBC values ranged from 1 to 8 mmol Zn/ml at pH 5.5. Isobologram data revealed that sanguinarine and zinc interacted synergistically. Viadent oral rinse, which contained 300 micrograms sanguinaria extract/ml and 0.2% zinc chloride (14.9 mmol Zn/l), was inhibitory to all strains tested. MIC values were 1 or 2% (ml Viadent oral rinse/100 ml aqueous solution) for all strains except A. viscosus for which the MIC value was 12% (vol/vol).

Patient satisfaction in four types of dental practice.

There has been a significant growth in alternative types of dental practice. To determine satisfaction, patients were surveyed in urban private practices, a hospital dental clinic, a neighborhood health center, and a large group practice situated in a shopping center, using a 14-item survey and a 5-point rating scale. Patient satisfaction was related to the following factors in descending order: dentist, staff, efficiency, time-cost, and accessibility. Patients rated private practice most favorably for all factors with the exception of accessibility, which was rated highest for the shopping center practice. Patients rated the hospital least favorably for all factors with the exception of dentist, which was rated least favorably for the shopping center practice. Although private practices were the most favorably perceived, alternative types of practice were also highly rated and met specific patient needs. Satisfaction was greater for older patients, for patients with less education, and for white compared with black patients.

Patients' knowledge of caries prevention. A study.

This study explored the caries prevention awareness of a population of regular dental patients. Although regular dental patients have an overall high knowledge about certain aspects of caries population, they do not have accurate information about fluoride, tooth-brushing and minimal knowledge about sealants. Establishing the patients' knowledge of the prevention of tooth decay is important in determining strategies and implementation of public health education programs and education programs in individual dental offices.