Fluoride concentration in teeth of the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from areas of Poland industrially uncontaminated with fluoride compounds.

The last biomonitoring study in Poland on intoxication with fluoride compounds of deer was conducted almost two decades ago. Given the fact that fluoride level in air and water is not widely monitored in Poland, it is justified to undertake monitoring of F- levels in people and other long-lived mammals. This paper provides the assessment of the present level of fluoride accumulation in mineralized tissue of large herbivorous mammals. The aim of the present study was to determine fluoride concentration in teeth of deer inhabiting the areas of Poland which are industrially uncontaminated with fluoride compounds, to establish possible correlations between the analysed parameters, and to provide a comparison of the present results with those obtained in other studies. Mean concentration of fluoride in all analysed samples amounted to 231.0 F mg/kg, with the minimum value of 22.0 F mg/kg and the maximum of 935.0 F mg/kg. This results from the development of industry and a widespread use of fluoride-supplemented caries prevention products which contributes to an intense accumulation of these substances in vertebrates, predominantly in mineralized tissue.

Sella turcica anomalies on lateral cephalometric radiographs of Polish children.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of sella turcica anomalies on lateral cephalograms of children with malocclusion. To describe the craniofacial morphology in patients with sella turcica anomalies. METHODS: Lateral cephalograms obtained at ages 8-16 years (n = 431) were assessed for good visibility of cephalometric structures, including the sella turcica, and the absence of craniofacial congenital deformities; finally, 322 cephalograms were included and analysed. Subsequently, anomalies of sella turcica have been identified. Hypertrophic posterior clinoid process, hypotrophic posterior clinoid process and oblique contour of the floor were the abnormalities found that could not be classified based on literature. The study group consisted of 151 cephalograms with abnormal sella turcica, while the control group consisted of 171 cephalograms without any sellar pathology. Data normality has been tested using Shapiro-Wilk test. Correlations with age were made using Spearman correlation coefficient and those with sex were made using independence test with Yate's correction for continuity. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare between groups and subgroups. The level of significance has been established as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Sellar anomalies were found in 151 individuals (46.9%). Statistically significant differences between patients with normal and abnormal sellar morphology were found concerning: Pg:NB (p = 0.0009), 1+:NA (p = 0.0004) and 1-:NB (p = 0.012), indicating a more distal position of jaw structures in subjects with abnormal sella. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that almost 50% of children with malocclusion have sellar abnormalities confirms a general aetiology of malocclusion. Sella turcica assessment should be carried out during cephalometric analysis.

[The effect of selected prophylactic-educational programs on oral hygiene, periodontium and caries in school children during a 4-year observation]. / Wplyw wybranych programów profilaktyczno-oswiatowych na stan higieny jamy ustnej, przyzebie i próchnice u dzieci szkolnych w 4-letnim okresie obserwacji.

The aim of the work was the continuation of the evaluation of the efficacy of three prophylactic-educational programs in the field of oral cavity hygiene, status of periodontium and dental caries, and their influence on the forming of pro-health awareness and correct hygiene habits among school children. The work under discussion is the second stage of observations of the above-mentioned programs as well as the complete evaluation of 4-years examinations. The clinical and questionnaire studies were carried out in two elementary schools in Szczecin. Two hundred and twenty-three pupils were randomly allocated to three test groups: I (45 children), II (71 children), III (60 children) and control group K (47 children). In both schools mentioned above the examinations started when children were 7-8 years old and all of them were receiving planned stomatological treatment and contact fluoridation. All programs of the second stage of studies were the same as those of the first stage [49], only with the modified frequency of meetings with children. Program I, carried out in group I, was based on individual, motivating instructions of oral cavity hygiene (total 10 meetings during second stage of research). Programs II and III (group II and III accordingly) were expanded by educational activity among children and their parents. Additionally program III was enriched by professional mechanical tooth-cleaning, the use of fissure sealants, intensive dental care and proximal surface cleaning with dental floss (Tab. 1). The above-mentioned programs were carried out in co-operation with school dentists, teachers, fifth year dentistry students and students from Medical College--Oral Hygienist Faculty. After 4-years-long studies the evaluation of the three above-mentioned programs in oral cavity hygiene was achieved by using OHI-S and PI(QH). The status of periodontium was evaluated by GI and the intensity of dental caries by DMFT and DMFS. The increase of caries during the second stage of examinations was additionally evaluated and analysed thoroughly. The questionnaire studies made it possible to estimate the changes in the pro-health awareness among examined children. Reduction of OHI-S after 4 years was about 23% to 26% (Fig. 1). The status of gums shows the state of oral cavity hygiene in a better way. In control group the state remained unchanged, but in groups I, II and III it improved considerably (reduction of GI about 46% to 79%--Fig. 2). The reduction of caries in examined groups obtained after 4 years of studies was about 25% to 77% (Fig. 3) however during the second stage of research if figured out from 17% up to 72% (Fig. 4). Extreme increase of DS observed in the second stage of studies was 2.0 in control group K, a little less--1.51 in group I and 0.38 in group III (Fig. 5). The DS in group III reached the value -0.27 which proved that program III was the most efficient. The results of questionnaire studies showed a distinct improvement of health awareness among examined children. However the value of GI indicated some discrepancy between children's health knowledge and pro-health behaviour. Also it was noticed that the level of parents' education and their socioeconomic status had influence on building up good hygiene habits and on the state of caries among the examined children. The studies proved that the implementation of the above-mentioned prophylactic-educational programs or similar ones in elementary school conditions is possible with the use of hygienist under the dentist's supervision.