Comparative study of the effect of dexamethasone injection and consumption in lower third molar surgery.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of intramuscular (IM) injection and consumption of 8 mg dexamethasone in patients after lower third molar (LTM) surgery. 20 healthy Thai patients, average age 20 years, with bilateral LTM removal were recruited for this study, a double blinded, paired sample clinical trial. The washout period was 1 month after the first operation. Clinical assessment of facial swelling, pain and maximum mouth opening were measured before and after operation for 7 days. No significant difference was found in facial swelling between IM injection and consumption of 8 mg dexamethasone after LTM surgery (paired t test P>0.05). The visual analogue scale scores for pain assessment showed no significant difference between IM injection and consumption of dexamethasone (paired t test P>0.05). The results conclude that IM injection or consumption of dexamethasone after LTM surgery can be used to control facial swelling, pain and trismus.

[Survey of drug used and medical history among dental out-patients].

Information about drug used and medical history among dental patients would be useful for dental practice and teaching of clinical pharmacology. Therefore, 541 consecutive adult outpatients of Mahidol dental school were studied in 1987. The names of drug used and medical problems were obtained by direct questioning. Out of patients surveyed, 307 (56.7%) were taking drugs and the most commonly drug used was non-narcotic analgesics. 300 patients (55.4%) had medical problems and allergy was the most common disease. The frequency of patients who taking drugs and having medical problems varied between age groups. The highest frequency of medication intake was found in patients with age above thirty. The highest frequency of significant medical conditions was found in patients with age above fifty. The data from this investigation revealed that the medical problems of patients which affect dental treatment were very common. Consequently, the dental personnel should study more about the pharmacology of systemic drugs and the nature of systemic diseases.

[Comparison of the effectiveness of dental local anesthetics in guinea pig].

A large number of local anesthetics has been marketed for clinical use. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of nine local anesthetics used in dentistry. After subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml of local anesthetic into the guinea pig's back, the onset and duration of action were determined by stimulating with an electric current. The onset of action of these local anesthetics occurred immediately. But the duration of action was statistically significant different (P less than 0.01, ANOVA and Duncan's New Multiple Range Test). The duration of action ranging from 7.0 to 73.2 minutes was divided into 5 groups as the following: 1. Benadryl and Xylocaine plane. 2. Xylocaine plane and Lidocaton. 3. Citanest and Octocaine. 4. Octocaine and Neo-lidocaton. 5. Neo-lidocaton, Xylestesin-F, Xylocaine c noradrenaline 1:50,000 and Xylocaine c adrenaline 1:80,000. The result of this study will be useful for the dentists to select the appropriate local anesthetics for their treatment.

[Mercury levels in urine and head hair of dental personnel].

As dentists and their assistants are usually exposed to mercury in their clinical practices. The objective was to investigate the mercury level in these dental personnel. Urine and head hair samples were collected from 201 dental personnel and 57 unexposed controls for mercury analysis. The mercury content was analyzed by using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that mercury levels in the urine and head hair of dental personnel were significantly higher than in the controls (P less than 0.01). The urine mercury concentration of the unexposed controls ranged from 0.1-10.0 micrograms/l (means = 2.6 +/- 0.29 micrograms/l). The highest urine mercury level was found in the group of dental assistant (means = 17.1 +/- 2.44 micrograms/l). The mean urine mercury levels found in dentists, dental students and dental technicians were 10.1 +/- 1.42, 11.1 +/- 1.69 and 3.2 +/- 0.69 micrograms/l respectively. The amounts of urine mercury from dental assistants, dentists and dental students were 81.0%, 38.2% and 43.5% higher than the threshold limit value respectively. The mean head hair mercury concentration of unexposed controls ranged from 0.3-12.2 micrograms/g (means = 2.8 +/- 0.36 micrograms/g). The highest head hair mercury concentration was found in the group of dental assistant and 6th year dental students (means = 10.1 +/- 0.84 and 10.5 +/- 3.2 micrograms/g). The mean head hair mercury levels found in dental assistants, dentists, dental students and dental technicians were 10.1 +/- 0.84, 7.5 +/- 1.2, 6.5 +/- 1.54 and 2.8 +/- 0.53 micrograms/g respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)