Infection control in Mississippi dental practices: a comparison of Mississippi Dental Association members and non-members.

In conclusion, the results of the survey were reassuring in many ways. The data indicate that the dental profession in Mississippi seems to have taken advantage of continuing education opportunities, paid increased attention to infection control, and in general, were using appropriate techniques before the OSHA mandate of 1992. Furthermore, members of the MDA not only demonstrated a greater understanding of infections diseases, but were also 20 percent more likely to report behavior known to reduce the risk of cross infection. It will be important to continue to identify the "gaps" and provide information, additional training, and encouragement to the dental profession and to dental auxiliaries to improve infection control procedures where improvement appears to be needed.

Prevalence of primary canine hypoplasia of the mandibular teeth.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of an uncommon lesion of the primary mandibular canines (primary canine hypoplasia), and its association with age, race, gender, dental caries, fluoridation status of the drinking water, breast-feeding, and geographic location. The study population comprised 2686 randomly selected children, black and white, 4 and 8 years old, who were enrolled in accredited private and public preschools and elementary schools in Mississippi. There were 1318 males and 1368 females, 1289 white children and 1397 black children, 1353 4-year-olds and 1333 8-year-olds. Results indicate that an association exists for race (P = 0.0001), gender (P = 0.01), and dental caries (P = 0.0001), but not for age (P = 0.07), geographic location (P = 0.73), fluoridation status of the water supply (P = 0.145), or breast-feeding (P = 0.392). The prevalence rate of primary canine hypoplasia was 33.2% for black children and 17.2% for white children. These data indicate that this lesion is significantly more prevalent in blacks than whites, and that teeth with this lesion have a greater probability of developing dental caries.

A simplified hypoplasia index.

A simplified hypoplasia index for deciduous teeth has been developed. The index utilizes a two-digit system to signify the type and severity of the hypoplastic lesion. The types of lesions recorded are primary canine hypoplasia (PCH) and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). The severity ranges from minimal to severe and accounts for the presence of dental caries, dental restorations, and recurrent caries. To determine the reliability of the index, two tests were conducted. The first measure was a repeat reliability coefficient (test-retest) to calculate the stability of the instrument. This measure was calculated for two populations by two examiners under the same examination conditions and exams were conducted seven weeks apart. The second measure calculated the interrater reliability (standardization). Test results were analyzed by employing the Pearson product moment correlation. The repeat reliability coefficients were .75 (P less than or equal to .0001) and .74 (P less than or equal to .0001). The interrater reliability coefficient was .87 (P less than or equal to .0001). These data seem to indicate that the index is reliable over time and between examiners.

Dental caries assessment of Mississippi Head Start children.

This study assessed the dental caries status and treatment needs of Mississippi Head Start children during the 1987-88 school year. The 2,393 children examined, representing a 10 percent random sample of all Mississippi Head Start children, were three to six years old with a majority being four to five years old. The mean deft ranged from 1.34 for three-year-olds to 4.32 for six-year-olds; the mean defs ranged from 2.33 to 9.99. More than 50 percent of primary teeth of three-year-olds with dental caries experience required treatment, whereas less than one-quarter of similarly affected teeth of six-year-olds were in need of treatment.

Primary canine hypoplasia in Head Start children.

Primary canine hypoplasia is an incomplete or defective development of the enamel matrix. The lesion is located on the labial surface and is seen more frequently on mandibular teeth. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine the prevalence of this lesion among Head Start children. During a dental needs assessment of Mississippi Head Start children, 371 children from 11 centers were examined for this lesion. Of the centers, four were located in optimally fluoridated communities, and six were located in fluoride-deficient communities. Ages ranged from three to five years. There were 206 males and 165 females, 334 black and 37 white children. At ten centers all children were black, while all children at one center were white. Results indicated no significant differences in the black population between fluoridated (38.2%) and fluoride-deficient (36.3%) communities (P = .729) or between males (36.8%) and females (37.6%) (P = .877). When data were collapsed on sex and fluoridation status, the racial differences were highly significant (P = .001). The prevalence rate of dental caries associated with primary canine hypoplasia was 26.0 percent. These preliminary data indicate that the presence of primary canine hypoplasia may result in an increased potential for the tooth becoming carious.

Labial hypoplasia of primary canines in black Head Start children.

During routine examinations of 334 black Head Start children in Mississippi, many presented with areas of hypoplasia on the labial surfaces of the mandibular primary canines. Mean prevalence was 38 percent in fluoridated areas and 36 percent in areas without fluoridation. As it appears that hypoplastic defects have a strong potential to become carious, one should expect that the incidence of 25 percent reported here would continue to increase.

Triple teeth: case reports of combined fusion and gemination.

The discovery of a rare combination of fusion and gemination in one clinical crown, involving the same primary teeth in two patients, within a short period of time, is described.