Application of the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) in a group of 45-54-year-old German factory workers.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the periodontal status of 45-54-year-old patients and to evaluate their treatment needs. Probing depths, bleeding on probing and retentional elements (calculus and overhanging restorations) were determined according to the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). Additionally, loss of attachment was measured. Results indicated that none of the subjects had a completely healthy periodontium; only 14.7% presented with single sextants which were healthy or needed only improved oral hygiene. Slightly less than half (46.1%) of the subjects were classified as treatment need (TN) category 2 and the remainder (53.9%) as TN3. Of the subjects classed as TN category 3, 14% had the requisite code 4 in one sextant, 18.2% in 2 sextants, 21.7% in half or more of the sextants and 4.2% in all sextants. With a mean of 5.55 sextants per patient, 0.2 sextants per person were scored as code 0 or 1, 1.33 sextants as code 2, 2.79 sextants as code 3 and 1.24 sextants as code 4. The mean loss of attachment was 3.8 mm. Anterior teeth showed less loss of attachment than posterior teeth and buccal and lingual surfaces showed less loss of attachment than mesial and distal surfaces. The data indicate that although this group of 45-54-year-old subjects had high CPITN scores in total TN categories, the codes for complex Treatment Needs (TN3) were recorded only in localized areas.

Assessment of ultrasonic debridement of calculus-associated periodontally-involved root surfaces by the limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. An in vitro study.

This investigation assessed the effectiveness of an in vitro ultrasonic debridement regime on periodontally involved teeth with visually-detectable calculus deposits, using the LAL assay for lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as a marker of bacterial products. 34 single rooted teeth with extensive amounts of calcified accretions were selected, of which 10 served as uninstrumented controls for the estimation of existing LPS levels. The periodontally involved roots of the 24 experimental teeth were debrided with a Cavitron TF-10 tip for a limited time using light pressure and overlapping strokes which ensured complete surface instrumentation without reference to the presence of calculus. Marked reductions in root surface area coverage by calculus were nevertheless achieved as assessed planimetrically from photographic records of the teeth before and after debridement. The root surfaces of each tooth were then stripped away and the harvested material subjected to 'Westphal' extraction and LAL assay for LPS. The resulting LPS yields from the experimental teeth ranged from less than 0.08 to 22.387 ng compared to 1,900 to 29,200 ng from the uninstrumented controls. The extremely small residual LPS yields from the experimental teeth not only confirm the efficacy of ultrasonic debridement but, when coupled with the lack of a relationship with the widely varying amounts of the remaining calculus, support the contention that bacterial plaque rather than calculus has the greater pathogenic potential. These results reinforce the growing impression of the superficial location of bacterial toxic products associated with periodontally involved root surfaces.

[Periodontal treatment needs in a Spanish school population. 2. Intraoral distribution of different signs]. / Necesidad de tratamiento periodontal de la población escolar Española. II. Distribución intrabucal de los diferentes signos.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the different periodontal disease indicators used in the C.P.I.T.N. per sextant in the Spaniard population under 20 years of age. We have examined a randomly chosen sample of 1450 school-aged individuals, 7, 12 and 15 to 19 years old. We have observed a healthy periodontium more frequently in the upper anterior region, calculus predominates in the lower incisors close followed by molars, and periodontal pockets of 4 mm or deeper were commonly found in the molar regions. We could'nt detect important deviations from this distribution pattern in the different age groups or between males and females.

Periodontal alterations in patients with pemphigus vulgaris taking steroids. A biannual assessment.

Periodontal health parameters and salivary cortisol were studied in 19 adult pemphigus vulgaris patients on chronic steroid therapy. The patient population was divided into non-medicated and medicated subjects at intake into the study. A significant difference between the 2 examinations, performed at an interval of 8.73 months +/- 4.35, was found in bleeding index (p less than 0.000 and p less than 0.04, respectively) and gingival recession (p less than 0.000 and p less than 0.009) in both groups. No changes occurred in alveolar bone height. Steroid therapy altered the bleeding index (R = 0.60 and R = 0.80) and gingival recession (R = 0.87 and 0.91) in a dose-related manner, and induced low salivary cortisol. The findings of this study would suggest suppression of the host inflammatory reaction, resulting in an alleged healthy clinical appearance of the periodontium.

Criteria for assessment of interproximal bone loss on bite-wing radiographs in adolescents.

The present study was performed to determine radiographically the normal distance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and the alveolar bone crest (AC) as a background for diagnostic decision on bone loss in adolescents. For this purpose, the normal appearance of the alveolar crest was studied in 30, 18-year-olds reported to have had a clinically healthy gingiva at the age of 16 years. A clinical examination was performed and 4 posterior bite-wing radiographs were taken. Sites with bleeding on probing, loss of probing attachment, defective fillings and calculus were excluded from the analysis. At the remaining 737 sites, the distance CEJ-AC was measured on radiographs. Also, the appearance of the marginal bone (normal, sclerotic, notched and/or irregular image, widening of the periodontal ligament space) was recorded. The mean distances CEJ-AC for the separately-recorded maxillary surfaces amounted to 0.9 or 1.0 mm. In the mandible, the distances amounted to 0.7 or 0.8 mm except for the mesial surface of the mandibular first premolar, where a mean distance of 0.5 mm was noted. At maxillary surfaces, 84-90% of the sites showed a distance of 1 mm or less and 94-100% a distance of 1.5 mm or less. At mandibular surfaces, 93-100% of the sites showed a distance of 1.0 mm or less and 100% a distance of 1.5 mm or less. At 4 sites, located at the mesial surface of the first and second premolars in the maxilla, the CEJ-AC distance was recorded as 2 mm. One site was classified as not having a normal appearance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)