Disentangling the effect of growth from development in size-related trait scaling relationships.

In plant ecology, the terms growth and development are often used interchangeably. Yet these constitute two distinct processes. Plant architectural traits (e.g. number of successive forks) can estimate development stages. Here, we show the importance of including the effect of development stages to better understand size-related trait scaling relationships (i.e. between height and stem diameter). We focused on one common savanna woody species (Senegalia nigrescens) from the Greater Kruger Area, South Africa. We sampled 406 individuals that experience different exposure to herbivory, from which we collected four traits: plant height, basal stem diameter, number of successive forks (proxy for development stage), and resprouting. We analysed trait relationships (using standardized major axis regression) between height and stem diameter, accounting for the effect of ontogeny, exposure to herbivory, and resprouting. The number of successive forks affects the scaling relationship between height and stem diameter, with the slope and strength of the relationship declining in more developed individuals. Herbivory exposure and resprouting do not affect the overall height-diameter relationship. However, when height and stem diameter were regressed separately against number of successive forks, herbivory exposure and resprouting had an effect. For example, resprouting individuals allocate more biomass to both primary and secondary growth than non-resprouting plants in more disturbed conditions. We stress the need to include traits related to ontogeny so as to disentangle the effect of biomass allocation to primary and secondary growth from that of development in plant functional relationships.

Record keeping by undergraduate dental students: a clinical audit.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: An audit was carried out to assess the standard of clinical record keeping by undergraduate dental students, with the object of improving the quality of care of patients treated by these students. METHODOLOGY: One hundred sets of undergraduate student clinical treatment records were evaluated against a modified CRABEL scoring system. The results of this initial part of the audit were presented in tutorial form to a group of 20 students, together with a teaching session on good record keeping, after which the audit was repeated, and another 100 records were examined over five consecutive Fridays, thus completing one complete audit cycle. RESULTS: The most commonly absent record related to the department where the patient was seen followed by illegible signatures of both the demonstrator and the student. Almost all elements of record keeping investigated had improved in the second audit, most reaching 100% compliance, except for two (the updated medical history and the patient's most recent complaint). CONCLUSION: Positive changes can be achieved by creating awareness among dental students on the importance of keeping records.

Case report: a tale of two dentures.

A case is presented where loss of an incisor tooth in a partial denture wearer created an aesthetic emergency. It was not possible to solve this simply by addition of a tooth to the existing denture. Reference to the previous dental history suggested that a further immediate solution might be unwise. The design of the existing denture lent itself to the novel solution of a second denture, retained by elements of the first.

Impact of a restorative dentistry service on the prescription of apical surgery in a district general hospital.

The case records of a group of patients who had undergone periapical surgery in a district general hospital were examined and compared with the criteria agreed by a group of hospital restorative dentists as to whether apical surgery was appropriate rather than, at least initially, a non-surgical treatment option. Only 65% of the patients met the audit criteria. As a result, changes have been made to clinical practice, including a greater involvement of restorative clinicians in the decision-making process when apical surgery is under consideration.

Dental abrasion caused by a cobalt-chromium denture base.

A case of abrasive tooth surface loss caused by repeated sliding contact with the tissue surface of a cobalt-chromium denture base is described. The mode of material-tooth contact was brought about by an unusual patient habit which would have been difficult to foresee when the choice of denture base material was made.

Occupational tooth abrasion in a dental technician: loss of tooth surface resulting from exposure to porcelain powder--a case report.

A dental technician suffered abrasion of his anterior teeth because of his technique of handling porcelain powder during the construction of restorations. To keep the brush moist, he habitually licked it as he applied porcelain powder to restorations. The porcelain powder, which is extremely abrasive, acted as a grinding powder between his maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth. Adjunctive orthodontics and a combination of adhesive, minimal-intervention restorations were used to create an esthetic and functional solution.

The interface between orthodontics and restorative dentistry in the management of anterior tooth surface loss.

Anterior tooth surface loss is a significant problem, ideally requiring early recognition, diagnosis and prevention of progression. However, when first noted it is often sufficiently advanced to warrant treatment. Management should be aimed at minimizing further tooth surface loss and frequently benefits from an integration of treatment procedures. The problems, aims of treatment, and relevant treatment modalities are discussed, and two illustrative cases presented.

Changing the appearance of anterior teeth with porcelain veneers: a case report.

A case is described in which porcelain veneers were used to improve the appearance of the upper anterior teeth and disguise a marked dental centre-line asymmetry. This followed the traumatic loss of the upper left central incisor and complete space loss. Four anterior teeth were treated so that the illusion of symmetry might be enhanced, and the rationale behind this approach is discussed.