Oral lichen planus: a review.

Lichen planus is a somewhat frequent oral lesion. The most prevalent type is reticular, which is asymptomatic. The erosive and atropic forms, although not as common, cause discomfort or pain, and the patient usually demands attention. Treatment modalities include the use of topical steroids, although retinoic acid, griseofulvin and cyclosporine have been used. The occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in areas of lichen planus make it necessary to follow up on patients suffering from chronic lesions.

Effects of filtration, collimation, and target-receptor distance on artificial approximal enamel lesion detection with the use of RadioVisioGraphy.

RadioVisioGraphy is an imaging modality that uses a charge-coupled device electronic sensor. Dental charge-coupled device imaging can be used to detect dental caries; however, it was not known what effect beam collimation, added filtration, or variable target-receptor distance has on this task. The purpose of this investigation was to study these effects were imaged by conventional radiography and RadioVisioGraphy varying exposure time, target-receptor distance, collimation, and filtration. Printed RadioVisioGraphy images without enhancement and E-speed radiographs were evaluated by five viewers. The number of true-positives and false-positives were compared as were sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and entrance level radiation exposure. Added filtration reduced the false-positives regardless of collimation or target-receptor distance. True-positives and false-positives were greater at a target-receptor distance of 8 inch at exposures < 0.10 seconds (F < 0.0151). E-speed radiographs had a greater specificity and positive predictive value than RadioVisioGraphy images without image enhancement; however, no significant differences were found between RadioVisioGraphy images and E-speed radiographs in true-positive or false-positive identifications without image enhancement.

Triamcinolone acetonide versus chlorhexidine for treatment of recurrent stomatitis.

This study compared the efficacy of pain control of two medications, used to treat recurrent aphthous stomatitis, placed under a physical barrier of cyanoacrylate. Thirty patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis were selected from the records of the Diagnostic Referral Clinic at Indiana University School of Dentistry and randomly divided into three groups; one group was a control. Experimental groups received a topical application of either triamcinolone acetonide (0.025%) or chlorhexidine digluconate (0.12%). Medications were covered by isobutyl cyanoacrylate (Iso-Dent). Controls received the Iso-Dent only. Patients kept a diary to record their pain level on a 10 cm visual analog scale until the lesion healed. Ulcer episodes were treated for 12 weeks. Because some patients had multiple episodes, a total of 35 ulcer episodes were available for analysis. The mean number of ulcer days for each group was not significantly different. ANOVA with repeated measures for 10 days on each patient was first performed. A highly significant difference in pain intensity and perception was found at different days (p < 0.0001). No significant difference was found between the triamcinolone acetonide and chlorhexidine gluconate (p < 0.49).

Presurgical tomographic assessment for dental implants. 1. A modified imaging technique.

A modified technique for presurgical evaluation of intraosseous implant placement using linear tomography has been developed. The simplified technique is applicable to tomographic systems equipped with a cephalometric head positioner (cephalostat) and a fiberoptic positioning light system. It provides precise cross-sectional images for the assessment of bone morphology and associated anatomic structures. This technique is more comfortable for patients who are unable to tolerate the positioning of submentovertex projections used to estimate horizontal angulation of the head position and to determine the depth of radiographic cut. Instead, the positioning light and casts are used to make these two determinations.

Radiographic interpretation of endodontic file length.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of examiners when asked to make file length adjustments with only a radiograph. The examiners viewed several radiographs under proper viewing conditions but without the aid of measuring devices. Two files of varying lengths (sizes 10 and 15) were placed in maxillary and mandibular premolars and molars from cadavers. The nine examiners were 67.91% in agreement of actual file length adjustment needed when adjustments of up to 0.5 mm were needed, 17.76% when adjustments of from 0.5 up to 1.0 mm were needed, and 14.33% when adjustments of greater than 1.0 mm were needed.

Clinical effect of a sanguinaria dentifrice on plaque and gingivitis in adults.

A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of a sanguinaria-zinc chloride dentifrice on the prevention of plaque formation and gingivitis. A total of 59 young adults, 18 to 30 years of age, either performed supervised brushing with a 0.075% sanguinaria-0.05% zinc chloride dentifrice, a 0.24% sodium fluoride dentifrice, or rinsed daily with a 0.05% NaF solution. Clinical evaluations for plaque and gingivitis were performed after 7, 14, and 21 days of the test regimen. After 21 days, all subjects resumed twice daily supervised brushing and flossing and post-test evaluations were conducted after two weeks. The results showed that after 7, 14, and 21 days both groups using dentifrices had significantly less plaque and gingivitis than the group using the rinse, and there were no significant differences between the two groups using either the sanguinaria-ZnCl2 or the NaF dentifrices.

Medial sigmoid depression: a panoramic pseudoforamen in the upper ramus.

A radiolucency resembling a foramen was observed on a number of panoramic radiographs in the upper ramus just below and slightly anterior to the sigmoid notch. The radiolucency may be unilateral or bilateral and does not correspond to the location of any known major foramina in this region. Eighty-eight skulls with mandibles were examined, and representative samples were photographed and radiographed in order to replicate this foramen-like radiolucency. The radiolucency corresponded to an osseous depression observable in some specimens in the medial portion of the ramus just below the sigmoid notch area. The incidence of this phenomenon in a study of 1,986 panoramic radiographs was also determined.