A comparison of the Braun Oral-B Plaque Remover (D5) electric and a manual toothbrush in affecting gingivitis.

This three-month clinical trial was designed to compare the effect of an electric and a manual toothbrush on reducing primarily gingivitis and secondarily, plaque, in a cohort of 70 healthy adults. After baseline evaluation of gingivitis, soft tissue trauma, and plaque, patients were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups, shown an instructional tooth brushing videotape, and had their teeth cleaned. Soft tissue trauma was again scored at 2 weeks. At 12 weeks all three clinical parameters were again evaluated. The results showed statistically significant reductions (baseline vs. 3-month) in both whole mouth (p = 0.003) and interproximal (p = 0.008) gingivitis scores for the electric toothbrush group. No significant reduction at three months compared to baseline was seen for the manual brush group. When gingivitis reductions were compared over the three-month test period, the electric brush was significantly better than the manual toothbrush in both whole mouth (p = 0.0007) and interproximal (p = 0.002) gingivitis reduction. No increase in soft tissue trauma and no significant differences in plaque reductions were seen for either toothbrush.

Four clinical studies comparing the efficacy of flat-trim and multi-level trim commercial toothbrushes.

Four independent clinical studies were conducted to compare the short- and long-term effectiveness of three commercially available toothbrushes. Two of the four studies compared plaque removal in a single-use, crossover design, and two studies compared plaque and gingivitis reduction efficacy for a long-term, three-month use. The Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index and the modified Gingival Index were used to assess plaque and gingivitis levels, respectively. The two long-term studies directly compared the Oral-B P-35 and Crest Complete toothbrushes, while the two single-use studies compared the Oral-B P-35, Crest Complete and Colgate Precision toothbrushes. In all four studies, there were no significant differences found between any of the toothbrushes.

Morphological and functional study of the effect of isoproterenol on salivary gland cells.

The cellular mechanisms responsible for the structural and functional alterations produced in salivary glands by isoproterenol (ISP) were investigated. Postnatal rats were injected with ISP, and alterations in the structure and protein components of the submandibular glands were determined. Normal age-dependent protein patterns detected by electrophoresis are attributed to the biochemical and functional differentiation of proacinar and acinar secretory cells and correlate with structural changes in these cells. Structural changes induced by ISP involve the acinar cells without detectably altering terminal tubule cells. In addition, synthesis of a specific protein by the glands is enhanced by ISP treatment. By comparing protein patterns in the submandibular glands of control and treated rats, it was concluded that ISP increases synthesis of a specific salivary protein normally produced by proacinar cells during a limited period of glandular development. These results suggest that a neurally mediated regulaotry mechanism that becomes altered by ISP plays a role in normal salivary gland development.

Nutritional implications in wound healing.

Healing of wounds is one of the life functions which is intended as a defense mechanism to maintain the integrity of the body. Understanding basic factors that guide the healing process will help the clinician to propitiate those nutritional measures known to enhance the repair function. Nutrients are normally required for growth, development, and maintenance of the integrity of the tissue. The sum total of the nutritional requirements of all tissues and organs constitutes the requirements of the individual. Recommended dietary allowances have been defined for population groups in the United States for different ages and sex. These allowances involve some 17 different nutrients, but many others (up to 50) are now considered essential, although their exact requirement may not be known. When trauma of any sort is inflicted on an individual, both local and general metabolic changes take place which may lead to nutritional inadequacy. These reactions are normally intended to set into motion the mechanisms designed to repair injured tissues. Nutritional management of the individual requires that the clinican determines what, how, when, and how much nutritional supplementation should be given to the patient. Guidelines for the amounts of proteins, vitamins, and certain minerals to be administered have been discussed. Where there are impediments that make it impossible to feed the patient orally, the clinician should resort to parenteral feeding to insure that nutrients are provided for the convalescing patient. Because the trophic environment will determine to a large extent the speed with which tissues will recover, nutritional care of the patient is important and should be interrelated to the total care of the patient.