Comparison of ready-to-use EMDOGAIN-gel and EMDOGAIN in patients with chronic adult periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this multicenter trial was to compare the clinical and radiographical outcome of a ready-to-use Emdogain-gel (test) with the marketed Emdogain (control). METHODS: Subjects with bilateral infrabony defects > or =4 mm deep and > or =2 mm wide according to radiographs were selected. 88 subjects with probing pocket depth (PPD) > or =6 mm > or =1 month after supervised oral hygiene and scaling participated. At baseline plaque index, bleeding on probing, PPD and probing attachment level were recorded and reproducible radiographs for computer-based bone level measurements were taken. In each subject, 1 tooth was randomly treated with the test and 1 tooth with the control gel. Examinations were repeated 8 and 16 months post-operatively. RESULTS: After 16 months, the mean test PPD was 4.1 mm and the mean control PPD 4.2 mm. The mean gain of attachment was 2.7 mm for test and 2.9 mm for the control sites, and the radiographic measurements demonstrated a mean gain of 1 mm for both test and control sites. CONCLUSION: This series of cases demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of pocket depths and gain of attachment and bone after 8 and 16 months with no difference between the 2 preparations.

Social network and regular dental care utilisation in elderly men. Results from the population study "Men born in 1914", Malmö, Sweden.

In connection with an extensive examination of their health status, a representative sample of 68-year-old men (n = 621) in the city of Malmö, Sweden, were interviewed in detail regarding different aspects of the social network, social support and social influence of the individual, dental care utilisation and perceived dental health. 79% of the dentate and 7% of the edentulous subjects made regular dental visits. The most important reason for not visiting a dentist regularly was "no perceived need". Social class and different aspects of social network and social support were in univariate analyses associated with regular dental care. In the multivariate analysis, social anchorage and social participation, subconcepts of the social network, and social class showed independent associations with regular dental care. The addition of the social network and social support variables yielded a more differentiated and thereby a more valid picture of the determinants of regular dental care utilisation. These factors should therefore be considered when public health efforts to increase the number of elderly persons receiving regular dental care are made.