Periodontal pathogen detection in gingiva/tooth and tongue flora samples from 18- to 48-month-old children and periodontal status of their mothers.

Few studies have detected periodontal pathogens in young children, and when detected the prevalence has been relatively low. In this epidemiological study, we determined the prevalence of periodontal pathogen colonization in young children and examined the relationship between periodontitis in mothers and detection of periodontal pathogens in their children aged 18-48 months. Children were selected and enrolled randomly into the study; tongue and gingival/tooth plaque samples were harvested and analyzed by DNA probe checkerboard assay for Porphyromonas gingivalis and Bacteroides forsythus. Clinical measurements included a gingival bleeding score in the children and a periodontal screening and recording (PSR) score in the mothers. Mothers having one or more periodontal sites with probing depths > 5.5 mm were classified as having periodontitis. In this population, 71% (66/93) of the 18- to 48-month-old children were infected with at least one periodontal pathogen. Detection rates for children were 68.8% for P. gingivalis and 29.0% for B. forsythus. About 13.8% (11/80) of children had gingival bleeding in response to a toothpick inserted interproximally. Children in whom B. forsythus was detected were about 6 times more likely to have gingival bleeding than other children. There was no relationship between bleeding and detection of P. gingivalis. 17.0% (16/94) of the mothers had periodontitis. When all mother-child pairs were considered, the periodontal status of the mother was found not to be a determinant for detection of periodontal pathogens in the floral samples from the children. However, the odds ratio that a daughter of a mother with periodontitis would be colonized was 5.2 for B. forsythus. A much higher proportion of children in this population were colonized by P. gingivalis and/or B. forsythus than has been previously reported for other populations. A modest level of association between manifestations of periodontitis in mothers and detection of B. forsythus in their daughters was observed.

A 3-year follow-up study of various types of orthodontic canine-to-canine retainers.

The present study was performed to test the tendency for plaque and calculus build-up along the wire of different types of bonded orthodontic canine-to-canine retainers, whether the presence of such retainers causes any damage to the teeth involved, the failure rate of the retainers, and any changes in incisor alignment during a 3-year period of retention. The four test groups received either retainers made of thick plain wire bonded only to the canines (n = 11); thick spiral wire bonded only to the canines (n = 13); thin, flexible spiral wire bonded to each tooth (n = 11); or removable retainers (n = 14). Accumulation of plaque and calculus along the gingival margin, gingival inflammation and probing attachment level were scored in lingual areas from canine to canine at the time of fixed appliance removal and again 3 years after retainer insertion. Incisor irregularity was measured on plaster models made at the same time periods. Accumulation of plaque and calculus and development of caries along the wire were scored at follow-up. Retainer failures were recorded whenever they occurred. The results revealed no intergroup differences in changes between baseline and follow-up examinations or status along the retainer wire for any of the variables. Gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation were scored less frequently after 3 years in retention than at the time of debonding. No signs of caries were seen adjacent to the wire. Failures were observed of one, four and three of the fixed retainer types, respectively. These patients showed a greater increase in incisor irregularity than the other patients.

Hygiene status associated with different types of bonded, orthodontic canine-to-canine retainers. A clinical trial.

The present study was performed to test whether bonded, orthodontic canine-to-canine retainers made of spiral wire tended to accumulate more plaque than retainers made of plain wire, and whether the presence of such retainers caused any damage to the teeth involved. 44 patients were classified in eight strata according to age, gender and gingival status. From each stratum, the patients were randomly divided into 4 groups, each of which received either retainers made of thick plain wire bonded only to the canines, thick twisted wired bonded only to the canines, thin twisted wire bonded to each tooth or removable retainers. Accumulation of plaque and calculus along the gingival margin and gingival inflammation were scored in lingual areas from canine to canine at time of fixed appliance removal and again 4 months after retainer insertion. In addition, accumulation of plaque and calculus and development of caries along the retainer wires were scored after 4 months. The results revealed no differences between the groups for any of the variables. No differences in accumulation of plaque was found between baseline and follow-up examinations. Gingival bleeding was scored less frequently after 4 months in retention than at time of debonding.