Microbiological evidence of Helicobacter pylori from dental plaque in dyspeptic patients.

To evaluate the possible route of transmission of Helicobacter pylori, stomach biopsies and dental plaques were cultured from patients with dyspeptic symptoms who underwent endoscopy. A total of 31 patients were examined. Twenty patients out of thirty one (64%) were H. pylori positive in gastric biopsy. Among the microorganisms isolated in dental plaque only one sample (corresponding to a patients with duodenal ulcer H. pylori positive) showed colonies morphologically and biochemically compatible with H. pylori. Proteic patterns of whole cells and restriction endonuclease analysis with Hind III and Hae III endonucleases of DNA extracted from the strain subcultured from a stomach biopsy and from dental plaque of the same patient indicated that both sites were infected with the same strain of H. pylori.

Regression following reduction of the daily drug dosage in cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth in bone marrow transplant recipients.

This study was undertaken on 181 patients treated with bone marrow transplantation and in therapy with cyclosporin-A. 22 of the 181 (12.5%) exhibited a marked gingival overgrowth that covered more than 1/3 of crown length. The development of gingival overgrowth appeared in a range of 8 to 365 days, with a mean of 75 days, from the beginning of the immunosuppressive treatment with the drug. During the course of treatment, after a time period ranging from 30 to 365 days (mean 180 days), in 50% of the patients there was a total regression of the gingival pathology and in 36.4% a partial regression. It has not been possible to correlate the occurrence of gingival overgrowth with the presence of plaque or calculus and with the cumulative dosage of the drug. It is possible that a reduction in the daily drug dosage below a certain threshold may produce a partial or complete regression of the gingival pathology.

[Methods of opening the pulp chamber]. / Metodiche di apertura della camera pulpare.

The correct opening of the pulp chamber is essential for the success of the endodontic therapy. Though varying following the different anatomy of the teeth, the opening of the pulp chamber must follow some fundamental rules: no undercuts between the floor of the chamber and the walls of the access cavity, complete removal of the roof of the chamber, unrestricted view of the opening of the canals and of possible accessory canals. The ideal shape of the access cavity should be a funnel with the larger diameter towards the occlusal surface. This shape should be modified following the anatomy of the different teeth.

[Alloy telescopic crowns. Clinical indications]. / Corone telescopiche in lega. Indicazioni cliniche.

This work involves a partially edentate subject fitted with a denture on conical crowns. Of the methods at present used in patients with few teeth, this is considered one of the most satisfactory for dentist and patient. In cases in which the remaining teeth are moveable, a denture on magnets can be utilized. A correct oral hygiene is emphasized to favour the duration of the tooth-denture combination.