TONGUE MICROFLORA AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Aim of the study. To determine the role of bacteria on the dorsal surface of the tongue in periodontal disease. Material and methods. Fifthytwo patients aged 18 to 25 were enrolled in the study; the subjects had to complete a questionnaire on general health, diet and dental hygiene habits. Decay-missing- filled teeth index (DMFT), the periodontal screening index (PSI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and plaque index were recorded for all subjects. After clinical examination, samples from dental plaque and tongue microflora were harvested by swabbing with sterile cotton sticks. Results. Clinical data obtained correlate with tongue microflora. The microflora does not depend on age and sex of the pacient. The counts of S.mutans was found to be corelated with DMFT index and also, the BOP with P.gingivalis (p=0.0006). We found the presence of P.gingivalis in approximately 12% of the subjects. Conclusions. The tongue surface can be an important reservoir for pathogens bacteria which can have a direct influence in the development of dental caries, oral halitosis or periodontitis

THE EFFICIENCY OF INITIAL PHASE TREATMENT IN CHRONIC MARGINAL PERIODONTITIS

Aim of the study. To evaluate the efficiency of initial periodontal treatment by measuring indices of oral hygiene, gum inflammation and periodontal pocket depth before and after treatment. Material and methods. 20 adult subjects were included in the study. Clinical examination included measurements of attached gingiva width, gum inflammation (GI), oral hygiene (OHI), periodontal pocket depth (PD), gingival recession (GR) and tooth mobility. The treatment had consisted of plaque control, supra- and subgingival scaling and root planing (SPR). Treatment success was quantified by measuring of the above indices before and after treatment. Results. OHI values decreased with 28,64% after DRP and GII decreased with 51,11%. From the total of 1289 sites with values ≥4mm, 512 sites got normal values at probing after initial treatment, the rest of 777 sites still had pathologic values, requiring further pocket reduction treatment. Conclusions. Initial therapy is the only therapy needed for patients with superficial periodontal disease, but patients with aggressive or deep forms of periodontitis would require further pocket depth reduction treatment

The Role of the Educational Program in Reducing the Child's Anxiety at the Dentist

The objective of the study was to create and implement an educational program with the aim of reducing children's anxiety at the dentist. In carrying out this study, it started from the hypothesis that the implementation of an educational program can lead to a decrease in the level of dental anxiety among children. The sample included 196 children (experimental group of 95 children and control group of 101 children), primary school pupils. The methods used were the questionnaire, PowerPoint presentations, semi-structured interview, demonstration and exercise. The educational program was structured in the form of twelve PowerPoint presentations, focusing on three important themes. These were: the importance of oral hygiene, methods and techniques used for good oral hygiene and the role of nutrition in maintaining healthy teeth. A questionnaire was applied and saliva was taken to determine immunoglobulin A, both at the beginning and at the end of the study. In the case of the experimental group, there were statistically significant differences between the initial and final results both following the application of the questionnaire and in terms of immunoglobulin A levels (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the control group (p>0.05). Following the interpretation of the results, the hypothesis was confirmed according to which the implementation of an educational program can lead to a decrease in the level of dental anxiety in children

The Role of the Educational Program in Reducing the Child's Anxiety at the Dentist

The objective of the study was to create and implement an educational program with the aim of reducing children's anxiety at the dentist. The study began with the hypothesis that the implementation of an educational program can lead to a decrease in the level of dental anxiety among children. The sample included 196 children (experimental group of 95 children and control group of 101 children), primary school pupils. The educational program was structured in the form of twelve PowerPoint presentations, focusing on three essential themes. These were: the importance of oral hygiene, methods and techniques used for good oral hygiene and the role of nutrition in maintaining healthy teeth. The methods used were the questionnaire, PowerPoint presentations, semi-structured interviews, demonstrations and exercises. A questionnaire was applied and saliva was taken to determine immunoglobulin A, both at the beginning and at the end of the study. In the experimental group, there were statistically significant differences between the initial and final results of both the questionnaire and immunoglobulin A testing (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the control group (p>0.05). Following the interpretation of the results, the hypothesis was confirmed according to which the implementation of an educational program can lead to a decrease in the level of dental anxiety in children

THE EFFICIENCY OF INITIAL PHASE TREATMENT IN CHRONIC MARGINAL PERIODONTITIS

Aim of the study. To evaluate the efficiency of initial periodontal treatment by measuring indices of oral hygiene, gum inflammation and periodontal pocket depth before and after treatment. Material and methods. 20 adult subjects were included in the study. Clinical examination included measurements of attached gingiva width, gum inflammation (GI), oral hygiene (OHI), periodontal pocket depth (PD), gingival recession (GR) and tooth mobility. The treatment had consisted of plaque control, supra- and subgingival scaling and root planing (SPR). Treatment success was quantified by measuring of the above indices before and after treatment. Results. OHI values decreased with 28,64% after DRP and GII decreased with 51,11%. From the total of 1289 sites with values ≥4mm, 512 sites got normal values at probing after initial treatment, the rest of 777 sites still had pathologic values, requiring further pocket reduction treatment. Conclusions. Initial therapy is the only therapy needed for patients with superficial periodontal disease, but patients with aggressive or deep forms of periodontitis would require further pocket depth reduction treatment

The Role of the Educational Program in Reducing the Child's Anxiety at the Dentist

The objective of the study was to create and implement an educational program with the aim of reducing children's anxiety at the dentist. In carrying out this study, it started from the hypothesis that the implementation of an educational program can lead to a decrease in the level of dental anxiety among children. The sample included 196 children (experimental group of 95 children and control group of 101 children), primary school pupils. The methods used were the questionnaire, PowerPoint presentations, semi-structured interview, demonstration and exercise. The educational program was structured in the form of twelve PowerPoint presentations, focusing on three important themes. These were: the importance of oral hygiene, methods and techniques used for good oral hygiene and the role of nutrition in maintaining healthy teeth. A questionnaire was applied and saliva was taken to determine immunoglobulin A, both at the beginning and at the end of the study. In the case of the experimental group, there were statistically significant differences between the initial and final results both following the application of the questionnaire and in terms of immunoglobulin A levels (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the control group (p>0.05). Following the interpretation of the results, the hypothesis was confirmed according to which the implementation of an educational program can lead to a decrease in the level of dental anxiety in children

STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS AND LACTOBACILLI ON GLASS IONOMER CEMENTS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantity of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli on enamel surfaces and one year old glass ionomer cement and compomer. The class V fillings, with their cervical margins placed subgingivally, were placed in the incisor, canine and premolar. The teeth to be filled had cervical abrasion or erosion defects. The evaluation was done in a cross sectional study, where the patients continued to use their customary oral hygiene procedures and during a 14-day period of experimental plaque formation. In this study no difference was seen in the number of bacteria recovered from one year old glass ionomer cement fillings compared to the enamel and composite resin surfaces. The fluoride levels in plaque adjacent to glass ionomer cement did not become high enough to inhibit the accumulation of the investigated bacteria. In this study we found that there was the same critical levels of Streptococcus mutans on glass ionomer cement and compomer. Only one of the test subjects had a number of lactobacilli. Differences in numbers of bacteria on the teeth could be due to different toxicologic effects of the restorative materials. The levels reached in plaque adjacent to the material did not become high enough to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli

MEDICINAL CLAY AS AN ADJUVANT IN SUPPORTIVE THERAPY IN CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS

Medicinal clays can be used in the pharmaceutically products as an active ingredients, excipients or additives. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of the medicinal clay as an adjuvant in scaling and root planning in a non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis. Thirty subjects, aged between 25-60 were randomly distributed in two groups (test group and control group) according the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the subjects received scaling and root planing. The test group received local instillation of the medicinal clay after scaling and root planing. The control group received no treatment with medicinal clay after scaling and root planing. The clinical parameters, porbing depth and clinical attachment level were assessed baseline (one day) and three months after the treatment protocol. The results showed significant improvement in clinical parameters. The results showed that in test group at baseline, the mean PD was 3.26 mm and CAL was 4.45, which decreased to 1.87 mm and 3.31 mm respectively (statistically significant p≤0.05). In conclusion, the effect of a medicinal clay used as an adjuvant in scaling and root planing has been proved

MEDICINAL CLAY AS AN ADJUVANT IN SUPPORTIVE THERAPY IN CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS

Medicinal clays can be used in the pharmaceutically products as an active ingredients, excipients or additives. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of the medicinal clay as an adjuvant in scaling and root planning in a non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis. Thirty subjects, aged between 25-60 were randomly distributed in two groups (test group and control group) according the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the subjects received scaling and root planing. The test group received local instillation of the medicinal clay after scaling and root planing. The control group received no treatment with medicinal clay after scaling and root planing. The clinical parameters, porbing depth and clinical attachment level were assessed baseline (one day) and three months after the treatment protocol. The results showed significant improvement in clinical parameters. The results showed that in test group at baseline, the mean PD was 3.26 mm and CAL was 4.45, which decreased to 1.87 mm and 3.31 mm respectively (statistically significant p≤0.05). In conclusion, the effect of a medicinal clay used as an adjuvant in scaling and root planing has been proved

Aspects of Dental Anxiety at Children of Different Ethnicities

Objectives: The aim of our study is to identify the differences in how the dental act is perceived among children of different ethnic groups. For this purpose, we started from the hypothesis that the degree of child anxiety at the dentist can be influenced by the socio-economic status of the family of origin. Material and methods: A sample of 115 school children, including 40 Romanian children, 36 Hungarian children and 39 Roma children, aged between 8-9 years old, were interviewed. We have chosen these three ethnic groups to see if there are differences in the perception of the dental act. In terms of psychological method, the questionnaire, the semi-structured interview, and the demonstration were used. Results: The results showed that most children of the Romanian and Hungarian groups had been to the dentist, whereas only 48.71% of the Roma children had been there. The highest degree of anxiety is manifested by the Roma children. There are no significant differences in this study between the answers of Romanian children and Hungarian children regarding the degree of anxiety in the dental office. Conclusions: The study confirmed the hypothesis that the degree of child anxiety at the dentist is influenced by the socio-economic status of the family of origin. When the socio-economic level is low, parents do not go to the dental office for treatment or prevention and this behaviour is passed on to children