Faculty Bibliography

The effect of three types of fluoride dentifrices and one non-fluoride dentifrice were evaluated and compared intra-orally for their ability to promote the remineralization of caries-like lesions in thin sections of human dentin and enamel. The three fluoride dentifrices were silica based. One dentifrice contained 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP), another contained 0.247% sodium fluoride (NaF), and the third contained 0.247% NaF plus 1.3% pyrophosphate and 1.5% polyvinylmethyl ether/maleic acid (PVM/MA) copolymer (denoted NaF/PPi). The fourth dentifrice (placebo) was also silica based, but contained no fluoride, and served as a negative control. Two week treatment resulted in the following percent mineral changes for the enamel specimens: +21 +/- 16 for MFP, +10 +/- 30 for NaF, +16 +/- 15 for NaF/PPi, and -30 +/- 30 for the placebo. The respective percent mineral change values for the dentin specimens were +28 +/- 20 for MFP, +22 +/- 19 for NaF, +28 +/- 18 for NaF/PPi, and -34 +O/- 61 for the placebo. A statistical analysis revealed that the three fluoride dentifrices were significantly better (p<0.05) than the placebo at promoting remineralization for both types of specimens. No significant differences were found among the three fluoride dentifrices. The following can be concluded from this study: 1) silica based dentifrices containing MFP and NaF are effective at remineralizing caries-like lesions in both enamel and dentin; 2) there was no statistical difference between NaF and MFP in their ability to promote remineralization; and 3) pyrophosphate does not interfere with the remineralizing effects of NaF.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a vesiculo-bullous, mucocutaneous disease that generally affects elderly people. The diagnosis of mucous membrane pemphigoid may be overlooked since the disease is often confined to the mouth and desquamative gingivitis may be the only symptom. Gerodontic patients with this condition are often diagnosed as having "desquamative gingivitis" without obtaining the proper therapy to control chronic pain and effect disease remission. The discomfort associated with eating may prevent many elderly patients from obtaining adequate nutrition. Topical and/or systemic corticosteroid therapy are the only available methods of managing this condition. Immunologic studies support the autoimmune nature of MMP and infer that it may be a variant of bullous pemphigoid.

Nutritional and dental services are two components of the total medical care in nursing homes. Appropriate nutritional and dental care affect the level of functioning and quality of life for older people who reside in nursing homes. Coordination between the dietitian and the dentist may help to identify, solve, and even prevent nutritional as well as dental problems. A screening tool, such as the one presented in this paper, can identify those residents at high risk for nutritional deficiencies caused by poor oral health status. Screening identities the level of risk and which residents should be further investigated by the dietitian, the dentist, or both. © 1988 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Reviews the book "Geriatric Dentistry: A Textbook of Oral Gerontology," edited by Poul Holm-Pedersen and Harald Löe Munksgaard