Faculty Bibliography

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are commonly used in the treatment of hypertension. Angioedema is a known side effect of ACE inhibitors. Awareness of the clinical presentation of angioedema can allow for appropriate medical referral. The case presented here describes a 69-year-old African-American female who presented with a swollen lower lip that had developed overnight. A review of her medical history revealed that she was being treated for hypertension with a combination product containing lisinopril and hydrocholorothiazide. A diagnosis of lisinopril-induced angioedema was made. Her physician was consulted and her medications were discontinued. The lip swelling resolved without incident.

In dentistry, three 'non-precious' alloy groups predominate: chromium-cobalt, nickel-chromium, and nickel-chromiumberyllium. These alloys have little or no precious metals, but exhibit low flexibility and achieve high porcelain-to-metal bond strengths when handled properly. The most common of the 'non-precious' metal alloys utilize nickel; unfortunately, nickel is the most common of all potential metal contact allergens. This article describes a case involving a patient with a sensitivity reaction to the metal component of a ceramo-metal crown and the procedure that was used to rectify the problem

Root surface caries is prevalent in patients with both treated and untreated periodontal disease. The major etiologic factor has been identified as microbial plaque. In periodontally treated patients, significantly higher root caries prevalence and incidence have been found in patients with high levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli in saliva. Reducing the levels of S. mutans and Lactobacilli in saliva may lower the risk of root caries development. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of an oral enzymatic rinse on the salivary counts of S. mutans and Lactobacilli in periodontally treated patients. Fifteen adult subjects participated in a double-blind, cross-over designed clinical trial. Each subject had previously undergone comprehensive periodontal therapy and had been maintained on a regular program of supportive periodontal therapy. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected from each participant. Each subject was then randomly given either the enzymatic rinse product or a control rinse and instructed to rinse with one tablespoonful twice a day for 2 weeks, after which saliva samples were taken. After a washout period, salivary samples were again taken, and the subjects received the alternate rinse product. Two weeks later, final salivary samples were taken. The salivary samples were serially diluted and incubated aerobically on selective culture media. S. mutans and Lactobacilli were counted on the basis of colonial morphology. Pretreatment and posttreatment salivary counts of S. mutans and Lactobacilli were analyzed using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test at the 5% level of significance. Analysis of data revealed that neither the test nor the control rinse significantly lowered salivary counts of either species in the sample population