PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F C Smales

Publications and source records attributed to F C Smales.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Attachment and orientation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts to lipopolysaccharide-coated and pathologically altered cementum in vitro.

Previous studies have suggested that bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) may inhibit fibroblast attachment to root surfaces affected by periodontal disease. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pathologically altered cementum and cementum coated with LPS on the attachment and orientation of periodontal ligament fibroblasts in vitro. LPS caused a maximum reduction of cell orientation of 26% after 5 days' culture compared with controls. However cells did not become attached and orientated to pathologically altered root surfaces. It was concluded that as yet unidentified factors other than LPS may have greater significance when considering optimal methods for the preparation of root surfaces for new attachment procedures.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1990

The distribution and quantitation of cementum-bound lipopolysaccharide on periodontally diseased root surfaces of human teeth.

The aim of this study was to estimate the concentration of cementum-bound LPS on a group of 12 teeth that had been extracted because of periodontitis. LPS on scaled root surfaces was labelled by immunogold/silver staining. The concentrations of LPS were estimated by quantifying the amount of bound silver label, using X-ray microanalysis in areas free of plaque or calculus. These were compared against standards of known LPS concentration, which were separately prepared for each sample. Cementum-bound LPS was detected at concentrations of up to 2 EU/mm2 of affected root surface. However, most of the root surfaces had considerably lower concentrations than this, the mean of all samples never exceeding 0.7 EU/mm2. LPS concentrations were highest on cementum towards the apical regions of the affected pocket. These findings confirm that cementum-bound LPS is only present in low concentrations on affected teeth, and suggest that the clinical significance of cementum-associated LPS may have been over-estimated in the past. The demonstration of LPS appears to be more important as an indicator of retained bacteria and calculus than of cementum-bound LPS per se.

Dental Cementum↗
PubMed1988

Clinical evaluation of plaque removal with a double-headed toothbrush.

A blind, two-way, crossover clinical trial, completed by 44 adult subjects, instructed in specific oral hygiene techniques, was carried out to compare the effectiveness of plaque removal between a new Scandinavian double-headed toothbrush and a popular single-headed brush, each used for one week. The results showed that the double-headed brush was significantly more effective in removing plaque overall than a conventional brush. The effect was most evident on all lingual surfaces, especially in the lower arch and molar regions. It was also particularly pronounced when the double-headed toothbrush was allocated for use in the 2nd week of the study. There was no significant difference in the cleaning ability of the 2 brushes on the buccal surfaces of the teeth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Periodontal awareness project in the United Kingdom: CPITN and self-assessment.

The outcome of a practitioner-orientated joint project between Unilever's Elida Gibbs and FDI, together with Elida Gibbs patient-orientated programme is described. The practitioner-orientated project concentrated on activities associated with the use of the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) in general dental practice. These activities, involving sponsored research at a dental school and a study with UK dentists, have shown the potential of CPITN as a screening method for patients in general practice for periodontal diseases. There is evidence to show that patient-orientated programmes have increased periodontal awareness in the UK.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

A follow-up study 3 years after metronidazole therapy for chronic periodontal disease.

In a previous study, a double-blind between subject comparison of the effects of metronidazole and placebo tablets was completed over 22 weeks in 45 subjects with chronic periodontal disease ranging in severity from moderate (PI = 2.0-3.9) to high (PI = 4.0-6.0). The results showed a significantly greater reduction in the mean probing depth of pockets with the use of metronidazole, but this reduction was apparent only in subjects with severe periodontal disease (PI = 4.0-6.0). 3 years later, 28 subjects attended. All groups still showed statistically significant improvements in all parameters when compared with those at the first visit. However, when compared with those at the end of the trial, there were statistically significant increases in gingival bleeding and calculus scores. An increase in plaque levels was also observed but this was not statistically significant. When subjects with moderate and severe periodontal disease were grouped together, there were no significant differences in any of the parameters between test and control groups. Moreover, the significantly greater reductions in mean probing depth of pockets, achieved with the use of metronidazole in the severe group at the end of the trial, had disappeared after 3 years. However, in subjects with mild disease, statistically significant reductions in pocket probing depth, not originally apparent, were observed 3 years later.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1985

The effect of supragingival plaque control on the subgingival microflora.

The effect of plaque control on the apical microflora of deep periodontal pockets was studied. 8 subjects exhibiting signs of chronic periodontitis were chosen for the study, each subject having at least one pocket greater than 6 mm. These subjects were placed on a plaque control programme consisting of 3 visits, during which oral hygiene instructions were given. On two visits, the teeth of these subjects were scaled and polished. Bacteriological samples from the apex of a deep pockets from each subject were collected before the commencement of the plaque control programme and again at 8 and 16 weeks after the last scale and polish. No significant difference in the microbial flora was observed before and after plaque control, but marked fluctuation in bacterial composition was noted at the 3 samplings. It was concluded that supragingival plaque reduction was not sufficient to produce significant changes in the subgingival plaque composition of deep periodontal pockets.

Adult↗