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Biomedical subjects

H Gat

Publications and source records attributed to H Gat.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Physiologic pigmentation of the oral mucosa in Israeli children.

Physiologic melanin pigmentation (racial pigmentation) of the oral mucosa varies in prevalence among different races and ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of physiologic pigmentation in Israeli Jewish children of different ethnic origins. A total of 1,300 children, 6 to 10 years of age, was examined. Physiologic pigmentation was found in 13.5% of the population studied. Children of Eastern origin showed a significantly higher prevalence of pigmentation compared with Ashkenazi and Sephardic groups. Because melanin pigmentation can be enhanced by mechanical and chemical stimulation (smoking), this study may serve as a baseline for investigation of melanin pigmentation in various ethnic groups.

Child↗

Changing patterns of dental caries in Ethiopian adolescents who immigrated to Israel.

The aim of this investigation was to explore changes in caries prevalence and gingival health in adolescents who immigrated from Ethiopia to Israel, experiencing an abrupt cultural transition. Fifty adolescents, aged 15-17, born in Ethiopia, and 196 adolescents born in Israel were examined. All were pupils of a boarding school, sharing the same living conditions and eating schedules. The results showed a nearly sixfold difference in caries prevalence between the Ethiopian and the Israeli group (1.5/9.6). No differences could be seen clinically between the Ethiopians who immigrated more than 1 yr ago and those who arrived within the last year. Radiographically, a significant difference was found between the two Ethiopian subgroups. Those who arrived more than 1 yr ago had nearly three times more initial caries. Total interproximal caries scores for the Israeli group, Ethiopians who arrived more than 1 yr ago, and newly arrived Ethiopians were 6.9, 5.7 and 2.1 respectively. Oral hygiene was poorer in the Ethiopian group than in the Israeli group; little difference was found in gingival health. Change in dietary habits, more meals per day and more frequent consumption of fermentable carbohydrates, could have been the cause of the change in caries rate.

Adolescent↗