Biomedical subjects

J M Douglass

Publications and source records attributed to J M Douglass.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Dental caries patterns and oral health behaviors in Arizona infants and toddlers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to use tooth eruption sequence, and a tooth- and surface-specific caries analysis method to determine: (1) the temporal relationship between tooth eruption and caries onset; (2) the validity of pre-existing concepts of caries progression; and (3) the relationship of certain putative health behaviors with caries prevalence. METHODS: A total of 2,428 Arizona children aged 6-36-months, who were recruited from WIC programs (a federal program for low-income children at nutritional risk), health fairs and private day care centers, received visual dental caries examinations. Additionally, an oral health behavior survey was administered to the parents of the 1,529 children recruited from the WIC programs. RESULTS: Dental caries was detected soon after tooth eruption, and by 34-36 months of age 25% of this population had caries. Maxillary anterior caries developed as early as 10-12 months of age. Fissure caries of the molars, either by itself or with maxillary anterior caries, was seen as early as 13-15 months of age. Posterior proximal caries was seen as early at 19-21 months, and only was present in conjunction with the other patterns. Over 40% of the 13-36-month-old children whose parents completed the survey still used a bottle. Night-time bottle use was associated with maxillary anterior caries in 24-36-month-old children, but no association was found in younger children or with posterior caries patterns. Survey responses also showed that fewer than 15% of these children reported having had a dental visit. CONCLUSIONS: Dental caries was a significant health issue for these children under 3 years of age, and factors other than bottle feeding may play an important role in its etiology. Prevention of dental caries in children under age three will depend on a better understanding of the etiology as well as improved access to care.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2001

Clinical decision-making for caries management in primary teeth.

The aim of this review of clinical decision-making for caries management in primary teeth is to integrate current knowledge in the field of cariology into clinically usable concepts and procedures to aid in the diagnosis and therapy of dental caries in primary teeth. The evidence for this paper is derived from other manuscripts of this conference, computer and hand searches of scientific articles; and policy statements of councils or commissions of various health organizations. Current evidence regarding the carious process and caries risk assessment allows the practitioner to transcend traditional surgical management of dental caries in primary teeth. Therapy can focus on patient-specific approaches that include disease monitoring and preventive therapies supplemented by restorative therapies. The type and intensity of these therapies should be determined utilizing data from clinical and radiograph examinations as well as information regarding caries risk status; evidence of therapy outcomes; assessment and reassessment of disease activity; natural history of caries progression in primary teeth; and preferences and expectations of guardians and practitioners. Changes in the management of dental caries will require health organizations and dental schools to educate students, practitioners, and patients in evidence- and risk-based care.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

PubMed1998

Psychosocial and behavioral issues in early childhood caries.

Rampant caries in infants and young children has long been recognized as a clinical syndrome referred to by various names, including nursing caries, nursing bottle syndrome, night bottle mouth, and baby bottle tooth decay. The common theme among these terms is the perceived central role of inappropriate use of the baby bottle in the etiology and progression of carious lesions. Use of the baby bottle is not the only, and may not be the most important, factor in caries development. Because of questions about the role of the baby bottle in caries among young children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently suggested that the term for this clinical syndrome be replaced with early childhood caries (ECC). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the literature on the influence of psychosocial and behavioral factors in early childhood caries. Prevalence of caries and maxillary anterior decay varies greatly in developed and undeveloped countries and among socioeconomic groups in developed countries. However, relatively little is known about the onset and progression of the disease or the antecedents of ECC, such as high risk behaviors, cultural norms, health beliefs and attitudes, or health care delivery factors. Furthermore, studies that do exist are limited by small and possibly biased samples and a lack of clear case definition. Future research should aim to develop a clear case definition of ECC, differentiate patterns of caries and conduct community-based epidemiological studies in order to obtain accurate estimates of the etiology and epidemiology of ECC in the general population, as well as in high risk groups.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed1996

Temporal changes in dental caries levels and patterns in a Native American preschool population.

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to assess current dental caries experience and levels of mutans streptococci in Apache children in 1993 and to determine how caries levels and patterns were different from 15 years before. METHODS: Four-year-old Head Start children (n = 127) were examined for dental caries and sampled for salivary mutans streptococci in 1993. Dental caries information on 113 4-year-old children from the same location was obtained from a chart audit of the 1978-79 Head Start dental examinations. RESULTS: Neither the caries prevalence (95%) nor the prevalence of caries patterns differed between the 1978-79 and 1993 cohorts. However, the level of treatment received in 1993 was greater than that in 1978-79. Children with nursing caries (64%) had a greater severity of fissure caries and a greater prevalence of posterior proximal caries compared with caries-positive children without nursing caries. The mean dmfs and dmft on the children categorized in the high mutans streptococci range were greater than those of children categorized in the moderate range. CONCLUSIONS: The caries prevalence found in these preschool Native Americans is among the highest reported for this age group and does not differ from that found at this location 15 years before. It appears that children with nursing caries in this population are at greater risk for posterior caries patterns.

Arizona↗

PubMed1995

Caries prevalence and patterns in 3-6-year-old Beijing children.

A total of 400 Beijing children, 3-6-yr-old, equally distributed by age and sex, were examined for dental cares. Results were analyzed with the traditional dmfs/t index and with the Caries Analysis System. The system differentiated between caries patterns and examined the percentage of affected children (Prevalence), the degree to which these children were affected (Severity), and the proportion of total caries each disease pattern represented (Distribution). Over 67% of the children experienced caries, a level comparable to other reports from China and other developing countries, but 50% greater than those seen in United States preschool children. Nearly all children with caries experienced fissure caries. In 3-yr-olds maxillary anterior caries was the next most prevalent pattern with 43% affected, whilst in the 6-yr-olds, posterior proximal caries was the second most prevalent pattern with 68% affected. Since maxillary anterior caries was so prevalent, and because the presence of this pattern has been shown to be a risk factor for future caries, preventing the maxillary anterior pattern may markedly reduce caries in this population.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed1994

Dental caries in preschool Beijing and Connecticut children as described by a new caries analysis system.

A total of 625 children, 3-4 yr old, 426 from Connecticut Head Start programs and 199 from Beijing area nursery schools, were clinically examined for dental caries. Results were analyzed using the traditional dmfs index as well as a new "Caries Analysis System". This new system differentiated between caries patterns and examined the percentage of affected children (Prevalence), the degree to which these children were affected (Severity) and the proportion of total caries each disease pattern represented (Distribution). The Caries Analysis System revealed differences in caries experience and patterns among the racial/ethnic groups that the dmfs index did not. The Beijing children experienced the greatest Prevalence of all caries patterns; however, the Severity and Distribution of the caries patterns were similar to those of the Connecticut children. Within the group of Connecticut children, White children had the lowest Prevalence but the greatest Severity when compared with the Black and Hispanic children.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1994

Dental caries prevalence and treatment among Navajo preschool children.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the dental health of Navajo preschool children, a population about whom little dental information is published. METHODS: Caries data were collected and analyzed for 2,003 Navajo children aged 3-5 years in the Head Start program, and for a convenience sample of 115 children younger than three years old from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. RESULTS: Each age group had an extremely high mean dmfs; however, as much as 70 percent of this index comprised treated surfaces. Maxillary anterior caries was observed in the WIC children under two years of age and posterior proximal caries was observed as early as two years of age. The prevalence of maxillary anterior caries reached a maximum of 68 percent in the three-year-old Head Start children, and may be associated with the high level of posterior caries in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Most children in this population may be considered at risk for developing caries. This Navajo preschool population has perhaps the earliest caries onset, among the highest caries prevalence, and among the highest level of treatment of any reported population.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed1987

Hand washing.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Health Education↗

PubMed1985

Effects of a raw food diet on hypertension and obesity.

We examined responses to cooked and uncooked food in 32 outpatients with essential hypertension; 28 were also overweight. By varying cooked and uncooked food percentages and salt intake, patients acted as their own control subjects in this unblinded study. After a mean duration of 6.7 months, average intake of uncooked food comprised 62% of calories ingested. Mean weight loss was 3.8 kg and mean diastolic pressure reduction 17.8 mm Hg, both statistically significant (P less than .00001). Eighty percent of those who smoked or drank alcohol abstained spontaneously.

Animals↗

PubMed1985