Biomedical subjects

M C Llena-Puy

Publications and source records attributed to M C Llena-Puy.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Vertical root fracture in endodontically treated teeth: a review of 25 cases.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the clinical conditions under which 25 endodontically treated teeth underwent vertical root fracture (VRF) and to relate this condition to the time elapsed from endodontic treatment to fracture. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study in which we reviewed 25 case histories of patients with postendodontic VRF and studied the effect of various pretreatment and posttreatment factors as they related to VRF. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The mean time to VRF was 54 months; this was not significantly influenced by the presence or absence of prior restoration or by the presence or absence of a crown fitting. The use of a prefabricated, cylindrical, cemented intraradicular retainer increased the time between endodontics and VRF. Teeth restored with conventional amalgam took significantly longer to undergo VRF than those restored with composite or bonded amalgam. In contrast, amalgam-restored teeth suffered more coronal fractures before VRF than did teeth in the other 2 groups.

Cementation↗

PubMed2000

Fibronectin levels in stimulated whole-saliva and their relationship with cariogenic oral bacteria.

AIM: Fibronectin is a multifunctional glycoprotein that plays a fundamental role in mechanism of cellular union and in bacterial adhesion in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to test the clinical relationship between fibronectin concentration in stimulated whole-saliva and the number of Mutans streptococci bacteria. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 167 children aged 12 years. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected from the subjects. Bacterial quantification was carried out using a semiquantitative method (Dentocult SM, Vivadent). Fibronectin was measured by the ELISA method with modifications. RESULTS: An inverse clinical relation was found between the levels of soluble fibronectin and the number of SM colony forming units. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial counts sufficiently high to destroy the protein films increase bacterial binding to dental surfaces, thereby contributing to the regulation of bacterial plaque composition and its pathogenic potential. This capacity of glycoproteins to reduce the adhesion of microorganisms to the oral tissues and favour macrophage action supports the hypothesis that such proteins contribute to the first line of immune defence together with secretory antibodies.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cariogenic oral flora and its relation to dental caries.

Many attempts have been made to establish the risk profile of dental caries; however, no diagnostic procedures are yet available to reliably predict such risk particularly among the pediatric and adolescent population. Age of subject, a history of caries affecting the primary dentition, the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans, pH values, salivary flow, and the frequency and amount of sugar consumption have been the factors most studied. A cross-sectional study is made of schoolchildren in the 12-13-year age-range to evaluate the relationship between dental caries and CFU/ml of S. mutans and Lactobacillus, salivary buffer capacity, and salivary flow. Likewise, an evaluation is made of the predictive value of the variables, bacterial count and salivary pH with respect to caries. A total of 167 children were subjected to oral examination to establish the DMFT and DMFS indices, followed by the collection of saliva for quantitating S. mutans, Lactobacillus, pH and salivary flow, by the Dentocult (SM)(LB) and Dentobuff systems (Vivadent). The data obtained were subjected to descriptive analysis, comparisons among variables were made by nonparametric testing with a confidence level of 95 percent. Test predictive value was studied in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and probability ratio. Statistically significant (p < 0.001) correlations were observed between the caries indices and bacterial counts. No significant association was recorded with the rest of the variables studied. Bacterial counts as well as salivary buffer capacities exhibited greater negative than positive predictive values, i.e., they were more effective in identifying healthy individuals than patients who required treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Idiopathic external root resorption associated to hypercalciuria.

Although external root resorption (ERR) is a physiological process in deciduous dentition, it is very infrequent in permanent dentition - where the phenomenon is related to the existence of inadequate occlusal forces, periodontal pathology and microtraumatisms, etc. However, in many cases root resorption cannot be attributed to any concrete cause; such cases are defined as idiopathic external root resorption (IERR). Epidemiological studies have found that the underlying cause can only be established in 5% of all ERR. The present study describes three cases of IERR with different degrees of involvement and associated to mild calciuria and a history of nephrolithiasis. Hypercalciuria with normal blood calcium levels is usually idiopathic and exhibits a familial trait, with a prevalence of 20-40 cases per 1,000 individuals in adults. A form of hypercalciuria associated to nephrolithiasis with a mutation of the CLCN5 gene has been identified, involving low molecular weight proteinuria - though this mutation has not been uniformly demonstrated in most cases of idiopathic hypercalciuria. The peculiarity of the cases described in the present study is attributable to the coexistence of IERR with normocalcemic hypercalciuria and nephrolithiasis - thus pointing to the need for in-depth evaluation of the possible association of these three clinical situations.

Adolescent↗