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Biomedical subjects

R M MacDonald

Publications and source records attributed to R M MacDonald.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Oral health status and treatment needs of an insured elderly population.

The purpose of this study was to describe the oral health status and treatment needs of an elderly group of religious sisters whose dental care expenses had been covered for most of their adult life. While the residents displayed high levels of treated dental disease on examination, evidence of a need for further treatment was considered to be a reflection of their decreasing ability to manage their personal home care and the reduction in professional services available to them. The results of this study reinforce the notion that the continuous provision of preventive and educational strategies coupled with accessible treatment services are essential, especially in an aging population.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Amalcore strength recovery following refilling of access preparations with amalgam.

After endodontic treatment through an amalgam core, the recommended procedure is to replace the entire core. This study examined the strength achieved by restoring the access openings with dental amalgam and reported the type of failure during strength testing. Seventy-two Dispersalloy 8 x 8 mm cylindrical specimens were produced using controlled condensation pressures. The specimens were randomized in three groups: (1) controls, (2) 3 mm access preparations wetted with mercury-rich amalgam before restoration, and (3) 3 mm access preparations restored unwetted. The specimens tested for compressive strength were separated in two subsets. The unwetted group demonstrated significantly less strength than the control and wetted group (p less than 0.05), while the unwetted and wetted groups revealed significantly less strength than the control group (p less than 0.05). The mean diametral tensile strength recovery for the wetted and unwetted groups was 76% and 69%, respectively. The qualitative assessment of the fracture zones indicated that wetted specimens exhibited more fractures through the new amalgam core than the unwetted specimens (p less than 0.05). It would appear that amalgam refilling of access preparations through amalgam cores has clinical potential.

Dental Alloys↗
PubMed1991

The issues of chemical dependency in dentistry.

The problem of chemical dependency is a topical issue in society today. With the increase in the number and types of prescription drugs, the proliferation of illegal drugs, and easy access to alcohol, chemical dependency has no socioeconomic boundaries. Professionals, blue collar workers and students, both male and female, are susceptible to the problem. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on chemical dependency as it relates to the profession of dentistry. It will also look at the definition, prevalence, etiology, recognition, treatment and prevention of chemical dependency. Most of the evidence from the literature indicates that chemical dependency is a disease; it is treatable and can be prevented. The treatment of the disease requires the input of support groups at the professional level as well as at student level. The prevention of chemical dependency must begin in the curricula of dental schools with emphasis on the pharmacology and interaction of drugs.

Canada↗