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Biomedical subjects

U Koke

Publications and source records attributed to U Koke.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

[Oral health-related quality of life in elderly].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of institutionalized elderly. MATERIAL: 159 elderly were randomly selected for this, study ranging in age from 61 to 98 (mean age 82.8; 19.1% male, 80.9% female). For measuring the OHRQoL the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) was used. Additionally, a dental status was evaluated. RESULTS: 15% of the subjects had only natural teeth or fixed dentures, 80% removable dentures and 15% no dentures at all. OHIP-mean reached 33+/-25 points, between 0 and 112. The subcategory "functional limitation" showed the highest impairment (6.3%). The items with the highest impairment on OHRQoL in the different subcategories were: dentures not fitting properly, uncomfortable dentures, self-conscious due to teeth, avoid eating some foods, felt depressed, avoid going out and general health worsened. CONCLUSIONS: The OHIP summary score represents an overview of OHRQoL and answers detailed questions with the help of the single items. In institutionalized elderly many items showed impairment, especially in items concerning the prosthetic restorations. This demonstrates the need for dental aftercare and not only dental interventions for acute pain. Establishing aftercare and prophylaxis could increase the OHRQoL and subsequently the overall well-being.

Aged↗

In vitro investigation of marginal accuracy of implant-supported screw-retained partial dentures.

Mismatch occurring during the fabrication of implant-supported dentures may induce stress to the peri-implant bone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of two different alloys and the fabrication method on the marginal accuracy of cast partial dentures. Two laboratory implants were bonded into an aluminium block so that the distance between their longitudinal axes was 21 mm. Frameworks designed for screw-retained partial dentures were cast either with pure titanium (rematitan) or with a CoCr-alloy (remanium CD). Two groups of 10 frameworks were cast in a single piece. The first group was made of pure titanium, and the second group of a CoCr-alloy (remanium CD). A third group of 10 was cast in two pieces and then laser-welded onto a soldering model. This latter group was also made of the CoCr-alloy. All the frameworks were screwed to the original model with defined torque. Using light microscopy, marginal accuracy was determined by measuring vertical gaps at eight defined points around each implant. Titanium frameworks cast in a single piece demonstrated mean vertical gaps of 40 microm (s.d. = 11 microm) compared with 72 microm (s.d. = 40 microm) for CoCr-frameworks. These differences were not significant (U-test, P = 0.124) because of a considerable variation of the values for CoCr-frameworks (minimum: 8 microm and maximum: 216 microm). However, frameworks cast in two pieces and mated with a laser showed significantly better accuracy in comparison with the other experimental groups (mean: 17 microm +/- 6; P < 0.01). (i) The fit of implant-supported partial dentures cast with pure titanium in a single piece is preferable to that of those made with the CoCr-alloy and (ii) the highest accuracy can be achieved by using a two-piece casting technique combined with laser welding. Manufacturing the framework pieces separately and then welding them together provides the best marginal fit.

Bone Screws↗

AIDA: web agents in dental treatment planning.

The objective of the AIDA project (Artificial Intelligent Dental Agents, http://aida.uni-hd.de) is the analysis of dental decision-making, the design of a computer-based decision support system, as well as the testing of the decision structure in interactions with dental experts, practicing dentists, and patients. The planning of the solution alternatives for an individual patient is based on a top-down structure for dental decision-making, aiming at a standardization of the argumentation. From a theoretical point of view, decision support can be provided only for anticipated decisions (planning). Moreover, only parts of these anticipated decisions can be supported. Accordingly, a separation of these partial aspects has to take place before one is able to build decision support systems. For prosthetic dentistry, clinicians have been shown how to use individual patient findings to sketch the possible treatment alternatives and later derive guidelines for the treatment. The planning module for fixed prostheses has already been integrated into a software agent. Planning modules for other types of prostheses are currently specified, implemented, and verified.

Decision Support Systems, Clinical↗

AIDA--experiences in compensating the mutual weaknesses of knowledge-based and object-oriented development in a complex dental planning domain.

OBJECTIVES: Dentistry is a discipline with two properties that pose a serious challenge to knowledge based decision support: (1) It has to integrate six subdisciplines ranging from conservative measures to invasive disciplines, such as implantology; (2) A plan may have to cover a complex treatment often lasting one year or more. It is the aim of the AIDA-project to set up a planning strategy that is suited to incorporate all dental peculiarities in one methodology. METHODS: Generic tasks, that can be assigned to individual persons involved in dental treatment, have been designed with the help of KADS. They have been integrated into a planning super-structure for the planning of all dental solution alternatives, that can principally be applied on the basis of the given patient status. RESULTS: Besides an evaluation of the implemented planning system itself, it has been evaluated how well the development is supported by (1) knowledge-engineering methods and (2) object-oriented methods. CONCLUSION: Common knowledge-based tools are not powerful enough for the planning of complex dental constructions. Therefore, a solution combining object-oriented and knowledge-based methods is proposed.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Assessment of acute cyto- and genotoxicity of corrosion eluates obtained from orthodontic materials using monolayer cultures of immortalized human gingival keratinocytes.

Whilst a patient is undergoing orthodontic treatment, dental appliances based on non-precious metals or titanium remain in the oral cavity for up to several years. Throughout this period the appliance is in either direct or indirect contact with the oral mucosa. To investigate the possibility of cell damage occurring as a result of appliance corrosion, monolayer cultures of immortalized human gingival keratinocytes were assessed for acute cyto- and genotoxicity using the hexosaminidase assay and the Comet assay respectively. The materials tested included 1. a nickel-free wire, 2. a UK-1 bond, 3. nickel-free as well as nickel-containing brackets with and without color signature and 4. a titanium expansion screw. Each of the test materials was corroded in a solution consisting of equal amounts of lactic acid and sodium chloride (0.1 M) for 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. The cell cultures were then exposed to eluates exhibiting the highest ion concentrations. None of the eluates was found to exhibit acute cytotoxicity, regardless of the type of test system used. Qualitative assessment using neutral red dye for live cells and either trypan blue or propidium iodide to disclose dead cells failed to reveal any significant increase in cell damage when exposed cells were compared to control cultures. Unrestricted cell vitality was confirmed by quantifying viable cells through measurement of hexosaminidase enzyme activity. Furthermore, assessment of genotoxicity revealed no apparent DNA damage to immortalized gingival keratinocytes following exposure to the test eluates. Because the materials tested in this study were corroded using the exacting methods normally applied to precious metals or gold-containing alloys, the lack of either acute cyto- or genotoxic effects following exposure to the test eluates indicates that the materials tested exert no adverse effects on cells similar to those of the target tissue exposed to the materials in situ.

Cell Culture Techniques↗

Development of an interactive multimedia-CBT-program for dental implantology and using tests of a program prototype.

The aim of the study was the development of a teaching program for dental implantology designed to improve student education as well as further training in this area. Initially, the computer equipment of German dentists was evaluated. Then, the contents of a teaching program "implantology interactive" were defined. A fully functional program prototype was developed in co-operation with a medical publishing house. Subsequently, the program was tested and statistically evaluated by 70 dental students and 40 dentists for the purpose of quality assurance. The program received extremely positive ratings with regard to design and functionality. Furthermore it was found to be clearly arranged and easy to comprehend. Even computer illiterate test persons had no problem working with the program. The biggest problem discovered during the test run was that 21% of the test persons lost their orientation while working with the program. The results of the study were used to optimize the program. For example, a graphic orientation tree was integrated, thereby improving the orientation within the program. The extremely positive reactions of the test persons leads us to expect that the introduced CBT-project will be successful. The use of the program in the student education in the dental clinic in Heidelberg and a publication in a medical publishing house are to be expected in the near future.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

AIDA: Web agents to support dental treatment planning.

Dental treatment planning is highly dependent on the educational background and personal experience of the dentist and on the thoroughness with which findings are taken. The objective of research in the AIDA (Artificially Intelligent Dental Agents) project is therefore the analysis of dental decision making and the design of a decision-supportive software module to test the decision-making process and make it transparent for both dentists and patients. In the AIDA project (aida.uni-hd.de), an expert system has been set up to identify treatment alternatives with integrated decision rationale for experts, practicing dentists, and eventually also patients. It is based on a top-down structure for dental decision-making, which was developed to standardize argumentation. For prosthetic dentistry, how one uses individual patient findings to arrive at possible treatment alternatives was clarified in greater detail. The planning rules for fixed prostheses have already been integrated into a software agent. Other modules should soon specify and verify these suggestions in terms of further fields of dentistry (e.g., restorative dentistry). In the near future, AIDA will be able to deliver dentally-founded justifications for every individual decision.

Decision Making, Computer-Assisted↗