Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to V Fagnoni.
In the first part of this paper the chemical and bacteriological rationale of dental caries fluoride prophylaxis is discussed in detail. In the second part the different possibilities of administration of fluorine, their advantages and disadvantages are exposed, with a full description of ionophoresis. This technique is recommended for its reliability, effectiveness and lack of side-effects.
On the basis of experience gained in previous research, an original technique for fixing fluoride on the enamel of healthy teeth for preventive purposes is described. An apparatus of ionophoresis with which it was possible to contain fluoride in the ionic state, and later a low power laser system with double red and infrared emission mixed in optic fibre were used to achieve this result. The proposed technique is not only extremely effective, offering as it does protection for at least 3 years, but is is very simple, practical and economical.
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The local temperature increase of the bone following drilling procedures has been evaluated. Without any cooling device, and using a standard-speed drill, in few seconds the temperature reaches the necrosis-limit for living tissues (55 Celsius degrees). We compared the effectiveness of the most common cooling methods involving a forced flow of saline reaching the bone through an axial canal in the drill or just applied to the external surfaces of drill and bone with that of a device allowing a 100/1 reduction of the drill speed. With this method cooling was no more necessary and temperature control was quite good, as with cooling methods. We think the speed-reducing device can be recommended as safer, simpler to use and more comfortable for the patient.
The central role of Streptococcus mutans in the pathogenesis of caries is universally recognized. In this article we discuss bacterial metabolism relevant to plaque formation and enamel destruction, and review current methods and new prospects in caries prophylaxis: the use of fluorine, possible substitutes for sucrose, active and passive immunoprophylaxis, teeth colonization with non-cariogenic strains of S. mutans. No one of these methods can be considered a definitive solution for every caries problem, but short term major achievements can be reasonably attained by ongoing field research.