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Biomedical subjects

W P Dreyer

Publications and source records attributed to W P Dreyer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Peer-reviewed oral and dental research output in South Africa, 1990-1994.

The aim of this project was to determine the oral and dental research output in South African dental schools over a 5-year period. All refereed research articles emanating from South African dental schools which appeared in peer-reviewed journals during the 5 year period, 1990-1994, and which could be traced, were recorded, scrutinized and classified according to the thrust of the research. During this period the 5 schools published 494 articles, 176 from the University of the Witwatersrand, 145 from the University of Stellenbosch, 85 from the University of Pretoria, 54 from the Medical University of Southern Africa and 34 from the University of the Western Cape. Papers were classified into 22 categories. The majority were produced in oral biology, oral pathology and microbiology and dental materials, followed by pharmacology and anaesthetics, epidemiology, community dentistry, preventive dentistry and prosthetic dentistry. A number of articles featured in the rest of the categories. Fifty-five per cent of manuscripts appeared in overseas journals while the bulk of locally published contributions featured in the Journal of the Dental Association of South Africa. The output of research remained constant over the 5 year period with a slight increase of articles in dental materials. The findings indicate that the South African dental schools may have reached a limit in their capacity to produce peer-reviewed research.

Dental Research↗
PubMed1993

Technological advances in the clinical diagnosis of periodontal diseases.

Traditional diagnostic procedures for periodontal disease, such as probing and radiographic assessment, supply information on previous disease experience but not of present site-specific activity nor of possible future attachment loss. Although the newer automatic probes which record data electronically give higher resolution and accuracy than their manual counterparts, their use in clinical practice is only of value in longitudinal clinical trials. In general clinical practice, manual probing is adequate provided probing technique and probe tine characteristics are within acceptable limits. It is suggested that the general practitioner could use the CPITN method for screening purposes because of its relative speed and ease. This must, however, be supplemented by comprehensive probing in each sextant with advanced disease. The humble bitewing radiograph is likewise adequate for the assessment of alveolar bone loss in normal clinical practice but if refined data of bone loss over time is required, subtraction radiography is recommended. Currently, other forms of imaging technology have limited value in clinical practice because of technical complexity, access and cost. A number of other electronic devices are available which make the accurate assessment of mobility and occlusal function possible but, because the relationship between these signs and periodontitis is still equivocal, the general use of such apparatus is not indicated. The advent of a battery of easily performed chairside tests shows considerable promise for the future, particularly those tests that are becoming commercially available for the assay of host and bacterial markers of site-specific disease in the crevicular fluid. The clinical value and the cost-benefit of these assays need further investigation before they can be recommended for general use. Clinical practice objectives differ from those required for research projects and therefore the required sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of diagnostic tests must be in keeping with the intended purpose to justify the cost involved.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1992

Porphyromonas gingivalis as putative pathogen in ovine periodontitis.

Ovine periodontitis has clinical features similar to early onset periodontitis in man. Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated as a putative pathogen in this disease and its role in periodontitis in 107 sheep was investigated. The organism was recovered from most diseased sites at a significant percentage level of the total bacterial count. Antibody assays of 107 animals using an ELISA did not distinguish between diseased (46) and control adult (33) sheep for either P. gingivalis or any of the other putative periodontopathogens tested, but did differentiate adult sheep from healthy lambs (28) for all bacteria except one. It is suggested that sheep rather than human bacterial strains should be used in antibody studies of ovine periodontitis.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Assessment of occlusal tooth wear in vervet monkeys by reflex microscopy.

A biostereometric method was used to assess the tooth wear of monkeys fed either on one of two Western-type diets, which differed in their refined carbohydrate, fat and fibre contents, or on a combination of the two diets. Certain patterns of wear as a function of diet were observed but these could not be explained adequately in terms of diet roughness alone.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Drug-induced gingival hyperplasia. Selective review of the literature and a photometric assessment technique.

Several drugs share the side effect of inducing gingival hyperplasia in a substantial percentage of patients. A selective review of the literature as well as possible mechanisms for the causation of gingival overgrowth by these drugs is offered. In addition, a photometric technique for assessing gingival overgrowth is described and compared with a previously used method.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Dental educational trends in Africa with special reference to southern Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a population growth unparalleled in the rest of the world. This is placing severe constraints on health care education and especially on dental education. The 16 or so dental schools in this part of the continent cannot train sufficient dentists for Africa's needs. In consequence, many states are developing training programmes for auxiliaries in an endeavour to meet their oral health care needs. Emphasis is placed on community involvement in the various dental curricula and it has been suggested that the African dentist should also be equipped to render basic medical care. At most schools the dental course is a 5-5 1/2 year programme with considerable emphasis on the basic medical sciences so that a student can easily be trained to act in a dual capacity as dentist and basic physician. This will, however, require the availability of more operating auxiliaries to meet the basic oral care demands of the population. In the dental course at South African schools the major portion of curriculum time in the clinical years is occupied by restorative and prosthetic dentistry. Although this is still appropriate, caries prevention and the availability of operating auxiliaries may soon make this approach redundant. Integrated courses in which the advanced disciplines of dentistry receive more emphasis seem to offer exciting prospects for the future, especially if the benefits of such integrated courses are fully exploited.

Africa↗