Biomedical subjects

Walter J Psoter

Publications and source records attributed to Walter J Psoter.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Classification of dental caries patterns in the primary dentition: a multidimensional scaling analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical patterns of early childhood caries (ECC) encompassing specific teeth or surfaces have been previously proposed on an a priori basis and have been used as case definitions. The underlying assumption is that the patterns result from different host response and environmental conditions. Identifying caries patterns has utility in refining case definitions of ECC. Well-defined caries patterns should enhance the ability of an analysis to identify meaningful associations between suspected risk factors and ECC. The purpose of this project was to identify patterns of caries in the dentition of preschool children using multidimensional scaling without a priori pattern delineation. METHODS: Between February 1994 and September 1995, five examiners visually examined 5171 Arizona preschool children aged 5-59 months old. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used as a classification/taxonomy technique to identify any underlying structure of the caries data. MDS provided a classification scheme for individual tooth surfaces based on the dissimilarity measures of squared Euclidean distance and of variance using an alscal analysis. Both two- and three-dimensional solutions were pursued; s-stress, stress, R-square and residual patterns were assessed in determining the best dimensional model, with the resulting quadrant positions of the tooth surfaces suggesting potential caries patterns. RESULTS: All models demonstrated excellent fit. Two- and three-dimensional solutions suggested four caries patterns: (i) any maxillary incisor surfaces, (ii) first molar occlusal surfaces, (iii) second molar pit and fissure surfaces, and (iv) any smooth surfaces, excluding the maxillary incisor surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first delineation of primary dentition caries patterns produced by a classification analysis without a priori pattern definitions. The identified caries patterns may arise from specific risk factors and/or be a function of the timing of various risk factor exposures. Use of these patterns as case definitions should enhance the ability to identify associations between suspected risk factors and ECC.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed2003

Bioterrorism and catastrophe response: a quick-reference guide to resources.

BACKGROUND: Dentists' responses to catastrophe have been redefined by bioterrorism. Informed response requires accurate information about agents and diseases that have the potential to be used as weapons. METHODS: The authors reviewed information about the most probable bioterrorist weapons (those from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Category A) from the World Wide Web and print journals and distilled it into a resource list that is current, relevant to dentistry and noncommercial. The Web sites cited include those sponsored by federal agencies, academic institutions and professional organizations. The articles cited include those published in English within the last six years in refereed journals that are available in most higher education institutions. RESULTS: The authors present the information in a table that provides a quick-reference guide to resources describing agents and diseases with the greatest potential for use as weapons: anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia and viral hemorrhagic fevers. This article presents Web site and journal citations for background and patient-oriented information (fact sheets), signs and symptoms, and prophylactic measures and treatment for each of the agents and diseases. The table facilitates quick access to this information, especially in an emergency. This article also points out guidelines for response should a suspected attack occur. CONCLUSIONS: Armed with information about biological weapons, dentists can provide faster diagnosis, inform their patients about risks, prophylaxis or treatment and rethink their own role in terrorism response. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Fast, accurate diagnosis limits the spread of exceptionally contagious diseases. Providing accurate information to patients minimizes misinformation and the associated public fear and panic that, unchecked, could overwhelm health care systems.

Anthrax↗

PubMed2003

Enhancing medical and public health capabilities during times of crisis.

Terrorist attacks and other catastrophic events will create demands that severely challenge the capacity of the medical/public health system. To meet the surge, a cadre of professionals should be trained to operate around the nucleus of medical/public health officials. At New York University, an inter-institutional team is considering specific roles for and an approach to training dentists to enable these health care professionals to supplement medical/public surge needs based upon informatics systems that provide critical information.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed2003

Dental caries prevalence of twelve year olds in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of dental caries amongst twelve-year old Puerto Ricans. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Public and private schools in the 11 health regions of Puerto Rico. SUBJECTS: A probabilistic sample of 12-year old school attendees in Puerto Rico. METHOD: One thousand four hundred and thirty-five subjects were evaluated following NIDCR criteria and methodology for DMFS and DMFT indicators from a population of approximately 70,000 12-year olds during April through December 1997. RESULTS: The overall mean DMFS was 6.5 (SE 0.38) and ranged from 9.2 in the Central Region to 5.3 in the Metropolitan and West Regions. The mean DMFT was 3.8 (SE 0.18). The decayed component comprised 42% of the DMFS; caries prevalence for the population was 81%. CONCLUSION: The mean DMFS for twelve year olds is higher than the mean DMFS of 4.2 to 4.7, reported for 12 to 17 years olds in the USA. Dental caries is a highly prevalent disease amongst 12-year olds in Puerto Rico.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Removal torques of conical, tapered implant abutments: the effects of anodization and reduction of surface area.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of anodization (surface coating) and reduction of internal Morse taper surface area on the reversal torque values of Straumann ITI dental implants and abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty ITI solid screw implants were mated with corresponding 5.5-mm solid abutments. The assemblies were divided into 4 test groups of 20 specimens. All abutments were torque tightened into the implant to 35 Ncm. Half of the abutments were anodized and half were in their as-machined state. Each of these 2 groups included half of the implants with the standard internal Morse taper configuration and half with the synOcta (Straumann USA, Waltham, MA) internal positioning interface (indexed). Torque removal testing was then performed on the assemblies. The 4 groups were compared statistically to examine the effect of the 2 variables (anodization and reduction in surface area). Scheffe's test for multiple comparisons was used to compare groups at an adjusted significance level of < or = .05. RESULTS: Torque removal of all specimens revealed that the indexed implant with the non-anodized abutment demonstrated superior removal torque. DISCUSSION: The indexed and standard implants with anodized abutments, and the standard implant with the non-anodized abutment had lower reversal torque values. CONCLUSION: The addition of the indexed internal surface to the ITI implant did not have deleterious effect on the resistance to loosening of standard solid abutments.

Coated Materials, Biocompatible↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Patient self-reported satisfaction with maxillary anterior dental implant treatment.

PURPOSE: Dental implants are accepted as a successful alternative to conventional fixed and removable prostheses for the treatment of partial or complete edentulism. However, there have been few studies of the success of implants from the patients' perspective. The purpose of this study was to assess patient overall satisfaction with the outcome of treatment with maxillary anterior implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered mailed questionnaire, which was developed for this project, and a data abstraction form, which was designed based on information available from the corresponding dental records of 123 eligible subjects, were utilized to survey implant patients. RESULTS: Seventy-eight of 123 eligible subjects responded to the mailed, self-administered, structured questionnaire. Twelve of the 24 questionnaire variables demonstrated statistically significant bivariate associations with the dependent variable "overall patient satisfaction." Five variables--implant position, definitive restoration shape, appearance, effect on speech, and chewing capacity--were strongly associated with overall satisfaction. No demographic or treatment-related, dental record-abstracted variable, of the 25 that were examined, was statistically significant. DISCUSSION: The practitioner who provides implant restorations should be aware of the multidimensional aspects of patient satisfaction with implant treatment. This study suggests that patient satisfaction with key elements influences the overall acceptance of maxillary anterior implant prostheses, which are esthetically critical. Communication between dentist and patient is important to achieve optimal results that will be satisfactory to both. Discussion of treatment limitations may also help patients to develop realistic expectations of the final result. CONCLUSIONS: In this limited investigation, patient satisfaction with implant position, restoration shape, overall appearance, effect on speech, and chewing capacity were critical for patient overall acceptance of the dental implant treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Median ages of eruption of the primary teeth in white and Hispanic children from Arizona.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to establish median eruption ages of primary teeth and evaluate eruption differences between contralateral teeth by gender, ethnicity, and household income. Data was derived from a caries study of preschool children. METHODS: A total of 4,277 white (non-Hispanic) and Hispanic preschool children from Arizona were visually examined for caries and tooth eruption status by 5 examiners between February 1994 and September 1995. Analyses of eruption status were conducted using logistic regression to produce an eruption probability distribution from which median eruption ages for the primary teeth were determined. Possible differences in eruption timing between contralateral teeth by gender, ethnicity, and household income were examined. RESULTS: Eruption status of 1 tooth was significantly predictive of the pair-matched tooth for all pairs. Differences were found for the maxillary central incisor (gender) and the mandibular second molar (ethnicity). Eruption ages did not vary by household income. Median eruption ages for each of the 10 primary teeth are presented. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides contemporary median eruption ages for primary teeth.

Age Factors↗