[Checklist for PAR-pretreatment].

BACKGROUND: Two important factors in the use of implant-retained overdentures are cleansability and patients' satisfaction. Limited research has been published concerning the cleansability of these overdentures On the other hand, studies have compared patients' satisfaction with conventional dentures and various designs of implant overdentures. However, no studies have compared overdentures retained by Hader bars (Sterngold, Attleboro, Mass.) and direct ERA attachments (Sterngold) in terms of both cleansability and patients' satisfaction. PURPOSE: The authors' aim was to determine the cleansability of and patients' acceptance of overdentures retained by direct ERA attachments and overdentures supported by a Hader bar with distal ERA attachments and a Hader clip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of 10 subjects each were evaluated: Group A, consisting of patients with overdentures retained by direct ERA attachments, and Group B, consisting of patients with overdentures retained by Hader bars. The authors evaluated the subjects between 18 and 24 months after the delivery of the overdentures by means of a questionnaire and a clinical examination to score each patient on gingival, plaque and calculus indexes. RESULTS: Group A exhibited better results than Group B on calculus, plaque and gingival indexes, but the difference was not statistically significant. The authors found no significant difference between the two experimental groups in satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: When evaluated in terms of subjects' satisfaction and calculus, plaque and gingival index scores, implant-retained overdentures supported by direct ERA attachments were similar to those supported by a Hader bar. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The two types of overdentures studied are equally satisfactory and easy to clean. Other factors such as biomechanics, patients' preference and previous experience may be more critical when selecting the retention design for an overdenture supported by four implants.

Dental Plaque Index↗

PubMed2002

The relationship between oral malodor, VSCs levels in the mouth air with periodontitis and tongue coating.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between oral malodor, volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) levels in the mouth air and periodontal index; the role of tongue in the production of VSCs and halitosis. METHODS: 60 periodontitis patients with oral malodor were included. Oral malodor was estimated by organoleptic method (organoleptic rating, OR); VSCs level measurements before and after cleaning the tongue coating were made with a portable sulphide monitor (halimeter), respectively; periodontal probing depth (PD) and the proportion of PD >/= 4 mm sites, bleeding index (BI) and plaque index (PLI) were examined; tongue coating was estimated with thickness (Tt) and area (Ta) on the dorsal surface of tongue. RESULTS: The correlation was analyzed with Spearman method. There was a significantly positive correlation between OR, VSCs levels and BI, PLI, and Tt, respectively (P < 0.01). OR and VSCs levels was also related with Ta (P < 0.05). There was a weakly correlation between VSCs levels and PD, and the proportion of PD >/= 4 mm sites (r = 0.26, P < 0.05). No correlation between OR and PD, and the proportion of PD >/= 4 mm sites was existed. Reduction of VSCs levels after cleaning tongue coating was statistically significant (t = 10.15, P < 0.01), and also significantly related with thickness and area of tongue coating (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In present study, OR and VSCs levels were significantly correlated with gingival inflammation (BI), condition of oral hygiene (PLI), and tongue coating. The relationship between OR, VSCs levels and periodontal probing depth was not found obviously. VSCs levels were significantly reduced after cleaning tongue coating, but the percentage of reduction was less than that of the previous studies.

Dental Plaque Index↗