Inkeri Rytömaa

Risk Factors in Dental Erosion

Dental erosion and factors affecting the risk of its occurrence were investigated with a case-control approach. One hundred and six cases with erosion and 100 randomly selected controls from the same source population were involved in the study. All cases and controls were evaluated by the recording of structured medical and dietary histories and by examination of the teeth and saliva. Erosion was classified according to pre-determined criteria. The relative importance of associations between factors and erosion was analyzed by a logistic multivariable model. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were estimated. There was considerable risk of erosion when citrus fruits were eaten more than twice a day (AOR 37), soft drinks were drunk daily (AOR 4), apple vinegar was ingested weekly (AOR 10), or sport drinks were drunk weekly (AOR 4). The risk of erosion was also high in individuals who vomited (AOR 31) or exhibited gastric symptoms (AOR 10), and in those with a low unstimulated salivary flow rate (AOR 5).

Dental erosion and upper gastrointestinal disorders

The orodental status, particularly dental erosions, of 109 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms was examined. In 44 patients, the underlying pathosis was associated with increased acid output in the stomach (reflux esophagitis or duodenal ulcer), while in 48 patients who underwent cholecystectomy, the duodenogastric reflux was alkaline. In 17 patients with gastric ulcer, the gastric secretion was usually normal. The diagnoses were made with gastroscopy. Seven patients with dental erosion were found, and they all came from the group of 35 dental patients with reflux esophagitis or duodenal ulcer. No erosions were seen in the other diagnostic groups (F = 0.02). Thus, gastrointestinal disorders with increased output of gastric acid may be linked with dental erosions. The finding emphasizes the need for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in order to avoid irreversible lesions in the teeth.

Salivary pH and glucose after consuming various beverages, including sugar-containing drinks.

Dental erosion is often seen on the lingual tooth surfaces. For this reason tongue pH after consuming orange juice, Coca-Cola (old and new formula), Coca-Cola Light, Jaffa orange beverage, Hart-Sport

Location of Dental Erosion in a Referred Population

The aim of the study reported here was to determine locations of dental erosion and whether or not it is possible to decide the cause of erosion from the location. One hundred and six patients with dental erosion, 54 men and 52 women, mean age of 33.6 years, were studied. Erosion was classified as one of three grades on buccal, lingual or occlusal/incisal surfaces. Dietary and gastric causes of erosion were identified by means of a questionnaire. Erosion was observed on all teeth, but was commonest on the upper incisors, canines and premolars, and severest on palatal surfaces. In both groups, in which erosion had gastric and dietary causes, there were cases of buccal, lingual and occlusal erosion, but the risk of lingual erosion was 1.9 times greater in the group in which erosion had a gastric cause than in the group in which erosion had a dietary cause. Our findings indicate, however, that the cause of dental erosion cannot reliably be identified by location of the lesion.

Caries Decline from 1976 to 1986 among 15-Year-Olds in Helsinki

This study investigated the occurrence of caries among 15-year-olds using the municipal oral health service in Helsinki in 1976 and in 1986. Data were collected from each subjects personal dental health file as recorded during routine check-ups by dentists in the health centre of the city of Helsinki in the year in question. All indicators showed a significant improvement (p less than 0.001) in dental health during the 10-year period. The percentage of intact teeth and surfaces increased markedly. The mean number of DMF teeth per person fell from 12.1 to 5.1 and that of proximal DF surfaces from 5.6 to 1.5. In the 1976 group, 63% of all occlusal surfaces had been filled or were decayed. Ten years later the figure was 26%. Proximal DFS percentages were 10 and 3%, respectively. The ratios of the total number of proximal to occlusal DFS were 0.6 in 1976 and 0.4 in 1986.

Status of the Third Molars in the 20- to 21-Year-Old Finnish University Population

Abstract In order to shed light on the problem of the retention of wisdom teeth, the status of third molars in the 20- to 21-year-old university population was evaluated both clinically and radiographically. A total of all 248 first-year students at the University of Helsinki who had been born and were living in the city of Helsinki were invited to participate in the study. The response rate was 73%. The rate of full eruption, as determined clinically with 95% confidence limits, was 36% for the upper and 19% for the lower third molars. According to the radiographical examination, 42% of the upper third molars and 58% of the lower third molars were classified unerupted. The clinical and radiographical information was combined to determine the rates of impacted third molars. The rate for impacted maxillary third molars was 29% among the female and 35% among the male students. The respective rates for impacted mandibular third molars were 28% and 21%. The average number of impacted third molars was 1.8 for w...

Sensitive physical method for determination of fluorine distribution in human surface enamel

Abstract The 19 F ( ρ , αγ ) 16 O reaction was used for the determination of fluorine in dental enamel to a depth of 6 μm, and with an area less than 1 mm 2 . With this technique, 10 −13 g of fluorine in the dental enamel could be measured in a short run (2–3 min) with a relative error of ± 2 per cent. Fluorine concentrations in the tooth material analysed ranged from 263 to 2857 ppm. Three biologically important variables contributed to this scatter: the origin of the tooth, the particular tooth surface examined, and the position of the spot analysed on the surface.

Decline in dental caries and public oral health care of adolescents

The adequacy and appropriateness of the oral health service were evaluated from patient records of 15-year-olds in Helsinki in 1976 and 1986. The subjects selected for the study represented the whole age group participating in public oral health service in the 2 years in question. During the 10 years, substantial decreases were seen in the mean numbers of dental visits (from 4.0 to 2.4) and fillings (from 2.9 to 1.2). The greatest decrease was seen in the number of fillings made in incisors. Slightly fewer preventive measures were carried out in 1986 than 10 years earlier, but no focusing on risk patients was seen. In the 2 years studied, 15-year-olds in the high-risk group received applications of topical fluorides and instructions on oral hygiene as often as those in the low-risk group. A major problem seemed to be the increasing number of unfinished courses of treatment among high-risk patients. We conclude that patients with a higher risk of caries should receive more attention with regard to both the preventive treatment given and ways of motivating them to complete their treatment courses.

Strontium-90 in deciduous teeth in Finland

Deciduous teeth of Finnish children born in 1958-1967 were analysed for strontium-90 by means of Cerenkov radiation. The strontium-90 content was about 9 pCi/gCa in children born in 1963--1964; the values decreased strongly in the subsequent cohorts of children. The strontium-90 content of the deciduous teeth varied in perfect unison with that of cows milk (r=+0.99). The results confirm that deciduous teeth provide a practical and accurate indicator of the total body burden of bone-seeking environmental pollutants.

Strontium-90 in Deciduous Teeth Collected in Northern Finland from Children Born in 1952–1964.

Strontium-90 content was measured by means of Cerenkov radiation in deciduous teeth collected in three areas in northern Finland from children bom in 1952–1964.The 90Sr levels in tooth crowns in areas I and II showed a continuous increase in children born in 1952–1958, no further increase during the years 1959–1961, a sharp increase in 1962–1963, and no further change in 1964. In the northernmost part of Finland (area III) the strontium-90 contents of deciduous teeth when plotted against year of birth showed a slightly different trend with no increase during the years 1952–1957 and a steep rise in 1958 and 1959. These changes occurred in both Lapp and non-Lapp children. These differences in the strontium-90 content of deciduous teeth were presumably related to environmental peculiarities and specific dietary habits in area III. The maximum strontium-90 level, 16.76 pCi/gCa, was found in a sample of tooth roots of four Skolt children born in 1963.The strontium-90 contents in the crowns of the four types of...