Marsha A. Pyle

The frequency of accessory mental foramina in four ethnic groups

The frequency of accessory mental foramina (AMF) was studied in four population groups: 20th century Asian Indians, African Americans and American Whites, and Pre-Columbian Nazca Indians. AMF were found less frequently in the American White and Asian Indian populations than in the other groups (American White, 1.4%; Asian Indian, 1.5%; African American, 5.7% and Nazca, 9.0%). The incidence of AMFs did not differ significantly between right- and left-hand sides. In certain ethnic groups, i.e., African American, AMF may occur more often in males. Additional studies with larger samples are needed to show whether AMFs are more common in males.

A Pilot Study on Improving Oral Care in Long-Term Care Settings Part II: Procedures and Outcomes

This pilot study attempts to determine if a program of training for nursing assistants in combination with adjunctive aids to oral care could improve resident oral health indicators. Twelve residents of a county long-term care (LTC) facility cared for by a group of nursing assistants who completed a 6-week oral health training program constituted the experimental group. Resident Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) scores were compared at baseline, and 6 weeks and 12 weeks after nursing assistant training to a matched group of residents (n = 11) cared for by nursing assistants who had not completed oral health training. Both the PI and GI scores of the experimental residents improved significantly compared to the control residents between baseline and 12 weeks (Student t test, p = .039, p = .017, respectively). This pilot study demonstrated improved oral health indexes among residents cared for by trained nursing assistants who had access to adjunctive oral care aids. Additional studies are needed to define the nature of oral caregiving in LTC settings as well as specific regimens which can assure continued oral health improvement in this environment.

Asymmetry of the Articular Eminence in Dentate and Partially Edentulous Populations

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the degree of right-left asymmetry of the glenoid fossa. The specific aims were (1) to determine whether there were relationships between age, number of teeth, slope of the articular eminence, fossa depth, and the degree of right-left asymmetry, and (2) to compare the right-left asymmetry of two populations, one characterized by an acceptable occlusion (A-Occ), the other by an unacceptable occlusion (partially edentulous; Un-Occ). A-Occ was defined as possessing a minimum of 28 teeth that would allow for hand articulation of the mandibular teeth to the maxillary teeth. Un-Occ had fewer than 17 teeth, which would make it impossible to articulate the mandible with the maxilla. The sample included 20th century dry skulls: 70 African-American (44 male, 26 female) and 64 European-American (49 male, 15 female), ranging in age from 21-105 (mean 47.1±19.9). The medial (M), central (C), and lateral (Lat) aspects of the right (R) and left (L) slopes of the articular eminence were measured in a sagittal plane. The R and L fossa depth also were measured. The raw absolute differences |R-L| and relative differences [|R-L|/|R+L|x100] of the articular slope angles (M, C, and Lat) and fossa depths were computed. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients, significance at p≤0.05. Ninety percent (90%) of the population exhibited right-left asymmetry of the glenoid fossa. The right articular slopes (M, C, and Lat) were significantly steeper than the left articular slopes; the right fossa depths were significantly deeper than the left. There generally were no differences in the articular slope steepness or fossa depths between the partially dentate and the dentate, nor were there statistical differences between the two groups in the raw absolute differences or relative differences of the M, C, and Lat slopes or fossa depths. No significant relationships were found between right-left asymmetry, age, or number of teeth. With only 10% of the subjects exhibiting symmetry of the glenoid fossa depths or articular slope angles, clinicians should consider bilateral asymmetry the norm and not an anomaly.

A pilot study on improving oral care in long-term care settings. Part I: Oral health assessment.

Surveys of oral health in long-term care (LTC) settings have consistently documented low levels of health. In the complex LTC environment, programs to improve oral health have yet to be well defined. The purpose of this pilot project was to determine if a program of training for nursing assistants in combination with adjunctive aids to oral care could improve resident oral health indicators. This pilot study demonstrated improved oral health indexes among residents cared for by trained nursing assistants who had access to adjunctive oral care aids. Additional studies are needed to define the nature of oral caregiving in LTC settings as well as specific regimens which can assure continued oral health improvement in this environment.

The Angle of the Articular Eminence in Modern Dentate African-Americans and European-Americans

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in the angle of eminentia of two 20th century populations based on race, age, gender, and number of teeth and whether there was asymmetry of the angles of eminentia. The sample included dry skulls from the Hamann-Todd Osteological collection as follows: 80 African-Americans (AA, 53 males and 27 females) and 62 European-Americans (EA, 49 males and 13 females), ranging in age from 16-77 years. The lateral, central, and medial aspects of the right and left slopes of the articular eminence were measured in a parasagittal plane. Independent t-tests, paired t-tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients were computed. For the AA population, the right central, lateral, and medial angles of eminentia were steeper than the corresponding left angles (paired t-test, p<0.05); for the AE males only the right lateral and medial angles were significantly steeper than the corresponding left angles (paired t-test, p<0.05). There were no significant relationships between age or number of teeth and the angle of eminentia measurements, nor were there differences in angle of eminentia by gender. There were two differences by race: the EA males had steeper left central and left medial angles than the AA males (independent t-test, p<0.05). The central angle of eminentia was consistently steeper than the medial angle (paired t-test, p<0.01), and the lateral was generally steeper than the medial.