Th. Marthaler

Urinary Fluoride Excretion in Children with Low Fluoride Intake or Consuming Fluoridated Salt

The purpose of this study was to compare urinary fluoride excretion with fluoride ingestion in children who had either a low fluoride intake or received supplemental fluoride through salt or water. The urinary samples were collected in two ways. In procedure A, urine was collected in the morning, at noon and during the afternoon. This covered a continuous period of approximately 7 h from the beginning to the end of the school day. In procedure B, morning, afternoon and night samples were collected. The morning and afternoon samples were obtained under supervision at school. Procedure B was more useful than procedure A for monitoring salt fluoridation projects. Children with a history of low fluoride intake excreted a mean of 10 micrograms F/h during the night and the morning, but 13-16 micrograms F/h after the main meal. Children in a water-fluoridated town or in comprehensive salt fluoridation programs excreted between 19 and 33 micrograms F/h. However, after the intake of meals prepared with fluoridated salt (250 ppm F) the mean excretion of fluoride ranged between 31 and 49 micrograms F/h. The levels of excretion corresponded with the levels of fluoride intake and meal patterns in the various groups.

Der Kariesbefall im Kanton Waadt nach Umstellung von der Tablettenfluoridierung auf die Salzfluoridierung

This report shows results of a survey on dental caries in the Canton of Vaud in the years 1970 and 1974. In this canton fluoridation was carried out by means of fluoride tablets distributed at school until 1969/70 and in subsequent years by adding 250 mg F/kg fluoride to domestic salt. For comparison, results from adjoining and other cantons are also presented. In 1970 the 3 communities in the Canton of Vaud (Moudon, Grandson and Vevey) showed a remarkably low overall caries level due to the distribution of fluoride tablets, supplemented in Grandson with regular brushings with fluoride solution. When the fluoride tablets were discontinued in 1968/70 and fluoridated domestic salt containing 250 mg F/kg NaCl was introduced, caries incidence reached an even lower level. In these 3 communities caries prevalence fell to the lowest level reached, so far, by means of preventive measures in Bettlach (Canton of Solothurn, toothbrushing with fluoride solutions 6 times per year combined with information, fluoride tablets on every school day, and in addition consumption of table salt fluoridated at a suboptimal level of 90 ppm). The children in the control communities Romont (Canton of Fribourg), St-Aubin (Canton of Neuchâtel) and Châtel-St-Denis (Canton of Fribourg) also showed decreases of caries levels from 1970 to 1974. This decrease can be attributed to the distribution of fluoride tablets started at the schools of this community in the late sixties. Caries incidence in the age spans 8 to 12 and 10 to 14 years was estimated. Children from the Canton of Vaud where fluoridated table salt was practically the only preventive measure showed a smaller DMF increase than those from the cantons Fribourg and Neuchâtel. By means of a method combining DMF means of various age groups it was possible to obtain sufficiently large numbers of children for a study of the caries prevalence in each community. All communities showed a decrease of caries levels. In the Canton of Vaud this reduction started at a lower initial level and in 1974 reached consistently lower values than those of the control communities of the cantons of Fribourg and Neuchâtel.

Arbutin absorption in human small intestine: A simple procedure for the determination of active sugar uptake in peroral biopsy specimens

Abstract Alvarado and Crane have shown that the uptake of arbutin (the β-glucoside of hydroquinone) in the small intestine of hamster, chicken and rat occurs by the same pathway as that of Na+-dependent sugar. In this paper we describe in detail a procedure for the determination of arbutin uptake in human small-intestinal peroral biopsy specimens. The procedure is simple to perform and does not require radioactive substrates. The normal values are reported. Arbutin uptake is correlated with the morphological state of the mucosa in the specimen.

Programme der präventiven Zahnmedizin in der Schule

Dental caries and gum disease may easily be prevented. Based on experiences extending over twenty years several preventive programs for school children can be offered and the one best suited for the local circumstances may be selected. Two types of dental auxiliaries have proved very useful to realize preventive programs on the level of communities and/or cantons, requiring costs of only 3 to 7 Swiss fracs per year and child. Considering the excellent results already available it should not be very difficult to obtain cooperation even of those communities who have not yet introduced any preventive programs.

Controlled clinical trial of barium sulfate suspensions for upper gastrointestinal x-ray examinations

SummaryThe quality of radiographs of the upper gastrointestinal tract is of great diagnostic importance, but the published reports about barium sulfate suspensions have been poorly controlled or limited to in vitro investigations. The present study consists of a double blind clinical trial comparing two commercially available barium sulfate suspensions, several additives and methods used to alter the viscosity of the suspension. The techniques employed include randomization, factorial design, application of predetermined criteria and computer analysis of the results. The results confirm the value of high viscosity suspensions for examining the oesophagus, but for the stomach and the intestines a lower viscosity appears adequate. Elevation of osmolarity accelerates intestinal transit but impairs double contrast and mucosal pictures. Some highly significant differences between the two barium preparations, e.g. in gastric peristalsis, cannot be accounted for. The analysis of results shows that improvement of present day techniques is desirable, but will depend on further results of properly controlled clinical trials.

Wirksame Vorbeugung gegen Zahnkaries

ZusammenfassungDer kariöse Angriff auf den Schmelz geht vom Bakterienbelag auf den Zähnen aus, der Zucker sehr rasch zu zahnentkalkenden Säuren vergärt. Seltener Zuckerkonsum ist daher die wichtigste Ernährungsempfehlung. Die Zahnreinigung ist nur dann gegen Zahnkaries wirksam, wenn sie gründlich und sofort nach den Mahlzeiten erfolgt. Regelmäßiges Zahnbürsten läßt Zahnfleischentzündungen bei Kindern fast ganz verschwinden. Neben der Trinkwasserfluoridierung können zur täglichen Benützung fluorhaltige Zahnpasten und Fluortabletten und in größeren Abständen konzentrierte Fluorpräparate zur Anwendung empfohlen werden. Die politischen Instanzen übersehen noch zumeist, daß die zahnärztliche Vorbeugung viel wichtiger ist als die Reparatur vermeidbarer Schäden.

Dental caries in the canton of Valid after change from distribution of fluoride tablets to fluoridation of domestic salt.

This report shows results of a survey on dental caries in the Canton of Vaud in the years 1970 and 1974. In this canton fluoridation was carried out by means of fluoride tablets distributed at school until 1969/70 and in subsequent years by adding 250 mg F/kg fluoride to domestic salt. For comparison, results from adjoining and other cantons are also presented. In 1970 the 3 communities in the Canton of Vaud (Moudon, Grandson and Vevey) showed a remarkably low overall caries level due to the distribution of fluoride tablets, supplemented in Grandson with regular brushings with fluoride solution. When the fluoride tablets were discontinued in 1968/70 and fluoridated domestic salt containing 250 mg F/kg NaCl was introduced, caries incidence reached an even lower level. In these 3 communities caries prevalence fell to the lowest level reached, so far, by means of preventive measures in Bettlach (Canton of Solothurn, toothbrushing with fluoride solutions 6 times per year combined with information, fluoride tablets on every school day, and in addition consumption of table salt fluoridated at a suboptimal level of 90 ppm). The children in the control communities Romont (Canton of Fribourg), St-Aubin (Canton of Neuchâtel) and Châtel-St-Denis (Canton of Fribourg) also showed decreases of caries levels from 1970 to 1974. This decrease can be attributed to the distribution of fluoride tablets started at the schools of this community in the late sixties. Caries incidence in the age spans 8 to 12 and 10 to 14 years was estimated. Children from the Canton of Vaud where fluoridated table salt was practically the only preventive measure showed a smaller DMF increase than those from the cantons Fribourg and Neuchâtel. By means of a method combining DMF means of various age groups it was possible to obtain sufficiently large numbers of children for a study of the caries prevalence in each community. All communities showed a decrease of caries levels. In the Canton of Vaud this reduction started at a lower initial level and in 1974 reached consistently lower values than those of the control communities of the cantons of Fribourg and Neuchâtel.

The fluoride content of teeth in the canton of Vaud 5 years after the introduction of salt fluoridation

Fluroide concentrations in teeth from the canton of Vaud were about at the same level reported from regions with 1,0 ppm F in the drinking water and from children receiving fluoride tablets during tooth formation age.

Vertrauensbereiche für den Quotienten von Mittelwerten zweier Normalverteilungen, wenn die Stichproben klein sind

Hat man zwei unabhangige Stichproben vom Umfang n 1 bzw. n 2 aus normalverteilten Grundgesamtheiten mit Mittelwerten,μ 1 bzw. μ 2 und unbekannten Varianzen σ 1 2 bzw. σ 2 2 , so interessieren ublicherweise Vertrauensbereiche fur die Mittelwerte oder fur die Differenz der Mittelwerte.

Die Verhütung von Zahnerkrankungen

Wenn der F6tus den Mutterleib verl&sst, geraten schon beim Durchtritt durch die Vagina Bakterien in die MundhShle. Diese ist schon wenige Stunden sp&ter, der Darm nach einigen Tagen, mit Bakterien besiedelt. Bakterien sind w&hrend des ganzen Lebens in der MundhShle zu finden. Selbst nach einer durch den Zahnarzt oder die Dentalhygienikerin vorgenommenen Reinigung verbleiben noch einige Millionen Keime in den Schlupfwinkeln der MundhShle, vor allem der Zahnreihen. Bei fehlender Mundhygiene wachsen bestimmte St&mme, vor allem saprophytisch lebende Streptokokken und filamentSse Organismen, auf den Z&hnen zu millimeterdicken mikrobiellen sichtbaren Zahnbel&gen, zur dentale Plaque.