A 15-year series analysis of caries development related to a socioeconomic variable. A study of the year group leaving the organised dental care in Göteborg, Sweden.
In a long-term series analysis the study had the aim of detecting how the used socioeconomic variables were related to the caries status development in the year group leaving the organised dental care. The study included caries epidemiological records of individuals at the Public Dental Service of Göteborg, leaving the organised dental care during 1986-2000. The City of Göteborg was divided into four districts. One incidence and one prevalence caries index was used, each presented in two subgroups: individuals with no caries record and patients with 20% of the highest index values. The socio-economical variable was individuals 18-64 years of age, seeking employment, as a percentage of the corresponding group of all inhabitants. The registered values were divided into three time sections of five years each. In the first, the socio-economic value curves were almost horizontal, in the second they showed a considerable increasing and in the third a declining tendency. The result curves for the caries-free patient groups and for patients with 20% of the highest caries index values compared to the three socioeconomical time sector results, showed an almost horizontal level concerning the incidence index values, and for the prevalence index values an inclined curve structure to the incidence curves. The result curves for the incidence index with respect to the caries-free patient group showed an almost horizontal structure, while the prevalence curves inclined towards the incidence curves during the study period. The linear structure of these curves deviated considerably from the result curves for the socio-economic time series. No correlation existed between the socio-economic data and the studied caries index values. The need for determining the time length concerning caries index observations was discussed. It must be of special interest to maintain the dental health of the studied patient group and the individuals' relation to regular dental care, when as adults they meet the dental care economy.
A 24-month clinical study of the incidence and progression of dental caries in relation to consumption of chewing gum containing xylitol in school preventive programs.
The effect of chewing gum containing xylitol on the incidence and progression of dental caries was tested in a sample of 274 children, aged eight and nine years, of low socio-economic status and high caries rate. They were divided into two experimental groups (15% and 65% xylitol chewing gum distributed three times a day at school) and one control group (without chewing gum). The three groups were exposed to the same basic preventive program. Children who chewed gum had a significantly lower net progression of decay (progressions-reversals) over a 24-month period than did the controls. Results for the two groups chewing gum were similar. Chewing xylitol gum had a beneficial effect on the caries process for all types of tooth surfaces, and especially for bucco-lingual surfaces. The two experimental groups had a DMF(S) increment of 2.24 surfaces, compared with 6.06 surfaces for the control group. For this indicator, there was no difference between the two experimental groups. Results for the plaque index were in agreement with those of the DMF(S) increment and the net progression of decay.
Research in the context of the dental school has traditionally been focused on institutional/faculty accomplishments and generating new knowledge to benefit the profession. Only recently have significant efforts been made to expand the overall research programming into the formal dental curriculum, to provide students with a baseline exposure to the research and critical thinking processes, encourage evidence-based decision-making, and stimulate interest in academic/research careers. Various approaches to curriculum reform and the establishment of multiple levels of student research opportunities are now part of the educational fabric of many dental schools worldwide. Many of the preliminary reports regarding the success and vitality of these programs have used outcomes measures and metrics that emphasize cultural changes within institutions, student research productivity, and student career preferences after graduation. However, there have not been any reports from long-standing programs (a minimum of 25 years of cumulative data) that describe dental school graduates who have had the benefit of research/training experiences during their dental education. The University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry initiated a BSc Dent program in 1980 that awarded a formal degree for significant research experiences taking place within the laboratories of the Faculty-based researchers and has continued to develop and expand this program. The success of the program has been demonstrated by the continued and increasing demands for entry, the academic achievements of the graduates, and the numbers of graduates who have completed advanced education/training programs or returned to the Faculty as instructors. Analysis of our long-term data validates many recent hypotheses and short-term observations regarding the benefits of dental student research programs. This information may be useful in the design and implementation of dental student research programs at other dental schools.
The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively all cases of forensic odontology during the period 1964-1990 in Göteborg. A total number of 281 cases were registered during a period of 27 years. The mean age of the victims was 39.5 years and 73 per cent of the deceased persons were men. The identification cases dominated (274). A definitive identity was established in 207 cases (75.6%) and the identity could not be determined in 34 cases (12.4%). The causes of death were also analyzed. The total number of burned victims; in buildings, boats or cars was 84. Eighty-one persons were submersed in water. There were 49 victims of mutilation due to traffic accidents. Twenty-two persons were found in the wood. Seventeen persons died in their homes or abroad and were not found immediately after death and therefore the relatives were not asked to identify the decreased. There was no information about the cause of death in 21 cases.
