No abstract

The prevalence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans isolates was examined in a rural population of southern Thailand. Sixty individuals aged 30-39 and 50-59 years were randomly selected from a group of 363 persons, living in four villages, who had been clinically examined previously. A subgingival plaque sample was taken with a curette from the mesial aspect of the two upper and lower first molars. Each sample was dispersed in 3.3 ml of VMGA III transport medium and spread onto Trypticase Soy Broth with Bacitracin and Vancomycin (TSBV)-agar plates on the same day. After incubation in 10% CO2 for 5 days the plates were examined for typical A. actinomycetemcomitans colonies which were tested for catalase activity. Each strain was further tested for biochemical characteristics, serotyped against serotype-specific antisera a-e and ribotyped after DNA digestion using the restriction endonucleases HindIII and EcoRI. For 53 (88%) of the 60 individuals, A. actinomycetemcomitans was present in at least one subgingival sample, which is considerably higher than the prevalence in Western European adults. In 11 individuals, two or three different strains were found. Serotypes a and c were the most prevalent, and serotype b was found only once among 46 tested isolates. Eleven ribotypes were found among the 46 strains. While the same ribotype could be found among individuals of the same village, no ribotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans was unique for individuals of any one village. The study demonstrated a high prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans among adults of the rural population of southern Thailand and indicates that this species is present as part of the resident oral flora in this population.

The aim of this epidemiological study was to examine associations between temporomandibular (TMD)-related problems and variables from three domains: (1) socio-economic attributes, (2) general health and health-related lifestyle, and (3) dental attitudes and behaviors. The overall response rate to a questionnaire mailed to the total population of 50-year-old subjects in two Swedish counties (8,888 individuals) was 71%. Among the 53 questions in the questionnaire, those related to social, general health, and health-related factors were used as independent variables in logistic regression models. Three TMD-related symptoms and reported bruxism were used as dependent variables. Impaired general health was the strongest risk factor for reported TMD symptoms. Along with female gender and dissatisfaction with dental care, impaired general health was significantly associated with all three TMD symptoms. A few more factors were associated with pain from the TMJ only. In comparison, reported bruxism showed more significant associations with the independent variables. In addition to the variables associated with TMD symptoms, being single, college/university education, and daily tobacco use were also significantly correlated with bruxism. Besides female gender, impaired general health, dissatisfaction with dental care, and a few social and health-related factors demonstrated significant associations with TMD symptoms and reported bruxism.

There is an increased potential risk of iatrogenic injury and permanent damage to the dental roots when a technique that involves predrilled holes for bone anchor screws is used.