Pocket depth and loss of attachment were measured twice in millimeters on 1,335 surfaces of 335 teeth in 63 men aged 20‐40 years. The measurements were performed by one examiner. No systematic error in measuring pocket depth and loss of attachment was found. The method error for mean pocket depth was ± 0.10 mm and for mean loss of attachment ± 0.11 mm. The method error for single measurements was ± 0.36 mm and ± 0.41, respectively. This shows that the millimeter is an appropriate unit for measuring pocket depth and loss of attachment, and that both parameters may be assessed to approximately the same degree of accuracy.

The results provided histological evidence suggesting that both GTR and EMD may result in true periodontal regeneration, and suggest that this type of healing might be favored by such treatments in comparison with flap surgery.

THE METABOLIC DISORDER of diabetes mellitus can be controlled by dietary means and insulin therapy or antidiabetic drugs. However, in the course of the life of the controlled diabetic patient vascular abnormalities develop in various organs. The angiopathy is particularly conspicuous in the eyes, the nervous system and the kidneys, causing blindness, neuropathy and encephalopathy, and often fatal kidney insufficiency.During the past years, several investigations have considered the possible relationship between diabetes and periodontal destruction (Sheppard 1936 and 1942, 1

The institution of proper oral hygiene procedures and habits is a learning process. This paper describes a self-instructing periodontal self-examination program to be used in the initial phase of periodontal treatment. The program was designed in an effort to facilitate learning by taking the teaching conditions into consideration. The program tries to utilize the patient's curiosity and need for activity and to involve the patient himself in an effort to make the patient apprehend the relevance of subject matter. The program also allows for an individualized learning speed of the patient. The self-examination program was tested on 108 periodontal patients (19-75 years of age) and the patients' findings were compared to those made by a dentist. Questionnaires before and after the self-examination were used in the evaluation of opinions of the patient. The present study showed that the patients were able to perform the self-examination without individual professional guidance. A rather close correlation was noted between findings made by the patient and the dentist. Furthermore, the program was well accepted and appreciated by the patients according to their answers on the questionnaires.

The need for improved oral cleanliness in adults presents a large scale resource requirement for professional manpower if oral hygiene instruction is to be accomplished conventionally on an individual basis at the chairside. Therefore a self-instructional manual in oral hygiene measures, to be used by the patients at home, has been designed. The effect on oral hygiene of periodontal patients following instruction by means of this manual has been compared with the effect of one instruction carried out by a dental hygienist as well as with the effect of minimal instruction by the aid of a short brochure. Thirty-seven patients (25--64 years of age) were allocated to three groups matched with regard to baseline scores of dento-gingival plaque, age and sex. Presence of disclosed dento-gingival plaque (Plak-lite) and gingival bleeding on probing were recorded at the start, 1, 2 and 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months. Toothbrushing performance of the patients was evaluated at each visit by a "brushing test". The treatment of all the patients consisted of scaling and polishing of the teeth at the start and after 3 months as well as the patients being supplied with the necessary oral hygiene aids including a lighted mouth mirror, a toothbrush, toothpicks and disclosing tablets. The baseline mean plaque and bleeding scores of 64 and 40% decreased during the first 6 weeks to a level of 20 and 14%. This improvement was maintained during the 6-month study period. Among the three groups no significant differences were observed in oral hygiene and gingival health. The results indicate that an oral hygiene instructional mode relatively independent of professional manpower may be equally effective as one single personal instruction. Furthermore the results suggest that factors other than the instruction per se are important for obtaining improvements in oral home care.

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the distribution of interproximal periodontal intrabony defects as related to age, sex and localization, and to examine the relationship between some possible etiological factors and the occurrence of intrabony defects. A total of 209 adult patients presenting for dental treatment at the Royal Dental College in Arhus participated in this study. The patients were subjected to a questionnaire and were examined clinically and radiographically. All osseous defects in the radiographs were recorded but only those with a depth and width of a least 2 mm were considered periodontal intrabony defects. Only 18% of the participants had one or more periodontal intrabony defects but the prevalence was higher in older than in younger age groups. While periodontal intrabony defects occurred with the same frequency on the various tooth types, more defects were found on distal than on mesial surfaces. The presence of periodontal intrabony defects correlated with loss of attachment, increased tooth mobility, a wide interproximal space and open mesio-distal contact relationships between the teeth.

The beneficial effects of comprehensive dental prophylaxis programs are well recognized. In order to study the factors determining the effectiveness of these programs, 28 periodontal recall patients were subjected to monthly professional mechanical tooth cleanings. Experimental and control teeth were randomly selected according to a splitmouth cross-over method. The Plaque and Gingival indices were recorded 1 month prior to the study, at the start, and at 4, 8, and 12 months. One month prior to the study calculus and bacterial plaque were thoroughly removed from all teeth. During the study period only the experimental teeth were cleaned. Efforts were made not to influence the oral hygiene of the participants by any other means. Following the initial tooth cleaning and during the preexperimental period the Plaque and Gingival indices decreased to a low level on both the experimental and control teeth (mean P1I = 0.4, mean GI = 0.3). This high standard of oral hygiene and gingival health was maintained throughout the study period, and no differences could be observed between experimental and control teeth. This indicates that factors other than the mechanical professional cleaning were responsible for the maintenance of gingival health. It is suggested that participation in the program in itself may have motivated the patients to improve their oral home care.

The effectiveness of an electric toothbrush (Rota-dent), which in design and mode of action resembles the rotating instruments used by professionals in tooth cleaning, was assessed. 40 adult periodontal patients were divided into 2 groups matched with regard to oral cleanliness: an electric toothbrush group (EB) comprising 20 patients who received an electric toothbrush as well as instruction in it's use by a dental hygienist; a control group (CO) comprising 20 patients who were provided with an oral hygiene kit containing a conventional toothbrush, an interspace brush, toothpicks, disclosing tablets and a lighted mouth mirror and who received the oral hygiene instruction by means of a self-teaching manual. All patients received professional mechanical tooth cleaning 1 week prior to the instruction. At a 3-week follow-up session, additional instruction was given by a dental hygienist according to needs. The presence or absence of dento-gingival plaque after disclosing with the Plak-lite system and gingival bleeding by gentle probing was recorded on 4 tooth surfaces of all teeth, initially and after 3 months. The findings showed a similar improvement in the status of oral hygiene in both groups, indicating that in the hands of the patients, the electric toothbrush was just as effective as the comprehensive oral hygiene kit.