The results suggest that cigar and pipe smoking may have similar adverse effects on periodontal health and tooth loss as cigarette smoking. Smoking cessation efforts should be considered as a means of improving periodontal health and reducing tooth loss in heavy smokers of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes with periodontal disease.

Although replication-deficient adenoviruses can efficiently transfer genes to the salivary glands, the current vectors precipitate an immediate, transient decrease in salivary function. To study the cause of this salivary hypofunction, 10(6)-10(10) plaque-forming units (pfu) of the vector AdCMV beta gal were delivered by retrograde ductal infusion to the submandibular glands (SMGs) of rats. Microscopic analysis of infected glands showed a dose-related, rapidly developing inflammatory response, which at the highest amount of virus was characterized by a predominantly neutrophil-containing infiltrate, focal necrosis, and edema. Moreover, the glands of nude rats developed similar morphologic changes to those of immunocompetent rats. After 3 days, the volume of stimulated saliva secreted from SMGs receiving AdCMV beta gal (6.75 x 10(9) pfu) was approximately 20% that of controls. UV-inactivated virus caused a similar decrease in saliva output. We evaluated to what extent the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, could suppress inflammation and preserve salivary function. Three days after infusion with a high dose of AdCMV beta gal (6.75 x 10(9) pfu), the glands from dexamethasone-treated animals showed markedly less inflammation and no necrosis. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the average amount of saliva secreted from the infected glands (105 +/- 17 microliters) compared to the control glands (123 +/- 18 microliters). In addition, dexamethasone extended the expression of beta-galactosidase in the SMGs. These results suggest that the adenovirus-mediated acute inflammation in rat SMG is responsible for diminished gland function and transgene expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate a useful role for glucocorticoids in controlling acute inflammation during experimental gene transfer with current adenovirus vectors.

The findings suggest that antibodies to P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and A. actinomycetemcomitans may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of EOP. Substantial longitudinal studies that monitor antibody levels and avidity prior to disease onset, during progression, and following clinical intervention will be necessary to fully understand the role of this component of the immune response in protection versus tissue destruction and the potential use in EOP risk assessment and disease management.

Objective This study investigated the role of self‐perceived oral health and normative need on dental services utilization by US adults aged ≥30 years from the 2011‐2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods Data on 5,806 dentate adult NHANES participants were analyzed. Key independent variables were self‐perceived oral health and normative need assessed by a dentist. The dependent variable was dental visit within the past 12 months. Select sociodemographic variables were adjusted for in logistic regression models using SAS survey procedures. Results Overall, 33.8 percent of adults did not have a dental visit in the past 12 months. About 26.9 percent reported they were unsatisfied with their oral health and 53.4 percent needed to seek care. Individuals unsatisfied with their oral health were less likely to have a dental visit in the past 12 months compared to those who were satisfied with their oral health (57 versus 25 percent). Overall, participants who were unsatisfied with their oral health received a recommendation to seek care. These participants had more normative needs and were less likely to have a dental visit in the past 12 months; however, this relationship varied by race/ethnicity. For Asian‐Americans, there was no association between those unsatisfied with their oral health and dental visits. Also, there was no association across all race/ethnicities between number of teeth present and dental visits. Conclusion Both self‐perceived oral health and normative need are associated with dental utilization. Results will contribute to health policy discussions and program development that aim to improve oral health status in the United States.