No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Biotène® products have been developed with the intention of preventing tooth decay, plaque accumulation and oral infections in individuals with xerostomia (dry mouth). Not much is known about the effect of Biotène® chewing gums. Biotène® chewing gum contains host proteins. Due to these contents the manufacturer claims that Biotène® chewing gum is an “enzyme gum” that “boosts and strengthens the mouths natural defences”. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Biotène® chewing gum on saliva flow rates, saliva buffering capacity, plaque index, as well as salivary Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli counts, in healthy subjects with hyposalivation. One hundred and nine subjects with an age range of 18 to 23 years were screened for hyposalivation. Hyposalivation is a reduced salivary flow rate in a subject based on examination of the subject. Thirteen healthy subjects, who initially presented with hyposalivation, were included in the study. A baseline laboratory analysis of saliva was performed. Saliva was collected at rest and with masticatory stimulation, and measured. Resting saliva is saliva produced without any stimulation and can be obtained by allowing the subject to passively drool into a sputum jar. Stimulated saliva is produced as a result of stimulation of the salivary glands and may be obtained by allowing subject to chew inert rubber tubing while expectorating into a sputum jar. Buffering capacity was performed on both the saliva samples. Plaque index and DMFT was measured. Bacterial counts such as S. mutans and Lactobacilli counts were performed on the stimulated saliva. Subjects were given rubber tubing, xylitol chewing gum or Biotène® chewing gum to use for 2 weeks. A rubber tubing phase was introduced into the study to eliminate the effect of masticatory stimulation, which any chewing gum can provide. A xylitol-containing chewing gum (xylitol) phase was also introduced into the study in order to eliminate the effect of xylitol, as Biotène® chewing gum contains xylitol. A second laboratory analysis of saliva was performed. After a two weeks wash out period the second test product was given and the same procedure was repeated with the third product. The results showed that two weeks use of Biotène® chewing gum had no significant effect on the resting and stimulated saliva flows. It did not increase the buffering capacity of either the resting or stimulated saliva samples. Although it did not reduce the plaque index and S. mutans counts, it significantly reduced the Lactobacilli counts. Xylitol chewing gum, which was used as a control to eliminate the xylitol effect from the Biotène® chewing gum, significantly increased the stimulated saliva, reduced the plaque index and the salivary Lactobacilli count. Biotène® chewing gum which contains host proteins has no beneficial effects regarding saliva flow rate or against dental plaque and therefore against dental caries.

Introduction: Prevalence of childhood obesity is at an all-time high. The effect of childhood obesity on dental development and eruption is a widespread topic today in the dental field. Several cross-sectional studies over the past decade have found an association between advanced dental development and eruption and childhood obesity. The purpose of this study is to examine the longitudinal relationship between childhood Body Mass Index (BMI), and the development of the permanent dentition. Methods: 76 subjects from a longitudinal dataset (Iowa Facial Growth Study 1946-1960) were selected to examine the relationship between BMI and dental development during childhood. Periapical and lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to provide a dental maturity score for each subject using the Demirjian et al. (1973) method at three separate time points (age 4, 8, and 12). BMI was calculated using subjects’ height and weight at each time point. Results: Children with higher BMI’s at all three time points (4, 8 and 12) tended to have advanced dental development compared to children who were of normal weight status. Children who were considered underweight (< 5th BMI percentile) were more likely to be dentally delayed. BMI at age 4 was predictive of dental development status at age 8 and 12. Conclusion: Our results add to the growing body of evidence that childhood obesity is associated with advanced dental development. This is important in the dental and orthodontic fields, as early eruption has been hypothesized to be associated with increased dental caries, crowding, and malocclusions.

X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX1), a peripheral neuropathy, is clinically characterised by slow progressive weakness and wasting of the distal muscles with associated sensory loss. The CMTX1 locus had previously been localised to the pericentromeric region of the X chromosome. Our initial linkage analysis utilising Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs) confirmed that CMTX1 mapped proximally to the DXYS1X locus (Xq21.31). Subsequent linkage analysis, carried out as part of an international consortium, utilising microsatellite polymorphisms further delineated the CMTX1 locus to a 2cM region around DXS453 (Xq31.1). To help with this analysis new microsatellites are generated at the loci DXS106 and DXS227. In parallel with the linkage analysis a physical map of the region was under construction simultaneously with candidate gene evaluation. The physical map was constructed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) used in conjunction with partial digestion of Yeast Artificial Chromosomes (YACs). The physical map of nine YACs had been obtained in which seven potential CpG islands were identified. Candidate genes were investigated by sequencing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplified gene fragments from DNA isolated from patients with CMTX1. This led to the identification of missense, nonsense and base pair deletion mutations within the previously described GJβ1 gene. This gene encodes, connexin 32, a gap junction subunit. Gap junctions are channels which allow direct transfer of cellular components, which are below 900D in diameter, between coupled cells. It is proposed that mutations affecting the GJβ1 gene are the underlying biological defect which results in the CMTX1 phenotype.

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