Category Archives: AMM 2012, Volume 58, Number 6

A Comparison of Periodontal Health Status in Smoker, Former Smoker and Non-Smoker Patients

Benedek (Bukhari) Csilla1, Kovács Mónika1, Pop M1, Székely Melinda2, Dénes Hanga3, Miklós Zsuzsanna4

1 Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
2 Department of Morphology of Teeth and Dental Arches, Technology of Dental Prosthesis and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
3 Dentist, S.C. Sanodent S.R.L., Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4 5th year student, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to assess the smoker, former smoker and non-smoker patients’ periodontal status.
Methods: The study was based on a clinical examination of 80 patients (46 female, 34 male) from Tîrgu-Mureș, aged between 16 and 78 years, who were questioned about their smoking habits and oral hygiene. Patients were classified in four groups: non-smokers, former smokers, occasional- and active smokers. The clinical examination evaluated the dental calculus index, papilla bleeding index, Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), probing depth and gingival recession. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson`s chi-square test.
Results: Statistically significant association between active smokers and non-smokers was found comparing the mean values of the papilla bleeding index and of the depth of periodontal pockets (p=0.0001). No statistically significant differences between active- and non-smokers were found regarding the dental calculus index (p=0.5483). Most of the active smokers (55%) and occasional smokers (65%) smoke less than 5 years. 60% of the active smokers and 35% of the occasional smokers tried to quit smoking.
Conclusions: In our study, most of the typical indicators for periodontal disease showed significantly increased values in investigated smokers compared to non-smokers. The results call for relevant measures for smoking prevention and cessation in Tîrgu-Mureș

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Morphological Changes of the Fetal Hip Joint and Their Effect on the Stability of the Joint During Its Intrauterine Development

Baróti Beáta1, Pánti Z2, Pap Zsuzsanna3, Dénes L3, Pávai Z3

1 Department of Radiology and Imaging, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
2 Student, GM 5th year, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
3 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania

Background: Hip joint dislocation and dysplasia are frequent congenital malformations with a multifactorial etiology with a major role played by intrauterine mechanical forces during development. Our aim was to define the surface of the femur and acetabulum, and to study the changes in geometrical parameters and the relationships between them during development.
Material and method: In this study we dissected the hip joints of 10 post-mortem fetuses. Fetal age was determined using crown-rump length (CRL) (min. 8.5 cm, max. 30 cm). Then we performed morphological and geometrical measurements on the articular components. We calculated the area of the articular surfaces, then determined the femoral head coverage and compared the antetorsion (AT) of the femur with the AT of the acetabulum.
Results: in the 3 months fetus the surface areas of the femur and acetabulum are almost identical, the femoral head coverage is maximal, and later with age progression the head coverage decreases, as its growth is more intense than that of the acetabulum. During development the increase of femoral AT determines the increase of the acetabular AT.
Conclusions: The decrease in femoral head coverage during development results in a decrease in articular stability. The femoral head’s position and compression plays an important role in the development of the acetabulum.

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Oral Health … From Good to Better

Monica Dana Monea

Department of Odontology and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

The dental profession is known for working to eliminate dental caries and periodontal disease, but we cannot rest on the laurels of fluoride and electrical toothbrushes. Over the years we witnessed a silent debate as to whether we are really doctors or just dental technicians who clean teeth, deliver porcelain crowns and replace amalgam restorations. From my point of view, a good dentist must be a combination of diagnostician, technician, healer and artist, but if we truly aspire to become health providers, our goal of excellence must aim towards the elimination of dental disease and not just the treatment of its consequences.
In the last 20 years there has been a complete transition from reactive dentistry, which implies treating according to symptoms, to a very much prevention orientated dental profession. This new concept means that instead of reacting to an already established oral health problem, the treatment must focus on preventing dental diseases before irreversible damage to oral hard and soft tissues occurs. [More]

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