Pioneer oral bacteria, including Streptococcus gordonii , initiate the formation of oral biofilms... more Pioneer oral bacteria, including Streptococcus gordonii , initiate the formation of oral biofilms on tooth surfaces, which requires differential expression of genes that recognize unique environmental cues. An S. gordonii ::Tn 917-lac biofilm-defective mutant was isolated by using an in vitro biofilm formation assay. Subsequent inverse PCR and sequence analyses identified the transposon insertion to be near the 3′ end of an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein homologous to a Streptococcus pneumoniae repressor, AdcR. The S. gordonii adc operon, consisting of the four ORFs adcR , adcC , adcB , and adcA , is homologous to the adc operon of S. pneumoniae , which plays a role in zinc and/or manganese transport and genetic competence in S. pneumoniae . AdcR is a metal-dependent repressor protein containing a putative metal-binding site, AdcC contains a consensus-binding site for ATP, AdcB is a hydrophobic protein with seven hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions, and AdcA is a lipo...
Veillonella spp. are found in high numbers in the mouth in dental plaque and on the mucosa. Veill... more Veillonella spp. are found in high numbers in the mouth in dental plaque and on the mucosa. Veillonellae utilize lactic acid for their metabolic needs. A symbiotic relationship between Veillonellae and other oral bacteria, including a nutritional relationship with some streptococci, has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, Veillonellae may protect the host from dental caries. Adherence is the initial step in bacterial colonization of oral surfaces. Recent evidence suggests that certain oral bacteria express molecules (adhesins) on their cell surface, which recognize receptors on other oral bacteria and/or in salivary pellicle. It has been previously demonstrated that Veillonella spp. bind avidly to Streptococcus. spp. found in subgingival plaque. The present study investigated the ability of V. atypica PK1910 to bind to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (SHA), a model for adherence to the salivary pellicle. The results show that there was statistically significant enhanced ...
The primary habitats of oral veillonellae are the tongue, dental plaque, and the buccal mucosa. I... more The primary habitats of oral veillonellae are the tongue, dental plaque, and the buccal mucosa. Isolates were obtained from each habitat and tested for coaggregation with a battery of other oral bacterial strains. All 59 tongue isolates tested for coaggregation were Veillonella atypica or Veillonella dispar. All but one of them coaggregated with strains of Streptococcus salivarius, a predominant inhabitant of the tongue surface but not subgingival dental plaque. These tongue isolates were unable to coaggregate with most normal members of the subgingival flora such as Actinomyces viscosus, Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces israelii, and Streptococcus sanguis. In contrast, 24 of 29 Veillonella isolates, of which 20 were Veillonella parvula from subgingival dental plaque samples, coaggregated strongly with the three species of Actinomyces, S. sanguis, and other bacteria usually present in subgingival plaque, but they did not coaggregate with S. salivarius. The majority of isolates fr...
Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), Jan 2, 2015
Pediatric obesity is a public health concern requiring an interprofessional approach to care. Wei... more Pediatric obesity is a public health concern requiring an interprofessional approach to care. Weight screening in the dental office can promote healthy behaviors to improve weight and oral health status and reduce systemic and oral health risks. Oral health care professionals can perform weight screenings quickly. Routine weight screening of pediatric patients and early intervention through education and referral of patients to a registered dietitian nutritionist and a physician for more in-depth evaluation may help reduce disease risk. Oral health care professionals can measure a patient's height and weight and can easily calculate body mass index percentile according to a patient's age and sex to detect weight status that does not fall within the normal range. Oral health care professionals should refer patients who are underweight, overweight, or obese to a registered dietitian nutritionist and the patient's physician for follow-up.
The objective of this study was to evaluate reported bruxism among children affected by attention... more The objective of this study was to evaluate reported bruxism among children affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Thirty children diagnosed with ADHD and 30 healthy age and gender matched controls participated in the study. All subjects were examined for dental attrition, and the parents were asked for signs and symptoms of bruxism in their children using a questionnaire. Prevalence of oral parafunction was evaluated comparing ADHD children taking medications, ADHD children not taking medications, and controls. Subjects affected by ADHD and pharmacologically treated showed higher occurrence of bruxism compared to subjects affected by ADHD not taking medicines and controls; and within the ADHD group taking medications, CNS-stimulants have been associated with such side effect more frequently than the other drugs.
The recent availability of genome sequences for Veillonella species provides an exceptional oppor... more The recent availability of genome sequences for Veillonella species provides an exceptional opportunity to probe their biology and role in the microbial ecology of the mouth. The recent genome-scale stoichiometric model of Porphyromonas gingivalis metabolic networks is an exceptional example of such an approach and illustrates the potential of advancements in genome sequencing and bioinformatic tools in studies of bacterial metabolism and ecology. Fifteen complete genomes, three metagenomes of TM7, and 38 genome surveys of oral isolates are available at the human oral microbiome database (HOMD). Seven Veillonella genomes are currently available as genome surveys at the HOMD. Almost 10% of the total cultivable biota from the tongue consists of Veillonellae. Veillonellae lack hexokinase activity but have other glycolytic enzymes. Veillonellae are also unable to incorporate radiolabeled glucose into bacterial cell compounds and seem to lack a glucose phosphotransferase system. The observations on the Veillonella physiology can now be confirmed and visualized in the carbohydrate metabolism glycolysis-gluconeogenesis pathway constructed with Veillonella parvula ATCC 10790 genome data. This chapter presents the genomic evidence for the presence of both nitrate reduction enzymes and membrane-bound proton-translocating ATPases. Interactions between Streptococcus spp. and Veillonella spp. naturally occur in vivo and emphasize the natural relationship of species in the development of biofilms. The availability of complete Veillonella genome sequences provides a unique opportunity for developing genetic systems for Veillonellae.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the principal reason for primary tooth extraction an... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the principal reason for primary tooth extraction and the tooth type most frequently extracted in children aged 3-13 years. The patients selected for this retrospective study were identified by analyzing dental records of children receiving treatment at Franciscan Children's Hospital & Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA (FCH & RC). In total, 2,000 records were reviewed, and 567 extracted primary teeth were analyzed from 277 patients who had at least one primary tooth extracted under local anesthesia. The criteria for inclusion in this study included children between the ages of 3 and 13 years. First primary molars were the most common tooth type extracted and comprised 30% of teeth removed. Central incisors were the next common tooth type extracted and accounted for 25% of the extractions. There was no difference, by gender, in the extraction of tooth type but there were striking differences according to age. Almost half of the primary...
Biochemistry and molecular biology international, 1994
We tested culture supernatants from a battery of oral bacterial strains for their ability to infl... more We tested culture supernatants from a battery of oral bacterial strains for their ability to influence the expression of CD11b and CD45 on the neutrophil plasma membrane. Several bacterial extracts stimulated the up-regulation of both CD11b and CD45 simultaneously. Two supernatants in particular (a clinical isolate of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum ATCC25586) potently stimulated the deployment of CD11b and CD45 from their intracellular storage site to the plasma membrane. Both supernatants inhibited superoxide release stimulated by exposure of neutrophils to formyl methionyl leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP) but had variable effects on superoxide release stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The ability of products of oral bacteria to modulate neutrophil plasma membrane antigen composition may regulate functional reactivity and thus be an important factor in the pathogenesis of periodontal infection and inflammation.
The acronym CHARGE refers to a non-random clustering of congenital malformations whose cause rema... more The acronym CHARGE refers to a non-random clustering of congenital malformations whose cause remains unknown. To date, the dental features of CHARGE association are not well known. A brief review of the literature and a case in a 10-year old boy with the CHARGE association are presented. The patient had multiple dental anomalies including congenital absence of teeth, ectopic eruption, submergence of primary molars and an odontogenic fibroma associated with an impacted permanent molar.
The placement of orthodontic appliances creates a favorable environment for the accumulation of a... more The placement of orthodontic appliances creates a favorable environment for the accumulation of a microbiota and food residues, which, in time, may cause caries or exacerbate any pre-existing periodontal disease. The purpose of the present study was to compare the total bacterial counts present on metallic and ceramic orthodontic brackets in order to clarify which bracket type has a higher plaque retaining capacity and to determine the levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp on both types of brackets. Thirty-two metallic brackets and 24 ceramic brackets were collected from orthodontic patients at the day of debonding. Two brackets were collected from each patient; one from a maxillary central incisor and another from a maxillary second premolar. Sixteen patients who used metallic brackets and 12 patients who used ceramic brackets were sampled. Bacterial populations were studied using "checkerboard" DNA-DNA hybridization, which uses DNA probes to identify speci...
The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with early childhood caries (ECC) and... more The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with early childhood caries (ECC) and to develop a profile of risk factors for Hispanic families affected by this condition. Sixty Hispanic families with at least 1 child affected by ECC and 60 Hispanic families without any affected children were included in the study. Data was collected using a parent-completed questionnaire which gathered information about family demographics, dental care and hygiene practices, and feeding practices of the children. Parents in families without ECC were significantly more likely to have visited the dentist recently and the children were less likely to sleep while feeding compared to families with an ECC-affected child. Within families affected by ECC, siblings with ECC were significantly more likely to use the bottle and to sleep while feeding compared with their siblings without ECC. Fifty-five percent of the subject families had more than 1 child affected by ECC. However, odds ratios did...
Severe early childhood caries (ECC) results from bacterial acid production in an acidic environme... more Severe early childhood caries (ECC) results from bacterial acid production in an acidic environment. The purpose of this study was to determine Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and acid-tolerant counts in severe early childhood caries. Two- to 6-year-olds with severe-ECC (N=77) or who were caries-free (N=40) were examined. Plaque samples from teeth and the tongue were cultured anaerobically on blood, acid, and S. mutans selective agars. Severe-ECC children were monitored post-treatment for recurrent caries. Severe-ECC and caries-free children were balanced by household income and education level. Carious lesions were observed in 75% maxillary incisors and >80% molars in severe-ECC. At baseline, S. mutans, and S. sobrinus counts and proportions of S mutans were higher in severe-ECC than caries-free children. Acid and blood counts were elevated only in anterior samples of severe-ECC children. Baseline counts of S. sobrinus, but not S. mutans, were higher in children wi...
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 2009
Background. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder categorized into aut... more Background. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder categorized into autism, pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS) and Asperger syndrome.Aims. To identify factors associated with the behaviour of patients with ASD in a dental setting, use of general anaesthesia (GA), and protective stabilization.Design. The dental charts of 395 patients with ASD patients and 386 unaffected patients were reviewed. The following data were analysed: ASD diagnosis, age, gender, residence, seizure disorder, additional diagnosis (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, self‐injurious behaviour or pica), medications, caries prevalence and severity, dental treatment history, behaviour, and behaviour guidance technique(s) used.Results. Within both groups, younger patients were more uncooperative. ASD patients with autism were more uncooperative than patients with PDD‐NOS; patients with an additional diagnosis were also more uncooperative. ASD patients wi...
Screening a genomic library of Tannerella forsythensis (Bacteroides forsythus), using synthetic s... more Screening a genomic library of Tannerella forsythensis (Bacteroides forsythus), using synthetic substrates conjugated to a fluorogen, 4‐methylumbelliferone identified two glycosidase genes, which encode α‐d‐glucosidase and N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase, respectively. The α‐d‐glucosidase has a Mr of 81,141 and is homologous to an α‐d‐glucosidase from Bacteroidesthetaiotaomicron. The N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase has a Mr of 87,787 and is homologous to an N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase in Porphyromonasgingivalis W83.
The Journal of the American Dental Association, 2008
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder. The authors conducted a... more Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder. The authors conducted a study to evaluate the demographics, caries experience and behavior of patients with ASD and compare these characteristics with those of patients without ASD (unaffected patients). The authors reviewed patients' charts and identified a group of 395 patients with ASD and a group of 386 unaffected patients. They obtained the following patient data for analysis: primary diagnosis, age, sex, residence (home versus institution or group home), presence of seizure disorder, additional diagnosis (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, self-injurious behavior or pica), medications, caries prevalence, caries severity and behavior. The ASD group had a male:female ratio of 4:1, and patients had a diagnosis of autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified or Asperger syndrome. Sex distribution was equal in the unaffected group, which was younger and had a higher decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) score than did the ASD group. When the authors controlled for age and sex, they noted a statistically significant association between ASD and dental caries prevalence. A significantly higher percentage of patients with ASD than unaffected patients were uncooperative and required dental treatment to take place under general anesthesia. Caries prevalence and severity in patients with ASD were not associated with institutionalization, presence of seizure disorder or additional diagnosis. People with ASD were more likely to be caries-free and had lower DMFT scores than did their unaffected peers. Significantly more patients with ASD than unaffected patients were uncooperative and required general anesthesia to undergo dental treatment.
Pioneer oral bacteria, including Streptococcus gordonii , initiate the formation of oral biofilms... more Pioneer oral bacteria, including Streptococcus gordonii , initiate the formation of oral biofilms on tooth surfaces, which requires differential expression of genes that recognize unique environmental cues. An S. gordonii ::Tn 917-lac biofilm-defective mutant was isolated by using an in vitro biofilm formation assay. Subsequent inverse PCR and sequence analyses identified the transposon insertion to be near the 3′ end of an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein homologous to a Streptococcus pneumoniae repressor, AdcR. The S. gordonii adc operon, consisting of the four ORFs adcR , adcC , adcB , and adcA , is homologous to the adc operon of S. pneumoniae , which plays a role in zinc and/or manganese transport and genetic competence in S. pneumoniae . AdcR is a metal-dependent repressor protein containing a putative metal-binding site, AdcC contains a consensus-binding site for ATP, AdcB is a hydrophobic protein with seven hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions, and AdcA is a lipo...
Veillonella spp. are found in high numbers in the mouth in dental plaque and on the mucosa. Veill... more Veillonella spp. are found in high numbers in the mouth in dental plaque and on the mucosa. Veillonellae utilize lactic acid for their metabolic needs. A symbiotic relationship between Veillonellae and other oral bacteria, including a nutritional relationship with some streptococci, has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, Veillonellae may protect the host from dental caries. Adherence is the initial step in bacterial colonization of oral surfaces. Recent evidence suggests that certain oral bacteria express molecules (adhesins) on their cell surface, which recognize receptors on other oral bacteria and/or in salivary pellicle. It has been previously demonstrated that Veillonella spp. bind avidly to Streptococcus. spp. found in subgingival plaque. The present study investigated the ability of V. atypica PK1910 to bind to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (SHA), a model for adherence to the salivary pellicle. The results show that there was statistically significant enhanced ...
The primary habitats of oral veillonellae are the tongue, dental plaque, and the buccal mucosa. I... more The primary habitats of oral veillonellae are the tongue, dental plaque, and the buccal mucosa. Isolates were obtained from each habitat and tested for coaggregation with a battery of other oral bacterial strains. All 59 tongue isolates tested for coaggregation were Veillonella atypica or Veillonella dispar. All but one of them coaggregated with strains of Streptococcus salivarius, a predominant inhabitant of the tongue surface but not subgingival dental plaque. These tongue isolates were unable to coaggregate with most normal members of the subgingival flora such as Actinomyces viscosus, Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces israelii, and Streptococcus sanguis. In contrast, 24 of 29 Veillonella isolates, of which 20 were Veillonella parvula from subgingival dental plaque samples, coaggregated strongly with the three species of Actinomyces, S. sanguis, and other bacteria usually present in subgingival plaque, but they did not coaggregate with S. salivarius. The majority of isolates fr...
Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), Jan 2, 2015
Pediatric obesity is a public health concern requiring an interprofessional approach to care. Wei... more Pediatric obesity is a public health concern requiring an interprofessional approach to care. Weight screening in the dental office can promote healthy behaviors to improve weight and oral health status and reduce systemic and oral health risks. Oral health care professionals can perform weight screenings quickly. Routine weight screening of pediatric patients and early intervention through education and referral of patients to a registered dietitian nutritionist and a physician for more in-depth evaluation may help reduce disease risk. Oral health care professionals can measure a patient's height and weight and can easily calculate body mass index percentile according to a patient's age and sex to detect weight status that does not fall within the normal range. Oral health care professionals should refer patients who are underweight, overweight, or obese to a registered dietitian nutritionist and the patient's physician for follow-up.
The objective of this study was to evaluate reported bruxism among children affected by attention... more The objective of this study was to evaluate reported bruxism among children affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Thirty children diagnosed with ADHD and 30 healthy age and gender matched controls participated in the study. All subjects were examined for dental attrition, and the parents were asked for signs and symptoms of bruxism in their children using a questionnaire. Prevalence of oral parafunction was evaluated comparing ADHD children taking medications, ADHD children not taking medications, and controls. Subjects affected by ADHD and pharmacologically treated showed higher occurrence of bruxism compared to subjects affected by ADHD not taking medicines and controls; and within the ADHD group taking medications, CNS-stimulants have been associated with such side effect more frequently than the other drugs.
The recent availability of genome sequences for Veillonella species provides an exceptional oppor... more The recent availability of genome sequences for Veillonella species provides an exceptional opportunity to probe their biology and role in the microbial ecology of the mouth. The recent genome-scale stoichiometric model of Porphyromonas gingivalis metabolic networks is an exceptional example of such an approach and illustrates the potential of advancements in genome sequencing and bioinformatic tools in studies of bacterial metabolism and ecology. Fifteen complete genomes, three metagenomes of TM7, and 38 genome surveys of oral isolates are available at the human oral microbiome database (HOMD). Seven Veillonella genomes are currently available as genome surveys at the HOMD. Almost 10% of the total cultivable biota from the tongue consists of Veillonellae. Veillonellae lack hexokinase activity but have other glycolytic enzymes. Veillonellae are also unable to incorporate radiolabeled glucose into bacterial cell compounds and seem to lack a glucose phosphotransferase system. The observations on the Veillonella physiology can now be confirmed and visualized in the carbohydrate metabolism glycolysis-gluconeogenesis pathway constructed with Veillonella parvula ATCC 10790 genome data. This chapter presents the genomic evidence for the presence of both nitrate reduction enzymes and membrane-bound proton-translocating ATPases. Interactions between Streptococcus spp. and Veillonella spp. naturally occur in vivo and emphasize the natural relationship of species in the development of biofilms. The availability of complete Veillonella genome sequences provides a unique opportunity for developing genetic systems for Veillonellae.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the principal reason for primary tooth extraction an... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the principal reason for primary tooth extraction and the tooth type most frequently extracted in children aged 3-13 years. The patients selected for this retrospective study were identified by analyzing dental records of children receiving treatment at Franciscan Children's Hospital & Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA (FCH & RC). In total, 2,000 records were reviewed, and 567 extracted primary teeth were analyzed from 277 patients who had at least one primary tooth extracted under local anesthesia. The criteria for inclusion in this study included children between the ages of 3 and 13 years. First primary molars were the most common tooth type extracted and comprised 30% of teeth removed. Central incisors were the next common tooth type extracted and accounted for 25% of the extractions. There was no difference, by gender, in the extraction of tooth type but there were striking differences according to age. Almost half of the primary...
Biochemistry and molecular biology international, 1994
We tested culture supernatants from a battery of oral bacterial strains for their ability to infl... more We tested culture supernatants from a battery of oral bacterial strains for their ability to influence the expression of CD11b and CD45 on the neutrophil plasma membrane. Several bacterial extracts stimulated the up-regulation of both CD11b and CD45 simultaneously. Two supernatants in particular (a clinical isolate of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum ATCC25586) potently stimulated the deployment of CD11b and CD45 from their intracellular storage site to the plasma membrane. Both supernatants inhibited superoxide release stimulated by exposure of neutrophils to formyl methionyl leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP) but had variable effects on superoxide release stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The ability of products of oral bacteria to modulate neutrophil plasma membrane antigen composition may regulate functional reactivity and thus be an important factor in the pathogenesis of periodontal infection and inflammation.
The acronym CHARGE refers to a non-random clustering of congenital malformations whose cause rema... more The acronym CHARGE refers to a non-random clustering of congenital malformations whose cause remains unknown. To date, the dental features of CHARGE association are not well known. A brief review of the literature and a case in a 10-year old boy with the CHARGE association are presented. The patient had multiple dental anomalies including congenital absence of teeth, ectopic eruption, submergence of primary molars and an odontogenic fibroma associated with an impacted permanent molar.
The placement of orthodontic appliances creates a favorable environment for the accumulation of a... more The placement of orthodontic appliances creates a favorable environment for the accumulation of a microbiota and food residues, which, in time, may cause caries or exacerbate any pre-existing periodontal disease. The purpose of the present study was to compare the total bacterial counts present on metallic and ceramic orthodontic brackets in order to clarify which bracket type has a higher plaque retaining capacity and to determine the levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp on both types of brackets. Thirty-two metallic brackets and 24 ceramic brackets were collected from orthodontic patients at the day of debonding. Two brackets were collected from each patient; one from a maxillary central incisor and another from a maxillary second premolar. Sixteen patients who used metallic brackets and 12 patients who used ceramic brackets were sampled. Bacterial populations were studied using "checkerboard" DNA-DNA hybridization, which uses DNA probes to identify speci...
The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with early childhood caries (ECC) and... more The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with early childhood caries (ECC) and to develop a profile of risk factors for Hispanic families affected by this condition. Sixty Hispanic families with at least 1 child affected by ECC and 60 Hispanic families without any affected children were included in the study. Data was collected using a parent-completed questionnaire which gathered information about family demographics, dental care and hygiene practices, and feeding practices of the children. Parents in families without ECC were significantly more likely to have visited the dentist recently and the children were less likely to sleep while feeding compared to families with an ECC-affected child. Within families affected by ECC, siblings with ECC were significantly more likely to use the bottle and to sleep while feeding compared with their siblings without ECC. Fifty-five percent of the subject families had more than 1 child affected by ECC. However, odds ratios did...
Severe early childhood caries (ECC) results from bacterial acid production in an acidic environme... more Severe early childhood caries (ECC) results from bacterial acid production in an acidic environment. The purpose of this study was to determine Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and acid-tolerant counts in severe early childhood caries. Two- to 6-year-olds with severe-ECC (N=77) or who were caries-free (N=40) were examined. Plaque samples from teeth and the tongue were cultured anaerobically on blood, acid, and S. mutans selective agars. Severe-ECC children were monitored post-treatment for recurrent caries. Severe-ECC and caries-free children were balanced by household income and education level. Carious lesions were observed in 75% maxillary incisors and >80% molars in severe-ECC. At baseline, S. mutans, and S. sobrinus counts and proportions of S mutans were higher in severe-ECC than caries-free children. Acid and blood counts were elevated only in anterior samples of severe-ECC children. Baseline counts of S. sobrinus, but not S. mutans, were higher in children wi...
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 2009
Background. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder categorized into aut... more Background. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder categorized into autism, pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS) and Asperger syndrome.Aims. To identify factors associated with the behaviour of patients with ASD in a dental setting, use of general anaesthesia (GA), and protective stabilization.Design. The dental charts of 395 patients with ASD patients and 386 unaffected patients were reviewed. The following data were analysed: ASD diagnosis, age, gender, residence, seizure disorder, additional diagnosis (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, self‐injurious behaviour or pica), medications, caries prevalence and severity, dental treatment history, behaviour, and behaviour guidance technique(s) used.Results. Within both groups, younger patients were more uncooperative. ASD patients with autism were more uncooperative than patients with PDD‐NOS; patients with an additional diagnosis were also more uncooperative. ASD patients wi...
Screening a genomic library of Tannerella forsythensis (Bacteroides forsythus), using synthetic s... more Screening a genomic library of Tannerella forsythensis (Bacteroides forsythus), using synthetic substrates conjugated to a fluorogen, 4‐methylumbelliferone identified two glycosidase genes, which encode α‐d‐glucosidase and N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase, respectively. The α‐d‐glucosidase has a Mr of 81,141 and is homologous to an α‐d‐glucosidase from Bacteroidesthetaiotaomicron. The N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase has a Mr of 87,787 and is homologous to an N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase in Porphyromonasgingivalis W83.
The Journal of the American Dental Association, 2008
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder. The authors conducted a... more Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder. The authors conducted a study to evaluate the demographics, caries experience and behavior of patients with ASD and compare these characteristics with those of patients without ASD (unaffected patients). The authors reviewed patients' charts and identified a group of 395 patients with ASD and a group of 386 unaffected patients. They obtained the following patient data for analysis: primary diagnosis, age, sex, residence (home versus institution or group home), presence of seizure disorder, additional diagnosis (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, self-injurious behavior or pica), medications, caries prevalence, caries severity and behavior. The ASD group had a male:female ratio of 4:1, and patients had a diagnosis of autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified or Asperger syndrome. Sex distribution was equal in the unaffected group, which was younger and had a higher decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) score than did the ASD group. When the authors controlled for age and sex, they noted a statistically significant association between ASD and dental caries prevalence. A significantly higher percentage of patients with ASD than unaffected patients were uncooperative and required dental treatment to take place under general anesthesia. Caries prevalence and severity in patients with ASD were not associated with institutionalization, presence of seizure disorder or additional diagnosis. People with ASD were more likely to be caries-free and had lower DMFT scores than did their unaffected peers. Significantly more patients with ASD than unaffected patients were uncooperative and required general anesthesia to undergo dental treatment.
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