Fogorvosi szemle, 2004 (97. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
2004-02-01 / 1. szám
51 FOGORVOSI SZEMLE treatment. The third group of secondary systemic diseases includes cardiovascular diseases (acute myocardial infarction, stroke), aspiratory pneumonia, preterm low birth weight, diabetes mellitus, some researchers found a correlation between oral health and mortality. There are many systemic diseases with identical causal relationship between the oral signs and the systemic disease, but as the first signs are often found in the mouth, the dentist has the responsibility to recognize them, there by preventing a more serious disease. These diseases include malignant hematological diseases, osteoporosis or stenosis of carotid artery which can be seen on orthopantomogram. There are certain drugs which can cause gingival hyperplasia (Ca antagonists, hydantoin derivatives, cyclosporine) and thus promote the development of inflammation and secondary disease. THE PATHOMECHANISM OF EROSION JÁSZ Máté Dental Faculty, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary Erosion of teeth (erosio dentium) means the loss of hard tissue of the tooth as a result of non-bacterial acid or chelation. If the pH on the surface of the enamel decreases below 5.3, demineralization excess will take place. The acid will attack first the enamel prisms and then the interprismatic substance. If the enamel has been destroyed or is originally incomplete for any reason, the acid will interact with the dentin. The loss of hard tissue will start on the border of peritubular and intertubular dentin. Consequently, the preformed channels leading to the pulp become wider, causing teeth sensitivity. Further effect of the acid will affect the intertubular dentin (too), making its surface rough and porous. The most important defense mechanism against the acidic effect is the saliva, which provides mechanical, physical and chemical protection to the teeth, a) The most important component in the volume of the saliva is water. It reduces the effect of the acid in the oral cavity by irrigation and dilution, b) Certain ions dissolved in the saliva work as buffers, other ions take part in remineralization, c) Among the organic substances in the saliva glycoproteins that cover the surfaces are of remarkable significance. The quantitative study of these physiological functions is widespread both in research and in clinical practice. The examination of the erosive effect of substances that get into the oral cavity has recently got into the centre of interest. Different methods are available for examining the erosive potential of food. If the abovementioned defense mechanisms of the orai cavity are intact, erosion is unlikely to take place, unless the acid has certain extreme effects. The unsatisfactory functioning of some of the defense mechanisms seems to be responsible for most of the erosions with identical acidic effect. The aforementioned clinical examinations may identify individuals whose pro■ 97. évf. 1. sz. 2004. tection is weak and therefore fall into the high risk category, and it is suggested that they avoid the intake of foods of high erosive potential. DOES SUGAR INTAKE STILL PLAY A ROLE? KARJALAINEN Sara Paediatric Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland j Recent studies suggest that total sugar consumption and dental caries are only loosely associated in adolescents. As dental health has markedly improved in most industrialized countries without major changes in sucrose consumption, the earlier concept of sugar-caries relationship has been questioned. Though several studies in toddlers and in small children still support the association between sucrose intake and caries, the correlation seems to be weak in 12-year-olds according to recent studies. In countries with poorly established preventive dental care, even cross-sectional studies may show strong correlation between sucrose intake and dental health. Since caries in countries with good dental health is no longer evenly distributed, instead of focusing on average sucrose consumption data, we should perhaps examine the dental health of children in extreme sugar intake groups, or to compare the sugar consumption of children who have the disease to those who do not. In a Finnish child population we found, that daily sucrose intake of children who are presenting with caries at 6 years of age, is higher than that of children who stay caries-free. The difference in sugar intake habits seems to develop early in life, probably before the age of 3 years. Ina more recent study we observed that 10-year-old children, who use excessive amounts of sucrose i.e., >10 E%, adopt the habit at around 2 years of age. Fluctuations between sucrose intake patterns seem to be very limited after this young age. Conclusions: Sugar intake habits seem to develop early in life and once adopted these habits seem to change very little over time. THOUGHTS ABOUT DECREASING THE RISK OF ORAL TUMORS KATONA József, HORVÁTH Ágnes Szt. János Kórház, Dept, of Oral and Maxillafacial Surgery, Budapest, Hungary The rate of the increase in the numbers of the oral tumors in Hungary is frightening. In the year 2002 we lost 1717 patients out of this sickness. In spite of the effort we lay in prevention, the death toll is growing. We have the same situation in our department also. When the patients finally reach the doctor, the cancer is in a developed
