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To investigate whether self-reported smoking and serum cotinine levels associate with periodontal pocket development and to determine the accuracy of self-reported smoking using serum cotinine.This 4-year prospective cohort study included data from 294 dentate adults, aged ≥30 years, who participated in both the Health 2000 Survey and the Follow-up Study of Finnish Adults' Oral Health. Subjectively reported smoking status (daily smokersSelf-reported daily smokers had 1.82 (95% CI: 1.32-2.50) higher incidence of deepened periodontal pockets than never-smokers. A positive association was observed between serum cotinine (≥42.0 μg/L) and the development of periodontal pockets. The misclassification rate of self-reported smoking was 6%.Both self-reported daily smoking and higher serum cotinine were associated with periodontal pocket development. Self-reported smoking was fairly accurate in this study. However, higher cotinine levels among a few self-reported never-smokers indicated misreporting or passive smoking. Thus, self-reports alone are not enough to assess the smoking-attributable disease burden.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the association of behavioural and socioeconomic factors with the occurrence of periodontal disease and dental caries, paying special attention to the simultaneous occurrence of these diseases. Materials and methods: The study population consisted of 5255 dentate persons aged >= 30 years from a nationally representative survey. Caries and probing pocket depth were recorded by tooth and calculated in relation to the number of existing teeth. The groups were: non-affected (A), the two most affected quintiles for periodontal disease with little or no dental caries (B), the two most affected quintiles for dental caries with little or no periodontal disease (C) and the two most affected quintiles for both periodontal disease and dental caries (D). Presence of dental plaque was determined, and behavioural and socioeconomic factors were established. Results: Dental plaque, smoking, lack of regular dental check-ups, older age and a basic level of education were strongly associated with the simultaneous occurrence of periodontal disease and dental caries. Conclusions: There are many behavioural and socioeconomic factors that associate with the occurrence of both periodontal disease and dental caries. These factors also increase the risk of individuals having these diseases simultaneously.

To describe the periodontal condition of the elderly in Finland and its association with sociodemographic factors.The study was based on a subpopulation of 1460 persons (748 dentate persons) agedor =65 years who participated in a nationally representative Health 2000 Survey in Finland. The data for this study were collected by means of an interview and a clinical oral examination.Seventy-three percent of the participants in this study had gingival bleeding in at least one sextant. The proportion of participants with no teeth with deepened periodontal pocketsor =4 mm deep was 31%. Twenty-eight percent of the participants had one to three teeth with deepened periodontal pocketsor =4 mm deep, 15% had four to six and 26% hador =7. At the individual level, a high number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets was associated with sociodemographic factors such as high age, intermediate or higher education, and living in a rural area.At a national level, the greatest need for periodontal treatment presently derives from persons aged 65-74 years and/or those with low education, due to their high representation in the elderly population.

Objective. The objective of this study was to assess the association between optimism and self-reported facial pain. Material and Methods. Data were obtained for 5,696 subjects born in 1966 in Northern Finland and included in the study of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort. Data on facial pain were collected using a questionnaire. Optimism was measured using the revised version of the Life Orientation Test. Results. The data showed that optimism was inversely associated with facial pain. Associations were found only among non-depressive subjects. Conclusions. It can be concluded that optimism is an independent psychosocial determinant of pain experience that should be taken into account in assessing the prognosis of facial pain and its treatment.

The aim of this paper is to describe and understand people's views on dental self-efficacy and its formation. The qualitative data were collected by means of focused interviews with five patients selected on the basis of poor orientation to dental-care matters, measured using test scores from a previous questionnaire. The first stage of the analysis is a description of the background of the subjects from their own accounts; two proved to have internalized preventive dental beliefs and behavior deeply while two others had traumatic experiences as a reason for irregular dental appointments. One subject with poor oral health behavior seemed to have limited preventive action to his yearly dental appointment. The second stage of the analysis focuses on interpretation of the subjects' perception of self-efficacy and related comments. Among sources of self-efficacy that prove important in dental care are the cognitive, experiential, supportive and emotional dimensions, and beliefs and values learned in the family and at school. This qualitative research increases our understanding of the oral health behavior of patients and emphasizes the importance of patient-centered oral health education.

Utilization of dental services by 30 diabetic and 30 nondiabetic subjects was assessed by longitudinal monitoring over a period of 3 years. All subjects were examined clinically three times, and their treatment consisted mainly of cariologic and periodontal treatment. The treatment was delivered by a dentist and an expanded-duty dental hygienist. The study groups were similar with regard to the total number of dental visits needed. However, the treatment of diabetic subjects was more demanding in that more dentist's workload was needed for the diabetic group. They also missed more appointments without cancellation and therefore more office time had to be reserved for them.

Exposure of rat's peritoneal macrophages to chlorhexidine at concentrations up to 0.01 per cent resulted in the release of lysosomal enzymes, e.g. chloride-dependent arginine aminopeptidase and beta-D-glucuronidase into the medium from resting cells. The activity of extracellular lactate dehydrogenase increased up to the concentration of 0.01% and then decreased with increasing chlorhexidine concentration. This could indicate a certain type of "mummifying" of the cells and/or their membranes. The incorporation of trypan blue was found in all cells after a rinse with 0.05 per cent or higher concentrations of chlorhexidine. The direct effect of chlorhexidine on these enzyme activities showed a slight activation of beta-D-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase, but an inhibition of arginine aminopeptidase. Also the binding of chlorhexidine to cells was found. Low chlorhexidine concentrations caused an additional enzyme release from phagocytizing cells.

Extracted permanent molars, premolars or incisors were collected from 89 subjects aged 8–67 years living in a rural area of eastern Finland where large scale geochemical analyses of the soil have been carried out. A sample of 89 teeth was analyzed for Pb, Cu, Co and Ni by atomic absorption spectro-photometry. The concentration of Pb increased with age in the dentin but not in the enamel. The concentrations of Cu, Co and Ni remained unaltered with age. The mean concentrations (μg/g) of Cu in the dentin were 9.1, 8.6 and 7.2 when the mean concentrations (μg/g) in the soil were over 150, 50–150 and under 50, respectively. The concentration of Cu in the enamel was not dependent on the content in the soil. The mean concentrations (μg/g) of Co and Ni were higher in the enamel (26.3 and 43.8) than in the dentin (13.8 and 31.4).

The cadmium content of human cancellous bone was related to age, sex, bone loss, physical properties, and elemental composition. Bone specimens from the anterior iliac crest were collected from 88 cadavers with a normal mineral status, and from 50 cadavers which had bone loss from chronic diseases and immobilization. The element concentrations were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bone fluoride levels were determined with the ion specific electrode, the mineral density with the gamma ray attenuation method, and the compressive strength with a strain transducer. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The mean cadmium content of 0.22 +/- 0.16 ..mu..g/g dry weight (+/- SD) in the samples did not change with age and its content was slightly greater in males than in females. Furthermore, no statistically significant relationship was found in cadmium content to bone loss changes or to the calcium content of bone. The cadmium content had a high statistically significant positive correlation with the strontium and nickel content.

Cells of the cariogenic Streptococcus mutans (Ingbritt) were grown in media containing varying amounts of Trypticase and Phytone, carbohydrates, potassium and sodium ions and phosphates. None of the compounds studied induced or repressed the p-nitrophenyl-phosphatase of the cells, indicating that the enzyme was most likely constitutive.