The concentrations of calcium, phosphate, protein and nitrite in whole unstimulated saliva, and the salivary flow rate under fasting conditions (saliva collected at least after 6 h without food and water) were compared with those under control conditions (saliva collected within 30 min to 1 h after food). The flow rate of fasting saliva was half that of control (0.098 ml/min vs 0.208 ml/min) and no significant differences in the flow rate were observed between sexes. The concentration of nitrite under fasting conditions was 50% higher than that in control saliva (p less than 0.05). The protein concentration was decreased, but not significantly, under fasting conditions. The composition of fasting saliva with regard to calcium and phosphate concentrations was comparable to that of the control. No significant variations in these components between sexes were observed under either condition.
The twenty-fifth reported case of squamous odontogenic tumor is presented. The patient was a 39-year-old Chinese Malaysian male. The lesion was asymptomatic and did not recur after excision. It is important to distinguish this type of lesion from squamous odontogenic tumor-like proliferation. The rest of Malassez is thought to be responsible for the histogenesis of the lesion. Better understanding will only be achieved when more cases are reported and studied.
Among 350 inhabitants of two villages, 31 (8.9%) cleaned their teeth using table salt and charcoal applied to their forefinger or a Melastoma brush. As a result, all had distinct forms of abrasion cavity on the labial surfaces of their teeth. All of the above three agents are highly abrasive and injurious to both the hard and soft oral tissues. This dying practice is only popular among a very small number of persons in the older age group, and should be discouraged.
A survey of 303 six- to fifteen-year-old Proto-Malay children was carried out in Selangor, West Malaysia. The examinations were carried out using a chair-table and natural daylight. Periodontal status was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). The findings revealed a generally low prevalence of periodontal disease affecting only 25.08% of the sample examined. Of these, 15.72% were found to have a score of 1 (bleeding of the gingiva), while 9.36% had calculus on the tooth surface. In terms of treatment needs, 24.75% required dental health education. The relationship between these findings and the possible causes are discussed.
A cross-sectional survey involving 303 6-15-year-old aboriginal children was carried out in Selangor, West Malaysia. Dental caries status was assessed on the basis of the methods of the World Health Organization Oral Health Survey. The findings indicated a generally low prevalence of dental caries with a mean df of 4.94 for children below the age of 10 years. Mean DMFT and DMFS values of 1.71 and 3.22, respectively, were also observed for the 6-15-year-old children.