Interproximal Tooth Surfaces Research Articles

Dorchester Dental Flossing Study

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of interdental flossing for preventing interproximal dental caries in the primary and young permanent dentitions. Following a clincial and radiographic examination, first-grade pupils attending three public schools in a fluoride-deficient region were selected. Each subject had at least one contralateral pair of caries-free contacting interproximal tooth surfaces. Experimental tooth surfaces were flossed with unwaxed dental floss by research assistants. The contralateral surfaces were not flossed and served as controls. After 8 months the clinical and radiographic examinations were repeated. Analysis of 249 paired surfaces in 52 children revealed significant differences between the control and experimental surfaces (p = 0.008). These data suggest a dental caries reduction and beneficial effect from the dental flossing procedure.

A histological study of experimental gingivitis in man.

Experimental gingivitis was induced in 21 individuals. Oral hygiene was abolished on the buccal and interproximal tooth surfaces of one side of the mouth in the mandibular premolar and molar area. The other tooth surfaces served as controls and were subject to thorough oral hygiene measures. After 15–17 days, when clinically manifest gingivitis had developed in the non‐cleansing side of the majority of the subjects, biopsies were obtained from that side as well as from the control side. Histological examination of tissue from the experimental side revealed inflammatory infiltrates largely confined to the connective tissue adjacent to the pocket epithelium. The cells were mainly medium‐large and small lymphocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. A few neutrophilic leukocytes were observed mostly inside the vessels and adjacent to and within the pocket epithelium. Immature and mature plasma cells were seen in the central regions of the connective tissue, but were scant or absent nearer to the pocket epithelium The distribution of the different types of mononuclear cells might be consistent with a transformation of lymphocytes into plasma cells.