Mary Willis

The purpose of this study was to determine knowledge and use of oral hygiene methods for refugees from Sudan now living in the U.S. prior to conducting elective implant surgery. The sample included 34 adults of the Dinka or Nuer tribes who participated in 1 or more phases of a project to restore 6 lower anterior teeth with implants. An English language survey was administered by an interpreter for whom Dinka or Nuer was a first language. Each interpreter underwent an elective restorative procedure prior to acting as an interpreter. The project survey covered demographics, traditional and current oral hygiene practices, perceived aesthetics and dental visits since arrival to the U.S. Data analyses revealed that male participants outnumbered female participants, and all were under 30 years of age. Traditional dental practices paralleled Western oral hygiene methods and current oral hygiene involved 1 brushing event per day and prevalent toothpick use. Most participants wished to have ...

Despite decades of research, little is known about morphometric differences within the dentition of Asian colobines. Although some differences, such as the M3 hypoconulid, are often cited as distinct among genera, no comprehensive assessment has been made. The objectives of this study were to document size and shape differences in third molars in eight Asian colobine genera, including Kasi, Nasalis, Presbytis, Pygathrix, Rhinopithecus, Semnopithecus, Simias, and Trachypithecus, and to quantify length differences for all molars in order to understand the potential impact of an occlusal surface area that includes the hypoconulid. To achieve these objectives, the most extensive survey yet published of Asian colobine dentition was conducted. Differences within and among genera for continuous and categorical variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, t-tests, and post hoc comparisons. Results indicate that species of Presbytis differ from all other Asian colobines ...

Although it is assumed that there are negative social consequences for individuals missing visible front teeth, no study of the way in which edentulous individuals were perceived in a social context and the potential social repercussions could be located. This initial study concerned college students' perceptions of individuals missing visible upper front teeth. 200 volunteers, 19 to 50 years of age (M = 20.6, SD = 4.4), rated five photographs depicting tooth presence or absence, from a full dentition to missing as many as four upper front teeth, on social traits including attractiveness, health status, educational attainment, satisfaction with life, active social life, aggressiveness, intelligence, trustworthiness, amount of caring, friendship, dating, and likelihood to live as a neighbor. Analysis suggested a person missing visible teeth was more negatively perceived on all social traits than a person with full dentition. Results were strongest when students were proposed to be linked to the edentulous individual in a personal way, i.e., dating or living as neighbor. Men and women agreed on perceptions of social traits and dentition condition. These results suggest the presence of strong Western cultural values, whereby those who are missing teeth may experience significant barriers to personal and social success.

Mutations in GLI2 have been associated with holoprosencephaly (HPE), a neuroanatomic anomaly resulting from incomplete cleavage of the developing forebrain, and an HPE-like phenotype involving pituitary anomalies and polydactyly. To characterise the genotypic and phenotypic findings in individuals with GLI2 variants and clarify clinical findings in individuals with loss-of-function mutations. Through the National Institutes of Health and collaborating centres, ∼400 individuals with HPE spectrum disorders, endocrine disorders or craniofacial anomalies were screened for GLI2 mutations. Results were combined with all published cases. We compared the clinical and molecular features of individuals with truncating mutations to individuals with variants of unknown significance (defined as not resulting in protein truncation, reported in normal controls and/or deemed unlikely to be pathogenic by functional prediction software). 112 individuals with variants in GLI2 were identified, with 43 having truncating mutations. Individuals with truncating mutations were more likely to have both pituitary anomalies and polydactyly versus those with variants of unknown significance (p<0.0001 by Fisher's exact test); only 1 of 43 had frank HPE. These individuals were more likely to have recognised penetrance (polydactyly or pituitary anomalies or both) than those without truncating mutations (p=0.0036 by Fisher's exact test). A common facial phenotype was seen in individuals (with midface hypoplasia, cleft lip/palate and hypotelorism) with truncating mutations. Individuals with truncating mutations in GLI2 typically present with pituitary anomalies, polydactyly and subtle facial features rather than HPE. This will be helpful in screening populations for GLI2 mutations and for counselling affected patients. 98-HG-0249/04-HG-0093.