Howard Proskin

The Multi-item Microbial Challenge Test (MIMCT) is a stringent, carrier assay of the disinfecting efficacy of a contact lens care regimen. The test involves four steps: 1) in vitro contamination of contact lenses in the presence of organic load; 2) cleansing the contact lens by mechanical rubbing and subsequent rinsing; 3) disinfection of the cleansed lens; and 4) assaying the

To evaluate the 8-week dentin hypersensitivity efficacy of three toothpastes: (1) a dentifrice containing 0.3% triclosan, 2.0% PVM/MA copolymer, 0.243% sodium fluoride and specially-designed silica (Test Dentifrice 1); (2) a commercially-available dentifrice containing 0.454% stannous fluoride in a silica base with sodium hexametaphosphate and zinc lactate (Test Dentifrice 2); and (3) a commercially-available non-sensitive dentifrice containing 0.243% sodium fluoride in a silica base (Negative Control Dentifrice). For this 8-week randomized controlled clinical study, qualifying subjects had to have at least two hypersensitive teeth with a tactile hypersensitivity score (Yeaple Probe) between 10 and 50 grams of force, and air blast hypersensitivity score of 2 or 3 (Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale). Subjects brushed twice daily for 1 minute, using the assigned toothpaste and toothbrush. Dentin hypersensitivity assessments, as well as examinations of oral hard and soft tissues, were ...

Meta-analyses have been widely used to estimate treatment effects in evidence-based dentistry. Few conferences, however, have used a systems approach to assure coherent data management and analysis. The purpose of this section is to describe the data management and statistical analysis for the State of the Science of Implant Dentistry (SSID) conference. This overview includes (a) a description of widely used clinical trial designs for implant dentistry, (b) a description of data management procedures specifically designed for the SSID conference, and (c) a description of the data analysis methodology, including descriptive analyses and meta-analyses. The use of the systems approach facilitated data abstraction and analysis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the success of hydroxyapatite (HA) -coated and machined titanium (Ti) implants in a 5-year randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted at 2 centers. Each of 120 edentulous patients received HA-coated threaded, HA-coated cylindric, and machined Ti threaded implants in a randomized design using 5 or 6 implants. Digital radiographs allowed for yearly measurements of bone loss. Calibrated clinicians also measured mobility, Gingival Index, Plaque Index, probing depth, and recession. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the proportion of ailing implants (defined as less than 2 mm of alveolar bone loss over 5 years) for each type of implant design. The criteria employed to assess implant outcome included the need for successful implants to lose less than 2 mm of bone support over the 5 years following placement of the prosthesis. This analysis revealed that 95.2% of machined Ti threaded implants and 97.92% of HA-coated threaded implants were successful, while 99.0% of HA-coated cylindric implants experienced less than 2 mm of bone loss (P < .06). All types of implants placed in this study had success rates above 95%. Over 5 years, the success rate tended to favor HA-coated implants.

Background: This retrospective radiographic evaluation provided a comparative assessment of long‐term alterations of alveolar bone levels at sites with angular and horizontal bony defects that underwent open‐flap debridement and did not undergo resective or regenerative periodontal therapy.Methods: The investigation included 50 patients (27 met inclusion criteria) who had periodontal surgery and periodontal maintenance every 3 to 6 months and who presented with sites demonstrating radiographic angular defects and sites on adjacent or contralateral teeth that demonstrated horizontal bone loss. Subsequent to surgical therapy, alterations in bone levels at the alveolar crest of horizontal defects and at the base of angular defects were evaluated by comparing radiographs from the initial examination to those obtained after a period of periodontal maintenance (6 to 16 years; mean: 8.83 years).Results: After periodontal therapy, sites with angular and horizontal alveolar bone loss had add...

Cementum thickness increases uniformly with age, and questionably from functional stimulation due to tensional forces. Mesial drift of teeth results in tensional forces on distal root surfaces. This study evaluated whether there was any discernible effect on cementum thickness related to mesial drift in humans. The material consisted of maxillary and mandibular bicuspids and molars with their surrounding periodontia from 5 humans (mean age at death, 48.6 years). The teeth and tissues had been sectioned histologically in a mesio‐distal plane, and the analysis for each tooth was done using 3 step‐serial sections from the mid‐buccolingual region. On the mesial and distal surface of each tooth, cementum thickness was measured in μm at 3 defined locations at a level representing the mid‐point of root length for bicuspids and molars. Means from the measurements on mesial and distal surfaces were compared using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. For each individual tooth anal...