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In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in fixed partial dentures (FPD) quality, expected lifetime and possible reasons for failure. This study probed the FPD success rate and the relationship among various factors and their effect on FPD failure. Patients treated by dental students under supervision and installed FPDs were examined clinically and radiographically. A total of 247 FPDs were evaluated after a mean service period of 6.3 years (ranging from 1 to 25 years) after cementation. Caries was found to be the most frequent cause of failure and non-vital abutments decreased survival rates.

The aim of this study was to assess the caries incidence and plaque accumulation in schoolchildren at caries risk, after brushing the teeth fortnightly with gels containing 0, 0.4% F, 1.25% F as amine fluoride (AmF) or the common amine fluoride toothpaste containing 0.125% F. The study was conducted double blind over an 18-month period, and after 6 months discontinuation of brushing. Only the group that brushed with the 1.25% AmF gel showed a significant decrease in caries development compared to the group that brushed with the 0.125% AmF toothpaste. During the 6-month discontinuation period, the incidence of caries increased in all groups; the differences in caries development between all groups were not significant. Plaque indices were significantly lower in the AmF-treated groups. The highest fluoride concentration in the gel reduced the development of caries to zero, probably due to increased fluoride levels in the oral milieu of caries risk children. In order to maintain a positive effect of fluoride over an extended time period, caries-prone subjects should continue an initiated fluoride programme.

Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was evaluated in 51 patients with primary carcinoma of the ovary. An increased activity of this enzyme was found in 69% of the patients. The mean ± SD activity of LDH correlated significantly with stage of disease: 200 ± 73 U/l in stages 1 and 2, 295 ± 107 U/l in stages 3A and 3B, and 362 ± 91 U/l in stages 3C and 4. Moreover, LDH activity correlated significantly with the histological type of the tumor: 170 ± 57 U/l in mucinous, 300 ± 107 U/l in serous, 330 ± 106 U/l in endometroid, and 352 ± 98 U/l in undifferentiated carcinoma. Normal activity of LDH was observed in 86% of patients in stages 1 and 2, but in only 21 % of patients in stages 3 and 4. Serum LDH activity was not found to be a good predictor of late prognosis of the disease, and it did not correlate with the surgical findings on second-look laparotomy. In addition, LDH activity did not correlate with the surgical debulking effort. However, after completion of cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant therapy, LDH did correlate with the course of the disease. It is concluded that LDH may have a role in the evaluation of a patient with carcinoma of the ovary or with a pelvic mass.

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