Browsing by Author "Branca, Ronald A."

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    A comparison of IgA antibody levels in caries-resistant and caries-susceptible children
    (1993) Rose, Paul Todd; Hughes, Christopher V.; Avery, David R.; Sanders, Brian J.; Branca, Ronald A.; Gregory, Richard L.
    Secretory immunity is believed to play a role in natural resistance to dental caries. Although dental caries has dramatically decreased in children in the United States, there remains a population of caries-susceptible children even in fluoridated communities. Previous studies have shown a positive correlation between salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) antibody levels to Streptococcus mutans and caries resistance in adults. In the present study, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to compare IgA antibody levels to S. mutans in saliva from 20 caries susceptible (DMFS greater than 5) and 20 caries-resistant (DMFS less than or equal to 1) children (ages 7-11). All subjects resided in fluoridated communities. Salivary S. mutans numbers were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the caries susceptible (31.2 percent of total streptococci) group than in the caries resistant (1.6 percent of total streptococci) group. Whole saliva from caries-resistant children had significantly higher (p = 0.05) levels of IgA antibodies to S. mutans than saliva from caries-susceptible children. However, whole saliva from caries-resistant children had similar levels of IgA1 or IgA2 antibodies against S. mutans to saliva from caries-susceptible children. These results suggest that IgA antibody to S. mutans may play a role in natural protection from dental caries in children and confirm previous reports indicating a role for salivary IgA antibodies to S. mutans in mediation of caries.
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    The effects of primary alvelar bone grafting on maxillary growth and development
    (1993) Tanimura, Leslie K.; Avery, David R.; Hennon, David Kent, 1933-; Nelson, Charles L.; Sadove, A. Michael; Branca, Ronald A.
    This investigation served as a follow-up of the unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients who underwent primary alveolar bone grafting at James Whitcomb Riley Hospital of the Indiana University Medical Center. The sample consisted of 18 patients, 15 males and three females, who received primary alveolar grafts between September 7, 1983 and March 5, 1985. Thirteen had complete unilateral clefts, and five had complete bilateral clefts of the lip and palate. The mean age of the group was 8 years, and none had received orthodontic treatment. The statistical analysis of the lateral cephalometric radiographs revealed significant differences in maxillofacial growth between the Riley sample population and the non-cleft, age-matched patients in the University of Michigan Growth Study. The Riley data were, overall, statistically and proportionately smaller than the normal population. These findings are due to the smaller skeletal size of the Riley group. Arch symmetry measurements indicated that at 8 years of age there were significant differences from ideal or perfect symmetry. Due to existent dental development and scarring from the palatal procedure, these findings were expected. Ideal symmetry may not be a realistic achievement for the cleft patients. Palatal surface area values were visually analyzed through graphs. The growth patterns of the Riley population were similar to those of the normal and non-grafted cleft groups in a study from the University of Miami. The data supports the theory that primary alveolar bone grafting, as performed at James Whitcomb Riley Hospital, does not result in growth attenuation.