Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histopathological and clinical changes that occurred when a continuous supply of exogenous acid or base, at varying pH, was delivered adjacent to the gingival crest of the monkey. A related goal was to develop a monkey model system which would deliver test solutions continuously and atraumatically, to the experimental gingival sites.

Two young adult female monkeys had a perfusion apparatus attached to certain maxillary teeth so that test solutions were deposited atraumatically to the marginal gingival tissues. During the experimental periods the animals were kept in primate restraining chairs and fed a nutritionally adequate diet supplemented with a daily broad spectrum antibiotic.

The result with acid perfusions at pH 2.0 to 4.0 was hard tooth structure loss in the form of erosion and/or decalcification. The result with ammonium solutions at pH 7.4 to 11.5 was gingival tissue destruction; however, a basic solution not containing ammonia at pH 10.0 and acid solutions between pH 2.0 and 6.0 did not cause destruction of gingival tissues.

The conclusions drawn were that ammonia gas in solution will cause gingival tissue destruction that is similar to the ulcerative type of lesion characteristic of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. The tooth structure erosion and decalcification at pH 2.0 to 4.0 suggests the possible etiologic importance of acids to the caries process.

LLU Discipline

Periodontics

Department

Periodontics

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

G. Conrad Hornbuckle

Second Advisor

John DeVincenzo

Third Advisor

Richard C. Oliver

Fourth Advisor

Eugene Rathbun

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1971

Date (Title Page)

5-1971

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Gingiva

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 34

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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