Digital Commons Network^™

Family And Child Psychosocial Functioning Of Infant Heart Transplant Recipients, Kimberly R. Freeman

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With the advancement of medical procedures, heart transplantation has become a viable alternative for infants born with congenital or acquired heart disease. Although these children are thought to experience much improvement in their overall physical functioning post-transplantation, the long-term psychological functioning of these children and their families is currently unknown. This study examines the long-term family functioning and psychosocial development of infant heart transplant recipients in comparison to children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and non-clinical control children. Results indicate that infant heart transplant recipients and their families experience fewer overall problems as compared to the CHD group, and more …

Various Presentation Styles For Informing Parents About Pediatric Dental Procedures, Tracy Dean Walker

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: The treatment of pediatric dental patients can only be as effective as the degree to which the parent consents to treatment. This study was designed to A) determine the most effective method of communicating a dental procedure to the parent of a pediatric patient and B) determine the impact that various presentation methods would have on a parent's willingness to give informed consent.

Methods: A Pulpotomy procedure was explained to each parent by one of the following methods; 1) written, 2) written and model, 3) verbal or 4) verbal and model.

Results: A statistically significant relationship was shown between …

Clinical Debonding Simulation Study Of One Metal And Two Ceramic Brackets, Hyunsup Shim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study is to compare two mechanical debonding methods on ceramic brackets (TP MXi and 3M Clarity) and a metal bracket (GAC OmniArch) with four different bonding materials (light-cured, one-step chemical-cured, two-step chemical-cured, and Fuji GIC) in clinical simulation, where the diametral force was applied on the handle of the pliers. The effectiveness of mechanical debonding technique was determined by evaluating the following variables: the amount of force required to debond the bracket, the amount of residual adhesive remaining on the enamel surface, the frequency of unexpected bracket failure, and the prevalence of visible enamel damage. The …

The Effect Of Mandibular First Molar Tip Back On Mandibular Incisor Long-Term Stability, Barton L. Soper

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine if mandibular first molar distal tip back during orthodontic treatment will result in improved long-term alignment of mandibular incisors. Our pre and posttreatment sample consisted of 57 Class I and Class II patients (40 female and 17 male). Incisor irregularity was recorded at T2 and T4 (average of 12.9 years postretention at T4). Molar tipback was evaluated T1 to T2 and T2 to T4. The sample was divided into 3 groups - molars tipped distally 1 degree or more during treatment, molars essentially not tipped, and molars tipped mesially 1 degree or …

The Validation Of An Existing Sleep Apnea Questionnaire And Its Application To Clinical Orthodontics, Jeffery C. Biggs

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to validate a sleep apnea questionnaire from the Loma Linda University Sleep Disorders Center, and then to utilize the questionnaire in order to identify potential sleep apnea patients from a pre-orthodontic patient sample. Study patients were selected from the Loma Linda University Sleep Disorders Center and the Loma Linda University Orthodontics Clinic, both in Loma Linda, California, USA.

Methods: The study sample represented all of the patients initially examined from 1996 through 1998 who were age 8-15 years old at the time of the initial exam. Validation of the questionnaire was based on responses …

Dna-Dna Checkerboard Hybridization To Identify Bacteria In Human Plaque Samples, Jasan Lee Zimmerman

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Previous research has shown that using DNA probes to identify the presence of specific bacteria in human plaque samples is superior to the commonly used anaerobic cultural procedures. Some periodontal pathogens are either uncultivable or very difficult to grow, such as Prevotella intermedia, P. nigrescens, and Eubacterium brachy. Digoxygenin probes were prepared for 15 oral bacteria. These probes were used with a checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization scheme to analyze whether human plaque samples contained any of the 15 bacterial species. Our results have shown that this method is successful in identifying bacterial DNA present in the subgingival patient plaque …

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Swallowing Dysfunctions : Semg Cognitive Training As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy, Vicky T. Nguyen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study compared surface electromyography (sEMG) cognitive training to conventional myofunctional therapy in controlling a swallowing dysfunction, commonly referred to as "tongue thrust". Nasal airway resistance (NAR) was assessed on every subject, to rule out mechanical obstruction that would prevent proper function. The scope of this investigation composed of evaluating baseline activity and dry swallowing patterns. Subjects were distributed to one of three treatment groups: sEMG cognitive training, conventional myofunctional therapy, and control, based on the degree of NAR (normal, mild, or moderate). Initial sEMG recordings were then taken on subjects that clinically demonstrated a tongue thrust habit to confirm …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of Heat Treatment Using Orthotherm On Thermally Activated Archwires, Brent J. Hurst

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat treatment on thermally activated nickel titanium archwires, and to determine the differences between wires from individual manufacturers. Thermally activated, nickel titanium wires were obtained from five different manufacturers in the 0.016 x 0.022 format. All wires were measured with a micrometer to determine their exact dimensions. Half of the wires were heat treated with the use of the Orthotherm Bending Art Programmer from Syrinx Medical Technologies (Berlin, Germany) while the other half served as a control. By passing an electrical current through the wires for a predetermined period …

Effect Of Obturation And / Or Coronal Seal On The Success Of Root Canal Therapy : An In Vivo Histologic Investigation, Douglas Snider

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Numerous studies have examined coronal leakage with in vitro protocols. A search of the literature showed the absence of a long term in vivo, histologic study, examining the effect of coronal and/or radicular leakage on periradicular health.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of obturation and / or coronal seal in preventing the formation of periradicular lesions in dogs over time. The study was conducted on six beagle dogs. Premolars were cleaned and shaped. Sixteen roots in each dog were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups of equal size. Group one was obturated using …

Marginal Discrepancy Of Components Utilized For Implant Framework Construction, Mathew Thomas Kattadiyil

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study evaluated marginal fit discrepancy of the abutment-implant body interface employing various components commonly utilized for implant framework fabrication. Four types of components ( castable plastic patterns, premachined gold abutments, premachined titanium abutments and CAD-CAM custom premachined titanium abutments) were evaluated. Five castable plastic patterns and five premachined gold abutme~ts from each of two manufacturers, five premachined titanium abutments and five CAD-CAM custom premachined titanium abutments were used. Components were affixed to a 3.75 x 10 mm dental implant and standardized measurements were obtained of the abutment-implant interface using a computerassisted microscope at various experimental time intervals. Measurements of …