Tooth Eruption, Atherosclerosis Clinical Trial
Official title:
Early P Gingivalis Oral Infection and Ultrasound Detection of Intimamedia Thickening in Radial Arteries of Young Children
To determine if there is an association between Porphyromonas gingivalis infection of dental gingiva during primary tooth eruption and thickening of the radial artery intimamedial layers. Thickening of these layers in infants could be a promoting factor for later development of atherosclerosis.
Specific Aim 1. To determine the presence of Pg in the mouth of edentulous pre-eruption and
then teething infants.
Over a 9-month period 15 normal babies will be recruited for a prospective pilot study from
Creighton University students. Cotton swabs of the tongue mucosa and dental plaque will be
made to detect the presence of Pg by DNA analysis.
Specific Aim 2. To determine the daily temperature of infants. Daily child temperatures will
be recorded by the parent. Specific Aim 3. To measure the thickness of the radial artery
using a 50 MHz ultrasound probe.
A 50 MHz ultrasound scan will be made by a trained dental hygienist of the left radial artery
at an initial visit and at 3-monthly intervals to measure IMT.
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