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gival calculus deposition and severe caries
activity (Fig. 4).
Fig. 3 * Chronic inflammatory destructive periodontitis in 48 year old radiated Rongelap man
Miscellaneous Findings * Manyoftheirradiated and nonirradiated Rongelap
children exhibited oral conditions similar
to those seen in the Majuro subjects;
namely, crowding of the erupting permanent lower anterior teeth with retention
of deciduous lateral incisors, hypoplasia
and pigmentation of the maxillary central
and lateral incisors. Prevalence of these
8. Rongelap nonirradiated adults, ages
irradiated or the nonirradiated groups.
Almost all irradiated and nonirradiated
19 to 35 years:
Examination of this group revealed
that 20 (57 per cent) of 35 patients had
an average of 2.8 carious teeth each.
The foregoing findings show that the
prevalence of caries was slightly higher in
the irradiated Rongelap children and
younger adults than in the nonirradiated
control group, with the exception of the
children born of irradiated parents.
Periodontal Findings * Thelevel of peri-
conditions was not limited to either the
Rongelapese exhibited pronounced xerostomia. During intraoral examination,
manipulation of the tissues failed to stimulate the flow of saliva. The mucosa was
moist but not wet. When recording pH
samples, it was necessary to allow the
paperstrip to remain in the floor of the
mouth for at least 30 seconds. Nosignificant differences in salivary pH levels were
noted between the irradiated and nonirradiated groups.
Noevidence of intraoral neoplasm was
odontal destruction was greater in their-
noted; however, one 42 year old irradi-
as asymptomatic, nonspecific marginal
molar.
radiated Rongelap adults than in the
comparative control population. In both
population groups, minimal lesions such
gingivitis and the soft tissue symptoms of
traumatic occlusion were categorized as
disease-free. Chronic advanced periodontal disease was classified as varying degrees of chronic inflammatory destructive
periodontitis. Figure 3 showsa typical instance of advanced periodontitis. Among
the 44 irradiated adults, 19 years and
older, 14 (32 per cent) were edentulous
as compared to 18 (21 per cent) of the
83 nonirradiated subjects in the same age
group. Of the remaining 30 irradiated
adults, 19 (63 per cent) had conditions
judged to be advanced chronic periodontal disease. Similar levels of periodontal
destruction were observed in 22 (35 per
cent) of the 65 nonirradiated patients.
One 40 yearold irradiated adult had con-
current, active subgingival and supragin-
ated Rongelap man had a small leukoplakic-like lesion on the gingiva immediately distal to the mandibular left third
Fig. 4 * Concurrent presence of rampant caries
with active subgingival and supragingival calculus
formation in 40 year old radiated man. Note cervical amputation of maxillary incisors caused by
caries