Quintessence International, 08/1997

A case report of a chairside-fabricated indirect resin composite restoration is used to introduce a modification to a newly released one-appointment resin inlay-onlay technique. Fast-setting poly(vinyl siloxane) die material accommodates an articulated working cast within 10 minutes. The technique allows the economical construction of large, occlusal, load-bearing, extracoronal resin composite restorations. The guarded prognosis associated with extensive posterior resin composite restorations is ackno wledged; nevertheless this technique remains a realistic option for those financially compromixed patients who request tooth-colored restorations.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of a compomer to dental enamel, dentin, and cementum. Flat surfaces of these tissues were obtained from recently extracted human teeth. The different substrates were either treated with PSA (a primer and adhesive) or acid etched (35% phosphoric acid gel) and treated with PSA. Cylindrical specimens of compomer were then bonded to the substrates. Shear bond strength was determined after a 24-hour immersion in 37 degrees C water. Significant differences were found between both treatments on enamel, while none were found on dentin or cementum. The use of acid etchant on enamel as a surface-conditioning step previous to priming with PSA allowed a better bond between Dyract compomer and that substrate; acid etching was not particularly needed on dentin and cementum.

This review consists of a short history of toothbrush efficacy trials plus recent literature on test methods of newer brush designs. Effects of handle size, bristle trim arrangement and size, brush head design, and brushing methods are considered. Methods for detecting and measuring plaque, particularly on critical surfaces, are reviewed, as are the influence of brushing time, method, and exerted force. Testing protocols, including plaque indices, tooth selection, and subject compliance, can produce large differences in results. Testing conditions must be carefully selected and controlled to obtain repoducible results.

The purpose os this study was to determine risk factors in the development of tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation associated with the nightguard vital bleaching technique. The potential risk factors evaluated (sex, age, reported allergy, whitening solution, number of times the solution was changed daily [its usage pattern], and dental arch) were collected from the daily log form turned in by each of the 64 participants after completion of the 6-week lightening process. Also evaluated for each participant, from color slides, were tooth characteristics such as gingival recession, defective restorations, abfraction lesions, enamel-cementum abrasion, etc, and reported side effects. The generalized Mantel-Haenszel statistic was used to assess the association between the potential risk factors and the development of tooth sensitivity and/or gingival irritation. No statistical relationship existed between age, sex, allergy, tooth characteristics, or the dental arch lightened and the development of side effects. Initially, a statistically significant association existed between side effects and the whitening solution used. However, when the analysis was controlled for usage pattern, this relationship disappeared. Patients who changed the whitening solution more than once a day reported statistically significantly more side effects than did those who did not change the whitening solution during their usage time.

The oral hygiene and periodontal status of smokers and nonsmokers were assessed and compared. Northern Jordanian adults, aged between 20 and 60 years, (998 subjects; 45% smokers and 55% nonsmokers) were asked for details of their personal data and smoking habits. Their oral hygiene and periodontal status was determined by using the Plaque Index and the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs. Oral hygiene was poor in both smokers and nonsmokers; however, plaque and calculus scores were significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers. No significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to gingival bleeding on probing or shallow or deep pocketing.

Microleakage along the gingival interface was measured in 52 teeth that had received standardized preparations at a fixed depth of 2.0 mm and were restored with Class V composite inlays. Two fabrication techniques and two types of luting cement were compared. Twenty-six teeth were cemented with a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement, and 26 were cemented with a conventional resin cement. Half of the inlay patterns in each cementation group were fabricated directly on the tooth, and half were fabricated indirectly on stone dies. The resin cement was more significantly effective in preventing leakage than the resin-modified glass-ionomer cement. There was no statistically significant difference between inlay fabrication techniques. For those inlays cemented with the resin cement, the mean leakage was substantially lower for the indirect patterns than for the direct group. Although this difference was not statistically significant, it suggests that the slightly larger interfacial gap resulting from the fabrication of indirect patterns is effective in creating a better seal.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dentinal disinfection with a 2% chlorhexidine or a 0.11% I2-KI/CuSO4 solution on the shear bond strength of three resin-modified glass-ionomer cements: Fuji II LC, Photac-Fil, and Vitremer. The occlusal surfaces of extracted human teeth were flattened to dentin. Specimens were randomly assigned to one of nine treatment groups (n = 12). For each glass-ionomer material, there was a control group and two treatment groups in which the dentin was treated with either a 2% chlorhexidine or a 0.11% I2-KI/CuSO4 solution before the dentin was treated with the recommended dentin conditioner prior to glass-ionomer bonding. Specimens were stored for 1 day in water, thermocycled, and tested in shear until failure. The chlorhexidine solution did not significantly affect the shear bond strengths of any of the cements, but the I2-KI/CuSO4 solution significantly lowered the bond strengths of Vitremer and Fuji II LC compared to the control