Cavitated Dentine Research Articles

Estimation of lesion progress in artificial root caries by swept source optical coherence tomography in comparison to transverse microradiography

This study aimed to investigate whether swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) could estimate the lesion depth and mineral loss quantitatively without the use of polarization sensitivity, and to examine a relationship between OCT data and transverse microradiography (TMR) lesion parameters. Twenty-four bovine root dentin specimens were allocated to three groups of 4-, 7-, and 14-day demineralization. Cross-sectional images of the specimens before and after the demineralization were captured by OCT at 1319 nm center wavelength. Following the demineralization, these specimens were cut into sections for TMR analysis. Correlations between the OCT data and TMR lesion parameters were examined. TMR images of the specimens showed cavitated lesions (lesion depth or LD(TMR): 200 to 500 μm, ΔZ or mineral loss: 10,000 to 30,000 vol % μm). The OCT images showed "boundaries," suggesting the lesion front. Integrated dB values before and after the demineralization and their difference (R(D), R(S), and ΔR, respectively) were calculated from the lesion surface to the corrected depth of boundary (LD(OCT)). A statistically significant correlation was found between LD(OCT) and LD(TMR) (p < 0.05, r = 0.68). Similarly, statistically significant correlations were found between ΔZ and R(D) or ΔR. The OCT showed a potential for quantitative estimation of lesion depth and mineral loss with cavitated dentin lesions in vitro.

Self–Report of Pain in Children Treated According to the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and the Conventional Restorative Treatment – A Pilot Study

To compare the level of pain among children treated according to the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) and the Conventional Restorative Treatment (CRT). Forty children of both genders, 4- to 7-years old, presenting Class I cavitated dentin lesions in primary molars were randomly allocated to 2 groups. One group (CRT) received conventional restorative treatment using rotary instruments, while in the other one (ART) hand instruments were used to perform the restorations. All children were treated by the same operator A high-viscosity glass-ionomer cement (Fuji IX) was used to restore the teeth in both groups. Children's pain was measured at the end of the first restorative treatment session using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (dependent variable). Age, gender, treatment time and treatment group were independent variables. ANOVA and ANCOVA tests were used to analyze the data. The CRT procedure took longer than the ART procedure (p < 0.001). Children from the ART group reported less pain than those from the CRT group (p = 0.0037). Four year olds reported more pain than 5- to 7-year olds (p < 0.0001) in both groups. Restorations placed using ART were less time consuming, children felt less pain when the ART approach was used, and younger children (4-years) reported more pain than the older ones for both restorative treatments.

Can Caries Fissures be Sealed as Adequately as Sound Fissures?

Sealing caries fissures is considered an appropriate treatment option for arresting the caries process. However, little information is available regarding the sealing of occlusal cavitated dentin lesions. The hypothesis tested in this in vitro study was that no difference in microleakage and sealant penetration depth exists between cavitated and sound sealed fissures when a resin is used. Eighty molars, each with an occlusal cavitated dentin lesion, were treated according to 5 experimental protocols and compared with a control group of sealed sound molars. In the experimental groups, fissure sealants were placed with and without an adhesive, and in various ways. All teeth were sectioned, and microleakage and sealant penetration into the fissure were evaluated. Sealed caries fissures showed significantly more microleakage and insufficient sealant penetration depth than sound fissures. Neither the use of an adhesive nor its intermediate curing influenced the microleakage score and the penetration ability of sealants.

Perceived dental anxiety among schoolchildren treated through three caries removal approaches

Objectives:The aim of the investigation was to test the differences in the perceived level of dental anxiety among children treated restoratively using the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach, the traditional restorative (TRA) approach and ART aided with a chemomechanical caries removal gel (ART plus).Methods:The study subjects were 6-7-year-old children. TRA was compared to ART in a clinical setting after children had seen a dentist twice (Group A), ART was compared to 'ART plus' in a clinical setting after children had seen a dentist once (Group B) and ART was applied outside the clinic on school premises (Group C). The treatments were carried out in Class II cavitated dentine lesion in primary molars. Dental anxiety was measured using the Venham Picture Test (VPT). Three-way analysis of variances and interaction was applied to test for treatment approach, gender and operator effects on the mean VPT scores.Results:There was no statistically significant difference (p=0.80) observed between the mean VPT scores for the traditional approach and those for the ART approach and between ART with and without a chemomechanical caries removal gel (p=0.07). Children in Group A had lower mean VPT scores than children in Group B (p=0.02) and Group C (p<0.00001) when treated using the ART approach by the same two operators.Conclusions:The level of dental anxiety was low. There was no difference in level of dental anxiety observed in children treated with ART in comparison to the traditional restorative approach, and between children treated with ART with and without a chemomechanical caries removal gel. The treatment environment and prepatory visits may be factors determining the level of dental anxiety in children treated through the ART approach only.

Collège Européen d’Orthodontie: Commission of titularisation

To compare the effectiveness of three applications of silver diammine fluoride (SDF) solution at yearly interval and three applications of SDF solution or sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish at weekly interval at baseline in arresting active caries in the primary teeth of preschool children.Children aged 3–4 years (n = 371) who had at least one active caries lesion (ICDAS codes 3–6) in their primary teeth were randomly allocated into three groups: Group 1 – annual application of 30% SDF solution; Group 2 – three applications of 30% SDF at weekly intervals; and Group 3 – three applications of 5% NaF varnish at weekly intervals. Follow-up examinations were performed every 6 mo nths by the same masked examiner.After 30 months, 309 (83%) children with 1877 caries lesions remained in the study. For cavitated lesions (ICDAS code 5 or 6), the caries arrest rate of Group 1 (48%) was significantly higher than those of Group 2 (33%) and Group 3 (34%), (p < 0.001). Results of multi-level survival analysis showed that the arrest times of cavitated lesions in both SDF groups (Groups 1 and 2) were significantly shorter than that of the NaF varnish group. For moderate caries lesions without visible dentine (ICDAS code 3 or 4), the caries arrest rates were 45%, 44% and 51% in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p > 0.05). Presence of plaque on caries lesion, tooth type and tooth surface type had an influence on caries arrest.Over a 30-month period, annual applications of SDF solution is more effective than three weekly applications of NaF varnish or SDF solution at baseline in arresting active cavitated dentine caries lesions in primary teeth.As annual application of SDF solution was found to be more effective than 3 weekly applications of NaF varnish or SDF solution at baseline in arresting active cavitated dentine caries lesions, the former application protocol is preferred for young children who are available for regular caries arrest treatment.