Conventional Restoration Techniques Research Articles

AI-Assisted Restoration of Yangshao Painted Pottery Using LoRA and Stable Diffusion

This study is concerned with the restoration of painted pottery images from the Yangshao period. The objective is to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the restoration process for complex pottery patterns. Conventional restoration techniques encounter difficulties in accurately and efficiently reconstructing intricate designs. To address this issue, the study proposes an AI-assisted restoration workflow that combines Stable Diffusion models (SD) with Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) technology. By training a LoRA model on a dataset of typical Yangshao painted pottery patterns and integrating image inpainting techniques, the accuracy and efficiency of the restoration process are enhanced. The results demonstrate that this method provides an effective restoration tool while maintaining consistency with the original artistic style, supporting the digital preservation of cultural heritage. This approach also offers archaeologists flexible restoration options, promoting the broader application and preservation of cultural heritage.

A comparative evaluation of the effect of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with Everstick-reinforced composite resin: An in vitro study

Aim: To evaluate the effect of applying a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor on the fracture resistance of root-filled teeth restored with Everstick fiber-reinforced composite resin. Subjects and Methods: After the selection of 60 freshly extracted human mandibular first molar, root canal access and standard uniformly sized mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavities were made and the teeth were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 20 each): Group I, the MOD cavity was first lined with flowable composite resin and then restored with composite resin. In Group II, Everstick fiber was placed into the bed of flowable composite in buccal–pulpal–lingual direction before the composite restoration was placed. In Group III, after etching of the cavity, a 2% chlorhexidine MMP inhibitor was applied. Then, the MOD cavity was restored same as group II. A universal testing machine was employed to compressively load the teeth at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min till fracture. The maximum fracture loads were recorded in Newtons (N) and data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey tests. Results: Group III exhibited significantly higher fracture resistance compared to all other groups (P < 0.001), whereas Group I demonstrated the lowest fracture resistance. Conclusion: The utilization of Everstick glass fiber, combined with MMP inhibitor treatment, yielded the greatest fracture resistance. Hence, this method may be prioritized over conventional restoration techniques for strengthening root canal-treated teeth with structurally compromised crowns.

Silver diamine fluoride modified atraumatic restorative treatment compared to conventional restorative technique on carious primary molars–A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo compare the success of silver diamine fluoride-modified atraumatic restorative technique (SMART) with that of the conventional drill and fill method in restoring carious lesions in primary molars. MethodChildren (4–8years old) reporting to a tertiary care hospital setting with asymptomatic cavitated dentinal carious lesions in primary molars were randomly allocated to two groups; SMART and Conventional; and subsequently restored with Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC). Follow-up evaluations were carried out by blinded independent evaluator at 6-months intervals to assess the status of restorations. Primary outcome was the success of restorations at 24 months and the secondary outcome was the child's behaviour and acceptance of the treatment at the time of interventions. Two sample Z-test of proportion, logistic regression analysis and Chi-square test were used to compare the outcomes in two groups. ResultsA total of 226 children (SMART group, 112 and conventional, 114) were included with 280 and 282 GIC restorations placed by the SMART and the conventional method respectively. At 24-months, 459 (81.6 %) primary molars were available for evaluation. Success rates of restorations was 38.4 % and 45.8 % % in SMART and conventional groups respectively (p = 0.105). The rate of acceptability of treatment in the SMART and conventional group was 79 % and 56 % (p<0.001) respectively. ConclusionThere was no significant difference in the success rates of GIC restorations by SMART and conventional technique in carious primary molars at 24 months. SMART was better accepted by children as compared to the conventional restorative technique. Clinical significanceSMART can be an alternative option to treat the asymptomatic carious lesions in primary molars and is well accepted by children than the conventional drill and fill technique thus implying that it has a useful role in un-cooperative children.

Técnica de Hall como tratamento reabilitador em dentes posteriores decíduos: revisão de literatura

Obstacles in dental care for children, due to the need for behavior management, trigger the use of minimally invasive techniques to control caries, such as glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations and the Hall Technique. Thus, the technique is based on a biological approach to the caries lesion, whose principle is the cementation of a preformed metallic crown, without anesthesia and without complete removal of the carie, unlike the CIV restorations that require all removal of decayed tissue. Therefore, the objective of this article was to produce a bibliographic review, of the last 10 years (2012-2022), in the Pubmed database, with the help of search terms such as “Hall's technique”; “Hall technique and glass ionomer cement” addressing the main scientific aspects of the Hall technique, as well as comparing its effectiveness to other conventional restorative and/or rehabilitative techniques that can use the VSD. Therefore, it was found that both techniques are effective alternatives for minimally invasive treatment in pediatric dentistry. However, the understanding, participation and commitment of family members is essential, considering that biofilm and diet control play a fundamental role in ensuring the success of these treatments.

Atraumatic restorative treatment as a minimum invasive approach in pediatric dentistry - A literature review

Introduction: Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) is a minimally invasive approach of dental caries lesions that is indicated in primary and permanent dentition. Objectives: To investigate based on a review of the scientific literature, the use of ART as a minimally invasive treatment approach in Pediatric Dentistry. Methodology: A literature review was conducted to verify the evidence regarding Atraumatic restorative treatment as a minimally invasive treatment in pediatric dental patients. Searches were performed in the following electronic health databases: Pubmed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS), using the following search terms: minimally invasive treatment and Atraumatic restorative treatment and dental caries. The inclusion criteria for the studies were epidemiological (cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, clinical trials) or qualitative studies that evaluated the use of ART in children's dental care; papers published in English, Portuguese or Spanish; and the publication date of the studies was limited to the last five years (2017 to 2022). Data were presented through a description of the included studies after a complete reading. Results: Twenty-three studies were identified and after the inclusion criteria were applied, eight studies were included in the full analysis. From the data analysis, it was observed that ART is a great alternative for the caries control and treatment of the lesions, contributing to the reduction of the patient's anxiety levels in relation to conventional restorative dental treatment, as it minimizes the fear of children regarding dental caries treatment. ART is a viable alternative to conventional treatments that are associated with local anesthetics, drills, and composite resin. In addition, the materials used in ART showed good results when compared to conventional restorative techniques in relation to the survival of the restoration. Conclusion: The use of the ART technique is an effective option for minimally invasive treatment for children, mainly young children, and especially nowadays due to the minimization of aerosols production for dental treatments due to virus transmission during pandemic period. In addition, ART is a comfortable and easy technique for both patient and dental health professional.

Aesthetic restoration of posterior teeth using different occlusal matrix techniques.

The occlusal matrix technique appears as an alternative to the conventional restorative technique. The aim of this study is to present treatment options for the decayed occlusal surface of posterior teeth by means of an occlusal matrix made with different materials, for an accurate reproduction of the tooth surface. This paper presents five clinical cases using five different materials, such as Bite-Perf, flowable composite, self-curing acrylic resin, silicone and thermoforming foil. Before light-curing, the last layer of composite resin, the matrix, is repositioned and firmly pressed so the replication of the original occlusal anatomy can be achieved. When using an occlusal matrix, minimal or no finishing and polishing procedures are needed and the offered aesthetics are clearly an advantage. Moreover, this technique makes up for the additional chairside work time. The occlusal matrix technique is demonstrated to be effective for direct composite resin restorations in posterior teeth, allowing a reliable and predictable reproduction of the occlusal anatomy and clinical adjustment. For this purpose, a clear material is preferable since it allows light transmission.

A Primary Care Randomized Controlled Trial of Hall and Conventional Restorative Techniques.

To investigate treatment outcomes of different restorative techniques undertaken by dental therapists for primary molar carious lesions in a sample of children in New Zealand primary care. This was a randomized controlled trial with children aged 3 to 8 y in New Zealand's Whanganui region. Children meeting inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to treatment with either the Hall technique (HT), in which a stainless-steel crown (SSC) is placed without any carious tissue removal or tooth preparation, or a non-Hall conventional restorative approach (NHT), including tooth preparation with selective carious tissue removal; this included SSC, amalgam, composite, or glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations. Restorative outcomes after 12 and 24 mo were categorized as success, minor failure, or major failure. Of the 295 eligible children, 149 and 146 were allocated to the HT and NHT groups, respectively, with a total of 570 carious primary molars treated by 13 dental therapists. The participant follow-up rates at 12 and 24 mo were 95% and 91%. SSCs were the most commonly used restoration in the NHT group (60%), followed by GIC (28%). SSCs were the most successful restorations regardless of whether they were placed with the HT or NHT, with success rates of 89% and 92% at 12 mo and 85% and 86% at 24 mo. In the NHT group, the treatment material was a predictor of minor failure at 12 and 24 mo, with significantly more failures with GICs. SSCs placed by dental therapists are a highly successful restoration for the primary dentition, regardless of whether they are placed with the HT or conventionally. The high failure rate of glass ionomer restorations means that they cannot be recommended for widespread use in New Zealand primary care (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12614000844640). The findings of this study can be used by policy makers and clinicians when deciding on which materials and which approach to use to maximize success and to minimize retreatment rates when providing restorative treatment for carious primary molars in children's primary oral health care. Results also suggest that undertaking research in the primary care setting may enhance translation of new knowledge and techniques into clinicians' hands.

An RCT of atraumatic restorative treatment for older adults: 5 year results

Objectivesto compare the survival of ART and a conventional restorative technique (CT) for restoring carious lesions in older adults after 5 years. MethodsIn this parallel randomised controlled clinical trial, 219 independently-living adults were recruited from a dental hospital/community and a geriatric day hospital. Ninety-nine patients who met the inclusion criteria and presented with carious lesions were randomly allocated to receive either ART or conventional restorations (anaesthesia, rotary instruments and resin-modified glass ionomer). The status of restorations was assessed 6 months, 1, 2 and 5 years after restoration placement. Estimates of cumulative survival were calculated for each interval between assessments and a Cox Proportional Hazards (PH) model was fitted to the interval-censored survival time. ResultsThree hundred restorations (ART n=142; CT n=158) were placed on 99 patients, 46 males and 53 females, with a mean age of 73.2, SD: 6.8 (65–90 yrs). After 5 years, ART and CT presented cumulative probability of survival of 85% and 79% (p=0.8095), respectively. Conclusions: ART presents survival rates comparable to a conventional technique, when treating older adults after 5 years. The ART approach could be a useful tool to provide dental care for older adults particularly in the nonclinical setting. (Trial Registration number: ISRCTN 76299321). Clinical RelevanceThis study shows that ART presents survival rates comparable to conventional techniques to treat carious lesions in older patients after 5 years. It is well accepted by this age cohort, and therefore could be an alternative to treat the elderly, especially those who are homebound or cannot attend the dentist.

Desempenho clínico do cimento de ionômero de vidro no tratamento restaurador atraumático: uma revisão da literatura

Trata-se de uma revisão de a literatura acerca do desempenho clínico do cimento de ionômero de vidro (CIV) utilizado no tratamento restaurador atraumático (TRA). Realizaram-se buscas nas bases de dados: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde Odontologia, Medline, Pubmed e Science Direct, utilizando os descritores “cimentos de ionômeros de vidro”, “tratamento dentário restaurador sem trauma” e “análise de sobrevida”, bem como os respectivos termos em inglês. Foram selecionados 23 artigos nos idiomas português e inglês, publicados nos últimos dez anos, seguindo critérios de inclusão e exclusão pré-determinados. Percebeu-se que a maioria dos estudos aplicou o TRA em crianças (66%), direcionado à dentição decídua (57%) e em cavidades de superfície única e múltipla (48%), simultaneamente. A maioria dos estudos acompanhou o desempenho clínico das restaurações no período de 12 (35%) e 24 meses (35%). O CIV de alta viscosidade foi mais utilizado e as marcas Fuji IX e Ketac Molar foram as mais empregadas no TRA. Concluiu-se que O CIV associado ao TRA demonstra ser uma alternativa viável para tratar cárie em dentes decíduos e permanentes. A longo prazo, o CIV apresenta desempenho superior em cavidades de superfície única em relação às multisuperfície. De modo geral, as taxas de sucesso das restaurações oscilaram entre: 57,5 e 98%, em superfícies únicas, e 24,4 e 97,8%, em superfícies múltiplas. Esta abordagem mostrou ser confiável e efetiva quando comparada a técnica restauradora convencional. O defeito marginal e a perda parcial ou total da restauração foram identificados como principais causas de falha.

Aesthetic preformed crowns for primary teeth.

Data sourcesMedline, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, US National Institutes of Health Trials Register and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.Study selectionEnglish language randomised clinical trials comparing APCs with conventional restorative techniques for primary teeth.Data extraction and synthesisStudy selection and data abstraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Study characteristics and results were described qualitatively. Meta-analysis was not conducted.ResultsSeven studies were included, six reported on primary molars and one on primary incisors. There was great variety in the design of the RCTs, however, all compared pre-veneered stainless steel crowns (SSCs) with other crowns or two different pre-veneered SSCs. The risk of bias in all studies was high with significantly different outcome measures used.ConclusionsSSCs cannot be replaced by APCs for restoring decayed primary molar teeth due to the insufficient quality of evidence available. After a follow-up of only six months, zircon crowns gave significantly better results than the others regarding gingival health and crown fractures. Due to the small number of RCTs on this topic and their risk of bias, future RCTs should be carried out in primary teeth.

Reproducing Optical Properties of Anterior Teeth after Ultra-Conservative Preparation.

Selecting the appropriate material is essential when restoring color and appearance of esthetically compromised anterior teeth. Most of the conventional restorative techniques require tooth reduction in order to mimic optical properties of a natural tooth. Fortunately, bonding techniques associated with improvements on dental ceramics esthetics allow for highly conservative treatment options in which maximum preservation of dental tissues can be attained. An analysis of different ceramic materials available and different types of tooth preparation is presented in a format of a decision tree for treatment planning. The suggested decision-making aims to facilitate clinicians' selection of the most appropriate restorative technique for reproducing color and appearance of anterior teeth after ultra-conservative preparation and according to different clinical scenarios CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The selection of the appropriate ceramic material for each case is of major importance, since the entire treatment plan will be determined based on the type of ceramic material that will be used for the final restoration. Each restorative material has a specific tooth preparation requirement, indications, and limitations that shall be respected for maximum esthetical outcomes. (J Esthet Restor Dent 28:267-276, 2016).

Two-year survival of ART restorations placed in elderly patients: A randomised controlled clinical trial

ObjectivesOlder dentate adults are a high caries risk group who could potentially benefit from the use of the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART). This study aimed to compare the survival of ART and a conventional restorative technique (CT) using rotary instruments and a resin-modified glass-ionomer for restoring carious lesions as part of a preventive and restorative programme for older adults after 2 years. MethodsIn this randomised controlled clinical trial, 99 independently living adults (65–90 years) with carious lesions were randomly allocated to receive either ART or conventional restorations. The survival of restorations was assessed by an independent and blinded examiner 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after restoration placement. ResultsNinety-six (67.6%) and 121 (76.6%) restorations were assessed in the ART and CT groups, respectively, after 2 years. The cumulative restoration survival percentages after 2 years were 85.4% in the ART and 90.9% in the CT group. No statistically significant between group differences were detected (p=0.2050, logistic regression analysis). ConclusionsIn terms of restoration survival, ART was as effective as a conventional restorative approach to treat older adults after 2 years. This technique could be a useful tool to provide dental care for older adults particularly in the non-clinical setting. (Trial Registration number: ISRCTN 76299321). Clinical SignificanceThe results of this study show that ART presented survival rates similar to conventional restorations in older adults. ART appears to be a cost-effective way to provide dental care to elderly patients, particularly in out of surgery facilities, such as nursing homes.

Subjective impact of minimally invasive dentistry in the oral health of older patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate if a minimally invasive oral health package with the use of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) or a conventional restorative technique (CT) would result in any perceived benefit from the patients' perspective and if there would be any difference between the two treatment groups. In this randomised clinical trial, 99 independently living older adults (65-90 years) with carious lesions were randomly allocated to receive either ART or conventional restorations using minimally invasive/intervention dentistry (MID) principles. Patients completed an Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 questionnaire before and 2 months after treatment. They were also asked to complete a global transition question about their oral health after treatment. At baseline, the mean OHIP-14 scores recorded were 7.34 (ART) and 7.44 (CT). Two months after treatment intervention, 90 patients answered the OHIP-14 and the mean scores were 7.23 (not significant (n.s.)) and 10.38 (n.s.) for the ART and CT groups, respectively. Overall, 75.5 % of patients stated that their oral health was better compared to the beginning of treatment. Although not shown by the OHIP-14, patients perceived an improvement in their overall oral status after treatment, as demonstrated by the global transition ratings in both groups. Dental treatment using minimally invasive techniques might be a good alternative to treat older individuals, and it can improve their oral health both objectively and subjectively.

Smart materials in dentistry: Think smart!

There is no single material in dentistry that is ideal in nature and fulfills all the requirements of an ideal material. As the quest for an ideal restorative material continues, a newer generation of materials was introduced. These are termed as smart'' as these materials support the remaining tooth structure to the extent that more conservative cavity preparation can be carried out. These materials may be altered in a controlled fashion by stimulus such as stress, temperature, moisture, pH, electric or magnetic field. Some of these are biomimetic in nature as their properties mimic natural tooth substance such as enamel or dentin. The current dental materials were improvised in order to make them smarter. The use of smart materials has revolutionized dentistry which includes the use of restorative materials such as smart composites, smart ceramics, compomers, resin modified glass ionomer, amorphous calcium phosphate releasing pit and fissure sealants, etc. and other materials such as orthodontic shape memory alloys, smart impression material, smart suture, smart burs, etc., This paper attempts to highlights the use of smart materials to achieve maximum advantage by conventional restorative techniques in dentistry.

Endocrown as an alternative to conventional restoration techniques of non-vital tooth

Endocrown as an alternative to conventional restoration techniques of non-vital tooth

Fiber-reinforced Onlay Composite Resin Restoration: A Case Report

The purpose of this case report is to describe the clinical procedure for fabricating fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) onlay composite resin restorations using a FRC as the substructure. A variety of therapeutic modalities are available to restore teeth with moderate coronal defects in the posterior region of the mouth. For patients who refuse complete crown restorations or when minimal tooth reduction is preferred, a FRC restoration can be a good alternative to conventional restorative techniques. A 42-year-old female patient presented with an endodontically treated mandibular right first molar with extensive destruction of the coronal tooth structure. To conserve the remaining tooth structure a FRC resin core substructure was fabricated and veneered with Ceramage dentin and enamel hybrid composite to create the final restoration. FRC restorations using adhesive technology appears to be a promising restorative option. However, further clinical investigation will be required to provide additional information on this technique. Based on the clinical and radiographic findings in the present case, the fabrication of a conventional crown was avoided in order to conserve the remaining tooth structure. The restoration of badly damaged teeth is a challenge for clinicians when cast crown restorations are not an option for the patient. The use of FRC restorations along with adhesive technology may be a rational restorative alternative in the near future.

A restorable MPLS-based hose-model VPN network

Design of a restorable MPLS-based Layer-3 VPN network with QoS guarantee is a new and important subject that has not been widely studied before. The main challenge arises from the fact that the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) of a L3-VPN usually only specify the maximum ingress and egress traffic rate, and provide no point-to-point traffic matrix information (i.e., a hose-model VPN). Conventional restoration and traffic engineering techniques do not apply to this type of traffic model. In this paper, we present a restoration network architecture and present two algorithms for solving the routing problem of this type of restoration networks. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed restoration architecture by comparing the throughput performance with other approaches.

Fast Restoration Based on Alternative Wavelength Paths in a Wide Area Optical IP Network

In this article we describe an experimental investigation of IP network restoration based on wavelength recovery. We propose a procedure for metro and wide area gigabit Ethernet networks that allows us to route the wavelength in case of link failure to another existing link by exploiting wavelength division multiplexing in the fiber. Such a procedure is obtained by means of an optical switch that is managed by a loss-of-light signal that is generated by a router in case of link failure. Such a method has been tested in an IP network consisting of three core routers with optical gigabit Ethernet interfaces connected by means of 50-km-long single-mode fibers between Rome and Pomezia. Compared with other conventional restoration techniques, such as OSPF and MPLS, our method -in very fast (20 ms) and is compatible with real-time TV services and low-cost chips.

Computerized restoration of nonhomogeneous deformation of a fossil cranium based on bilateral symmetry

We developed a computerized method of correcting plastic deformation of a fossil skull, based on bilateral symmetry with respect to the midsagittal plane, and applied this method to reconstruction of a fossilized Proconsul heseloni cranium (KNM-RU-7290A). A three-dimensional (3D) model of the fossil was generated using consecutive cross-sectional images retrieved from computed tomography. 3D coordinates of anatomical landmarks that should be located on the midsagittal plane and pairs of landmarks that should be symmetrical with respect to this plane were acquired. These landmarks were then repositioned so that geometrical constraints were satisfied, while translated distances of landmarks were minimized. We adopted a thin-plate spline function to mathematically describe the 3D nonlinear volumetric transformation between acquired and repositioned landmarks. Using this function, the entire fossil shape was transformed, and the effect of reversing the deformation could be visualized. The results indicated that the proposed method was effective in eliminating nonhomogeneous deformation of the fossil skull. The antemortem appearance of the skull cannot be completely restored by this method alone, due to methodological limitations. However, the presented method has a role as an adjunct in complementing conventional restoration techniques on account of its objective nature.

Six-year success rates of occlusal amalgam and glass-ionomer restorations placed using minimal intervention approaches

Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) compared well with conventional restorative techniques.