Dentistry Today Research Articles

Primary stability: The password of implant integration

The dental implant therapy has a phenomenal rise and has occupied the summit in today's dentistry. The scientific societies and researchers are in constant effort toward improvement, excellence, and simplification of implant therapy. Today, the practitioners are enthusiastic to imbibe the simplified implant procedures and techniques and would like to carry out the same in their private practice. Implant design, bone biology, primary stability, osseointegration, prosthetic options etc., are the several issues taken into account for successful implant therapy. The factors which influence integration are design of implant, material composition of implant, variance in the bone quality (soft or hard), and type of surgical procedure employed (simple or complex). The primary stability is the initial engagement between the bone and implant and one has to ensure that it should be strong and paramount. Implantologists completely monitor the primary stability by synchronizing the above factors. The primary stability is unique and having singular expression is considered as the password of Implant Integration Account. If the primary stability is good, implant can be loaded quickly and to the maximum.

Photodynamics in antimicrobial periodontal therapy

Current dental practice has been emphasizing more on (1) early diagnosis and prevention of common oral diseases and (2) to conserve tooth structure as much as possible during restorative procedures. Thus atraumatic and non invasive treatment modalities have been the key thrust in dentistry today. Keeping in mind the tremendous potential of optical technology to provide high sensitive tissue information non-invasively, and the ability to induce localized and specific tissue changes, photodynamic therapy should be the foremost technology to embrace for advancement in dentistry. Although mechanical removal of the periodontal pathogens is the current gold standard of treatment, antibiotics are also known to be effective. However, development of resistance in the target organisms is a problem associated with the use of such drugs. The use of photoactivatable compounds or photosensitizers (PS) to cause photodestruction of oral bacteria has been demonstrated, indicating that photodynamic therapy (PDT) could be a useful alternative to mechanical means as well as antibiotics in eliminating periopathogenic bacteria. Keeping this in consideration this review mainly focuses on the application of photodynamic technology as antimicrobial agent in adjunct to the routine oral prophylaxis around the natural dentition as well as implant prosthesis.

Osteogenesis distraction as an alternative of treatment for dentoalveolar deficiency. Report of a case

Today's dentistry standards in alveolar and implant treatment demand perfect smiles. Esthetics constitutes one of the principal challenges in every treatment, and specially in maxilofacial surgery. The evolution and technology brings new alternatives of treatment to every specialty.

Tissue reaction against implantation of nanocomposite and giomers

Dentistry today has inherited technological advancement from other Dental Material sciences, examples are Nanocomposite and Giomers. Nanocomposites and Giomers are common materials used in Dentistry. But what are the implications when these materials are used in practice? The aim for this the study shows the analysis of tissue reaction due to implantation of Nanocomposite and Giomers. The subcutaneous tissue of a mouse is substituted with the human gum tissues. In the experimental group, Nanocomposite and Giomers were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue abdomen region in mice. The slides were made from the surrounding of implantation for both experimental and control groups. The evaluation of the effects of the implant is done in a time interval. Evaluated time intervals are 24 hours, 7" day, 14th day, 21st day and 28th day respectively. The amounts of inflammatory cells formation in both groups were compared.Once the results of the inflammatory cells are evaluated in the given time interval for Nanocomposite, Giomer, and control group then they are statistically analyzed. The statistics used in the experiments is Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon. The conclusion of this research showed that statistically significant differences on lymphocytes value between treatment and control group.

Esthetic rehabilitation of worn anterior teeth with thin porcelain laminate veneers.

Bonded porcelain restorations are a predictable and durable treatment option with which not only esthetic appearance but also the strength and function of teeth can be re-established. One of the most important issues of today's dentistry is the preservation of sound enamel. Following biomimetic principles, employing minimally invasive applications and adhesive technologies are of paramount importance for successful restorations. The mock-up technique is advised for delicate removal of the required space for thin porcelain veneers minimally. Besides minimally invasive preparation, long-term success is determined by the adhesive quality of the laminate veneers. This case presentation demonstrates restoration of anterior dentition where the wear of incisal edges posed a negative effect on the smile of the patient. Before bonded porcelain veneers were adhesively cemented, incisal lengthening with direct resin composite and gingival contouring was performed. By using the mock-up technique, minimal preparations were made with the outline ending in enamel only. For cementation of these restorations, step-by-step adhesive procedures are presented.

Non surgical perforation repair by mineral trioxide aggregate under dental operating microscope

Root perforation repair has historically been an unpredictable treatment modality, with an unacceptably high rate of clinical failure. Recent developments in the techniques and materials utilized in root perforation repair have dramatically enhanced the prognosis of both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Mineral Trioxide Aggregate is a relatively new material that is being successfully used to repair perforations. Technological advancements such as the use of a Dental Operating Microscope for correction of these inevitable procedural errors are a major breakthrough in dentistry today. This article presents one clinical case of nonsurgical root perforation repair by Mineral Trioxide Aggregate, using the Dental Operating Microscope.

Should Resin-Based Composite Dominate Restorative Dentistry Today?

Should Resin-Based Composite Dominate Restorative Dentistry Today?

Low-Level Laser Intensity Application in Masseter Muscle for Treatment Purposes

This study evaluated with histochemical analysis how the number of laser applications can affect the masseter muscle. In dentistry today, the laser is used in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), mainly for radiating pain in the masticatory muscles, whose origins may be associated with malocclusion, although the laser effects are not well understood on the cellular level. Thirty mice (HRS/J lineage) were randomly distributed into groups according to the number of laser applications (three, six, and 10). For each group of laser applications (experimental, n = 5), it was considered the control group (n = 5), which was not irradiated. All animals inhaled halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1, 1, 1-trifluoroethane, minimum 99%, Sigma Aldrich, India) before each laser irradiation performed on the left masseter muscle region, on alternate days with 20 J/cm(2), 40 mW, for 20 sec. The muscle samples were collected for histochemical analysis with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme 72 h after the last application. (a) A decrease in area of light fibers type (35.91% ± 6.9%; 32.08% ± 6.3%, and 27.88% ± 6.3%), according to the increase of laser applications (p < 0.05); (b) significant increase (p < 0.05) in the area of intermediate fibers, with an increase of laser application (11.08% ± 3.9%; 16.52% ± 5.7%, and 15.96% ± 3.9%), although the increase with 10 applications was small; (c) area increase of dark fibers in the group with three laser applications (0.16% ± 0.3%) (p < 0.05), and in groups with six and 10 laser applications, respectively (9.68% ± 6.0% and 9.60% ± 4.0%). The SDH enzyme activity revealed that the number of laser applications increases the metabolic pattern of the muscle fibers. A minimal difference in metabolic activity between six and 10 applications of a laser suggests that further analyses should be done to confirm that six applications are enough to produce the same clinical effects, thereby contributing data to professionals from different fields in regard to the cost-benefit ratio of this therapy.

A critical review: an overview of genetic influence on dental caries

Dental decay is a complex, chronic disease and one of the most common illnesses in dentistry today. Several dental decay risk factors have been identified during the last years; however, these variables alone may not entirely explain the disease development. Genetic research applied to dental decay began in the 1930s with experimental reports in animals and human observational research. Only recently, have some studies begun to search for genetic polymorphisms in humans and apply linkage analysis. However, due to the complex characteristics of the disease, the strong influence from several biological and environmental factors, and the small number of genetic studies related to dental caries, the genetic basis still requires further study. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a brief description of the current methodology for genetic analysis of complex traits, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of the literature related to genetic susceptibility/resistance to dental decay and a discussion of different aspects of the applied methodology. Advances towards the elucidation of the dental decay genetic basis may contribute to the understanding of the disease etiopathogenesis and to the identification of high risk groups, thus providing potential targets for effective screening, prevention and treatment.

Today's dentistry students study lasers and other new tools

Today's dentistry students study lasers and other new tools

Clinical dental medicine 2020 (2009)

Editor: Nairn H. F. Wilson. Publisher: Quintessence Publishing Co. Limited, New Malden, Surrey, UK Price: £92.00 ISBN: 978-1-85097-189-4 Commissioned to mark 60 years of publishing by Quintessence, the declared objective of the book is to provide authoritative commentaries on the current state of dentistry, and an inspirational insight into its future. The book consists of 11 chapters, commencing with ‘Dentistry today’ and concluding with ‘Dentistry tomorrow’; the remaining nine chapters examine the areas of public dental health, dental radiology and imaging, restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, periodontology, endodontology, implant dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery. Each chapter explains how developments in the profession have brought us to the present situation, closing with a discussion titled ‘Vision 2020’, which highlights future predictions for that area of dentistry. This arrangement of well-illustrated chapters …

Microleakage of glass ionomer cement restorations

Introduction. A lack of appropriate adhesiveness is one of the biggest problems in the restorative dentistry today and the main cause of the microleakage between restorations and hard dental tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the adhesiveness of two different glass ionomer cement restorations class V on the hard dental tissue using the SEM analysis and dye penetration test. Material and methods. The study included 80 extracted teeth for orthodontic reasons (premolars and molars) in both genders and different age. On the vestibular and oral side of the teeth, adhesive preparations class V were done (size 3?2?2 mm). On the vestibular preparation, GC Fuji II was applicated and GC Fuji II LC-improved on the oral side. The quality of the adhesiveness between restorations and hard dental tissue was evaluated using the SEM analysis and dye penetration test (0.5% basic fuxsin). Linear penetration of the dye was observed using 10 times magnification. Results. The results showed that microleakage was presented with both materials but a ratio was less with Fuji II LC compared with Fuji II. Also, the microleakage was less on the occlusal parts of the restorations than on the gingival, with both materials. Microleakage was noticed in 93.44% teeth with Fuji II GJC restorations with index of microleakage of 148 on all edges. Fuji II LC GJC restorations showed microleakage in 68.4% teeth with index of microleakage 75 on all edges. The SEM analysis showed that both glass ionomer materials had better adhesiveness to the enamel than to the dentin. The average gap length between Fuji II LC and dentin was 9 ?m and Fuji II 17 ?m, respectively. Conclusion. Better adhesiveness to the hard dental tissue was achieved with materials of the newer generations, resin modificated glas ionomer cements.

The clinically related predictors of dental fear in Taiwanese children

Dental fear has been singled out as one of the most troublesome problems facing paediatric dentistry today. Children with dental fear may avoid visiting dentists; therefore, their oral health protection is often compromised. However, the aetiology of dental fear is still not entirely understood. This study investigated the dental visiting habit, the previous dental experiences, the conditioning pathway, and the clinically related predictors of dental fear in children. The dental history of 247 children (2-10 years old) was obtained when they came to a dental clinic for treatment. The level of dental fear in these children was assessed using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). Observers rated the clinically anxious responses and uncooperative behaviour towards dental treatment in these children. Three stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine significant predictors of CFSS-DS score, clinically anxious responses, and uncooperative behaviour of children, respectively. We found that the CFSS-DS score and clinical anxiety have different predictors, but age < or = 3.99 years old and cooperativeness in the first dental visit were important predictors for both the CFSS-DS score and the clinical anxiety. Furthermore, the other predictors of the CFSS-DS score were maternal dental fear, unbearable pain during the first dental visit, and visiting dentists in a regular dental clinic; the other predictors of clinical anxiety were first-born, regular dentist, and CFSS-DS score. Finally, the only significant predictor for uncooperative behaviour was clinical anxiety. Children's dental fear and their anxious response during dental treatment were dynamic processes that consisted of many different factors. The direct conditioning of subjective experience of pain was more important than the objective pathway of child dental fear, and the indirect conditioning does not seem influential in this study sample.

Digital dentistry: an overview of recent developments for CAD/CAM generated restorations

As in many other industries, production stages are increasingly becoming automated in dental technology. As the price of dental laboratory work has become a major factor in treatment planning and therapy, automation could enable more competitive production in high-wage areas like Western Europe and the USA. Advances in computer technology now enable cost-effective production of individual pieces. Dental restorations produced with computer assistance have become more common in recent years. Most dental companies have access to CAD/CAM procedures, either in the dental practice, the dental laboratory or in the form of production centres. The many benefits associated with CAD/CAM generated dental restorations include: the access to new, almost defect-free, industrially prefabricated and controlled materials; an increase in quality and reproducibility and also data storage commensurate with a standardised chain of production; an improvement in precision and planning, as well as an increase in efficiency. As a result of continual developments in computer hardware and software, new methods of production and new treatment concepts are to be expected, which will enable an additional reduction in costs. Dentists, who will be confronted with these techniques in the future, require certain basic knowledge if they are to benefit from these new procedures. This article gives an overview of CAD/CAM-technologies and systems available for dentistry today.

Attitudes and Problems Faced by Both Patients and Dentists in Esthetic Dentistry Today: An AAED Membership Survey

Attitudes and Problems Faced by Both Patients and Dentists in Esthetic Dentistry Today: An AAED Membership Survey

Using CAD-CAM Technology for the Full-Mouth, Fixed, Retrievable Implant Restoration: A Clinical Report

Computer-assisted design (CAD) and computer-assisted manufacture (CAM) are technologic advancements used in dentistry today. These technologies have been developed to fabricate a complete arch substructure from a solid piece of titanium for a fixed, screw-retained implant-supported prosthesis. This clinical report demonstrates a treatment approach which uses CAD-CAM technology to incorporate a milled, titanium framework with retrievable metal ceramic crowns.

Domestic violence: A complex health care issue for dentistry today

As a natural outgrowth of the dental professional's role in recognizing and reporting child abuse the topic has been broadened in recent years to domestic violence, that is child, spouse/intimate partner, disabled and elder abuse. Forty years ago in the US there were 662 cases of child abuse reported to authorities. Today that reported number is in excess of 3 million per year [D. Wiese, D. Daro, Current trends in reporting and fatalities; the results of the 1994 annual 50 state survey, National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, Working Paper 808, 1995]. The “dirty secret” of spousal/intimate partner violence is believed to affect 3–4 million individuals per year in the US. Studies have also found that between 50 and 70% of these perpetrators also abuse their children or those of their intimate partner [J. Kessman, Domestic violence, identifying the deadly silence, Texas Dent. J. (2000) 43]. Just as child abuse is most often manifested in the head or neck regions, likewise the evidence of physical violence to intimate partners and the elderly can be seen in the head or neck regions. The insidious part of partner and elder abuse is that often the largest component of these behaviors is psychological, emotional and indirect neglect, which leave no physical evidence [M. Bowers, Forensic Dental Evidence: An Investigator's Handbook, Elesevier, San Diego, CA, 2004, p. 119].

Research Through the Years—the Foundation for Dentistry Today

Research Through the Years—the Foundation for Dentistry Today

Maxillary sinus floor elevation: review of anatomy and two techniques.

A review of maxillary sinus floor elevation as an integral part of restoring the posterior maxilla is discussed. The related anatomy of the area and the current techniques available are reviewed. The classic lateral antrostomy pioneered by Tatum appears to be the most common sinus lift procedure. The more conservative crestal approach, advocated by Summers, provides another effective way of allowing implant fixture placement in the atrophic maxilla.

Wireless Networking for the Dental Office: Current Wireless Standards and Security Protocols

Digital radiography has gained immense popularity in dentistry today in spite of the early difficulty for the profession to embrace the technology. The transition from film to digital has been happening at a faster pace in the fields of Orthodontics, Oral Surgery, Endodontics, Periodontics, and other specialties where the radiographic images (periapical, bitewing, panoramic, cephalometric, and skull radiographs) are being acquired digitally, stored within a server locally, and eventually accessed for diagnostic purposes, along with the rest of the patient data via the patient management software (PMS). A review of the literature shows the diagnostic performance of digital radiography is at least comparable to or even better than that of conventional radiography. Similarly, other digital diagnostic tools like caries detectors, cephalometric analysis software, and digital scanners were used for many years for the diagnosis and treatment planning purposes. The introduction of wireless charged-coupled device (CCD) sensors in early 2004 (Schick Technologies, Long Island City, NY) has moved digital radiography a step further into the wireless era. As with any emerging technology, there are concerns that should be looked into before adapting to the wireless environment. Foremost is the network security involved in the installation and usage of these wireless networks. This article deals with the existing standards and choices in wireless technologies that are available for implementation within a contemporary dental office. The network security protocols that protect the patient data and boost the efficiency of modern day dental clinics are enumerated.