Surface failure of commercial and experimental restorative resins.

A single-pass test was used to study the surface failure of commercial and experimental restorative resins and composites. The surface failure observed for unfilled diacrylate resins was more severe than that seen for an unfilled acrylic resin. Addition of nonsilanated filler to the diacrylate resins increased the resistance to penetration but did not dramatically change the mode of surface failure. The surface failure of the commercial composite resins, which contain silanated filler, was ductile in mode and the resistance to penetration of the diamond slider was the highest of the materials studied. The wear of restorative resins and composites is determined, therefore, by resistance to penetration as well as mode of deformation during sliding.     

Method of payment for children's dental services by practice type and geographic location.

The purpose of this project was to evaluate practice type and geographical differences in methods of payment accepted for children's dental services. A survey was mailed to 2000 general dentists and 1000 pediatric dentists randomly selected to provide representation from the 50 United States. Dentists were asked to specify the type of practice and the state in which they primarily practice. The survey included Medicaid, dental insurance, preferred provider organizations (PPO), and self-payment as payment options. Dentists were asked to indicate whether they never, occasionally, or frequently accepted each option of payment for children's dental services. Responses were received from 1245 (42%) dentists, including 723 general dentists and 522 pediatric dentists. Chi-square statistical analysis revealed significant practice type and regional differences in the acceptance of Medicaid for payment. Pediatric dentists accept Medicaid more frequently than general dentists (P < 0.001). Most dentists accept dental insurance and self-payment, while few indicate involvement with a PPO. The study revealed significant practice type differences only in the acceptance of Medicaid as payment for children's dental services. On a geographic basis, there were significant differences in the acceptance of Medicaid and dental insurance.     

Human ameloblastoma tumors express the amelogenin gene.

Instructive signals are responsible for the regulation of the expression of gene products characteristic of many cell lineages during normal development and potentially during neoplasia. The odontogenic origin of ameloblastomas is based largely on the similarity in histologic appearance between the tumor and the developing tooth organ. A pathognomonic pattern for odontogenic tissue-specific gene expression in ameloblastomas has not been previously shown. In these studies, the gene expression parameters for human ameloblastomas have been characterized with the techniques of messenger RNA phenotyping in combination with Northern and in situ hybridization analysis of messenger RNA. The results of these studies confirm that amelogenin, a gene transcribed solely by differentiated ameloblasts, was expressed by epithelial cells from human ameloblastomas. This observation suggests that the instructive signals required for ameloblast differentiation are shared during normal development and tumorigenesis of odontogenic epithelium.     

Scanning electron microscopic study of the effect of salivary pellicle on enamel erosion

A bovine tooth model system was used to study the effect of experimental salivary pellicle on enamel erosion. Test blocks with varnish-covered control surfaces in each specimen were immersed into an acidic cola beverage (pH 2.6) for 120 min, either with or without the pellicle which was grown for 7 days by using clarified human saliva. After immersion, the pellicle was removed from some specimens with 10% sodium hypochlorite (20 h at 20 degrees C) and ultrasonic bath (60 s) to study its effect on erosion. All specimens were then studied in the scanning electron microscope. The specimens without pellicle (positive controls) showed gross erosion with prism core dissolution in all study blocks. The specimens with pellicle showed occasionally a film-like integument covering the apparently intact test surfaces with adjacent enamel surfaces slightly eroded. The erosion, however, was not of the same magnitude as in the positive controls. After removing the pellicle, the enamel surfaces showed pitted appearance of the prism heads; the demineralization seemed to attack more the prism sheath areas. Thus, salivary pellicle was found to protect the underlining enamel from erosion in vitro.     

Effect of different metal ceramic alloys on the color of opaque and dentin porcelain

Certain metal ceramic alloys alter the final color of bonded porcelain. Contradicting results, inconsistent test designs, and incomplete alloy selections have led to some confusion. In this study, differential colorimetric analysis was done at the opaque and dentin porcelain stages with five major types of metal ceramic alloys. The color stability of the porcelain on the high-noble metal alloys was found to be excellent. The palladium-silver and nickel-chromium alloys resulted in significant color changes of the dentin porcelain only. The greatest changes in color were found with the palladium-silver alloy, which resulted in a higher yellow-green saturation. The nickel-chromium alloy also produced a color change, although not as severe, resulting in a porcelain shade with a reduced Value or lightness.     

Colorimetric changes in composites resulting from visible-light-initiated polymerization

We evaluated three shades of nine light-cured composites to determine the colorimetric changes which occur as a result of the photo-polymerization reaction. A photo-electric tristimulus colorimeter was used to measure the color of a 0.5-mm-thick sample of composite on two different backgrounds before and after the polymerization process had been initiated. The results showed that each of the photo-initiated composites tested produced a visually significant change in color as a result of the polymerization reaction, regardless of the shade of the backing. In general, the light-cured composites produced a characteristic chromatic shift toward the blue region of color space, which resulted in a perceived decrease in yellow chroma. Therefore, direct shade selection of a resin composite which is more yellow or more chromatic than the tooth which is being restored is recommended to compensate for this characteristic immediate color shift.     

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease

The relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease was evaluated in 2,878 Pima Indians of the southwestern United States. Two independent measures of periodontal disease, probing attachment loss and radiographic bone loss, were used to compare prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. In all age groups studied, subjects with diabetes had a higher prevalence of periodontal disease, indicating that diabetes may be a risk factor for periodontal disease.