Sealant effectiveness for children receiving a combination of preventive methods in a fluoridated community: two-year results.

A series of preventive methods in combination have been used to reduce dental caries in children including dental health education, prophylaxes, pit and fissure sealants, topical application of fluoride and restorative care. Prophylaxes, sealant, and fluoride procedures are repeated every six months. Two-year results show reductions of occlusal caries increments of 74.3% for first graders and 77.1% for sixth graders. Sealant loss, as defined in this study, varied from 33% to 90% with the highest loss occurring in the newly erupted permanent molars during the first six months of the project. These high sealant loss rates are thought to be related to the age of the population which was designed to include children at the ages of peak eruption of permanent molar teeth (ages six and twelve). These teeth were often only minimally erupted and maintaining the dry field required for sealant retention was extremely difficult. However, in spite of these high rates of sealant loss, caries reduction on occlusal surfaces was highly significant in comparision to that of children who did not receive sealants.     

Painless swelling proved to be a central giant cell granuloma

A 32-year-old female patient was referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with an asymptomatic swelling in the left mandibular premolar region. After extraction of these premolars and enucleation of the lesion histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a giant cell granuloma. This is a benign lesion and enucleation generally results in a permanent cure and is only recurrent in a few cases. Approximately 1 year after treatment, the patient was still free of recurrence and together with a prosthodontist, the appropriate rehabilitation of the resulting defect will be sought.     

Maxillary sinus inflammation after operation of dental implantation and sinus lifting

16 patients with sinusitis were examined after dental implantation and sinus lifting. Possible complication reasons after alveolar process operations were disclosed. For dental implantation efficacy elevation in patients with alveolar process atrophy the consultation of otolaryngologist was necessary in order to disclose hidden pathology on the nasal cavity and sinuses side and also maxillary tomography with inclusion of osteo-meatal complex. Operative treatment of patients with sinusitis after sinus lifting was necessary in case of free lying osteo-plastic material in the sinus, presence of oro-anthral fistula and conservative treatment failure.     

A survey of program directors: trends, challenges, and mentoring in prosthodontics. Part 1.

PURPOSE: This study consisted of two parts. Part 1, a survey of program directors, was conducted to examine current trends in advanced education in prosthodontics in the United States. Part 2 will report on the survey results distributed to the deans of US dental schools to evaluate their observations of trends in prosthodontics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A national e-mail survey of 45 program directors was used to collect enrollment data for years 1 to 3 of prosthodontics training for US and international dental school graduates, the total number of applicants and applications considered, and the trends over time of applicants to prosthodontic programs for US dental school graduates and for international graduates. In addition, the program directors were asked to rank 13 key factors that may have contributed to any changes in the prosthodontic applicant pool. Comments were accepted on why more or less US- or internationally trained applicants have applied. Program directors were also asked for information on student financial incentives, whether their programs were state or federally funded, and whether their sponsoring institution was a dental school. RESULTS: Of the 45 program directors, 39 responded, for an 86.7% response rate. Respondents reported that 64% of their enrollments were graduates of US dental schools. Between 2000 and 2004 the applicant pool in prosthodontics increased by 23%, with 41% of program directors reporting an increase in US-trained applicants, 46.2% reporting no change, and only 12.8% reporting a decrease. Using the Spearman correlation, there was a moderate, positive statistically significant correlation that the following factors contributed to an increase in the number of US dental graduates applying to prosthodontic programs: (1) mentoring by prosthodontists at the predoctoral level, (2) interest in prosthodontics among US dental students, and (3) society's demand for a higher level of training and credentialing, (4) data depicting current and projected income for dental specialists, and (5) number of trained prosthodontists full- or part-time faculty at the predoctoral level. Only five programs offered no financial packages to offset tuition. The remaining 34 respondents reported some financial package. Among the respondents, there were 25 state-sponsored programs, 9 sponsored by private universities, and 5 sponsored by hospitals or federal agencies. CONCLUSION: An increased applicant pool and more US-trained applicants to prosthodontics programs create a more competitive applicant pool for our specialty. Program directors reported that factors such as mentoring, society's demand for a higher level of training and credentialing, data depicting current and projected income for prosthodontists, exposure to prosthodontic faculty at the predoctoral level, the dollar value of prosthodontic training, and advances in implant, aesthetic, and reconstructive dentistry have all had some impact on increasing the applicant pool to prosthodontic training in the United States.