Trans-antral temporalis transfer for the repair of adult cleft palates

Temporalis muscle transfer is a versatile technique frequetly used for reconstructive procedures in the maxillofacial region. However the thickness of the pedicle may interfere with masticatory function when used anteriorly in the oral cavity. To repair full-length mid-palatal defects in fully dentate patients the flap can be passed through the maxillary sinus and combined with local repair of the soft palate, thus avoiding any occlusal trauma from the posterior teeth.
The operation is a single stage procedure with low morbidity and few complications, and is a useful technique for repairing the large untreated clefts frequently encountered in developing countries. The procedure is used by members of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Bangladesh Project who have operated in Dhaka teaching hospitals on a regular basis since 1991.     

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Pontics for Improved Removable Partial Denture Esthetics

A removable partial denture fabrication technique that uses custom-constructed porcelain fused-to-metal (PFM) pontics is described. PFM pontics enhance the dentist's shade matching effort in esthetically demanding situations.     

K3 Endo, ProTaper, and ProFile systems: breakage and distortion in severely curved roots of molars

It was the aim of this study to investigate the incidence of file breakage and distortion when the ProTaper, K3 Endo, and ProFile systems were used to instrument canals in the severely curved roots of extracted molars. Forty-five roots of extracted mandibular and maxillary molars with curvatures between 40 and 75 degrees were chosen for this study. The canals in group 1 were instrumented with the ProFile system. Roots in group 2 were instrumented with the ProTaper system, and those in group 3 were instrumented with the K3 Endo system. The three systems were used according to the manufacturers' instructions. The proportion of files distorted was 15.3% for the ProFile group, 2.4% for the ProTaper group, and 8.3% for the K3 Endo group. There was a statistically significant difference between the ProFile and ProTaper groups (p=0.0079). The percentage of broken files was 1.7% for the ProFile group, 6.0% for the ProTaper group, and 2.1% for the K3 Endo group. No statistically significant differences were found between these three groups (p=0.4243). The results of this study showed that these three rotary tapered systems were not significantly different with regard to breakage. There were significantly more distorted files in the ProFile group when compared with the ProTaper group. With regard to distortion, there was no significant difference between the ProTaper and K3 Endo and the ProFile and K3 Endo groups.     

Dental Utilization by Low-income Mothers

Objective : This study examines the influence of predisposing, enabling, and need variables on whether low-income mothers sought dental care during the past year. This report is a substudy of mothers and children on their self-reported health status, utilization, access, and satisfaction with health care in general. Methods : A convenience sample of 502 mothers and youngest child younger than 6 years old was administered a face-to-face questionnaire in four Ohio counties. Information was collected at county human services offices and WIC clinics between November 1995 and July 1996. Using whether or not the mother sought dental care as the dependent variable, logistic regression models were created for the variables within the predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics separately and together. Results : Fewer than one-half of the mothers sought dental care during the past year. Variables associated with the predisposing characteristic explained little about who sought care. Those mothers who have Medicaid coverage are 2.7 times more likely to have a dental visit than those without insurance. Moreover, those mothers who perceive any dental need are several times less likely to have received dental care than those who have no perceived need. Conclusion : Even among a somewhat homogeneous population of low-income women, source of payment for dental services and perceived need for dental care are discriminating variables in determining who seeks dental care.     

Effects of acidulated phosphate fluoride gel application on surface roughness, gloss and colour of different type resin composites

Objective

Application of acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel has been reported to cause deterioration of resin composites. This study investigated the effects of APF gel application on surface roughness, gloss and colour of resin composites.

Methods

A2-shade resin disks of 2 mm thickness polished with 180-grit and 3000-grit SiC papers were made with Estelite Σ Quick (EQ), Clearfil Majesty (CM) and Beautifil II (B2). Six disks were prepared for each group. APF gel was applied in a 3 mm thickness on the top surface of resin disks and left for 30 min followed by rinsing and ultrasonic washing. This procedure was repeated 4 times. The L*a*b* values, colour difference (ΔE*ab), opacity, surface gloss and roughness of specimens before and after APF application were compared. Data were analysed ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD test with α = 0.05.

Results

For the 3000-grit polishing groups, the order of influence of APF gel application on colour of resin composites was CM > B2 > EQ. Both in the 180- and 3000-grit polishing groups, colour difference before and after APF gel application was hard to detect (CM and B2) or impossible to detect (EQ) by naked eye. On the other hand, for all the resin composites, the gloss was significantly decreased by APF gel application. APF gel appeared to cause deterioration and dissolution of resin composites used in this study.

Significance

In this limited study, supra-nano spherical filled Estelite Σ Quick showed the least change on colour, gloss and surface roughness by APF gel application.     

Quality of life and psychosocial outcomes after fixed orthodontic treatment: a 17-year observational cohort study

Arrow P, Brennan D, Spencer AJ. Quality of life and psychosocial outcomes after fixed orthodontic treatment: a 17‐year observational cohort study. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39: 505–514. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Background: There is little evidence to suggest that orthodontic treatment can prevent or reduce the likelihood of dental caries or of periodontal disease or dental trauma and temporomandibular disorders, but there is a modest association between the presence of malocclusion/orthodontic treatment need and quality of life. However, little is known of the long‐term outcomes of orthodontic treatment. This study reports on the longitudinal follow‐up of quality of life and psychosocial outcomes of orthodontic treatment among a cohort of adults who were examined as adolescents in 1988/1989. Materials and Methods: Children who were examined in 1988/1989 were invited to a follow‐up in 2005/2006. Respondents completed a questionnaire, which collected information on quality of life, receipt of orthodontic treatment and psychosocial factors, and were invited for a clinical examination. Oral health conditions including occlusal status using the Dental Aesthetic Index were recorded. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used to examine the relationship between the measured factors. Results: There was no statistically significant association between occlusal status at adolescence and quality of life at adulthood. Those individuals who had orthodontic treatment but did not need orthodontic treatment had higher self‐esteem (23.1, SD 5.2) and were more satisfied with life (18.5, SD 3.7) than other treatment groups (self‐esteem range, 20.0–22.7; life satisfaction range, 16.4–18.1), anova P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively. Occlusal status at adulthood was significantly associated with quality of life, P < 0.01. Multivariate analyses showed a statistically significant association between occlusal status at adolescence (‘Desirable treatment’β = 0.70, P = 0.04) and adulthood (‘Desirable treatment’β = 1.66, P < 0.01) with quality of life. Orthodontic treatment was negatively associated with psychosocial factors (life satisfaction; fixed orthodontic treatment (FOT) β = ?0.91, P = 0.02 and self‐esteem; FOT β = ?1.39, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Occlusal status appears to have limited association with quality of life and psychosocial factors. Receipt of fixed orthodontic treatment does not appear to be associated with oral health‐related quality of life but appears to be negatively associated with self‐esteem and satisfaction with life.