Thermal analysis of commercial Gutta-percha using differential scanning calorimeter and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis.

Gutta-percha is the most widespread root canal filling material and knowledge of its chemical and thermomechanical properties is of a great interest to its use in clinical dentistry. In the present investigation, the results from differential scanning calorimeter were compared with those obtained by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. A significant correlation was established between these results and the chemical composition of six different commercial samples of gutta-percha.     

Short-term storage of freshly harvested bone

An in vitro study was designed to test effects of various graft storage media on glucose metabolism and collagen synthesis of embryonic chick tibiae, using these variables as indices of bone cell viability. Normal saline solution, distilled water, and 5% dextrose in lactated Ringer's solution were evaluated after a 5-hour incubation and again after a 3-day recovery period in a complete culture medium. The study suggests that bone grafts may be stored in normal saline solution or 5% dextrose in lactated Ringer's solution for up to 5 hours. Normal saline solution is recommended because of fewer deleterious effects. Distilled water should not be used as a storage medium for bone grafts.     

Frontal cephalometric study of dentofacial morphology in children with bilateral clefts of lip, alveolus and palate

The transverse dentofacial morphology of 36 children with bilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate was studied by means of a frontal proportional cephalometric analysis at the ages of three, eight and twelve years. Comparison of the variables of the cleft group was made with the normal dimensions as obtained from the Bolton cephalometric templates. The results indicated that the BCLP group presented characteristics and significant differences from the normal in the dimensions of the nasal septum width and the mandibular intergonial width as they are both related to the interorbital width, the maxillary intermolar width as it is related to the mandibular intermolar width and the maxillary width as it is related to the mandibular intergonial width at all three ages. The maxillary base and intermolar widths, although significantly different at the ages of three and eight years, showed no significant deviation from normality at the age of twelve years. Following orthodontic treatment between the ages of seven to twelve years, the maxillary intermolar width of the treated subgroup was significantly larger than in the untreated subjects.     

Comparison of Myo-Monitor centric position to centric relation and centric occlusion.

Twenty dentulous subjects were selected at random. A Hight tracer, fixed on the labial surface of the teeth by special clutches, was used to indicate a record of centric relation and centric occlusion. The Myo-Monitor centric position was recorded and compared to centric occlusion and centric relation in anteroposterior and lateral dimensions. This study indicated that: 1. Myo-Monitor centric position is always anterior to centric relation, with an average of 3.8 min. 2. Myo-Monitor centric position is always anterior to centric occlusion, with an average of 1.8 mm. 3. In 18 of 20 subjects, the Myo-Monitor registration was to the right or to the left side of the line between centric relation and centric occlusion. 4. In all subjects, centric occlusion was an average of 2.2 mm. anterior to centric relation.     

A clinical study of rest position using the Kinesiograph and Myomonitor.

The clinical study was designed to study the vertical dimension of rest position and mandibular closure to maximum intercuspation of the teeth before, during, and after relaxation procedures on 14 subjects with stable dentitions. The findings call attention to the potential of both the Myomonitor and the Kinesiograph for research and clinical use, to the physiologic need for flexibility of the vertical dimension of rest position, and to the importance of measuring all three dimensions when examining the rest position.     

Retention of dowels subjected to tensile and torsional forces.

This investigation measured the maximal tensile and torsional forces sustained by four different designs of dowels. 1. Under tensile force, the threaded screw-in dowels were significantly more retentive than the unthreaded dowels. 2. Under torque, both the threaded screw-in and serrated dowels were significantly more retentive than the smooth-sided dowels.     

Influence of the inclination of the plate of an intra-oral tracing device on the condylar position registered by tapping movement

The object of this study was to determine the best inclination of the intra-oral tracing device to get optimum condylar position with the registration of tapping movement. Three appliances with different tracing plate inclinations were used in five healthy subjects. The tracing plates were set at 0 degrees to occlusal plane (horizontal); at the angle formed by drawing a line from condylar point to the stylus position at occlusal plane (inclined); then at the angle half to inclined (half-inclined). Subjects made Gothic arch and tapping movements (n = 30) at a 30 mm interincisal distance with the head Camper plane horizontal. The incisal and condylar points were tracked with a 6-degree-of-freedom jaw movement tracking system. The location of gothic arch apex, the distribution and mean position of 30 tapping points from intercuspal position were analyzed in incisal and condylar point between the appliances. Data were analyzed with repeated measures one-way anova. Results showed that mean position of tapping points were significantly different among the appliances. Half-inclined appliance recorded tapping points in a convergent area nearer to intercuspal position (IP) than other appliances. In all appliances, the contact points of the tapping movement were anterior to Gothic arch apex.