Retention of posts cemented with various dentinal bonding cements

This investigation evaluated the retention of preformed posts with four different cements: C & B Metabond, Panavia, All-Bond 2, and Ketac-Cem. Sixty intact maxillary canines were selected for the study. The clinical crowns were removed and endodontic therapy done on each root, which was then prepared to receive prefabricated posts. The 60 samples were divided into four groups of 15, and the posts in each group were cemented with one of the four cements. The roots were mounted in acrylic resin blocks and the posts were separated from the canals with an Instron testing machine. Analysis of the forces needed to dislodge the posts with analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls test disclosed that C & B Metabond cement was the most retentive (p < 0.05). No difference in retention was recorded between Ketac-Cem and Panavia cements. All-Bond 2 cement was the least retentive of cements.     

Oral candidosis. Clinical, historical, and therapeutic features of 100 cases.

Oral candidosis is an increasingly important disease that affects a significant percentage of the population. Traditionally known as an opportunistic pathogen, the broader clinical scope of oropharyngeal candidal infections is now being recognized. The clinical and historical features of 100 patients referred for diagnosis and management of candidosis have been reviewed. The age, gender, chief complaint, medical history, medications, and clinical findings have been noted. A wide range of clinical signs and symptoms, and the rationale behind the topical and systemic antifungal therapies provided to this patient population, are discussed.     

Bone tissue interface

High resolution microradiography and multiple fluorochrome labeling are definitive histological methods for assessing the mechanism and timing of osseous healing, maturation, and adaptation. Two fundamental types of bone interface have been described for endosseous dental implants: (1) fibro-osseous integration ("pseudo-periodontal ligament") and (2) rigid osseous fixation ("osseointegration"). No definitive bone interface studies with modern physiological methods have been reported for fibro-osseous integration. Rigid osseous fixation has been investigated in cortical bone implantation sites. The initial healing reaction involves predominantly bone modeling at the periosteal and endosteal surfaces, i.e., a woven bone callus fills with lamellae by the process of lamellar compaction. Nonvital osseous interface and adjacent compacta are replaced by bone remodeling (turnover). As assessed with high resolution microradiography, "clinically successful" specimens had less than half of the intraosseous interface in direct contact with bone. Extrapolation from animal data suggests that endosseous implants can be provisionally loaded at about 18 weeks, but full maturation of the interface requires approximately one year.     

Relationship of mandibular condylar position to dental occlusion factors in an asymptomatic population

This article investigates the influence of occlusion on condylar position as seen on TMJ tomograms in a group of 44 young adults with no histories of orthodontic or occlusal therapy and no objective signs of masticatory dysfunction; the sample was screened from a population of 253 students. Nonconcentric condylar position at ICP was a feature of Class II malocclusion with significantly more anterior positions in Class II, Division 1 than in Class I. Condylar position was unrelated to the amount of sagittal RCP-ICP slide, although most slides were less than 0.5 mm. The frequency of lateral slides was low, but was mildly related to bilaterally asymmetric condylar positions. Position was unrelated to the degree of overbite, which ranged from 0 to 10 mm. Bilateral condylar position asymmetry was not related to the direction of dental midline discrepancy, which ranged from 0 to 2 mm. No open bites or mandibular overjets were seen in this asymptomatic normal sample.     

The accuracy of 4 panoramic units in the projection of mesiodistal tooth angulations.

The purpose of this study was to compare the mesiodistal tooth angulations determined with a typodont/skull testing device with the images of mesiodistal tooth angulations from 4 contemporary panoramic units (OP 100, Cranex 3+, Orthophos, PM 2002 EC). A typodont testing device was constructed, and the true mesiodistal tooth angulations relative to an orthodontic archwire were determined with a 3-dimensional coordinate-measuring machine and custom-designed software. A human skull served as the matrix into which the typodont was fixed for imaging. The skull was repeatedly imaged and repositioned 5 times for each panoramic unit. The images were scanned and digitized with custom software to determine the image mesiodistal angulations. Results revealed that the majority of image angles from the 4 panoramic units were statistically significantly different from the true angle measurements. However, definite trends were noted among the panoramic units. For the maxillary teeth, the images projected the anterior roots more mesially and the posterior roots more distally, creating the appearance of exaggerated root divergence between the canine and the first premolar. For the mandibular teeth, the images projected almost all roots more mesially than they really were, with the canine and the first premolar the most severely affected. The largest angular difference for adjacent teeth occurred between the mandibular lateral incisor and the canine, with relative root parallelism projected as root convergence. It was concluded that the clinical assessment of mesiodistal tooth angulation with panoramic radiography should be approached with extreme caution and with an understanding of the inherent image distortions.     

Oral mucosal hyperpigmentation secondary to antimalarial drug therapy

A case of oral mucosal hyperpigmentation resulting from antimalarial drug therapy is presented. The patient reported a history of long-term quinacrine therapy and exhibited diffuse blue-gray pigmentation of the nail beds and the skin of the nasal ala. Microscopic examination of the involved mucosa showed macrophages, containing both melanin and ferric iron, scattered within the connective tissue adjacent to the epithelium. The clinical, historical, and microscopic features of antimalarial-induced pigmentation are discussed. Other causes of diffuse or multifocal oral pigmentation are also addressed.     

Dental school faculty shortages increase: an update on future dental school faculty

The 1999 publication of the American Association of Dental Schools (AADS) President s Task Force on Future Dental School Faculty revealed a crisis in the shortages of dental school faculty. Stakeholders from around the nation have used the AADS Task Force report to address the crisis. In addressing one of the AADS Task Force recommendations, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), formerly AADS, gathered additional data through a new survey of dental school deans to elucidate the current state of faculty shortages. Based on this research, ADEA projects that the number of unfilled budgeted faculty positions in U.S. dental schools now approaches 400. Survey respondents identified retirement as the leading reason for full-time faculty separations, while separation to enter private practice was the second most frequent reason for leaving the institution. Offering a salary competitive with that of private practice was identified as the most critical factor in recruiting future faculty. A number of short and long-range strategies to recruit and retain faculty are presented. Ultimately, the dental school faculty shortage places in jeopardy the general and oral health of the public.     

Improved bone regeneration and root coverage using a resorbable membrane with physically assisted cell migration and DFDBA

Twelve patients with 2 Miller Class I or II buccal recession defects measuring > or = 3.0 mm were treated using the principles of guided tissue regeneration and followed for 12 months. The effectiveness of a polylactide (Guidor) resorbable membrane (GA sites) was compared to a combination treatment of polylactide membrane plus polyglactin root-lining mesh (Vicryl) and demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) (GVB sites) designed to enhance cell migration and bone regeneration. There was 90% mean soft tissue root coverage for the GVB sites and 78% for the GA sites. The mean osseous dehiscence area coverage with hard tissue was 75% for GVB sites and 30% for GA sites.