Clinical long-term success of contemporary nano-filled resin composites in class I and II restorations cured by LED or halogen light.

OBJECTIVES: The use of LED light-curing units (LED LCUs) for polymerising resin-based composite restorations has become widespread throughout dentistry. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of clinical longitudinal studies that evaluate the comparative efficacy of LED-based polymerisation in direct posterior composite restorations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the performance of class I and II resin composite restorations for two successful composite restorative materials cured with LED versus halogen LCUs. METHODS: One hundred restorations were placed using the nano-filled composites Grandio® or Filtek™ Supremé. The following test groups were established: LED-Grandio® n = 23 (LG), LED-Filtek™ Supremé n = 21 (LS). As controls were used: Halogen-Grandio® n = 28 (HG), Halogen-Filtek™ Supremé n = 28 (HS). All restorations were evaluated according to the clinical criteria of the CPM index (C-criteria) at baseline and after 6, 12 and 36 months. RESULTS: After 12 and 36 months, there were no significant differences between restorations polymerised with LED or halogen light. At the end of the study, 97% of the restorations showed sufficient results regardless of the employed LCU or composite. Globally, after 36 months, 56% of all restorations were assessed with code 0 (excellent) and 41% with code 1 (acceptable). In detail, excellent results (code 0) among the criteria surface quality; marginal integrity and marginal discoloration were assigned in 72, 70 and 69%. CONCLUSIONS: For the current limitations in the clinical trial design, the results showed that LED-polymerisation is appropriate to ensure clinical success of direct posterior resin composite restorations in a range of 3 years. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The choice of LCU has no significant influence on the clinical performance of posterior direct resin composite restorations within 3 years of wear.

The cost-effectiveness of supportive periodontal care: a global perspective.

AIM: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of supportive periodontal care (SPC) provided in generalist and periodontal specialist practices under publicly subsidized or private dental care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: SPC cost data and the costs of replacing teeth were synthesized with estimates of the effectiveness of SPC in preventing attachment and tooth loss and adjusted for differences in clinician's time. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated for both outcomes assuming a time horizon of 30 years. RESULTS: SPC in specialist periodontal practice provides improved outcomes but at higher costs than SPC provided by publicly subsidized or private systems. SPC in specialist periodontal practice is usually more cost-effective than in private dental practice. For private dental practices in Spain, United Kingdom and Australia, specialist SPC is cost-effective at modest values of attachment loss averted. Variation in the threshold arises primarily from clinician's time. CONCLUSION: SPC in specialist periodontal practice represents good value for money for patients (publicly subsidized or private) in the United Kingdom and Australia and in Spain if they place relatively modest values on avoiding attachment loss. For patients in Ireland, Germany, Japan and the United State, a higher valuation on avoiding attachment loss is needed to justify SPC in private or specialist practices.

Assessment formats in dental medicine: An overview.

AIM: At the annual meeting of German dentists in Frankfurt am Main in 2013, the Working Group for the Advancement of Dental Education (AKWLZ) initiated an interdisciplinary working group to address assessments in dental education. This paper presents an overview of the current work being done by this working group, some of whose members are also actively involved in the German Association for Medical Education's (GMA) working group for dental education. The aim is to present a summary of the current state of research on this topic for all those who participate in the design, administration and evaluation of university-specific assessments in dentistry. METHOD: Based on systematic literature research, the testing scenarios listed in the National Competency-based Catalogue of Learning Objectives (NKLZ) have been compiled and presented in tables according to assessment value. RESULTS: Different assessment scenarios are described briefly in table form addressing validity (V), reliability (R), acceptance (A), cost (C), feasibility (F), and the influence on teaching and learning (EI) as presented in the current literature. Infoboxes were deliberately chosen to allow readers quick access to the information and to facilitate comparisons between the various assessment formats. Following each description is a list summarizing the uses in dental and medical education. CONCLUSION: This overview provides a summary of competency-based testing formats. It is meant to have a formative effect on dental and medical schools and provide support for developing workplace-based strategies in dental education for learning, teaching and testing in the future.

Enhanced root planing and systemic metronidazole administration improve clinical and microbiological outcomes in a two-step treatment procedure.

BACKGROUND: Recently we described a non-surgical two-step treatment concept, in which we distinguished between a first scaling and root planing step (SRP) and an additional second enhanced root planing step (ERP). Until now it is difficult to determine how often a root surface should be instrumented during ERP. METHODS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the outcomes after different root planing intensities during ERP in 37 patients with aggressive periodontitis after SRP. During ERP a full-mouth root planing was performed. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two root planing regimens (group 1, N = 12 and group 2, N = 11), based on number of curet strokes per root surface (instrumentation frequency, IF) and probing depth. Group 1: PD 1 to 3.5 mm, 4 IF (for group 2, 8 IF); PD 4 to 6 mm, 8 IF (group 2, 14 IF); PD 6.5 to 9 mm, 12 IF (group 2, 20 IF); and PD >9 mm, 16 IF (group 2, 24 IF). Group 3 patients (controls; N = 14) received only the initial SRP. All three groups received the same adjunctive systemic antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: In all groups, the results showed statistically significant differences in PD and clinical attachment level (CAL) after 6 and 24 months compared to baseline data. Compared with the controls, a significant reduction in PD was observed in groups 1 and 2. The reduction in mean PD was distinctly greater in group 2 (higher IF). Furthermore, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) were completely suppressed in group 2 after 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: The present results show that the extent of root planing has a distinct influence on treatment outcomes. Patients treated with the highest instrumentation frequency showed the best long-term results.