Significant shear bond strength improvements of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement with a resin coating.

Previous evidence has suggested that resin-modified glass ionomer cements (RMGICs) may be sensitive to temperature and moisture changes for the first 24 hours after photopolymerization. To test the hypothesis that a resin coating placed over the surface of an RMGIC restoration would decrease the susceptibility to moisture and temperature conditions, 44 RMGIC samples were prepared in inverted-cone recesses drilled in epoxy resin plates. After abrasion of all samples with 800-grit silicon carbide paper to simulate a diamond bur finish on the surface, a coat of highly filled resin was applied to the experimental group (n = 22) and cured according to the manufacturer's instructions. The plates were thermocycled 500 times between 5°C and 55°C and then maintained at 37°C with 95% humidity. The thermocycled samples were bonded to a second epoxy resin plate filled with RMGIC and subjected to shear bond strength testing. The resin-coated group had a significantly greater mean shear bond strength than the control group (P < 0.05). The resin coating also appeared to affect the mode of failure by significantly increasing the number of mixed failures (P < 0.05). The results suggest that a resin coating protects RMGIC from moisture- and temperature-induced damage and increases shear bond strength.

Eruption sequence of the permanent maxillary canine: a radiographic review.

This study evaluated the eruption sequence of the permanent maxillary canine in patients to determine if it follows the previously established normal pattern: first premolar, second premolar, and canine. A total of 363 panoramic radiographs of patients 7-12 years of age were evaluated; in 261 (72%) of the patients, the permanent canine erupted after the first and second premolars. Based on the results obtained in this study, the eruption sequence of the permanent maxillary canine followed the historical normal pattern for the majority of patients in this population. The difference in eruption sequence for males versus females was not significant.

Comparison of aerosol mitigation strategies and aerosol persistence in dental environments.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of various aerosol mitigation interventions and to establish duration of aerosol persistence in a variety of dental clinic configurations. METHODS: We performed aerosol measurement studies in endodontic, orthodontic, periodontic, pediatric, and general dentistry clinics. We used an optical aerosol spectrometer and wearable particulate matter sensors to measure real-time aerosol concentration from the vantage point of the dentist during routine care in a variety of clinic configurations (eg, open bay, single room, partitioned operatories). We compared the impact of aerosol mitigation strategies (eg, ventilation and high-volume evacuation (HVE), and prevalence of particulate matter) in the dental clinic environment before, during, and after high-speed drilling, slow-speed drilling, and ultrasonic scaling procedures. RESULTS: Conical and ISOVAC HVE were superior to standard-tip evacuation for aerosol-generating procedures. When aerosols were detected in the environment, they were rapidly dispersed within minutes of completing the aerosol-generating procedure. Few aerosols were detected in dental clinics, regardless of configuration, when conical and ISOVAC HVE were used. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists should consider using conical or ISOVAC HVE rather than standard-tip evacuators to reduce aerosols generated during routine clinical practice. Furthermore, when such effective aerosol mitigation strategies are employed, dentists need not leave dental chairs fallow between patients because aerosols are rapidly dispersed.

Assessment of Infectious Diseases Risks From Dental Aerosols in Real-World Settings.

Background: Infectious diseases physicians are leaders in assessing the health risks in a variety of community settings. An understudied area with substantial controversy is the safety of dental aerosols. Previous studies have used in vitro experimental designs and/or indirect measures to evaluate bacteria and viruses from dental surfaces. However, these findings may overestimate the occupational risks of dental aerosols. The purpose of this study was to directly measure dental aerosol composition to assess the health risks for dental healthcare personnel and patients. Methods: We used a variety of aerosol instruments to capture and measure the bacterial, viral, and inorganic composition of aerosols during a variety of common dental procedures and in a variety of dental office layouts. Equipment was placed in close proximity to dentists during each procedure to best approximate the health risk hazards from the perspective of dental healthcare personnel. Devices used to capture aerosols were set at physiologic respiration rates. Oral suction devices were per the discretion of the dentist. Results: We detected very few bacteria and no viruses in dental aerosols-regardless of office layout. The bacteria identified were most consistent with either environmental or oral microbiota, suggesting a low risk of transmission of viable pathogens from patients to dental healthcare personnel. When analyzing restorative procedures involving amalgam removal, we detected inorganic elements consistent with amalgam fillings. Conclusions: Aerosols generating from dental procedures pose a low health risk for bacterial and likely viral pathogens when common aerosol mitigation interventions, such as suction devices, are employed.

Forensic dental training in the dental school curriculum.

This article reviews the literature regarding forensic education in the dental school curriculum and describes an exercise in forensic identification of victims of a mass casualty. Radiographs were made of dentate human cadavers in the gross anatomy laboratory at the Southern Illinois School of Dental Medicine. The jaws were then removed to provide "wet specimens" for the exercise. Several restorations were performed on the cadaver teeth, after which radiographs of the dissected jaws were made. One author wrote up mock dental records for each of the victims. These records included the first set or "premortem" radiographs. Students participating in the exercise were provided with a plane crash scenario, the dental records of the passengers on the manifest, the dissected jaws, and the second set or "postmortem" radiographs. Students were expected to form three teams. The first two teams evaluated the ante-mortem and postmortem dental records. The third team compared the ante-mortem and postmortem records to arrive at identification. The purpose of the exercise was twofold. It introduced dental students to forensic dentistry and emphasized the need for complete and accurate record keeping in the dental office. Several factors lessened the realism of the exercise and made it difficult to reproduce in the future. These included the uniformity of the dental records and the destruction of cadaver material following the exercise.

Survey of special patient care programs at U.S. and Canadian dental schools.

This article describes the results of a survey of U.S. and Canadian dental schools regarding the delivery of dental care to special needs patients. The purposes of the fifteen-item survey were to identify the percentage of dental schools that operate special patient care (SPC) clinics, gain information as to how care is being provided in those clinics, and identify how this patient population is managed in institutions without designated SPC clinics. Forty percent of the respondent institutions had designated SPC clinics. Institutions without SPC clinics tend to mainstream these patients into their predoctoral clinics or refer them to residency programs such as GPR or pediatric programs within their university.