Viability of Bovine Teeth as a Substrate in Bond Strength Tests: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess whether bovine teeth can be used as viable alternatives for human teeth in tensile and shear bond strength testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Articles were selected from Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, LILACS-Bireme, and BBO electronic databases using keywords obtained from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Of 1540 potentially eligible studies, 157 were selected for full text analysis. Five independent reviewers (Kappa = 0.89) selected the studies, abstracted information, and assessed quality based on standardized scales. After the analysis, 78 studies comparing bovine teeth to human teeth were found. Only 18 studies comparing bovine and human substrates in bond strength tests were included in the systematic review and 13 in the meta-analysis. Two authors independently selected the studies, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. Mean differences were obtained by comparing tensile and shear bond strengths between human and bovine teeth (permanent and deciduous) and considering enamel and dentin separately (subgroup analysis). Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan5.1, with a random-effect model, at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between human and bovine teeth in tensile tests (p = 0.41) for dentin (p = 0.86), but there was a difference for enamel (p = 0.01). Regarding shear bond strength, no significant difference was found between human and bovine teeth (p = 0.16) either for enamel (p = 0.07) or dentin (p = 0.68). Regarding shear bond strength on deciduous teeth, no significant difference was found between human and bovine substrates (p = 0.54), either for enamel (p = 0.42) or dentin (p = 0.05). Most studies were at high (low or unclear) risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: In shear bond strength testing, bovine teeth can be a suitable alternative for permanent and deciduous human teeth, for both enamel and dentin substrates. However, they may not be suitable for enamel tensile bond strength testing. The findings are based on low quality studies (considerable heterogeneity) and should be interpreted with caution.

Esthetic rehabilitation of anterior teeth with different thicknesses of porcelain laminate veneers: An 8-year follow-up clinical evaluation.

This clinical report describes an 8-year follow-up evaluation using different thicknesses of porcelain laminate veneers of diastema and malformed anterior teeth. Minimally invasive treatment with no preparation or minimal reduction options could be considered and chosen based on the characteristics of each case. Laminate veneers with or without reduction can offer an excellent result regarding esthetics and function. Despite its failure without reduction, this treatment is indicated because it can be applied regardless of the structure of the teeth. At first, no tooth preparation with rotatory instruments was performed, and porcelain laminates of minimum thickness were made for the four maxillary anterior teeth. After 6 years, the adhesive interfaces were stained, and the patient was unsatisfied with the esthetics of her smile. Therefore, at that time, the professional decided to prepare the anterior teeth for porcelain laminate veneers. Diastema closure and/or correction of malformed anterior teeth using porcelain laminate veneers is a viable option for the clinician because it restores esthetic harmony. The patient was very pleased with the new laminate veneers.

Non-nutritive sucking habits after three years of age: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Non-nutritive sucking habits can result in negative consequences on the development of orofacial structures and occlusion. AIM: Assess factors associated with non-nutritive sucking habits in children after 3 years old. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 638 children aged 3-6 years. In the second stage, a case-control study (1:2) was conducted. The case group included all children who presented some non-nutritive sucking habits in the first stage of the study (n = 110). The control group (n = 220) was made up of children who had never presented non-nutritive sucking habits, matched to the case group for gender and age. The data were collected during the national poliomyelitis vaccination campaign, through a questionnaire applied to parents/guardians with questions related to the presence of sucking habits, sociodemographic aspects, birth aspects, and early life of the child. Statistical analysis involved descriptive analysis, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test, and conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Reduction in maternal education was a protective factor for the development of non-nutritive sucking habits (education ≤8 years OR = 0.38, CI 95%: 0.16, 0.89, P = 0.025). Prematurity (OR = 3.30, CI 95%: 1.13, 9.69, P = 0.030) and a longer period using a baby bottle (OR = 1.03, CI 95%: 1.01, 1.05, P = 0.006) remained associated with a greater possibility of the occurrence of sucking habits, regardless of monthly family income. CONCLUSION: Non-nutritive sucking habits were associated with maternal education, premature birth, and greater time of bottle feeding in children after 3 years old.

Biological restoration: a 4/5 crown.

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent conditions in humans; the purpose of restorative dentistry is to recreate the anatomy of the affected tooth thus the use of fragments from natural teeth as an effective restorative method. A maxillary first premolar left was prepared for an inverted 4/5 crown due to involvement of the vestibular face, after prepared received an allogeneic collage with similar color and dimension. Follow-up after 12 months indicated a stable restoration. Clinically, the site was without signs of caries, migration of the fragment or marginal infiltration. Biological restoration is a viable alternative for reestablishing function and esthetics to damaged/decayed teeth and therefore, biological restoration as an alternative to other restorative options.