Treatment effect of ozone and fluoride varnish application on occlusal caries in primary molars: a 12-month study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ozone and fluoride varnish on occlusal caries in primary molars in a split-mouth study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Caries risk was estimated by treating Public Dental Health Service dentists. Children with occlusal caries with Ekstrand index scores ≤3 (VI ≤3) were included. Selection of caries lesions was discontinued for ethical reasons due to non-acceptable clinical results during the follow-up. In the continued evaluation pairs of teeth with non-cavitated caries lesions, Ekstrand score ≤2a (VI ≤2) were selected. Fifty pairs of carious primary molars were included, 18 boys and 15 girls (mean 4.7 years, range 3-8). At baseline, the lesions were assessed by visual inspection (VI) and laser-induced fluorescence (LF), in each pair to treatment with 40 s ozone (HealOzone(TM), 2,100 ppm) or fluoride varnish Duraphat®. The treatments and evaluations were repeated at 3, 6 9 months and evaluations only at 12 months. RESULTS: Medium-high caries risk was observed in VI ≤3 children and low-medium risk in VI ≤2a children. In the 15 pairs VI ≤3 lesions, 8 treated with ozone and 9 with fluoride progressed to failure. In the 35 pairs VI ≤2a lesions, one lesion failed. Median baseline LF values in the VI ≤3 group were 76 and 69, for ozone and fluoride lesions, respectively, and 21 and 19 in the VI ≤2a group. At 12 months, LF values in the VI ≤2a group were 15 and 18. No improvement or difference in LF values was found over time between the caries lesions treated with ozone or fluoride. CONCLUSIONS: Neither ozone nor fluoride varnish treatments stopped the progression of caries in cavitated lesions. In low and medium caries risk children, non-cavitated lesions following both treatments showed slight or no progression. The use of ozone or fluoride varnish treatments in this regime as caries preventive method, added to the daily use of fluoridated toothpaste, to arrest caries progression in primary molars must therefore be questioned.

Oral health in coeliac disease and cow's milk protein intolerance.

The oral health of 24 children and adolescents, 19 with coeliac disease (CD) and 5 with cow's milk protein intolerance (CMPI) were compared with that of 24 randomly selected paired controls. Mineralisation disorders in the form of hypoplasias and/or opacities occurred in 74% of the cases of CD and 68% of their controls. All 5 cases with CMPI had mineralisation disorders, as did 2 of their controls. The disorders usually took the form of opacities, and both these and the hypoplasias were of a mild nature in all the groups. Serious hypoplasias did not occur at all. The caries status was, on average, better in the CD and CMPI groups than in the controls. Recurrent oral lesions occurred with almost the same frequency in the intolerance groups and in the controls. The study, therefore, gave no clear evidence that CD or CMPI involves a significant risk of poorer oral health, provided adequate paediatric and dental care is given.

Resin-modified glass ionomer cement restorations in primary molars.

The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the 3-year performance of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement in primary molars. A total of 174 class II restorations were placed in 85 children by 6 dentists. The restorations were evaluated during a 3-year period using slightly modified USPHS criteria (van Dijken 1986). Of the 174 restorations 161 were evaluated after 1 year, 121 after 2 years and 68 after 3 years. A total of 81, restorations exfoliated or was extracted during the study. The cumulative failure rate after 1, 2 and 3 year was 8.1%, 11.7% and 19.8% respectively. The main reasons for failure were secondary caries and loss of retention.

Interfacial adaptation of in vivo aged polyacid-modified resin composite (compomer) restorations in primary molars. A SEM evaluation.

Polyacid-modified resin composite (PMC) restorations are being increasingly used in class II cavities in primary teeth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interfacial adaptation of 1-month- and 30-month-old in vivo restorations by quantitative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation. Twelve PMC restorations were performed under clinically controlled conditions in primary molars planned for extraction 1 month later for orthodontic reasons. Eleven other PMC restorations, aged 30 months (range 1.5-3 years) and part of a multicenter study, were collected after exfoliation. To observe the interfacial adaptation of each restoration at several levels a thin layer of the proximal surface was ground off 2-3 times. Replica impressions of each level were prepared for SEM. The interfaces of the replicas were evaluated at x200 and x1000. In the 1-month-old restorations gap-free adaptation to enamel was found in 87% and to dentin in 84% of the total interfacial length investigated. For the 30-month-old restorations gap-free adaptation was registered in 59 and 63%, respectively. The interfacial quality was significantly better in the 1-month-old restorations than in those 30 months of age. Adaptation to enamel was significantly better in the cervical part of the 1-month-old restorations than in the axial walls, whereas there was no significant difference in dentin. No significant difference was found between the cervical and axial cavity walls of the 30-month-old restorations. Enamel fractures were registered in 31 and 24%, respectively of the interfacial length of the 1-month- and 30-month-old restorations. The corresponding findings in dentin were 0 and 0.9%. It can be concluded that restorations aged for a short time showed a high percentage of sealing, which decreased significantly for the 30-month-old ones.

Effect of cavity form on the durability of glass ionomer cement restorations in primary teeth: a three-year clinical evaluation.

The effect of cavity form on the durability of glass ionomer cement restorations in primary molars was studied in a clinical, intraindividual, three-year longitudinal study. Proximal restorations were placed in either a microcavity or a modified Black's Class II cavity with rounded internal and external angles. A total of twenty-eight pairs were assessed. After two years the cumulative failure rate was 16 percent for each of the cavity types and after three years 25 percent for the microcavity and 32 percent for the modified Black's Class II cavity. No statistical difference was found in the longevity of the restorations placed in the two different types of cavities.

Anevac-D, a new system for close scavenging of anesthetic gases in dental practice.

Anevac-D, a new system for close scavenging of anesthetic gases in dental practice is described. It consists of a rubber nose mask surrounded by an outer rigid shell and a chin scavenger. A vacuum in the slot between the nose masks provides scavenging of gases escaping from the inner mask. Gases escaping from the mouth are evacuated mainly by the skin scavenger. The efficiency of this system was assessed in healthy volunteers using argon as a tracer gas. Mass spectrometry was used for measurement of inspired, expired, and scavenged gas concentrations. The scavenging efficiency of the complete system was around 80% and was not affected by poor patient cooperation. It decreased to about 65% when the chin scavenger was removed. The dentist's exposure was measured by sampling of argon in the breathing zone by a Saran system. The average 4-min exposure varied between 90 and 250 ppm depending on system configuration and patient cooperation. Patient acceptance and clinical applicability were judged good. It is concluded that the Anevac-D system provides excellent scavenging properties and exposure levels well within the official recommendations by the Swedish Board of Occupational Safety and Health.

Durability of a polyacid-modified composite resin (compomer) in primary molars. A multicenter study.

A polyacid-modified composite resin (compomer) restorative material was evaluated in primary molars in a multicenter study. One hundred and fifty-nine class-II restorations were placed by 6 dentists in 79 children. The restorations were evaluated during a 2-year period, using slightly modified USPHS criteria. After 1 year 151 restorations were evaluated and, after 2 years, 104. The cumulative failure rate after 1 year was 8% and after 2 years, 22%. The main reasons for failure were loss of retention (12%) and secondary caries (5%). The compomer material showed a high failure rate, comparable to that of other adhesive restorative materials currently used in primary molars. A large operator variation in failure rate indicates the technique sensitivity of the material.