Maturogenesis of an Early Erupted Immature Permanent Tooth: A Case Report With 7-Year Follow-Up.

The main objective of treatment of an undeveloped tooth (immature) is to provide vital pulp therapy to allow continued development of root dentin. A case report is presented that demonstrates the use of calcium hydroxide (CaOH2) as an indirect pulp-copping material for the purpose of continued maturogenesis of an early-erupted permanent tooth with severe mobility and almost-begun root formation. Seven-year radiographic and clinical follow-up demonstrated a vital pulp and physiologic root development without any endodontic failure clinically or radiographicaly.

Clinical and radiographic success rates of mineral trioxide aggregate and ferric sulphate pulpotomies performed by dental students.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical and radiographic findings of ferric sulphate (FS) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as vital pulpotomy materials in primary molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants, including 40 boys and 53 girls ranging between 5 and 10 years of age (mean age 7.7 years), were selected from the patient population at the University of Gazi Department of Paediatric Dentistry. The children were healthy and cooperative, with at least 1 symptom-free restorable and vital primary molar with deep carious lesions. The pulpotomies were performed by fifth-year undergraduate dental students. Members of the senior staff at the clinics supervised all of the procedures. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 1-, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month recall. The data were statistically analysed with chi-squared tests followed by a multiple comparison test. RESULTS: The follow-up evaluations revealed that the clinical success rates were 84.7% for FS and 94.7% MTA. The radiographic success rates were 78.2 % for FS and 92.1 % for MTA. No significant difference was found between the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the two groups at all follow-ups (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: The most common radiographic failure was internal resorption in both types of pulpotomies. Both MTA and FS can be suggested as an appropriate medicament for primary teeth pulpotomies.

The success rates of a glass ionomer cement and a resin-based fissure sealant placed by fifth-year undergraduate dental students.

AIM: To evaluate retention and caries prevention of a glass-ionomer cement (GIC) and a resin-based fissure sealant placed by fifth-year undergraduate dental students. METHODS: The study was conducted according to a split-mouth, randomised clinical trial. Children with at least one pair of caries-free permanent first molars with deep pits and fissures were included in the study. The children were selected from a population that had a high risk for dental caries. Sealant materials were applied by fifth-year undergraduate dental students on 346 fissures of the first permanent molars in 173 children. The ages of the children ranged from 7-15 years (mean 9.4). Two researchers at the clinics supervised all of the procedures. Intra-examiner reproducibility and inter-examiner reproducibility were 0.90 and 0.86, respectively, for the clinical assessment of sealant retention and caries evaluation. RESULTS: GIC sealants were completely lost in 31.9% and resin-based sealants in 16.6% (p<0.05). The total retention rates of GIC sealants and resin-based sealants were 13.8% and 20.8%, respectively. After 24 months, the caries increment was 3.4% for GIC sealants and 4.8% for resin-based sealants (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The retention of GIC sealants was markedly inferior to the retention of resin-based sealants; however, GIC when used as a pit and fissure sealant was slightly more effective in preventing occlusal caries.