A field trial on semi-annual fluoride varnish applications among the special needs schoolchildren.

This study assessed cariostatic effect of one fluoride varnish Duraphat among children with a low caries risk and compared this effect to group of a moderate caries risk, belonging to same ethnic group with same socioeconomic background. Results of this study showed that fluoride varnish had cariostatic effect in a group of children with a moderate caries risk but not among those with a low caries risk.

Supernumerary teeth causing impaction of permanent maxillary incisors: consideration of treatment.

The paper presents a discussion on etiology and treatment of maxillary central incisors impactions. Different treatment approaches which advocate teamwork approach, and importance of early diagnosis of such conditions is discussed.

Ferric sulphate and formocresol in pulpotomy of primary molars: long term follow-up study.

AIM: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of ferric sulphate (FS) to that of the full strength of formocresol (Buckley's formula) (FC) as pulpotomy agents in primary human molar teeth 42-48 months after treatment. This was to assess the succeeding premolar teeth for decalcification, abnormal morphology or any other defect. METHODS: Seventy children, ranging in age from 3 to 6 years, mean 4.3 years, were treated for pulpotomy of primary molars. Ferric sulphate 15.5% solution (applied for 15 seconds for 84 teeth) and formocresol solution (5 minutes procedure for next the 80 teeth) were used as pulpotomy agents. In both groups, pulp stumps were covered with zinc oxide eugenol paste. Permanent restorations were, in most cases, stainless steel crowns and in some of them amalgams. Follow-up clinical assessments were every 3 months and the radiographic follow-up time was 6, 20 and 42-48 months after treatment. STATISTICS: The differences were statistically analyzed using the Chi square test. RESULTS: These revealed 96.4% clinical success rate in the FS and 97.5% in the FC groups. Radiographic success rate in the FS group was 92.0%, while 94.6% in the FC group. No statistical significant differences were found between the radiographic assessment of the two pulpotomy agents. CONCLUSION: Ferric sulphate showed similar clinical and radiographic success rate as a pulpotomy agent for primary molar teeth after long term evaluation period, compared with formocresol. Ferric sulphate, because of its lower toxicity, may become a replacement for formocresol in primary molar teeth.

The atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) approach to restoring primary teeth in a standard dental clinic.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are to assess the feasibility of the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach in primary teeth and to compare the ART approach with traditional amalgam restorations in primary molars. METHODS: This study was conducted in a paediatric dentistry clinic in Kuwait between April 1999 and December 2001. The ART and amalgam restorations were placed randomly on comparable pairs of primary molars, if available. In addition, the ART approach was used for other primary teeth that had no pulpal involvement and no perceived pain before treatment. The restorations were assessed by both the ART evaluation criteria and USPHS criteria in August-September 2000 and in August-December 2001. The mean follow-up period for the restorations was 8.3 months in the first assessment (2000) and 22 months in the second assessment (2001). The assessment was possible for 35 children (mean age = 5.7 years), 18 of whom had comparable pairs (n = 35 pairs) of restorations in their primary molars. In addition, 48 other ART restorations were assessed in 2000 and 42 in 2001. RESULTS: In a 2-year follow-up, 89.6% of all ART restorations were considered successful. The failure rate of the comparable pairs of ART and amalgam restorations was 5.7%. There was no significant difference in success rate between ART and amalgam techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a 2-year follow-up evaluation, the class I ART restorations seemed to have a high success rate, indicating the appropriateness of the ART approach in primary teeth.

Pediatric dental procedures under general anesthesia at the Amiri Hospital in Kuwait.

Ninety-six patients, fifty-eight healthy patients and thirty-eight special needs patients, ranging in age from 3 to 31 yr (average age 6.9 yr) had received dental treatments under general anesthesia (GA) at Amiri Hospital. The mean number of dental procedures per child was 13.6 (SD+/-5.4) with a mean number of 15.6 procedures for healthy patients and 10.5 special needs patients. There was a statistically significantly higher number of dental procedures for healthy patients than for special needs patients (p<0.001). The number of pulpotomies and stainless steel crowns placed for healthy patients was significantly higher (3.5) than for special needs patients (1.3) with (p<0.001) The average number of extractions was similar for the two groups of patients, 2.8 for normal and 2.2 for handicapped. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that dental treatment under GA in hospital environment is beneficial for certain group of patients, such as very young children and those with special needs. Underlying medical conditions influenced the treatment provided.

Ferric sulfate as pulpotomy agent in primary teeth: twenty month clinical follow-up.

Seventy primary molar teeth, carious exposed, symptom free, without any sign of root resorption in children aged from 3 to 6 years (main age 4.3 yr) were treated with conventional pulpotomy procedures. Ferric sulfate 15.5% solution (applied for 15 second for 35 teeth) and formocresol solution (five minute procedure of Buckley's formula for next 35 teeth) have been used as pulpotomy agents. In both groups, pulp stumps were covered with zinc-oxide eugenol paste. Permanent restorations were stainless steel crowns. Clinical check up was every three-months and radiographic follow-up time was six and twenty months after treatment. Our results within this period revealed 100% clinical success rate in both groups. Radiographic success rate was in both groups 97.2%, while in 2.8% cases has shown internal root resorption. On the basis of these results, we can recommend ferric sulfate as a pulpotomy agent in primary teeth in substitution for formocresol at the moment.

Ectopic eruption of maxillary canine and premolars: case report.

This article presents a case of ectopic eruption of permanent teeth in the maxilla in the late mixed dentition. The authors advocate early diagnosis of ectopic eruption with a closer follow-up during the transition from primary to permanent dentition and space maintenance, as a way to avoid active orthodontic treatment for alignment ectopic erupted teeth.

Identification of alpha 2 adrenoceptors in the blood vessels of the dental pulp.

Using selective agonists and antagonists of alpha2 adrenoceptors, attempts were made to identify the subtype alpha2 adrenoceptors in the blood vessels of the canine dental pulp. In chloralose-anaesthetized dogs, intra-arterial administration of noradrenaline and guanabenz in different doses produced a dose-related pulpal vasoconstriction which was measured using hydrogen-gas clearance. The vasoconstrictor response to noradrenaline was inhibited by phentolamine, a non-selective alpha adrenoceptor antagonist. The response to guanabenz was inhibited by rauwolscine, a highly selective alpha2 adrenoceptor antagonist. The results demonstrated that alpha2 adrenoceptors are present in the blood vessels of dog dental pulp.

[The role of alpha adrenergic system in the regulation of pulpal circulation]. / Uloga alfa adrenergickog sistema u regulaciji pulpne cirkulacije.

Pulpal circulation is microcirculation, whose primary function is to transport the nutritive and return the waste metabolic products. As pulp is surrounded by a solid dentin sheath, proper regulation of its circulation, and of intra- and extracellular fluid levels is of utmost importance for the normal function of the pulp in physiologic conditions as well as for its survival in pathologic states. The alpha adrenergic system with all its components plays a key role in this regulation.