Dimensions of Occlusoproximal Cavitated Carious Lesions as a Cut-Off Point for Restorative Decision in Primary Teeth

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate whether the dimensions of cavitated dentin carious lesions on the occlusoproximal surfaces of primary teeth could predict the location of cement-enamel junction (CEJ). Material and Methods: Two hundred extracted primary molars were selected and digital images were obtained. The teeth were set in arch models for clinical measurement. The cervical-occlusal (CO) and buccal-lingual/palatal (BL/P) cavities' dimensions were obtained by digital (Image J) and clinical (periodontal millimeter probe) assessments. The cervical margin location was also determined. The thresholds (cut-off points) were determined by sensitivity, specificity and the areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (Az) for the two methods. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to investigate the correlation between clinical and digital measurements. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the dimensions and cervical margin location. Results: There was a strong correlation between methods for all measurements (CO: r=0.90, VL/P: r=0.95). Cavities with BL/P distance higher than 4.5 mm and CO dimension higher than 3.5 mm had a lower chance of presenting the cervical limit above the CEJ, irrespective of the measurement method. Conclusion: CO and VL/P dimensions could be used to predict the CEJ location and, ultimately, as a clinical parameter for restorative decision-making.

Influence of the chemomechanical and mechanical carious tissue removal on the risk of restorative failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate critically the results of clinical trials comparing the risk of failure of restorations after chemomechanical and mechanical carious tissue removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, LILACS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases, and grey literature were searched to identify studies related to the research question and published up to January 2022. Two authors independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to compare the effect of chemomechanical and mechanical excavation on the outcome (restorative failure), considering the type of carious tissue removal (selective and complete) as subgroups. RESULTS: From 443 potentially eligible studies, 58 clinical studies were selected for full-text analysis, and 6 were included in the review. There was no statistically significant difference in the risk for failure of restorations performed after chemomechanical and mechanical excavation (RR: 1.26, 95% CI 0.93; 1.72, p = 0.14) either for complete (p = 0.97) or selective (p = 0.11) carious tissue removal. The heterogeneity found was null. The risk of bias was high and the certainty of evidence was low. CONCLUSION: Based on the low certainty of evidence, the risk of failure of restorations performed after chemomechanical and mechanical carious tissue removal is similar. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Chemomechanical carious tissue removal may be performed before restoration placement, without jeopardizing the short-term longevity. Further studies are required before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Influence of the FDI criteria in the restorations' evaluation and treatment decision in primary molars / Influência dos critérios da FDI na avaliação de restaurações e decisão de tratamento em molares decíduos

Objective: This study investigated the impact of FDI criteria for evaluating restorations on examiners' decision-making compared with their previous personal judgment in primary teeth. Secondly, the possible factors related to changes when using the criteria, including the examiners' experience were explored. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study in a dental office setting was conducted selecting 27 resin composite restorations placed in primary molars in 11 children. Examinations of the restorations were performed by five undergraduate and five graduate dental students. First, the evaluations were performed based on personal judgment, and 2 weeks later, with FDI criteria. All examiners underwent training to use the FDI criteria after the first evaluation. The consensus of two benchmark examiners was considered to be the reference standard. Initially, a descriptive analysis was performed. Multiple Poisson regressions analyses were used to identify possible associated factors with outcomes - to be less or more invasive based on the FDI criteria than personal judgment. Results: The use of the FDI criteria changed the examiners' decisions in approximately 15% of the cases. Irrespective of examiners' experience, there was a trend of false results (compared to the reference examiners) when a change in the treatment decision was registered by using the FDI criteria. Examiners chose a less invasive option when assessing multi surface restorations with FDI criteria (PR=2.04, 95%CI=1.03-4.05; p=0.04). Examiners who spent more time for evaluation with FDI criteria were more invasive (PR=1.001, 95%CI=1.0001-1.002; p=0.03). Students were more invasive with the FDI criteria when examined children with higher dmf-t (PR=1.16, 95%CI=1.01-1.32; p=0.03). Conclusion: The use of the FDI criteria negatively influenced the restorations' evaluation and treatment decision in primary molars by undergraduate and graduate students.(AU)

Objetivo: Este estudo investigou o impacto dos critérios da FDI para avaliar restaurações na tomade de decisão feita pelos examinadores em comparação ao seu julgamento pessoal prévio em dentes decíduos. Secundariamente, foram explorados os possíveis fatores relacionados com mudanças causadas pelo uso dos critérios, incluindo a experiência dos examinadores. Material e Métodos: Um estudo transversal em ambiente de consultório odontológico foi conduzido selecionando 27 restaurações de resina composta realizado em molares decíduos em 11 crianças. As avaliações das restaurações foram realizadas por cinco estudantes de Graduação e cinco de Pós-graduação em Odontologia. As avaliações foram realizadas com base no julgamento pessoal e, duas semanas depois, com os critérios da FDI. Todos os examinadores foram treinados para utilizar os critérios da FDI após a primeira avaliação. O consenso de dois examinadores "padrão-ouro" foi considerado o padrão de referência. Inicialmente, uma análise descritiva foi realizada. Análises de regressão múltipla de Poisson foram utilizadas para identificar possíveis fatores associados com os desfechos ­ ser mais ou menos invasivo com o uso dos critérios da FDI em relação ao julgamento pessoal. Resultados: A utilização dos critérios do FDI alterou as decisões dos examinadores em aproximadamente 15% dos casos. Independente da experiência dos examinadores, houve uma tendência de resultados falsos (em comparação com os examinadores de referência) quando uma mudança na decisão de tratamento foi registrada usando os critérios da FDI. Os examinadores escolheram uma opção menos invasiva quando avaliaram restaurações envolvendo múltiplas superfícies com os critérios da FDI (RP = 2,04, IC 95% = 1,03-4,05; p = 0,04). Os examinadores que levaram mais tempo para avaliação das restaurações foram mais invasivos com o uso dos critérios da FDI (RP = 1,001, IC 95% = 1,0001-1,0002; p = 0,03). Os alunos foram mais invasivos com o uso dos critérios da FDI quando examinaram crianças com maior experiência de cárie (RP = 1,16, IC 95% = 1,01-1,32; p = 0,03). Conclusão: O uso dos critérios da FDI influenciou negativamente a avaliação das restaurações e decisão de tratamento em dentes decíduos realizada por estudantes de graduação e pós-graduação. (AU)

Use of flowable resin composite as an intermediate layer in class II restorations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of an intermediate layer of a flowable resin composite in class II resin composite restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, Embase, and Web of Science electronic databases, and the ClinicalTrials.gov website to identify laboratory and clinical studies that evaluated class II cavities with resin composite restorations with or without an intermediate layer of flowable resin composite. Two authors independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias and the quality of the evidence. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan5.3 with fixed-effects model comparing bond strength (MPa), fracture strength (Newton), and clinical (number of failures) outcomes between restorative techniques (with or without flowable resin composite as an intermediate layer). RESULTS: From 1707 potentially eligible studies, 140 in vitro studies and 14 clinical studies were selected for full-text analysis, and 11 were included in the systematic review, being 7 in vitro and 4 clinical studies. There was no statistically significant difference between the restorative techniques considering the outcomes evaluated. The heterogeneity found was null. The risk of bias was classified as medium for in vitro studies and unclear in most clinical studies. The quality of the evidence of the clinical studies was low. CONCLUSION: The use of flowable resin composite as an intermediate layer does not improve the effectiveness of the class II restorations based on laboratory and clinical outcomes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Flowable resin composite as an intermediate layer may be used for class II restorations; however, this technique does not improve the effectiveness of the class II restorations.

Bonding Performance of Universal and Contemporary Adhesives in Primary Teeth: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of In Vitro Studies.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature to compare the bond strength of universal adhesives with etch-and-rinse and self-etch systems to primary teeth. Methods: The search was carried out in PubMed® /MEDLINE, Scopus® , LILACS, Embase® , and Web of Science™ databases with no restrictions. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias. Direct comparisons among universal adhesive in etch-and-rinse (UER) and self-etch (USE) modes and etch-and-rinse (ER) and self-etch (SE) systems were performed considering different substrates (sound enamel and dentin, and carious dentin) through meta-analyses of random effects. A mixed treatment comparisons meta-analysis was also performed comparing the bond strength of all adhesive approaches on sound dentin. Results: From 3,276 potentially eligible studies, 18 were selected for full-text analysis, and eight were included in the systematic review. All studies included in the meta-analyses evaluated a mild universal adhesive (Scotchbond™ Universal). In direct comparisons, there was no difference between USE and SE to sound enamel (mean difference [MD] equals 5.22; 95 percent confidence interval [95% CI] equals -9.09 to 19.52). In carious dentin, the results favored only ER over USE (MD equals -3.88; 95% CI equals -7.40 to -0.37). In sound dentin, the bond strength values of UER were higher than ER (MD equals 5.50; 95% CI equals 4.03 to 6.96). The rank probability showed that the best treatment on sound dentin was UER. Conclusion: Pooled in vitro data suggest that a mild universal adhesive system can substitute the etch-and-rinse and self-etch systems for restoring primary teeth.

Evaluation of the Use of Potassium Iodide Application on Stained Demineralized Dentin Under Resin Composite Following Silver Diamine Fluoride Application.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of potassium iodide (KI) after applying silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on the staining of demineralized dentin covered or not by a composite resin layer. Methods: Dentin blocks from 30 bovine incisors were demineralized and randomly allocated in three groups (N equals 10): (1) control (no treatment); (2) treated with SDF; and (3) treated with SDF and KI. Half of the specimens of each group received a composite resin restoration immediately after treatment. A colorimetric evaluation, according to the CIE L*a*b* system, was performed at baseline and after seven, 14, 30, and 60 days. The ΔE data were analyzed using the generalized linear model (Δ equals 0.05). Results: The use of KI immediately after applying SDF decreased the dentin staining at all assessment times. SDF treatment only stained the dentin under composite resin after 60 days. The application of KI reduced the dentin under composite resin staining as ΔE values were similar to the control group even after 60 days. Conclusions: The use of potassium iodide minimizes the darkening of dentin and prevents the staining of the dentin under composite resin restorations in the long-term.

Shortening of etching time of the dentin in primary teeth restorations: a randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of shortening of etching time for dentin on the restoration survival after selective carious tissue removal in primary molars. This two-arm randomized clinical trial included sixty-two subjects (5-8 year-old) and 100 primary molars presenting moderate dentin carious lesions on occlusal surface. The sample was randomly assigned into groups previously to adhesive application (Adper Single Bond 2; 3M ESPE): etching time recommended by manufacturer (15 s) or reduced (7 s). Resin composite (Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative; 3M ESPE) was inserted in a single increment for all restorations. Restorations were evaluated at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months using FDI criteria. Survival estimates for restorations' longevity were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression analysis with shared frailty was used to assess the factors associated with failures (p < 0.05). The etching time did not influence the restorations' survival (HR 0.35 95%CI 0.11-1.12; p = 0.06). Mean estimated time of survival was 17.6 months (95%CI, 17.2-17.9). The survival rates at the 18-month follow-up were 75.7% and 91.4% (AFR: 16.9% and 5.7%) when primary dentin was acid etched for 15 and 7 s, respectively (log-rank p = 0.06). In conclusion, the etching time for dentin did not influence the clinical behavior of adhesives restorations. However, there was a tendency for better clinical outcome when using etching time of 7 s.

Choosing the Criteria for Clinical Evaluation of Composite Restorations: An Analysis of Impact on Reliabilty and Treatment Decision

Abstract Objective: To assess the reproducibility of two clinical criteria for the evaluation of restorations in primary teeth and the impact on treatment decision. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed selecting 71 resin-based composite restorations placed in primary molars of children who had sought dental treatment at a dental school. Two trained examiners evaluated independently the restorations using modified FDI and USPHS criteria. All restorations were assessed separately with each system in random order to avoid memory bias. Kappa statistics were used to determine inter-examiner reliability considering each parameter of both criteria and score final about treatment decision. McNemar test was used to compare the treatment decision with two criteria. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: Kappa values ranged from 0.28 to 0.93 with USPHS and 0.28 to 0.88 with FDI, considering each parameter separately. Inter-examiner agreement for treatment decision was excellent for both criteria (Kappa: 0.85-0.90). For clinical decision-making, no difference between criteria was found, irrespective of examiner. Conclusion: Low inter-examiner agreement for evaluation of each parameter of USPHS and FDI criteria does not reflect on reproducibility for treatment decision. Both criteria may be suitable for evaluation of composite restorations in primary teeth.

Shortening of etching time of the dentin in primary teeth restorations: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of shortening of etching time for dentin on the restoration survival after selective carious tissue removal in primary molars. This two-arm randomized clinical trial included sixty-two subjects (5-8 year-old) and 100 primary molars presenting moderate dentin carious lesions on occlusal surface. The sample was randomly assigned into groups previously to adhesive application (Adper Single Bond 2; 3M ESPE): etching time recommended by manufacturer (15 s) or reduced (7 s). Resin composite (Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative; 3M ESPE) was inserted in a single increment for all restorations. Restorations were evaluated at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months using FDI criteria. Survival estimates for restorations' longevity were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression analysis with shared frailty was used to assess the factors associated with failures (p < 0.05). The etching time did not influence the restorations' survival (HR 0.35 95%CI 0.11-1.12; p = 0.06). Mean estimated time of survival was 17.6 months (95%CI, 17.2-17.9). The survival rates at the 18-month follow-up were 75.7% and 91.4% (AFR: 16.9% and 5.7%) when primary dentin was acid etched for 15 and 7 s, respectively (log-rank p = 0.06). In conclusion, the etching time for dentin did not influence the clinical behavior of adhesives restorations. However, there was a tendency for better clinical outcome when using etching time of 7 s.

Does selective carious tissue removal of soft dentin increase the restorative failure risk in primary teeth?: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing the risk of experiencing restoration failure in primary teeth after complete and selective carious tissue removal of soft dentin. METHODS: The authors searched electronic databases (PubMed [MEDLINE], Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and the ClinicalTrials.gov Web site with manual searching and cross-referencing for trials reporting restoration failure after follow-up of 6 months or longer. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias and quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. The authors performed intention-to-treat and per-protocol meta-analyses and calculated odds ratios (OR) as effect estimates in the random-effects model. RESULTS: From 327 potentially eligible studies, the authors selected 23 for full-text screening and included 4. Results showed increased risk of experiencing restoration failure (intention-to-treat analysis, OR [95% confidence interval] 1.74 [1.01 to 3.00], and per-protocol analysis, OR [95% confidence interval] 1.79 [1.04 to 3.09]) after selective carious tissue removal of soft dentin. The risk of bias was high, and the quality of evidence was low. CONCLUSIONS: Selective carious tissue removal of soft dentin may increase the risk of experiencing restoration failure in primary teeth. However, the evidence level is insufficient for definitive conclusions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Patients with restorations performed after selective carious tissue removal of soft dentin should have shorter recall visit intervals to evaluate the restorations' quality and control caries disease, allowing for more conservative approaches, such as repair, in cases of defective restorations.