Comparison of Resonance Frequency Analysis and of Quantitative Ultrasound to Assess Dental Implant Osseointegration.

Dental implants are widely used in the clinic. However, there remain risks of failure, which depend on the implant stability. The aim of this paper is to compare two methods based on resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and on quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and that aim at assessing implant stability. Eighty-one identical dental implants were inserted in the iliac crests of 11 sheep. The QUS and RFA measurements were realized after different healing times (0, 5, 7, and 15 weeks). The results obtained with the QUS (respectively RFA) method were significantly different when comparing two consecutive healing time for 97% (respectively, 18%) of the implants. The error made on the estimation of the healing time when analyzing the results obtained with the QUS technique was around 10 times lower than that made when using the RFA technique. The results corresponding to the dependence of the ISQ versus healing time were significantly different when comparing two directions of RFA measurement. The results show that the QUS method allows a more accurate determination of the evolution of dental implant stability when compared to the RFA method. This study paves the way towards the development of a medical device, thus providing a decision support system to dental surgeons.

[The standardization of China dental technology of advanced vocational and technical education (draft)].

Advanced vocational education of dental technology aims to cultivate high-quality professional personnel with technical skills who will take the jobs related to various types of dental prosthesis fabricating technology. The standardized training process is a prerequisite for training qualified dental technical personnel, and strengthening quality supervision is the key to ensure the quality of education. In order to ensure the domestic talents of dental technology professional training quality, and to standardize the dental technology education of relevant domestic universities and colleges, this paper formulates the criteria of China dental technology of advanced vocational education in combination with the China high education standards of stomatology, the international standards of medical education, domestic standards of medical education and the criteria of dental technology made by National Health Vocational Education Committee. This criteria includes education purpose, plan, examination, student management, teachers, educational resource, assessment, administration, reform and development.

Understanding dental CAD/CAM for restorations--accuracy from a mechanical engineering viewpoint.

As is the case in the field of medicine, as well as in most areas of daily life, digital technology is increasingly being introduced into dental practice. Computer-aided design/ computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) solutions are available not only for chairside practice but also for creating inlays, crowns, fixed partial dentures (FPDs), implant abutments, and other dental prostheses. CAD/CAM dental practice can be considered as the handling of devices and software processing for the almost automatic design and creation of dental restorations. However, dentists who want to use dental CAD/CAM systems often do not have enough information to understand the variations offered by such technology practice. Knowledge of the random and systematic errors in accuracy with CAD/CAM systems can help to achieve successful restorations with this technology, and help with the purchasing of a CAD/CAM system that meets the clinical needs of restoration. This article provides a mechanical engineering viewpoint of the accuracy of CAD/ CAM systems, to help dentists understand the impact of this technology on restoration accuracy.

Critical evaluation of ex vivo restoration of carious equine maxillary cheek teeth infundibulae following high-pressure gas and micro-particle abrasion.

Infundibular caries of the equine maxillary cheek teeth is an important disorder that can lead to dental fracture or apical infection. Treatment by removing food debris and carious dental tissue from affected infundibulae using high-pressure abrasion with aluminium hydroxide micro-particles, followed by filling the cleaned defect with endodontic restorative materials is a recommended treatment. However, although anecdotally considered a successful treatment option, there is currently no objective evidence to support this claim. Forty maxillary cheek teeth (CT) that contained 55 infundibulae with caries (mainly grade 2) were extracted post-mortem from 21 adult horses. Five of the CT were sectioned prior to treatment to facilitate visual examination of the carious infundibulae. The remaining carious infundibulae were cleaned using high-pressure abrasion with aluminium hydroxide particles and five CT were sectioned to assess the efficacy of this cleaning process. The remaining 30 CT containing 39 carious infundibulae were then filled with a composite restorative material. The efficacy of this restoration was assessed by computed tomography imaging followed by direct visual examination after sectioning the teeth. Only 46% (18/39) of restored infundibulae, all with shallow (mean 9.6 mm deep) defects, were fully cleaned of food debris and carious material, and filled with restorative material to their full depth. Of these 18, 11 had peripheral defects around the restoration, leaving just 18% (7/39) of restorations without any gross defects. The remaining 54% (21/39) of infundibulae (mean depth of infundibular caries defect, 18.3 mm) still contained food debris and/or carious material in more apical locations, with infundibulae with the deepest caries defects being the least effectively cleaned. The findings of this study indicate that high-pressure micro-particle abrasion is only effective in cleaning food debris from shallow, carious CT infundibulae and consequently, the majority of subsequent infundibular restorations are imperfect.

Cleaning efficiency of anatomic endodontic technology, ProFile System and Manual Instrumentation in oval-shaped root canals: an in vitro study.

AIM: This in vitro study is an attempt to compare the effectiveness in cleaning oval shaped root canals using Anatomic Endodontic Technology (AET®), ProFile system® and Manual Instrumentation with K-files. METHODOLOGY: Sixty oval shaped single rooted maxillary and mandibular premolars with straight canals were divided in to three groups. The root canals were, confirmed as being oval shape by means of radiographs made in a buccolingual and mesiodistal direction. Automated canal preparation was performed using Anatomic Endodontic Technology (group 1) and the ProFile system® (group 2). Manual instrumentation (group 3) was performed with k-files. Irrigation was performed using alternatively 3% NaOCl and 17% EDTA, followed by rinsing with normal saline. The roots were split longitudinally into two halves and examined under a scanning electron microscope. The presence of debris and smear layer was recorded at distances 1, 5 and 10 mm from the working length using a three step scoring scale. Mean scores for debris and smear layer was calculated and statistically analyzed for between and within groups significance, using the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric ANOVA test and Bonferroni's multiple comparison test. RESULTS: At 1, 5 and 10 mm levels the root canals prepared with AET had significantly less surface debris and smear layer on the canal walls as compared to canals prepared with ProFile system® or manual instrumentation. For all three groups significantly lower mean smear layer scores (p < 0.05) were recorded at 5 and 10 mm levels compared with the 1 mm level. Significantly lower mean debris scores (p < 0.05) were also recorded at 5 and 10 mm levels for the AET group whereas no significant differences were found between the three levels for the ProFile system® and manual instrumentation groups. CONCLUSION: Although better instrumentation scores were obtained in canals prepared with AET, complete cleanliness was not achieved with any of the techniques and instruments investigated.

Changes in orthodontic treatment modalities in the past 20 years: exploring the link between technology and scientific evidence.

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE: Is there a link between the many perceived advances in orthodontic techniques/therapy and science in the past 20 years? The purpose of this paper is to take five topics and match the perceptions with the scientific evidence. The variety of appliances and the swings in treatment philosophy have been dramatic, including the swing from extraction to non-extraction therapy, the introduction of space-age wires, appliances that grow mandibles, the introduction and extraordinary growth of Invisalign, and reduced friction brackets to reduce treatment time, all with claims by manufacturers of better results than ever before. The focus is on faster treatment, reduced visits/appointments and superior results. Most of these 'advancements' represent what has been the 'juggernaut of technology'. Five questions are posed, and an evidence-based approach is used to critically examine the literature in these selected topics.

New Zealand dental technicians and continuing education: findings from a qualitative survey.

Under the 2003 Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act, New Zealand registered dental technicians are subject to mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Internationally, little published literature has examined dental technicians' perspectives of CPD and CPD needs, and there is no published literature relating to the New Zealand context. Available research highlights the importance of CPD for maintaining high professional standards, ensuring patient safety, allowing dental technicians to keep abreast of current research and technological advances, fostering peer networks, and promoting job satisfaction. In 2009, an online open-ended questionnaire was developed to examine New Zealand dental and clinical dental technicians' perspectives of CPD and their perceived CPD needs. In total, 45 New Zealand registered dental technicians responded. Questionnaire responses provided rich qualitative insights into dental technicians' wide-ranging perceptions of CPD, factors that make CPD involvement more or less difficult and more or less desirable, and ways in which CPD access and relevance might be improved. This paper discusses the survey findings in the light of the existing literature on CPD and in relation to the unique New Zealand regulatory environment. It highlights the factors which respondents identified as shaping their CPD decisions, barriers to CPD engagement, perceived CPD needs, suggestions as to how the current CPD system could be improved, and areas for future research.

An audit of dental prescriptions between clinics and dental laboratories.

AIM: To discover the quality of written instructions from dentists to dental technicians and the nature of non-compliant prescriptions. METHOD: An audit of laboratory prescription compliance was conducted within an NHS Trust Dental Teaching Hospital to determine the level of communication between dentists and dental technicians. One hundred and fifty prescriptions were audited from dental undergraduates and qualified dentists throughout the different departments. RESULTS: A total of two-thirds of prescriptions were considered non-compliant and failed to meet relevant ethical and legal guidelines. This problem was seen throughout all departments and at all professional levels. CONCLUSION: A breakdown in communication between dentists and technicians through the use of prescriptions is evident even within a close working environment.

Health technology assessment in oral health.

Health-care costs are rising at an alarmingly fast rate worldwide, particularly in developed countries such as the United States. This is predominantly a result of the development of new, high-cost health technologies intended for improved diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of health technology assessment is to systematically determine the true benefits of new technologies, taking into account clinical efficacy/effectiveness and cost as well as societal preference and ethical issues. In this report, the purpose of health technology assessment is explained in light of new developments in oral health technology, particularly intraoral implants. This information is intended to educate and to challenge oral health opinion leaders to consider all of the issues involved in the development and diffusion of new oral health technologies.

Accuracy of mechanical torque devices for implants used in Brazilian dental offices.

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of mechanical torque devices in delivering target torque values in dental offices in Salvador, Brazil. A team of researchers visited 16 dental offices, and the clinicians applied torque values (20 and 32 Ncm) to electronic torque controllers. Five repetitions were completed at each torque value and data were collected. When 20 Ncm of torque was used, 62.5% of measured values were accurate (within 10% of the target value). For 32 Ncm, however, only 37.5% of these values were achieved. Several of the tested mechanical torque devices were inaccurate.