The biomechanical principles of restoring a dentition with dental implants: A General Dental Practitioner's perspective.

Dental implants continue to increase in popularity as a method of replacing missing or failing teeth and, in doing so, this increased prevalence is likely to present as a range of scenarios for the general dental practitioner and dental hygienist, whether they have an interest in the field or not. Many of these scenarios will relate to the restorative and post-treatment phases of treatment, where the biomechanical performance of the restoration will need to be understood by the treating clinician in the primary care setting. This article aims to highlight the unique biomechanical nature of dental implant restorations, the differences between a natural tooth held by periodontal ligament fibres and a dental implant ankylosed to bone, the consideration of restoring a natural tooth opposing a dental implant, and the long-term effect of changes in the occlusion and their impact on previously placed dental implant restorations.

Prognostic value of CD44 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

CD44 as a marker of cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be correlated with tumor growth, cell migration, metastasis and chemo-radiotherapy resistance of cancers. However, the prognostic value of CD44 in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) remains controversial. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the correlation of CD44 expression with the prognosis of OSCC through a meta-analysis.

Clinical considerations in the application of direct composite for tooth wear.

Various techniques are available for the application of composite to restore worn teeth. Different techniques may be chosen based on the clinical presentation or clinician preference. However, for composite to be successful, there are numerous factors which must be considered in order to optimise the outcome.

Indications for the use of direct composite restorations in the management of tooth wear.

The increasing prevalence of tooth surface loss has been widely reported. Patients present with varying degrees of tooth wear and consideration is given to whether a prevention and monitoring approach, or a treatment and restoration approach, is appropriate. A missed diagnosis or excessively prolonged monitoring risks progression to the detriment of a successful outcome, with the potential compromise on the quality and quantity of tooth structure available for predictable adhesive dentistry.

Smile makeover treatments.

The demand for aesthetic smile makeover treatments is increasing, especially with the rise in social media use. Historically, healthy tooth structure was sacrificed in order to achieve rapid results but this would invariably lead to compromise of the occlusion and a less-than-ideal result.Multi-disciplinary treatment planning, including the use of orthodontic treatment, is now routinely used in order to achieve optimal results.

Occlusion: is there a third way? A discussion paper.

This paper does not set out to describe the reasons why a new concept of dental care should be deemed as acceptable and recognised as mainstream. Rather, the starting point of this paper is the belief that some dentists who are increasing the overall vertical dimension for worn dentition patients are not using the protocols of the traditional 're-organised approach'. If adhesive direct restorations are used, there seems to be anecdotal indication that despite not restoring in the terminal hinge axis, it can have a successful outcome.

Discoloration and force degradation of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures.

Objective:: The aim of the present study was to evaluate color changes and force degradation of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures in different stretching patterns during a 8-weeks period.

Methods:: Two elastomers with the minimum and two with the maximum color changing, and gray elastomers of two brands (American Orthodontics and Ortho Technology) were selected according to an opinion poll with clinicians and color changes after 4 weeks of intraoral use were evaluated. These elastomers were mounted on special jigs fabricated using a CAD-CAM technique, underwent different stretching patterns and the force was measured in 0, 24 hours, 2, 4 and 8 weeks.

Cl II Malocclusion Treatment, Using the Modified Twin Block Appliance Coordinated with Fixed Orthodontics in a Postmenarche Patient.

Functional appliances have been used for treatment of Class II patients for a long time. The main objective of therapy with functional appliances is to induce supplementary lengthening of the mandible by stimulating increased growth at the condylar cartilage. The Twin Block appliance is one of the most commonly used functional appliances.

Dental complications of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: guidance for physicians.

There is potential for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) to be under-diagnosed by physicians. A quick, focused examination, requiring no special equipment, of a patients' dentition can assist in making a more accurate diagnosis where GORD is suspected. Guidance is provided for physicians as to what intra-oral signs are suggestive of intrinsic dental erosion, which is a clinical feature of GORD and its associated conditions.

Evaluation of the effect of different stretching patterns on force decay and tensile properties of elastomeric ligatures.

Background: There have been numerous researches on elastomeric ligatures, but clinical conditions in different stages of treatment are not exactly similar to laboratory conditions. The aim of this in vitro study was to simulate clinical conditions and evaluate the effect of three stretching patterns on the amount of force, tensile strength (TS) and extension to TS of the elastomers during 8 weeks.

Materials And Methods: Forces, TS and extension to TS of two different brands of elastomers were measured at initial, 24 h and 2, 4, and 8-week intervals using a testing machine.

Validity and reliability of a three-dimensional dental cast simulator for arch dimension measurements.

Background: The accuracy and reproducibility of measurements in a locally made three dimensional (3D) simulator was assessed and compared with manual caliper measurements.

Materials And Methods: A total of 20 casts were scanned by our laser scanner. Software capabilities included dimensional measurements, transformation and rotation of the cast as a whole, separation and rotation of each tooth and clip far.

Implant placement in patients with oral bisphosphonate therapy: a case series.

Background: Although the effect of bisphosphonates on dental implant osseointegration is not clear, dental implant failures attributable to oral bisphosphonate therapy have been reported in patients with osteoporosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate implant survival in patients with a history of bisphosphonate therapy in a retrospective survey.

Materials And Methods: A total of 46 ITI implants placed in 21 osteoporotic patients (females; average age 53 years, range 42-79 years) were evaluated with regard to probing depth, mobility, thread exposure, and bleeding on probing.

Vital tooth bleaching in dental practice: 3. Biological, dental and legal issues.

Unlabelled: The final section of this series examines both the evidence for the safety of external bleaching with hydrogen peroxide and related products and the legal position in the UK with regard to their sale and use in general dental practice. Potential side-effects are examined, including biological effects and dental effects, with a review of the current evidence. The EU Cosmetics and Medical Device Directive are both described and their impact on the provision of tooth bleaching in the UK is explained.

Vital tooth bleaching in dental practice: 2. Novel bleaching systems.

Unlabelled: This paper describes some of the novel commercial approaches to tooth bleaching. Known as 'direct-to-consumer' products there are two main systems available, one employing coated, cellulose strips and the other a paint-on gel. A further development is the production of dentifrices that contain active hydrogen peroxide, made possible by the use of dual chambered tubes.

Vital tooth bleaching in dental practice: 1. Professional bleaching.

Unlabelled: As dental health improves, with the concurrent drop in the provision of basic restorative care, patients are now asking their dentists to provide aesthetic treatments rather than the treatment of disease. Tooth bleaching is one such treatment that is frequently described in consumer magazines and television shows, driving consumer interest in this, apparently, benign therapy. This three-part series demonstrates the techniques that can be employed, within the dental practice or under the supervision of a clinician, those systems that can be bought by patients over the counter and, finally, a discussion of the biological effects of peroxide-containing solutions and the legal position on such products in the UK.

A comparison of the depths produced using three different tooth preparation techniques.

Statement Of Problem: Inadequate preparation of teeth for metal ceramic crowns can significantly influence the ultimate form and longevity of the definitive restoration, as well as adversely affect the supporting tissues.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect that 3 different tooth preparation techniques had on an operator's ability to appropriately and consistently prepare teeth for metal ceramic crowns.

Material And Methods: Thirty typodont maxillary central incisor teeth were mounted individually and randomly allocated to 3 equal groups (A, B, and C).