Appropriate and inappropriate referrals to a unit of conservative dentistry.

Inappropriate referrals to secondary care are an unnecessary cost, notwithstanding the effect on waiting lists. It is essential therefore that only those patients whose referrals are appropriate are actually referred for secondary care. This project aimed to determine whether referrals to a unit of conservative dentistry are appropriate.

Primary and secondary dental care: how ideal is the interface?

In our previous paper in this journal, we described an ideal interface between primary and secondary dental care in terms of equity, seamless care and efficiency and effectiveness. This paper examines the published evidence describing considerable ongoing problems with the interface under these headings and the ways in which those problems might be better described, quantified and addressed.

Primary and secondary dental care: the nature of the interface.

Specialist dental services are scarce resources and are often oversubscribed. A key element is how these services relate to their referral base, in other words the interface between primary and secondary dental care. Dentistry has several unique qualities when compared with medicine and the nature of the interface between primary and secondary dental care is consequently very different to the medical interface, whilst apparently sharing common features.

Successful restoration of load-bearing cavities in posterior teeth with direct-replacement resin-based composite.

Successful restoration of posterior teeth with resin-based restorative materials requires the clinician to be aware of the factors influencing success. These include correct patient and cavity selection, correct choice of material, identifying a matrix system that will achieve a tight contact, and correct placement methods. A means of avoiding stress due to polymerization shrinkage should also be used.

Systematic review of adherence to infection control guidelines in dentistry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes of dental health care workers (DHCWs) towards infection control procedures, to examine DHCWs' practising behaviour in respect of infection control, and to determine whether a relationship exists between knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.

Methods: Within this systematic review, study quality was assessed in line with selection criteria relating to study design, participants, interventions and outcome measures. Following data extraction, the heterogeneity of study design, targeted participants, sample size and outcome measures precluded a quantitative analysis.

Evaluation of the 1-year clinical performance of dentin-bonded ceramic crowns and four case reports.

Objective: Dentin-bonded crowns are a comparatively recent addition to the dentist's armamentarium. Although 1-year data cannot predict the long-term performance of restorations, it may be useful for new treatment modalities, given that it will describe early, catastrophic failures. In this study, the 1-year performance of 109 dentin-bonded crowns was assessed.

Academics for dental primary care.

Driven by the need to address integrated dental care, many UK dental schools have recognised the advantages of teaching dental practice, or dental primary care (DPC), as a separate and defined subject area. In such schools, DPC may be taught alongside specialist subjects such as restorative dentistry, oral surgery, oral medicine and those traditionally forming elements of the dental undergraduate curriculum. As a result, departments or units of general dental practice or DPC have been established.

Influence of patient factors on age of restorations at failure and reasons for their placement and replacement.

Objective: This study examined the reasons given by a selected group of dental practitioners for placement and replacement of restorations and correlated the data provided with patient factors, such as patients' age and gender, caries risk, occlusal function and oral hygiene, with restoration longevity.

Method: A group of general dental practitioners (GDPs) were recruited to take part in the study. Each participant was asked to record the reason for placement or replacement of restorations from a list of potential reasons.

Surface hardness of light-activated resin composites cured by two different visible-light sources: an in vitro study.

Objective: Microhardness values of upper and lower surfaces of disk specimens of 3 commercially available resin composites were compared and cured using both the traditional halogen source and a plasma arc lamp.

Method And Materials: Twenty samples of each of the resin composites were cured in nylon washers. Ten samples of each composite were cured using the appropriate halogen lamp protocol, and 10 samples of each were cured using the plasma lamp protocol.

Autoclave performance and operator knowledge of autoclave use in primary care: a survey of UK practices.

Changes in the delivery of health care have increased the demand for minor surgical and screening procedures in general practice. This has increased the risk of cross-infection with blood-borne viruses and the demand for sterile instruments. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and training of medical personnel in England and Wales on aspects of autoclave use, and to test the effectiveness of their practice autoclaves.

Techniques used by a group of United Kingdom-based dental practitioners during the provision of indirect tooth-coloured restorations.

A number of techniques involving the use of various instruments, brushes and devices have been described for the removal of excess luting material and subsequent finishing around the margins of indirect tooth-coloured restorations. There is little information available on the clinical techniques employed by UK dental practitioners in the placement of these restorations, or on the effectiveness of these techniques. A questionnaire was designed to elicit such information.

An assessment of the incidence of punctures in latex and non-latex dental examination gloves in routine clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the puncture resistance of a recently introduced non-latex, nitrile dental glove in comparison with a latex glove worn during routine clinical dental procedures.

Setting: Dentists in general dental practice working within the UK during 1999.

Subjects And Methods: 2,020 gloves worn by five general dental practitioners were examined for punctures following standard clinical use by a water inflation method.

Cross-infection control in dental practice in the Republic of Ireland.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the infection control procedures used in general dental practices in the Republic of Ireland.

Design: Postal survey.

Setting: The Republic of Ireland.

Follow-up evaluation of a series of dentin-bonded ceramic restorations.

Purpose: The results of a retrospective evaluation of 60 dentin-bonded full-coverage restorations with an average time in service of 2.4 years previously have been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the crowns after a further 2 years in service.

Functional outcome of high-pressure injection injuries of the hand.

Background: High-pressure injection (HPI) injury of the hand is a serious injury that can be potentially devastating. There have been a number of publications on the results of its treatment, but we are not aware of a report on the functional outcome of these hands.

Methods: We assessed the functional outcome of 15 patients with HPI injuries.

Sonographic examination of lateral epicondylitis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the sonographic appearance of the common extensor origin in cadavers and asymptomatic volunteers, and to relate this appearance to the findings in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Subjects And Methods: Seventy-two elbows in 71 patients with lateral epicondylitis were examined on sonography. Most of the patients (60/71) gave a history of repetitive microtrauma.

Allergy to a common component of resin-bonding systems: a case report.

Allergies to materials routinely used in dentistry are becoming more prevalent. The hydrophilic resin 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate is a common constituent of systems designed to bond resin-based restorative materials to dentine. It has been considered to have a high sensitizing potential, although dental patient-related allergies to the resin appear to be rare.