How long will it last? The expected longevity of prosthodontic and restorative treatment.

With the Internet facilitating access to vast amounts of free information, dental practitioners face providing treatment for an increasingly informed public. However, the available content is not filtered, and it can be difficult for patients to discriminate between research-informed evidence and "glamorised" material of dubious origin. Patients reasonably expect a return for their investment and want to know how long their treatment will last.

Evaluating the efficiency of caries removal using an Er:YAG laser driven by fluorescence feedback control.

Introduction: Caries lesions in dental hard tissues autofluoresce when exposed to light of certain wavelengths, whereas sound tissues do not, and this can be used as an in vitro histological marker for dental caries. Detection of autofluorescence is the basis of KaVo DIAGNOdent™ technology, and provides objective feedback control of laser-stimulated ablation of dental caries for the KaVo Key Laser 3™. This Er:YAG laser operates at 2940nm wavelength, and is effective at removal of infected dental hard tissues.

Effect of the smear layer on a pulp proximity-indicating instrument.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of removing or modifying the smear layer on the indication provided by the Prepometer pulp proximity-indicating instrument. Third molars were prepared to produce flat surfaces in the coronal dentine, and control Prepometer LED readings were made. Group E was treated with 18% EDTA and Group T with Tubulicid.

In vitro demineralisation of the cervical region of human teeth.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible role for demineralisation of the cervical region of human teeth in the development of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs).

Materials And Methods: Freshly extracted human premolars were demineralised and prepared for nanoindentation and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. After 1 day or 2 days demineralisation in a solution of pH 4.

A suitable base material for composite resin restorations: zinc oxide eugenol.

Objective: This in vitro study evaluated the effects of a zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) base on the mechanical properties of a composite resin restoration.

Methods: Class I cavities were prepared on plastic teeth and filled with ZOE plus composite resin, following standard clinical procedures. The samples were sectioned sagittally and the ZOE-resin interface was exposed.

A novel instrument to determine pulp proximity.

The aim was to determine whether extracted teeth could be used to test the Prepometer instrument, which indicates pulp proximity with green/amber/red light emitting diodes. Third molars were reduced to a plane in dentine and Prepometer readings made. Dentine was removed in 0.

The use of endodontically treated teeth as abutments for crowns, fixed partial dentures, or removable partial dentures: a literature review.

Endodontically treated teeth are commonly required to serve as abutments for crowns, fixed partial dentures, or removable partial dentures. Many clinicians are of the opinion that endodontically treated teeth do not serve as well as vital teeth. This article reviews the pertinent literature and seeks to reach a consensus for the use of endodontically treated teeth with each type of prosthesis.

Immediately restored, single-tapered implants in the anterior maxilla: prosthodontic and aesthetic outcomes after 1 year.

Background: Conventional implant protocols advocate a two-stage technique with a load-free, submerged healing period. Recent studies suggest that immediate restoration of single implants may be a viable treatment option.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prosthodontic and aesthetic peri-implant mucosal outcomes of immediately restored, Southern single-tapered implants in the anterior maxilla after 1 year.

A randomized controlled clinical trial of conventional and immediately loaded tapered implants with screw-retained crowns.

Purpose: Surgical, prosthodontic, and esthetic outcomes of conventional and immediately loaded, single, tapered, roughened-surface Southern implants in the anterior maxilla that were restored with screw-retained crowns were compared over 1 year.

Materials And Methods: Standardized surgical and prosthodontic procedures were followed and accepted criteria were used for assessment.

Results: There were no significant differences within or between the control and test groups for age, gender, bone quality or quantity, implant stability measurements at surgery, or implant length.

Distal implants to modify the Kennedy classification of a removable partial denture: a clinical report.

Dental implants or precision attachments can be used to resolve the bilateral distal extension removable partial denture (RPD) dilemma. This report describes the fabrication of a mandibular implant-supported chromium-cobalt RPD with a combination of bilateral single molar implants and metal ceramic crowns using the principles of the channel-shoulder-pin system. The maxillary arch was restored with splinted metal crowns and a conventional RPD retained by extracoronal precision attachments.

Comparison of two methods for the removal of root canal posts.

Objective: To compare the application of ultrasound with the use of an engine-driven trephine bur to remove parallel-sided root canal posts.

Method And Materials: Single-rooted human canine teeth were decoronated and prepared to receive preformed titanium posts. The posts were cemented with Panavia F resin cement.

Effect of thermocycling on the retention of glass-fiber root canal posts.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of thermocycling on the retention of glass-fiber and resin posts.

Method And Materials: Forty premolar and canine tooth roots were embedded in acrylic blocks shaped to fit into a retention device. The roots were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 to receive either Lightposts or Luscent Anchors which were cemented into 9-mm-deep post spaces, with Panavia F resin cement.

A comparison of the retention of tooth-colored posts.

Objective: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the retention of five different esthetic post systems of similar dimensions in extracted teeth using titanium posts as controls.

Method And Materials: Sixty recently extracted single-rooted, caries-free teeth were sectioned horizontally and mounted in acrylic resin. The samples were randomly allocated into six groups of 10 for post preparation.

Mandibular overdentures: professional time for prosthodontic maintenance during the first year of service using three different implant systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the professional time required for the prosthodontic maintenance events of mandibular implant overdentures during the first year of service using three different implant systems (ITI, Steri-Oss, or Southern).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-two mandibular implant overdenture patients were allocated to three equal groups, each treated with a different implant system. Data on prosthodontic maintenance events during the first year were categorized and analyzed according to professional time allocation per procedure.

Mandibular overdentures: comparative evaluation of prosthodontic maintenance of three different implant systems during the first year of service.

Purpose: This prospective study evaluated the prosthodontic maintenance requirements during the first year of service of mandibular overdentures supported by two unsplinted implants using three different implant systems.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-two patients randomly allocated to three equal groups were each provided with a conventional complete maxillary denture and a mandibular overdenture supported by two unsplinted implants. A different implant system was used for each group (Steri-Oss, ITI, or Southern Implants), and their prosthodontic maintenance requirements were compared, primarily for the patrix and matrix.