Parental attitudes on restorative materials as factors influencing current use in pediatric dentistry.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine pediatric dentists' current practices and the perceptions about parents' opinions and how those parental preferences regarding dental materials influence dentists' practices.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 500 randomly selected active members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Twenty-five items queried demographics, use of restorative materials, perceptions of parents' attitudes towards materials, and dentists' reactions to parents' concerns.

The depth of cure of clear versus opaque sealants as influenced by curing regimens.

Background: The authors conducted a study to test the hypothesis that light-curing regimens affect depth of cure of clear versus opaque sealants.

Methods: The authors light-cured samples of one clear and two opaque sealants at 20 seconds, 0 millimeters; 40 seconds, 0 mm; and 40 seconds, 2.2 mm (n = 5 each).

Evidence-based clinical recommendations for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs.

This article presents evidence-based clinical recommendations for use of pit-and-fissure sealants developed by an expert panel convened by the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs. The panel addressed the following clinical questions. Under what circumstances should sealants be placed to prevent caries? Does placing sealants over early (noncavitated) lesions prevent progression of the lesion? Are there conditions that favor the placement of resin-based versus glass ionomer cement sealants in terms of retention or caries prevention? Are there any techniques that could improve sealants' retention and effectiveness in caries prevention? Staff of the ADA Division of Science conducted a MEDLINE search to identify systematic reviews and clinical studies published after the identified systematic reviews.

Permanent tooth development in children with cleft lip and palate.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) quantify and compare permanent tooth development of cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients to age- and gender-matched controls; (2) relate these findings to cleft type and severity; and (3) examine delays in individual permanent maxillary teeth related to their proximity to the cleft.

Methods: Standardized methods using panoramic radiographs were employed to stage dental development and dental age for 49 children with clefts and 49 matched controls. Data were analyzed with a mixed linear model.

Effect of adhesive systems and bevel on enamel margin integrity in primary and permanent teeth.

Purpose: This study compared the effectiveness of self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems in bonding to the beveled and nonbeveled margins of primary and permanent teeth.

Methods: This in vitro, factorial-designed study allowed evaluation of 3 factors: (1) tooth type; (2) presence of a bevel; and (3) adhesive type. Two preparations, each including a beveled and nonbeveled margin, were completed on buccal surfaces of 60 extracted molars (30 primary and 30 permanent).

Evidence-based clinical recommendations for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs.

Background: This article presents evidence-based clinical recommendations for use of pit-and-fissure sealants developed by an expert panel convened by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. The panel addressed the following clinical questions: Under what circumstances should sealants be placed to prevent caries? Does placing sealants over early (noncavitated) lesions prevent progression of the lesion? Are there conditions that favor the placement of resin-based versus. glass ionomer cement sealants in terms of retention or caries prevention? Are there any techniques that could improve sealants' retention and effectiveness in caries prevention?

Types Of Studies Reviewed: Staff of the ADA Division of Science conducted a MEDLINE search to identify systematic reviews and clinical studies published after the identified systematic reviews.

Risk factors for early childhood caries in Canadian preschool children seeking care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine family characteristics, beliefs, and habits that contribute to early and severe caries in young children in Canada.

Methods: A survey was administered to: (1) parents of 139 children diagnosed with early childhood caries (ECC) in 5 pediatric dentistry practices in Canada over a 33-month period (group 1); and (2) parents of all normal referrals (carious and noncarious children) in one of the practices over a 3 month period (group 2). Group 2 prevented studying an exclusive or polarized population, and allowed direct comparison between children with decoy and without decoy.

Chemomechanical caries removal in children: an operator's and pediatric patients' responses.

Background: This study investigated an operator's and pediatric patients' responses to chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) versus the traditional method (TM) of caries removal using a handpiece and a round bur when treating dentinal-depth occlusal lesions with minimal enamel access in primary molars.

Methods: Data were collected from 50 children at baseline and before, during and after caries removal using CMCR or TM. The subjects in the CMCR group were on average younger than the subjects in the TM group and had more deep lesions.

Chemomechanical caries removal in children: efficacy and efficiency.

Background: The authors investigated the effectiveness of chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) compared with the traditional method (TM) of caries removal using a round bur when treating dentinal-depth occlusal lesions with minimal enamel access in primary molars. The authors also compare CMCR with TM to determine if it had a higher efficacy and could be used more frequently without the subject's having to undergo local anesthesia.

Methods: The authors collected data from 50 children during operative appointments at which caries was removed using one of the two methods.

The use of pit and fissure sealants.

This paper reviews key issues of sealant use and methodology and poses recommendations to inform the discussion toward a consensus statement by participants. A comprehensive review of sealant literature, including policy recommendations from previous conferences that reviewed best practices for sealant use, was completed. Building on previous review papers and on previous policy statements by dental and public health groups, this paper discusses key questions about sealant use in light of contemporary caries data and cost-benefit analyses.

Remineralized dentin lesions induced by glass ionomer demonstrate increased resistance to subsequent acid challenge.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that remineralized dentin lesions induced by glass ionomer are less vulnerable to subsequent acid challenge.

Method And Materials: Baseline demineralized (BDe) lesions were created in 50 bovine dentin slices immersed for 3 weeks in acid solution. A resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) was applied to the specimens before immersion in salivalike solution to allow remineralization (Re) for 2 weeks (V2W) or 6 weeks (V6W).

Geographic distribution of pediatric dentists in private practice in the United States.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the geographic distribution of pediatric dentists in private practice across the United States; and (2) compare state-based pediatric dental practitioner-to-children ratios.

Methods: Enumeration of pediatric dental practitioners was derived from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's 2000-01 Membership Directory by including all active and fellow members who were in private practice in the United States. Population information for the 50 states and District of Columbia was obtained from Census 2000 data available on the US Census Bureau's Web site.

Occlusal sealant success over ten years in a private practice: comparing longevity of sealants placed by dentists, hygienists, and assistants.

Purpose: The purpose of this 10-year, retrospective, cohort study was to evaluate the success of permanent molar sealants by comparing the effectiveness of sealants placed by dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants in a private dental practice, with all operators using an identical, standardized, application technique and 4-handed dentistry.

Methods: From 810 patient records that met entry criteria, the long-term follow-up records of 3,194 permanent first molars were evaluated. Data were collected and evaluated by survival analyses methods for: (1) time to first failure (caries or restoration of the sealed surface); (2) fluoride history; (3) caries experience; (4) operator type; (5) behavior at sealant placement; (6) tooth type; (7) age at placement; and (8) patient gender.

A snapshot of the U.S. postdoctoral pediatric dentistry faculty workforce, 2002.

This study characterizes the faculty shortage in U.S. postdoctoral pediatric dentistry (PD) education.

Amelogenin p.M1T and p.W4S mutations underlying hypoplastic X-linked amelogenesis imperfecta.

Mutations in the human amelogenin gene (AMELX, Xp22.3) cause a phenotypically diverse set of inherited enamel malformations. We hypothesize that the effects of specific mutations on amelogenin protein structure and expression will correlate with the enamel phenotype, clarify amelogenin structure/function relationships, and improve the clinical diagnosis of X-linked amelogenesis imperfecta (AI).

Clinical trial of a self-etching adhesive for sealant application: success at 24 months with Prompt L-Pop.

Purpose: To evaluate the 2-year clinical sealant success when using Prompt L-Pop (3M-ESPE), the first self-etching adhesive, as the sole etching and adhesive step prior to sealant placement.

Methods: Patients ages 7-13 years with matched pairs of permanent molars needing sealants were enrolled into an ongoing clinical study of sealant success. First and/or second permanent molars were randomly assigned to control (sealant only after phosphoric acid etch) or Prompt plus sealant groups in a split-mouth, matched pair study design.

Indirect pulp treatment of primary posterior teeth: a retrospective study.

Purpose: This study was performed to assess retrospectively the clinical and radiographic success of indirect pulp treatment (IPT) on primary posterior teeth, and to compare the influence of caries risk, skills of the operator, and restorative material on the success of IPT.

Methods: A retrospective review of records of patients treated with IPT in the pediatric dental clinic at The University of Michigan, School of Dentistry from July 1993 through July 1999 was completed in January 2000. Two hundred fifty-five records with IPT were reviewed, from which 132 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 187 primary posterior teeth treated with an IPT.

The use of pit and fissure sealants.

This paper reviews key issues of sealant use and methodology and poses recommendations to inform the discussion toward a consensus statement by participants. A comprehensive review of sealant literature, including policy recommendations from previous conferences that reviewed best practices for sealant use, was completed. Building on the review paper by Simonsen and on previous policy statements by dental and public health groups, this paper discusses key questions about sealant use in light of contemporary caries data and cost-benefit analyses.

Preventing the transfer of Streptococcus mutans from primary molars to permanent first molars using chlorhexidine.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of 1% chlorhexidine-containing wax on primary molars during the period of eruption of the first permanent molars could prevent the transfer of certain oral flora, namely Streptococcus mutans, to the permanent molars.

Methods: Fourteen children with a mean age of 6.5 years (7 males and 7 females) were assigned into two groups: a chlorhexidine group (n=9) in which 1% chlorhexidine-containing wax was painted on primary molars on one side of the mouth; and a placebo wax group (n=5) in which a similar wax, but without chlorhexidine, was painted on primary molars on the other side of the mouth.

Microleakage of a new improved glass ionomer restorative material in primary and permanent teeth.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the microleakage of the new conventional glass ionomer, Fuji IXgp in comparison to another conventional glass ionomer (Fuji II), a resin modified glass ionomer (Vitremer) and a composite resin (TPH) in primary and permanent teeth.

Methods: Twenty-five extracted human premolars and 13 primary molars were used. Preparations were made on the center of the buccal and lingual aspects of the premolars (Group A) and the mesio buccal and disto buccal surface as well as the mesio lingual and disto lingual surface of the primary molars (Group B).

Guiding and managing the child dental patient: a fresh look at old pedagogy.

Society's approach to children during the past half-century has changed dramatically, and a transformation of medical and hospital pediatric care has followed. Dentistry has been slower to incorporate sound, child-friendly approaches to care. Nonetheless, much has changed in dental practice pertaining to children.

Use of one-bottle adhesive as an intermediate bonding layer to reduce sealant microleakage on saliva-contaminated enamel.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of three different adhesives, each used as an intermediary layer, on microleakage of sealants applied under condition of salivary contamination.

Materials And Methods: Six different experimental conditions were compared, 3 with adhesives and 3 without. After prophylaxis and acid etching of enamel, salivary contamination was placed for 10 s.

Improved sealant retention with bonding agents: a clinical study of two-bottle and single-bottle systems.

Recent in vitro work and a short clinical study suggest that adding a bonding agent layer between sealant and saliva-contaminated enamel allows for adequate bond strength and retention of resin sealants and may improve success of all sealant applications. This five-year clinical study scored 617 occlusal and 441 buccal/lingual molar sealants, with use of a split-mouth design, with half receiving sealant alone and half bonding agent plus sealant. Treatment effects and potential risk factors for sealant failure were tested by means of a Cox regression model.