Cervical wear pathobiology by robot-simulated 3-year toothbrushing - New methodological approach.

Objectives: An ex-vivo study was aimed at (i) programming clinically validated robot three-year random toothbrushing, (ii) evaluating cervical macro- and microwear patterns on all tooth groups of different functional age, (iii) documenting and codificating wear related morphological features at the cemento-enamel junction in young teeth and on roots in older teeth.

Design: Following ethical approval random toothbrushing (44 strokes per tooth horizontally, rotating, vertically; 2x/d) with manual toothbrushes and low-abrasive dentifrice was performed in an artificial oral cavity with brushing-force 3.5 N on 14 extracted human teeth.

Impact of manual toothbrush design on plaque removal efficacy.

Background: Effective dental plaque removal is essential for oral health. Different toothbrush parameters including head-size, filament-diameter and interdent-height and different brushing movements like horizontal, rotating and vertical may affect plaque removal efficacy. The purpose of the study was to examine plaque removal efficacy of different design parameters of manual toothbrushes.

Robot and mechanical testing of a specialist manual toothbrush for cleaning efficacy and improved force control.

Background: Toothbrushes require flexibility to access all dental surfaces and remove plaque effectively, but they should also aim to prevent or limit overbrushing and consequent damage to teeth and gums. In two studies, the physical properties and cleaning performance of specialist test toothbrushes with flexible necks were compared to a reference rigid-necked toothbrush.

Methods: In Study 1, a universal testing machine (Instron E 10,000) with a specially designed setup was used to test the deflection behaviour of toothbrush head and neck.

Clinical and Micromorphologic 29-year Results of Posterior Composite Restorations.

Prospective clinical studies of composite restorations revealed their safety and longevity; however, studies did not elucidate the dynamic mechanisms of deterioration caused by fractures and secondary caries. Therefore, the aims of this 29-y controlled study were 1) to follow up on the clinical behavior of posterior composite restorations annually and 2) to compare clinical outcomes with micromorphologic scanning electron microscopy features. After ethical approval, the single-arm study commenced in 1987 with 194 class I or II primary posterior composite restorations with glass ionomer cement providing pulp protection.

Regeneration and Repair in Endodontics-A Special Issue of the Regenerative Endodontics-A New Era in Clinical Endodontics.

Caries is the most common cause of pulp-periapical disease. When the pulp tissue involved in caries becomes irreversibly inflamed and progresses to necrosis, the treatment option is root canal therapy because the infected or non-infected necrotic pulp tissue in the root canal system is not accessible to the host's innate and adaptive immune defense mechanisms and antimicrobial agents. Therefore, the infected or non-infected necrotic pulp tissue must be removed from the canal space by pulpectomy.

Longevity of posterior composite restorations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this meta-analysis, based on individual participant data from several studies, was to investigate the influence of patient-, materials-, and tooth-related variables on the survival of posterior resin composite restorations. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a search resulting in 12 longitudinal studies of direct posterior resin composite restorations with at least 5 years' follow-up. Original datasets were still available, including placement/failure/censoring of restorations, restored surfaces, materials used, reasons for clinical failure, and caries-risk status.

Clinical validation of robot simulation of toothbrushing--comparative plaque removal efficacy.

Background: Clinical validation of laboratory toothbrushing tests has important advantages. It was, therefore, the aim to demonstrate correlation of tooth cleaning efficiency of a new robot brushing simulation technique with clinical plaque removal.

Methods: Clinical programme: 27 subjects received dental cleaning prior to 3-day-plaque-regrowth-interval.

Longitudinal micromorphological 15-year results of posterior composite restorations using three-dimensional scanning electron microscopy.

Objectives: Hybrid composite restorations in posterior teeth were evaluated over 15 years using the semiquantitative Clinical, Photographic and Micromorphologic (CPM) index. It was a further aim to quantitate the surface morphology by three-dimensional scanning electron microscopy (3D-SEM).

Methods: Thirty seven hybrid composite restorations (Ketac-Bond/Visio-Molar X, ESPE, Seefeld/Germany) were longitudinally followed up.

Kinetics of fluoride bioavailability in supernatant saliva and salivary sediment.

Unlabelled: The assessment of the fluoride kinetics in whole saliva as well as in the different salivary phases (supernatant saliva and sediment) is essential for the understanding of fluoride bioavailability.

Objectives: To assess the fluoride content, provided by sodium fluoride and amine fluoride, in the supernatant saliva and in salivary sediment.

Methods: Seven trained volunteers were randomly attributed to 2 groups in a cross-over design and brushed their teeth in the morning for 3 min with a product containing either sodium fluoride or amine fluoride.

Fluoride bioavailability in saliva and plaque.

Background: Different fluoride formulations may have different effects on caries prevention. It was the aim of this clinical study to assess the fluoride content, provided by NaF compared to amine fluoride, in saliva and plaque.

Methods: Eight trained volunteers brushed their teeth in the morning for 3 minutes with either NaF or amine fluoride, and saliva and 3-day-plaque-regrowth was collected at 5 time intervals during 6 hours after tooth brushing.

The predictive value of criteria for student admission to dentistry.

Introduction: In this study, we investigated the value of an individual selection procedure to choose dental students for the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. The selection procedure was divided into the following four steps: step one consisted of a formal application; step two consisted of a practical test; step three consisted of a personal interview; and step four consisted of a final selection by an independent committee.

Material And Methods: Data from 196 students were collected from the university files.

Light- and electronmicroscopic study of infiltration of resin into initial caries lesions--a new methodological approach.

It was the purpose of this pilot study to investigate resin infiltration into various types of initial subsurface caries lesions using a combined microscopic technique with polarized light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy and subsequent scanning microscopy with EDX-element analysis. Six extracted premolars with initial caries lesions were used. Five were infiltrated with resin after imbibition of the subsurface carious pore volume of enamel with sodium fluorescein solution.

EDX-Element Analysis of the In Vitro Effect of Fluoride Oral Hygiene Tablets on Artificial Caries Lesion Formation and Remineralization in Human Enamel.

Aim of this in-vitro-study was to assess the remineralization potential of a tooth cleaning tablet with different fluoride content quantitatively using EDX analysis.Twenty three caries free impacted third molars were examined; enamel surfaces were wax coated leaving two 3x4mm windows for exposure to demineralization/remineralization cycles. The teeth were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 5 control and 6 experimental teeth each.

Total and free fluoride concentrations of African dentifrices marketed in West Africa.

Objective: To determine the fluoride concentrations of commercial dentifrices marketed in West Africa.

Design: In vitro measurement of the total fluoride concentration by liquid gas chromatography, and of the free fluoride concentration with a fluoride sensitive electrode.

Setting: Collection of fluoride dentifrices in public markets and supermarkets in and around the capital of The Republic of The Gambia, Banjul, after a systematic search.

Pilot pathfinder survey of oral hygiene and periodontal conditions in the rural population of The Gambia (West Africa).

Objective: To document oral hygiene and periodontal conditions in the rural population of The Gambia.

Basic Research Design: Cross-sectional study according to the recommendations of the WHO for oral health surveys.

Clinical Setting: Examination by two calibrated investigators in the health centres of rural communities after a public radio call.

Influence of individual saliva secretion on fluoride bioavailability.

Unlabelled: The aim of this preliminary investigation was to compare the individual saliva secretion rate with the fluoride bioavailability in saliva after using sodium fluoride and amine fluoride.

Methods: To assess oral fluoride kinetics 10 highly trained volunteers brushed their teeth with one of the formulations and saliva was collected. The amount of saliva was measured, and the fluoride content was determined.

Class III atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) in adults living in West Africa--outcomes after 48 months.

Objectives: This observational study assessed the effectiveness of class III restorations using the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) approach in permanent anterior teeth over a 48-month period.

Methods: Dental auxiliaries placed a total of 117 class III ART restorations in 2004, using a cosmetically improved glass-ionomer (Ionofil® Plus; VOCO, Cuxhafen, Germany), in 67 patients with a mean age of 27.3 years in the rural Jahali Health Center, The Gambia.

Effects of bleaching agents on human enamel light reflectance.

Objectives: Tooth whitening has been associated with splitting-up chromogenic molecules by hydrogen peroxides. Though micromorphological alterations are well documented, little is known about optical changes as a function of shifting in wavelengths. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to measure reflectance changes after bleaching in vitro by using a spectrometer.

Performance of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) depending on operator-experience.

Objectives: Oral health care is not of major interest in developing countries because of lack of infrastructure and professional manpower. Therefore, atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) was introduced by the World Health Organization to be performed by dental auxiliary personnel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of ART depending on operator-experience in The Republic of The Gambia.

Development of a basic root canal treatment (BRT) for primary oral health care--evaluation after one year.

Objectives: Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) was a major step forward in community dentistry but treatment options for deep carious lesions or pulp involvement still focus on tooth extraction in under-served areas worldwide. To bridge the gap between ART and extraction this pilot study aimed to develop and follow-up a basic root canal treatment for rural dental health facilities in the Republic of The Gambia (West Africa), faced with an environment lacking technical equipment and developing primary oral health care.

Methods: 25 single rooted teeth with acute irreversible pulpitis were root canal treated with a standardised endodontic instrument kit and a specific procedure.

Fluoride availability from natural resources in The Gambia--implications for oral health care.

Introduction: Changing food patterns in combination with ineffective oral hygiene measures and insufficient bioavailability of fluoride from drinking water and other sources seem to impair the dental health status in developing countries, especially in the younger population. Therefore, preventive programmes in controlling dental caries progression should be based on local conditions.

Methods: For mapping the drinking water fluoride content throughout The Gambia, samples of water from rural community wells, public water taps, commercial mineral water, and from the Gambia-River were measured.

Adapting to changes in molecular biosciences and technologies.

Dental education, like any other educational programme in a research-intensive university environment, must be research led or at least research informed. In this context, as the research and knowledge base of dentistry lies in the biological and physical sciences, dental education must be led by advances in research in both these areas. There is no doubt that biotechnology and nanotechnology have, over the past 25 years, led research in both these areas.

Comparative qualitative and quantitative assessment of biomineralization of tooth development in man and zebrafish (Danio rerio).

It was the aim of this study to investigate the distribution of Ca, P, and C in predentin, mineralizing dentin, and mature dentin of human tooth buds and compare these results with those of zebrafish (Danio rerio) teeth using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) element analysis. The mandible of a 16-week-old human fetus containing 6 mineralizing tooth buds and three complete heads of zebrafish were fixed in formaldehyde and embedded in Technovit 9100. Serial sections of 80-microm thickness were cut in frontal-dorsal direction, and from these sections, polarized light micrographs were taken.

Effect of pH of amine fluoride containing toothpastes on enamel remineralization in vitro.

Background: One of the important factors of the demineralization and remineralization equilibrium of enamel is the pH of the surrounding solutions. Effort has been laid in the formulation of different fluoride compounds and the fluoride content in toothpastes but much less is known about the influence of the pH of the toothpastes on their effectiveness. It was therefore the aim of this study to investigate the influence of different pH levels on enamel remineralization in an in vitro experiment using polarization light microscopy and EDX quantitative element analysis.