Artificial Intelligence: A Mighty Adjunct for Caries Detection.

Articifial intelligence (AI) is impacting many aspects of people's lives today. In fields such as finance, manufacturing, agriculture, insurance, education, and healthcare, AI has been commissioned to cut costs, increase efficiency, and improve accuracy. Like many innovations, the use of AI can have both positive and potentially negative consequences.

Direct and Indirect Pulp Capping: A Brief History, Material Innovations, and Clinical Case Report.

Among the goals of pulp capping are to manage bacteria, arrest caries progression, stimulate pulp cells to form new dentin, and produce a durable seal that protects the pulp complex. This article will provide a general discussion of direct and indirect pulp capping procedures, offering practitioners a pragmatic and science-based clinical protocol for treatment of vital pulp exposures. A clinical case will be presented in which a novel light-cured resin-modified mineral trioxide aggregate hybrid material was used to manage a mechanical vital pulp exposure that occurred during deep caries excavation.

Effect of silane contamination on dentin bond strength.

Statement Of Problem: Intraoral repair of porcelain or other silica-based ceramics typically requires the use of silane in the repair protocol. Some porcelain intraoral repairs also involve bonding to exposed or involved tooth tissues including dentin. A study is needed to evaluate whether the cross-contamination of dentin with silane affects bond strength to this tissue.

Universal adhesives: the next evolution in adhesive dentistry?

Every so often a new material, technique, or technological breakthrough spurs a paradigm shift in the way dentistry is practiced. The development and evolution of reliable enamel and dentin bonding agents is one such example. Indeed, the so-called "cosmetic revolution" in dentistry blossomed in large part due to dramatic advances in adhesive technology.

Is total-etch dead? Evidence suggests otherwise.

Both the total-etch and self-etching systems of today have the potential to provide durable adhesive interface, and despite the proclamations of some, total-etch is alive and well. Indeed, evidence indicates that a viable and growing market remains for total-etch adhesive systems. This paper will discuss the origins, evolution, and idiosyncrasies of the total-etch technique as well as its place in dentistry today.

Adhesion. Adhesive dentistry: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

For more than 30 years, Compendium has provided its readers with university-based continuing education and editorial, demonstrating the latest advances in clinical procedures and techniques. Using the same peer-reviewed format and influence/direction from Compendium's distinguished editorial board, Special Report will provide insight on the latest advances in product technologies and the resulting benefits to both you and your patients. A discussion by the author on new clinical/laboratory research and product development strategies, as well as what the results could mean for dental treatment, will also be included.

Preparing porcelain surfaces for optimal bonding.

When placing an indirect restoration such as a porcelain veneer, inlay, or onlay, the intaglio surface is typically treated in some fashion to ensure optimal bonding to the resin-based adhesives and luting cements required to affix it to the tooth tissues. A variety of surface preparation techniques have been advocated, including the use of acids, particle abrasion, various adhesives, and chemical couplers such as silane. There is often equivocation in the literature regarding the effectiveness of these materials and surface preparation techniques.

Considerations for the successful placement of laboratory-processed, indirect composite restorations.

Adhesive bonding techniques enable clinicians to predictably place tooth-colored materials and thus provide viable alternatives to amalgam and other metal-based restorations. This is significant because patient demand for esthetic restorations is greater than ever before. Options for tooth-colored restorations include ceramics and direct and indirect composite-based materials.