An evaluation of quantitative percussion diagnostics for determining the probability of a microgap defect in restored and unrestored teeth: A prospective clinical study.

Statement Of Problem: Current dental diagnostics are image based and cannot detect a structural microgap defect such as a crack in a tooth. Whether percussion diagnostics can effectively diagnose a microgap defect is unclear.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine from a large multicenter prospective clinical study whether quantitative percussion diagnostics (QPD) could detect structural damage in teeth and whether a probability of its presence could be provided.

Ten-year retrospective study of the effectiveness of quantitative percussion diagnostics as an indicator of the level of structural pathology in teeth.

Statement Of Problem: Conventional dental diagnostic aids are only partially effective in diagnosing structural defects such as cracks in teeth. A more predictable diagnostic for structural instability in the mouth is needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study with an increased population size was to evaluate the effectiveness of diagnosing structural instability by using the quantitative percussion diagnostics (QPD) system and to evaluate the influence of independent variables on the relationship between normal fit error (NFE) and observed structural instability found during the clinical disassembly of teeth.

Quantitative percussion diagnostics as an indicator of the level of the structural pathology of teeth: Retrospective follow-up investigation of high-risk sites that remained pathological after restorative treatment.

Statement Of Problem: Structural damage may remain even after a tooth is restored. Conventional diagnostic aids do not quantify the severity of structural damage or allow the monitoring of structural changes after restoration.

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to provide an in-depth analysis of 9 high-risk sites after restoration.

In vivo study of the effectiveness of quantitative percussion diagnostics as an indicator of the level of structural pathology of teeth after restoration.

Statement Of Problem: Conventional diagnostic aids based upon imagery and patient symptoms do not indicate whether restorative treatments have eliminated structural pathology.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate quantitative percussion diagnostics (QPD), a mechanics-based methodology that tests the structural integrity of teeth noninvasively. The study hypothesis was that QPD would provide knowledge of the structural instability of teeth after restorative work.

In vivo study of the effectiveness of quantitative percussion diagnostics as an indicator of the level of the structural pathology of teeth.

Statement Of Problem: Conventional dental diagnostic aids based upon imagery and patient symptoms are at best only partially effective for the detection of fine structural defects such as cracks in teeth.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to determine whether quantitative percussion diagnostics (QPD) provided knowledge of the structural instability of teeth before restorative work begins. QPD is a mechanics-based methodology that tests the structural integrity of teeth noninvasively.

An in vitro comparison of quantitative percussion diagnostics with a standard technique for determining the presence of cracks in natural teeth.

Statement Of Problem: The detection of cracks and fractures in natural teeth is a diagnostic challenge. Cracks are often not visible clinically nor detectable in radiographs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic parity of quantitative percussion diagnostics, transillumination, clinical microscopy, and dye penetration.

A comparison of the marginal adaptation of cathode-arc vapor-deposited titanium and cast base metal copings.

Statement Of Problem: A new fabrication process where a titanium coping, with a gold colored titanium nitride outer layer, can be reliably fused to porcelain; however, the marginal adaptation characteristics are undetermined.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the clinically acceptable marginal adaptation (CAMA - defined as a marginal gap mean of ≤ 60 μm) rates of cathode-arc vapor-deposited titanium and cast base metal copings to determine whether the titanium copings would produce a higher CAMA rate than the cast base metal copings.

Material And Methods: Thirty-seven cathode-arc vapor-deposited titanium copings and 40 cast base metal copings were evaluated using an optical microscope.

Reconstructive materials and bone tissue engineering in implant dentistry.

Periodontal function for natural teeth and dental implants depends strongly on the mechanical integrity of the bone in the maxilla and mandible. Ongoing healthy bone remodeling around a natural tooth or implant is critical for longevity. Chemical factors that influence bone remodeling have been explored with the goal of enhancing the growth and maintenance of good quality bone.

In vitro deformation of acetyl resin and metal alloy removable partial denture direct retainers.

Statement Of The Problem: Acetyl resin removable partial denture (RPD) direct retainers may provide an esthetic alternative to conventional metal direct retainers. The effect of repeated stress on acetyl resin direct retainers is unknown.

Purpose: This study compared deformation of acetyl resin and metal alloy RPD direct retainers after repeated dislodgments over a test die.

Tissue engineering in dentistry.

Advances in tissue engineering provide an increased level of understanding of the mechanical and chemical stimuli that regulate tissue responses. Oral tissue engineering can be applied to recreate missing osseous or dental structures or correct orofacial deformities, changing the patient's smile, midfacial height, and the soft tissue drape. Biomechanical principles can also be applied to tissue engineering to enhance the bone/tooth or bone/implant functionality and long-term stability.