Electronic textbooks as a professional resource after dental school.

In two previous studies of dental students' attitudes about the VitalSource Bookshelf, a digital library of dental textbooks, students expressed negative opinions about owning and reading electronic textbooks. With the assumption that dentists would find the digital textbooks useful for patient care, the authors surveyed recent graduates to determine if their attitude toward the VitalSource Bookshelf had changed. A brief survey was sent to 119 alumni from the classes of 2009 and 2010 of one U.

Incoming dental students' expectations and acceptance of an electronic textbook program.

Since 2005, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry has required the VitalSource Technologies, Inc. Bookshelf as the textbook program for all dental students. In a 2008 survey, four classes of dental students expressed dissatisfaction with most features of the bookshelf.

Methods used by accredited dental specialty programs to advertise faculty positions: results of a national survey.

The various reasons for the current and projected shortages of dental faculty members in the United States have received much attention. Dental school deans have reported that the top three factors impacting their ability to fill faculty positions are meeting the requirements of the position, lack of response to position announcement, and salary/budget limitations. An electronic survey sent to program directors of specialty programs at all accredited U.

Three-year clinical evaluation of two flowable composites.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of two flowable composite resins used to restore occlusal caries lesions. Tetric Flow (Vivadent) and Esthet-X Flow (Dentsply/Caulk) are composite resins with decreased filler loading (Tetric Flow: 67% filler by weight, 43% by volume; Esthet-X Flow: 61% filler by weight, 53% by volume) and lower viscosity compared to conventional composite resins.

Method And Materials: Sixty-three teeth with occlusal caries were randomly assigned to calibrated practitioners who placed occlusal restorations (32 for Esthet-X Flow; 31 for Tetric Flow).

Evaluation of 30% carbamide peroxide at-home bleaching gels with and without potassium nitrate--a pilot study.

Objectives: This double-blind study examined the bleaching effectiveness of two 30% carbamide peroxide bleaching gels: one with 5% potassium nitrate (treatment A) and one without (treatment B). The treatment time was reduced for this pilot study to one hour per day for 10 days to determine whether the higher concentration would whiten teeth and to ascertain the tooth sensitivity and gingival effects of the 30% solution.

Method And Materials: Forty subjects were selected with an initial tooth shade corresponding to Bioform shade guide B65 or darker.

Two-year clinical evaluation of a posterior resin composite using a fourth- and fifth-generation bonding agent.

This study evaluated the clinical performance of a posterior resin composite used with a fourth- and fifth-generation bonding agent. Sixty-two Class I and II restorations were placed with half the restorations restored with Gluma Solid Bond (a fourth-generation bonding system, or total etch two-step system) and the other half restored with Gluma Comfort Bond and Desensitizer (a fifth-generation bonding system, or total etch one-step system). Solitaire 2 was used as the restorative material for all restorations.

Three-year clinical evaluation of a compomer and a resin composite as Class V filling materials.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the placement of two restorative materials, including a compomer (F2000, 3M ESPE) and a resin composite (Silux Plus, 3M ESPE), in non-carious cervical lesions using a self-etching bonding agent (F2000 self-etching primer/adhesive) and a fifth generation bonding agent (Single Bond, 3M ESPE) and to evaluate and compare these restorations for marginal discoloration, secondary caries, anatomical form, retention, surface texture and marginal adaptation at baseline and annually for three years. F2000 and Silux Plus were used to restore the teeth with moderate-sized non-carious cervical lesions. F2000 was placed using two different bonding agents: F2000 self-etching primer/adhesive (F2000SE group) and Single Bond (F2000SB group); Silux Plus was placed as a control using Single Bond (SiluxSB group).

Clinical evaluation of four Class 5 restorative materials: 3-year recall.

Purpose: To place four restorative materials, including two resin-based composites (Pertac III and Synergy), an improved resin-modified glass-ionomer (Fuji II LC Improved), and a compomer (Dyract AP), in Class 5 non-carious cervical lesions and to evaluate and compare those restorations for marginal discoloration, anatomic form, surface texture, secondary caries, retention, and marginal adaptation at baseline and annually for 3 years.

Methods: The tested materials were used to restore moderate-size Class 5 non-carious cervical lesions. All materials were used following the manufacturers' directions for etching, bonding, curing, and finishing.

Treating root-surface caries.

This article summarizes the effectiveness of restorative materials used to restore root surfaces, the mechanisms by which these materials reduce caries, and placement techniques for restoring root-surface lesions. Patients may be classified into low, medium, and high caries risk groups for root caries, and specific dental restorative material recommendations are made for each category. Effective plaque control, xylitol-containing chewing gums, antimicrobial agents, fluoride-releasing restorative materials, topically applied fluoride, and fluoride-containing toothpastes provide maximum protection for the high caries risk patient.

In vitro evaluation of the retention of composite fiber and stainless steel posts.

Purpose: This study compared the tensile retentive strength of composite fiber-reinforced dowels luted with a resin cement to stainless steel dowels luted with zinc phosphate cement.

Materials And Methods: The crowns of 40 extracted human mandibular premolars were removed with a separating disc 1-mm coronal to the cementoenamel junction. The teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10).