Clinical evaluation of sealants and preventive resin restorations in a group of environmentally homogeneous children.

Purpose: Pit and fissure sealants reduce occlusal caries when proper patient selection and application techniques are followed. To increase retention rate of sealants over time, good adaptation and deep sealant penetration are important. Studies remain inconclusive, however, as to determining if the bur preparation of pits and fissures would increase the adaptation and penetration thus improving sealant retention.

Cell transplantation in wounded mixed connective tissues.

Direct transplantation of multipotent precursor cells into the periodontium could provide a therapeutic approach for restoring periodontal tissues destroyed by periodontitis or trauma. To improve the understanding of cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation, we used a rodent model combining orthodontic tooth movement and transplantation of Lac-Z-positive murine-cultured periodontal ligament (PL) or femur-derived bone marrow precursor cells into a defined mandibular wound site, thus promoting tissue regeneration in wounded periodontium. Our results show that in orthodontically traumatized tissues, transplanted PL and bone marrow cells migrated systemically, contributing to the repopulation of sites with reduced cell/matrix density.

Increasing general dentists' provision of care to child patients through changes in the undergraduate pediatric dentistry program.

Reduced caries rates and an increased percentage of children with dental insurance have made it more difficult for dental schools to provide undergraduates with sufficient numbers of pediatric dental patients requiring restorative procedures. This may result in graduates who are not competent and are reluctant to treat children after graduation. To ensure the quality of the undergraduate clinical training program, the Division of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Manitoba changed from a comprehensive-based clinic to a block system in 1998-99.

Emdogain regulation of cellular differentiation in wounded rat periodontium.

Emdogain is an enamel matrix derivative that may promote periodontal regeneration by recapitulating critical events in tooth morphogenesis. We hypothesized that Emdogain enhances periodontal regeneration by promoting the differentiation of cells required for the synthesis of periodontal ligament, bone and cementum. Cell differentiation was examined in rat periodontal window wounds in which there is no microbial biofilm or epithelial downgrowth, thereby simplifying the model system.

Cell death and mechanoprotection by filamin a in connective tissues after challenge by applied tensile forces.

Cells in mechanically challenged environments must cope with high amplitude forces to maintain cell viability and tissue homeostasis. Currently, force-induced cell death and the identity of mechanoprotective factors are not defined. We examined death in cultured periodontal fibroblasts, connective tissue cells that are exposed to heavy applied forces in vivo.