Enhanced NHS endodontic services in England: a postcode lottery?

Aim To investigate the consistency of commissioning and provision of enhanced NHS endodontic services across England.Methods The level of provision for enhanced endodontic services was sought using two methods. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to each of the thirteen director of commissioning operations (DCO) teams in NHS England to determine the perception from commissioners of what endodontic services are currently provided and commissioned.

Growth factor release from dentine matrix by pulp-capping agents promotes pulp tissue repair-associated events.

Aim: To characterize growth factor release from dentine by pulp-capping agents and to determine the effects of liberated dentine extracellular matrix (dECM) components on pulp cells in the key wound healing processes of migration and cell growth.

Methodology: Powdered human dentine was exposed to solutions of calcium hydroxide, white and grey mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (ProRoot, (Dentsply Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA) over 14 days. The solubilized dECM components were dialysed and lyophilized and characterized using multiplex quantitative ELISA.

Influence of root canal fillings on longevity of direct and indirect restorations placed within the General Dental Services in England and Wales.

Aim: To consider the survival of restorations in root filled and non-root filled teeth.

Methods: A data set was established consisting of patients, 18 years or older. For each patient on the database with a tooth restored with a direct or indirect restoration with or without a root filling, the subsequent history of intervention on that tooth was consulted, and the next date of intervention, if any could be found in the data set, was obtained.

X-ray scattering evaluation of ultrastructural changes in human dental tissues with thermal treatment.

Micro- and ultrastructural analysis of burned skeletal remains is crucial for obtaining a reliable estimation of cremation temperature. Earlier studies mainly focused on heat-induced changes in bone tissue, while this study extends this research to human dental tissues using a novel quantitative analytical approach. Twelve tooth sections were burned at 400-900°C (30-min exposure, increments of 100°C).