Sealing caries in primary molars: randomized control trial, 5-year results.

The Hall Technique (HT) is a method for managing carious primary molars. Decay is sealed under pre-formed metal crowns without any caries removal, tooth preparation, or local anesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare HT clinical/radiographic failure rates with General Dental Practitioners' (GDPs) standard (control) restorations.

A comparison of inhalation sedation agents in the management of children receiving dental treatment: a randomized, controlled, cross-over pilot trial.

Aims: First, to compare the relative effectiveness of inhalation sedation using (A) nitrous oxide and oxygen with (B) nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, and oxygen in the management of children receiving dental extractions. Secondly, to determine patient and guardian preference between the two sedation techniques.

Materials And Methods: A randomized, controlled, double-blinded, cross-over, pilot clinical trial was undertaken.

Bond failure of gingivally offset mandibular premolar brackets: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to examine the clinical bond failure rate of gingivally offset mandibular premolar brackets and compare it with that of standard mandibular premolar brackets.

Methods: Eighty-three patients were enrolled in this trial. A total of 240 brackets--120 standard and 120 offset--were bonded in a split-mouth design.

The Hall Technique; a randomized controlled clinical trial of a novel method of managing carious primary molars in general dental practice: acceptability of the technique and outcomes at 23 months.

Background: Scotland has high levels of untreated dental caries in primary teeth. The Hall Technique is a simplified method of managing carious primary molars using preformed metal crowns (PMCs) cemented with no local anaesthesia, caries removal or tooth preparation. This study compared the acceptability of the Hall Technique for children, their carers, and dentists, and clinical outcomes for the technique, with conventional restorations.

A novel technique using preformed metal crowns for managing carious primary molars in general practice - a retrospective analysis.

Background: There is a high level of untreated dental decay in primary teeth in Scotland. Despite evidence for the efficacy of preformed metal crowns (PMCs) for the restoration of primary molars, few are placed in general practice, possibly due to the interventive nature of the clinical procedure. There is, however, a novel way of placing PMCs involving no local anaesthesia, no caries removal and no preparation of the tooth: the Hall technique.

An investigation into the bonding of orthodontic attachments to porcelain.

This study assessed bonding of orthodontic brackets to porcelain teeth using two different surface preparation techniques and comparing two bonding systems, Fuji Ortho L.C. and Transbond.

A comparison of tungsten-quartz-halogen, plasma arc and light-emitting diode light sources for the polymerization of an orthodontic adhesive.

This study investigated whether there were differences between the debond stress and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of an adhesive cured with three different orthodontic light sources. Sixty sound premolar teeth were divided into three groups of 20. A standard pre-adjusted edgewise premolar bracket (Victory Series) was bonded to each tooth using a light-cured orthodontic adhesive, Transbond X.

Management of hypodontia: restorative considerations. Part III.

This paper, the third in the series, initially details the role of the restorative dentist in treating patients with hypodontia. (See Quintessence Int 2005;36:263-270 and 345-353 for the first two papers.) A range of treatment options, including implants, adhesive techniques, and removable prostheses, are covered.

Management of hypodontia: orthodontic considerations (II).

Patients with congenitally missing teeth (hypodontia) present with complex problems. Meeting their treatment needs requires a joint effort between the disciplines of orthodontics and restorative dentistry. There are a number of options available to restore space generated by missing teeth.

Hypodontia--a retrospective review of prevalence and etiology. Part I.

A retrospective literature review was carried out to determine the prevalence of hypodontia and current knowledge of associated etiological factors. Reported studies vary widely in their reports of prevalence. The majority are retrospective radiographic studies, and reported rates vary from 2.

An ex vivo assessment of gingivally offset lower premolar brackets.

Objectives: To compare the force to failure of standard premolar brackets to that of gingivally offset brackets and evaluate the site of bond failure between the two bracket types through the use of the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI).

Design: An ex vivo study.

Setting: Dental Materials Science Laboratory, Dundee Dental School, Dundee.

An ex vivo assessment of a bonding technique using a self-etching primer.

Objective: This study assessed a new self-etch/priming system for use in orthodontic bonding.

Setting: An ex vivo study.

Method: Three groups of 20 extracted premolar teeth were bonded with metal orthodontic brackets.

Fluoride supplements and changes in tooth decay on the Island of Tristan da Cunha: 1966-1996.

Background: The island of Tristan Da Cunha is one of the few examples in the world of a remote enclosed community. The inhabitants of the island were transported to England in 1961 as a result of a volcanic eruption and during their time in England they received a detailed dental health examination. They were later examined back on the island in 1966 by Dr John Fisher and in 1982 a school fluoride supplementation programme was introduced.

An ex vivo assessment of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement in relation to bonding technique.

Objective: This study assessed a resin modified glass ionomer bonding system, Fuji ortho L.C. using different bonding techniques and compared it with a composite control (Transbond).

Scope of the OSCE in the assessment of clinical skills in dentistry.

Introduction: The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is now an accepted tool in the assessment of clinical skills in dentistry. There are however no strict or limiting guidelines on the types of scenario that are used in the OSCE examinations and experience and experimentation will inevitably result in the refinement of the OSCE as a tool for assessment.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare and contrast different types of clinical operative skills scenarios in multi-station OSCE examinations.

The effect of wavelength, bandwidth, and probe design and position on assessing the vitality of anterior teeth with laser Doppler flowmetry.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of four variables: wavelength (633 nm and 780 nm), bandwidth filter (3 kHz, 15 kHz, 22 kHz), probe fibre separation (250 microns) and 500 microns) and distance of the probe from the gingival margin (2-3 mm and 4-5 mm) when assessing the vitality of anterior teeth with a laser Doppler flowmetry system.

Design: Split-mouth cohort clinical trial.

Setting: Childrens dental clinic, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School.

An investigation into the use of a structured clinical operative test for the assessment of a clinical skill.

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the level of agreement between a group of assessors observing students undertaking a structured clinical operative test.

Method: 3 assessors agreed a series of criteria to assess the performance of undergraduate students in the recording of a dental impression. Guidelines for assessing whether the students adequately performed in relation to each criteria were also agreed.

A comparison of laser Doppler flowmetry with other methods of assessing the vitality of traumatised anterior teeth.

Laser Doppler flowmetry is a non-invasive electrooptical technique which allows the semi-quantitative recording of pulpal blood flow. This study aimed to determine the reliability (measured as the sensitivity and specificity) of laser Doppler flowmetry as a method of assessing the vitality of traumatised anterior teeth, and to compare it with standard pulpal diagnostic tests. Recordings of pulpal blood flow were taken from 67 non-vital anterior teeth (55 patients), where the pulpal status was confirmed by pulpectomy.

Stability of bimaxillary osteotomy following surgical correction of class II skeletal deformities: a two-centre study.

This study compares the stability following bimaxillary osteotomy for correction of class II skeletal deformities between two groups of patients. One group (15 patients) were treated at Canniesburn Hospital, West of Scotland Regional Plastic and Maxillofacial Unit, UK. The other group (15 patients) were treated at Ann Arbor Michigan University Hospital, USA.

Defining, conferring and assessing the skills of the dentist.

The task facing educators in dentistry is never an easy one. It is an area where as many questions as answers arise. This paper looks at how the skills that a dentist needs can be defined and the best way to confer them.

Differentiation between cleft lip with or without cleft palate and isolated cleft palate using parental cephalometric parameters.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare lateral cephalometric measurements in noncleft parents of children with cleft palate (CP) and cleft lip (CL), and cleft lip and palate (CLP). The hypothesis was that discriminant analysis would enable identification of morphometric features that predispose to orofacial clefting and that differ for CP, CL, and CLP and are unevenly distributed within parental pairs.

Design: This was a prospective, parametric analysis.

Stability of sagittal split advancement osteotomy: single- versus double-jaw surgery.

The effect of Le Fort I maxillary impaction on the stability of the sagittal split advancement osteotomy is debatable. The aim of this study was to compare the stability of mandibular advancement in two groups of patients: those that had simultaneous Le Fort I maxillary impaction and sagittal split advancement osteotomy and those that had only sagittal split advancement osteotomy. Lateral cephalograms taken immediately after surgery, 6 months postoperatively, and at 1-year follow-up were used in the assessment.