Tooth bleaching and pit and fissure stain.

Purpose: To investigate if tooth whitening had any effect on the shade of occlusal pit and fissure stains and whether reservoirs in bleaching trays affected bleaching of occlusal pit and fissure stains.

Methods: 96 extracted molars were randomly divided into three paired groups for whitening using a 10% carbamide peroxide solution (Opalescence) or a 22% carbamide peroxide solution (Nite White Excel 3), or tap water for a control. One of each pair utilized reservoirs in their custom bleaching trays.

DIAGNOdent measurements and correlation with the depth and volume of minimally invasive cavity preparations.

In this clinical study, DIAGNOdent (KaVo) was used to assess previously diagnosed carious lesions in the pits and fissures of first and second molars. The measurements from this device were correlated with the depth and volume of the cavity preparations that resulted from minimal intervention to remove occlusal carious lesions. Twenty-five patients, 18 years of age and older, who were previously scheduled for an occlusal restoration due to caries, were recruited and enrolled in this clinical study.

Early treatment of incipient carious lesions: a two-year clinical evaluation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to quantify conservation of tooth structure and evaluate the efficacy of early treatment of questionable carious lesions in pits and fissures of posterior teeth using air abrasion followed by placement of preventive resin restorations.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with 223 questionably carious teeth, mainly with darkly stained pits and fissures, were recruited from general dentistry clinics. After baseline evaluation, each tooth was randomly assigned to either an early treatment or control group.