Bone morphogenetic protein-2 induces expression of murine zinc finger transcription factor ZNF450.

The bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a potent secreted factor that promotes osteoblast differentiation during development. Exposure to BMP-2 is sufficient to cause a lasting change in cell fate presumably by activating specific target genes. To identify genes downstream of BMP-2 we treated the murine pluripotent embryonic cell line, C3H10T1/2 that can be induced to form an osteoblastic phenotype, with 100 ng/ml BMP-2 for 24 h.

Medicinal erosion: a case report.

Patients, healthcare professionals, and health product manufacturers focus on the benefits that the use of a medicine or health product will bring rather than the potential side effects. A case of erosive tooth surface loss caused by the repeated and prolonged use of an acidic mouthrinse is reported. The adverse effects of health care products on the dentition and methods to minimise potential damage are discussed.

The Dycal try-in technique for Resin-bonded bridges.

The resin-bonded bridge (RBB) is a predictable technique that has a useful place in modern day dentistry. Practitioners' main concerns, regarding this technique, are a lower survival rate when compared with conventional prostheses, and unpredictable aesthetics. Unfortunately, the minimal preparation and adhesive concepts used with RBBs complicates provisional cementation.

Clinico-pathological conference 2002.

Introduction: Six cases are reported, each presented at the 11th Biennial Congress of the International Association of Oral Pathologists as an instructive case for differential diagnosis on the basis of clinical, imaging or histological features.

Clinical Picture: Case diagnoses included a large, possibly intraosseous, myofibroma presenting with an oral mass; Langerhans cell histiocytosis with facial skin lesions; an intraosseous vascular hamartoma of the maxilla with worrying radiological features; an unusual mixed radiolucency of the jaw caused by cemento-ossifying fibroma; an osteosarcoma of the posterior mandible causing a well-defined radiolucency and an intraoral squamous cell carcinoma in a child.

An evaluation of slot size in orthodontic brackets--are standards as expected?

The slots of five upper left central incisor brackets from 11 commercially available bracket systems (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif: Twin Torque Roth, Clarity MBT, and Victory Series MBT; Dentarum, Pforzheim, Germany: Discovery Roth (0.56 mm) and Elegance Plastic Roth; Forestadent, Pforzheim, Germany: Mini Mono MBT; TP LaPorte, Indiana: Nu-Edge Roth and Mxi Advant-Edge Roth; Ormco Corp., Orange, Calif: Damon II SL Roth; Ortho Organizers, San Marcos, Calif: Elite Mini Opti-MIM Roth and Elite Mini Opti-MIM MBT) were measured in the 0.

A novel acrylic copolymer for a poly(alkenoate) glass-ionomer cement.

The interest in the clinical use of polyalkenoate cements stems mainly from their behavior as bioactive adhesive materials with therapeutic action. Glass-ionomer cements set by an acid-base reaction between a degradable glass and a poly(alkenoic acid) and the therapeutic action is related to the release of fluoride ions which are present in the hardened cement that show a sustained release over years, responsible for caries inhibition in teeth. Conventional glass-ionomers, however, suffer from some disadvantages such as short working time, initial moisture sensitivity and prone to desiccation after setting and are generally brittle.

Candida albicans proteinases and host/pathogen interactions.

Candida infections are common, debilitating and often recurring fungal diseases and a problem of significant clinical importance. Candida albicans, the most virulent of the Candida spp., can cause severe mucosal and life-threatening systemic infections in immunocompromised hosts.

Single tooth crowns supported on hydroxyapatite coated endosseous dental implants: a prospective 5-year study on twenty subjects.

Aim: To evaluate the success and maintenance requirements of cylindrical, hydroxyapatite coated implants used as single-tooth implants.

Design: A five-year prospective trial.

Method: Twenty patients, attending the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry at GKT Dental Institute, London, were provided with 23 Calcitek, Integral Omniloc single tooth implants.

A national survey of dental technicians: career development, professional status and job satisfaction.

Objective: To investigate the career development, perception of status within the dental team, and level of job satisfaction of dental technicians in the United Kingdom.

Design: Cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey of 1,650 dental technicians registered with the Dental Technicians Association. Replies were received from 996 (60%).

Research in primary dental care. Part 7: writing up your research.

Writing up your research for publication is an important part of the research process, since it is through publication in all its forms that the wider community becomes aware of your contribution to knowledge. How the research is written up will depend to a large degree on your target audience; in this final paper we discuss writing up your research for members of your practice, funders of your research, and for publication in academic journals.

What constitutes dental caries? Histopathology of carious enamel and dentin related to the action of cariogenic biofilms.

Substantial pH fluctuations within the biofilm on the tooth surface are a ubiquitous and natural phenomenon, taking place at any time during the day and night. The result may be recordable in the dental tissues at only a chemical and/or ultrastructural level (subclinical level). Alternatively, a net loss of mineral leading to dissolution of dental hard tissues may result in a caries lesion that can be seen clinically.

A modern day application of the Rochette bridge.

A restoration that is frequently prescribed to provisionally restore the single unit edentulous space is the removable acrylic partial prosthesis. The Rochette bridge design provides an effective alternative when confronted with this clinical situation. The adaptable nature of this technique means that it can be utilised in a variety of clinical situations with success.

Stem-cell-based tissue engineering of murine teeth.

Teeth develop from reciprocal interactions between mesenchyme cells and epithelium, where the epithelium provides the instructive information for initiation. Based on these initial tissue interactions, we have replaced the mesenchyme cells with mesenchyme created by aggregation of cultured non-dental stem cells in mice. Recombinations between non-dental cell-derived mesenchyme and embryonic oral epithelium stimulate an odontogenic response in the stem cells.

The localization of estrogen receptors on human osteoblasts: a preliminary optical and electron microscopic technique.

Attempts to identify estrogen target cells in bone by immunocytochemistry using antibodies to the receptor have proved to be controversial. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether immunogold labeling can be used as a technique for the localization of estrogen receptors (ER) on a human osteoblast-like cell line. The aim was also to determine the distribution of ER on the cell surface by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and intracellularly by using a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

The rational design of an anti-caries peptide against Streptococcus mutans.

The cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans attaches to tooth surfaces via a cell surface adhesin termed streptococcal antigen I/II (SA I/II). Mapping studies identified an adhesion epitope within residues 1025-1044. A synthetic peptide (p1025) spanning these residues inhibited adhesion of S.

Vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 2, platelet derived growth factor and transforming growth factor beta released in human dental pulp following orthodontic force.

Objective: The release of four diffusible angiogenic growth factors in human dental pulp following orthodontic force was investigated by using neutralising growth factor antibodies (NAs), individually and in four different combinations to block their effects. This study investigated if increasing the number of NAs (anti h vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), anti h fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), anti h platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and anti Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta)) in combination resulted in a progressive reduction of the angiogenic response of the pulp.

Materials And Methods: The dental pulps from two groups of 40 premolar teeth, four teeth from each of 20 patients treated with fixed appliances for 2 weeks, were divided vertically, and sections from each half pulp co-cultured with sections of rat aorta in collagen.

Managing discoloured non-vital teeth: the inside/outside bleaching technique.

The discoloured, non-vital anterior tooth is a common aesthetic concern for many patients. It can have a profound effect on their self-esteem, interaction with others and employability. Discoloured non-vital teeth are frequently compromised owing to previous trauma, caries, endodontic therapy and failed restorations.

Development of a short form of the Treatment Evaluation Inventory for acceptability of psychological interventions.

The Treatment Evaluation Inventory of Kazdin, French, and Sherick is a 19-item measure of the perceived acceptability of behavioural treatments. Development of two brief forms was based on data from two sources. For Study 1, data from 218 completed questionnaires were used to develop internally consistent brief scales.

Research in primary dental care. Part 2: Developing a research question.

The first step in planning and conducting any research is identifying the research question, that is a testable statement of the question which the research aims to answer. In this article three distinct types of research question are identified: Descriptive questions (for example Who? What? Where? When?); Questions of relationships (How are two or more things related?); Questions of comparison (often these questions will ask about cause and effect). Examples are given of each type of research question.

Restriction of sonic hedgehog signalling during early tooth development.

The signalling peptide encoded by the sonic hedgehog gene is restricted to localised thickenings of oral epithelium, which mark the first morphological evidence of tooth development, and is known to play a crucial role during the initiation of odontogenesis. We show that at these stages in the murine mandibular arch in the absence of epithelium, the Shh targets Ptc1 and Gli1 are upregulated in diastema mesenchyme, an edentulous region between the sites of molar and incisor tooth formation. This ectopic expression is not associated with Shh transcription but with Shh protein, undetectable in the presence of epithelium.

Effect of two toothcleaning frequencies on periodontal status in patients with advanced periodontitis.

Objective: To compare the effect of once a day toothcleaning with once in 2 days toothcleaning in patients with advanced periodontitis.

Material And Methods: Twenty-two patients, aged 34-54 years were given intensive oral hygiene (OH) and half their mouth root planed with re-assessment 6 weeks later. The patients were randomised into either a once a day toothcleaning group or a once in 2 days toothcleaning group.

The future of teaching of complete denture construction to undergraduates in the UK: is a replacement denture technique the answer?

Due to changes in the amount of curriculum time available for teaching complete denture construction to undergraduate students, course content requires reconsideration and possible modification. The idea that a replica complete denture technique may offer some advantages is explored. A review of the relevant literature fails to support many of the claimed benefits of this technique such as relative ease of adaptation by the elderly to new dentures.

Research in primary dental care. Part 1: Setting the scene.

There is a growing trend for research to be conducted in primary health settings, to the benefit of patients and healthcare workers. This article provides an introduction and overview of a series which aims to facilitate research in general dental practice and to encourage general dental practitioners and other members of the dental team to become involved in these studies. The benefits of undertaking research are outlined, as well as barriers to becoming involved in such research.

Optimisation of the superplastic forming of a dental implant for bone augmentation using finite element simulations.

Objectives: The phenomenon of superplasticity has made it possible to form complex shapes that require extremely high degrees of ductility in titanium alloy with minimal internal stresses. Combined with the use of an investment casting material as the die material, which makes possible the forming of re-entrant angles, it is possible to produce membranes for ridge augmentation. The aim is to characterise the metal alloy sheet and simulate the superplastic forming process in three dimensions to produce process parameters, namely gas pressure as a function of time, to accurately adapt the titanium sheet to the bone surface.

A survey of the oral care practices of intensive care nurses.

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients have complex oral care needs. Inadequate oral care may predispose ICU patients to nosocomial infections. Recent initiatives have sought to improve the quality and evidence base of ICU oral care provision.