[Orthodontic fixed retainer: fix or not fix? that is the question].

Orthodontic fixed retainer is widely used, as an orthodontic retention appliance, for nearly four decades. It answers the need for prolonged retention with minimum patient compliance. The effectiveness of fixed retainers was compared to other retention devices in several studies, and was found as effective as removable appliances.

Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias.

1. Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs) are headaches/facial pains classified together based on:a suspected common pathophysiology involving the trigeminovascular system, the trigeminoparasympathetic reflex and centres controlling circadian rhythms;a similar clinical presentation of trigeminal pain, and autonomic activation. 2.

Smad8/BMP2-engineered mesenchymal stem cells induce accelerated recovery of the biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon.

Tendon tissue regeneration is an important goal for orthopedic medicine. We hypothesized that implantation of Smad8/BMP2-engineered MSCs in a full-thickness defect of the Achilles tendon (AT) would induce regeneration of tissue with improved biomechanical properties. A 2 mm defect was created in the distal region of murine ATs.

[Dental practitioners in Israel: past, present and future].

Since 1980 various studies have been published in Israel dealing with dental manpower issues, utilizing several methods such as manpower to population ratio. The dental literature pointed out that dentistry in Israel has an over supply of dentists and that manpower to population ratio is one of the highest in the world 1:770. All studies were based on the information provided by the Ministry of Health which showed that Israel has over 9500 dentists.

Microcomputed tomography-based structural analysis of various bone tissue regeneration models.

Microcomputed tomography (microCT) analysis is a powerful tool for the evaluation of bone tissue because it provides access to the 3D microarchitecture of the bone. It is invaluable for regenerative medicine as it provides the researcher with the opportunity to explore the skeletal system both in vivo and ex vivo. The quantitative assessment of macrostructural characteristics and microstructural features may improve our ability to estimate the quality of newly formed bone.

[Materials and technologies for fabricating denture bases].

The materials and technologies for fabrication of denture bases have developed during the last 150 years. The requirements of the ideal material are versatile and include functional, physical and esthetical demands. The current manuscript classifies denture base materials according to their chemical characteristics into polymers, reinforced polymers and light cured polymers.

Quantitative, structural, and image-based mechanical analysis of nonunion fracture repaired by genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells.

Stem cell-mediated gene therapy for fracture repair, utilizes genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the induction of bone growth and is considered a promising approach in skeletal tissue regeneration. Previous studies have shown that murine nonunion fractures can be repaired by implanting MSCs over-expressing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Nanoindentation studies of bone tissue induced by MSCs in a radius fracture site indicated similar elastic modulus compared to intact murine bone, eight weeks post-treatment.

Prosthetic care for a mentally ill patient.

A manic-depressive 64 old female arrived to the clinic for prosthetic treatment. She was fully edentulous and wore an old poor set of complete dentures. Her general attitude was apathy, nonattached and almost indifferent to the general environment as well as to the proposed oral care.

Idiopathic internal resorption followed by apposition of calcified deposits in primary molars: a case report.

This article describes an unusual case of internal resorption in primary molars followed by apposition of calcified deposits. Expanded borders of the coronal pulp chambers of all four first primary molars were first observed on a routine recall examination at age 7 years 7 months. Exposure of the process to the surrounding bone linked the bone to the calcified tissue formed in the pulp and caused ankylosis and infraocclusion of the affected teeth.

The use of restraint in the treatment of paediatric dental patients: old and new insights.

Objective: This article reviews aspects of the restraint strategies in paediatric dentistry that have been reviewed in recent years and point out those strategies that remain controversial as well as questionable.

Methods: Studies that evaluated demographic and cultural factors that influence dentists' use of restraint, discussion of the rationale behind the use of restraint, the role of parents, informed consent, use of restraints at the undergraduate and at the postgraduate level, and some ethical questions were selected.

Conclusions: Practice location, caries prevalence, and the educational backgrounds of the dentist played a role in the selection of behavioural strategies.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta: an early treatment strategy.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI) type 2 is a disease inherited in a simple autosomal dominant mode. As soon as the teeth erupt the parents may notice the problem and look for a pediatric dentist's advice and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of DI is recommended, as it may prevent or intercept deterioration of the teeth and occlusion and improve esthetics.

Taste cell function. Structural and biochemical implications.

Maintenance of constant relations between receptor cell types and branching from a single gustatory nerve fiber during normal cell turnover and regeneration requires cell-cell recognition likely mediated by timed expression of molecules at surfaces of taste bud cells, nerve endings, and in extracellular matrix. These processes assure stability of gustatory quality representation during intragemmal remodeling. Coincidentally, features of gemmal cell lifespan, including elongation, differentiation, and migration prior to apoptosis, must also be orchestrated by molecular signals.

Repeat bacterial challenge in a subcutaneous chamber model results in augmented tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma response, and suppression of interleukin-10.

The present study compared the effect of a single or a repeat challenge with the Gram-negative pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis on the local inflammatory response within subcutaneous chamber model in mice. Subcutaneous chambers were implanted 2 weeks prior to the final challenge. The repeat-challenge (REP) group received two intrachamber bacterial injections 14 days apart, while the single-injection group (SIN) received only a single bacterial challenge.

Systemic absorption of lidocaine after topical application for the treatment of oral mucositis in bone marrow transplantation patients.

This paper evaluates lidocaine absorption via oral mucosa following its topical application for symptomatic treatment of bone marrow transplantation (BMT)-induced oral mucositis. Five patients with high-grade oral mucositis after allogeneic BMT were entered consecutively into the study. Five healthy individuals served as controls.

Endodontic retreatment of unusually long maxillary central incisors.

Anatomical and morphological variations in teeth may affect the success and prognosis of endodontic therapy. The reported data regarding such variations in the maxillary central incisors are limited. This article presents a case of endodontic retreatment in unusually long maxillary central incisors.

The antimicrobial effect within dentinal tubules of four root canal sealers.

The aim of this study was to investigate four root canal sealers--Pulp Canal Sealer EWT, Sealapex, AH26, and Ketac-Endo--for their antibacterial effects within dentinal tubules. Sterile saline served as a control. Sixty-six standardized bovine root specimens were infected with Enterococcus faecalis following smear layer removal.

Mandibular canine with two roots and three root canals.

A rare case of root canal retreatment in a lower canine with two roots and three canals is presented. While the presence of two roots and two canals in one root is not uncommon, the finding of three canals in a lower canine appears not to have been reported previously.

Effect of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide on the surface morphology and zinc oxide levels of IRM fillings.

The effect of 10% carbamide peroxide or 10% hydrogen peroxide on the surface morphology and zinc oxide levels of IRM fillings was tested. Ninety IRM samples were treated with either 10% carbamide peroxide, 10% hydrogen peroxide or phosphate buffer which served as control. Treatment consisted of placing the samples in a dry incubator at 37 degrees C for 1, 3 or 7 days.

Role of catalase in the elimination of residual hydrogen peroxide following tooth bleaching.

Hydrogen peroxide at high concentrations may cause damage to the tooth structure and to the surrounding periodontal tissues. The efficacy of catalase applied following intracoronal bleaching to eliminate residual hydrogen peroxide was examined and compared with prolonged water rinses. Extracted human premolars were treated endodontically and bleached with 30% hydrogen peroxide.

pH variation among materials used for intracoronal bleaching.

Intracoronal bleaching of pulpless teeth with 30% hydrogen peroxide may result in external cervical root resorption. One of several suggested etiological factors associated with this complication is the pH of the bleaching materials. Because the available data on the pH values of bleaching materials were conflicting, it was the purpose of this study to measure the pH of the materials commonly used for bleaching pulpless teeth.