Mechanical properties, and biocompatibility assessment of biomimetic dual layered keratin/ hydroxyapatite scaffolds.

A novel biomimetic dual layered keratin/hydroxyapatite (keratin/HA) scaffold was designed using iterative freeze-drying technique. The prepared scaffolds were studied using several analytical techniques to better understand the biological, structural, and mechanical properties. The developed multilayered, interconnected, porous keratin scaffold with different hydroxyapatite (HA) content in the outer and inner layer, mimics the inherent gradient structure of alveolar bone.

The effect of an additional application of sealer prior to backfilling in the Continuous Wave of Condensation technique.

An additional sealer application was investigated prior to backfilling with the Continuous Wave of Condensation (CWC). 105 Palatal roots were sectioned and prepared to a file size 40, 0.06 taper with Vortex Blue® files.

The oral health of long-term psychiatric inpatients in Singapore.

This cross-sectional study aims to describe the dental caries experience, treatment needs, and experience of dry mouth of 191 long-term psychiatric inpatients in Singapore. Medical history, dental caries experience [represented by the Decayed Missing or Filled Teeth index (DMFT)], salivary flow, and treatment needs were recorded. Information on brushing, pain (when eating), and xerostomia was gathered.

Adhesion of Yeast and Bacteria to Oral Surfaces.

Colonization of surfaces in the human body by microorganisms is an early, essential, step in the initiation of infectious disease. We have developed in vitro assays to investigate interactions between yeast or bacterial cells and human tissues, fluids, or prostheses. Such assays can be used to identify the adhesins, ligands, and receptors involved in these interactions, for example, by determining which components of the microbe or human tissue/fluid interfere with adherence in the assay.

The effect of ultrasonic instruments on the quality of preparation margins and bonding to dentin.

Statement Of The Problem: Ultrasonic instruments have recently been developed for finishing crown preparations. They are successful in accessing difficult areas on the preparation margin, but their effects on the dentin surface and on bond strength are contradictory.

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the condition of crown preparation margins finished using new ultrasonic instruments and to assess their effects on dentin bond strength.

Ultrasonic margin preparation for fixed prosthodontics: a pilot study.

Purpose:   Atraumatic, oscillating ultrasonic instruments have recently been developed for prosthodontic margin finishing. This in vitro observational pilot study aimed to compare the condition of crown preparation margins finished using new ultrasonic instruments with margins finished with conventional rotary instruments.

Methods:   Two extracted human canine teeth were prepared for crowns.

An exploratory study of the acceptability of delivering oral health information in community pharmacies.

Objective: The community pharmacy is an accessible service which, with further training and support, could be used to deliver oral health messages. This is important especially for those with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, where the oral environment may have a negative impact. This qualitative study assessed the feasibility of pharmacists delivering oral health messages in community pharmacies.

Concordance between clinical and histopathologic diagnoses of oral mucosal lesions.

Purpose: To study the epidemiology of oral soft tissue lesions in New Zealand from 2002 to 2006 and to determine the concordance between the clinical diagnosis and the definitive histopathologic diagnosis achieved by general dental practitioners and by specialists.

Materials And Methods: The details from biopsy referrals and the corresponding histopathologic reports of oral soft tissue lesions were recorded into a statistical software package, and the concordance between the clinical diagnosis and histopathologic diagnosis was determined for all the lesions.

Results: Most biopsies were benign lesions, and both clinician groups achieved a high diagnostic concordance for these lesions.

A Micro CT study of the mesiobuccal root canal morphology of the maxillary first molar tooth.

Aim: To observe the morphology of the root canal system of the maxillary first molar mesiobuccal root using micro computed tomography and compare it to current canal classifications.

Methodology: Twenty mesiobuccal roots were resected from randomly selected extracted human maxillary first molar teeth and prepared for scanning using a SkyScan micro CT scanner (SkyScan 1172 X-ray microtomograph, Antwerp, Belgium) at a slice thickness of 11.6μm.

Radiolucent inflammatory jaw lesions: a twenty-year analysis.

Aim: To determine the range and demographic and clinical features of radiolucent inflammatory jaw lesions.

Methodology: Histopathology reports were reviewed to identify radiolucent jaw lesions. There were no clinical exclusive criteria, and the samples represented a wide range of clinical presentation and treatment history from multiple providers.

Diagnostic accuracy of panoramic radiography in determining relationship between inferior alveolar nerve and mandibular third molar.

Purpose: The aim of this review was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of panoramic radiographic markers in the detection of the relationship between the mandibular canal and third molar roots.

Materials And Methods: A literature search of electronic databases, Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, National Research Register, conference proceedings, and abstracts was performed to identify studies that had investigated the diagnostic accuracy of the 3 panoramic radiographic markers (ie, darkening of the root, interruption of the radiopaque borders, and diversion of the mandibular canal). RevMan, version 5.

Calcium hydroxide-based root canal sealers: a review.

The aim of this review was to consider laboratory experiments and clinical studies of calcium hydroxide-based root canal sealers. An extensive search of the endodontic literature was made to identify publications related to calcium hydroxide-based root canal sealers. The articles were assessed for the outcome of laboratory and clinical studies on their biological properties and physical characteristics.

Dental and maxillofacial skeletal injuries seen at the University of Otago School of Dentistry, New Zealand 2000-2004.

An epidemiological study of dental and facial trauma injuries was performed on patient presentations to the University of Otago School of Dentistry during the period 2000-2004. A total of 1287 patients were seen for dental injuries with 3473 tooth injuries. The mean age was 17.

Electric pulp testing: a review.

Electric pulp testing (EPT) has been available for more than a century and used in dental practices worldwide. This article provides an overview of this diagnostic aid. The PubMed database from 1953 was used initially; the reference list for pulp testing featured 1071 articles, and for EPT identified 121 papers.

Peripheral dentin thickness after root-end cavity preparation.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if it was possible to retain 2 mm of dentin around the periphery of root-end cavity preparations in maxillary central incisor and maxillary canine teeth.

Study Design: Thirty teeth of each type were root filled. Three millimeters of root end was resected and conservative root-end cavities ultrasonically prepared.

Natural rubber latex allergy and dental practice.

Natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy is a significant clinical problem with potentially life-threatening complications. Oral health care professionals must be able to screen for NRL allergy and refer patients or staff to a specialist for definitive diagnosis. Protocol for its management must be developed and incorporated into daily practice.

Appropriate electrode placement site for electric pulp testing first molar teeth.

Twenty volunteers with first molars free of restorations and caries were recruited. One molar from each arch was selected, and rubber dam was applied. Seven sites on each crown were electric pulp tested 4 times with an Elements Diagnostic Unit, and lowest threshold responses were recorded.

Radiographic study of ethnic variation in alveolar bone height among New Zealand dental students.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine anatomical variations in the radiographic distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar crest with respect to ethnic heritage and gender in New Zealand dental students.

Methods: Digitized bitewing films of 123 second-year New Zealand dental students were examined with a computer imaging program on a desktop computer screen. The race of parents and grandparents was obtained by questionnaire.

Retrieval of a root fragment from the maxillary sinus--an appreciation of the Caldwell-Luc procedure.

A 30-year-old man presenting for routine extraction of a carious upper left first permanent molar subsequently underwent the retrieval of a palatal root that had been displaced into the maxillary sinus. This paper illustrates the principles of the Caldwell-Luc procedure and highlights the issues and management of acute oro-antral communication associated with a displaced root into the sinus. This paper was presented at the Clinical Excellence in Patient Care Symposium, Dunedin on 29 September, 2006.

Identification and characterization of the loci encoding the competence-associated alternative sigma factor of Streptococcus gordonii.

In naturally-competent streptococci such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, expression of the late competence operons is regulated by ComX (sigma(X)), the competence-specific alternative sigma factor. In this study, duplicate genes (comR1 and comR2) encoding the putative ComX homologue of the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii were identified. Like the identical twin comX loci of S.