Current and potential pulp therapies for primary and young permanent teeth.

Objectives: This paper aims to alert the dental practitioner to the rapidly evolving therapies for treating the pulps of primary and young permanent teeth.

Data Sources: Experimental research on animals, clinical studies and case reports.

Study Selection: Indirect pulp capping, direct pulp capping, pulpotomies, and pulpectomies are standard procedures for treating primary teeth.

Clinical performance and caries inhibition of resin-modified glass ionomer cement and amalgam restorations.

Background: The authors clinically examined two restorative materials to evaluate their effectiveness in Class II restorations in primary molars and their ability to inhibit recurrent caries.

Methods: Forty subjects, each in need of two Class II restorations in primary molars, took part in this study. Each patient received one Class II restoration of resin-modified glass ionomer cement and one of amalgam.

Reparative dentin formation in rat molars after direct pulp capping with growth factors.

Growth factors involved in normal wound healing may promote tissue repair when applied as a direct pulp capping medication. A minimal pulp exposure was made in rat molars, a pulp capping medication was placed, and the cavity was sealed. Epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor II, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1)--each absorbed onto a sterile collagen membrane (BioMend; Calcitek, Carlsbad, CA)--were used separately as pulpal medicaments.

Immortalized mouse odontoblast cell line MO6-G3 application for in vitro biocompatibility testing.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the usefulness of an established stable immortalized mouse odontoblast cell line (MO6-G3) for dental material biocompatibility testing. Using a standard toxicity assay based on cell respiratory activity, the response to MO6-G3 cells was compared to the mouse fibroblastic cell line, L929, presently used for dental materials testing. The dental resin monomer TEGDMA was used as the dental material for the assay.

Fluoride release from fissure sealants.

This 30-day study, compared the amounts and patterns of fluoride release from 5 commercially available fluoride-containing pit and fissure sealants: FluroShield, Helioseal-F, Ultraseal XT, Baritone L3, and Teethmate-F; Delton without fluoride, was used as control. Disc-shaped samples of each sealant were immersed in distilled water and the fluoride release was measured periodically until day 30. All the fluoridated sealants tested released measurable fluoride throughout the test period in a similar pattern: the greatest amount of fluoride was released in the first 24 hours after mixing, fell sharply on the second day and decreased slowly for the last days.

Bonding mechanism of Compoglass to dentin in primary teeth.

This study evaluated the bonding mechanism of Compoglass compomer to dentin in primary teeth. Buccal or labial dentinal surfaces of 20 human extracted, non carious primary teeth stored in 4 degrees C physiological saline solution were obtained by grinding on silicon carbide paper (final grit 600). The specimens were divided into two groups of 10 teeth each: (1) unetched dentin, Compoglass SCA, Compoglass; and (2) dentin etched with 10% phosphoric acid (Etch-AII), Compoglass SCA, Compoglass.

Bond strengths of resin-modified glass ionomers and polyacid-modified resin composites to dentin.

Purpose: To measure the shear bond strength of two resin-modified glass ionomers (Vitremer and Fuji II LC) and two polyacid-modified resin composites (Compoglass and Dyract) when applied to dry dentin, dentin supplied with water pressure from the pulp, and after thermocycling.

Materials And Methods: Ninety six extracted third molars were used. The root portion was removed just below the cemento-enamel junction and the occlusal enamel was removed from the crown segment.

The effect of altered functional forces on the expression of bone-matrix proteins in developing mouse mandibular condyle.

Mechanical forces are known to have an effect on bone formation, maintenance and remodelling, and there is evidence that the development of the mandibular condyle in the rat is influenced by the consistency of the diet. Here a mouse model was used to investigate the relation between food, condylar development and the expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OC) and type 1 collagen (COL I). Twenty-four 19-day-old male mice were randomly divided into three groups.

The influence of meperidine and nitrous oxide on respiratory depression in rats.

Narcotic sedation is commonly accomplished with nitrous oxide (N2O) coadministration. Concerns regarding respiratory morbidity and mortality with drug combinations have been reported in the literature, particularly in patients not receiving supplemental oxygen (O2). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of meperidine alone and in combination with N2O on respiration in laboratory rats by evaluating cardiovascular and arterial blood gas data.

Caries progression of white spot lesions sealed with an unfilled resin.

This study evaluated the artificial caries resistance provided to white spot lesions by sealing with an unfilled resin. Twenty extracted molar teeth were coated with an acid-resistant varnish (ARV), except for two 5 mm x 2 mm enamel windows (mesial and distal), and immersed for 5 weeks in an acidified gel brought to a pH of 4.2 with lactic acid.

Transfection of Actinomyces spp. by genomic DNA of bacteriophages from human dental plaque.

Bacteriophages that produced turbid or clear zones of lysis in strains of Actinomyces were isolated from 22 of 124 samples of fresh human dental plaque. All human and nonhuman strains of Actinomyces viscosus or Actinomyces naeslundii tested in this study were sensitive to infection by one or more of these phages. In contrast, none of the Actinomyces odontolyticus, Actinomyces israelii, or Actinomyces bovis strains tested were susceptible.

The influence of midazolam and nitrous oxide on respiratory depression in laboratory rats.

Midazolam in combination with nitrous oxide (N2O) is a commonly used sedative approach for pediatric dental patients. Respiratory morbidity and mortality have been reported with midazolam administration, particularly when used in combination with other drugs in the absence of supplemental oxygen. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of midazolam alone and in combination with N2O on respiration in laboratory rats by measuring arterial blood gas levels.

Dentastic bond strength to dentin.

Purpose: To evaluate the shear bond strength to the dentin of permanent teeth and failure site of Dentastic hydrophilic dentin bonding agent.

Materials And Methods: Forty permanent noncarious molar teeth stored in distilled water were obtained. The teeth were cleaned with pumice and a rubber cup.

Psoriasis: pathophysiology and oral manifestations.

Psoriasis is a chronic, remitting and relapsing inflammatory skin disorder with a strong genetic predisposition. Psoriasis affects 1-3% of the world's population in their early lives representing a disabling condition with significant social and economic impact. Despite a great deal of research on the etiology and tissue destruction mechanisms, the disease is not well understood.

Dentin bond strength of fluoride-releasing materials.

Purpose: To evaluate the shear bond strength to dentin of fluoride-releasing materials.

Materials And Methods: Human, noncarious extracted permanent molars stored in distilled water were used. Flat buccal and lingual dentin surfaces were ground wet on 600-grit silicon carbide paper.

Dexamethasone stimulates luciferase gene expression through the rat bone sialoprotein gene promoter in transgenic mice.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is expressed by differentiated osteoblasts during the initial formation and mineralization of bone matrix. Studies using transgenic mice harboring 2.7 kb of the rat BSP promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene have shown luciferase activity in bone and other mineralized tissues while most soft tissues tested expressed a much lower level of the reporter gene.

Transformation of Actinomyces spp. by a gram-negative broad-host-range plasmid.

The gram-negative broad-host-range vector pJRD215 was transferred by electroporation into strains of Actinomyces viscosus or Actinomyces naeslundii at efficiencies which ranged from 10(2) to 10(7) transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA. The Actinomyces transformants expressed pJRD215-encoded resistance to kanamycin and streptomycin. Moreover, the transforming plasmid DNA had not undergone any deletions or rearrangements, nor had it integrated into the genomes of these strains.

Long-term fluoride release from glass ionomer-lined amalgam restorations.

This in vitro study evaluated the amount of fluoride released from glass ionomer-lined amalgam restorations over a period of 1 year. Class V cavities (2 x 2 x 7 mm) were prepared on the facial and lingual surfaces of 50 extracted human molars randomly distributed into 5 groups: Group 1: No restorations; Group 2: Dispersalloy amalgam alone; Group 3: same as Group 2 except 1 mm of Ketac-Silver was placed on the axial wall before amalgam insertion; Group 4: GC Lining/amalgam; and Group 5: Miracle Mix/amalgam. After restoration, each tooth was thermocycled (100x) at 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C with a dwell time of 30 seconds for baseline fluoride release levels.