The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects of 5% and 24% EDTA on the attachment of gingival fibroblasts to periodontally diseased root surfaces. A flat root surface was created on human teeth that were extracted due to severe periodontitis. The teeth were etched with the following concentrations of etylediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for two minutes: 5% (group I) and 24% (group II). Group III was soaked in saline and served as a control. The specimens and fibroblasts were incubated in a culture medium for 24 hours each day for one and two weeks and photographed using scanning electron microscopy. Each specimen was examined for the migration of cells into the etched and nonetched root surface. No fibroblasts could be detected on the saline groups. More fibroblasts could attach to the surface treated with 24% EDTA than with 5% EDTA. It was concluded that supersaturated EDTA at 24% enhances the attachment of gingival fibroblasts to the root surface.

In this series of articles, the author discusses the potential risks, benefits, and liabilities associated with using electronic communications and computer-based records to manage a patient's medical information. This second article in the series considers the role and responsibility of the healthcare professional in collecting and sharing a patient's private personal and medical data in online environments. Current practices and the potential pitfalls of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) are reviewed.

The efficient exchange of instruments between the operator and the dental assistant is fundamental to the facilitation of an efficient and stress-free dental practice. This requires a commitment on the part of the members of the operating team to specific work practices before and during a dental procedure. The objectives of this article include the description of team member responsibilities during an instrument transfer and the identification of the benefits of a proper instrument transfer technique. Objectives also include specific instrument grasps and descriptions of transfer methods that require practice on the part of the operating team in order to attain proficiency.

Dentin hypersensitivity is a common condition of transient tooth pain associated with a variety of exogenous stimuli. There is substantial variation in the response to such stimuli from one person to another. Except for sensitivity associated with tooth bleaching or other tooth pathology, the clinical cause of dentin hypersensitivity is exposed dentinal tubules as a result of gingival recession and subsequent loss of cementum on root surfaces. The most widely accepted theory of how the pain occurs is Brännström's hydrodynamic theory of dentin hypersensitivity. Dentinal hypersensitivity must be differentiated from other conditions that may cause sensitive teeth prior to treatment. Three principal treatment strategies are used. Dentinal tubules can be covered by gingival grafts or dental restorations. The tubules can be plugged using compounds that can precipitate together into a large enough mass to occlude the tubules. The third strategy is to desensitize the nerve tissue within the tubules using potassium nitrate. Several over-the-counter products are available to patients to treat this condition.

The purpose of the study was to compare the segmental measurement tool from the Shick Technologies CDR digital system with the conventional film radiography measurement technique to determine preoperative working length. Natural extracted human teeth with varying degrees of root curvature were used. All teeth were imaged using the Shick Technologies CDR direct digital system and conventional E-speed film. Measurements from digital radiography and conventional film were compared with measurements made directly from the endodontic files. The Wilks' Lambda multivariate test was used. The mean measurement of each modality was compared with the other and with the gold standard. The test showed statistically significant differences between the two modalities at p<0.05. The mean measurements for both modalities were not significantly different from the gold standard. The modality most closely approaching the gold standard was the conventional film.

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of an effervescent sodium bicarbonate based oral composition on plaque and gingivitis. Subjects selected for this study presented at screening with moderate plaque and American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Type I/II periodontal status. At baseline, subjects were allocated to one of two groups by simple randomization; placebo (n=16) and active (n=16). During the study two subjects withdrew due to non-compliance and one because of a death in the family. Data were collected at baseline, day 14, and day 28. The Plaque Index (PI) of Silness and Loe was used to quantify the amount of supragingival plaque surrounding six selected teeth (3, 14, 8, 19, 24, 30), and the Gingival Index (GI) of Loe and Silness was used to assess bleeding tendencies and visual appearance on the same six teeth. A soft tissue oral assessment was completed at each visit. Subjects were asked to perform study treatment three times a day, after meals, and continue with normal oral hygiene procedures. Subjects were requested to complete a 28-day diary to assess compliance. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. There were no statistically significant differences between the placebo and the active product groups and no statistical significant interaction between product and location within the mouth or visit for either the plaque or gingival scores. Results reveal the product was safe to oral tissues and was well accepted by subjects.