This retrospective study evaluated the clinical and radiographic status of nonsurgical endodontic treatment (ET) of anterior and posterior teeth in HIV-seropositive patients.

ET was analyzed in 26 anterior and 34 posterior teeth from 54 consecutive HIV patients (gender ratio 3 Male : 1 Female, mean age 40.2 years, mean CD4 240, CD4<500 in 88%, 12 with AIDS) over a six year period with a minimum of six months follow-up. ET was evaluated as successful, questionable, or failure based upon clinical factors (palpation, mobility, sinus tract, percussion, function, infection/swelling, occlusion, symptoms) and radiographic factors (periodontal ligament space, rarefaction, lamina dura, root resorption, obturation) during post-treatment examinations with a mean follow up of 26 months.

Clinical evaluation at follow up found ET outcome was successful in 88%, questionable in 10% (tenderness with percussion, mobility, widened ligament), and a failure in 2% (developed lesion after ET). Periapical lesions were present in 37% of cases (mean lesion size 6.2 mm). Following ET, mean lesion size (1.8 mm) had decreased by 71%. Obturation was evaluated as optimal or acceptable in 68%. Radiographic evaluation was considered successful in 80%, no change in 15%, and a failure in 5%.

Despite obturation deficiencies and the immunocompromised state of the patients, endodontic therapy has a relatively high degree of success in the majority of HIV/AIDS patients. HIV infection and AIDS should not be considered as a contraindication to endodontic therapy in this patient population.

Suchina JA, Levine D, Flaitz CM, Nichols CM, Hicks MJ. Retrospective Clinical and Radiologic Evaluation of Nonsurgical Endodontic Treatment in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:001-008.

Tinaz AC, Karadag LS, Alaçam T, Mihçioglu T. Evaluation of the Smear Layer Removal Effectiveness of EDTA Using Two Techniques: An SEM Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:009-016.

Aqrabawi JA. Outcome of Endodontic Treatment of Teeth Filled Using Lateral Condensation versus Vertical Compaction (Schilder's Technique). J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:017-024.

Worschech CC, Rodrigues JA, Martins LRM, Ambrosano GMB. Brushing Effect of Abrasive Dentifrices during At-home Bleaching with 10% Carbamide Peroxide on Enamel Surface Roughness. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:025-034.

The present in vitro study has been designed to establish and compare the effects of citric acid, EDTA, and tetracycline HCl on human periodontally diseased roots on the structure, attachment, and orientation of V79 (primary Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts) cells and human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDL).

Commercially availableV79 cells and HPDL derived from healthy human third molars were used in this study. These fibroblasts were left in solution for seven days in order to attain confluence. Forty single-rooted teeth were obtained from patients diagnosed with periodontitis. The crown part was removed under constant irrigation and the root was split vertically into two equal halves, thus, yielding 80 specimens. Following scaling and root planing, the specimens were washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and kept in 50 μg/ml gentamycin sulphate solution for 24 hours. The root pieces were then treated as follows: citric acid at pH 1, 24% EDTA, or with a 10% solution of tetracycline HCl and were then placed in V79 fibroblast cultures and HPDL cultures. The specimens were harvested after four weeks and were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS before preparation for scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The behavior of V79 cells was similar to that of human periodontal ligament cells on root conditioned surfaces. V79 and HPDL showed a healthy morphology on root surfaces treated with citric acid and EDTA and a relatively unhealthy appearance on root surfaces treated with tetracycline HCl and distilled water (control group).

The results suggest the use of citric acid and EDTA as root conditioning agents favorably affects the migration, attachment, and morphology of fibroblasts on human root surfaces, which may play a significant role in periodontal healing and regeneration.

Chandra RV, Jagetia GC, Bhat KM. The Attachment of V79 and Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts on Periodontally Involved Root Surfaces Following Treatment with EDTA, Citric Acid, or Tetracycline HCL: An SEM in vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:044-059.

The present in vitro study has been designed to establish and compare the effects of citric acid, EDTA, and tetracycline HCl on human periodontally diseased roots on the structure, attachment, and orientation of V79 (primary Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts) cells and human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDL).

Commercially availableV79 cells and HPDL derived from healthy human third molars were used in this study. These fibroblasts were left in solution for seven days in order to attain confluence. Forty single-rooted teeth were obtained from patients diagnosed with periodontitis. The crown part was removed under constant irrigation and the root was split vertically into two equal halves, thus, yielding 80 specimens. Following scaling and root planing, the specimens were washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and kept in 50 μg/ml gentamycin sulphate solution for 24 hours. The root pieces were then treated as follows: citric acid at pH 1, 24% EDTA, or with a 10% solution of tetracycline HCl and were then placed in V79 fibroblast cultures and HPDL cultures. The specimens were harvested after four weeks and were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS before preparation for scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The behavior of V79 cells was similar to that of human periodontal ligament cells on root conditioned surfaces. V79 and HPDL showed a healthy morphology on root surfaces treated with citric acid and EDTA and a relatively unhealthy appearance on root surfaces treated with tetracycline HCl and distilled water (control group).

The results suggest the use of citric acid and EDTA as root conditioning agents favorably affects the migration, attachment, and morphology of fibroblasts on human root surfaces, which may play a significant role in periodontal healing and regeneration.

Chandra RV, Jagetia GC, Bhat KM. The Attachment of V79 and Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts on Periodontally Involved Root Surfaces Following Treatment with EDTA, Citric Acid, or Tetracycline HCL: An SEM in vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:044-059.

Twenty mandibular class II furcation defects (ten patients with bilateral defects) were treated either with BO (group I) or a combination of BO/BG (group II). Each defect was randomly assigned to either group I or group II. The soft tissue and hard tissue measurements including vertical probing depth (VPD), horizontal probing depth (HPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR), vertical depth of furcation defect (VDF), and horizontal depth of furcation defect (HDF) were recorded at baseline and six months after surgery.

Both treatment procedures resulted in statistically significant reduction in VPD and HPD, gain in CAL, and reduction in VDF and HDF. There was a statistically significant difference between group I and group II in all soft and hard tissue parameters with the exception of VPD reduction and gingival recession.

The findings of this study suggest superior clinical results with BO/BG treatment when compared to BO treatment in mandibular class II furcation defects.

Reddy KP, Nayak DG, Uppoor A AS. A Clinical Evaluation of Anorganic Bovine Bone Graft Plus 10% Collagen with or without a Barrier in the Treatment of Class II Furcation Defects. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:060-070.

Yilmaz Y, Eyuboglu Ö, Kocogullari ME, Belduz M. A One-Year Clinical Evaluation of a High-Viscosity Glass Ionomer Cement in Primary Molars. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:071-078.

Al-Malik MI, Al-Sarheed MA. Comprehensive Dental Care of Pediatric Patients Treated Under General Anesthesia in a Hospital Setting in Saudi Arabia. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:079-088.

Maxillectomy often results in a high level of morbidity with significant psychological and functional implications for the patient. Such disabilities include inability to masticate, deglutition, and speech disturbance. Unfortunately, little is known about the nature of the speech disturbance and the influence of the class of surgical defects in this group of patients. The aims of the present study were to assess the effectiveness of the maxillary obturator as a speech rehabilitation aid and to examine the influence of the classes of surgical defects on speech intelligibility (SI).

Twelve patients aged between 18 and 60 years with surgically acquired partial maxillary defects were included in this study. The patients were given immediate surgical obturators six to ten days after surgery, which were then converted to interim obturators by relining with tissue conditioner. Interim prostheses were used for two to three months until healing and resorption were found satisfactory after which the definitive obturators were fabricated. The SI test described by Plank et al.¹ and Wheeler et al.⁸ was employed in this study. There were significant improvements in the mean SI score from 59.8% without prosthetic obturation, to 89.2% following interim obturation, and 94.7% following definitive obturation (p<0.005).

Nine patients (75%) had class I surgical defects, two patients (16.67%) had class II defects, while only one patient (8.33%) had a class VI surgical defect. None of the patients had class III, IV, or class V surgical defects. There was an improvement in the SI score from class I to class VI without obturation, after insertion of interim obturator, and after insertion of the definitive obturator.

Results support the widely held view that the maxillary obturator is a useful speech rehabilitation aid. It also shows immediate, interim, and definitive obturators are all important in the speech rehabilitation of patients with surgically acquired maxillary defects. Moreover SI is affected by the class of defect.

Arigbede AO, Dosumu OO, Shaba OP, Esan TA. Evaluation of Speech in Patients with Partial Surgically Acquired Defects: Pre and Post Prosthetic Obturation. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7) 1:089-096.

Huber MA, Terezhalmy GT. Adverse Reactions to Latex Products: Preventive and Therapeutic Strategies. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:097-106.

Öğütcen-Toller M, Şener I, Kasap V, Çakir-Özkan N. Maxillary Myxoma: Surgical Treatment and Reconstruction with Buccal Fat Pad Flap: A Case Report. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:107-116.

Dezotti MSG, Azevedo LR, Fontão FNGK, Capelozza ALA, Sant'ana E. Odontogenic Myxoma – A Case Report and Clinico-Radiographic Study of Seven Tumors. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7) 1:117-124.

Martins WD. Report of Ankylosis of the Temporomandibular Joint: Treatment with a Temporalis Muscle Flap and Augmentation Genioplasty. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:125-133.

Kirzioğlu Z, Ertürk MSÖ. Congenital Lower Lip Pits (Van der Woude Syndrome): Report of a Case. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:134-140.

Baydaş B, Denizoğlu S. An Application of a Split Purposeful Resin-Bonded Fixed Partial Denture after Orthodontic Treatment: A Case Report. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:141-149.

Shinohara EH, Mitsuda ST, Miyagusko JM, Horikawa FK. Mandibular Fracture Reduction without Intraoperative Intermaxillary Fixation: A Technique Using Two Modified Reduction Forceps. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:150-156.

Schwedhelm ER. Direct Technique for the Fabrication of Acrylic Provisional Restorations. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:157-173.

Mupparapu M. Contemporary, Emerging, and Ratified Wireless Security Standards: An Update for the Networked Dental Office. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 February;(7)1:174-185.