White DJ, Kozak KM, Gibb RD, Dunavent JM. A 24-Hour Dental Plaque Prevention Study with a Stannous Fluoride Dentifrice Containing Hexametaphosphate. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:001-011.

Pre-heating composite resin materials at body temperature (37°C) is likely to improve physical properties and compensate any drop of light intensity.

Elhejazi AA. The Effects of Temperature and Light Intensity on the Polymerization Shrinkage of Light-cured Composite Filling Materials. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:012-021.

The purpose of this study was to compare two types of conventional radiographic film: Ekta-speed plus and Insight (Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester NY, USA) for accuracy of measurements of approximal bone loss.

Four dried human mandibles with complete dentition were selected. Radiographic images were made with a standardized technique. Mesial and distal bone levels on the mandibular premolar and molar teeth were measured on the two types of radiographs (Ekta-speed plus and Insight) by nine observers. The data obtained by the observers were compared with the primary investigators’ corresponding measurements, which served as “the ground truth” for this study.

The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated a significant difference for the Ektaspeed plus film (p = .001), but the difference was not clinically significant. The level of intra-rater reliability was high for the observers (0.969 to 0.990).

Performance of Ekta-speed plus and Insight films was found to be similar.

Masood F, Angelopoulos C, Glaros A. A Comparison Between Two Types of Radiographic Film for Accuracy of Measurements of Approximal Osseous Defects. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:022-029.

Subjects were randomized in one of two-groups: brush plus simultaneous irrigation (OHS) versus brush plus rinsing (SE). Subjects used their devices at home for two weeks. At the measurement visit, subjects used the OHS to irrigate and brush simultaneously for 1 minute (30 seconds per each side of the mouth) with a 0.01% erythrosine disclosing solution in 10 oz of distilled water. Control subjects brushed for 2 minutes with a SE followed by a 1 minute rinse with an identical disclosing solution. A blinded evaluator collected six samples of approximately of 1 μL of sucular fluid from six 5-6 mm evaluation sites. This was accomplished by inserting a microcapillary tip with a 20 μL micropipette in the sulcus. Two-group repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine differences in two measures of the disclosing solution between OHS and SE subjects; the spectrometer reading of the disclosing solutions, and by visual inspection of the samples (positive/negative) to determine the presence or absence of solution in the samples. Subjects’ diaries were collected. Bleeding and discomfort during the evaluation period was reported.

Visually, OHS had a significantly greater proportion of solution taken from the base of 5-6 mm sites than the SE (p=0.0001). However, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (p=.1359) in the spectrophotometer readings.

The experimental device is more efficient in delivering a solution to the base of 5-6 mm pockets than rinsing following use of a control powered toothbrush. Both devices have demonstrated they are safe and well accepted by patients. The technique developed provides a useful method for quantitative and qualitative studies of solutions from the base of periodontal pockets.

Brackett MG, Drisko CL, Thompson AL, Waller JL, Marshall DL, Schuster GS. Penetration of Fluids into Periodontal Pockets Using a Powered Toothbrush/Irrigator Device. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July:(7)3:030-039.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical pattern of post-extraction wound healing with a view to identify the types, incidence, and pattern of healing complications following non-surgical tooth extraction.

A total of 311 patients, who were referred for non-surgical (intra-alveolar) extractions, were included in the study. The relevant pre-operative information recorded for each patient included age and gender of the patient, indications for extraction, and tooth/teeth removed. Extractions were performed under local anesthesia with dental forceps, elevators, or both. Patients were evaluated on the third and seventh postoperative days for alveolus healing assessment. Data recorded were: biodata, day of presentation for alveolus healing assessment, day of onset of any symptoms, body temperature (°C) in cases of alveolus infection, and presence or absence of pain.

Two hundred eighty-two patients (282) with 318 extraction sites were evaluated for alveolus healing. Healing was uneventful in 283 alveoli (89%), while 35 alveoli (11%) developed healing complications. These complications were: localized osteitis 26 (8.2%); acutely infected alveolus 5 (1.6%); and an acutely inflamed alveolus 4 (1.2%). Females developed more complications than males (p=0.003). Most complications were found in molars (60%) and premolars (37.1%). Localized osteitis caused severe pain in all cases, while infected and inflamed alveolus caused mild or no pain. Thirty patients (12%) among those without healing complications experienced mild pain.

Most of the post-extraction alveoli healed uneventfully. Apart from alveolar osteitis (AO), post-extraction alveolus healing was also complicated by acutely infected alveoli and acutely inflamed alveoli. This study also demonstrated a painful alveolus is not necessarily a disturbance of post-extraction site wound healing; a thorough clinical examination must, therefore, be made to exclude any of the complications.

Adeyemo WL, Ladeinde AL, Ogunlewe MO. Clinical Evaluation of Post-extraction Site Wound Healing. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:040-049.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of CVDentUS tips for preparing cavities with ultrasound by dentists certified to use the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) system.

One thousand sixty (1060) questionnaires were sent via e-mail inquiring about the use of the system with regard to the indication for use, need for anesthesia, final form of cavity preparation, and tip wear.

Of the valid answers, 81.4% of the dentists used this system for tooth preparation in up to 60% of cases treated. For these procedures, 17.8% did not require use of local anesthesia while using the system. The final form of preparation compared to high speed diamond tips was considered to be more conservative by 48.3% of the certified professionals. With regard to wear, tip and/or adapter fractures, and low cutting speed, 44.4% of users reported problems.

The CVD system seems to be used for tooth cavity preparation by the majority of the certified dentists. This is due to the resultant conservation of tooth structure despite the necessity of anesthesia and the limitations with regard to the lack of cutting efficiency of CVDentUS and tip wear.

The CVD system seems to present limitations with regard to cutting efficiency, wear, and the use of anesthesia in a majority of restorative procedures.

Predebon JC, Flório FM, Basting RT. Use of CVDentUS Diamond Tips for Ultrasound in Cavity Preparation. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:050-058.

Yilmaz Y, Gürbüz T, Şimşek S, Dalmiş A. Primary Canine and Molar Relationships in Centric Occlusion in Three to Six Year-Old Turkish Children: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:059-066.

Ardakani FE. Evaluation of Swallowing Patterns of the Tongue Using Real-time B-mode Sonography. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:067-074.

This aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental anxiety and related factors in a Turkish population.

The Turkish translation of the Dental Fear Scale (DFS) and the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) were administered to 115 dental patients consisting of 21 subjects who had dental phobia and of 94 patients who did not. The scales were also administered to a non-clinical general population (N=183).

The Turkish version of the DFS was internally consistent and reproducible. The scale had strong correlations (r=0.80, p<0.001) with the MDAS. Female participants scored higher (45.2±18.1) on the scale than men (38.2±15.7). The DFS had a negative correlation (r=-0.25, p<0.001) with education level. There was a statistically significant difference between dental phobics and the remaining groups on the DFS total score. At a cut-off point 55, the sensitivity of the scale was 0.80, specificity 0.80, positive predictive value 0.48, and negative predictive value 0.95. Thirty-nine subjects (21.3%) in the general population had total scores above this cut-off point.

Dental fear is common in clinical and non-clinical settings in Turkey. The good psychometric characteristics of the DFS among Turkish participants supports its cross-cultural validity.

Firat D, Tunc EP, Sar V. Dental Anxiety Among Adults in Turkey. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:075-082.

Karthikeyan BV, Pradeep AR. Gene Therapy in Periodontics: A Review and Future Implications. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:083-091.

Anand PS, Roshna T. Rare Instance of Gingival Enlargement in Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome: A Case Report. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:092-098.

Özçelik TB, Ersoy AE. Temporomandibular Joint Clicking Noises Caused by a Multilocular Bone Cyst: A Case Report. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:099-105.

Filho AMB, Dos Santos RS, Costa JR, Puppin AAC, De Rezende RA, Beltrão GC. Oral Surgery with Fibrin Sealants in Patients with Bleeding Disorders: A Case Report. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006 July;(7)3:106-112.