1/10. Effect of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB and bone morphogenetic protein-2 application to demineralized dentin on early periodontal ligament cell response. The purpose of this study is to investigate the early responses of human periodontal ligament cells attached to recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB and bone morphogenetic protein-2 applied EDTA-demineralized dentin. One hundred and seventy-four root-planed flat dentin blocks were prepared from the mid-third of periodontally diseased human tooth roots. After demineralization with 24% EDTA (pH 7.02) 120 dentin blocks were treated with 0.5 and 1 microgram/ml rhPDGF-BB, 1 and 3 micrograms/ml rhBMP-2 and only MEM as control (24/group). Human periodontal ligament cells (HPLC) were seeded on these dentin surfaces and incubated. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and protein concentration of the attached cell were assessed at d 2, 4 and 7. Fifty-four dentin blocks were seeded with HPLC after application of 1 microgram/ml rhPDGF-BB, 3 micrograms/ml rhBMP-2 and MEM (18/group) and then incubated. At d 2, 4 and 7, the attached cells were stained and counted under light microscope. The results showed a significant increase of protein concentration and cell number in PDGF-BB treated groups than control (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) but not the ALP activity, and a significant increase of ALP activity was observed in BMP-2 treated groups than control (p < 0.05) but protein concentration and cell number remained almost the same over time. Thus, rhPDGF-BB and rhBMP-2 application to EDTA demineralized dentin surfaces promote the early human periodontal ligament cell responses by increasing cell proliferation and differentiation, respectively, which would ultimately enhance periodontal regeneration. ( info) |
| When severe caries occurs in mandibular permanent incisor teeth, the clinician should consider the possibility of associated submandibular gland aplasia or salivary hypofunction. early diagnosis of submandibular gland disease is essential, as operative problems involving restoration of mandibular incisor teeth are considerable. Furthermore, progressive severe dental caries can present a dilemma for the clinician in affected individuals, despite intensive preventive and restorative therapy. A case report describing severe progressive dental caries and enamel demineralization of the permanent mandibular incisor teeth in a young girl is presented. Further investigation revealed absence of functional bilateral submandibular salivary glands contributing to the rapid breakdown of the teeth despite intensive preventive measures. ( info) |
3/10. Novel dental anomalies associated with congenital contractural arachnodactyly: a case report. Congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) is an inherited disorder of connective tissue similar to Marfan's syndrome. The craniofacial and oral features of a young girl with CCA are described. The patient has the typical features of CCA as well as some additional dental anomalies which have not previously been reported with this syndrome. These include banded pitted enamel hypoplasia and hypomineralization, long, spindly tapered roots, and pulp canal obliteration with multiple pulp stones. dentists must be aware of the clinical features of a patient's syndrome to determine whether there are implications for dental treatment such as a need for antibiotic prophylaxis. It is important to exclude Marfan's syndrome as a differential diagnosis for CCA because the former has more associated complications and a less favorable prognosis. ( info) |
4/10. Mandibular incisal edge demineralization and caries associated with Twin Block appliance design. Demineralization and caries are well documented and unwanted complications of orthodontic therapy. These are most commonly reported in relation to fixed appliance therapy. Five cases are presented of patients undergoing Twin Block appliance therapy with the appliances incorporating lower labial segment capping, illustrating a pattern of demineralization and caries of the incisal tips of the mandibular labial segment, influenced by the incisal capping and the frequent intake of carbonated soft drinks. ( info) |
| Since the development of the ruby laser by Maiman in 1960, there has been great interest among dental practitioners, scientists, and patients to use this tool to make dental treatment more pleasant. Oral soft tissue uses are becoming more common in dental offices. The possible multiple uses of lasers in dentistry, beyond soft tissue surgery and dental composite curing, unfortunately, have not yet been realized clinically. These include replacement of the dental drill with a laser, laser dental decay prevention, and laser decay detection. The essential question is whether a laser can provide equal or improved treatment over conventional care. Safe use of lasers also must be the underlying goal of proposed or future laser therapy. With the availability and future development of different laser wavelengths and methods of pulsing, much interest is developing in this growing field. This article reviews the role of lasers in dentistry since the early 1960s, summarizes some research reports from the last few years, and proposes what the authors feel the future may hold for lasers in dentistry. ( info) |
6/10. Extended fissure sealants: an adjunctive aid in the prevention of demineralization around orthodontic bands. Banding of molars is still the attachment mode of choice to the majority of clinical orthodontists. One of the acknowledged hazards of orthodontic treatment continues to be the presence of clinically detectable areas of enamel demineralization following the removal of orthodontic appliances. Factors that contribute to this demineralization include inaccurate adaptation of the bands and breakdown of the seal as a consequence of the inadequate bonding strength of the cements and their solubility in oral fluids. Traditional cleaning methods limit adequate plaque control to those areas gingival and incisal to the cemented bands. The iatrogenically created defective band-tooth interface areas pose particular problems, because the ingress of food particles and bacterial plaque make these areas prone to demineralization. A technique is introduced whereby fissure sealant is extended to cover the entire occlusal perimeter, effectively sealing the band-tooth circumferential interface. This technique represents an additional method of prophylaxis against the demineralization that can accompany orthodontic intervention. ( info) |
7/10. Hastening the enamel microabrasion procedure eliminating defects, cutting treatment time. Two cases illustrate the technique of treating enamel discoloration and decalcification by beginning with bur cutting and completing with microabrasion compound. This eliminates texture defects caused by bur cutting and reduces treatment time. ( info) |
8/10. acro-osteolysis (Hajdu-Cheney) syndrome: report of a case with abnormal tooth structure. The acro-osteolysis (Hajdu-Cheney) syndrome is a rare disorder of bone metabolism characterized by progressive dissolution of a number of bones. Although previous reports have detailed several dental abnormalities associated with this syndrome, this is the first report describing structural changes in the dentin and cementum of teeth. ( info) |
| enamel microabrasion has become accepted as a conservative, nonrestorative method of improving the appearance of teeth with superficial dysmineralization and decalcification defects. This article reviews the technique of enamel microabrasion using a commercially available compound of hydrochloric acid and fine-grit silicon carbide particles in a water-soluble paste. It also describes a method of combining enamel microabrasion with carbamide peroxide home bleaching. Finally, it presents the cases of representative patients who underwent enamel microabrasion (alone or in combination with dental bleaching). ( info) |
10/10. Effect of various demineralizing agents on mineral contents of cementum surfaces (an electron probe analysis). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the surface morphology and mineral content of periodontally diseased cementum surfaces following root planing and conditioning with either citric acid, tetracycline HCL and minocycline HCL. Mineral contents of cementum surfaces were determined with an electron probe. All 3 demineralizing agents caused the exposure of the collagen matrix on the root surface but citric acid was the more effective. calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) showed higher values in citric acid and minocycline HCL treated cementum surfaces compared to nondiseased cementum surfaces. The Ca and P were found to be in similar proportions in the tetracycline HCL treated group and nondiseased cementum surfaces. Although citric acid is a strong demineralizing agent, our specimens' cementum surfaces to which citric acid was treated showed high Ca and P content. In our opinion this difference about the effects of demineralizing agents on the surface morphology and surface element content was found to be related to the facts that whether the total amount of hypermineralized cementum as removed or not with root planing and the lacking criteria to detects the amount of this removal. Our findings suggest that these demineralizing agents can demineralize cementum surface after root planing but can not remove all of the hypermineralized diseased cementum. For this reason, it may be stated that it is more important to remove the pathologically altered cementum than applying various chemical agents. ( info) |