Mineral trioxide aggregate or calcium hydroxide direct pulp capping: an analysis of the clinical treatment outcome.

INTRODUCTION: The use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) might improve the prognosis of teeth after pulp exposure. The treatment outcome of teeth after direct pulp capping, either with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or calcium hydroxide (controls), was investigated, taking into account possible confounding factors. METHODS: One hundred forty-nine patients treated between 2001 and 2006 who received direct pulp capping treatment in 167 teeth met the inclusion criteria. Treatment was performed by supervised undergraduate students (72%) and dentists (28%). Assessment of clinical and radiographic outcomes was performed by calibrated examiners 12-80 months after treatment (median, 27 months). RESULTS: One hundred eight patients (122 treated teeth) were available for follow-up (72.5% recall rate). A successful outcome was recorded for 78% of teeth (54 of 69) in the MTA group and for 60% of teeth (32 of 53) in the the calcium hydroxide group. The univariate analysis (generalized estimation equations model [GEE model] showed a significant difference in the success rate (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-5.32; P = .04). In the multiple analysis (GEE model), the OR is marginally inside the nonsignificant range (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19-1.02; P = .05) when conspicuous confounding factors are stabilized (univariate analysis). Multiple analysis showed that teeth that were permanently restored >or=2 days after capping had a significantly worse prognosis in both groups (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.09-0.66; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: MTA appears to be more effective than calcium hydroxide for maintaining long-term pulp vitality after direct pulp capping. The immediate and definitive restoration of teeth after direct pulp capping should always be aimed for.

Treatment outcome of mineral trioxide aggregate: repair of root perforations.

INTRODUCTION: The use of biocompatible materials like mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) may improve the prognosis of teeth with root perforations. METHODS: The treatment outcome of root perforations repaired between 2000 and 2006 with MTA was investigated. Twenty-six patients received treatment with MTA in 26 teeth with root perforations. Treatment was performed by supervised undergraduate students (29%), general dentists (52%), or dentists who had focused on endodontics (19%). Perforation repair by all treatment providers was performed using a dental operating microscope. Calibrated examiners assessed clinical and radiographic outcome 12 to 65 months after treatment (median 33 months, 81% recall rate). Pre-, intra-, and postoperative information relating to potential prognostic factors was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 21 teeth examined, 18 teeth (86%) were classified as healed. None of the analyzed potential prognostic factors had a significant effect on the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: MTA appears to provide a biocompatible and long-term effective seal for root perforations in all parts of the root.

Association between recent sports activity, sports activity in young adulthood, and stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Leisure-time physical activity protects from stroke. It is insufficiently established whether early lifetime physical activity is independently protective and whether some etiologic stroke subgroups particularly benefit from physical activity. We tested the hypothesis that both recent and early-adulthood sports activities are associated with reduced odds of stroke and analyzed their effects in stroke subtypes. METHODS: We performed a case-control study of 370 patients with acute stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 370 age- and sex-matched control subjects randomly selected from the population and assessed recent and young adulthood sports activities and their weekly duration in standardized interviews. RESULTS: Recent regular sports activities were less often reported by patients (94/370, 25.4%) than by control subjects (162/370, 43.8%; P<0.0001). After adjustment for vascular risk factors, education, and other factors, recent participation in sports was significantly associated with reduced odds of stroke/TIA (odds ratio=0.64; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.96). Both groups did not differ with regard to sports activities in young adulthood. More control subjects (69/365, 18.9%) than patients (25/361, 6.9%) participated in sports recently after not having been active in young adulthood, and such a pattern was associated with reduced odds of stroke/TIA in multivariable analysis (odds ratio=0.37; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports previous results that have shown stroke protection by physical activity. Results suggest that continuous lifetime activity or starting activities during later adulthood is required to reduce stroke risk.