Antiplaque/antigingivitis efficacy and safety of a cetylpyridinium chloride/zinc gluconate mucoadhesive gel. Results of a 6-month clinical trial.

This article presents the results of a controlled clinical trial evaluating a new at-home treatment to improve gingival health. Designed for overnight application at the gingival margins and in the interproximal spaces, the product is a mucoadhesive gel containing 0.10% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and 0.592% zinc gluconate (ZG). The authors assessed the efficacy and safety of the CPC/ZG gel in adults with low-to-moderate gingival and plaque index scores by comparing clinical and laboratory findings for subjects using the CPC/ZG gel with those for subjects using the control gel (0% CPC and 0.592% ZG). Clinical findings at 3 and 6 months showed statistically significant improvements in two of the three major indices of gingival health in the CPC/ZG group compared with the control group. The performance of the treatment gel was supported by results of microbial analyses of plaque samples.

Skeletal effects to the maxilla after rapid maxillary expansion assessed with cone-beam computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to use cone-beam computed tomography to quantitatively evaluate skeletal expansion and alveolar tipping of the maxilla at the maxillary canine (C1), first premolar (P1), second premolar (P2), and first molar (M1) after rapid maxillary expansion (RME). The transverse effects to the maxillary suture, nasal width, and maxillary sinus were also assessed. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients (17 boys, 13 girls; mean age, 13.8 +/- 1.7 years) who required RME with Hyrax appliances as part of their comprehensive orthodontic treatment were studied. Measurements before and after RME of palatal and buccal maxillary widths, palatal alveolar angle, nasal width, nasal floor width, and maxillary sinus width at C1, P1, P2, and M1 were compared by using Wilcoxon signed rank, Kruskal-Wallis, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Pearson correlation analyses were also performed (* = .05). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Skeletal expansion of the maxilla had a triangular pattern with a wider base in the anterior region, accounting for 55% of total expansion at P1, 45% at P2, and 38% at M1. Alveolar bending or tipping accounted for 6% of total expansion at P1, 9% at P2, and 13% at M1. The remaining orthodontic (dental tipping) portions of total expansion were 39% at P1, 46% at P2, and 49% at M1. RME produces a statistically significant increase in nasal width and a decrease in maxillary sinus width (P <0.0001). Retention time showed a significant negative correlation to the change in palatal maxillary width at C1, P2, and M1 (P <0.05), the rate of appliance expansion had a significant correlation with palatal maxillary expansion at P1 and P2 (P <0.05), and age had no statistically significant association with any parameter (P >0.05).

Direct pulp capping with mineral trioxide aggregate: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Pulp capping in carious teeth has been considered unpredictable and therefore contraindicated. A recently developed material, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), resists bacterial leakage and may provide protection for the pulp, allowing repair and continued pulp vitality in teeth when used in combination with a sealed restoration. METHODS: Forty patients aged 7 to 45 years accepted pulp-capping treatment when they received a diagnosis no more severe than reversible pulpitis after undergoing cold testing and radiographic examination. The primary author removed caries using a caries detector dye and sodium hypochlorite solution for hemostasis and placed MTA over the exposures and all surrounding dentin. The operator then restored the teeth provisionally with unbonded Clearfil Photocore (Kuraray Medical, Okayama, Japan). During a second visit, the operator restored the teeth with bonded composite after sensibility testing and confirmed MTA curing. At recall appointments, patients were evaluated for reparative dentin formation, pulpal calcification, continued normal root development and evidence of pathosis. RESULTS: Over an observation period of nine years, the authors followed 49 of 53 teeth and found that 97.96 percent had favorable outcomes on the basis of radiographic appearance, subjective symptoms and cold testing. All teeth in younger patients (15/15) that initially had open apexes showed completed root formation (apexogenesis). CONCLUSIONS: MTA can be a reliable pulp-capping material on direct carious exposures in permanent teeth when a two-visit treatment protocol is observed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Vital pulp therapy using MTA is a treatment option for teeth diagnosed with a condition no more severe than reversible pulpitis.

Common orthodontic appliances cause artifacts that degrade the diagnostic quality of CBCT images.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates artifacts generated by orthodontic brackets in CBCT images. METHODS: Cadaver heads with restoration free dentitions were prepared. CBCT scans with four orthodontic bracket materials utilizing thermoplastic carriers and a control were compared in three phases. RESULTS: Stainless steel brackets caused statistically significant (P<0.0001) differences from the control in the three phases. CONCLUSION: These observations support the hypothesis that metallic and nonmetallic orthodontic brackets interfere with the diagnostic quality of CBCT images.

A demographic analysis of vertical root fractures.

Teeth with vertical root fractures (VRFs) have complete or incomplete fractures that extends through the enamel, dentin and pulp, down the long axis of the tooth. Several different variables were investigated and statistically evaluated as to their correlation with the presence of VRFs. Specifically analyzed were gender, tooth location, age, radiographic and clinical findings, bruxism, and pulpal status. The data were collected from three different endodontists, from three different geographic locations, comprising a total of 227 teeth. Although VRFs may occur in conjunction with any of the parameters investigated, only certain factors were found to occur in a significant number of cases. The results indicate that VRFs are statistically more prevalent in mandibular molars and maxillary premolars. They are associated with periradicular bone loss, pain to percussion, extensive restorations, and seem to occur more often in females and older patients. However, VRFs are not necessarily related to periapical bone loss, a widening of the periodontal ligament space, associated periodontal pockets, a sinus tract, particular pulpal status, or bruxism.

Clinical, histologic, and histomorphometric evaluation of mineralized solvent-dehydrated bone allograf (Puros) in human maxillary sinus grafts.

Demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts (DFDBA) have been successfully used alone or in composite grafts for many decades. Little research has been done on the effect of retaining the mineral content of bone allografts. This study histologically and histomorphometrically evaluated a new mineralized bone allograft material placed in human atrophic maxillary sinuses. Seven partially edentulous patients requiring sinus grafts before implant placement were selected for this study Their age range was 56 to 81 years (mean 67.7 years). Test grafts consisted of a mineralized solvent-dehydrated cancellous bone allograft, and control grafts were a composite of DFDBA and deproteinized bovine bone xenograft (1:1). Bilateral cases (n = 3) received both test and control grafts on opposite sides, and unilateral cases received either a test (n = 3) or control (n = 1) graft only. At 10 months, core biopsies were taken from each graft site, and dental implants were placed into the augmented bone. All bone grafts resulted in new bone formation and all implants osseointegrated. Test grafts resorbed and were replaced by newly formed bone significantly faster and in greater quantities than were control grafts. No complications with grafts or implants were noted. Both test and control grafts achieved excellent results. The faster bone formation observed with the test graft may be due, in part, to its smaller particle size compared with the bovine portion of the control graft. Test grafts were either replaced by new bone or displayed new bone-to-particle surface contact in higher percentages than did control grafts. No differences in osseointegration or graft stability were noted 2 years after the study.

Peri-implant tissue response of immediately loaded, threaded, HA-coated implants: 1-year results.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although high success rates have been reported with immediately loaded implants, the peri-implant tissue response has not been well documented. PURPOSE: This study evaluated implant success and peri-implant tissue response of immediately loaded, threaded, hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated root-form implants supporting mandibular bar overdentures with opposing conventional maxillary complete dentures in humans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five patients (3 men, 2 women; mean age 61 years) each received 4 HA-coated endosseous root-form implants in the interforaminal region in the mandible. The implants were rigidly splinted with a metal framework within 24 hours. The final EDS clip prosthesis was placed 1 to 2 weeks thereafter. The implants and peri-implant tissues were evaluated clinically and radiographically 0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after prosthesis placement. Data were analyzed with a repeated measures 1-way analysis of variance (P<.05). RESULTS: All implants were stable at the end of the observation period (mean Periotest value = -5.9 +/- 1.4). No peri-implant radiolucencies were noted, and no implants were lost. The mean marginal bone changes were -0.42 plus minus 0.34, -0.84 +/- 0.55, -1.14 +/- 0.80, and -1.16 +/- 0.89 mm at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, respectively (P<.001). Significant declines in the rates of marginal bone changes at each time interval were noted (P<.001). In addition, there were significant decreases in probing depth (P<.001) and plaque index (P<.001) but no significant difference in the frequency of bleeding upon probing (P=.64). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the peri-implant tissue response of immediately loaded, HA-coated implants was favorable and comparable to that of conventional, delayed-loaded implants after 1 year.

Ocorrência de infecçäo por enterovirus em recém-nascidos internados em maternidade no Município de Säo Paulo, Brasil, 1980. / Occurrence of enterovirus infection in newborn infant admitted to a maternity in the Municipality of Sao Paulo, Brazil, (1980)

Pesquisou-se infecçäo intestinal por enterovírus em 300 crianças, aparentemente normais, nascidas de parto hospitalar, com a mediana das idades de 2 dias, estudadas antes da alta hospitalar. Essas crianças foram divididas em três grupos de igual número, sendo que o primeiro grupo foi examinado no período que procedeu o 1§. Dia Nacional de Vacinaçäo Contra a Poliomielite, efettuado em 1980, o segundo logo após a realizaçäo dessa imunizaçäo em massa e o terceiro posteriormente ao 2§. Dia Nacional de Vacinaçäo Contra a Poliomielite levado a efeito no mesmo ano. A pesquisa de enterovírus foi feita a partir de uma única amostra de fezes colhida de cada criança por meio de Swab retal. Obteve-se o isolamento de polivírus em 13 (4,3%) dos 300 recém-nascidos estudados, sendo que 8 deles pertenciam ao primeiro grupo e os outros 5 ao segundo. Das crianças infectadas 12 eliminavam poliovírus 1 e 1 poliovírus 3. Näo foram isolados outros enterovírus. Discute-se a possibilidade da infecçäo por esses poliovírus ter ocorrido por transmissäo transplacentária, via canal de parto ou ainda por infecçäo cruzada no próprio ambiente hospitalar