ABSTRACT
AIM: This was to compare clinical and radiographic success rates of laser pulpotomy with those of other pulpotomy techniques in primary teeth. METHODS: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Cochrane and ISI Web of Knowledge databases were searched electronically without time or language limitations. Clinical trials in which laser pulpotomy was compared with at least one other pulpotomy modality in primary teeth were selected. The bibliographic reference lists of eligible articles were also hand-searched. Odds ratios, risk differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated with the aid of Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 2.2.050, Biostat, Englewood, NJ, USA). The methodological quality of articles included in the meta-analysis was determined using the Jadad scale. RESULTS: Twelve pulpotomy studies were selected for systematic review and underwent data extraction. Of these studies, statistical analysis was conducted on 11. All clinical trials had low to moderate risks of methodological bias. The meta-analysis showed no significant differences in clinical and radiographic pulpotomy outcomes with laser compared with other techniques (p > 0.05). Likewise, no differences were found in the outcomes at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 or ≥ 18 months (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For primary molar pulpotomy, the laser technique showed comparable clinical and radiographic results to other conventional pulpotomy medicaments, including formocresol and mineral trioxide aggregate.
Subject(s)
Laser Therapy , Pulpotomy/methods , Tooth, Deciduous , Humans , Molar , Radiography , Tooth, Deciduous/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
AIM: This was to assess the effect of bevelling the margins of fissures on buccal surfaces in permanent molars on marginal microleakage of fissure sealants. METHODS: The in vitro study was performed on buccal surfaces of 20 extracted permanent third molars, randomly divided into two groups of 10 teeth. Group I: performing enameloplasty (opening the fissures using fissurotomy bur), conditioning with phosphoric acid (37% phosphoric acid for 20 s), placing bonding (enamel bonding agent), and then fissure sealant. Group II: all stages were similar to group I, except for bevelling the margins of buccal fissures (0.5 mm bevel) after enameloplasty. Teeth were then thermocycled, stained with 0.5% basic fuchsin, sectioned and examined for marginal microleakage. The Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: No dye penetration was seen in Group II (with bevel), but there was a 60% microleakage in Group I (without bevel) (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In permanent molar teeth, bevelling the margins of fissures on the buccal surfaces appears to reduce the marginal microleakage of fissure sealants.
