Postoperative sensitivity: a comparison of two bonding agents.

Historically, postoperative pain associated with temperature was considered a thermal conduction problem. More recently, pulpal hydrodynamics has been used to explain this sensitivity. Relative to restorations placed with dentin bonding agents that require a separate etching step, agents that include an acidic primer are believed to result in a better seal of the dentinal tubules. This study compared pain associated with a standardized cold stimulus in two groups of restorations. One group was placed with a self-priming resin that required a separate etch step, the other with a self-etching, self-priming dentin bonding agent. This was a community-based, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Two hundred and nine restorations were placed for 76 participants. All teeth were asymptomatic at the start of the trial. Immediately following application of a standardized cold stimulus, participants rated the pain for each restored tooth using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). For each group of restorations, VAS scores at 13 weeks were compared to preoperative scores. In addition, the preoperative score was subtracted from the 13-week score, and the two groups of restorations were compared. For both groups of restorations, the median scores were significantly reduced at 13 weeks. This decrease in the VAS score reflects a reduction in sensitivity below that which existed preoperatively. There was no significant difference between the two groups of restorations in terms of change in sensitivity at 13 weeks.

Small business needs assessment: a comparison of dental educators' responses with SBDC survey results.

A primary focus of dental education is to teach students the knowledge, skills, and values essential for practicing dentistry. However, the preparation of dentists to manage a business is frequently cited as inadequate. A survey was prepared to assess teachers' opinions of business instructional topics: challenges; desired training; employee benefits; learning resources; importance of business topics; and appropriateness of time allocations. The purpose of this project is to compare opinions of teachers of dental practice management with key management aspects reported for service businesses by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Practice management teachers from forty-eight (89 percent) schools responded to the survey. They indicated that several challenges confronting dentists are similar to other service businesses. Dentists, however, rank customer relations appreciably higher. In order of importance of teaching topics, the practice management teachers rank ethics and personnel management as a high priority and planning as a low priority. Awareness of the similarities and differences in the perceptions of practice management teachers and businesspeople may result in instructional improvements.

Fluoride absorption through the hamster cheek pouch: a pH-dependent event.

The fractional absorptions of fluoride, 3H2O, 125I and 14C-DMO from the hamster cheek pouch were determined as functions of solution pH. When the pH was less than 5, fluoride absorption rate was inversely related to pH. The absorption rates of the other substances were not influenced by pH. The fractional absorptions of fluoride and 3H2O were independent of fluoride concentrations over the range 1-53 mM. The data indicate that the absorption of fluoride through this keratinized epithelium occurs mainly by the diffusion of non-ionic HF.

Subcutaneously implanted alginate as a continuous-release source of fluoride.

The fluoride concentrations of seven brands of alginate ranged from 8600 to 30,500 ppm. In acute and chronic in vivo studies, fluoride was continuously released from subcutaneously implanted alginate cylinders for up to three weeks. This technique is a simple and economical method for elevating soft and hard tissue fluoride levels.