Direct Posterior Restorations: A 13-Year Survey of Teaching Trends and Use of Materials.

OBJECTIVE:: The study aimed to evaluate teaching trends and use of materials in direct posterior restorations during a 13-year period in an Israeli dental school. METHODS:: Data registered in computerized files, relating to posterior restorations performed in the student clinic during the past 13 years (2004-2016), were collected. The restorative materials used (ie, amalgam vs composite), the type of tooth, and the number of surfaces restored were analyzed. RESULTS:: Data analysis included 26,925 restorations performed during 13 years. The number of one-surface composite restorations increased from 54.7% (n=330) to 81.9% (n=873). Two-surface restorations increased from 33.3% (n=254) to 64.3% (n=721). The percentage of amalgam restorations in three-surface restorations decreased from 72.08% to 51.34% (n=173). Analysis of tooth type showed that in 2016, the number of composite restorations performed in premolars reached 80.87% (n=723) and in molars 63.50% (n=1035). The percentage of composite restorations in the mandible and the maxilla was virtually equal. CONCLUSIONS:: A clear trend in favor of composite resin restorations is evident in the 13-year survey and suggests a move toward an amalgam-free era.

[Israeli dental school dropout, a 13-year retrospective survey].

Admission policies for higher education are aimed at achieving efficient allocation of resources for both faculty and students, in an attempt to minimize dropout. Methods: The characteristics of dropout students at the School of Dental Medicine at the Hebrew University from 2001 to 2013 were assessed in a retrospective study. Data were collected from dental school records, followed by an online questionnaire Results: Between 2001 and 2013, 268 out of 925 students left and did not return the following year, reflecting a dropout rate of 29%. A total 98 dropouts responded to the survey. The academic achievements of the dropouts were higher than average. The primary reason for quitting dental school was attraction to a different professional field (70%) and lack of interest in dentistry (11%). Almost all the dropouts left in the first three years: 80% of them transferred to medical school, 17% transferred to a profession other than medicine, and 4% continued their dental studies in another institution. Conclusion: Dropout was clearly not due to academic reasons, but rather attributable to pursuit of medical studies. The present findings imply that the admission process failed to identify students who do not intend to graduate. It is likely that changing the structure of the program by admitting students only to a 3 to 4 year program of dental school, following pre-med studies, may have a positive effect on reducing the dropout rate.

Towards antibacterial endodontic sealers using quaternary ammonium nanoparticles.

AIM: To change and characterize the antibacterial properties of endodontic sealers by incorporating low concentrations of insoluble antibacterial nanoparticles (IABN). METHODOLOGY: The antibacterial effect against Enterococcus faecalis was evaluated by (i) agar diffusion test (ADT), (ii) direct contact test (DCT) and (iii) scanning electron microscopy (SEM). IABN were incorporated into AH Plus (Dentsply, DeTrey Konstanz, Germany) and GuttaFlow (Coltène Whaledent, Langenau, Germany) at concentrations of 0.5%, 1% or 2% weight/weight. Bacterial growth rates were analysed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's test. RESULTS: The antibacterial tests demonstrated total bacterial growth inhibition using AH Plus samples incorporating 2% weight/weight IABN after 4 weeks (P < 0.005). DCT showed total growth inhibition of up to 6 logs in viable count in AH Plus samples incorporating IABN and up to 4 log in count in GuttaFlow incorporating IABN (P < 0.005). Significant differences were found between the unmodified sealers and the experimental groups. No antibacterial effect was observed in the ADT, indicating IABN were not diffusing into the agar. Furthermore, SEM indicated bacterial cell wall damage and lysis. CONCLUSIONS: AH Plus and GuttaFlow incorporating low concentrations of IABN exhibited significant and stable antimicrobial properties.

[Wear and different restorative materials--a review].

Wear of materials is a complex and unpredictable phenomenon. The variables affecting the mechanism of wear include the properties of the two contacting materials and the surrounding and interfacial media. This paper reviews the dental wear of different restorative materials and their counter effect on the tooth structure. It presents the updated classifications for tooth surface lesions termed dental wear, and discusses the wear behavior of various restorative materials. Some guidelines for restorative material selection are given. Clinical wear bears a multifactorial etiology, understanding the mechanism of action is an important step in an appropriate restoration material selection. Each material selected should meet the individual wear behavior and needs. Individual factors may enhance the wear rates: aggressive tooth brushing, parafunctions, diet, acidic/aqueous environment, surface geometry, and diminished tooth support. Supportive treatment following restoration is important to monitor wear rates.

[Carisolv, a change in the perception of caries treatment--a chemo-mechanical removal of caries].

This paper reviews the chemo-mechanical method (Carisolv) for caries removal. The mechanism of action and some treatment choices are described. Modern dentistry aims to preserve tooth structure by minimal invasive procedures. Chemo-mechanical removal of caries is a new method with the advantage of selective removal of severely demineralized dentin. This enhances the caries diagnostic ability of the clinician. Ensuring chair side caries diagnosis and removal, based on a biological principle, helps to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. This method is most comfortable for the patient. On the other hand treatment time is prolonged. In most cases, the method has to be used in combination with a conventional bur. Caries lesions in which removal of enamel or a restoration is needed cannot be treated exclusively by the chemo-mechanical method. However, the chemo-mechanical caries treatment can be used as the first choice of treatment in specific cases in the prosthodontic and pediatric field.