Does a black light lens aid in composite removal?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a black light lens as visual aid in composite restoration removal. Lost tooth structure, residual composite, and removal time were compared for operators with different levels of experience. METHODS: Occlusal preparations in 24 matched-pair extracted molars were etched, bonded, restored with composite, and thermocycled. The restored teeth were radiographed and two faculty and two student doctors removed the restorations with or without a black light lens while time was recorded. Digital scans of the cavity before and after restoration removal were used to calculate lost tooth structure and residual composite. RESULTS: Removal of restorations resulted in tooth structure loss and left residual composite. The use of the black light lens had no significant effect (two-way ANOVA; p value >0.05). However, operator experience significantly affected operating times and average depth of tooth structure loss (two-way ANOVA; p value <0.05). Student doctors assisted by the black light lost less tooth structure than experienced operators and improved their operating times (multiple comparisons; p value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The black light lens did not conserve tooth structure or avoid composite remnants compared to routine operation, nor affected the operating time. However, less-experienced operators did benefit from the black light in conserving tooth structure and time. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Replacement of defective composite restorations is a regular practice in restorative dentistry. When existing composite restorations are removed, loss of tooth structure is unavoidable. A black light lens might improve the ability of operators with less experience to conserve tooth structure even though it did not provide benefits for the experienced operators.

Managing a Lateral Periodontal Cyst With Bone Graft: A Computed Tomography Assessment 18 Months Postoperatively.

The lateral periodontal cyst is a rare benign lesion that is generally asymptomatic and commonly discovered by routine intraoral radiography. Reports on proper management of this lesion are readily available. However, the literature is sparse regarding the long-term outcomes following surgery. A traditional radiographic technique does not provide an adequate image of the healing, and a patient may resist the prospect of a reentry procedure. The current report is the first to utilize a cone-beam computed tomography scan to evaluate the healing potential of a freeze-dried bone allograft approximately 18 months postoperatively.