A novel technique to record crown and bridge impressions consistently.

Achieving accurate impressions of crown and bridge preparations remains a challenge for practicing dentists despite numerous material and technique advances. Precise material placement around the prepared tooth, proper management of soft tissue, and timely dispensing of both wash and tray materials are among the difficulties. As demonstrated in two cases presented, a new pneumatic impression device has been developed as a means of enabling clinicians to create precision impressions more easily, without the need for retraction cord or retraction paste.

Flowable composite resins: do they decrease microleakage and shrinkage stress?

All flowable composites shrink and undergo polymerization stress; however, new technologic developments have sought to minimize this, while streamlining dental techniques and producing better results. The new category of bulk-fill flowable composites promotes the effective use of 4-mm increments while decreasing shrinkage stresses generated during polymerization.

Screening for cardiovascular risk factors in a dental setting.

BACKGROUND: The authors assessed the utilization of oral health care professionals (OHCPs) as a resource for identifying patients who were unaware of their increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: OHCPs administered a CVD risk-screening questionnaire, measured blood pressure and tested cholesterol levels, high-density lipoprotein levels and hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) levels using "finger-stick" blood testing in 100 patients treated in a dental school clinic who were unaware of their CVD risk status. The authors determined the prevalence of specific risk factors (that is, smoking and abnormal levels of systolic blood pressure, lipids, body mass index and HgA1c) and calculated Framingham 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk scores. RESULTS: Seventeen percent of the 100 patients (35 percent of men, 5 percent of women) had an increased global risk of experiencing a CHD event within 10 years (Framingham risk score>10 percent). Seventy-three percent of participants had one or more risk factors and 31 percent had two or more risk factors present. More men than women had low levels of high-density lipoprotein (45 percent [18/40] of men versus 3.3 percent [2/60] of women; P<.0001). The mean Framingham CHD risk score increased with increasing risk factor burden. CONCLUSIONS: OHCPs identified patients with an increased CHD risk who could benefit from primary prevention activities. A substantial proportion of study patients who were unaware of their risk status were at an increased risk of experiencing a CHD event within 10 years. OHCPs could contribute to public health CHD control efforts.