Enhanced visualization during dental practice using magnification systems.

The practice of dentistry involves viewing and evaluating small details of teeth, soft tissues, restorations, casts, and instruments. Although normal vision often is adequate to view details to make treatment decisions, the use of magnification loupes provides the clinician with an increased image size for improved visual acuity and improved posture while practicing. There are many choices when selecting a magnifying system. This article recommends the use of a binocular surgical telescope, either a flip-up type or a fixed-lens system, because it affords the clinician more choices in power of magnification, working distance, field of view, depth of field, and working angulation for improved posture.

Clinical efficacy of an herbal toothpaste.

The purpose of this three-month, double-blind, parallel-design clinical study was to compare the efficacy of two commercially available dentifrices, Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy and Colgate Total, in controlling gingivitis, gingival bleeding, plaque and stain. Forty healthy adult volunteers from the Junior Comprehensive Care Clinics at New York University College of Dentistry were accepted as subjects for this clinical trial. To be eligible for a baseline clinical examination, subjects had to first indicate that during the previous six months they habitually brushed their teeth two or more times per day, and had noticed "bleeding gums" or "blood in the toothpaste" after brushing or flossing their teeth. At the baseline examination, subjects were enrolled in the study if they had at least five Löe-Silness gingival bleeding sites and 20 natural teeth, including all anterior teeth and four molars. An independent t-test before treatment indicated that there were no significant differences between the two groups at baseline. A one-way Analysis of Variance indicated that both dentifrices had a significant effect on gingivitis, gingival bleeding, plaque, and dental stain (p < 0.05). No significant statistical differences were observed between Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy and Colgate Total for gingivitis or gingival bleeding. Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy produced statistically significant differences in reducing plaque and stain relative to Colgate Total (p < 0.05). The results obtained in this study support the clinical efficacy of both products in reducing gingivitis and plaque, and demonstrate the efficacy of Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy in maintaining reductions of plaque and stain.

An in vivo comparison of the antimicrobial activities of three mouthrinses.

The purpose of this in vivo study was to determine and compare the antimicrobial effectiveness of three commercial mouthrinses and a water control. The antimicrobial efficacy of the products was determined against aerobic, micro-aerophilic, and anaerobic bacteria. Twenty human subjects participated in this study. At each experimental session for a given subject, a pre-test saliva sample was taken. This sample was divided and used to grow three bacteria cultures under the different incubation environments. After giving the pre-test sample, the subject rinsed with one of the mouthrinses or the water control for 30 seconds, then waited one hour, at which time a post-test saliva sample was collected. Again, the sample was divided and used to culture the different types of bacteria. Following a 48-hour incubation period, the numbers of microbial colonies on each plate were counted and compared. The results indicated that all of the mouthrinses tested performed significantly better than the water control. Herbal Mouth and Gum Therapy and Peridex did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in inhibiting aerobic, microaerophilic, and anaerobic bacteria. Both Herbal Mouth and Gum Therapy and Peridex were significantly more effective than Listerine in inhibiting the three different types of bacteria.

An in vitro investigation of the antimicrobial activity of an herbal mouthrinse.

The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of one prescription and two commercially available over-the-counter mouthrinses and positive and negative controls against bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity. The bacteria used in this study were Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus. Sterile discs which were treated with the mouthrinses were placed on agar plates along with the controls. Zones of microbial inhibition were measured in millimeters after 48 hours. The results indicated that all of the mouthrinses demonstrated antimicrobial activity against the bacteria tested. Herbal Mouth and Gum Therapy mouthrinse, containing natural ingredients, produced the largest zones of microbial inhibition when compared to Listerine against all three of the bacteria tested. Herbal Mouth and Gum Therapy mouthrinse produced larger zones of microbial inhibition when compared to Peridex against two of the three bacteria tested, and produced similar zones of inhibition against the third bacteria.

Third generation dentin bonding agents: a microleakage study.

This article examines and compares the extent of microleakage after 24 hours in freshly extracted teeth using three newer or "third generation" dentin bonding agents. Gluma/Pekalux and Scotchbond 2/Silux were more effective in preventing microleakage in cementum/dentin margins than was Universal Bond/Prisma Micro-fine.

Microleakage of three glass ionomer cement bases.

This study compared the marginal leakage in Class V restorations using three different GIC bases and a composite resin sandwich. The specimens were randomly divided into three equal groups, and the following GIC materials were used as bases: Group I: Ketac-Bond Aplicap; Group II: GC Dentin Cement; Group III: Shofu GlasIonomer Base. The results indicated less microleakage in restorations with a Shofu GlasIonomer Base while no statistical differences were noted between Ketac-Bond Aplicap and GC Dentin Cement.

Sterilization of operative dentistry instruments: a United States dental school survey.

Questionnaires were mailed to 58 department chairpersons of Operative Dentistry inviting comments about their sterilization and asepsis procedures. Results indicate that dental schools are responding to infection-control procedures in a variety of ways.

Evaluation of the ability of glass-ionomer cement to bond to glass-ionomer cement.

This study investigated the cohesive bond strengths of glass-ionomer cement at three setting and etching intervals and compared these bonds to the shear strength of the material itself. Bonded cylinders were created and then sheared using the Instron Universal Testing Machine. Analysis of bond values of glass ionomer added to glass ionomer indicate bond variability and low cohesive bond strength of the material. Bond values of unbonded glass-ionomer material indicate that the material itself is stronger than bonds established between bonded samples.

The effect of proximal cavity design on the cementation of Class II inlays.

This article indicates that the gingival opening of a two-surface cast restoration after cementation is minimized by the use of a preparation with proximal grooves.