Restoration margins in young adolescents: a clinical and radiographic study of Swiss Army recruits.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to report the radiographical prevalence of overhanging fillings in a group of Swiss Army recruits in 2006 and to relate the dimensions of the overhangs to clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 626 Swiss Army recruits were examined for their periodontal conditions, prevalence of caries, and stomatological and functional aspects of the masticatory system and halitosis. In particular, the present report deals with the presence or the absence of fillings, the presence or the absence of overhangs and their relation to clinical and radiographic parameters. RESULTS: A total of 16,198 interdental sites were evaluated on bitewing radiographs. Of these sites, 15,516 (95.8%) were sound and 682 (4.2%) were filled. Amalgam restorations were found in 94.1% and resin composite fillings in 5.9% of the sites. Of these 682 sites, 96 (14.1%) yielded overhanging margins of various sizes. This low prevalence of fillings represents not only a substantial reduction when compared with a similar Swiss Army study (Lang et al, 1988), but also an improvement in the quality of dental care delivery to young Swiss males. Plaque Index and Gingival Index increased statistically significantly with the presence of fillings, when compared with healthy non-filled sites. Clinical parameters that were significantly associated with the presence of overhangs included clinical attachment loss. Moreover, between 1985 and 2006 the prevalence of fillings was significantly reduced from 20.0% to 4.2% of all surfaces. Furthermore, the marginal fit of the fillings improved from 33.0% with overhangs to 14.1%. CONCLUSIONS: A significant improvement was observed in the periodontal and dental conditions of young Swiss males that was shown to have taken place within the previous two decades. From 1985 to 2006, the prevalence of fillings was reduced fourfold and that of overhanging margins twofold, documenting an improvement in the quality of restorative dentistry.

The effect of periodontal therapy on the survival rate and incidence of complications of multirooted teeth with furcation involvement after an observation period of at least 5 years: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the survival rate and incidence of complications of furcation-involved multirooted teeth following periodontal therapy after at least 5 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic and manual searches were performed up to and including January 2008. Publication selection, data extraction and validity assessment were performed independently by three reviewers. RESULTS: Twenty-two publications met the inclusion criteria. Because of the heterogeneity of the data, a meta-analysis could not be performed. The survival rate of molars treated non-surgically was >90% after 5-9 years. The corresponding values for the different surgical procedures were: Surgical therapy: 43.1% to 96%, observation period: 5-53 years. Tunnelling procedures: 42.9% to 92.9%, observation period: 5-8 years. Surgical resective procedures including amputation(s) and hemisections: 62% to 100%, observation period: 5-13 years. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR): 83.3% to 100%, observation period: 5-12 years. The most frequent complications included caries in the furcation area after tunnelling procedures and root fractures after root-resective procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Good long-term survival rates (up to 100%) of multirooted teeth with furcation involvement were obtained following various therapeutic approaches. Initial furcation involvement (Degree I) could be successfully managed by non-surgical mechanical debridement. Vertical root fractures and endodontic failures were the most frequent complications observed following resective procedures.

Periodontal conditions in Swiss army recruits: a comparative study between the years 1985, 1996 and 2006.

AIM: To compare the periodontal conditions of Swiss Army recruits in 2006 with those of previous surveys in 1996 and 1985. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of six hundred and twenty-six Swiss Army recruits were examined for their periodontal conditions, caries prevalence, stomatological and functional aspects of the masticatory system and halitosis. In particular, this report deals with demographic data, the assessment of plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI) and pocket probing depth (PPD). RESULTS: Two per cent of all teeth were missing, resulting in a mean of 27.44 teeth per subject, and 77% of the missing teeth were the result of pre-molar extractions due to orthodontic indications. The mean PlI and GI were 1.33 and 1.23, respectively. On average, 27% of the gingival units bled on probing. The mean PPD was 2.16 mm (SD 0.64). Only 3.8% of the recruits showed at least one site of PPD > or = 5 mm, and 1.4% yielded more than one site with PPD > or = 5 mm. In comparison with previous, this survey yielded lower bleeding on probing (BOP) percentages than in 1985, but slightly higher scores than in 1996. This may be attributed to increased PlI scores in 2006. However, PPD remained essentially unaltered from 1996 to 2006 after having improved significantly from 1985. CONCLUSION: A significant improvement of the periodontal conditions of young Swiss males was demonstrated to have taken place between 1985 and 1996, but no further changes during the last decade were noticed.