A comparison of inhalation sedation agents in the management of children receiving dental treatment: a randomized, controlled, cross-over pilot trial.

AIMS: First, to compare the relative effectiveness of inhalation sedation using (A) nitrous oxide and oxygen with (B) nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, and oxygen in the management of children receiving dental extractions. Secondly, to determine patient and guardian preference between the two sedation techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled, double-blinded, cross-over, pilot clinical trial was undertaken. Thirty patients aged 6-15 years, ASA category I or II, who required two identical dental extractions with inhalation sedation were recruited. At the first session, patients were randomly allocated to receiving treatment with sedation Method A or B. At the second session, the alternative sedation protocol was employed. RESULTS: Overall, 80% of patients successfully completed treatment at both appointments. There was no statistically significant difference between either the success rate of the two methods or in guardian preference between the two modes of sedation. There was a statistically significant difference in patient preference in favour of Method B. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this pilot study would suggest no increased benefit, in terms of treatment completion, from the additional use of sevoflurane in combination with nitrous oxide and oxygen. There was, however, a small but significant patient preference in favour of nitrous oxide with sevoflurane and oxygen.

Bond failure of gingivally offset mandibular premolar brackets: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to examine the clinical bond failure rate of gingivally offset mandibular premolar brackets and compare it with that of standard mandibular premolar brackets. METHODS: Eighty-three patients were enrolled in this trial. A total of 240 brackets--120 standard and 120 offset--were bonded in a split-mouth design. RESULTS: Ten standard brackets and 1 offset bracket debonded during the trial period. Survival times were analyzed by using the Kaplan-Meier nonparametric test, and comparisons between bracket types were made with the Mantel-Haenszel log rank test. These tests showed that the failure rate between the bracket types was statistically significant (P <0.0058). CONCLUSIONS: Gingivally offset mandibular premolar brackets have a lower bond failure rate than standard mandibular premolar brackets.

The Hall Technique; a randomized controlled clinical trial of a novel method of managing carious primary molars in general dental practice: acceptability of the technique and outcomes at 23 months.

BACKGROUND: Scotland has high levels of untreated dental caries in primary teeth. The Hall Technique is a simplified method of managing carious primary molars using preformed metal crowns (PMCs) cemented with no local anaesthesia, caries removal or tooth preparation. This study compared the acceptability of the Hall Technique for children, their carers, and dentists, and clinical outcomes for the technique, with conventional restorations. METHODS: General dental practice based, split mouth, randomized controlled trial (132 children, aged 3-10). General dental practitioners (GDPs, n = 17) in Tayside, Scotland (dmft 2.7) placed conventional (Control) restorations in carious primary molars, and Hall Technique PMCs on the contralateral molar (matched clinically and radiographically). Dentists ranked the degree of discomfort they felt the child experienced for each procedure; then children, their carers and dentists stated which technique they preferred. The teeth were followed up clinically and radiographically. RESULTS: 128 conventional restorations were placed on 132 control teeth, and 128 PMCs on 132 intervention teeth. Using a 5 point scale, 118 Hall PMCs (89%) were rated as no apparent discomfort up to mild, not significant; for Control restorations the figure was 103 (78%). Significant, unacceptable discomfort was recorded for two Hall PMCs (1.5%) and six Control restorations (4.5%). 77% of children, 83% of carers and 81% of dentists who expressed a preference, preferred the Hall technique, and this was significant (Chi square, p < 0.0001). There were 124 children (94% of the initial sample) with a minimum follow-up of 23 months. The Hall PMCs outperformed the Control restorations:a) 'Major' failures (signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpal disease): 19 Control restorations (15%); three Hall PMCs (2%) (P < 0.000);b) 'Minor' failures (loss of restoration, caries progression): 57 Control restorations (46%); six Hall PMCs (5%) (P < 0.000)c) Pain: 13 Control restorations (11%); two Hall PMCs (2%) (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The Hall Technique was preferred to conventional restorations by the majority of children, carers and GDPs. After two years, Hall PMCs showed more favourable outcomes for pulpal health and restoration longevity than conventional restorations. The Hall Technique appears to offer an effective treatment option for carious primary molar teeth. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN47267892 - A randomized controlled trial in primary care of a novel method of using preformed metal crowns to manage decay in primary molar teeth: the Hall technique.

A comparison of tungsten-quartz-halogen, plasma arc and light-emitting diode light sources for the polymerization of an orthodontic adhesive.

This study investigated whether there were differences between the debond stress and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of an adhesive cured with three different orthodontic light sources. Sixty sound premolar teeth were divided into three groups of 20. A standard pre-adjusted edgewise premolar bracket (Victory Series) was bonded to each tooth using a light-cured orthodontic adhesive, Transbond X. Group 1 (control) specimens were cured with an Ortholux XT (tungsten-quartz-halogen bulb) light for 20 seconds, group 2 with an Ortho lite (plasma arc) for 6 seconds and group 3 with an Ortholux LED light-emitting diode for 10 seconds. The specimens were debonded 24 hours later using a universal mechanical testing machine, operating at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm minute(-1). The Weibull modulus and a Logrank test showed no statistically significant differences between the three groups for debond stress. The ARI was assessed at x10 magnification. The ARI scores for group 2 were significantly different (P < 0.01) from those of groups 1 and 3 (between which there was no significant difference). For group 2 there was a greater tendency for failure to occur at the adhesive/tooth interface than for the other two groups. There appears to be no reason why any of the three types of light source cannot be used in orthodontics. Polymerization, as effective as that produced by conventional bulb light sources, was obtained with the short exposure times recommended for the plasma arc or light-emitting diode sources.

Management of hypodontia: restorative considerations. Part III.

This paper, the third in the series, initially details the role of the restorative dentist in treating patients with hypodontia. (See Quintessence Int 2005;36:263-270 and 345-353 for the first two papers.) A range of treatment options, including implants, adhesive techniques, and removable prostheses, are covered. The investigators have detailed the clinical indications, and noted their relative advantages and disadvantages.

Management of hypodontia: orthodontic considerations (II).

Patients with congenitally missing teeth (hypodontia) present with complex problems. Meeting their treatment needs requires a joint effort between the disciplines of orthodontics and restorative dentistry. There are a number of options available to restore space generated by missing teeth. In the majority of patients orthodontic treatment will be required before this space can be restored satisfactorily. The second part of this series reviews the orthodontic considerations for various options.

Hypodontia--a retrospective review of prevalence and etiology. Part I.

A retrospective literature review was carried out to determine the prevalence of hypodontia and current knowledge of associated etiological factors. Reported studies vary widely in their reports of prevalence. The majority are retrospective radiographic studies, and reported rates vary from 2.6% to 11.3%. Racial differences have been determined: in Caucasian studies the mandibular second premolars and maxillary lateral incisors were the most frequently recorded absent and in Asian studies, the mandibular incisor was the most frequently recorded absent. Prevalence rates are higher in females compared to males (3:2, respectively). The association of hypodontia with other systemic conditions and dental anomalies is widely reported. Hypodontia can be regarded as a multifactorial condition. Recent developments in molecular genetics have established the importance of the muscle specific homeobox genes (Msx1 and Msx2) in dental development. Specific genes that are responsible for the more severe types of hypodontia, including ectodermal dysplasia, have been identified by linkage analysis. However, variable expression of the trait suggests a polygenic mode of inheritence with epistatic genes and environmental factors interacting.