Quintessence International, 02/1991

Esthetics and function were restored to a fractured maxillary central incisor by reattaching the tooth fragment with the sandwich technique (glass-ionomer cement and composite resin). After 3 years, the tooth showed optimal fragment rehydration, presence of pulpal vitali ty, absence of sensitivity, and a discrete color alteration in the line between the fragment and the dental remnant.

The use of porcelain inlays, instead of composite resin, as a restorative material for posterior teeth has greatly improved the standards of esthetic dentistry. The development of compatible materials enables the fabrication of all-ceramic restorations on refractory investment material without expensive technical equipment. Special care in and knowledge of this new technique by the dentist and the technician are necessary to obtain restorations with excellent marginal adaptation and a highly esthetic appearance.

The destruction of the interdental papillae and formation of permanent gingival craters are common sequelae of acture necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. These craters can be disfiguring, especially in the anterior gingiva, and can act as a nidus for recurrent episodes. Traditional therapy has emphasized a surgical approach for elimination of these defects, often increasing the esthetic problems. The purpose of this paper is to review the treatment modalities of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and illustrate an alternative treatment approach of periodic scaling, root planing, and antimicrobial rinses with 0.12% chlorhexidine. With this therapeutic regimen, the disease process can be reversed and damaged papillae may regenerate.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine changes in recession and other periodontal factors after orthodontic treatment of malocclusions. Twenty patients with preorthodontic labial recession on one or more mandibular central incisors were studied. Ten patients had received autogenous gingival grafts in the area of recession prior to orthodontics, while ten received no graft. The teeth presenting recession had been retruded from a preorthodontically prominent arch position. Moderate inflammation of marginal tissues and fair-to-poor oral hygiene were maintained by the patients. Statistically significantly less gingival recession was found in both groups after orthodontic treatment than was found pretreatment. The results of this study indicated that labial recession tends to decrease with retrusion of mandibular incisors even when moderate not further decrease the postorthodontic gingival recession.

In this study, the microstructural nature of the Renaissance crown system has been characterized in an effort to understand its reported properties and performance. Intergranual cavitation was characteristic of the foil surface. The brazed area joining various pleats was porous and exhibited an equiaxial grain structure. Particles of the interfacial alloy sintered with each other and bonded to the foil. Flow of porcelain into intergranular grooves of the foil and within the porous interf acial alloy network was observed. Tags that formed as a result contributed to the micromechanical retention of porcelain on the foil. No evidence of foil-porcelain chemical bonding was found, nor was there any indication of substantial interlayer diffusion.

This article promotes preprosthetic surgery that has been adequately planned and properly executed and that is an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan. In addition, this paper promotes the development of preprosthetic surgery teams to select, plan, and treat preprosthetic surgery patients. Prosthodontists should take a more active role in the referral, selection, and treatment planning of preprosthetic surgery patients, because it is the prosthodontist who will restore the patient's dentition. Prosthodontists and surgeons need a greater understanding of each other's capabilities and limitations, and need to work together as a team.

The inhibition of polymerization of polyvinyl siloxane impression materials by direct contact with latex gloves has been well documented. Indirect intraoral inhibition of polymerization that results from contact of oral tissues with latex gloves during tooth preparation and gingival retrction procedures has been reported. This case report illustrates the problems that can occur when the dentist used polyvinyl siloxane impression materials while wearing latex gloves. In the reported case, the inhibition is severe and obvious; in most situations the inhibition of polymerization is more subtle and is frequently undetected. Clinicians must be aware of this potential problem and the solution to it.

A visible light-hardening, glass-ionomer cement, dentinal base/liner has been used as a dentinal and enamel replacement restorative material for certain lesions in primary teeth. The material has all the advantages of glass-ionomer cements and the additional advantage of rapid hardening by light curing. The procedure for using the material as a restorative material in primary teeth is described, and several cases are documented.

Class I and II posterior composite resin (Ful-Fil) restorations were placed and were clinically evaluated, according to the US Public Health Service criteria, at baseline, 6 months, 5 years, and 8 years. At 5 years/8 years, alpha scores were assigned to the following percentages of restorations: 16%/31% for color match; 65%/62% for marginal discoloration; 74%/54% for cavosurface marginal discoloration; 100%/100% for axial contour; and 81%/65% for anatomic form. At 5 years/8 years, 56%/33% of Class II restorations had tight proximal contacts; 45%/44% had light contacts; and 0%/22% had no contacts. Transient postoperative sensitivity was reported in 6% of the restorations. Indirect evaluation indicated that there was an average of 64 ± 35 um of wear at baseline (because of overfinishing), 105 ± 67 um at 6 months, 217 ± 76 um at 5 years, and 253 ± 82 um at 8 years. At 5 years, three of the restorations, and at 8 years, four additional restorations, were clinically unacceptable because of recurrent caries and/or excessive wear. Final success rates of 90% and 77% at 5 and 8 years, respectively, were calculated.

Twenty-three patients received 45 heat- and pressure-cured composite resin inlays. Approximately 6 months after placement of the inlays, 34 of the inlays (in 19 patients) were examined according to the criteria of the California Dental Association and also for bleeding upon probing. At least 12 months later, 30 inlays (in 16 patients) were reexamined. At the first examination, 28 inlays were rated excellent, three were rated acceptable, and three were rated unsatisfactory. At the second examination, 21 were found to be excellent, eight were acceptable, and one was unsatisfactory. One inlay had been fractured before the first examination, but no other fractured inlays were observed. Except for slightly discolored margins in six inlays, excellent color match and smooth, glossy surfaces were found in most of the restorations.

This investigation quantitatively analyzed apical leakage in teeth in which one of two new thermpolasticized gutta-percha obturating techniques were used. Apical leakage observed after use of the thermoplasticized techniques was compared to leakage found in teeth that had been obturated with conventional lateral condensation. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found among the three groups. The lateral condensation group exhibited the least leakage, followed by the thermoplasticized group, and the thermoplasticized twist-off group exhibited the most apical leakage.