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Abstract Background Vascular embolization of a projectile discharged from a weapon is a rare event. In this report a hunter's errant gunshot struck a farmer in the left chest. Case report The projectile was lodged between the apex of the heart and the diaphragm. The patient was treated non-operatively and was discharged home only to return to the emergency department with chest pain and subsequent identification of the projectile in the left inferior pulmonary vein. Operative management consisted of a median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and a pulmonary venectomy. Conclusion He was subsequently discharged home and recovered uneventfully.

Significant oral health problems are associated with medical, physical, or mental disorders that occur in children. The pediatrician has the opportunity through early intervention to set the tone for a health care practice that will improve the quality of life for many disadvantaged children. When the pediatrician and pediatric dentist work hand in hand, the children can often expect a happy, healthy future.

Methods for the removal of resins attached to acid-etched enamel are receiving increased attention. An evaluation method which permitted convenient statistical comparisons of the effectiveness of various removal procedures was used. The method was based on ranking of SEM photomicrographs of epoxy replicas of teeth from clinical cases. Forty-five orthodontically treated teeth were evaluated after removal of brackets and a heavily filled bonding resin, using three basic procedures. Eleven raters ranked photomicrographs on the basis of the apparent smoothness of the replicated enamel surface. There was no significant difference in the judgment of smoothness by the raters. Significant differences were found between the three removal techniques. Enamel roughness decreased with removal technique in the following order: (1) hand scaler, (2) twelve-fluted carbide bur, and (3) ultrafine bur. A final pumicing treatment was also found to be beneficial, although it did not remove any deep scratches.

The causes, clinical appearance, and sequelae of electrical burns of the oral and perioral tissues are discussed, and a method of using splints to treat children with incomplete primary dentitions is presented for the dental practitioner.

Preformed laminate resin veneers should be adapted closely to the teeth to reduce the thickness of the composite layer. Minimal voids at the composite, veneer, and tooth junctional margin will result. Composite resins are difficult to finish, but laminate veneer can be highly polished. Poorly finished veneer surfaces appear to abrade to a smoother surface with toothbrushing while poorly finished composite surfaces remain rough. To reduce material loss from abrasion, the veneer restoration should be highly polished. Polishing the veneer at the gingival margin is particularly important to gingival health. Only rough veneer surfaces will be improved by toothbrushing abrasion. Special instructions should be given to patients with laminated veneers to reinforce proper oral hygiene and to discourage use of highly abrasive dentifrices. Continued monitoring of plaque accumulation should minimize problems related to oral hygiene.