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Aim: To evaluate the suitability of a Doppler ultrasound probe in detecting the greater palatine artery or its greater branches non‐invasively. Materials and Methods: The palatal mucosa of 108 participants (median age 34 years, 51 female) was systematically divided into transversal sectors, each aligning with the positions of the upper molars (M), premolars (P) and canine teeth (C), aiming to facilitate precise and consistent localization of the detected palatal blood vessel across different patients. Blood flow of the palatal blood vessels, presumably, was located by scanning the palatal vault bilaterally using an 8‐MHz ultrasound probe linked to a transducer. The distance to the corresponding tooth was measured using a millimetre‐scale periodontal probe. Results: Within the regions of M2 to P1, the ultrasound transducer gave a delimitable acoustic pulse signal in 80%–98% of all measurements. The measured median distances between the determined position of the artery and the corresponding teeth ranged from 13 to 15 mm, with smaller distances in the anterior region. In several sectors, the distance was significantly higher for men (C: p =.048; P1: p =.041, M1: p <.01; M2: p =.034). Conclusions: Use of the Doppler ultrasound transducer might be a promising approach to non‐invasively detect relevant palatine blood vessels preoperatively. It, therefore, might have the potential to reduce the risk of accidental injury during palatal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term clinical quality of subgingivally placed composite resin restorations and the inflammatory status of surrounding supracrestal gingival and periodontal tissues. Materials and Methods: Patients with at least one subgingival restoration with deep-margin elevation placed between 2010 and 2020 at Heidelberg University Hospital and Tübingen University Hospital were identified. A sound tooth was used as control. Intraoral examination including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and plaque control record (PCR) was conducted. The clinical quality of the restorations was evaluated using the modified FDI criteria. For comparison between control and test teeth, a logistic mixed-effects model was used for GBI, PCR, and BOP, while a linear mixed-effects model was used for CAL. Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the influence of smoking, age of restoration, number of decayed, missing and filled teeth, use of interdental brushes, and CAL. Results: Sixty-three patients were included in the study. The mean age of the restorations was 2.70 ± 1.90 years. There were no significant differences between test and control teeth with respect to inflammatory parameters BOP, GBI, and PCR. CAL was significantly higher in test teeth than in controls (p = 0.027). The regression models revealed that CAL has a significant influence on GBI (p = 0.008) and BOP (p < 0.001). A significantly increased GBI occurred especially on test teeth in patients who did not use interdental brushes daily (p = 0.010). The clinical quality of restorations was rated excellent or good in 70%, an no restoration was rated unacceptable. Conclusion: In this study, no increased inflammation was observed on sites with subgingivally placed composite restorations over an observation period of approximately 3 years. Regular interdental brush use was associated with less gingival inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rehabilitation of patients with wear on multiple teeth, in which a recovery of the occlusal/incisal vertical dimension is required to acquire satisfactory levels of functionality and esthetics, is often a difficult procedure even for experienced dental practitioners. Based on wax-ups simulating an ideal structural/functional reconstruction of the teeth, the use of shaping indices is a reliable way to plan predictable patient-oriented results when using resin-based composites. The proposal to combine shaping indices with PTFE-based stamp techniques also helps clinicians to easily achieve satisfactory modeling results giving them the unique opportunity to eliminate the presence of composite over-contours before polymerization. By using PTFE-based stamps the requirement to use conventional, strictly transparent indices becomes superfluous. In a clinical case with multiple caries lesions and tooth wear, the advantage of several simple operative measures including PTFE-based stamp procedures are presented as a feasibility example of this noninvasive or minimally invasive restorative approach performed by an undergraduate dental student. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tooth-colored resin-based bracket bonding agents are used to fix orthodontic brackets to teeth as inconspicuously as possible. However, after debonding the brackets, these tooth-colored bonding remnants remain on the tooth surface and must be removed to prevent adverse sequelae. Various techniques can be used, all of which cause varying damage to the tooth structure, as the transition between composite and enamel is visually difficult to detect. With the fluorescence-aided identification technique (FIT) presented here, the fluor escent properties of new orthodontic composites are used for visualization, thereby allowing the tooth-colored but fluor escent resin-based bracket bonding remnants to be removed under direct view quickly and without damaging the tooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 6‐week Mediterranean diet (MD) intervention on gingival inflammatory and anthropometric parameters of patients with gingivitis. Materials and methods: Forty‐two participants were allocated to MD group (MDG) or control group (CG). After a 2‐week equilibration period regarding dental care procedures, only MDG changed their diet to MD for 6 weeks, supported by a diet counselling. Gingival and anthropometric parameters were assessed at baseline (T0), Week 2 (T1, beginning of MD intervention), and Week 8 (T2). Adherence to MD was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS); dietary behaviour was evaluated by the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults Food Frequency Questionnaire (DEGS‐FFQ). Results: Plaque values remained constant in both groups. Inflammatory periodontal and anthropometric parameters decreased in the MDG only (gingival index: T1 1.51 ± 0.21, T2 1.49 ± 0.24; bleeding on probing: T1 51.00 ± 14.65, T2 39.93 ± 13.74; body weight: T1 79.01 ± 15.62, T2 77.29 ± 17.00; waist circumference: T1 84.41 ± 10.1, T2 83.17 ± 10.47 (p <.05). MEDAS revealed a sufficient diet adherence for MDG. Conclusion: Within this study, gingival inflammatory parameters were significantly reduced by MD, whereas plaque parameters remained constant. The diet counselling achieved sufficient adherence with beneficial changes in weight loss and waist circumference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the marginal microleakage and the infiltration ability of pit-and-fissure sealants by applying the conventional sealing technique in comparison to using an additional bonding agent. Materials and Methods: Extracted non-carious permanent molars (n = 60) were first stored in sterile saline solution and then assigned to one of two groups: group C (control) was sealed (Helioseal F) by using the conventional technique, while in group BA (bonding agent), a bonding agent (OptiBond FL) was additionally applied prior to sealing. The teeth were thermocycled (1000 cycles, 5°C to 55°C, dwell time 30 s), then varnished and immersed in 5% methylene blue solution for 24 h. After embedding and sectioning each tooth into 6-12 slices, the presence of microleakage, unfilled areas, and air bubbles trapped in the sealant were assessed with a stereomicroscope. Results: A higher proportion of microleakage was found under sealants applied without the additional use of the bonding agent. A statistically significant difference in microleakage was noted between the groups (p = 0.045). Regarding the presence of unfilled areas, a statistically significant difference between the groups was observed (p < 0.001), especially since no unfilled areas were found at all in the samples of the group using the bonding agent. Regarding the amount of air bubbles trapped in the sealant, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (p = 0.829). Conclusion: Under these in vitro conditions, sealant procedures using an additional bonding agent applied beforehand significantly improved fissure infiltration and microleakage prevention significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Proximal carious lesions comprise a constant clinical problem. The aim of this investigation was to test the safety and clinical effect of a new treatment for proximal caries. Materials and Methods: In 50 patients with two proximal initial lesions (D1-3 without cavitation, bitewing radiograph), orthodontic rubber rings were applied to gain access to the interproximal space. One of the lesions was sealed with a thin polyurethane-dimethacrylate foil using a bonding agent; the other lesion received oral home care with dental floss and fluoridated toothpaste, and was left as control. Results: In clinical follow-ups after 6 and 12 months and radiographic evaluation after two years, clinical retention of proximal tape and the underlying sealant, marginal adaptation, discoloration, tooth vitality, proximal plaque, and gingivitis were checked. In addition, carious lesions were assessed clinically and radiographically. The sealants showed good retention, marginal adaptation, and color. After two years, vitality of all teeth was still positive and no relevant differences in plaque accumulation or gingival status were found between sealed and control teeth. Nine sealed lesions showed caries regression and 2 progression. In contrast, only 4 control lesions regressed and also 2 showed progression. The loss of tape had no significant influence on the lesion progression, indicating the effect of the underlying bond. All other sealants and control lesions were stable, indicating an arrest of the lesion. Conclusion: Sealing initial proximal lesions showed no clinical problems and mostly arrest of initial carious lesions on bitewing radiographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of polymer burs (SmartPrep, SS White) and conventional carbide burs in removing dentin caries. Method and Materials: Thirty extracted permanent teeth were assigned to 2 groups according to the caries removal technique. One experienced clinician performed all excavation procedures, monitoring the caries removal by checking the hardness of the dentin with a dental explorer. The excavation working time was documented and stopped in each group when a leather-hard texture was reached. After the teeth were embedded and sectioned (400 μm), the caries in the remaining dentin was assessed using a caries detector. On microscope images of the samples, the mean stain depth of the remaining carious tissue per tooth was measured by AnalySIS computer software. Results: Mean carious surface areas differed minimally but not statistically significantly after use of polymer burs (31.5 mm²± 0.18) and carbide burs (38.1 mm²± 0.15). Mean carious surface staining depth was slightly smaller with carbide burs (0.26 mm± 1.38) than with polymer burs (0.40 mm± 1.15). The mean-quartile test for the total carious surface (P = .363) and the carious margin (P = .681) showed no statistically significant differences. Of the carbide bur-treated samples, 84.5% were caries free as opposed to 93.0% in the polymer bur group. The results also showed no significant difference between the mean working time of the polymer burs (5.11 minutes) and the carbide burs (4.99 minutes). Conclusion: Under these experimental conditions, polymer burs and tungsten carbide burs were similarly effective for caries removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of dentists to remove composite fillings from endodontic access cavities using illumination from a conventional light source (CLS) versus the fluorescence-aided identification technique (FIT) in terms of completeness, selectivity and treatment duration. Therefore, two independent operators removed composite resin from six sets of root-filled incisors in a maxillary model under simulated clinical conditions using the CLS or FIT method (twelve teeth per operator and technique). The duration of treatment was recorded and before-after micro-CT scans were superimposed for volumetric assessment of treatment completeness and selectivity. Statistical significance was determined by t-testing and two-way ANOVA for operator comparison. Overall, there was no significant difference between FIT and CLS in terms of volume, height and area of composite residues (p=0.98 / p=0.75 / p=0.64) and regarding hard tissue loss in terms of volume, depth and area (p= 0.93 / p= 0.70 / p= 0.14). However, there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding treatment time (FIT= 428s, CLS=523s; p=0.023). Significant differences between operators regardless of method were found for volume, height and area of composite residues (p<0.05) and also for defect area (p=0.01) and time (p<0.001). Significant differences between operators including the method was only found for height of composites (p=0.037). It can be concluded, that composite remnants and tooth structure losses may occur after reentry of root-filled teeth regardless of the illumination method (conventional vs. fluorescence-aided) and operator, but preparation was less time-consuming with FIT.