Use of the Hall technique by specialist paediatric dentists: a global perspective.

Background The Hall technique (HT) is popular with UK paediatric dentists (PDs). Global PDs perception/use of HT is unknown.Aim To investigate global PDs opinions/use of HT.Materials and methods A cross-sectional questionnaire of 26 questions was sent to specialist PDs across the globe.Results Responses of 709 PDs from six continents were obtained. The majority (n = 654, 92.32%) had heard about HT but only 50.6% (n = 358) used it, with wide country variations. Respectively, 37.5%, 31.5% and 31% were neutral, against or supportive of HT when they initially heard about it. Only 17% of HT users said it was always the treatment of choice for non-pulpal asymptomatic carious primary molars (NPACPMs), 62% would take a pre-operative radiograph, 65% would consider using high speed drills before HT, 63% would never consider HT under general anaesthesia, 56% would use HT under N2O sedation. Finally, in a clinical scenario of a NPACPM in a cooperative 6-year-old, 75% of PDs would choose conventional restorative methods over the HT.Conclusion The HT is recognised, but not used, by an outright majority of PDs across the globe. Identifiable barriers such as lack of training, perception as substandard dentistry and perceived lack of evidence reduced its use

Evaluation of in vitro microleakage of visible light cured glass ionomer cements used as liners with composites in the 'sandwich' technique

PLEASE NOTE: This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community: please click Download and log in with a valid BU account to access. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact [email protected] (M.Sc.D.)--Boston University. Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1990 (Pediatric Dentistry)Bibliography: leaves 61-65.In dentistry, adhesion of restorative materials to tooth substance is an important objective. Glass ionomer cements, and more recently the visible light cured kind, are shown to chemically adhere to the dentin and enamel. The glass ionomer / composite resin combination in the 'sandwich' technique is gaining ln popularity and could extend the use of both materials in clinical practice. Since not much evidence exists in the literature, concerning visible light cured glass ionomer cements, the following investigation was undertaken with the objective of evaluating their microleakage aspect utilizing the "sandwich" technique.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Eighty extracted human premolar teeth were chosen for an in vitro experimental dye penetration study. A cervical 'V' shaped abrasion type lesion was prepared. Three kinds of visible light cured glass ionomers namely Vitrabond, Zionomer and XR Ionomer along with a composite control were chosen as the four study groups. Each group was subdivided into two, comprising of ten teeth each, on the basis of the technique used in placing the liner. Technique A consisted of the liner meeting the apical cavosurface margin at a point and a little short of the dentino- enamel junction at the coronal end. While technique B consisted of the liner forming the external apica1 1/3 of the restoration. The overlaid composite completed the restoration to the proper contour. The specimens were thermocycled followed by immersion in the dye (basic fuchsin) for twenty four hours. They were subsquently embedded in a resin and cut longitudinally to observe and photograph evidence of seepage of the dye. The microleakage was scored on a scale of 0-5. The results indicated that the glass ionomer liners allowed leakage primarily at the dentin margins, the leakage at the enamel restoration interface being negligible and hence not significant. Vitrabond was significantly different from the other groups, which were not signifiantly different from each other. Technique B was significantly better than technique A showing a lower mean leckage. This study thus helped in evaluating the adhesive nature of the visible light cured glass ionomer cements and in indicating which restorative technique would prove more beneficial in their conjunctional use with composite resins

MTHFR 677CT POLYMORPHISM AND CLEFT LIP AND PALATE ANOMALIES

A sufficient bioavailability of active folate seems to be important for normal early development of the embryo. Maternal folate insufficiency has been found more frequently in spina bifida and nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NCLP). It may be due to a mutation of a folate pathway gene or a low dietary intake

MTHFR 677CT POLYMORPHISM AND CLEFT LIP AND PALATE ANOMALIES

A sufficient bioavailability of active folate seems to be important for normal early development of the embryo. Maternal folate insufficiency has been found more frequently in spina bifida and nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NCLP). It may be due to a mutation of a folate pathway gene or a low dietary intake

Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The review aims to determine the risk predictability of mutans streptococci in the development of carious lesions in children with primary dentition. Methods Longitudinal observational studies with at least 6 months follow-up and evaluating mutans streptococci presence in caries-free children under 6 years of age for the development of any cavitated or non-cavitated carious lesion. Six databases and grey literature were searched without any restrictions. Risk of bias was evaluated using the New Castle Ottawa scale for longitudinal studies, and the certainty of the evidence was evaluated by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation using GRADEpro software. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effect (DerSimonian and Laird, DL) model, and heterogeneity was evaluated using tau-squared, I2 statistics and prediction interval. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the mutans streptococci presence at baseline and the caries development, according to the sample and methods used for the microbiological assessment and the length of follow-up of the studies. Publication bias was checked by funnel plot using a random effect (DerSimonian and Laird, DL) model. Results Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Four studies received a maximum of 9 stars, and among the remaining eight studies, six received 8 stars and the rest two studies were assigned 7 stars in the risk of bias scale. After pooling the results quantitatively, odds ratio (OR) was found to be 4.13 (95% CI: 3.33, 5.12), suggesting that children with mutans streptococci had 4 times higher odds of developing caries later (p < 0.001). Four studies were pooled to compare future caries experience among children with and without mutans streptococci at baseline, obtaining standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.33, 1.37), indicating a large effect (p < 0.001). Certainty of evidence was found to be moderate, and no publication bias was reported by the funnel plot criteria of symmetry. Conclusions Presence of mutans streptococci in a preschool child is a risk predictor for future caries experience. Early identification of children with increased caries-risk may facilitate in implementation of appropriate preventive strategies