Minimally invasive prosthetic procedures in the rehabilitation of a bulimic patient affected by dental erosion

The population affected by dental erosion due to bulimia is generally very young. This population group has a high aesthetic requirement; the dentition in these patients is severely damaged, especially in the anterior maxillary quadrant. In terms of treatment, it is still controversial whether an adhesive rehabilitation is preferable to a longer-lasting but more aggressive conventional treatment, such as full-crown coverage of the majority of teeth. This case report describes the prosthetic rehabilitation of a young female patient previously affected by bulimia nervosa and presenting erosion of the maxillary teeth. The prosthetic rehabilitation was performed through indirect adhesive restorations of the anterior teeth and direct restorations of the posterior teeth. A clinical follow-up after 4 years showed that the occlusion remained satisfactorily restored. Posterior direct composite resin restorations and anterior indirect adhesive composite restorations proved to be an effective time and money-saving procedure to rehabilitate patients affected by dental erosion. Adhesive rehabilitation provides a functional and good aesthetic result while preserving tooth structure

Indirect composite restorations luted with two different procedures: a ten years follow up clinical trial

Objectives: The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate posterior indirect composite resin restoration ten years after placement luted with two different procedures. Study Design: In 23 patients 22 inlays/onlays (Group A) were luted using a dual-cured resin composite cement and 26 inlays/onlays (Group B) were luted using a light cured resin composite for a total of 48 Class I and Class II indirect composite resin inlays and onlays. The restorations were evaluated at 2 time points: 1) one week after placement (baseline evaluation) and 2) ten years after placement using the modified USPHS criteria. The Mann- Whitney and the Wilcoxon tests were used to examine the difference between the results of the baseline and 10 years evaluation for each criteria. Results: Numerical but not statistically significant differences were noted on any of the recorded clinical parameters ( p >0.05) between the inlay/onlays of Group A and Group B. 91% and 94 % of Group A and B respectively were rated as clinically acceptable in all the evaluated criteria ten years after clinical function. Conclusions: Within the limits of the study the results showed after ten years of function a comparable clinical performance of indirect composite resin inlays/onlays placed with a light cure or dual cure luting procedures

Aesthetic bite for the management of temporomandibular disorders: A case series review

Background: Oral appliances (OA) are the most widely used treatment approach for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs): They are designed to relieve or prevent degenerative forces on the joint, the articular disk, and dentition. Classical OAs, however, are cumbersome and esthetically unpleasing: A more esthetic and functional appliance might improve treatment efficacy and shorten treatment time. Aim: The aim of this case series is to introduce an esthetical device for the management of TMD. Methodology: Three adults between 43 and 60 years old with a diagnosis of intra-articular TMD were included and were instructed to apply the device throughout the day and night. The patients were recruited at the same private dental clinic and each one signed an informed consent for both treatment and inclusion in the study. We evaluated and compared four clinical parameters (mandibular excursion, mandibular opening pattern, muscular and articular pain, and TMJ noises) between time 0 (T0) and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months of using the device following the protocol of diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular joint disorders (DC/TMD). A magnetic resonance imaging exam was conducted to investigate tissue changes between T0 and 3 and 12 months of therapy. Conclusions: For all four parameters, we observed considerable improvements in all patients, who noticed the positive effects of the therapy themselves. The results suggest that this esthetic device was an effective treatment to manage TMD in the described cases, also increasing patients’ quality of life. However, studies on a larger scale are required to prove the effectiveness of this device. Clinical Significance: This case series aims to highlight the potentiality of an esthetic device used for the management of TMDs. This is because a more esthetically pleasant and comfortable device increases the time of usage, thus improving the positive effects of the device on the TMD

Surface Roughness of Commercial Composites after Different Polishing Protocols: An Analysis with Atomic Force Microscopy

Polishing may increase the surface roughness of composites, with a possible effect on bacterial growth and material properties. This preliminary in vitro study evaluates the effect of three different polishing systems (PoGo polishers, Enhance, Venus Supra) on six direct resin composites (Gradia Direct, Venus, Venus Diamond, Enamel Plus HFO, Tetric Evoceram, Filtek Supreme XT)

Combined Characterization of the Time Response of Impression Materials via Traditional and FTIR Measurements

We investigated the temporal response of four dental impression materials, namely three siloxanes (Imprint 4, Flexitime, Aquasil) and one polyether (Impregum). The null hypothesis was that the nominal working times are confirmed by instrumental laboratory tests. We also aimed to identify alternative techniques with strong physical-chemical background for the assessment of temporal response. Traditional characterization was carried out by shark fin test device and durometer at both ambient and body temperature. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was performed at room temperature. From shark fin height and Shore hardness versus time the working time and the setting time of the materials were evaluated, respectively. These were in reasonable agreement with the nominal values, except for Impregum, which showed longer working time. Spectroscopy confirmed the different character of the two types of materials, and provided for Imprint 4 and Aquasil an independent evaluation of both evolution times, consistent with the results of the other techniques. Shark fin test and durometer measurements showed deviations in setting time, low sensitivity to temperature for Flexitime, and longer working time at higher temperature for Impregum. Deviations of working time appear in operating conditions from what specified by the manufacturers. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy can provide insight in the correlation between material properties and their composition and structure

Valutazione ad un anno della qualita di restauri di I e II classe eseguiti con quattro differenti materiali conservativi su molari decidui

La restaurativa nell'Odontoiatria pediatrica assume un ruolo fondamentale per la diagnosi precoce dei problemi odontoiatrici pediatrici. Restaurare un dente deciduo, porta al mantenimento dell'elemento dentale il piu allungo possibile nell'arcata per evitare perdite precoci dei denti e rischio di perdita di spazio per i denti definiti che dovranno erompere. La ricerca su materiali si focalizza sulle caratteristiche di biocompatibilità le quali rendono la resturativa sempre piu performante e duratura nel tempo. Purtroppo ci sono vari aspetti che devono essere valutati come il risultato estetico, il grado di abrasione e il rischio di infiltrazioni legati ad una scarsa adesione dei materiali sui tessuto dentari. Lo scopo di questa tesi è quella di valutare differenti materiali conservativi sotto i tre aspetti prima elencati sotto l'aspetto clinico

Foreword to the Special Issue on Application of Nanomaterials in Dentistry

In modern medicine and, in particular, in modern dentistry, prevention has become fundamental in every private practice [...

Foreword to the Special Issue on Application of Nanomaterials in Dentistry

In modern medicine and, in particular, in modern dentistry, prevention has become fundamental in every private practice [...

Effectiveness of nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste in reducing dentin hypersensitivity: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Objectives: The present randomized double blind clinical trial aimed to compare the efficacy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity of a dentifrice formulation containing nano-Hydroxyapatite with a fluoride dentifrice and a placebo. Methods and Materials: 105 subjects were recruited to participate in the study. A computer-generated random table with blocking to one of the three study treatments was used in order to have 35 subjects per group: 1) nano-Hydroxyapatite 15% toothpaste fluoride free; 2) fluoride toothpaste; 3) placebo. Groups 1, 2, 3 were instructed to brush their teeth for 2 minutes twice a day with the provided toothpaste. The participant’s dentin hypersensitivity was evaluated at baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks using airblast and tactile tests. In addition a subjective evaluation using a visual analogue scale was used. Results: Significant lower values of cold air sensitivity and tactile sensitivity (p< 0.001) were found for the test group at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. In addition statistically significant (p< 0.001) lower values of sensitivity were reported for group 1 compared to groups 2 and 3 at 2 and 4 weeks respectively. The VAS scores were significantly lower (p< 0.001) in the test group at 2 and 4 weeks compared to baseline and to the control groups. Conclusion: The findings of the present study encourage the application of nano-Hydroxyapatite in tooth paste fluoride free as an effective desensitizing agent providing quick relief from symptoms after 2 and 4 weeks