Mineral content of dentine remaining after chemomechanical caries removal

Although the dentine remaining after chemomechanical caries removal appears sound by normal clinical criteria, no definitive evidence has yet been obtained to confirm that the dentine surface is in fact mineralised. The aim of this study was to use backscattered electron (BSE) imaging and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) to ascertain the level of mineralisation of the dentine remaining in cavities prepared by this technique. Carious dentine was removed from carious lesions by means of N-monochloro-DL-2-aminobutyric acid (NMAB) or NMAB containing 2 mol/l urea. Sections of teeth in which caries removal was complete by normal clinical criteria were examined by EPMA and BSE. Dentine adjacent to the pulp was found to be less mineralised than the surrounding dentine. Although the superficial layer of dentine remaining on the cavity floors frequently appeared to have a slightly reduced mineral content, the results clearly indicated that there was no significant difference between this dentine and the underlying sound dentine

An improved reagent for chemomechanical caries removal in permanent and deciduous teeth: an in vitro study

Objectives and methods: An in vitro study has been carried out on the chemomechanical removal of caries in deciduous and permanent teeth. The aims of the study were to compare the efficacy of caries removal by various chemical agents including N-monochloro-dl-2-aminobutyrate (NMAB) and NMAB containing urea (NMAB-urea), to compare the efficacy on permanent and deciduous teeth and to study the dentinal surfaces produced. Results: The addition of urea to NMAB resulted in an improvement in the efficacy of caries removal. Sodium hypochlorite, saline and urea alone were also studied as caries removal agents, but were not significantly different from NMAB. Chemomechanical caries removal solutions were more effective in removing caries from deciduous teeth than from permanent teeth, especially in terms of the volume of solution used. The improvement on addition of urea was found to be greater in deciduous than in permanent teeth, the number of deciduous teeth with 'complete caries removal' being increased by about 25%. The dentinal surfaces of the cavities prepared using these solutions and in which 'complete caries removal' had been achieved were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Generally after treatment with NMAB or NMAB-urea, the surface appearance was very uneven with many undermined areas. NMAB-urea produced a 'cleaner' surface compared with that produced by NMAB alone. Conclusions: NMAB appears to be potentially more effective and clinically more useful in removing caries in deciduous teeth than in permanent teeth, and the addition of urea may enhance its efficacy, especially in the treatment of paediatric dental patients. © 1995.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The specificity of caries detector dyes in cavity preparation.

The specificity of two caries detector dyes (0.5% basic fuchsin and 1.0% acid red) was investigated in vitro using extracted human permanent and deciduous teeth. Although the dyes stained carious dentine, sound circumpulpal dentine and the enamel-dentine junction could also be stained. Backscattered electron imaging showed that the level of mineralisation in these two parts of the tooth was lower than in normal dentine. Susceptibility to dye staining therefore appears to be a feature of reduced mineral content rather than being specific for a carious lesion. Whilst use of basic fuchsin should be avoided in view of its carcinogenic potential and ability to stain sound coronal dentine, acid red should also be used with caution and its use on the pulpal surface of deep cavity preparations would appear to be contraindicated. Use of these dyes may result in the unnecessary removal of sound dentine.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Basic proline-rich proteins: multifunctional defence molecules

No abstract available

Adapting to changes in molecular biosciences and technologies

Dental education, like any other educational programme in a research-intensive university environment, must be research led or at least research informed. In this context, as the research and knowledge base of dentistry lies in the biological and physical sciences, dental education must be led by advances in research in both these areas. There is no doubt that biotechnology and nanotechnology have, over the past 25 years, led research in both these areas. It is therefore logical to assume that this has also impacted on dental education. The aim of this paper is twofold; on one hand to examine the effects of biotechnology and nanotechnology and their implications for dental education and on the other to make recommendations for future developments in dental education led by research in biotechnology and nanotechnology. It is now generally accepted that dental education should be socially and culturally relevant and directed to the community it serves. In other words, there can be no universal approach and each dental school or indeed curriculum must apply the outcomes in their own social, cultural and community settings