A cross-sectional study of canine dimorphism in establishing sex identity: comparison of two statistical methods

The occurrence of canine tooth dimorphism in Indian subjects has been investigated and the use of two statistical methods of evaluation compared. These were the methods of N.G. Rao and co-workers published in 1988 and quadratic discriminant analysis for correct classification of sex. Parameters considered were (i) the mesiodistal width of maxillary and mandibular canines, (ii) the maxillary canine arch width (intercanine distance) and (iii) the mandibular canine arch width. The results indicated significant dimorphism of the maxillary and mandibular canine teeth. When the results of the arch widths were subjected to the two statistical methods, differing results were obtained in the accuracy of sex classification. The percentage of correct classifications of sex was higher when using quadratic discriminant analysis.King Saud Universit

Influence on dimensional accuracy of volume of wash material introduced into pre-spaced putty/wash impressions

This study compared the accuracy of stone models obtained from two-stage, pre-spaced putty/wash impressions under conditions in which known volumes of wash material were introduced during the second stage of the impression: Group I, a quantity of wash material corresponding to the space provided; Group II, double the quantity of wash material as the space provided; Group III, double the quantity of wash material, but with V-shaped vents in the putty for escape of excess material. Percentage deviations of the vertical dimensions of stone dies with respect to the master model were significantly different between Groups I and II (the latter being shorter) (p < 0.05). For horizontal dimensions, differences were less consistent, although the deviations for Groups I and II and Groups II and III, with respect to the master model, were significantly different from each other for two of the three dimensions measured (Group II inter-abutment distances were generally larger) (p < 0001 and p < 0.05, respectively). It is concluded that putty recoil, resulting from compression by excess wash material, plays a significant role in the undersizing of working dies, although the level of clinical relevance is less clear.King Saud Universit

Effect of different ferrule designs on the fracture resistance and failure pattern of endodontically treated teeth restored with fiber posts and all-ceramic crowns

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of different ferrule heights on endodontically treated premolars. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty sound mandibular first premolars were endodontically treated and then restored with 7-mm fiber post (FRC Postec Plus #1 Ivoclar-Vivadent) luted with self-polymerized resin cement (Multilink, Ivoclar Vivadent) while the coronal section was restored with hybrid composite core build-up material (Tetric Ceram, Ivoclar-Vivadent), which received all-ceramic crown. Different ferrule heights were investigated: 1-mm circumferential ferrule without post and core (group 1 used as control), a circumferential 1-mm ferrule (group 2), non-uniform ferrule 2-mm buccally and 1-mm lingually (group 3), non-uniform ferrule 3-mm buccally and 2-mm lingually (group 4), and finally no ferrule preparation (group 5). The fracture load and failure pattern of the tested groups were investigated by applying axial load to the ceramic crowns (n=10). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test was used for pair-wise comparisons (&#945;=0.05). RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the failure load of all tested groups (P<0.780). The control group had the lowest fracture resistance (891.43±202.22 N) and the highest catastrophic failure rate (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the use of fiber post reduced the percentage of catastrophic failure while increasing the ferrule height did not influence the fracture resistance of the restored specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, increasing the ferrule length did not influence the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with glass ceramic crowns. Insertion of a fiber post could reduce the percentage of catastrophic failure of these restorations under function