Acta Stomatologica Croatica最新文献

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of artificial ageing on the retention force of original semipermanent cements, as well as the possibility of using conventional cements for semipermanent cementation with adequate modification of the cementing protocol.

Materials and methods: Forty CoCrMo alloy crowns were divided in four groups (each group n=10) and fixed with two semipermanent cements (resin-based and glass ionomer-based cements) and one conventional (zinc phosphate), using conventional and modified cementation techniques on titanium abutments. The samples were stored in humid conditions for 24 hours at 37°C and subjected to thermocycling (500 cycles) and mechanical cyclic loading (7 days, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months function simulation). The cast crowns were removed and the retention force was recorded.

Results: The highest initial retention force measured was for zinc-phosphate cement - conventional cementing (198,00±61,90 N), followed in descending order by zinc-phosphate cement - modified cementing technique (152,00±45,42 N), long term temporary cement - GC Fuji Temp LT (57,70±20,40 N), and semipermanent cement - Telio CS Cem Implant (56,10±18,68 N). After 12 months, the highest retention force measured was for zinc-phosphate cement - conventional cementing (88, 90±14, 45 N), followed by zinc-phosphate cement - modified cementing (48, 15±14,41N), semipermanent cement GC Fuji Temp LT (16,55±3,88 N) and Telio CS Cem Implant (15,55±5,52 N).

Conclusions: Zinc-phosphate cement - modified cementing technique and original semipermanent cements can be recommended for conditional permanent cementing of implant supported crowns.

Clinical relevance: The use of semipermanenet cements and zinc-phosphate cement - modified cementing technique provides a predictable retrievability of implant-supported crowns.

Objective: To investigate the impact of fixed orthodontic treatment on adolescents' oral hygiene behavior and to examine their food consuption during fixed orthodontic treatment, as well as their motivation to maintain oral hygiene.

Materials and methods: This research was carried out in a form of a survey questionnaire consisting of 23 questions. The sample comprised 170 adolescent patients aged from 11 to 19 who underwent the fixed orthodontic treatment at the Orthodontic Clinic of the Zagreb University Hospital Centre.

Results: The orthodontic appliance did not interfere with the patients' maintenance of oral hygiene, but it made the consumption of certain foods more difficult. Most adolescents brushed their teeth twice a day, using medium-soft brushes (35%). Regarding additional oral hygiene aids, 72.4% of the respondents used interdental brushes, more than 50% of the respondents used antiseptic mouthwashes for mouth rinsing, whereas only 31.2% of the tested population used dental floss (4.1% of which daily). The respondents were highly motivated to maintain oral hygiene by their orthodontists (96.5%), but only a small number of the respondents were informed about the importance of an adequate diet while undergoing a fixed orthodontic treatment.

Conclusion: Orthodontists should provide their patients with detailed instructions on hygiene maintenance and adequate diet during orthodontic treatment to minimize negative side effects of the fixed orthodontic treatment. Patients should be motivated upon each follow-up examination and encouraged to use as many oral hygiene aids in their daily routines as possible.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of probiotic bacteria in yogurt on Streptococcus mutans (MS) count, plaque adherence and salivary pH compared to xylitol-containing chewing gum in geriatric patients.

Materials and methods: Total number of 96 high caries risk geriatric patients were randomized into two equal groups (n=48). Group 1 (intervention group) received probiotic yogurt (Activia, Danone) once per day, and group 2 (control group) received xylitol chewing gum (Trident original) three times per day. The primary outcome was salivary Streptococcus mutans count and secondary outcomes were interdental plaque Streptococcus mutans count, salivary pH and bacterial adherence.

Results: For Streptococcus mutans count in saliva and plaque, a statistically significant reduction in the level of MS over all the examined follow up periods of the study in probiotic yogurt group as well as xylitol gum group was found. An intergroup comparison for salivary MS count showed statistically significant difference between the two materials in a two week and a three month period of time and there was no statistically significant difference between both materials at one month time period. Salivary pH results showed statistically significant increase in pH in both groups along the follow-up periods. Bacterial adherence results showed statistically significant reduction in both groups.

Conclusions: Probiotic yogurt is an effective antibacterial agent against salivary and plaque bacteria in geriatric patients.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the values of the articular eminence inclination (AEI), the articular eminence height (AEH), and the length of the articular eminence curved line (AEL) among American prehistoric and contemporary populations.

Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 120 human dry skulls divided into 4 groups: Illinois group (IP), Kentucky group (KP), African Americans group (AAP) and American Caucasians group (ACP). Each group comprised 30 human dry skulls. Measurements of AEI (by two methods), AEH and AEL were performed using computer software on 5 sagittal sections through silicone molds of the articular eminence. The obtained results were statistically analyzed at significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: No statistically significant differences of AEI, AEH and AEL values were obtained among American populations (IP, KP, AAP, ACP) neither by body side, sex and age (p > 0.05). The mean AEI M1 values ranged from 31.56° to 38.72°, the mean AEI M2 values ranged from 44.14° to 58.37°, the mean AEH ranged from 5.82 to 6.86 mm, and the mean AEL values ranged from 11.57 to 12.73 mm.

Conclusions: AEI, AEH, AEL values are variables, but they did not differ significantly among American populations. Left-right differences as the result of natural body asymmetry were not statistically significant. Sex and age did not significantly affect the articular eminence morphology.

Aim: This study aimed to test the applicability of the methods proposed by Olze et al. (2012) and Timme et al. for dental age estimation in Brazilian subadults and adults.

Material and methods: Panoramic radiographs of 503 individuals aged between 20 and 70 years were analyzed. The mean chronological age of males and females of the sample was 29.04 and 29.97 years, receptively. Secondary dentin formation, cementum apposition, periodontal recession, and attrition of teeth #34, #35, #44 and #45 teeth were assessed as parameters to be calculated in the formulae designed by Olze et al. and Timme et al.

Results: In males, the mean estimated age by the Olze method was 28.97 ± 2.86 years, while in females it was 27.85 ± 2.70 years. The Timme method estimated mean age for males of 32.54 ± 5.32 years and for females 33.09 ± 5.16 years. Low coefficients of determination (r²) for the application of tooth-specific formulae of both methods suggest that estimated and chronological ages were not properly associated.

Conclusion: The outcomes of this study indicate that the Olze and Timme methods may be limited for forensic applications in Brazilian subadults and adults. Country-specific statistical adjustments might be useful for improvements in practice.

Objectives: To assess dentists' level of knowledge and practice concerning antibiotic usage in endodontics using the European Society of Endodontology position statement as a reference.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the form of an electronic questionnaire consisting of 23 questions, including dentists' demographic and professional characteristics, attitudes as well as experiences regarding antibiotics in endodontics. Data were evaluated by the Mann-Whitney test or the Kruskal Wallis 1-way ANOVA, α = 5%.

Results: The overall mean self-reported knowledge of antibiotics usage in endodontics was 11.7±2.5 points, out of a maximum possible score of 23. The factors associated with a higher knowledge were: age (P≤0.001), clinical experience (P≤0.001), specialist training (P=0.008), and adherence to the guidance on the use of systemic antibiotics in endodontics (P=0.006). Dentists who specialized in endodontics (16.1±2.2) achieved higher levels of knowledge.

Conclusion: Knowledge on antibiotic usage in endodontics among dentists in Croatia is insufficient. There is a need for continuing education on the use of antibiotics among general dentists.

Introduction: Radiotherapy is used to treat neo plasmatic lesions and the common side effects of this process are pain, swelling and sensitivity of mucous membranes in domain of radiation, reduced salivation, caries, and periodontal disease and, in total, low life quality. The purpose of this research was to estimate the outcome of direct irradiation on physical and surface characteristics of hard dental tissues.

Materials and methods: Twenty, caries free third molars were involved in the research. Prior to different submission protocols, tooth halves were randomly assigned to subject and control groups by using a draw method. The first group (n=20) was submitted to conventional irradiation protocol (2 Gy for 35 days), second group (n=20) was submitted to one powerful, exploratory dose of 70 Gy. Each sample served as its own control. Radiation was performed with a linear accelerator radiotherapy unit. The surface microhardness and roughness were measured at the beginning (initially), and upon completion of irradiation procedure. The average change in microhardness and roughness after different treatments was compared by t-test for independent samples. Normality was tested by the Shapiro-Wilk test.

Results: Significant differences were found after the standard radiation protocol and the exploratory dose of 70 Gy, with decreased mean microhardness and increased mean roughness (p<0.001) of both hard dental tissues. Enamel and dentin surface microhardness and roughness did not vary notably with regards to different irradiation protocols.

Conclusion: Head and neck conventional irradiation protocol leads to possible breakdown of enamel and dentin with reduced microhardness and increased surface roughness regardless of used irradiation protocol.