Objectives: The objective of the present systematic review was to test the hypothesis of no difference in implant treatment outcome after horizontal ridge augmentation with allogeneic bone block compared with autogenous bone block.
Material and Methods: A MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase and Cochrane Library search in combination with a hand-search of relevant journals was conducted including human studies published in English through March 13, 2019. Comparative and non-comparative studies evaluating horizontal ridge augmentation with allogeneic bone block were included. Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to evaluate risk of bias.
Results: One comparative study with high quality and 12 non-comparative studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Considerable heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis from being performed. The comparative retrospective short-term study demonstrated no significant difference in implant treatment outcome between the two treatment modalities. Non-comparative long-term studies revealed high implant survival, gain in alveolar ridge width and bone regeneration with allogeneic bone block. However, non-comparative studies disclosed high incidence of complications including dehiscence, exposure of allogeneic bone block and partial or total loss of the grafts.
Conclusions: There seemed to be no difference in implant treatment outcome after horizontal ridge augmentation with allogeneic bone block compared with autogenous bone block. However, increased risk of complications was frequently reported with allogeneic bone block.
Objectives: Prescription trends to certain antibiotic classes in Lithuania have been observed. Considering the potential contribution to antimicrobial resistance and the evidence of inappropriate prescriptions highlights, the periodical assessment of antibiotic consumption trends is required. The aim of this study was to assess prescription behaviours of Lithuanian general dental practitioners concerning the systemic antibiotic therapy of endodontic infections.
Material and Methods: A sample of 198 Lithuanian dentists, registered on the database of the Lithuanian Dental Chamber, provided anonymous information about their clinical work by means of an online questionnaire.
Results: Among the participants, antibiotics were prescribed in less than 20% of endodontic cases. Most common diagnosis for the prescription was symptomatic apical periodontitis with periostitis (90%) and apical abscesses with systemic involvement (54%). Amoxicillin and co-amoxiclav were the preferred choices for the antimicrobial therapy. The preference of clavulanic acid combination over simple usage of amoxicillin is increasing relative to the participants age (P = 0.016) and working experience (P = 0.008). Clindamycin is prescribed in cases of allergy to beta-lactams. Practitioners with less years of clinical activity were more likely to prescribe antibiotics for spreading infections, than their associates with more than 10 years of practice (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Clinicians of higher age were found to be more likely to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotic combinations compared to their younger associates. The majority of practitioners were aware of the clinical recommendations.
Assessment of the Depth of Clinically Detected Approximal Caries Lesions Using Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic Transillumination in Comparison to Periapical Radiographs
Objectives: The aim of present prospective clinical trial was to assess the depth of clinically detected approximal caries lesions using digital imaging fiber-optic transillumination in comparison to periapical radiographs.
Material and Methods: One calibrated examiner diagnosed 31 approximal carious lesions in 10 patients with a mean age of 21.8 (SD 1.1) years. The lesions were assessed using digital imaging fiber-optic transillumination (DIFOTI) and digital periapical radiographs (PA). Depending on the depth of the lesions, scores for demineralisation in PA (R) and DIFOTI (F) images were given by two examiners: R0/F0 - no demineralisation, R1/F1 - demineralisation confined to the outer half of the enamel, R2/F2 - into the inner half of the enamel, 3/3 - along the amelodentinal junction, R3/F3 - into the outer half of dentine, R4/F4 - into the inner part of the dentine. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and kappa were calculated.
Results: Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between DIFOTI and PA was 0.031 (P > 0.05), kappa was 0.077. In 26% of the cases, DIFOTI showed higher scores of demineralisation, relative to PA. In 36% of the cases, PA showed higher scores of demineralisation than DIFOTI. PA showed demineralisation into the outer and inner half of the dentine in 89% of the cases with underlying shadow and in 70% of the cases with opacities.
Conclusions: Digital imaging fibre optic transillumination and periapical radiographs produce evaluations of the depth of approximal caries lesions that do not match.
Objectives: This randomized controlled in vitro 4-arm trial study aimed to study the remineralization potential of Recaldent™ and assess the effects of prophylaxis cleaning and MI Varnish® on enhancing this remineralization potential.
Material and Methods: Sixty human teeth were randomly assigned into equal samples (A/B). Sample A was prophylactically cleaned, randomly divided into equal samples (1/2). Sample A1 received treatment with MI Varnish® and Recaldent™ for 30 days. Sample A2 was treated similarly but without MI Varnish®. Sample B did not receive prophylaxis cleaning and was divided into equal samples (1/2). Sample B1 was treated as A1 and sample B2 as A2. The teeth were examined for mineral composition at baseline, after the interventions (T1), and after prophylaxis cleaning (T2). Study outcomes were mineral content (% weight of carbon [C], phosphorus [P], calcium [Ca], oxygen [O], chlorine [Cl], sodium [Na] and silicon [Si]) and calcium-phosphorus ratio (Ca/P).
Results: All groups had similar mineral composition at baseline. At T1, sample B2 exhibited least P, Ca and Ca/P content. Samples A1 and B1 showed higher content of P and Ca, compared to B2 (A1 only exhibited higher Ca/P). Sample A2 exhibited lowest Cl and Na content. At T2, sample A1 exhibited lowest C, P, O and Si content (highest Ca/P). Sample A2 showed least Ca/P, and highest Na content.
Conclusions: Teeth treated by Recaldent™ proceeded by prophylaxis cleaning or MI Varnish® showed remineralization, especially when receiving both interventions. This superior effect persisted even after a second cleaning. Further trials are necessary to provide conclusive evidence in humans.
How Successful is Supplemental Intraseptal and Buccal Infiltration Anaesthesia in the Mandibular Molars of Patients Undergoing Root Canal Treatment or Tooth Extraction?
Objectives: To investigate the success rate of supplemental intraseptal and buccal infiltration anaesthesia in mandibular molars undergoing endodontic therapy/extraction when the inferior alveolar nerve block has failed.
Material and Methods: A prospective clinical trial including 200 patients undergoing lower molar root canal treatment/teeth extraction was conducted. Only 80 patients of the participants who had profound lower lip anaesthesia after the administration of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) were in pain within treatment. Patients experiencing moderate to severe pain upon using elevators, forceps, bur, or endodontic file were randomly allocated to the 2% lidocaine intraseptal injection and 4% articaine buccal infiltration groups. Level of pain was assessed every 2 to 10 min on standard 100 mm visual analogue scales.
Results: Overall, 55 (69%) of patients who were given either intraseptal injection of 2% lidocaine or buccal infiltration of 4% articaine had successful anaesthesia of lower molar teeth within 10 min. However, 25 (31%) of participating patients in the buccal infiltration and the intraseptal groups had failed anaesthesia within the study duration (10 min), and they received additional local anaesthetic. IANBs were more painful than buccal and intraseptal injections. However, buccal articaine injections were significantly more comfortable than intraseptal lidocaine injections (P > 0.001).
Conclusions: Supplemental intraseptal injection of 2% lidocaine and buccal infiltration of 4% articaine achieved profound pulpal anaesthesia in 69% of patients when the inferior alveolar nerve block failed. Recommendations can be given to dental practitioners to use infiltration of 4% articaine in conjunction with intraseptal injection of 2% lidocaine to anaesthetize the lower molar teeth when inferior alveolar nerve block fails.