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The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral moisturizing agents, denture adhesives, and surface treatments on the retention of an acrylic resin test base dislodged from the maxillary alveolar ridges of xerostomic radiotherapy patients. Acrylic resin test bases prepared for 10 edentulous xerostomia patients were subjected to 8 surface treatment methods: method 1 = untreated dry surface; method 2 = use of Biotène oral moisturizer; method 3 = use of Protefix denture adhesive; method 4 = combination of Biotène and Protefix; method 5 = sandblasting of test bases; method 6 = use of Biotène on sandblasted surface; method 7 = use of Protefix on sandblasted surface; method 8 = combination of Protefix and Biotène on sandblasted surface. After each treatment, a tensile testing apparatus was used to dislodge the inserted test bases, and force values (N) were recorded. A significant difference in retentive force was observed between the 4 Protefix groups and those that did not use denture adhesive (P < .001). There were no differences among the 4 combinations of denture adhesive treatments (P > .05). Sandblasting the denture surfaces did not increase retentive forces alone or in combination with any other treatments. Biotène oral moisturizing agent was used in 4 treatment methods, but only had a significant effect on increasing retentive force when used with a nonsandblasted surface (P < .05). Biotène had no effect on retentive force compared to a nonsandblasted surface without moisturizer or when it was used in combination with any other methods. Protefix denture adhesive offered the greatest improvement in retentive force. Sandblasting the intaglio surface did not improve retentive force. Biotène was reported to improve patient comfort but had minimal effect on retentive force; however, Biotène can be assumed to be a more advantageous method of increasing retention compared to sandblasting (P < .05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the effect of precementation desensitizing laser treatment and conventional desensitizing agents on crown retention. Crowns were fabricated for 50 molar teeth, and specimens were assigned to 5 groups based on treatment method: untreated control group (CON), laser group (LAS), sodium fluoride group (FLU), Oxagel oxalate group (OXA), and Gluma primer group (GLU). All crowns were luted with glass-ionomer cement. Tensile force was applied for crown dislodgement. Recorded forces and calculated retentive strengths were as follows: CON (261 N) > LAS (223 N) = FLU (208 N) > GLU (161 N) = OXA (147 N) (P < .05). The differences in force magnitudes between all groups were significant (P < .05), except for LAS versus FLU and GLU versus OXA. The retention decrease was 15% for LAS, 20% for FLU, 38% for GLU, and 44% for OXA. Laser treatment had a less negative effect on retention for crowns luted with glass-ionomer cement than the other treatment modalities, and it may be a more suitable desensitization method if crown retention can be moderately sacrificed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-inflicted gunshot maxillofacial defect was restored with dental implants and various attachments. Following mandibular surgical reconstruction, a fixed full-arch implant-supported prosthesis was fabricated. The maxillary defect was restored with an obturator retained with bar-clip and ball attachments. Crowns with an unfavorable crown-to-root ratio were used to rectify a compromised unilateral interocclusal space. Functional rehabilitation was achieved without any pathologic sequelae and maintained over a 1-year observation period. Provision of a fixed implant-retained mandibular prosthesis opposing a specific design for a maxillary obturator provided short-term and optimistic prognosis in the management of a serious traumatic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To determine the optimal thickness of protective oral radiation shields composed of an acrylic resin stent and a lead shield, which are used in head and neck radiotherapy to minimize undesired normal tissue radiomorbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intraoral acrylic resin stents and lead shields of different thicknesses were inserted into a specially designed human mandible phantom with thermoluminescent lithium fluoride dosimeter chips (TLD-100) placed on the buccal and lingual sites and exposed to irradiation of different energies. Fifty-cGy irradiation was performed and TLD-100 dose measurements were obtained for each irradiation type, acrylic resin stent thickness, and lead shield thickness. RESULTS: Acrylic resin stents with a 2-mm lead shield reduced 20% and 15% of the normal tissue dose for Co-60 and 6 MV X photon radiations, respectively, whereas the stents with a 4-mm lead shield achieved a higher reduction of the normal tissue dose (30% and 23% for Co-60 and 6 MV X photons, respectively). CONCLUSION: In protective oral radiation shields, acrylic resin stent thickness has little effect on the reduction of normal tissue dose, but lead shield thickness significantly effects the reduction of normal tissue dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to demonstrate the dentinal tubule-occluding effect of desensitizing laser treatment on dentin surfaces using environmental scanning electron microscopy (E-SEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ground dentin surfaces were divided into 5 areas. Each area received a different mode of laser irradiation (low potency [LP] versus high potency [HP] and short time [ST] versus long time [LT]). Lased dentin surfaces were viewed and graded under E-SEM at x5000 magnification. RESULTS: The tubule closure rates of 4 different irradiation modes were as follows: LP/LT (74%) > HP/ST (70%) > LP/ST (51%) > HP/LT (46%) > control (6%). CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that desensitizing laser application was an efficient treatment option for the occlusion of dentinal tubule apertures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated the validity of the color selection results obtained from digital cameras., Materials and Methods: Four observers matched the colors of 30 extracted maxillary incisors under daylight conditions. Two different digital cameras, with 1.5- and 5.0-megapixel resolutions, were used to select the color of the standardized circular area with 3 reference points on the same teeth; a spectrophotometer was also used, and the results were compared with the human and camera observations., Results: The highest significant agreement (60% agreement with the spectrophotometric values) was found with the 5.0-megapixel camera., Conclusion: It appears that the resolution capacity of a digital camera can increase the reliability of color selection.