March/April 2019

John A. Sorrentino
Glenn Canares 
Kuei-Ling Hsu 
Vineet Dhar 
Bina Katechia

2019 March/April; 67(2):6

Mark Donaldson
Jason H. Goodchild

2019 March/April; 67(2):7-10

Mark I. Malterud

2019 March/April; 67(2):11-13.

Ahmed El-Maghraby
Larry Williams

2019 March/April; 67(2):14-16.

David B. Miller

Judging restorative margins is a subjective undertaking. This article presents a new management protocol for open crown margins. Unless margins are grossly open, restorations with marginal defects can and should be treated conservatively with repair or resealing of margins and close monitoring.

2019 March/April; 67(2):19-22.

Antonia Teruel
Seena Patel

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition characterized by a burning sensation of the oral cavity. Primary BMS is a diagnosis of exclusion and can only be reached after all potential causes of secondary burning pain have been eliminated. Management strategies include reassurance of the patient as well as pharmacologic agents such as clonazepam, supplements such as α-lipoic acid, and psychological therapy. 

2019 March/April; 67(2):24-29.

Stephanie L. Bosshard 
Christopher L. Hackett 
John K. Brooks
Nasir Bashirelahi

A potentially revolutionary technology, liquid biopsy, involves the harvesting of fragments of DNA or RNA for surveillance of an array of pathological processes from various body fluids, such as blood, plasma, and saliva. This article provides a general review of this developing diagnostic field.

2019 March/April; 67(2):31-33.

Emanouela D. Carlson 
Andrew Stubbs
Sangeetha Chandrasekaran 
Beatriz Robles
Richard Kolanda 
Anita Gohel
Ramzi Sarkis

This retrospective study utilized cone beam computed tomography to investigate variations between men and women in the vertical position of the mental foramen. There was a statistically significant difference in the location of the mental foramen between the sexes. Within-sex asymmetry between right and left sides was also observed.

2019 March/April; 67(2):34-37.

Kathleen B. Muzzin
Diane J. Flint
Emet Schneiderman

The results of a survey of US dental hygienists suggest that some dental practices are not strictly following the 2012 American Dental Association/Food and Drug Administration guidelines for prescribing dental radiographs. In particular, contrary to guidelines, the majority of dental practices obtain bitewing radiographs annually for children, adolescents, and adult recare/recall patients regardless of their risk for developing caries. 

2019 March/April; 67(2):38-53.

Lara M. Seidman
John K. Brooks
Nasir Bashirelahi

The ability of botulinum toxin (BTX) to locally paralyze muscles has led to its use as a potential therapy for a variety of medical conditions. This article will discuss the current head and neck applications of BTX and provide a brief review of other potential clinical benefits.

2019 March/April; 67(2):55-58.

Isis Henriques de Almeida Bastos
Marcelo de Azevedo Rios
Gabriela Botelho Martins
Elisângela de Jesus Campos
Carla Daltro

A patient experienced pain in her teeth that was associated with gingival recession and dentinal hypersensitivity after bariatric surgery. Subepithelial connective tissue grafting using coronally displaced flap and tunnel-type approaches was performed at the sites of gingival recession and dentinal hypersensitivity, resulting in pain regression.

2019 March/April; 67(2):59-63.

Omid Fakheran
Zahra Khodadadi-Bohlouli
Abbasali Khademi

A systematic search of the literature was performed to collect and evaluate scientific evidence identifying a correlation between vitamin D administration and healing after periodontal surgery. Evidence in the literature suggests that vitamin D deficiency at the time of periodontal treatment negatively affects treatment outcomes. However, large-scale, longitudinal clinical trials are required.

2019 March/April; 67(2):64-67.

Jeffrey G. Phebus 
Barry M. Owens 
Jan M. O’Dell 
Daranee Tantbirojn
 
In an in vitro study assessing application techniques for cementation of fiber-reinforced posts, specimens received syringe application of cement on the post only; in the canal only; both on the post and in the canal; in the canal with distribution by a Lentulo spiral; or both on the post and in the canal with distribution by a Lentulo spiral. In terms of percentages of cement void area, the most efficient method of application was the injection of cement into the canal space with a syringe. The use of a Lentulo spiral instrument was found to be unnecessary.

2019 March/April; 67(2):68-72.

Rudra Mohan 
Jothi Varghese 
Vinutha Bhat
Yousef Rezaei Chianeh

The purpose of this study was to determine the pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva of smokers and nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis and to compare these levels before and after initial nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Forty subjects were divided into 2 groups with chronic periodontitis (smokers and nonsmokers) and 2 clinically healthy groups (smokers and nonsmokers). At baseline, clinical periodontal parameters, including plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment levels, were assessed. Saliva and GCF samples were procured to quantify the PTX3 levels. All subjects with periodontitis, smokers and nonsmokers, received scaling and root planing. The 2 treated groups were examined 2 weeks after therapy, and any changes in the clinical parameters or PTX3 levels were recorded. At baseline, PTX3 levels in both groups of patients with chronic periodontitis were found to be significantly higher (smokers had the highest level, followed by nonsmokers) than levels in both groups of clinically healthy subjects (nonsmokers, followed by smokers) (P < 0.05). Five patients with chronic periodontitis (3 smokers and 2 nonsmokers) were lost to follow-up and therefore excluded from the statistical analysis. Scaling and root planing led to an improvement in the clinical parameters and a statistically significant reduction of PTX3 levels (P < 0.05) in both chronic periodontitis groups at the 2-week follow-up, but the changes were greater in the smokers than in the nonsmokers. In the present study, smoking was found to play a contributory role in the alteration of PTX3 levels in GCF and saliva in patients with chronic periodontitis. The role of PTX3 as a prognostic tool for resolution of periodontal inflammation still remains obscure.

2019 March/April; 67(2):e1-e6.

Silvia Sbeghen Sábio
Clóvis Lamartine de Moraes Melo Neto
José Mondelli
Maria Teresa Atta

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of depth (3.0 vs 5.0 mm) of mesio-occlusodistal (MOD) cavity preparation and mechanical cycling on fracture resistance of maxillary premolars restored with resin-based composite (RBC). Seventy premolars were randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 10): NP, no cavity preparation (control); MOD3, 3.0-mm-deep MOD preparation, not restored; MOD3R, 3.0-mm-deep MOD preparation restored with RBC; MOD5, 5.0-mm-deep MOD preparation, not restored; MOD5R, 5.0-mm-deep MOD preparation restored with RBC; MOD3RC, 3.0-mm-deep MOD preparation restored with RBC and subjected to mechanical cycling; and MOD5RC, 5.0-mm-deep MOD preparation restored with RBC and subjected to mechanical cycling under the same conditions as MOD3RC. All specimens were tested using a universal testing machine, resulting in the following mean (SD) values: NP, 224.65 (35.66) kgf; MOD3, 58.92 (15.48) kgf; MOD3R, 95.58 (13.88) kgf; MOD5, 68.06 (10.12) kgf; MOD5R, 98.49 (13.16) kgf; MOD3RC, 83.68 (14.39) kgf; and MOD5RC, 54.25 (11.56) kgf. Analysis of variance and Tukey test showed no statistically significant difference among MOD3, MOD5, and MOD5RC; between MOD5 and MOD3RC; or among MOD3R, MOD5R, and MOD3RC (P > 0.05). MOD3RC had significantly greater fracture resistance than MOD5RC (P < 0.05). NP had the highest fracture resistance of all groups (P < 0.05). The results showed that the depth of the cavity preparation only influenced fracture resistance after mechanical cycling of the specimens.

2019 March/April; 67(2):e7-e10.