Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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D E N T I S T RY
370
PA E D I AT R I C
D E N T I S T RY
PA E D I AT R I C
D E N T I S T RY
WHICH PATIENTS?
Investigate Clinically
- Visual examination
- Electrical Resistance Measurements
- Lasers
- Air abrasion techniques
- Fibre-Optic Transillumination
Investigate Radiographically
- Occlusal caries may show as a
shadow at the amelo-dentinal junction;
- Caries may show beneath a fissure
sealant;
Investigate using a Biopsy technique
- Use a very small round or short
tapered bur;
- If caries extends into dentine
conventional restoration is required;
- If minimal amounts of enamel ar e
undermined then a composite , glass
ionomer or compomer is inser ted with
covering sealant over all fissures.
(Preventive Resin Restoration)
PA E D I AT R I C
TECHNIQUES IS THERE
ANYTHING NEW?
There are many new advances in dental
materials and there is now increasing
choice in light cured and chemically
cured sealants those activated by
ultraviolet light have long ago been left
behind. Chemically cured fissure sealant
retention is at least 60% after 5 years.
The light cured systems have been less
evaluated in longitudinal studies as they
are a more recent introduction.
However, the studies that are available
suggest that light cured resins are
perhaps retained even better than
chemically cured ones.
Although alternative materials such as
glass ionomers (polyalkenoate cements)
and compomers have been suggested as
alternatives to the Bis-GMA resins, the
Dental Update October 2000
D E N T I S T RY
GETTING IT INTO
PERSPECTIVE
Fissure sealants are only a part of the
programme of prevention, but an
important part of the armamentarium
against dental caries. They must be
combined with other preventive
methods and are particularly useful in
combination with optimal water
fluoridation and with topical fluoride
use. However, prevention is not an easy
option. It demands a change in
philosophy from the old drill and fill
to highly developed communication
skills and a thorough understanding of
dental disease and how to avoid it.
R EFERENCES
1.
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PA E D I AT R I C
D E N T I S T RY
BOOK REVIEW
A Clinical Guide to Complete Denture
Prosthetics. By J.F. McCord and A.A.
Grant. BDJ Books, London, 2000 (76pp.,
29.95). ISBN 0-904588-64-5.
This is a new addition to the clinical guide
series published by the British Dental
Journal. The majority of the material has
already formed a series of published
articles in the Journal and, as is customary
following publication, a stand-alone book
has been released.
On first impressions the book is
attractive. It is in A4 format and the
material is well illustrated. The introductory
chapter sets the scene and this is important
for, as the authors stress in the second
paragraph, This book is not intended to
replace standard textbooks of
prosthodontics, but rather to serve as a
chairside guide/aide memoir of clinical
procedures for the general dental
practitioner with an interest in complete
denture therapy. This statement should be
borne in mind as the reader progresses
through the book.
To start, this is a useful book for the
interested postgraduate practitioner as it
acts as complementary material to those
who are reading around the subject. It does
demand a good understanding of the basics
of complete denture prosthetics as some of
the concepts are at an advanced level.
Examples include the use of a papillameter
and the re-introduction of the Gothic Arch
tracing technique. The authors do cover a
variety of techniques as they advance
through the progression of complete
denture construction. The chapters follow a
traditional approach with each covering in
turn: the history and examination,
impressions, registration, trial dentures and
374
BOOK REVIEW
Treatment Planning for Traumatized
Teeth. By Mitsuhiro Tsukiboshi.
Quintessence Publishing Co. Ltd., 2000
(120pp., 48). ISBN 0-86715-374-1.
This book was a delight to review. I read it
from cover to cover in a weekend. It
reminded me of reading a good novel; I did
not want to put it down. The author is
Japanese and the contents of the book are
heavily influenced by the publications and