The final preparation (MAF) size in infected root canals is still controversial. Nonetheless, recent studies demonstrated that larger apical preparation sizes produces a greater reduction in remaining bacteria and dentinal debris as compared to smaller apical preparation sizes. Therefore, clinicians should be practiced with treatment strategies guided by evidence-based information, especially in infected/failed root canals.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pulp tissue reaction to direct pulp capping of mechanically exposed beagle dogs'pulp with several capping materials. A total of 36 teeth of 2 healthy beagle dongs were used. The mechanically exposed pulps were capped with one of the followings: (1) Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA: ProRoot® MTA, Dentsply, Tulsa, USA), (2) Clearfil SE Bond (Dentin adhesive system: Kuraray, Osaka, Japan), (3) Ultra-Blend (Photo-polymerized Calcium hydroxide: Ultradent, South Jordan, USA), (4) Dycal (Quick setting Calcium hydroxide: LD Caulk Co., Milford, USA) at 7, 30, and 90 days before sacrificing. The cavities were restored with Z350 flowable composite resin (3M ESPE, St. Paul. MN, USA). After the beagle dogs were sacrificed, the extracted teeth were fixed, decalcified, prepared for histological examination and stained with HE stain. The pulpal tissue responses to direct pulp capping materials were assessed.

In MTA, calcium hydroxide, and photo-polymerized calcium hydroxide groups, initial mild inflammatory cell infiltration, newly formed odontoblast-like cell layer and hard tissue bridge formation were observed. Compared with dentin adhesive system, these materials were biocompatible and good for pulp tissue regeneration.

In dentin adhesive system group, severe inflammatory cell infiltration, pulp tissue degeneration and pulp tissue necrosis were observed. It seemed evident that application of dentin adhesive system in direct pulp capping of beagle dog teeth cannot lead to acceptable repair of the pulp tissue with dentine bridge formation.

The purpose of this study was to compare the microshear bond strength of a self-etching primer adhesive to dentin prepared with different diamond points, carbide burs and SiC papers, and also to determine which SiC paper yield similar strength to that of dentinal surface prepared with points or burs.

Fifty-six human molar were sectioned to expose the occlusal dentinal surfaces of crowns and slabs of 1.2 mm thick were made. Dentinal surfaces were removed with three diamond points, two carbide burs, and three SiC papers. They were divided into one of eight equal groups (n = 7); Group 1: standard diamond point(TF-12), Group 2: fine diamond point (TF-12F), Group 3: extrafine diamond point (TF-12EF), Group 4: plain-cut carbide bur (no. 245), Group 5: cross-cut carbide bur (no. 557), Group 6 : P 120-grade SiC paper, Group 7: P 220-grade SiC paper, Group 8: P 800-grade SiC paper.

Clearfil SE Bond was applied on dentinal surface and Clearfil AP-X was placed on dentinal surface using Tygon tubes. After the bonded specimens were subjected to uSBS testing, the mean uSBS (n = 20 for each group) was statistically compared using one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test.

In conclusion, the use of extrafine diamond point is recommended for improved bonding of Clearfil SE Bond to dentin. Also the use of P 220-grade SiC paper in vitro will be yield the results closer to dentinal surface prepared with fine diamond point or carbide burs in vivo.

Mouthguards were used to protect boxers from lip lacerations and other soft tissue injuries in the late 19th century. Now they are used various parts of dental treatment, which are sports protective aid, bleaching tray, orthodontic retainer, implant insertion guide tray, splint and so on.

Repeated dislodgement of Class V restoration due to habitual clenching stress should be restored with stress control. Mouthguard can be used as stress relief device.

This case describes methods that can relieve occlusal force to teeth by using mouthguard.

Satisfactory results can be obtained by using mouthguard for retention of repeated dislodgement Class V restorations.

If patients suffered from repeated restorations of Class V due to clenching, mouthguard can be used additional device to relieve the occlusal stress in conservative dentistry.

The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship of radiographic lesion size, gender, age of patients and radiographic character to the diagnosis of periapical cyst and granuloma.

The data was collected from 187 periapical lesions of 167 patients who undergone apical surgery at Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital from 2003 to 2005. The lesion were surgically removed and send for biopsy to the Oral Pathology Laboratory. From the initial radiograph, lesion size was calculated using PiViewSTAR® (INFINITT, Korea) program. The obtained data were statistically evaluated using SPSS (p < 0.05).

The result were as followings:

From 187 biopsy samples, the incidence of periapical cyst was 28.34% and granuloma was 65.24%.

This study evaluated the influence of the type of restoration and the amount of interdental spacing on the stress distribution in maxillary central incisors restored by means of porcelain laminate veneers and direct composite resin restorations.

Three-dimensional finite element models were fabricated to represent different types of restorations. Four clinical situations were considered. Type I, closing diastema using composite resin. Labial border of composite resin was extended just enough to cover the interdental space; Type II, closing diastema using composite resin without reduction of labial surface. Labial border of composite resin was extended distally to cover the half of the total labial surface; Type III, closing diastema using composite resin with reduction of labial surface. Labial border of the preparation and restored composite resin was extended distally two-thirds of the total labial surface; Type IV, closing diastema using porcelain laminate veneer with a feathered-edge preparation technique. Four different interdental spaces (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 mm) were applied for each type of restorations.

For all types of restoration, adding the width of free extension of the porcelain laminate veneer and composite resin increased the stress occurred at the bonding layer. The maximum stress values observed at the bonding layer of Type IV were higher than that of Type I, II and III. However, the increasing rate of maximum stress value of Type IV was lower than that of Type I, II and III.

This study evaluated the efficacy of an office bleaching gel (RemeWhite, Remedent Inc., Deurle, Belgium) containing 30% hydrogen peroxide. 31 volunteers were recieved office bleaching with the RemeWhite for 3 times at one visit, total 2 visits. As control group, the same gel in which hydrogen peroxide was not included was applied to 31 volunteers with the same protocol. The shade change (ΔE^*, color difference) of 12 anterior teeth was measured using Colorimerter and Vitapan classical shade guide. The shade change of overall teeth in the experimental group was significantly greater than that in the control group which was measured using Colorimeter. There was also a significant difference between baseline and 14 weeks or 26 weeks though color rebounding phenomenon occurred as time went by. Small shade change difference can be measured accurately using Colorimeter than using Vitapan classical shade guide.

Dental composites have improved significantly in physical properties over the past few decades. However, polymerization shrinkage and stress is still the major drawback of composites, limiting its use to selected cases. Much effort has been made to make low shrinking composites to overcome this issue and silorane-based composites have recently been introduced into the market.

The aim of this study was to measure the volumetric polymerization shrinkage kinetics of a silorane-based composite and compare it with conventional methacrylate-based composites in order to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing polymerization shrinkage.

Five commercial methacrylate-based (Beautifil, Z100, Z250, Z350 and Gradia X) and a silorane-based (P90) composites were investigated. The volumetric change of the composites during light polymerization was detected continuously as buoyancy change in distilled water by means of Archemedes'principle, using a newly made volume shrinkage measurement instrument. The null hypothesis was that there were no differences in polymerization shrinkage, peak polymerization shrinkage rate and peak shrinkage time between the silorane-based composite and methacrylate-based composites. The results were as follows:

The shrinkage of silorane-based (P90) composites was the lowest (1.48%), and that of Beautifil composite was the highest (2.80%). There were also significant differences between brands among the methacrylate-based composites.