Postoperative Sensitivity: A Comparison of Two Bonding Agents

Postoperative sensitivity to cold is a common problem that negatively impacts the patient's dental experience. For this group of participants and over this relatively short period, bonded composite restorations placed in a manner and timeframe consistent with those generally used in private-practice were seen to be less sensitive to cold than they were preoperatively.

Small business needs assessment: a comparison of dental educators' responses with SBDC survey results

A primary focus of dental education is to teach students the knowledge, skills, and values essential for practicing dentistry. However, the preparation of dentists to manage a business is frequently cited as inadequate. A survey was prepared to assess teachers' opinions of business instructional topics: challenges; desired training; employee benefits; learning resources; importance of business topics; and appropriateness of time allocations. The purpose of this project is to compare opinions of teachers of dental practice management with key management aspects reported for service businesses by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Practice management teachers from forty-eight (89 percent) schools responded to the survey. They indicated that several challenges confronting dentists are similar to other service businesses. Dentists, however, rank customer relations appreciably higher. In order of importance of teaching topics, the practice management teachers rank ethics and personnel management as a high priority and planning as a low priority. Awareness of the similarities and differences in the perceptions of practice management teachers and businesspeople may result in instructional improvements.

Fluoride absorption through the hamster cheek pouch: a pH-dependent event

The fractional absorptions of fluoride, 3H2O, 125I and 14C-DMO from the hamster cheek pouch were determined as functions of solution pH. When the pH was less than 5, fluoride absorption rate was inversely related to pH. The absorption rates of the other substances were not influenced by pH. The fractional absorptions of fluoride and 3H2O were independent of fluoride concentrations over the range 1-53 mM. The data indicate that the absorption of fluoride through this keratinized epithelium occurs mainly by the diffusion of non-ionic HF.

Subcutaneously implanted alginate as a continuous-release source of fluoride

The fluoride concentrations of seven brands of alginate ranged from 8600 to 30,500 ppm. In acute and chronic in vivo studies, fluoride was continuously released from subcutaneously implanted alginate cylinders for up to three weeks. This technique is a simple and economical method for elevating soft and hard tissue fluoride levels.