Maria Luiza dos Anjos Pontual

30-Month randomised clinical trial to evaluate the clinical performance of a nanofill and a nanohybrid composite

OBJECTIVEnTo evaluate the clinical performance of a nanofill and a nanohybrid composite in restorations in occlusal cavities of posterior teeth in a randomised trial over 30 months.nnnMETHODSnForty-one adolescents participated in the study. The teeth were restored with a nanofill (Filtek Z350, 3M ESPE), a nanohybrid (Esthet-X, Dentsply); Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) was used as a control. After 30 months, the restorations were evaluated in accordance with the US Public Health Service (USPHS) modified criteria. The McNemar and Friedman tests were used for statistical analysis, at a level of significance of 5%.nnnRESULTSnThere were significant differences in the roughness of Filtek Z250 (p=0.008) and Filtek Z350 (p<0.001) when the four time periods (baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 30 months) were compared. There were significant differences in the marginal adaptation of Filtek Z250 (p=0.001), Filtek Z350 (p<0.001) and Esthet-X (p=0.011). Except for one of each composite restoration, all the modifications ranged from Alpha to Bravo. There were significant differences in the surface roughness (p=0.005) when the three composites were compared after 30 months.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe materials investigated showed acceptable clinical performance after 30 months. Long-term re-evaluations are necessary for a more detailed analysis of these composites (CEP: #1252).

Association between mineralization of third molars and chronological age in a Brazilian sample

Purpose: To evaluate the association between chronological age and mineralization of third molar teeth in a sample from the Northeast region of Brazil. nMethods: A sample of 173 digitized panoramic radiographs were selected from a total of 2,442 panoramic radiographs obtained over a period of 6 months at a private Dental Radiology service, in the city of Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil. The patients were aged from 5.5 to 21 years, and a calibrated examiner made the evaluation using the classification proposed by Demirjian. Data were analyzed by using an adjusted multiple linear regression model considering age as a response variable. The level of significance adopted was 0.05. nResults: Gender and stage of calcification were significantly correlated associated with age. There was no effect of gender on mineralization of the teeth. Between the two consecutive stages of calcification of third molar teeth, the mean increase in age varied by 16 months. nConclusion: The results suggest that the development of the third molar teeth is similar in both sexes. Calcification of third molars may be an auxiliary tool in the study of chronological age.

Radiographic image quality after interruption of the fixing stage to view the image with a viewbox

Purpose: To evaluate the quality of radiographic images with regard to the time during which the fixing stage was interrupted to allow a preliminary reading of the image in the viewbox. nMethods: Radiographs were taken with 130 Insight® periapical films, including a step-wedge and lead plate. The films were distributed into 13 groups according to the time taken for reading in a viewbox: 0 (control), 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 and 150 s. During processing using the temperature-time method, the films in the experimental groups were removed 5 s after immersion in the fixer, placed against the light of a viewbox for the studied times and then re-immersed in the fixer to complete the fixation process. Base-plus-fog density and the densities of the first and last degree of the step-wedge were measured immediately and after six months to calculate the contrast. nResults: There were no significant differences with regard to the base-plus-fog density or the contrast values of the experimental groups when compared with the control group. nConclusion: It was concluded that interrupting the radiograph fixation process to read the image in a viewbox does not interfere with the base-plus-fog density or with the radiographic contrast, even six months after they were taken.

Influência das Imagens Radiográficas Convencional e Digital no Diagnóstico e Decisão de Tratamento de Cáries Proximais

Resumen pt: Objetivo: Comparar imagens do sistema digital Digora Fmx®, com placa de fosforo azul, e filme radiografico Insight®, no diagnostico de caries proximais i...