Australian Dental Journal

June 2000 - Volume 45 Number 2

INVITED REVIEW

Preventive dentistry for the general dental practitioner Although the prevalence of dental caries has decreased gradually in the past three decades in the Australian population, dental caries remains the primary reason for tooth loss in Australia. At the community level, total health expenditure on the treatment of dental caries (and its consequences) is substantial. Accordingly, caries prevention is an important focus at both the individual and community levels. This paper outlines the principles upon which modern caries prevention is based and stresses the importance of manipulating the oral environment (in terms of salivary parameters, ions, pH and the oral flora) as a major strategy for effective long-term caries prevention. Practical advice is provided on the correct home use of preventive agents, including chewing gums, chlorhexidine, fluorides, bicarbonate rinses and phosphopeptides.

LJ Walsh

ADRF RESEARCH REPORT

Localised enamel hypoplasia of human deciduous canines: genotype or environment? A discrete area of defective enamel formation that appears on the labial surface of the crowns of deciduous canine teeth has been described in both recent and prehistoric human populations, with reported frequencies varying from 1 to 45 per cent. Suggestions about the aetiology of this localized hypoplasia range from genotypic factors to environmental conditions and systemic effects. The major aims of this study were to describe the frequency of occurrence and pattern of expression of the lesion in Australian Aboriginal and Caucasian ethnic groups, and to clarify the role of genetic factors by examining a sample of twins.

S Taji T Hughes J Rogers G Townsend

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

Restoring the vertical dimension of mandibular incisors with bonded ceramic restorations Mandibular incisors are difficult to restore with conventional anterior crowns due to their small axial diameters. Crown preparation risks pulp exposure and results in a thin core of dentine. An experiment was designed to determine if increasing the thickness of ceramic to restore incisal edges affects the load at the point of restoration failure.	SG Wylie H-K Tan K Brooke
Studies of dental root surface caries. 2: The role of cementum in root surface caries Artificial caries lesions were produced in roots of teeth using an acetate buffer system, when the layer of cementum was either normal in thickness, excessively thickened by hypercementosis, or had been removed completely. The rates of lesion progression were measured in each case using polarized light microscopy to measure lesion depth.	JM McIntyre JDB Featherstone J Fu
Hepatitis C infection and associated oral health problems Hepatitis C infection is widespread throughout the community. This study aimed to assess the status of oral health of persons infected with hepatitis C.	EA Coates D Brennan RM Logan AN Goss B Scopacasa AJ Spencer E Gorkic
Clinical evaluation of EBS dentine bonding agent: one year results There are numerous dentine bonding agents currently on the market, the majority of which adhere by means of infiltration of a hydrophilic polymerizable diacrylate into dentinal collagen exposed by acid treatment. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical performance of one such product, EBS dentine bonding, in nonundercut caries-free cervical lesions.	MJ Tyas MF Burrow
The surface effect of dentifrices The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically three commercially available dentifrices and to determine any surface effects on tooth or gingival surfaces.	IA Meyers MJ McQueen D Harbrow GJ Seymour

EDUCATION REPORT

Clinical assessment in dental education: A new method Among the many challenges that face modern dental schools is the development of appropriate assessment systems. The more litigious nature of modern education makes it important that the systems developed are transparent and can withstand the processes of legal challenge.

M Tennant J Scriva

CASE REPORT

Temporary uniocular blindness and ophthalmoplegia associated with a mandibular block injection. A mandibular block injection produced temporary uniocular blindness, total ophthalmoplegia, mydriasis, and ptosis of the eyelid, with diplopia developing as the sight returned.	GJ Wilkie
Getting the most from rotational panoramic radiographs Rotational panoramic radiographs have become an invaluable tool in modern dentistry. To use the full potential of this resource the entire radiograph must be examined in a systematic way to extract the great wealth of information available.	Paul A. Monsour