Australian Dental Journal

September 2000 - Volume 45 Number 3

INVITED REVIEWS

Tooth loss and implant replacement Osseointegrated dental implants are increasingly used to replace missing teeth in a variety of situations ranging from the missing single tooth to complete edentulism.	PJ Henry
Current concepts on functional appliances and mandibular growth stimulation The mode of action of functional appliances, particularly in relation to stimulating mandibular growth, is a controversial subject. Many of the reports concerning growth effects of functional appliances have been characterized by poor methodology.	AR Collett

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

Antibiotic prescribing practices by South Australian general dental practitioners The prescribing habits of a randomly selected approximately 10 per cent sample of South Australian general dental practitioners were obtained by postal questionnaire.	T Jaunay P Sambrook A Goss
Potential of 4 per cent silver fluoride to induce fluorosis in rats: Clinical implications The Health Department in Western Australia uses a 40 per cent silver fluoride (AgF) solution for prevention and treatment of dental caries in children. Analysis of this solution has revealed high fluoride concentrations (75,000-120,000mg/L), raising concerns of potential toxicity and prompting investigation of clinical protocols utilizing lowstrength AgF in an animal model.	T Gotjamanos P Ma
A survey of the distribution and types of full crowns prescribed in Melbourne, Australia The full crowns made by 11 commercial dental laboratories in Melbourne, Australia, were surveyed over a two-month period. The survey was designed to find which teeth were crowned and what types of full crowns were prescribed.	NR Stankiewicz PR Wilson
In vitro fluoride release from aesthetic restorative materials following recharging with APF gel In this in vitro study, the fluoride ion release from three more-viscous conventional glass ionomer cements (GICs) – ChemFlex, Fuji IX GP, Ionofil Molar – four polyacid-modified resin composites (compomers) – Dyract AP, Compoglass F, Freedom, F2000 – and a hybrid resin composite – Ariston pHc – were compared.	D Peng RJ Smales HK Yip M Shu

ADRF RESEARCH REPORT

Oral health and hospitalization in Western Australian children Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of dental disease in Western Australian children has diminished. The causes of this significant improvement in health are associated with better care models, water fluoridation and changes in lifestyle. In this study, the authors examine the reasons for hospitalization for oral health conditions in Western Australia for the calendar year 1995 using the Health Department of WA database.

M Tennant D Namjoshi D Silva J Codde

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Are dental radiographs safe? Dental patients are often aware that radiation has the potential to harm them but they do not usually understand how or why and what potential harmful effects may arise from dental radiographs. The potential for undesirable effects must be balanced against the benefits obtained from radiographs.

PV Abbott