Australian Dental Journal

September 2003 - Volume 48 Number 3

REVIEWS

The current status of laser applications in dentistry A range of lasers is now available for use in dentistry. This paper summarizes key current and emerging applications for lasers in clinical practice.

LJ Walsh

Diagnosis and management of unusual dental abscesses in children Although the majority of dental abscesses in children originate from dental caries or trauma, a few are associated with unusual conditions which challenge diagnosis and management. Recent research findings have shed light on these unusual entities and greatly improved understanding of their clinical implications. In the present paper, these relatively unknown entities which cause unusual abscesses in children are reviewed with the aim of updating the general practitioner in their diagnosis and management.

WK Seow

ADRF RESEARCH REPORTS

Access to dental care by young South Australian adults Despite reported concern over the dental care of young adults little research has been done on their use of dental services in Australia. The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of dental utilization of young South Australian adults aged 20-24 years.

KF Roberts-Thomson JF Stewart

Pits and fissures: Relative space contribution in fissures from sealants, prophylaxis pastes and organic remnants Previous studies by the authors have looked at the nature of the fissure system of human permanent molars and premolars, and has provided evidence for the presence of a prismless layer of enamel. It was noted during these studies that the fissure spaces were often occupied by material other than the fissure sealant. The aim of this study was to define these materials and to look at the percentage contribution of each to the sealed fissure space.

JF Burrow MF Burrow OF Makinson

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

Clinical evaluation of an ‘all-in-one’ bonding system to noncarious cervical lesions — results at one year The recent trend in using dentine adhesives is to simplify the number of steps required for bonding. The simplest are now the so-called ‘all-in-one’ products which combine the etching, priming and bonding steps into a single application. However, few clinical trials have been reported using this type of material. The current study reports the one-year results of a clinical trial with One-Up Bond F and Palfique Estilite resin composite.

MF Burrow MJ Tyas

Training for dentists in smoking cessation intervention Although dentists are ideally placed to deliver smoking cessation advice and assistance to their patients, smoking cessation interventions are not often incorporated as a routine part of dental care. Research is needed to identify factors that facilitate and inhibit dentists’ capacities to deliver smoking cessation advice.

L Trotter P Worcester

CLINICAL NOTE

The split denture: A new technique for artificial saliva reservoirs in mandibular dentures Xerostomia is a relatively common complaint that can make the wearing of dentures very uncomfortable for affected individuals. To help overcome this problem, a number of techniques have been proposed for incorporating reservoirs, containing salivary substitutes, into dentures. These have had varying degrees of success. This paper presents a case of a patient suffering from xerostomia who was successfully treated with a new form of reservoir denture. This new split-denture technique resulted in a reservoir denture that provided good lubrication of the oral tissues, was easily cleaned by the wearer and was produced from routine denture materials. Details of its design, construction and other potential applications are also presented.

AR Mendoza MJ Tomlinson

CASE REPORT

Acute leukaemia presenting as oral ulceration to a dental emergency service Leukaemia is a neoplastic disease characterized by an excessive proliferation of immature white blood cells and their precursors. Oral lesions may be the presenting feature of acute leukaemias, which can be rapidly fatal if left untreated. This report describes the case of a 22-year-old female who presented to a dental emergency department with oral manifestations of acute leukaemia. It outlines the role of oral lesions in the diagnosis of acute leukaemias and emphasizes the importance of immediate referral by general dental practitioners.

AK Dean JW Ferguson ES Marvan