-
Frontiers in Oral Health 2023This paper set out to investigate the relationship between teaching and clinical practice of direct posterior restoration placement at tertiary dental institutions in...
INTRODUCTION
This paper set out to investigate the relationship between teaching and clinical practice of direct posterior restoration placement at tertiary dental institutions in South Africa.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study using a mixed methods approach was conducted, and all the South African dental schools were invited to participate. The quantitative phase of the study analyzed the Conservative Dentistry department's records of direct restorations at a single dental school. The number of amalgam and tooth-colored restorations placed by students in the fourth and fifth year of the program from 2004 to 2019 were compared. During the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were held with staff from the four dental schools involved with the teaching of direct posterior restorations.
RESULTS
The predominant direct posterior restoration placed in student clinics over a 15-year period at a South African dental school was tooth colored (75%). Teaching times do not correspond to a decrease in the placement of dental amalgam restorations for both one-surface and two-surface posterior restorations and a concomitant increase in the tooth-colored restorations.
DISCUSSION
Academic staff involved in teaching identified that South Africa's ratification of the Minamata Convention has consequences for dental education and training. However, all schools reported that dental amalgam would continue to be taught in the absence of an appropriate alternative.
PubMed: 37539092
DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1118361 -
Maxillofacial Plastic and... Oct 2023A range of different chemical interactions can generate an unexpected electronic current in a process called galvanism. Oral galvanism (OG) can also be generated by... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
A range of different chemical interactions can generate an unexpected electronic current in a process called galvanism. Oral galvanism (OG) can also be generated by different chemical actions from diverse intraoral rehabilitated metals, including gold, copper, mercury, titanium, and titanium alloy. The main aim of this manuscript is to review OG, particularly focusing on titanium implants and related metallic materials. We searched the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for relevant literature published through December 2019. The keywords included "galvanic current", "galvanism", "galvanic corrosion", "oral galvanism", combined with "oral", "oral cavity", "implant", and "saliva."
RESULTS
Out of 343 articles, 126 articles that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. We examined and summarized research on OG through a division into four categories: definition and symptoms, diagnosis with testing methods, galvanic corrosion, and oral precancerous lesions with OG.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with OG have high oral energy and current, and although this phenomenon may be due to the patient's mental illness, OG due to amalgam or mercury occurs. It is evident that the difference in electron potential caused by different elemental components such as titanium alloy and pure titanium, which are essential for manufacturing the implant fixture and the abutment, and chrome and nickel, which are essential for manufacturing the upper crown, causes OG. Since the oral cavity is equipped with an environment in which electric current can be transmitted easily due to saliva, it is imperative that clinicians review the systemic and local effects of salivation.
PubMed: 37801180
DOI: 10.1186/s40902-023-00403-8 -
Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science Oct 2023The association between dental amalgam fillings and urine mercury concentrations was investigated in this study to assess the health risks associated with dental...
BACKGROUND
The association between dental amalgam fillings and urine mercury concentrations was investigated in this study to assess the health risks associated with dental amalgams.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 99 women in their 20s who visited the dental clinic in Daegu, Korea. The 99 participants were composed of 68 subjects who had dental amalgam fillings (exposure group) and 31 subjects who did not have dental amalgam fillings (nonexposure group). Oral examinations were conducted by a single dental hygienist, sociodemographic features were investigated as confounding variables, and urine mercury concentrations were measured using an automatic mercury analyzer.
RESULTS
The mean±standard deviation of the urine mercury concentrations of the exposure and nonexposure groups were 1.50±1.78 μg/g creatinine and 0.53±0.63 μg/g creatinine, respectively. The exposure group showed significantly higher levels than the nonexposure group (p<0.01). The urine mercury concentration significantly increased with an increase in the number of teeth filled with amalgam, cavity surfaces involved, and number of defective amalgam fillings, and according to the latest exposure time (p<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis of amalgam-related factors and urine mercury concentrations after correction for confounding factors, the urine mercury concentration in the group with six or more amalgam-filled teeth, 11 or more cavity surfaces, and two or more defective amalgams was significantly higher than that in the nonexposure group (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
According to this study, exposure to dental amalgams was confirmed to significantly affect urine mercury concentrations.
PubMed: 36941777
DOI: 10.12701/jyms.2022.00955 -
International Dental Journal Dec 2023Dental restorative procedures remain a cornerstone of dental practice, and for many decades, dental amalgam was the most frequently employed material. However, its use... (Review)
Review
Dental restorative procedures remain a cornerstone of dental practice, and for many decades, dental amalgam was the most frequently employed material. However, its use is declining, mainly driven by its poor aesthetics and by the development of tooth-coloured adhesive materials. Furthermore, the Minamata Convention agreed on a phase-down on the use of dental amalgam. This concise review is based on a FDI Policy Statement which provides guidance on the selection of direct restorative materials as alternatives to amalgam. The Policy Statement was informed by current literature, identified mainly from PubMed and the internet. Ultimately, dental, oral, and patient factors should be considered when choosing the best material for each individual case. Dental factors include the dentition, tooth type, and cavity class and extension; oral aspects comprise caries risk profiles and related risk factors; and patient-related aspects include systemic risks/medical conditions such as allergies towards certain materials as well as compliance. Special protective measures (eg, a no-touch technique, blue light protection) are required when handling resin-based materials, and copious water spray is recommended when adjusting or removing restorative materials. Cost and reimbursement policies may need to be considered when amalgam alternatives are used, and the material recommendation requires the informed consent of the patient. There is no single material which can replace amalgam in all applications; different materials are needed for different situations. The policy statement recommends using a patient-centred rather than purely a material-centred approach. Further research is needed to improve overall material properties, the clinical performance, the impact on the environment, and cost-effectiveness of all alternative materials.
PubMed: 38071154
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.11.004 -
Dental Materials : Official Publication... Dec 2023The objective is to compare the preventive effect on secondary caries of glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations with amalgam or resin-composite restorations. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective is to compare the preventive effect on secondary caries of glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations with amalgam or resin-composite restorations.
METHODS
Two independent researchers conducted a systematic search of English publications in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane and Scopus. They selected randomized clinical trials comparing secondary caries incidences around GIC restorations (conventional GIC or resin-modified GIC) with amalgam or resin-composite restorations. Meta-analysis of the secondary-caries incidences with risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) as the effect measure was performed.
RESULTS
This review included 64 studies. These studies included 8310 GIC restorations and 5857 amalgam or resin-composite restorations with a follow-up period from 1 to 10 years. Twenty-one studies with 4807 restorations on primary teeth and thirty-eight studies with 4885 restorations on permanent teeth were eligible for meta-analysis. The GIC restorations had a lower secondary caries incidence compared with amalgam restorations in both primary dentition [RR= 0.55, 95% CI:0.41-0.72] and permanent dentition [RR= 0.20, 95% CI:0.11-0.38]. GIC restorations showed similar secondary caries incidence compared with resin-composite restorations in primary dentition [RR= 0.92, 95% CI:0.77-1.10] and permanent dentition [RR= 0.77, 95% CI:0.39-1.51]. Conventional GIC restorations showed similar secondary caries incidence compared with resin-modified GIC-restored teeth in both primary dentition [RR= 1.12, 95% CI:0.67-1.87] and permanent dentition [RR= 1.63, 95% CI:0.34-7.84].
CONCLUSIONS
GIC restorations showed a superior preventive effect against secondary caries compared to amalgam restorations, and a similar preventive effect against secondary caries compared to resin-composite restorations in both primary and permanent teeth. [PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42022380959].
Topics: Humans; Dental Restoration, Permanent; Glass Ionomer Cements; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Dental Caries; Composite Resins; Dental Amalgam
PubMed: 37838608
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2023.10.008 -
International Dental Journal Feb 2024
Topics: Humans; Dental Amalgam; Dental Materials; Composite Resins; Glass Ionomer Cements; Dental Restoration, Permanent; Materials Testing; Resin Cements
PubMed: 38218597
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.10.006 -
Acta Stomatologica Croatica Sep 2023The aim of the study was to assess the biocompatibility of modern composite and amalgam dental fillings.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to assess the biocompatibility of modern composite and amalgam dental fillings.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The research was conducted on 150 healthy patients between the ages of 10 and 20 who had amalgam and composite fillings between 6 and 12 months. Under conditions, a swab of buccal cells near the fillings was taken, and the cytotoxic and genotoxic impact of composite and amalgam fillings on these cells was analyzed using the extended micronucleus test (cytomeassay).
RESULTS
The results showed statistically significant differences between the groups of subjects with amalgam and composite fillings and subjects without fillings for the following parameters: number of micronuclei (p=0.006), number of buds (p<0.001), number of binuclear cells (p<0.001), number of nucleoplasmic bridges (p<0.001).The number of micronuclei was statistically significantly higher in the group of subjects with amalgam and composite fillings compared to the group without fillings. The results for nuclear buds, for the number of binuclear cells and the number of nucleoplasmic bridges showed that the group with amalgam fillings had a statistically significantly higher number of these changes compared to other groups.The results of the analysis of the relationship between the parameters of the micronucleus test and the number of amalgam and composite surfaces did not show statistically significant values. Parameters indicating cell cytotoxicity were not statistically significantly elevated in subjects with fillings. The results of the analysis of the influence of the patients' lifestyle on the results of the micronucleus test showed statistically significant results for certain predictors (diagnostic X-ray radiation, coffee consumption, consumption of cooked, dried meat and baked food).
CONCLUSION
Based on the results, it can be concluded that the buccal cells of subjects with amalgam fillings showed the highest degree of genotoxic changes, followed by those with composite fillings and the least buccal cells of patients without fillings.
PubMed: 37808410
DOI: 10.15644/asc57/3/2 -
Journal of Dentistry Jul 2024Deep margin elevation (DME) is a restorative approach offering the possibility of performing stepwise elevation of deep proximal cavities to create more favourable... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Deep margin elevation (DME) is a restorative approach offering the possibility of performing stepwise elevation of deep proximal cavities to create more favourable margins for direct or indirect restorations. The objectives of this scoping review were to explore what is known or unknown about DME by describing a wide ranging evidence base including peer reviewed literature and non-traditionally published information on the web.
DATA
Data were extracted from the included evidence in order to describe the following: the extent and nature of the evidence base; the situations which are appropriate for DME; the materials and techniques which are used; the outcomes which have been measured in empirical studies; the risks which have been reported; and the findings which have been reported in studies which compared DME to surgical crown lengthening.
SOURCES
This scoping review included a wide range of published evidence and extensive web searching for grey literature, including CPD, training and multimedia information.
STUDY SELECTION
The findings revealed a range of published literature as well as freely available, online information advising practitioners about DME. Most empirical evidence was based on in vitro studies, and there were few clinical studies comparing DME to crown lengthening. Online information included recent, multimedia sources.
CONCLUSIONS
DME is a technique that can be used with motivated patients with good oral hygiene if rubber dam isolation is achieved, if there is no invasion of the connective tissue space, and if a strict restorative protocol is adhered to.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
With phasing out of amalgam and adhesive dentistry increasing in popularity, DME addresses multiple clinical problems associated with sub-gingival margins prior to restoration.
Topics: Humans; Dental Restoration, Permanent; Dental Cavity Preparation; Dental Marginal Adaptation; Crown Lengthening; Dental Materials; Dental Caries
PubMed: 38740249
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105066 -
Parkinson's Disease 2023Environmental toxicants are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In reviewing the literature on heavy metals known to be toxicants,... (Review)
Review
Environmental toxicants are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In reviewing the literature on heavy metals known to be toxicants, we noted several recent studies on mercury suggesting a possible role in the etiology of some cases of this disease. We therefore undertook a review of this association, focusing especially on peer-reviewed articles to avoid the bias inherent in much of the literature regarding mercury. For most people, our contemporary exposure to mercury comes from dental amalgam tooth restorations and from eating fish contaminated with mercury. In both cases, mercury is known to get into the brain in utero and at all ages. It remains in the brain for many years and is known to produce permanent neuropsychological deficits. Mercury toxicity can produce tremors and other Parkinsonian clinical symptoms. It can also produce neurochemical and neuropathological changes similar to those found in Parkinson's disease, including the loss of dopamine neurons, degeneration of tubulin and axons, dysfunction of mitochondria, and the aggregation of alpha-synuclein. Relatively few studies have assessed mercury in parkinsonian patients, but almost all reported a statistically significant association. Published studies suggest some promising leads in the relationship between mercury exposure and Parkinson's disease. However, studies of patients are relatively few, and the need for research is clear. A search of Parkinsonian research studies currently funded by the US National Institutes of Health, Parkinson's Foundation, and the Michael J Fox Foundation yielded no studies on mercury. We believe such studies should be supported.
PubMed: 37744289
DOI: 10.1155/2023/4709322