days following application, then
The experimental
I aI
EVALUATING FLUORIDE-
RELEASE LEVELS OF
GLASS IONOMERS
Sealant use may retard fluoride
release from glass-ionomer
restorations, suggests a study in
the September/October issue of
Pediatric Dentistry.
Through an in vitro study,
researchers monitored fluoride
release from 50 glass-ionomer
restorations. Sealants had been
applied to half of these.
The teeth were stored in vials
of deionized water, and the
fluoride levels were measured
at one and two days, and once a
week for seven weeks. They
found that fluoride release was
minimal from the teeth treated
with the sealant, while the
fluoride levels peaked on day
one for the unsealed teeth, then
steadily declined over the study
period. After the sealants were
removed on day 28, the fluoride
release from the experimental
teeth hit levels comparable to
day one for the controls. The
fluoride levels remained higher
for these teeth than the controls
until the 49th day.
The researchers also tested
the effect of topical fluoride
applied to glass-ionomer
restorations. After the applica-
tion, the fluoride-release levels
were higher for teeth restored
with glass ionomers than those
with amalgam restorations.
These fluoride levels peaked at
levels almost 10 times higher
for the glass ionomers in the
30 JADA, Vol. 126, January 1995
groups.
maintained a level double that
of the amalgam-restored teeth
for almost 90 days.
The authors conclude that
unsealed glass-ionomer restora-
tions release significantly more
fluoride than those treated with
sealants, and topical application
of fluoride has the ability to
recharge the fluoride-releasing
properties of these restorations.
(Ped Dent 1994;16[51:340-5)
MINIMIZING
PERCEPTIONS OF PAIN
Briefing patients before oral
surgery on what to expect after
the procedure can greatly
enhance patient satisfaction.
A study published in the
November Journal of Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgery
followed the progress of 40
patients scheduled to undergo
third-molar eortion. Half the
patients were given information
on potential postoperative
effects, including pain, swelling
and nausea, as well as detailed
instructions about analgesic
use. The control group was
given basic instructions on
wound care.
Pain experience and patient
satisfaction ~with~pain control
were recorded using a visual
analog scale. Patients were
asked to record pain and
analgesic use one hour after the
procedure in the clinic and then
every three hours for the next
45 hours.
The experimental group
reported higher baseline pain
than the control group but
reported less pain at each point
after the baseline. There was no
difference in consumption of
analgesics between the two
group overall reported a
greater sense of control over
pain than the control group.
(J Oral Maxillofac Surg
1994;52:1165-70)
ASSESSING THE
IMPORTANCE OF COREEP
VALUES
Authors of a study in the
September Journal of
Dental Research suggest
that creep values can be
helpful in predicting the life of
amalgam restorations.
Dental engineering
researchers simulated the
creep of amalgam in a class I
cavity using values of 1.0
percent and 3.0 percent (ADA
no. 1). Occlusal force applied
along the axis of the tooth
simulated the rates of
extrusion and openin of the
gap at the restoratison'
margin.
The authors found that the
resulting gap and extrusion
were m direct proportion to
the creep value. They also
noted that thes results seem
to correspond ithcia
findings that report poor
marginal adaptation of
restorations at four to 10
years.
Additional research
examining the effects f&crep
and biting force on poor
marginal adaptation may
decrease the incidence of
secondary caries and the rte
of ainal fractureofr
restorations. (J Dent Res
1994,73[91:1539-45)
Compiled by Anita M. Mak editorial
coordinator.