permanent and decidous enamel

The purpose of this in vitro study was to test the accuracy and the reproducibility of diagnostic and treatment decisions of fissure caries with and without explorer. 34 dentists were asked to diagnose 61 teeth and decide upon possible treatment. The teeth were then histologically prepared and diagnosed. The agreement between histological and clinical diagnoses was assessed. The results showed no difference in diagnostic accuracy between explorer and visual technique only. Sensitivity (62%) and specificity (84%) showed that the dentists were more likely not to treat decayed teeth than to restore sound teeth...

Teeth with Class II amalgam fillings (n = 77) were mounted in blocks in approximal contact and radiographed. Fifteen dentists examined the teeth radiographically, visually and by probing and were asked to decide whether or not replacement fillings were required. The diagnoses were validated by the authors using stereomicroscopic examination of the fillings/tooth surfaces and longitudinal sections of the teeth. During validation the teeth were divided into three groups: fillings without failure (controls), fillings with secondary caries (S1-S3) and fillings with crevices (C1-C2)...

Biomechanical evaluation was made of horizontal nonparallel pin position effects on stresses of tooth structure and interpulpal temperatures with a stress analysis and heat conductive analysis, following finite element methods. The results were that it is adequate to use geometry to decide horizontal pin position in a routine clinic.