Adhesive systems for restoring primary teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies

Mechanical Properties and Clinical Success of Intracanal Posts in Primary Maxillary Anterior Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Intracanal posts are commonly used to restore lost permanent/primary tooth structure and the smile of the patient.

Aim

This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical success of intracanal posts used in primary maxillary anterior teeth and compare their mechanical properties.

Methods

An extensive literature search was performed using Medline via PubMed, Embase via embase.com, LILACS, CINAHL via EBSCO, Cochrane Oral Health Group Specialized Register, Scopus, and Web of Science until December 2021 and was updated till December 2022. In vivo and in vitro studies in the English language that assessed clinical success and mechanical properties were included. Distiller SR software was used for everything from title screening to data extraction.

Results

A total of 30 studies were analyzed, including 11 in vivo and 19 in vitro studies. Four studies were included in a meta-analysis, and all 30 studies qualified for qualitative analysis. The meta-analysis showed that fiber posts are clinically superior to composite resin posts (CRPs) (p = 0.02). No significant difference was observed between the fracture resistance of CRPs and no posts (p = 0.73). Most of the included studies showed a high risk of bias.

Conclusion

Conclusive evidence about the effectiveness of various intracanal posts cannot be established. This is due to the limited number of clinical trials and included studies of low to moderate quality with a high risk of bias. To validate the use of posts in primary maxillary anterior teeth, further research, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of higher quality, is required.

Clinical significance

The use of intracanal posts in primary teeth is a commonly used treatment modality among pediatric dentists. However, the quality of the evidence to support its use is low. This systematic review provides a comprehensive summary of the current literature and highlights the need for further research. Results were interpreted with caution, as the evidence supporting the use of intracanal posts in primary teeth is limited.

How to cite this article

Shanmugam Y, Raghu A, Muthu MS, et al. Mechanical Properties and Clinical Success of Intracanal Posts in Primary Maxillary Anterior Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(S-3):S293-S305.

The Effect of Antioxidants on Dentin Bond Strength after Application of Common Endodontic Irrigants: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate how an antioxidant treatment would influence the immediate bond strength of dental adhesives to endodontically treated dentine. Scientific evidence was researched in five databases using selected descriptors. Two independent reviewers conducted the investigation and assessed the data and methodological quality of the studies. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were specified for article selection; only studies in English and published between 2001 and 2022 were evaluated. A total of 18 studies were selected and analysed. According to most studies, the irrigation procedure and substrate preparation in endodontic therapy may affect the immediate bond strength. Antioxidants can improve bond strength and adhesion following the use of the most frequently used irrigants in root canal treatments. Therefore, antioxidant treatment can be considered a proper technique to enhance the bond strength of endodontically treated teeth.

Exploration and preliminary clinical investigation of an adhesive approach for primary tooth restoration

The current study aims to investigate a suitable adhesive for primary tooth enamel. Shear bond strength (SBS) of primary teeth and the length of resin protrusion were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni multiple comparison tests after etching with 35% H ₃PO ₄. SBS and marginal microleakage tests were conducted with Single Bond Universal (SBU)/Single Bond 2 (SB2) adhesives with or without pre-etching using a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Clinical investigations were performed to validate the adhesive for primary teeth restoration using Chi-square tests. Results showed that the SBS and length of resin protrusion increased significantly with the etching time. Teeth in the SBU with 35% H ₃PO ₄ pre-etching groups had higher bond strength and lower marginal microleakage than those in the SB2 groups. Mixed fractures were more common in the 35% H ₃PO ₄ etched 30 s + SB2/SBU groups. Clinical investigations showed significant differences between the two groups in cumulative retention rates at the 6-, 12- and 18-month follow-up evaluations, as well as in marginal adaptation, discoloration, and secondary caries at the 12- and 18-month follow-up assessments. Together, pre-etching primary teeth enamel for 30 s before SBU treatment improved clinical composite resin restoration, which can provide a suitable approach for restoration of primary teeth.

Enhancing adhesive-dentin interface stability of primary teeth: From ethanol wet-bonding to plant-derived polyphenol application

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether the adhesive-dentin interface stability of primary teeth would be enhanced by epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) with ethanol wet-bonding.

METHODS

Non-caries primary molars were sliced to achieve a flat dentin surface and etched then randomly distributed into five groups in accordance with different treatments: group 1, no treatment; group 2, applying absolute ethanol wet-bonding for 60 s; groups 3-5, applying 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% (w/v) EGCG-incorporating ethanol wet-bonding (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% EGCG) for 60 s. Singlebond universal adhesive was then applied followed by resin composite construction. Microtensile bond strength, fracture mode, and nanoleakage at adhesive-dentin interface were evaluated after 24 h of water storage or 10,000 times of thermocycling. Zymography of hybrid layer, biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans by CLSM, FESEM, and MTT test, and cytotoxicity by CCK-8 assay were respectively assessed.

RESULTS

Irrespective of thermocycling, the dentin bond strength was preserved with reduced nanoleakage in the 0.5% and 1% EGCG groups. Furthermore, the activity of endogenous proteases and the growth of Streptococcus mutans biofilm were inhibited after treatment with 0.5% and 1% EGCG/ethanol solutions (groups 4 and 5). CCK-8 results of the 0.1% and 0.5% EGCG groups showed acceptable biocompatibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment by EGCG/ethanol solutions effectively enhanced the bond stability of primary teeth at the adhesive-dentin interface.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Synergistic application of EGCG and ethanol wet-bonding suggesting a promising strategy to improve dentin bonding durability with bacterial biofilm inhibition, thus increasing resin-based restorations' service life in primary dentition.

Methodological assessment of systematic reviews of in-vitro dental studies

BACKGROUND

Systematic reviews of in-vitro studies, like any other study, can be of heterogeneous quality. The present study aimed to evaluate the methodological quality of systematic reviews of in-vitro dental studies.

METHODS

We searched for systematic reviews of in-vitro dental studies in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases published up to January 2022. We assessed the methodological quality of the systematic reviews using a modified "A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews" (AMSTAR-2) instrument. The 16 items, in the form of questions, were answered with yes, no, or py (partial yes). Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between systematic review characteristics and AMSTAR-2 percent score. Overall confidence in the results of the systematic reviews was rated, based on weaknesses identified in critical and non-critical AMSTAR-2 items.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 908 potential documents, and after following the eligibility criteria, 185 systematic reviews were included. The most researched topics were ceramics and dental bonding. The overall rating for the confidence in the results was critically low in 126 (68%) systematic reviews. There was high variability in the response among the AMSTAR-2 items (0% to 75% positively answered). The univariable analyses indicated dental specialty (p = 0.03), number of authors (coef: 1.87, 95% CI: 0.26, 3.47, p = 0.02), and year of publication (coef: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.90, 3.38, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with the AMSTAR-2 percent score. Whereas, in the multivariable analysis only specialty (p = 0.01) and year of publication (coef: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.84, 3.35, p < 0.001) remained significant. Among specialties, endodontics achieved the highest AMSTAR-2 percent score.

CONCLUSIONS

The methods of systematic reviews of in vitro dental studies were suboptimal. Year of publication and dental specialty were associated with AMSTAR-2 scores. The overall rating of the confidence in the results was low and critically low for most systematic reviews.

One-Year Clinical Performance of Activa™ Bioactive-Restorative Composite in Primary Molars

Restorative procedures for caries affecting primary molars are a daily challenge for pediatric dentistry, and one of the main factors influencing the results of these restorative procedures is the choice of dental material used: bioactive materials were recently introduced, combining the strength of composites and the benefits of glass ionomers. The present study's objective is to clinically evaluate the aesthetic, functional and biological properties of Activa™ Bioactive composite in approximal and occlusal carious lesions for 1 year using the FDI criteria for evaluating direct dental restorations. Forty-five children with occlusal or approximal caries in first or second primary molars were included in the study: the cavities were then randomized to be restored with either Activa BioActive or SDR Bulk-fill and evaluated over time according to Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI) criteria. Results showed that Activa BioActive composite has similar performance over time compared to Bulk-fill composite, for both functional and aesthetic properties. Thus, within the limitations of this study, including the short follow-up period, it can be concluded that bioactive materials might be the material of choice to restore primary molars. A longer follow-up period is desirable to confirm these findings.

FISSURE SEALANT IN A NUTSHELL. EVIDENCE-BASED META-EVALUATION OF SEALANTS' EFFECTIVENESS IN CARIES PREVENTION AND ARREST

OBJECTIVE

This meta-evaluation aimed to summarize all available evidence regarding different fissure sealants on occlusal caries prevention, arrest, retention rate, adverse effect, and cost-effectiveness; when compared with no intervention, other preventive or minimally-invasive procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified via four electronic databases and manual searching. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, quality assessment with AMSTAR-2.

RESULTS

Among the 366 records yielded, 38 systematic reviews were identified as eligible 24 of them included meta-analyses. Moderate evidence has supported the efficacies of resin-based sealants (RBS) in occlusal caries prevention, arrest and cost-effectiveness compared to no interventions. Low to very low certainty of evidence suggested similar effectiveness of glass-ionomer cements in caries prevention with RBS and more superior performance of resin infiltration in arresting non-cavitated occlusal lesions.

CONCLUSION

This meta-evaluation supports the use of RBS on permanent molars to reduce occlusal caries occurrence, arrest lesion progression and alleviate oral health inequalities between individuals of different socioeconomic status. This meta-evaluation also advocates further research on glass-ionomer cements and resin infiltration with respect to their efficacies in caries prevention and arrest.

Micro Push-Out Bond Strength of Resin Composite to Dentin in Primary Dentition Using Three Universal Adhesives with Different pH: An In Vitro Study

To evaluate the bond strength of different universal adhesives on deciduous tooth dentineand their relationship with the composition and potential of hydrogen (pH). Methods: An in vitromicro push-out test on 150 samples (n = 50) per group per adhesive, namely, Adhese Universal(ADH; Ivoclar Vivadent), Futurabond U (FUT; Voco GmbH) (Test), and Scotchbond Universal withpre-conditioning (SCO; 3M) (Control), to record bond strength (BS) and type of adhesive failure.Results: The results of the different adhesives (megapascals (MPa)) varied, showing no statisticalsignificance. The corresponding averages are in MPa: ADH, 13.66 2.81; FUT, 14.48 2.88; SCO,14.98 3.96. Additionally, the frequency of type of failure was as follows: mixed (60.7%), adhesive(27.3%), and cohesive (12%). Conclusions: SCO, with a pH of 2.7, showed greater resistance tofracture, while FUT, with a pH of 2.3 and no pre-conditioning, approached the same values, being aone-step adhesive. No relationship was found between failure and type of adhesive.

Does the etching strategy influence the bonding of universal adhesive systems to primary teeth? A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies

PURPOSE

To assess through a systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies, the influence of the etching strategy (etch-and-rinse versus self-etch) of universal adhesive systems on bonding to primary teeth.

METHODS

A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. In vitro studies that compared the bond strength of the etching strategies of universal adhesives to primary teeth were included. Pooled-effect estimates were derived from a random-effects model by comparing the standardized mean difference between the etching strategies (α < 0.05). The risk of bias and heterogeneity between studies were also assessed (Cochrane and I2 tests).

RESULTS

Seven studies were included in the review and six in the meta-analyses. For dentin, the immediate bond strength was not influenced by the etching strategy regardless of sound (Z = 0.72, p = 0.47) or caries-affected (Z = 1.27, p = 0.21) substrate, nor after aging (Z = 0.24, p = 0.81). It was not possible to perform a meta-analysis for the enamel substrate. Most studies have a medium risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies provides evidence that universal adhesives can be used in both etching strategies in primary dentin. The evidence is currently insufficient about whether selective acid etching of primary enamel is necessary when universal adhesive systems are used.

Natural antioxidants to restore immediate bond strength to bleached enamel: Systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether natural antioxidant treatment would enhance the immediate bond strength of dental adhesives to bleached enamel through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two reviewers performed a literature search up to November 2019 in seven databases. Only in vitro studies that evaluated the effect of the application of natural antioxidants in the bond strength of dental adhesives to bleached enamel were included. Analyses were carried out using RevMan 5.3.5 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). A global analysis was performed with random-effects models at a significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies were included in the meta-analysis. Both in-office (p ˂ 0.001) and at-home (p ˂ 0.001) bleaching reduced the immediate bond strength. When compared to bleached enamel, all antioxidants improved the bond strength, but only grape seed extract/proanthocyanidin and lycopene restored it to the control values (p ˃ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In vitro available evidence suggests that the use of natural antioxidants can be beneficial when performing immediate resin-based restorations after bleaching, however, these results should be taken with caution since they are based on medium and high risk of bias studies; low bias studies are needed to draw relevant conclusions.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Despite the lack of clinical evidence, the present study confirms the benefits of applying natural antioxidant agents to enhance the in vitro bond strength when performing immediate esthetic restorations after bleaching. Since certain antioxidant agents proved more effective than others, clinical investigations may be focused on the ones that withhold the most promising results. The application of natural antioxidants after bleaching may enable immediate esthetic restorations to be performed.

Quality assessment tools used in systematic reviews of in vitro studies: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) are commonly conducted to evaluate and summarize medical literature. This is especially useful in assessing in vitro studies for consistency. Our study aims to systematically review all available quality assessment (QA) tools employed on in vitro SRs/MAs.

METHOD

A search on four databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library and Web of Science, was conducted from 2006 to 2020. The available SRs/MAs of in vitro studies were evaluated. DARE tool was applied to assess the risk of bias of included articles. Our protocol was developed and uploaded to ResearchGate in June 2016.

RESULTS

Our findings reported an increasing trend in publication of in vitro SRs/MAs from 2007 to 2020. Among the 244 included SRs/MAs, 126 articles (51.6%) had conducted the QA procedure. Overall, 51 QA tools were identified; 26 of them (51%) were developed by the authors specifically, whereas 25 (49%) were pre-constructed tools. SRs/MAs in dentistry frequently had their own QA tool developed by the authors, while SRs/MAs in other topics applied various QA tools. Many pre-structured tools in these in vitro SRs/MAs were modified from QA tools of in vivo or clinical trials, therefore, they had various criteria.

CONCLUSION

Many different QA tools currently exist in the literature; however, none cover all critical aspects of in vitro SRs/MAs. There is a need for a comprehensive guideline to ensure the quality of SR/MA due to their precise nature.

Deep carious lesions management in children and adolescents: a questionnaire survey among dentists practicing paediatric dentistry in France

INTRODUCTION

While many questionnaire surveys have been undertaken worldwide to investigate practices toward deep carious lesion (DCL) management in adults, very few are related to children and adolescents. The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess DCL management in children and adolescents among dentists practicing paediatric dentistry in France (Fr-DPPDs). The secondary objective was to compare practices between Fr-DPPDs and dentists registered in the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD).

METHODS

A questionnaire was electronically administrated to members of the CEOP (Collège des Enseignants en Odontologie Pédiatrique), the SFOP (Société Française d'Odontologie Pédiatrique), and the EAPD. Descriptive analyses, Chi-square and McNemar tests, ANOVA, crude and adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 99 Fr-DPPDs and 146 EAPD members answered the questionnaire. Among the Fr-DPPDs, the preferred caries removal (CR) methods were the complete CR in one step for primary teeth and mature permanent teeth (respectively, 70% and 48%) and in two steps for immature permanent teeth (39%). EAPD members were more likely, than Fr-DPPDs, to choose selective CR versus complete CR in primary teeth (odds ratio = 2.60; 95% CI 1.39-4.85). Moreover, for primary or immature permanent teeth, general practitioners were less likely to choose selective CR than specialists and exclusive practitioners in paediatric dentistry, (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Tooth type [primary, permanent (immature or mature)] seemed to influence DCL management. Fr-DPPS should prioritise pulpal vitality when managing DCL.

Effect of intraradicular fiber post on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated and restored anterior teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

A fiber post is indicated when there is a significant loss of tooth structure and additional support for the restoration is needed. However, whether the use of a glass fiber post affects the fracture susceptibility of the restored anterior teeth is unknown.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the fracture resistance of endodontically treated and restored anterior teeth and to answer the research question, "Does the use of a fiber post influence the fracture resistance of endodontically treated and restored anterior teeth compared with alternative restorative treatments?"

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, BBO, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases without date and/or language restrictions (updated in July, 2020). In vitro studies comparing the fracture strength of endodontically treated and restored anterior teeth with and without fiber posts were included. The risk of bias was evaluated by using the previous meta-analyses of in vitro studies. The results were presented as standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval. Statistical heterogeneity of treatment effects between studies was assessed using the Cochran Q test and the I2 inconsistency test, and values greater than 50% were considered indicative of substantial heterogeneity.

RESULTS

After the removal of duplicates and title and abstract screening, 31 studies remained. Seventeen were considered low risk of bias, 10 were medium risk of bias, and 4 were high risk of bias. Meta-analysis comparing control and experimental groups favored the use of a fiber post in endodontically treated teeth with some types of restoration to improve fracture resistance (standardized mean difference= 0.5 [0.08; 0.92]); a glass fiber post was also favored (standardized mean difference=0.92 [0.43; 1.42]); for veneer preparations and teeth with cervical cavities, a fiber post increases the fracture strength (standardized mean difference= 0.74 [0.01; 1.47]; 1.18 [0.35; 2.02], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of glass fiber posts increases the fracture resistance of endodontically treated and restored teeth.

Scoping review of trials evaluating adhesive strategies in pediatric dentistry: where do simplified strategies lie?

BACKGROUND

Adhesive restorations allow a conservative approach to caries management and are increasingly used as a restorative option in pediatric dentistry. Placement can be difficult in children because of the cooperation required for multiple bonding steps. Due to this, it is vital to assess if novel, simpler strategies have been featured in clinical trials and if clinical trials are researching the different existing adhesive strategies.

METHODS

This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis adapted for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Central, Scopus and EMBASE were used for systematic search, using free keywords and controlled search terms. Clinical trials of children requiring a restorative intervention which featured adhesive strategies were included. Only peer-reviewed trials of primary teeth restored with resin composites, published in the last 10-year period were eligible. Data charting was accomplished independently by two reviewers, and studies were summarized according to their date, type, intervention, sample size, observation period, outcomes and conclusions. Quality assessment was performed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias 2.0 tool.

RESULTS

700 potentially relevant references were found, which after a rigorous inclusion scheme, resulted in a total of 8 eligible clinical trials. Out of these, 7 were randomized clinical trials. Most trials featured a split-mouth design and the observation period ranged from 12 to 36 months. The trials evaluated interventions of two self-adhesive composites, two bulk-fill composites, two novel composites, one compomer and eight adhesives from different strategies. Most studies (4/8) included were judged to raise some concerns regarding risk of bias, while two were classified as high risk and two as low.

CONCLUSION

Few studies comparing adhesive strategies were found, especially adhesives in sound substrates. The existing studies do not reflect all current approaches that could be used in pediatric dentistry. Further studies addressing bioactive composites and contemporary adhesives are necessary.

Etching time and bonding of adhesive systems to dentin of primary teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Due to the chemical and morphological differences between primary vs. permanent teeth, the time reduction of the acid etching or acidic primer can result in higher values of bond strength.

AIM

To assess through a systematic review and meta-analysis the influence of the reducing etching (acid etching or acidic primer) time on the bond strength of adhesive systems to primary dentin.

DESIGN

A systematic search was carried out in 3 databases: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. Studies that evaluated the effect of reducing the etching time on the bond strength of adhesive systems to primary dentin were included. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model, with subgroups for etch-and-rinse and self-etching adhesives, with a significance level of P < .05. The risk of bias and heterogeneity between studies (Cochrane and I2 tests) were assessed.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included in the systematic review and seven in the meta-analyses. The shortening etching time did not influence the immediate dentin bond strength for etch-and-rinse (Z = 0.07, P = .95) and self-etching adhesives (Z = 0.41, P = .69). After ageing, however, the shorting etching time improved the bond strength for etch-and-rinse adhesives (Z = 2.01, P = .04). All studies presented high bias risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing the acid-etching time to primary dentin improves the long-term bond strength to this substrate.

Study of penetration ability of adhesive systems on temporary teeth by confocal microscopy

In this work, the authors evaluate the effectiveness of various adhesive systems (AS) in the temporary teeth restoration with composite materials. For this study, the authors used temporary teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons or lost due to a physiological change. Enamel samples with dentin were made from these teeth. Rhodamine B fluorochrome was added to each of the adhesive systems used. For the greater practical significance of research results, adhesive systems of several generations (IV, V, and VII) were chosen. In each sample, a cavity was prepared, and adhesive preparation was carried out according to the AS manufacturer instructions, followed by restoration with a composite material. Then, longitudinal slits were made so that the areas of enamel and dentin for which an adhesive protocol and restoration were performed could be observed in their entirety. The effectiveness of various generations was determined by the depth of penetration of AS components into the dentinal tubules. Fluorescent confocal microscopy was used to visualize the penetration ability of AS. Based on the results of the study, the authors concluded that IV and V generations of AS are the most effective.

Shortening of etching time of the dentin in primary teeth restorations: a randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of shortening of etching time for dentin on the restoration survival after selective carious tissue removal in primary molars. This two-arm randomized clinical trial included sixty-two subjects (5-8 year-old) and 100 primary molars presenting moderate dentin carious lesions on occlusal surface. The sample was randomly assigned into groups previously to adhesive application (Adper Single Bond 2; 3M ESPE): etching time recommended by manufacturer (15 s) or reduced (7 s). Resin composite (Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative; 3M ESPE) was inserted in a single increment for all restorations. Restorations were evaluated at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months using FDI criteria. Survival estimates for restorations' longevity were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression analysis with shared frailty was used to assess the factors associated with failures (p < 0.05). The etching time did not influence the restorations' survival (HR 0.35 95%CI 0.11-1.12; p = 0.06). Mean estimated time of survival was 17.6 months (95%CI, 17.2-17.9). The survival rates at the 18-month follow-up were 75.7% and 91.4% (AFR: 16.9% and 5.7%) when primary dentin was acid etched for 15 and 7 s, respectively (log-rank p = 0.06). In conclusion, the etching time for dentin did not influence the clinical behavior of adhesives restorations. However, there was a tendency for better clinical outcome when using etching time of 7 s.

Microshear Bond Strength of a Self-adhesive Composite to Erbium Laser-Treated Primary Enamel

Introduction: Advances have been made in the composition of flowable composites in recent years and self-adhering composites, which do not require a bonding agent, have recently been introduced to the market. This study aimed to assess the microshear bond strength (µSBS) of a self-adhering flowable composite (Vertise) to primary enamel treated with a graphite disc with silicon carbide particles (SIC) and laser irradiation, the result of which was compared to that of a conventional flowable composite (Premise). Methods: In this in vitro, experimental study, 72 samples of sound primary enamel were evaluated. A smooth enamel surface was obtained using a graphite disc. Next, the erbium chromium yttrium scandium gallium garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser was used for enamel surface treatment in half of the samples (n=36). All the samples were then randomly divided into 4 groups of (i) Premise flowable composite (PF) without laser (n=18), (ii) Vertise flowable composite (VF) without laser (n=18), (iii) PF with laser (n=18), and (iv) VF with laser (n=18). The teeth were then incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and were then subjected to thermocycling. The µSBS of samples was measured using a universal testing machine and reported in megapascal (MPa). Data were analyzed using SPSS via the two-way ANOVA and independent-samples t test at P<0.05. Results: The mean µSBS of VF was significantly higher to the laser-treated samples (13.60±5.47) compared with the non-treated samples (5.89±2.42) (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was noted in the µSBS of PF to the laser-treated (13.18±3.45) and non-treated samples (16.06±3.52) (P=0.058). Conclusion: The µSBS of the conventional flowable composite is higher than that of the self-adhering flowable composite to the enamel of primary teeth. Enamel surface treatment with laser irradiation increases the µSBS of self-adhering flowable composites.

[Effectiveness of fillings and stainless-steel pediatric crowns for primary molars restoration: the results of prospective randomized split mouth study]

The paper presents the results of randomized split moth study on effectiveness of fillings and stainless-steel pediatric crowns (SSC) for primary teeth restoration. The study involved 68 children aged 1.5 to 6 years having at least two symmetrical primary molars diagnosed with chronic pulpitis (a total of 166 primary molars). After pulpotomy the teeth were randomly divided in two groups according to restoration type and restored with SCC (3MEspe) or compomer filling (Dyract XP, Dentsply). The children were examined at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the procedure both clinically and radiologically. SCCs showed significantly better results at 24 months examination. Extraction rate in teeth restored with SCCs and fillings was 2 and 31%, correspondingly (p=0.0001). The results were much more favorable in second primary molars than in first ones: only 2 from 56 second molars and 16 from 110 first molars were extracted (p=0.02). The study results prove SCCs to be restoration of choice especially for the first primary molars in children with severe early childhood caries.

Do bulk-fill resins decrease the restorative time in posterior teeth? A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies

The aim of the present study was to compare the restorative time for filling cavities in posterior teeth using bulk-fill and conventional resin composites through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A search for clinical trials and laboratory studies was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature database, the Brazilian Library in Dentistry, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, and ReBEC (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos) databases without publication year or language restriction. Two reviewers identified eligible studies according to the inclusion criteria: bulk-fill compared to conventional resin in class I or II, and the restorative time as an outcome. A meta-analysis of the restorative time mean difference between composites was performed (inverse variance method, random effects model; Z-test, P ≤ .05). From the 662 eligible studies, 133 were selected for full-text analysis; three were included in the systematic review and in the meta-analysis. Overall, the restorative time was lower when bulk-fill was used (P = .0007, Z = 3.37), as the subgroup full-body bulk-fill (P < .00001, Z = 21.00). There was no difference in restorative time between flowable bulk-fill and conventional resins (P = .08, Z = 1.76). Moderate-to-substantial heterogeneity was detected. Full-body bulk-fill composites decrease the restorative time in posterior teeth compared to conventional resins. Full-body bulk-fill resins require a shorter restorative time to perform restorations in posterior teeth than conventional resins, but the same is not valid for flowable bulk-fill resin composites.

Reporting quality in systematic reviews of in vitro studies: a systematic review

Background: Systematic reviews (SRs) and/or meta-analyses of in vitro research have an important role in establishing the foundation for clinical studies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the reporting quality of SRs of in vitro studies using the PRISMA checklist.Method: Four databases were searched including PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science (ISI) and Scopus. The search was limited from 2006 to 2016 to include all SRs and/or meta-analyses (MAs) of pure in vitro studies. The evaluation of reporting quality was done using the PRISMA checklist.Results: Out of 7702 search results, 65 SRs were included and evaluated with the PRISMA checklist. Overall, the mean overall quality score of reported items of the PRISMA checklist was 68%. We have noticed an increasing pattern in the numbers of published SRs of in vitro studies over the last 10 years. In contrast, the reporting quality was not significantly improved over the same period (p = .363). There was a positive but not significant correlation between the overall quality score and the journal impact factor of the included studies.Conclusions: The adherence of SRs of in vitro studies to the PRISMA guidelines was poor. Therefore, we believe that using reporting guidelines and journals paying attention to this fact will improve the quality of SRs of in vitro studies.

Quality of abstract of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in paediatric dentistry journals

AIM

To systematically evaluate the reporting quality of the abstract of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in paediatric dentistry journals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Systematic reviews with meta-analyses in paediatric dentistry were searched in PubMed and Scopus databases from inception to December 2017. Selection of studies by title and abstract screening followed by full-text assessment was independently done by two reviewers. The quality of abstracts was assessed by PRISMA-Abstract checklist comprising of 12 items; one each for title and objective, three items for methods, three items for results, two items for discussion and two items for others. PRISMA-A median scores were calculated and compared with the article characteristics. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and multi-variate analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies were included in the analysis. The mean PRISMA-Abstract score was 7.46 ± 1.19. None of the studies were of high quality (score 10-12), 20 were of moderate (score 7-9), and 4 were of low quality (score 1-6). Journals that adhered to PRISMA guidelines showed significantly higher quality (p < 0.05). No association was found between the quality and the number of authors, country, journals, year of publication, word count and focus of study.

CONCLUSION

Majority of abstracts of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in paediatric dentistry journals were of moderate quality. Adoption and adherence to PRISMA-Abstract checklist by the journal editors and authors will enhance the reporting quality of abstracts.

Critical appraisal of methodological quality of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis in Paediatric Dentistry journals

OBJECTIVE

To systematically assess the methodological quality of Systematic Reviews (SRs) and Meta-Analyses (MA) published in Paediatric Dentistry journals and to analyse the relationship between the authors, journals, country, review topic, and the year of publication to the methodological quality of SRs and MA.

DESIGN

Paediatric Dentistry journals ranked in the top five of the h5 index of Google Scholar Metrics were selected. SRs with MA were searched independently by two reviewers using PubMed and Scopus databases until December 2017. Methodological quality was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05 and Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test was employed for comparing the AMSTAR score with the journal characteristics.

RESULTS

Finally, 24 SRs with MA were included. The overall AMSTAR score of SRs and MA published in paediatric dentistry journals was 7.08 ± 2.41. No statistically significant differences were found between the country, journal or focus of study to the quality of SRs except the number of authors and the year of publication (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of SRs and MA in leading Paediatric Dentistry journals were evaluated with AMSTAR tool and areas where quality could be improved were identified.

Are self-etch adhesives reliable for primary tooth dentin? A systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the dentin bond strength of etch-and-rinse and self-etch adhesives to primary teeth. In this study, PubMed, ISI (all databases), Scopus, and Cochrane Database were searched according to the selected keywords up to May 11, 2016. The full texts of published articles that appeared to meet the primary criteria for inclusion in this study were obtained. Due to the variation in the methods used, the studies were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 - studies that evaluated the micro-tensile bond strengths (MTBSs) of two-step etch-and-rinse adhesives and two-step self-etch adhesives and Group 2 - studies that evaluated the MTBSs of two-step etch-and-rinse adhesives and one-step self-etch adhesives. The initial search yielded 1447 publications. After a methodological assessment, 8 publications were selected. The results of this study showed that the MTBS of the etch-and-rinse adhesives and the two-step self-etch adhesives were similar (P = 0.34), and both were significantly higher than that of the one-step self-etch adhesive (P = 0.001). This meta-analysis showed that the application of two-step self-etch adhesives performs well when used for primary dentin and can be used to save time in pediatric dentistry.

Effect of erosive challenges on deciduous teeth undergoing restorative procedures with different adhesive protocols - an in vitro study

To evaluate the effect of erosive challenges on the tooth- restoration interface of deciduous teeth treated with different adhesive protocols. Deciduous molars were cut mesiodistally, then embedded, abraded and polished (n=80). Samples were randomly divided according to the adhesive system used into: G1 (Adper Single Bond2®, etch-and-rinse), G2 (Universal Single Bond®, self-etching), G3 (OptibondFL®, etch-and-rinse with Fluoride) and G4 (BondForce®, self-etching with Fluoride). After standardized cavity preparation (2 mm diameter x 2 mm depth), adhesive systems were applied and samples were restored (composite resin Z350®). Half of the samples were exposed to erosive/abrasive cycles (n = 10, each adhesive group), and the other half (control group; n = 10) remained immersed in artificial saliva. For microleakage analysis, samples were submersed in methylene blue and analyzed at 40x magnifications. Cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) was carried out (50 g/5 s) at 25 μm, 50 μm, and 100 μm from the eroded surface and at 25 μm, 75 μm, and 125 μm from the enamel bond interface. Regarding microleakage, 7.5% of the samples showed no dye infiltration, 30% showed dye infiltration only at the enamel interface, and 62.5% showed dye infiltration through the dentin-enamel junction, with no difference between groups (p≥0.05). No significant difference was observed in CSMH at different depths (two-way ANOVA, p≥0.05). We did not observe significant changes in microleakage or CSMH after erosive/abrasive challenges in deciduous teeth treated with different adhesive protocols (etch-and-rinse and self-etching adhesives, with and without fluoride).

Ceramic Veneers for Esthetic Restoration of Retained Primary Teeth: A 4-year Follow-up Case Report

Retained primary teeth in the smile zone can cause patient dissatisfaction, especially if associated with malposition of teeth. Orthodontic and prosthetic treatment options to treat the situation may not be accepted by some patients. Therefore, these patients tend to maintain their primary teeth and seek different esthetic options. Ceramic veneers may provide an esthetic treatment option to restore these teeth. However, the survival rates of ceramic restorations in such cases have not yet been established. This case report provides a step-by-step clinical description of the use of ceramic veneers for the restoration of retained primary canines and mild teeth malalignment, with a 4-year follow-up report, in a 28-year-old female patient. During restorative treatment, an effort was made to maintain the occlusion in group function to minimize stress and eliminate destructive forces on the retained primary teeth. After 4 years of function, the patient was still satisfied with the provided treatment.