The diagnosis of occlusal caries at non–cavitated sites remains problematic, especially since clinical visual detection has limited sensitivity. Electrical methods of detection show considerable promise, but specificity is reduced. The aims of this in vitro study were: (1) to assess the validity of a new laser fluorescence device – the DIAGNOdent – (and compare the values with those of a fixed–frequency electrical device); (2) to determine the optimum cut–off points of the new device for different stages of the caries process, and (3) to assess the reproducibility of the new laser device. For validity and determination of optimum cut–off points, 105 extracted teeth with macroscopically intact occlusal surfaces were measured by a single examiner, using both the laser fluorescence device (on both moist and dried teeth) and an Electronic Caries Monitor. The teeth were subsequently examined histologically to determine the specificity, sensitivity and likelihood ratio at the D₂ (caries extending through more than half of the enamel thickness) and D₃ (caries involving dentin) levels. The values obtained for the laser device ranged from 0.72 to 0.87 (specificity), 0.76 to 0.87 (sensitivity) and 3.0 to 5.6 (likelihood ratio). Those for the ECM ranged from 0.64 to 0.78 (specificity), 0.87 to 0.92 (sensitivity) and 2.4 to 4.1 (likelihood ratio). To determine intra– and interexaminer reproducibility of the DIAGNOdent, 11 dentists recorded two different measurements at the same site on a separate set of 83 extracted molar teeth, and these were compared using Cohen’s kappa (at D₂ and D₃ levels) and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The average intra–examiner kappa scores were 0.88 (D₂) and 0.90 (D₃), with a Spearman correlation of 0.97. For interexaminer reproducibility, the average kappa values were 0.65 (D₂) and 0.73 (D₃), with a Spearman correlation of 0.84. It is concluded that for occlusal caries (1) the new laser device has a higher diagnostic validity than the ECM, and (2) in vitro, measurements using the device are highly reproducible. Thus, the laser device could be a valuable tool for the longitudinal monitoring of caries and for assessing the outcome of preventive interventions.

Children and adolescents must be examined often for occlusal caries. Diagnosis of fissure caries is difficult especially when the tooth surface appears seemingly intact. It has been shown that using traditional clinical methods, as little as 20% of teeth with fissure caries under intact surfaces were correctly recognised as such. Therefore, new methods for increasing the accuracy of diagnosis have been sought for years. Recently, a new device, based on fluorescence measurements, was introduced. The purpose of this study was to test the device under in vivo conditions in order to provide recommendations for its use in the dental office. Seven general dental practitioners examined a total of 332 occlusal surfaces in 240 patients. Caries extent was determined for each site after operative intervention (='gold standard'). Clinical inspection and analysis of bitewing radiographs exhibited statistically significant lower sensitivities (31-63%) than did the DIAGNOdent device (sensitivity > or = 92%). It is recommended that the laser device is used in the decision-making process in relation to the diagnosis of occlusal caries as a second opinion in cases of doubt after visual inspection.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate histologically in humans the healing of advanced intrabony defects following treatment with enamel matrix proteins (EMD) or guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Fourteen patients, each of them displaying 1 advanced intrabony defect around teeth scheduled for extraction were included in the study. The defects were treated randomly either with an enamel matrix protein derivative (Emdogain, BIORA AB, Malmö, Sweden) or with a bioabsorbable membrane (Resolut, Regenerative Material, W.L. Gore & Assoc., Flagstaff, Arizona, USA). At baseline the mean probing pocket depth (PPD) in the EMD group was 11.3 +/- 1.8 mm and the mean clinical attachment level (CAL) 12.1 +/- 2.0 mm, whereas in the GTR group the mean PPD was 11.4 +/- 2.2 mm and the mean CAL 13.3 +/- 2.3 mm. Healing was uneventful in all cases. Neither allergic reactions against EMD or the bioabsorbable membrane, nor suppuration or abscesses were observed. The clinical results revealed at 6 months in the EMD group a mean PPD of 5.6 +/- 1.3 mm and a mean CAL of 9.1 +/- 1.5 mm. In the GTR group the mean PPD was 5.6 +/- 1.3 mm and the mean CAL 10.1 +/- 1.5 mm. The histological analysis showed in the EMD group a mean 2.6 +/- 1.0 mm of new attachment (i.e. new cementum with inserting collagen fibers) and a mean 0.9 +/- 1.0 mm of new bone. In this group, the formation of new attachment was not always followed by bone regeneration. In the GTR group, the mean new attachment was 2.4 +/- 1.0 mm and the mean new bone 2.1 +/- 1.0 mm. In every case treated with GTR, the formation of new attachment was followed by a varying amount of new bone. After both types of regenerative treatment the newly formed cementum displayed a predominantly cellular character. The findings of the present study indicate that the treatment of intrabony defects with enamel matrix proteins or with bioabsorbable membranes enhances the formation of a new connective tissue attachment in humans.

An Er:YAG laser may represent a suitable alternative for non-surgical periodontal treatment.

It may be concluded that (a) all 3 regenerative treatment modalities may lead to higher CAL gain than the control one, and (b) the combined treatment does not seem to improve the outcome of the regenerative procedure.

It was concluded that the CAL gain obtained following non-surgical periodontal treatment with ERL or SRP can be maintained over a 2-year period.

The purpose of this study was to collect information on the main causes of tooth loss in the western states of Germany as perceived by dentists and their patients. Sixty-eight dentists, out of 80 that were selected with a systematic random method for an epidemiological study in the western states of Germany, recorded their reason for tooth extraction. Included in the study were only extractions of permanent teeth during a period of 2 weeks (March 1990), up to a maximum of 20 patients per dentist. Of 926 returned questionnaires, 882 could be evaluated. In all 1215 teeth in 882 patients were extracted. The extraction of third molars was included as a reason, when caries, periodontal reasons and others were not indicated. Caries was the reason given for 20.7% of all extractions; periodontal diseases for 27.3%; caries and periodontal reasons for 18.7%; third molars for 14.7%; prosthetic reasons for 11.2%; orthodontic reasons for 4.1%; trauma for 0.4% and others for 2.9%. While caries is a major reason in all age groups, periodontal diseases and the combination of caries and periodontal reasons are more frequent than all other reasons for the age groups beyond 40 or 45 yr, respectively. The third molar was the most often extracted tooth. The patients were asked for their main reason for tooth extraction. For the patients, pain was the major reason for extraction (47.2%). According to the participating dentists periodontal disease is the most frequent cause of tooth extraction for people over 40 yr of age, while for those below 40 yr of age, caries and third molar extractions are the most frequent reasons.

In conclusion, the present results have indicated that: (i) non-surgical periodontal therapy with both an Er:YAG laser + SRP and an Er:YAG laser alone may lead to significant improvements in all clinical parameters investigated, and (ii) the combined treatment Er:YAG laser + SRP did not seem to additionally improve the outcome of the therapy compared to Er:YAG laser alone.