Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are often encountered in clinical practice and their aetiology attributed to toothbrush abrasion, erosion and tooth flexure. This paper aims to determine the prevalence and severity of NCCLs in a sample of patients attending a university clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship with medical and dental histories, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and occlusion. Data were collected via a questionnaire and clinical examination. Odds ratios were used to determine the association of the presence of lesions and the factors examined. One hundred and fifty-six patients with a mean age of 40.6 years were examined of whom 62.2% had one or more NCCLs. Forty five per cent of the lesions were sensitive to compressed air. Younger age groups had a significantly lower correlation with the presence of NCCLs than older age groups. Other significant factors included patients who reported heartburn, gastric reflux, headaches, bruxism, sensitive teeth and swimming or had a history of broken restorations in the last year. There was also significant correlation of NCCLs in patients who brushed more than once a day or used a medium or hard toothbrush. Patients with vegetarian diets and those who reported consuming citrus fruits, soft drinks, alcohol, yoghurt and vitamin C drinks were associated with the presence of lesions. Significant associations were also found in patients with group function, faceting, clicking joints or those who wore occlusal splints.

In this group of students, video-clips were the preferred method of demonstration of tooth preparations in the preclinical environment. However, students perceived their learning to be facilitated more by one-to-one supervision. The students preferred to have the video-clips made available to them online instead of in the form of a DVD. The introduction of this educational aide did not make a difference in practical examination results.

Perceived Competency at Graduation Among Dental Alumni of the University of the West Indies Reisha N. Rafeek, M.Sc., F.D.S.R.C.S.; Shivaughn M. Marchan, M.Sc.; Rahul S. Naidu, M.Sc.; Peter V. Carrotte, M.D.S., M.Ed.Abstract: The aims of this study were to describe levels of self-rated competency of dental graduates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and to investigate relationships with gender and the effect of curriculum change. A thirty-two item selfreported postal questionnaire was sent to UWI dental alumni (1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002). The questionnaire included twenty-eight competencies that could be rated on a 5-point scale: 1 (not at all competent) to 5 (very competent). Overall preparedness for practice could also be rated from 1 (not at all prepared) to 5 (very prepared). The response rate was 77.4 percent, with a mean age of 29.3 years. Items with the highest mean scores were taking an adequate medical history (4.49), recognizing and treating dental caries (4.46), oral examination (4.36), and giving dental health education (4.35). Those with the lowest rating were designing and undertaking clinical research (2.29), dealing with practice management issues (2.52), designing and delivering crown and bridge work (3.33), and recognizing pathologic occlusions (3.33). Overall preparedness for practice was rated as 3.27. Female graduates rated four competencies significantly higher than males. Graduates exposed to the new curriculum perceived greater overall preparedness for general dental practice, suggesting the change to a competency-based curriculum was effective.

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This study investigated the effectiveness of polymerization of various curing regimes on five nanocomposite restorative materials-Z350, Grandio, Clearfil Majesty Esthetic, Ice and Tetric EvoCeram-by utilizing microhardness measurements. Five (n=5) disc-shaped specimens of each material were subjected to one of three curing regimes: curing with a halogen light for 20 seconds, curing with an LED light for 20 seconds and curing with an LED light for 10 seconds. Immediately following curing, hardness measurements were made with a Vickers indenter at

The retention of zirconia-based ceramic posts (CosmoPost system) luted with glass ionomer and resin cements was evaluated. Thirtytwo extracted, caries-free, unrestored teeth were selected and stored in chlorhexidine and water solution. The teeth were endodontically treated and randomly assigned to two groups (n=16). Each tooth was decoronated and prepared to a depth of 10.0 mm from root surface to receive a 1.4 mm diameter zirconium dioxide post. Each group had posts cemented with either glass ionomer cement (Fuji I) or resin cement (Variolink II). The post/teeth specimens were embedded in resin blocks and subjected to tensile testing. The tensile force required to dislodge the cemented posts in a tensile testing machine was recorded. The mean stress values of both groups were analyzed for statistical differences using ANOVA and Student's t-test. Significance level was set at 5%. Mean peak forces at failure (N) and standard deviation for the tested cements were the following: Fuji I = 121.8 (±17.4) and Variolink II = 228.1 (±36.8). Posts luted with the resin cement presented statistically significant higher tensile bond strength than those retained with glass ionomer (p<0.05). It may be concluded that zirconia posts cemented with resin-based cement (Variolink II) failed at statistically significant higher values compared to those cemented with glass ionomer cement (Fuji I). Regardless of the cement type, the posts failed adhesively at the cement/post interface when subjected to a tensile force.

Aim: This study determined whether prior brushing with desensitizing toothpastes (Sensodyne Rapid Relief and Colgate Pro-Relief) affected the shear bond strengths of composite to dentine surfaces after appropriate use of two different dentine bonding agents (SingleBond and PQ-1). Materials and Methods: Sixty caries free molar teeth were cleaned, disinfected and embedded in individual cylinders of polymethylmethracyrlate. The occulsal surfaces were flattened to expose dentine and finished down with 600 grit silicone carbide paper. The teeth were randomly divided into six groups of 10 teeth each. Two groups served as control where dentine surfaces were brushed with pumice slurry. Of the remaining 4 groups, 2 groups were brushed with Sensodyne Rapid Relief and 2 groups brushed with Colgate Pro-Relief. The dentine surfaces were brushed to simulate 2 weeks of twice-daily toothpaste use. The specimens in each of the control groups and experimental groups were subjected to dentine bonding procedures (Single Bond or PQ-1), and application of hybrid composite resin (Z-250) according to the manufacturer's instructions. A universal material testing machine, with a cross head speed of 0.05 mm/min was used to determine shear bond strengths. Results: Mean shear bond strengths ranged from 5.71 MPa (Colgate pretreatment, composite bonded with Single Bond) to 9.07 MPa (Sensodyne pretreatment, com-* Corresponding author. S. Marchan et al. 122posite bonded with Single Bond). Results showed neither of the main effects, of toothpaste type or bonding agent were significant (p > 0.05) but their interaction was (F = 4.25, p = 0.02). Post hoc analysis showed that teeth brushed with the Sensodyne group, treated with the unfilled dentine bonding agent had a significantly higher bond strength than those treated with the filled dentine bonding agent. Conclusion: The desensitizing toothpastes that use the mechanism of occlusion of open dentinal tubules in the preliminary management of tooth sensitivity should not have an adverse effect on future restorative treatment modalities.

Objective. This in vitro study uses measurements of fracture resistance to compare maxillary premolars restored with the bonded amalgam technique using a new resin luting cement, glass ionomer, and resin-modified glass ionomer as the bonding agents. Materials. Eighty-five sound maxillary premolars were selected and randomly assigned to one of five test groups of 17 teeth each. One group of intact teeth served as the control. The remaining groups were prepared to a standard cavity form relative to the dimensions of the overall tooth and restored with amalgam alone or a bonded amalgam using one of three luting agents: RelyX Arc (a new resin luting cement), RelyX luting (a resin-modified glass ionomer), or Ketac-Cem μ (a glass ionomer) as the bonding agents. Each tooth was then subjected to compressive testing until catastrophic failure occurred. The mean loads at failure of each group were statistically compared using ANOVA with a post hoc Bonferroni test. Results. It was found that regardless of the luting cement used for the amalgam bonding technique, there was little effect on the fracture resistance of teeth. Conclusion. Cusp fracture resistance of premolars prepared with conservative MOD cavity preparations is not improved by using an amalgam-bonding technique compared to similar cavities restored with amalgam alone.