SUMMARYObjective: The current study assessed the efficacy of three current bleaching methods.Methods: Seventy-five healthy subjects (45♀; 30♂) with anterior teeth, having a Vita Shade score of A2 or darker, participated in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Group A: home-bleaching (Illumine Home, 10% carbamide peroxide, trays, overnight, for two weeks), Group B: inoffice bleaching (Illumine Office, 15% hydrogen peroxide, trays for 45 minutes, three times over three weeks), Group C: Whitestrips (strips, twice a day, 30 minutes each for two weeks).Following the screening visit, three weeks prior to the baseline examination, all subjects received a dental prophylaxis. Clinical RelevanceThe efficacy of vital bleaching depends on the two aspects-viz, bleaching agent and the bleaching method. Results from this in vivo study show that 10% carbamide peroxide home-bleaching and 15% hydrogen peroxide in-office bleaching were more effective than a 6% hydrogen peroxide home-bleaching over-the-counter product up to three months after completion of the bleaching treatment. M Bizhang • Y-HP Chun • K Damerau P Singh • WH-M Raab • S ZimmerThe color of the teeth was determined using a colorimeter (ShadeEye NCC) and a custom-made stent at baseline (E 0 ), immediately after completion of the bleaching (E 3 ) and three months after treatment (E 4 ). All subjects received oral hygiene instructions and a toothbrush and toothpaste for oral home care during the study period.The change of tooth color was determined for each treatment regimen between baseline and E 3 and baseline and E 4 and was statistically analyzed performing the Kruskal Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney-U test. The significance level was set at p<0.01.Results: The dropout rate was 0%. Mean (SD) ∆E* (overall color change) from baseline to immediately after treatment was 6.57 (2.13) for Group A, 5.77(1.72) for Group B and 3.58 (1.57) for Group C. The mean (SD) tooth color change from baseline to three months after treatment ∆E* was: 4.98(1.34) for Group A, 4.59 (1.42) for Group B and 2.99 (1.39) for Group C. Significant differences were found between home bleaching and Whitestrips, as well as between in-office bleaching and Whitestrips, but not between homebleaching and in-office bleaching during the same time.Conclusion: Using an objective color measurement device, home bleaching and in-office bleaching were found to be superior to Whitestrips. Home bleaching and in-office bleaching were equally efficient for bleaching teeth and maintaining the results for up to three months.

No abstract

No abstract

Using a Philips MiniPal energy‐dispersive instrument we measured two sets of brass and stainless‐steel standard reference materials (SRMs) provided by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The spectra of 11 brass SRMs and 19 stainless‐steel SRMs were measured during a 600 s live time. The intensities of the Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe and Sn lines were calculated for brass and of the Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Mo lines for stainless steel. The regression equations for each element using a De Jongh model and giving the lowest value of the relative standard deviation (RSD) were determined. In most cases it was necessary to use two correction factors for the minimization of the RSD. For comparison, measurements of all samples and elements using a Philips PW 1480 wavelength‐dispersive spectrometer were also performed. Differences in the RSD values obtained using the two spectrometers were not significant for the main elements, Cu and Zn in brass and Cr, Fe and Ni in stainless steel. For minor elements, the RSD values were 2–6 times larger for the MiniPal instrument and were poor for Sn and Co. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The purpose of the present investigation was to identify the most frequent therapies and, in particular, the prescription patterns for occlusal splints for the management of craniomandibular disorders (CMDs) used by German general dentists and specialists. Additionally, the knowledge and opinion of the practising dentists were examined. All active members of the statutory dental insurance providers of the German North Rhine (n = 5,500) and the Westphalia-Lippe area (n = 4,984) were surveyed with a questionnaire by mail. Results indicated that occlusal splints were the first-choice therapy followed by physiotherapy and occlusal equilibration. In the preceding year, both general dentists and specialists made 30 occlusal splints on average. With regard to high-quality evidence-based recommendations, some statistically significant discrepancies between general dentists and specialists were detected. On the basis of the present data, it seems useful to consider intensifying the topic of CMDs and orofacial pain in future undergraduate dental curricula and in postgraduate training.