AIM: To investigate the amount of connective tissue migrated into the extraction socket using EPTFE and latex membranes. METHODS: Seventeen rats were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups: e-PTFE membrane (n = 6), Latex membrane (n = 6) and Control (no membrane, n=5). After extraction of the maxillary right incisor, the animals of the test groups were subjected to alveolar guided bone regeneration (GBR) surgery and received an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) and a latex membrane, respectively. Thirty days after surgery, the animals were killed and histometric analysis was done to evaluate the migration of connective tissue. Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA and multiple-comparison Tukey's test at 5% significance level. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference between groups e-PTFE and Latex (p=0.001), and between groups e-PTFE and Control (p=0.012), but no significant difference was found between groups Latex and Control (p=0.416). CONCLUSIONS: The e-PTFE membrane showed better results and appeared more adequate for GBR therapy, forming a barrier to prevent the migration of connective tissue into the extraction socket. The latex membrane, on the other hand, did not show benefits over the control group.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the role of periodontal disease in the development of stroke or cerebral infarction in patients by evaluating the clinical periodontal conditions and the subgingival levels of periodontopathogens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with ischemic (I-CVA) or hemorrhagic (H-CVA) cerebrovascular episodes (test group) and 60 systemically healthy patients (control group) were evaluated for: probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing and plaque index. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were both identified and quantified in subgingival plaque samples by conventional and real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS: The test group showed a significant increase in each of the following parameters: pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, plaque index and number of missing teeth when compared to control values (p<0.05, unpaired t-test). Likewise, the test group had increased numbers of sites that were contaminated with P. gingivalis (60%x10%; p<0.001; chi-squared test) and displayed greater prevalence of periodontal disease, with an odds ratio of 48.06 (95% CI: 5.96-387.72; p<0.001). Notably, a positive correlation between probing depth and the levels of P. gingivalis in ischemic stroke was found (r=0.60; p=0.03; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test). A. actinomycetemcomitans DNA was not detected in any of the groups by conventional or real-time PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke patients had deeper pockets, more severe attachment loss, increased bleeding on probing, increased plaque indexes, and in their pockets harbored increased levels of P. gingivalis. These findings suggest that periodontal disease is a risk factor for the development of cerebral hemorrhage or infarction. Early treatment of periodontitis may counteract the development of cerebrovascular episodes.

Dental impression is an important step in the preparation of prostheses since it provides the reproduction of anatomic and surface details of teeth and adjacent structures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the linear dimensional alterations in gypsum dies obtained with different elastomeric materials, using a resin coping impression technique with individual shells. A master cast made of stainless steel with fixed prosthesis characteristics with two prepared abutment teeth was used to obtain the impressions. References points (A, B, C, D, E and F) were recorded on the occlusal and buccal surfaces of abutments to register the distances. The impressions were obtained using the following materials: polyether, mercaptan-polysulfide, addition silicone, and condensation silicone. The transfer impressions were made with custom trays and an irreversible hydrocolloid material and were poured with type IV gypsum. The distances between identified points in gypsum dies were measured using an optical microscope and the results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA (p < 0.05) and Tukey's test. The mean of the distances were registered as follows: addition silicone (AB = 13.6 µm, CD=15.0 µm, EF = 14.6 µm, GH=15.2 µm), mercaptan-polysulfide (AB = 36.0 µm, CD = 36.0 µm, EF = 39.6 µm, GH = 40.6 µm), polyether (AB = 35.2 µm, CD = 35.6 µm, EF = 39.4 µm, GH = 41.4 µm) and condensation silicone (AB = 69.2 µm, CD = 71.0 µm, EF = 80.6 µm, GH = 81.2 µm). All of the measurements found in gypsum dies were compared to those of a master cast. The results demonstrated that the addition silicone provides the best stability of the compounds tested, followed by polyether, polysulfide and condensation silicone. No statistical differences were obtained between polyether and mercaptan-polysulfide materials.

O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar a resistência à fratura de dentes tratados endodonticamente restaurados com diferentes pinos e diferentes alturas de remanescente dentinário da coroa. Sessenta caninos recém-extraídos foram tratados endodonticamente, separados em 6 grupos (n=10) e restaurados com núcleo metálico fundido (CP0 e CP3), pino pré-fabricado e núcleo em resina composta (PF0 e PF3) ou resina composta (CR0 e CR3). Os grupos CP0, PF0 e CR0 não possuíam férula e os grupos CP3, PF3 e CR3 apresentaram 3 mm de remanescente coronário. Todos os dentes foram restaurados com coroas totais metálicas. A resistência à fratura foi medida em máquina universal de ensaios com o longo eixo do dente posicionado a 45 graus em relação ao carregamento axial, até que ocorresse fratura. A análise de variância 2 critérios (?=0,05) mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos. Quando as médias das forças para fratura foram comparadas (CP0 = 820,0 N; CP3= 1179,12 N; PF0 = 561,05 N; PF3 = 906,79 N; CR0 = 297,84 N; e CR3 = 1135,15 N) não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os 3 grupos com 3 mm de remanescente coronal. Os resultados mostraram que a presença de férula em coroas aumenta significantemente a resistência à fratura de dentes tratados endodonticamente.

The aim of this study was to investigate the fracture strength of endodontically treated teeth restored with different posts and variable ferrule heights. Sixty freshly extracted human canines were treated endodontically and randomly assigned to 6 groups (n=10), being restored with custom-made cast post-and-core (CP0 and CP3 groups), prefabricated post and composite resin core (PF0 and PF3 groups), and composite resin (CR0 and CR3 groups). The CP0, PF0 and CR0 groups presented no ferrule and the CP3, PF3 and CR3 presented 3 mm of coronal structure. All teeth were restored with full metal crowns. The fracture strength was measured in a universal testing machine at 45o to the long axis of the tooth until failure. Data were analyzed statistically by 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (?=0.05). When the mean fracture strength values were compared (CP0 group - 820.20 N, CP3 group - 1179.12 N; PF0 group - 561.05 N; PF3 group - 906.79 N; CR0 group - 297.84 N; and CR3 group - 1135.15 N) there was statistically significant among the groups (p<0.05), except for the three groups with 3 mm of coronal remaining, which were similar to each other. The results of this study showed that the ferrule in crowns promoted significantly higher fracture strength in the endodontically treated teeth.