Dental caries was associated with negative impacts on children and parents' quality of life. Treatment of caries improved the quality of life of children and families significantly, irrespective of whether the treatment was provided by a conventional or a biological approach.

The regular occurrence of a peak due to an unidentified substance (X) in the gas chromatographic traces obtained from phenolic extracts of urine from human pregnant and non-pregnant females has been reported. The biphasic excretion of X with maxima in the luteal phase of the ovulatory cycle and relatively high levels in the first trimester of pregnancy were noteworthy and suggested that the substance may have a biological significance. Close similarities between the excretory pattern, the chemical and chromatographic properties of X and of those of the known phenolic steroids suggested initially that this compound was steroidal in nature. The same, or a similar, substance seems to be excreted in the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus). We now report the excretory pattern of X in more detail, the isolation of the pure compound from pooled pregnancy urine and the chemical structure. The structure determined by mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy and NMR spectrometry is: trans-(+/-)-3,4-bis[(3-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]dihydro-2-(3H)-furanone (HPMF) and was confirmed by synthesis.

Prevalence of MIH is equivalent to other European populations. Prevalence was related to socioeconomic status but not to background water fluoridation.

Background In the last few years, conventional restorations including complete removal of carious tissue (CT) with or without pulp therapy for the treatment of carious lesions (CL) in primary teeth have been challenged and a more biological approach has been suggested. This approach involves the use of less invasive techniques which alter the environment of the CL isolating it from the cariogenic biofilm and substrate. Two of these treatment approaches that are becoming increasingly widely accepted and used in paediatric dentistry are the Hall Technique and indirect pulp capping (IPC). Aim To investigate the outcome of the conventional versus the biological approaches for the treatment of deep CL in the primary teeth in children, delivered in a specialist paediatric dentistry training environment. Design This was a retrospective cohort study of 246 children aged 4–9 years, treated with either approach, conventional and biological, in two UK specialist hospital settings. Data were extracted from clinical dental records and post‐operative radiographs of patients treated during the period 2006–2012. The outcome of the treatment in this study was categorised into three main categories: clinical, radiographic, and final outcome. Clinical and final outcomes were further described as success, minor, and major failure. Results In total, 836 primary teeth were included. In the conventional approach, 324 teeth had complete CT removal and 104 teeth had a pulpotomy. In the biological approach, 388 teeth had Hall Technique preformed metal crowns (PMC) placed and 20 teeth received indirect pulp capping. PMC were the restoration of choice for most of the cases where a pulpotomy had been carried out, and resin composite was most frequently used restorative material for the complete CT removal group. The majority of the primary teeth treated with either approach remained asymptomatic after a follow‐up period of up to 77 months, 95.3% in the conventional and 95.8% in the biological. No significant association was found between the final outcome and the approach used for treatment, age of the patient, gender and number of carious surfaces or tooth type. Conclusion Both the conventional and biological treatment approaches had similar final outcomes and were equally successful for management of CL in the primary dentition.

Background: Over the last years, conventional restorations for the treatment of active carious lesions (CL) in primary teeth have been challenged and a more biological approach has been suggested. This approach involves less invasive techniques that alter the environment of the CL isolating it from the cariogenic biofilm and substrate. Aim: To investigate the cost-effectiveness and patient acceptance of 2 treatment approaches for the treatment of deep CLs in primary teeth in children. Methods: This was a retrospective/prospective cohort study carried out in 2 UK specialist hospital settings. Data on cost-effectiveness was extracted retrospectively from clinical dental records of 246 patients aged 4–9 years. A prospective study design was used to explore patient acceptance of the 2 treatment approaches. One hundred and ten patients aged 4–9 years and their carers completed 2 questionnaires on treatment acceptance. Results: In total, 836 primary teeth that had received treatment with either approach were included. More than 2 thirds (75.7%) of the restorations in the conventional approach were of non-selective removal to hard dentine followed by pulpotomy (24.3%). In the biological approach, most of the restorations were stainless steel crowns placed with the Hall Technique (95%) followed by selective removal to firm dentine (5%). The majority of the primary teeth remained asymptomatic after a follow-up period of up to 77 months; 95.3% in the conventional and 95.8% in the biological arm. When the treatment costs were analysed, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean costs of the 2 approaches with a mean difference of GBP 45.20 (Pound Sterling; p < 0.001), in favour of the biological approach. The majority of the children and carers were happy with the conventional or biological restorations. Conclusion: Although both approaches had similar successful outcomes, the biological approach consisting mainly of Hall Technique was associated with reduced treatment costs. Both approaches were accepted favourably by the children and carers.