clinical decision, endodontic retreatment, radiographic evaluation.

A remarkable decline in dental caries was observed during the 15-yr period. The factors related to the children's home-based and professional dental health care were associated with the observed decline.

This study compares dental caries reduction in Belgian 12-year-old children of different socioeconomic status in 1983 and 1998. Moreover, the relative effect of dental health factors on caries reduction is estimated. In the region of Brussels, children in the 7th grade at the same schools participated in cohort 1983 (n = 533) and in cohort 1998 (n = 496). DMFT, DMFS, and dental fluorosis were clinically recorded. The socioeconomic status of the children was established on the basis of their parents' education and profession. Data on children's home-based and professional dental health care habits were registered. Caries reduction was observed in both privileged and non-privileged children. However, non-privileged children, in cohort 1983 and cohort 1998, had significantly higher DMF scores than privileged children (P < 0.01). Dental fluorosis was more often identified in privileged children than in non-privileged ones. Most of the dental factors relating to children's home based and professional care were associated with caries reduction. Caries reduction was strongly related to socioeconomic status; non-privileged children registered lower than their counterparts.

The complex morphology of geminated teeth renders their endodontic and periodontal management difficult. Root canal and periodontal treatments were performed on a geminated mandibular first premolar with three canals. Clinical examination showed two separated crowns with united roots. Radiographically, two distinct pulp chambers with two joined and a third independent canal were seen. Conventional root canal treatment resulted in complete healing of the apical lesion. However, the occurrence of a vertical fracture led to the extraction of the mesial segment. At the follow-up visit, the distal segment was clinically healthy and continued to satisfy functional demands.

The objective of this work was to evaluate (1) the short-term evolution of pain and (2) the treatment success of full pulpotomy as permanent treatment of irreversible pulpitis in mature molars. The study consisted of a non-randomized comparison between a test group (n = 44)—full pulpotomy performed by non-specialist junior practitioners, and a control group (n = 40)—root canal treatments performed by specialized endodontists. Short-term pain score (Heft–Parker scale) was recorded pre-operatively, then at 24 hours and 7 days post-operatively. Three outcomes were considered for treatment success: radiographic, clinical and global success. For short-term evolution of pain, a non-parametric Wilcoxon test was performed (significance level = 0.05). For treatment success, a Pearson Chi square or Fisher test were performed (significance level = 0.017–Bonferroni correction). There was no significant difference between test and control groups neither regarding short term evolution of pain at each time point, nor regarding clinical (80% and 90%, respectively) or global success (77% and 67%, respectively). However, a significant difference in radiographic success was observed (94% and 69%, respectively). The present work adds to the existing literature to support that pulpotomy as permanent treatment could be considered as an acceptable and conservative treatment option, potentially applied by a larger population of dentists.