Dental pulp represents a specialized connective tissue enclosed by dentin and enamel, the most highly mineralized tissues of the body. Consequently, the direct examination as well as pathological evaluation of dental pulp is difficult. Within this anatomical context, our study aimed to evaluate the correlation between dental pulp lesions and clinical diagnosis. Pulpectomies were performed for 54 patients with acute and chronic irreversible pulpitides and for 5 patients (control group) with orthodontic extractions. The morphological features were semiquantitatively assessed by specific score values. The clinical and morphological correspondence was noted for 35 cases (68.62%), whereas inconsistency was recorded for 16 cases (31.38%). The results of the statistical analysis revealed the correlations between clinically and pathologically diagnosed acute/chronic pulpitides. No significant differences were established between the score values for inflammatory infiltrate intensity, collagen depositions, calcifications and necrosis, and acute, respectively chronic pulpitides. We also obtained significant differences between acute pulpitides and inflammatory infiltrate and calcifications and between chronic pulpitides and inflammatory infiltrate, collagen deposition, and calcifications. On the basis of the predominant pathological aspects, namely, acute and chronic pulpitis, we consider that the classification schemes can be simplified by adequately reducing the number of clinical entities.

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of the interface between dental root cement and some restorative materials used in the open sandwich technique. Standardised cavities were prepared on the buccal and oral surfaces of 30 human molars with the gingival margin situated in root cement. The teeth were randomly divided in 3 groups. Different materials combinations were used in buccal and oral cavities. In the control group, the cavities were filled only with composite resins (Filtek Z250-3M ESPE and Zmack Comp-Zermack). In the test groups the cavities were restored using an open sandwich technique as follows: in group 1 Filtek Z250 in combination with Dyract, respectively Ketac Molar Easymix; in group 2 Zmack Comp in combination with Dyract, respectively Ketac Molar. The teeth were stored in 1% methylene blue solution, for 24 hours. The samples were longitudinally sectioned through the centre of restorations and the degree of dye penetration as well as the morphology of the interface between the root cement and the restorative material were evaluated by optical microscopy and SEM. The results showed less microleakage and and adhesive failures in open sandwich restorations with Zmack Comp and Dyract combination.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of xylitol, from some oral hygiene products and chewing gums, on salivary parameters variation in patients with carious disease. The study was performed on 30 patients with a medium level of carious disease, randomly divided in two groups as follows: group 1 (study group), using xylitol-based products for 30 days, and group 2 (control group), using products without xylitol. The way of administration, dose, and frequency of use were as follows: toothpaste (normal daily brushing, 3 times daily); mouthwashing (5 ml, twice daily); chewing gums (two tablets, 5 times daily), for 30 days. The assessment targeted the salivary parameters as follow: saliva microcrystallisation index (IMK), resting salivary flow rate (RSF), stimulated salivary flow rate(SSF). The results of our study confirm the improvement of salivary parameters due to the use of xylitol-based products, by the positive influence on the remineralisation capacity of saliva. The assessment method of saliva IMK represents a noninvasive, simple, informational indicator for the assessment of the remineralisation capacity of saliva.

This paper is part of a series of papers towards a European Core Curriculum in Cariology for undergraduate dental students. The European Core Curriculum in Cariology is the outcome of a joint workshop of the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) together with the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), which was held in Berlin from 27 to 30 June 2010. This paper presents a closer look at the knowledge base as presented in the European Core Curriculum in Cariology. It comprises not only traditional basic sciences, such as anatomy and histology, but also emerging sciences such as molecular biology and nanotechnology and also fields such as behavioural sciences and research methodology. The different supporting competences are elaborated and explained. The problems of implementing a curriculum that truly integrates this foundation knowledge into the clinical teaching are discussed.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the compression behavior under identical mechanical tests, of three different composite resins, by determining Young�s modulus for compression, ultimate compressive strength and ultimate compressive strain. The studied materials were: Filtek Z250 Universal Restorative, Filtek Z550 and Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA). Fifteen cylindrical samples, having 6 mm in height and 5 mm in diameter, were made from each material, using plastic molds. The samples were subjected to quantitative analysis of the compression behavior after mechanical tests. The fractured fragments of the samples were subjected to qualitative surface evaluation by scanning electron microscopy. Results were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey�s post hoc test. Filtek Z250 had the lowest value of Young�s modulus for compression and the results were statistically significant (p[0.05) when compared to Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative and Filtek Z550. There were no statistically significant differences between all three materials regarding ultimate compressive strength (p]0.05). The lowest value for ultimate compressive strain was recorded for Filtek Bulk Fill.