The aim was to update a systematic review of pulp capping and partial pulpotomy by Olsson et al. (2006), by evaluating new evidence on formation of a hard tissue barrier after pulp capping and partial pulpotomy of experimental exposures in humans. PubMed (01-01-2005 to 01-03-2014) and CENTRAL were searched using specific keywords. Hand searches were made and the level of evidence for each included article was evaluated by the authors. The evidence of the conclusions was graded as strong, moderately strong, limited or insufficient. The initial search in PubMed yielded 215 abstracts. Hand searches of reference lists yielded no additional original scientific articles. After a selection process and interpretation, 22 articles were included and rated for level of evidence: no article was rated as high and seven as moderate. Overall the methodological quality of studies has improved since the previous systematic review was published in 2006. The conclusions are that there is limited scientific evidence that application of calcium hydroxide or mineral trioxide aggregate to an exposed pulp frequently results in formation of a hard tissue barrier, whereas adhesives or enamel matrix derivatives do not. There is insufficient scientific evidence that mineral trioxide aggregate promotes hard tissue formation more frequently than calcium hydroxide.

Kronisk ansiktssmärta är ett komplext tillstånd med konsekvenser som påverkar hela livssituationen. Syftet med studien var att med ett kvalitativt angreppssätt analysera upplevelsen av vardagssituationer för patienter med svårförklarlig kronisk ansiktssmärta. Elva kvinnor och tre män (21 till 77 år) valdes strategiskt ut bland de patienter med kronisk ansiktssmärta som remitterats till Orofaciala smärtenheten vid Odontologiska fakulteten, Malmö högskola, Malmö, Sverige. Samtliga utvalda informanter accepterade att delta. Data samlades in genom två tematiska djupintervjuer med varje informant. Intervjuerna spelades in med en digital ljudupptagare och skrevs ut ordagrant. Den text som berörde vardagssituationer identifierades i samtliga intervjuer och analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Analysen av informanternas berättelser om vardagssituationer avslöjade en rädsla för konflikter, för den egna svagheten och för det okända. Analysen avslöjade också att informanterna uttryckte självanklagelser och att de undvek situationer som kunde orsaka rädsla. Åtta av de 14 informanterna nämnde inte någon vardagssituation de kände sig tillfreds med. Informanternas upplevelser av vardagssituationer dominerades av negativa känslor. Sammanfattningsvis kan kronisk långvarig svårförklarad ansiktssmärta inte förstås som ett isolerat fenomen utan måste beaktas i relation till den individ som drabbats av tillståndet.

Chronic orofacial pain is a complex condition with consequences that affect daily living. The aim was to analyse nonspecific chronic orofacial pain patients' experiences of everyday life situations, using a qualitative approach. Eleven women and 3 men (21 to 77 years) were selected through a purposive sampling among chronic orofacial pain patients referred to the Faculty of Odontology's orofacial pain unit at Malmo University, Malmo, Sweden. All selected subjects agreed to participate. Data were obtained via two thematic in-depth interviews with each subject. Interviews were taped and transcribed verbatim. Text dealing with the subjects' daily experiences was identified in all interviews and analysed using qualitative content analysis that focused on manifest content. In everyday life situations, the analysis of nonspecific chronic orofacial pain patients' narrations exposed a fear of conflict, of personal weakness, and of the intangible; they also exposed self-blame and avoidance of fear-triggering situations. Eight of the 14 subjects did not spontaneously mention any situation in which they were content during daily living. When the patients spoke about everyday life experiences, the main finding was that unpleasant emotions dominated the subjects' experiences. In conclusion, the chronic orofacial pain condition cannot be understood as an isolated phenomenon; it must be considered in relation to the person who is suffering from the condition.

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to compare the periapical status of root-filled teeth restored with resin composite, laboratory-fabricated crowns, or amalgam in a Swedish adult population. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 440 individuals from a randomly selected sample of 1000 adult residents of a Swedish county. The type, material, and quality of the restorations were recorded for all root-filled teeth by using clinical examination and intraoral clinical photographs. Periapical status, root-filling quality, and marginal bone loss were evaluated on panoramic radiographs. The association between periapical status and type, material, and quality of the restorations was analyzed by using the χ2 test and logistic regression. RESULTS: No difference in the frequency of apical periodontitis (AP) between teeth restored with resin composite, laboratory-fabricated crowns, or amalgam (29.7%, 26.2%, and 43.1%, respectively) of adequate quality was found. No association between AP and resin composite restorations was disclosed; however, there was an association between AP and inadequate root-filling quality and marginal bone loss >1/3 of the root length. CONCLUSIONS: The results did not indicate any association between AP and resin composite restorations. Neither the type nor the material of the restoration was of significance for periapical status as long as the quality was adequate.

AIM: To study the 20-year survival rate and periapical status of root filled teeth in a Swedish population requiring high-cost dental care and to identify factors related to survival and normal periapical status at follow-up. METHODOLOGY: The study population comprised 104 patients selected from four local health insurance districts with treatment plans including radiographs submitted for approval for reimbursement from the Swedish National Dental Insurance in 1977. In 1998, a clinical and radiographic follow-up examination was conducted, to register the status of 449 teeth identified as root filled at baseline. Differences in tooth survival and periapical status at follow-up, with reference to periapical status and quality of root filling at baseline, were analysed by chi-square tests. Multiple regression analysis was used to describe tooth survival and normal periapical status at follow-up, with the explanatory baseline variables: tooth type, type of restoration, type of post, quality of root filling, periapical status, marginal bone loss and caries. Differences were considered significant at a 5% level. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety (65%) of the root filled teeth survived at follow-up. Baseline variables associated with low odds for tooth survival were mandibular molar, maxillary premolar, prefabricated posts other than screw posts, severe marginal bone loss, caries and apical periodontitis (AP). Normal periapical status at follow-up was registered in 49% of the root filled teeth. Baseline variables associated with low odds for normal periapical status (high risk for AP) at follow-up were mandibular molar, maxillary premolar, AP, severe marginal bone loss and inadequate root filling quality. Of the root filled teeth with AP at baseline, 42% had been left untreated during the observation period, and at follow-up, the AP persisted in 57% of these teeth. CONCLUSIONS: After 20 years, 65% of the root filled teeth had survived and one-third remained with a sound periapical condition, without any further treatment. Almost half of the APs registered at baseline were left without treatment, and more than half of them persisted after 20 years.

Aim To compare the technical quality and long-term outcomes of root canal treatment by general practitioners of a Swedish Public Dental Service, before and after an endodontic education including Ni-Ti rotary technique (NiTiR). Methodology A random sample was compiled, comprising one root filled tooth from each of 830 patients, treated by 69 general practitioners participating in the education: 414 teeth root filled in 2002, pre-education, using primarily stainless steel instrumentation and filling by lateral compaction, and 416 teeth root filled post-education (2005), using mainly NiTiR and single-cone obturation. Follow-up radiographs taken in 2009 were evaluated alongside immediate post-filling radiographs from 2002 to 2005. The density and length of the root fillings were registered. Periapical status was assessed by the Periapical Index (PAI), using two definitions of disease: apical periodontitis (AP) (PAI 3 + 4 + 5) and definite AP (PAI 4 + 5). Tooth survival was registered. Root fillings pre- and post-education were compared using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Crude extraction rates per 100 years were calculated for comparison of tooth survival. Explanatory variables (type of tooth, root filling quality, periapical status, marginal bone loss, type and quality of coronal restoration) in relation to the dependent variable (AP at follow-up) were analysed by multivariable logistic regression. Results Follow-up data were available for 229 (55%) of teeth treated pre-and 288 (69%) treated post-education: both tooth survival (P < 0.001) and root filling quality were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the latter. However, there was no corresponding improvement in periapical status. Both preand post-education, root fillings with definite AP on completion of treatment had significantly higher odds of AP or definite AP at follow-up. For teeth treated post-education, inadequate root filling quality was significantly associated with AP at follow-up. Conclusions Despite a higher tooth survival rate and a significant improvement in technical quality of root fillings after the education, there was no corresponding improvement in periapical status.

Aim To demonstrate how the spectrum of diseased pulps may influence sensitivity and specificity in diagnostic studies on pulp status. Methodology An original sample from a previous study consisting of 59 teeth scheduled for root canal treatment was used where the relationship between the response to electric pulp testing and the visual status of the pulp was evaluated. To alter the spectrum of diseased pulps, a hypothetical sample of asymptomatic teeth with deep caries lesions was added to the original sample. Sensitivity and specificity were then compared for the two samples. Results In the original sample of 59 teeth, sensitivity was 72% and specificity 90%. When the spectrum of diseased pulps was altered, sensitivity decreased to 67% and specificity increased to 97%. The change in disease spectrum also decreased the prevalence of necrotic pulps. Conclusions The spectrum of diseased pulps included in a diagnostic study on the accuracy of electric pulp testing, and indirectly also disease prevalence (here pulp necrosis), influences estimates of sensitivity and specificity. This implies that estimates of diagnostic accuracy from one study with a particular tooth population spectrum may not apply to another tooth population with a different disease spectrum.

AIM: To study how products released from different bacteria in a deep carious lesion affect the metabolic activity of odontoblast-like cells and their ability to produce the major organic component of dentine, collagen 1. METHODOLOGY: MDPC-23 cells were exposed to supernatants from biofilm cultures of strains isolated from the deepest part of a carious lesion as well as from a clinical isolate of Enterococcus faecalis. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used for comparison. Cell activity was assessed using an methyl-thiazolyl-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and collagen 1 levels were determined by ELISA. RESULTS:The lesion microflora was dominated by Lactobacillus spp. Neither extracellular products from the isolates nor LPS affected the activity of the MDPC-23 cells, whereas extracellular products from E. faecalis and LTA significantly reduced total cell activity (P < 0.01). Enterococcus faecalis had an inhibitory effect upon collagen 1 production by the cells, whereas no such effect or even a slight stimulatory effect was seen for the isolates from the deep carious lesion. CONCLUSIONS: These studies indicate that culture supernatants from E. faecalis reduced the metabolic activity of odontoblast-like cells as shown using the MTT assay. No effect was seen for supernatants from biofilms of bacteria recovered from a deep carious lesion. Different bacteria varied in their effects upon collagen 1 production suggesting that the nature of the bacterial species in a carious lesion may have a direct influence upon the ability of the odontoblasts to produce tertiary dentine.

INTRODUCTION: Experimental studies show that dental pulp cells respond unfavorably to contact with resin composite restorative material. Hypothetically, in a random population, the frequency of apical periodontitis should be higher for teeth restored with resin composite than with amalgam. Therefore, the aim was to compare the periapical status of non-root-filled teeth restored with resin composite, amalgam, or laboratory-fabricated crowns in an adult Swedish population. METHODS: The subjects comprised 440 individuals from a randomly selected sample of 1,000 adult residents of a Swedish county. The type, material, and quality of the restorations were recorded for all non-root-filled teeth by clinical examination and intraoral clinical photographs. Periapical status was evaluated on panoramic radiographs. The association between periapical status and type, material, and quality of the restorations was analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the frequency of apical periodontitis (AP) between teeth restored with resin composite or amalgam (1.3% and 1.1%, respectively). The frequency of AP for teeth restored with laboratory-fabricated crowns was significantly higher (6.3%). Regression analysis showed no association between AP and resin composite restorations but a significant association with laboratory-fabricated crowns. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the risk of damage to the pulp-dentin complex from exposure to resin composite material and dentin bonding agents shown in experimental studies is not reflected in the clinical setting. However, in the study sample, AP was diagnosed in a significantly higher proportion of teeth restored with laboratory-fabricated crowns.

Aim To characterize the hard tissue formed in human teeth experimentally pulp capped either with calcium hydroxide or with Emdogain®Gel (Biora AB, Malmö, Sweden) – , a derivative of enamel matrix (EMD), using two markers for dentine; dentine sialoprotein (DSP) and type 1 collagen (Col I). Formation of hard tissue following pulp capping in these teeth has previously been observed and reported. Methodology Affinity-purified rabbit anti-Col I and anti-DSP polyclonal antibodies were used to stain histological sections from 9 pairs of contra-lateral premolars, that had been experimentally pulp amputated and randomly capped with EMDgel or calcium hydroxide. The teeth were extracted 12 weeks after being pulp capped. Results In the calcium hydroxide treated teeth DSP was seen in the new hard tissue which formed a bridge. DSP was also seen in the newly formed hard tissue in the EMDgel treated teeth. Proliferated pulp tissue partly filled the space initially occupied by EMDgel and DSP-stained hard tissue was observed alongside exposed dentine surfaces as well as in isolated masses within the proliferated pulp tissue, although the new hard tissue did not cover the pulp exposure. DSP staining was also seen in the cells lining the hard tissue in both groups. Col I staining was seen in the newly formed hard tissue in both groups. Conclusions The new hard tissue formed after pulp capping with EMDgel or calcium hydroxide contained DSP and Col I, considered to be markers for dentine.