The in vitro pH changes in root dentin over a period of 2 weeks was investigated in 48 extracted bicuspids after intracanal placement of either Roeko Calcium Hydroxide Plus Points, aqueous calcium hydroxide paste, or gutta-percha points (control group) after root canal preparation. Microelectrodes were placed in outer and inner root dentin at cervical, middle, and apical thirds of the root to measure the pH at 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days. Roeko Calcium Hydroxide Plus Points reached a peak inner dentine pH of 11.67 and a peak outer dentine pH of 10.82 at 3 h. In addition, Roeko Calcium Hydroxide Plus Points maintained an outer dentine pH above 9.5 for approximately 2 days, whereas the aqueous calcium hydroxide paste did not reach this pH. However, the alkalinity in dentin with Roeko Calcium Hydroxide Plus Points was maintained for 7 days only, whereas aqueous calcium hydroxide paste maintained an alkaline environment throughout the 2-week period.

This study examined voids produced in impressions of an automixed addition-reaction silicone. Two operators took the impressions using material dispensed from either intra-oral tips or an impression syringe. The material was also hand-mixed for comparison. There were no differences in the number of voids in the automixed material dispensed using the intra-oral tip or impression syringe. Automixing produced substantially fewer voids than hand-mixing. There was a significant difference in the number of voids in the impressions made by the two operators.

This study compares the microleakage of a glass ionomer cement, Ketac Fil, used without cavity conditioning, with the established intermediate restorative materials, Cavit-W, and a reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol cement, Kalzinol. Microleakage was assessed using an electrochemical technique. At the end of 30 days, the materials tested, listed in decreasing order of microleakage, were Cavit-W, Ketac Fil inserted without cavity conditioning, Kalzinol, and the control group of Ketac Fil inserted into conditioned cavities. There was no significant difference in the microleakage observed in Ketac Fil restorations inserted without cavity conditioning and Kalzinol (p = 0.450), while the differences between the other groups were highly significant (p less than 0.001).

It is widely accepted that the overhanging restoration is an aggravating factor in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease, and when detected, the overhang should be removed. Some methods for removing proximal amalgam overhangs are the EVA reciprocating motor driven system, roto-pro, flame-shaped steel bur, diamond bur and sonic scaler. This article illustrates the trimmed surface after overhang removal with photographs taken at 1:1 magnification. The smoothest surface was produced by EVA system where the overhang was removed with a diamond tip followed by polishing with prophylaxis paste using the plastic tip. The roughest surface was produced by the sonic scaler, whilst the others were intermediate. Of the single step methods, the instrument which combined speed while leaving a reasonable surface was the rotopro.