Purpose: The aim of this study was to predict the necessity of periodontal pocket curettage by the salivary levels of hemoglobin and lactose dehydrogenase at baseline.

Materials and Methods: The study population was selected from the subjects with chronic periodontitis who attended eight private dental offices. The study population consisted of 14 men and 32 women, and their mean age was 53.9+/-15.4. Patients with periodontal pockets deeper than 4 mm after initial treatment were diagnosed as necessity pocket curettage (Group II: n=31). Other patients were once finished periodontal therapy and recommended to visit for the supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) (Group I: n=15). Salivary levels of lactose dehydrogenase and hemoglobin were measured using commercially available kits, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Results: For predict the prognosis of the initial treatment, statistically significant differences were not observed in clinical markers. In contrast both hemoglobin and lactose dehydrogenase, mean values were significantly higher in Group II patients. In addition, 94.4% patients were necessary of the periodontal curettage if the lactose dehydrogenase value was more than 333.3 IU/L at baseline.

Conclusion: Salivary levels of lactose dehydrogenase at baseline may be useful markers for the prediction of the necessity of pocket curettage after initial periodontal therapy.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the dentin permeability with/without resin coating in different storage media and periods.

Materials and Methods: Prepared bovine dentin disks were divided into three groups; 1) left uncoated as a control, 2) resin-coated with Clearfil SE Bond only, and 3) coated with the combination of SE and Clearfil Protect Liner F. The hydraulic conductance of each specimen was measured after storage in either deionized water or artificial saliva. The hydraulic conductance value was expressed as the percentage of baseline hydraulic conductance.

Results: For the control group, the mean percentage of hydraulic conductance to baseline hydraulic conductance after 1, 30, and 90 days were 103.7%, 126.0%, and 128.6% in deionized water, and 92.5%, 64.4%, and 62.2% in artificial saliva, respectively. The mean percentage of hydraulic conductance to baseline hydraulic conductance of coated with the combination of SE and Clearfil Protect Liner F after 1 day in artificial saliva yielded the lowest (2.5%) among all the groups.

Conclusion: Application of the resin coating to dentin surface demonstrated remarkable reduction of dentin permeability over time.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate cavity adaptation between erbium-doped: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiated cavity and composite resin using a universal type adhesive with different application by means of a swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Materials and Methods: A cylindrical cavity was prepared on the labial surface of extracted bovine incisor by either rotary cutting instrument or Er:YAG laser. The cavity was applied by either two-step self-etching adhesive (Clearfil SE Bond, CS) or universal type adhesive (Schotchbond Universal, SU), as self-etching or selective enamel etching, and then was restored with a flowable composite resin. Gap formation of enamel and dentin interface was evaluated by an SS-OCT.

Results: At the enamel interface, there are no statistical differences between bur preparation and laser preparation in each group. For bur prepared SU groups, selective enamel etching showed less gap formation than self-etching group. At the dentin interfaces, there are no statistical differences between bur preparation and laser preparation. Selective enamel etching did not affect gap formation at dentin. On lased dentin, CS showed better adaptation compared to SU.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the universal type adhesive showed comparable adaptability to tooth substrate prepared by bur and laser, and selective enamel etching improved adaptation to bur prepared enamel in case of a universal type adhesive.