Magister Chirurgiae Dentium (MChD) / The use of provisional acrylic crowns is common practice with prosthodontic treatment. Provisional crowns are prone to marginal leakage and poor retention due to weak interim cements. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the application of two different dentine-bonding agents on the microleakage of provisional crowns. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / The objectives of this study were to create an in vitro situation which closest resembled the clinical situation by inclusion of human dentine discs at a specified anatomic location as barrier and evaluating if comparable or graded perfusion could be identified as well as whether a link existed between dentine thickness and permeability. The other leg of the study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Xeno III, one of the newly released new generation dentine bonding agents and to evaluate its cytotoxicity in an in vitro pulp chamber device, determining which thickness of dentine would be able to protect the dental pulp from noxious substances in the bonding agent. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / The demand for posterior aesthetic restorations has dramatically increased in recent years. Several new materials have been developed with improved aesthetic, adhesive and mechanical properties. However, microleakage elimination, especially if the margins are on dentine or cementum, and attainment of optimum mechanical properties for posterior use, are still questionable. The aim of this study was to investigate microleakage and surface microhardness of a nanofilled, a nanohybrid and an ormocer based nano-ceramic composite restorative material. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Amalgam bonding agents have been shown to enhance retention of amalgam restorations by mechanical means. However, recent studies showed that the use o glass ionomer cements and resin cements as lining and bonding materials to amalgam restorations will increase the retentive strength of the amalgam restorations, hence reducing the micro leakage and secondary caries. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative retentive strength of conventional amalgam restorations and bonded amalgam restorations using resin adhesive, glass ionomer cements and resin cements. / South Africa

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The investigation was undertaken to determine the effects of the polishing and finishing of dental amalgam in relation to its marginal breakdown. The study was also conducted to make a clinical comparison of the marginal integrity of Dispersalloy restorations as compared to Twentieth Century Fine Cut Alloy restorations in both the polished and unpolished state. Forty patients with a total of 131 Class I amalgam restorations were used as the study group. The two alloy systems and polish or unpolish techniques were selected from a random table. Photographic evaluation of the restorations was used to judge the degree of marginal breakdown. The results of the study at the one-year evaluation show two main findings: (1) the Dispersalloy restorations showed less marginal breakdown than the Twentieth Century Fine Cut Alloy restorations, and (2) there was no significant difference between the polished and unpolished restorations overall.

Background: Da Nang city is located in the central of Vietnam and is a developing country in Asia. Previous studies have shown high dental caries prevalence among young children in Vietnam. Dental caries is a chronic disease that can cause pain and discomfort for individuals suffering from the disease. In 2008 intervention program was made at Hoa Huong Dong Pre-school, in Da Nang. The intervention was made to promote better dental health in children at the school, after study results showed that almost all children had at least one dental caries lesion. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental caries among pre-school children in Da Nang, Vietnam. Method: The study was a cross-sectional cohort study with clinical dental examination, among 143 children aged 3 and 5 at Hoa Huong Dong Pre-school in Da Nang. Result: Results showed that 96.5 % of all participating children suffered from at least one initial and, or manifest dental carious lesion. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that dental caries prevalence among 3- and 5-year old children is high. Further prevention programs and more studies to promote better dental health for young children in Da Nang are needed.

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Philosophy