There are no previous studies validating the accuracy and repeatability of ClearMatch photographic shade analysis system. The purpose of this study was to compare the shade matches performed by a photographic shade analysis system (ClearMatch) with conventional visual shade matching method under simulated clinical conditions. Three shade matching methods were used to match twelve shade tabs under simulated clinical conditions using a Vita Classical shade guide: conventional visual shade matching using 3 human raters (VM – Visual method), photographic shade analysis system (CM - ClearMatch) using two different ways of normalizing the image (CM-A2 and CM-ref respectively). Shade matching for all methods was completed at two separate sessions. The Kappa statistic was used to determine the intra-rater and inter-rater agreement. CIELAB values of the shade results were used to produce scatter plots as well as to calculate the color difference (delta E) between VM and CM groups. There was no inter-rater agreement between VM and CM-A2 (k=0.000 and k=0.015 for the first and second sessions respectively) while VM and CM-ref showed weak agreement (k=0.244 and k=0.091 respectively). Intra-rater agreement was strong in all groups VM, CM-A2 and CM-ref (0.705, 0.803 and 0.681 respectively). CM-A2 had 2 (8.3%) shade matches with a delta E of less than 2.6 (clinically imperceptible), while CM-ref had 12 (50.0%) imperceptible matches. CM-A2 had an additional 16 (66.6%) shade matches with delta E of less than 5.5 (clinically acceptable), while CM-ref had 23 (95.8%) additional acceptable matches. There was poor agreement in exact shade matches between conventional visual shade matching method and the photographic shade analysis system. The repeatability of the photographic shade analysis system was shown to be comparable to conventional visual shade matching. Using conventional shade matching as the gold standard, the capability of this photographic shade analysis system to accurately shade match has not been achieved.

<p>The objective of this study was to assess coronal discoloration due to four commonly used endodontic sealers with gutta-percha, using spectrophotometric analysis. Extracted human teeth were obturated with the experimental sealers and GP. The sealers that were tested included AH Plus, EndoRez, and Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer. The teeth were maintained in a moist environment at 37 C. Immediate pretreatment readings of the crowns of the extracted teeth with a spectrometer were used as baseline data. Subsequent readings were taken every two weeks for two months. Results were analysed using Wilcoxson Signed Rank sum test and Kruskal Wallis test.</p>

<p>The objective of this study was to assess coronal discoloration due to four commonly used endodontic sealers with gutta-percha, using spectrophotometric analysis. Extracted human teeth were obturated with the experimental sealers and GP. The sealers that were tested included AH Plus, EndoRez, and Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer. The teeth were maintained in a moist environment at 37 C. Immediate pretreatment readings of the crowns of the extracted teeth with a spectrometer were used as baseline data. Subsequent readings were taken every two weeks for two months. Results were analysed using Wilcoxson Signed Rank sum test and Kruskal Wallis test.</p>

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / The objective of this study was to assess coronal discoloration due to four commonly used endodontic sealers with gutta-percha, using spectrophotometric analysis. Extracted human teeth were obturated with the experimental sealers and GP. The sealers that were tested included AH Plus, EndoRez, and Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer. The teeth were maintained in a moist environment at 37 C. Immediate pretreatment readings of the crowns of the extracted teeth with a spectrometer were used as baseline data. Subsequent readings were taken every two weeks for two months. Results were analysed using Wilcoxson Signed Rank sum test and Kruskal Wallis test. / South Africa

Objectives: To measure the level of hydrogen peroxide penetration into the pulp chamber and to evaluate its whitening efficacy when the tooth is treated with an innovative double layer of potassium nitrate desensitizing agent and hydrogen peroxide whitening gel. Methods: Extracted human molar teeth (n=160) were collected. Roots were trimmed 3 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junction, the pulp was removed and a cavity prepared, leaving a standardized wall of 2 mm thickness, which retained 100 µL of acetate buffer solution. A standardized whitening area of 6 mm in diameter was established buccally by painting the rest of the tooth with gray nail varnish. The teeth were randomly assigned into four groups. Group 1: no treatment (glycerin gel, negative control); Group 2: double layer of 20 L 5% potassium nitrate (Relief ACP, Philips Oral Healthcare) and 100 L 25% hydrogen peroxide (Zoom Chairside Whitening Gel, Philips Oral Healthcare); Group 3: double layer of 40 L 5% potassium nitrate and 100 L 25% hydrogen peroxide; and Group 4: 100 L 25% hydrogen peroxide (positive control). All groups received three 45-minute sessions of in-office whitening with light activation at 3-day intervals. Hydrogen peroxide penetration was assessed spectrophotometrically using leucocrystal violet and horseradish peroxidase. Color measurements were assessed with VITA Easyshade at baseline, 1-day, and 1-month post-whitening. Tooth color change was measured per Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage methodology. One-way ANOVA with Tukey multiple comparisons adjustment was performed to compare group differences in overall tooth color change (Delta E*) and hydrogen peroxide penetration (type I error = 0.05). Results: Hydrogen peroxide penetration levels were not significantly different between Group 2 and Group 4; however, the levels were significantly higher than Group 1 and Group 3 (p< 0.0001). Groups 2, 3 and 4 showed no differences for overall tooth color change but differed significantly from the negative control group (Group 1) at 1-day and 1-month post-whitening. Conclusions: Hydrogen peroxide penetration was affected when pretreated by potassium nitrate desensitizer; however, the double layer technique did not adversely affect the whitening efficacy.