PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of peracetic acid in the microbiological sterilisation of dental materials. METHODS Peracetic acid solution was evaluated at concentrations of 800, 1500 and 2500 ppm. At these concentrations, it was determined whether peracetic acid caused corrosion to dental instruments and induced cellular mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. In addition, the minimum inhibito...

In this article, we report on the evolution of a series of dental outreach missions sponsored by Stony Brook University to remote areas of Madagascar over a nine-year period. The project evolved from one dental resident performing only dental extractions in 1999 to a team comprised of two dentists, six third-year dental students, and two dental assistants performing dental restorations, extract...

A 20 year-old female developed swelling and protrusions of the tongue and marked facial swelling while under general anaesthesia for dental restoration and gigivectomy. The initial diagnosis was angioedema; however x-rays showed marked subcutaneous emphysema more extensive in the perimandibular area with a minimal amount in the neck. There was no evidence of pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax. T...

Accidental ingestion of instruments or their components is a possible complication of dental treatment. Although in many cases the foreign object can pass through the gastrointestinal tract without any need for surgical intervention to retrieve it, sometimes such incidents can be life-threatening. This paper reports a case of accidental ingestion of an air-water syringe tip during routine denta...

REFERENCES 1. Council Directive 80/778/EEC [European Economic Community] concerning the quality of drinking water intended for human consumption. July 15,1980. 2. Martin MV. The significance of the bacterial contamination of dental unit water systems. Br Dent J 1987;163:152-154. 3. Williams JF, Huntington MK, Johnston AM. Dental waterlines. A source of contamination. Infection Control and Steri...

BACKGROUND Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) is often required to perform dental procedures in children. Serious adverse outcomes, while rare, are usually preventable. OBJECTIVES To determine the proportion of dental practitioners making use of paediatric dental chair PSA in Gauteng Province, South Africa, describe their PSA practice, and determine compliance with recommended safety sta...