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Biomedical subjects

G J Christensen

Publications and source records attributed to G J Christensen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Contemporary dental practice in the UK: indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate, by questionnaire, the use and selection of materials and techniques for indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics by dental practitioners in the North West of England and Scotland. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1,000 general dental practitioners selected at random from dentists in Scotland and the North West of England. Non-responders were sent another questionnaire after a period of 4 weeks had elapsed. RESULTS: A total of 701 usable questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 70%. When selecting a material for the core build-up of vital teeth, practitioners used the following materials (%): amalgam (60), dual and light-cured resin composite (54), glass-ionomer cements (47), compomer (29) and resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (24). Where the use of a post was indicated indirect posts of both precious (67) and non-precious (37) alloys were preferred to prefabricated posts by the majority of practitioners for the restoration of root filled teeth. Direct titanium (14) and stainless steel (14) posts were not used extensively. Impression materials used by the practitioners were as follows: addition-cured silicone (70), condensation-cured silicone (20), polyether (9) and polysulphide (2). Traditional glass-ionomer cements (59) were used for the luting of single and multiple porcelain fused to metal units, with zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate cements (33) being the preferred alternatives. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the practitioners surveyed in this study used: amalgam for core build-ups; indirect posts; addition-cured silicone for impressions; and glass-ionomer cements for luting procedures.

Crowns↗
PubMed2005

Contemporary dental practice in the UK: demographic data and practising arrangements.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate, by questionnaire, various aspects of primary dental care provision in the North West of England and Scotland. METHOD: A questionnaire containing 79 questions was sent to 1,000 practitioners, selected at random, in the North West of England and Scotland. Non-responders were sent another questionnaire after a period of 4 weeks had elapsed. RESULTS: Overall a response rate of 70% was achieved. The majority of practitioners were practice principals (65%), working in a group NHS practice (80%) located in a city or town centre (49%). On average 10-20 patients were treated each session with fewer patients treated per session under private arrangements. Many practitioners were found to lack hygienist support (44%) and to employ unqualified dental nurses (82%). Younger practitioners were more likely than senior colleagues to have access to up-to-date computers whilst 37% and 74% of respondents never used CAL programmes or magnification respectively. Contemporary cross-infection control standards were used by the majority of practitioners, although 3% of practitioners reported only autoclaving their handpiece once a day. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of practitioners, involved in this study, worked under National Health Service (NHS) regulations as principals in a group practice where the workload was greater than the private/independent sector. Contemporary cross-infection procedures were used routinely. In contrast computer-aided learning programmes and magnification were not used routinely. The practitioners in this study employed significant numbers of unqualified dental nurses.

Anesthesia, Dental↗
PubMed2004

Contemporary dental practice in the UK: aspects of direct restorations, endodontics and bleaching.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate by questionnaire, the use and selection of materials and techniques for the placement of direct restorations and the provision of endodontics and bleaching by dental practitioners in the North West of England and Scotland. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1,000 general dental practitioners selected at random from dentists in Scotland and the North West of England. Non-responders were sent another questionnaire after a period of 4 weeks had elapsed. RESULTS: A total of 701 usable questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 70%. The most commonly used material for the restoration of Class II cavities in premolar and permanent molar teeth was amalgam (n = 605, 86%) and (n = 634, 90%) respectively. Many practitioners (n = 419, 60%) felt amalgam should continue to be used but a majority (n = 374, 66%) remained unconvinced about the merits of amalgam bonding. A minority (n = 63, 9%) of practitioners used predominantly directly placed resin composite rather than amalgam to restore Class II cavities in premolar and permanent molar teeth. Home-based vital bleaching was provided by a significant number (n = 245, 35%) of practitioners with only 18% (n = 123) providing practice-based bleaching. The most commonly used endodontic obturation technique was cold lateral condensation (n = 527, 75%) with 61% (n = 425) of respondents not using rubber dam routinely for endodontics. CONCLUSIONS: For the practitioners in this survey, amalgam was the most frequently selected direct restorative material. Few practitioners used amalgam bonding let alone direct resin composite for posterior restorations. Home-based rather than practice-based bleaching procedures were preferred, as were more traditional endodontic obturation techniques.

Dental Materials↗
PubMed2001

Operating gloves. The good and the bad.

The use of gloves in all types of dentistry has been a major benefit to both patients and dentists. However, operating gloves are not without challenges. Tight ambidextrous gloves can produce significant and debilitating hand pain; latex allergies are a problem for many dental personnel and patients; and the disagreeable taste; odor and powder of some brands of gloves has frustrated both professionals and patients. In spite of the challenges that glove use poses, it offers many advantages--foremost among them the protection of patient and dentist alike from infection.

Functional Laterality↗
PubMed2001

Treating the potential problem patient.

Problem patients exist in all dental practices. In this article, I have described methods of identifying these people and assisting them in becoming acceptable patients. I also have made suggestions to reduce the inconveniences encountered when treating problem patients.

Dentist-Patient Relations↗
PubMed2001

Dental continuing education in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

The American people and our profession have been dealt a traumatic blow. The short-term effects of this incident are obvious: all aspects of our economy have slowed; travel and dental CE attendance are down; dentists are seeking other modes of CE that do not require travel. As the country recovers, I predict that dental CE will have a temporary lull, but that the desire for dental CE will continue to expand, and that the destination and local courses to which we have been accustomed will flourish again.

Aircraft↗
PubMed2001

It's time to revive dental study clubs.

Dental study clubs provide a major opportunity for dentists to meet with other dentists and dental team members and to learn in a friendly, nonthreatening environment. They afford members the opportunity to increase their knowledge of and clinical skills in using new concepts, materials, techniques and devices by hearing about them from fellow members or by working with and evaluating innovations themselves for the benefit of other members. I strongly support the study club concept, and I feel that it should be encouraged in all clinical disciplines in all parts of the country.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2001

Computerized restorative dentistry. State of the art.

Computerized systems for accomplishing restorative dentistry have made a significant impact on dentistry worldwide. Of such systems, only the CEREC system has remained on the market for a period of years. Use of computerized restorative dentistry in private offices is growing, and other methods of using this concept in dentistry are continuing to improve. I am confident that computerized restorative dentistry will grow and prosper, and that it will become a viable treatment entity for the profession in the future.

Ceramics↗
PubMed2000

The diversity of dentistry.

In a relatively brief time, the dental profession has evolved into one of the most recognized and respected professions. There still is, however, a lack of public knowledge about dentistry and the procedures dentists can accomplish in addition to restoring teeth. Life-enhancing, dramatically significant oral procedures now are available to the public. The diverse nature of the professional activities in which dentists may involve themselves needs to be made public knowledge. This education of the public should come from the individual members of the profession and from organized dental groups.

Dentistry↗
PubMed2000

Elective vs. mandatory dentistry.

A major portion of the dental treatment provided today for the American consumer is elective. Dental patients are confused when they receive diverse treatment plans from different dentists. If treatment plans for oral therapy are divided into mandatory and elective categories, dental patients experience far less confusion. In this article, I have discussed methods of implementing this form of treatment planning. Dividing treatment plans into categories of mandatory and elective care has advantages for dental patients, the dental team and the profession as a whole.

Dental Care↗
PubMed2000

Improving the quality of fixed prosthodontic services.

I have discussed only the three problems most frequently mentioned by laboratory technicians in the Lab Management Today survey. In my opinion, there are many more areas in fixed prosthodontics that need attention. To achieve this, we must improve the quality of the procedures we use in creating fixed prostheses. Laboratory technicians observe the quality of impressions, tooth preparations and interocclusal records that are sent to them by the dentists with whom they work. Their statements about the need for improvement on several of the aspects of the clinical procedure are of concern. It is dentists' professional responsibility to upgrade their clinical techniques so that they produce high-quality impressions of adequate tooth preparations and transfer information about the proper interocclusal relationship to the dental technician.

Dental Impression Technique↗