Biodentine is a calcium-silicate based material that has drawn attention in recent years and has been advocated to be used in various clinical applications, such as root perforations, apexification, resorptions, retrograde fillings, pulp capping procedures, and dentine replacement. There has been considerable research performed on this material since its launching; however, there is scarce number of review articles that collates information and data obtained from these studies. Therefore, this review article was prepared to provide the reader with a general picture regarding the findings about various characteristics of the material. The results of a PubMed search were classified and presented along with some critical comments where necessary. The review initially focuses on various physical properties of the material with subheadings and continues with biocompatibility. Another section includes the review of studies on Biodentine as a vital pulp treatment material and the article is finalized with the summary of some case reports where the material has been used.

Titanium and titanium alloys are widely used for fabrication of dental implants. Because of potential immunologic and possible esthetic compromises with titanium implants, novel implant technologies are being developed. However, these novel technologies must maintain the characteristics that provide titanium implants with their high success rates. Zirconia implants were introduced into dental implantology as an alternative to titanium implants. Zirconia seems to be a suitable implant material because of its toothlike color, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and low plaque affinity. The aim of this study is to review clinical and research articles conducted on zirconia dental implants, compare them with titanium dental implants, and provide information on zirconia dental implant osseointegration and mechanical strength. Zirconia dental implants have the potential to become alternative dental implants to titanium dental implants, but they are not yet in routine clinical use.

Complete feeding sequences (bite to terminal swallow) were recorded in 11 individuals (Class I occlusions) feeding on apple, banana and biscuit (hard cookie) to establish whether jaw movements characteristic of the stage I transport, chewing, stage II transport and swallowing processes found in non-human mammals could be identified in man. All participants took large natural bites (known weight) of each food, but seven were supplied standard 6-g pieces of apple. Jaw movements (three axes) were recorded using a locally calibrated Sirognathograph. Discrete stage I transport movements (bite moved from incisors to postcanines), were found in most records, but least frequently for banana. The number of chewing cycles before the first in-sequence swallow increased in the order: banana, ( = ) apple without peel, apple with peel, biscuit. Chewing cycles showed subtle changes in gape profile but significant variation in mediolateral movement cycle to cycle. Morphologically distinct stage II transport cycles could not be identified. Swallows occurred intermittently during chewing (79% of all sequences, n = 146) with cycle durations in excess of 1 s in contrast to the range for chewing (0.6-0.7 s). Almost all sequences ended with a period, clearance, of highly irregular jaw movements often including swallows. Clearance has not been described in other mammals. Food consistency affected feeding behaviour. The "chew/swallow' ratio (total number of chews/total number of swallows) increased with food hardness. The number of chewing cycles before the first in-sequence swallow also increased. Food type significantly affected sequence duration. The duration of clearance was also affected by bite weight and food hardness. It is concluded that initial food consistency determines the number of chewing cycles before the first swallow and overall sequence duration. The change in the pattern of jaw movement in both the vertical and mediolateral directions cycle to cycle suggests continuous sensory modulation of the motor output to the mandibular musculature.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surface treatments; sandblasting, Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, or CO ₂ laser irradiation on the shear bond strength (SBS) of zirconia ceramic to dentin. Background data: Zirconia is not properly luted with resin cements. Various surface treatment methods have been suggested for zirconia to obtain high bond strength to resin cements. There is no study that compared the effect of different laser types (Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, CO ₂ ) with sandblasting on SBS between zirconia and dentin. Methods: One hundred and twenty human maxillary third molar teeth were sectioned 3 mm below the occlusal surfaces, embedded in a metal ring with autopolymerizing acrylic resin, and stored in distilled water at 37 ⁰ C. One hundred and twenty disc-shaped zirconia specimens were fabricated (6 mm in diameter and 4 mm in thickness), and randomly assigned to six groups ( n =20): Group 1, untreated (control); Group 2, sandblasted; Group 3, Er:YAG laser irradiated; Group 4, Nd:YAG laser irradiated with contact; Group 5, Nd:YAG laser irradiated with non-contact; Group 6, CO ₂ laser irradiated. They were cemented onto the dentin with dual-cured resin cement (Variolink ^® ). After they were stored in distilled water at 37 ⁰ C for 24 h, the SBS test was performed at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The fractured specimens were examined under a stereomicroscope to evaluate the fracture pattern. Results: Results of this study did not show statistically significant differences between Groups 1 and 2, or among Groups 3, 4 and 5. The lowest SBS was recorded in Group 6 (CO ₂ laser), and the highest SBS was recorded in Group 4 (Nd:YAG laser with contact), followed by Group 3 (Er:YAG laser). The adhesive failure mode was predominantly observed in Groups 2, 3, 5, and 6. Group 1 showed 45% mixed failure and Group 4 showed 50% mixed failure. Conclusions: This study shows that Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser treatment increased the bond strength of zirconia compared to sandbasting and CO ₂ laser treatment.