HOW MATERIALS SCIENCE HAS CHANGED CLINICAL PULP THERAPY?
ANNA FUKS
Prof. Anna B. Fuks was born in Curitiba, Brazil, and graduated in Dentistry by the Federal University of the State of Parana. She completed her post-graduate course in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Alabama, USA. and did her residency at the Children’s Hospital there. She returned to Brazil, where she practiced and taught Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Parana until 1973 when she immigrated to Israel and joined the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, reaching the degree of Professor that she maintains until the present date.
Concomitantly to teaching and clinical practice Prof. Fuks dedicated herself to clinical and laboratory research. Being fluent in several languages she has lectured in several countries worldwide.
Dr. Fuks was President of the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry, has published over 130 articles and 85 abstracts in many international journals, wrote 18 chapters in Pediatric Dentistry books, and continues serving actively as a member of the Editorial Board of several dental journals.
Dr. Fuks has received several international prizes in research. In 2013 she received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and in 2015 became an Honorary Member of the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry (IAPD).
Presently she teaches at the Department of Pediatric Dentistryof the Hadassah School of Dental Medicine in Jerusalem, and was the Principal Editor of the recently published Pediatric Endodontics, the only book specialized in endodontic treatment for primary and young permanent teeth. The book has already been translated into Chinese and the Turkish version is soon appearing in the market.
ABSTRACT
Calcium silicate cements have changed our methods of maintaining pulp integrity and health. These materials have evolved concurrently with our more conservative approach to pulp therapy, allowing caries to selectively remain and being minimally invasive. The speakers will blend a discussion of the bioactivity of the cements with a discussion of choosing an affordable, convenient and clinically effective product for multiple pulp therapy indications. Materials science analyses and ISO 6876 testing data will be presented on the compositions of the bioactive ceramics, physical characteristics (particle size and setting times) and costs per dose. Confusing distinctions among products will be clarified with pros and cons of various product formats.
Results of several randomized clinical trials using calcium silicate cements on primary teeth pulpotomy have demonstrated that these materials are equal or even better than the traditional formocresol. This fact, together with improved dispensing systems (decreasing waste and reducing costs) and better handling properties of some of these materials, may be suggested as an affordable and biologic substitute to formocresol in primary teeth pulpotomy.
