Dear Readers,

In this special Compendium Research Supplement, we focus on two areas of research vital to clinicians—dental cement and anesthetics. In our first article, “A Bioactive Dental Luting Cement—Its Retentive Properties and 3-Year Clinical Findings,” the authors conducted a clinical validation study to determine the performance of a new bioactive dental cement for permanent cementation. Comprised of calcium aluminate and glass-ionomer components, the product is a hybrid material that has, thus far, after several years of clinical observation, performed quite well as a luting agent for permanent restorations. Besides offering performance, this new cement’s bioactive properties may provide promising clinical advantages for the future.

Our second article, “Faster Onset and More Comfortable Injection with Alkalinized 2% Lidocaine with Epinephrine 1:100,000,” expounds on the challenge that clinicians face regarding the administering of anesthetics. While local anesthetic is the dentist’s primary tool for pain management, its acidity may contribute to lengthy waiting periods while taking effect. This study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in onset of surgical analgesia by precisely alkalinizing lidocaine with epinephrine solution and delivering the alkalinized solution using an innovative method. The implications are that clinicians could begin procedures more quickly and give patients a more comfortable injection by alkalinizing their lidocaine/epinephrine immediately before delivering the injection.

To view more cutting-edge dental research to help you stay abreast of developments in dentistry, please visit www.dentalaegis.com/cced. There you’ll find both current and archived issues of Compendium, including a full range of CE courses. I welcome your comments and suggestions at lrose@aegiscomm.com. Thank you for your interest in and continuing support of Compendium.

Sincerely,

Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD

Editor-in-Chief