This paper describes some of the most used methods for caries lesion progression measurement in in vivo and in vitro research. Clinical measurements are usually limited to visual inspection. Currentl available scoring systems and statistical analyses, making use of changes in lesion stage, have the potential to make caries clinical trials more efficient. A method for light fluorescence measurement is capable of measuring small changes in mineral loss for early lesions. In the laboratory, mainly destructive methods are used. The most widely accepted gold standard at the moment is transversal microradiography (TMR). Other microradiographical methods are described, that allow for longitudinal measurements.

Aim of this study was to get more insight into the career choice, plans and expectations, and practice pattern preferences of male and female dental students in the Netherlands. A structured questionnaire was sent out to all 5th year dental students in the Netherlands in the academic year 2001/2002 (n = 258). The overall response was 65%. Both male and female students preferred working in a group practice environment rather than a solo practice, in which significant more males prefered ownership. Only 23% of the males and 7% of the females expected to work full time in the future. An important factor was leisure time, but for the female students ´taking care for children´ was still decisive. The new job description ´oral physician´ for the future dentist as advocated by Dutch health authorities was found less attractive than the present profession ´dentist´. Only a quarter of the females and half of the males is interested to serve as manager of a team of dental health professionals. It is concluded that male and female dental students differ in their plans and expectations with respect to their future career choices and practice pattern preferences. As the majority of the present dental students is female this will have a major impact on the dental profession.

The advantages of stopping or reducing antithrombotic therapy should always be weigh out against the disadvantage of the enlarged risk of thrombo-embolic complications. A review of the available literature showed that, in general, it is not necessary to stop the use of aspirin or clopidogrel in case of normal dental surgery. If in doubt and in all cases of other antithrombotic therapy the medical specialist should be consulted. The treatment of postoperative hemorrhage is described and the medical legal aspects are discussed.

In the Netherlands, an increasing number of people use cocaine frequently, which may induce orofacial complications such as perforation of the nasal septum and palate, gingival lesions and dental erosion. In addition, recent use of cocaine increases the risk of cardiovascular complications during dental treatment, especially when local anaesthetics or adrenaline-impregnated retraction cords are used. Therefore, dental treatment should be postponed at least 6 to 24 hours after the use of cocaine.

Currently, a lot of interest exists in tissue substitution by so-called tissue engineering methods. However, before the newly, developed products can be applied in humans, their efficacy has to be proven in experimental animal research. The article provides an overview of the various animal models which are currently used for the analysis of tissue engineered bone, cartilage, skin, nerve and muscle tissue.

Three cleft patients were treated with RED-distraction for maxillary hypoplasia. In all patients, the desired advancement could be achieved easily. The occlusion, the lip relation and the facial profile improved remarkably post treatment. Although the treatment was well tolerated by the patients, some limitations of the treatment were also noted, such as a nasal speech and discomfort by the head frame. Distraction osteogenesis in the maxilla has several advantages when compared to the conventional Le Fort 1-osteotomy: atraumatic advancement of the maxilla, absence of need for an autogeneous bone transplant, and applicability at relatively young age. The advantages and disadvantages of distraction osteogenesis must be considered for each individual patient.

These days it is common practice to deliver information by referring to a website. The large scale of the Internet gives the medical profession the opportunity to communicate with their patients digitally. By way of exception, in this issue, an overview is given of the website of a dental practitioner.