PHOTOBIOMODULATION IN DENTAL IMPLANT THERAPY: A REVIEW

Photobiomodulation (PBM) or formerly known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is nothing but low-dosage biophotonics for therapy which presents an advancing new era of regenerative modalities in dental implantology. It utilizes light emitting diodes (LEDs), broad light sources and lasers for this purpose. Photobiomodulation is intended for relieving pain and inflammation, regulating immune responses as well as stimulating wound healing and tissue regeneration. This helps in combatting the main pathological causes of implant failures that are, peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis as well as helps promote osseointegration and improve stability of implants. While the scope of photobiomodulation has been thoroughly investigated in in-vitro and animal studies, human clinical trials are still scarce which makes appropriate protocol formation with respect to dosage and mode of delivery among other parameters difficult. A recently introduced and potential application of photobiomodulation in the field of implantology aims to deliver the positive effects of biophotonics through in-situ ambulatory PBM therapy called the smart dental implant (SDI) system. This comprehensive review presents the current and future trends in the application of photobiomodulation in the field of dental implantology.

A comparative evaluation of tray spacer thickness and repeat pour on the accuracy of monophasic polyvinyl siloxane impression material: In vitro study.

Purpose: This study was aimed to determine the effect of various tray spacer thickness and subsequent repeated pours on the accuracy and dimensional stability of the impression made from monophasic polyvinyl siloxane material. Materials and Methods: Custom trays with different spacer thickness (2, 4 and 6 mm) were used for making an impression of a master model simulating 3 unit fixed partial denture with monophasic polyvinyl siloxane material. These impressions were poured with die stone and repoured. Distance between the reference points were measured and subjected to statistical analysis. Result: Casts obtained from 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd pour of the impression in 2, 4 and 6 mm spacer thickness tray have similar dimensional accuracy amongst each other and with the master model except in molar diameter and inter-abutment distances of cast obtained from 6 mm spacer thickness tray. Conclusion: The vertical distance of stone dies were decreased, whereas horizontal distance increased as the thickness of impression material is increased. There were statistically non-significant changes occurring among the repeated pours in 2, 4 and 6 mm spacer thickness. Clinical Implication: 2 and 4 mm spacer thickness are acceptable for making an impression for three unit fixed partial denture with monophasic polyvinyl siloxane material and it was not affected by two subsequent (1 st and 2 nd ) repeated pours.

Effect of different curing temperatures on the distortion at the posterior peripheral seal: An in vitro study.

Context: Most of the maxillary complete dentures do not adapt accurately to the cast because of the changes in the resin during polymerization. The amount of heat associated with processing of polymethyl methacrylate has been correlated with the adaptation of the processed denture base to its supporting tissues. Aims: This study conducted to determine the effect of different curing temperatures on the accuracy of fit of a complete maxillary denture and to compare with that of fiber-reinforced acrylic resins. Materials and Methods : An ideal maxillary rubber mould used to make an edentulous cast. Forty-eight stone casts made from the ideal rubber mould. Out of 48 identical stone casts, 44 stone casts with wax adapted processed using simple acrylic resin. The remaining four stone casts were processed using fiber-reinforced acrylic resin. However, processing time for 12 hrs was maintained constant for all the samples. The variable to investigate was the temperature. Therefore, four denture bases processed at each temperature from 60°C to 80°C with two-degree increments for a total of 44 samples using simple acrylic resin. Remaining four samples processed at 70°C using fiber-reinforced acrylic resin. A traveling microscope used to measure the discrepancy between each cast and its denture base. Statistical analysis used: Analyzed with Student's unpaired t test. Results : Minimum distortion was observed at 70°C. Maximum distortion was observed for the denture bases processed at 80°C. Amount of distortion increases as the processing temperature increases which was highly significant. Distortion was significantly high from 60 to 68°C in the decreasing order. Conclusion: This study verified the observation that maxillary complete denture base show the greatest discrepancy at the central portion of the posterior palatal seal region as the processing temperature increases.

An alternative treatment of occlusal wear: Cast metal occlusal surface.

Acrylic resin denture teeth often exhibit rapid occlusal wear, which may lead to decrease in the chewing efficiency, loss of vertical dimension of occlusion, denture instability, temporomandibular joint disturbances, etc. There are various treatment options available like, use of highly cross linked acrylic teeth, amalgam or metal inserts on occlusal surface, use of composite, gold or metal occlusal surface, etc. Several articles have described methods to construct gold and metal occlusal surfaces, however, these methods are time-consuming, expensive and requires many cumbersome steps. These methods also requires the patient to be without the prosthesis for the time during which the laboratory procedures are performed. This article presents a quick, simple and relatively inexpensive procedure for construction of metal occlusal surfaces on complete dentures.