ABSTRACT
Aim: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of oil pulling with virgin olive oil and chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Material and Methods: A total of sixty subjects satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected. The subjects were then randomly divided into two groups of thirty each. Group I used oil pulling with olive oil and Group II used 0.2% chlorhexidine as mouthwash. The plaque index and modified gingival index scores were measured at baseline, first week and second week. Results: The results showed that there was statistically significant reduction of mean plaque and gingivitis scores from baseline to first week and second week in both olive oil (p<0.05) and chlorhexidine group (p<0.05). There was significant difference in mean plaque scores between olive oil group and chlorhexidine group at second week (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in mean gingivitis scores between olive oil group and chlorhexidine group at second week (p<0.05). Conclusions: Oil pulling with virgin olive oil was found to be effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Regular and proper oil pulling with virgin olive oil can therefore be recommended as a routine home-based practice in promoting oral health.
ABSTRACT
Background: Principles for fabricating prosthetic restorations include sufficient axial preparation and adequate occlusal clearance of the prepared teeth. This study measured the convergence angles in the prepared teeth for porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns done by general practitioners in different regions of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the presence of planar occlusal reductions, functional cusp bevels and rounded angles in prepared casts were evaluated. Methods: Sixty dies were selected from the working casts of prepared PFM crowns by general dental practitioners. The dies were divided into four equal groups according to the region. All the measured dies were mounted with the occlusal plane of the prepared teeth parallel to the floor. Photographs of buccal and proximal aspects of the dies were taken and then transferred into a personal computer. An AutoCAD software program was used to measure the mesiodistal and buccolingual convergence angles. The planar occlusal reduction, functional cusp bevel and presence of rounded angles of each preparation were evaluated. The data were recorded, then analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The mean convergence angles were high above the ideal range (4º-14º) in all of the selected regions. The mean mesiodistal convergence angle nearest to the ideal range was registered in teeth prepared in Dammam region, which was lower than tooth preparations from Jeddah, Abha and Jazan regions. Statistically significant differences with buccal, lingual taper and buccolingual convergence existed between the regions. Also significant differences were observed between the teeth preparation samples from four regions with distal taper and mesiodistal convergence angles. Conclusion: The achieved convergence angles of tooth preparations for PFM crowns by different general practitioner were out of the recommended range mentioned in dental literature.