Radiographic assessment of quality of root canal treatment

Root canal treatment quality has a direct bearing on healing in the periradicular area. There are various methods to assess the quality of root canal treatment. Radiographic assessment in conjunction with clinical assessment remains one of the most commonly employed methods to predict the prognosis of endodontically treated teeth. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of root canal treatments of patients, reporting to outdoor clinics of a dental college. It was a cross sectional study carried out over a period of six months. A total of 248 patients, with at least one endodontically treated tooth, reporting to the outdoor clinics of Lahore Medical and Dental College were included in the study. Quality of root canal treatment was assessed radio graphically. A predetermined criterion, based on length and lateral seal of the root filling already used in earlier studies, was employed. The technical quality of root canal treatment was assessed to be adequate in 52.4% of the observed cases which is in contrast to the high percentages of reported success rates for this modality

Gaining retention, support and stability of a maxillary obturator

Construction of a maxillectomy obturator for any surgical defect requires optimum retention, stability and obturation of defect. In the following case a closed hollow bulb obturator was constructed while utilizing surveying and neutral zone impression technique. After insertion, soft liner was applied to record functional impression of the surgical defect. The obturator was resurfaced with heat cure acrylic to improve the outcome. Patient was able to masticate adequately and speak comprehensively. Patients' resonance, speech, retention and stability were markedly improved. Follow-up was done weekly in first month, fortnightly for the next 2 months then after every 3 months. In succeeding years it will be once every year

Relationship of neutral zone and alveolar ridge with edentulous period

To estimate the amount of shift in position of the neutral zone and the centre of alveolar ridge crest in different edentulous periods. Observational study. The study was carried out on edentulous patients reporting in Prosthodontics Department of Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore, from August 2006 to December 2008. Patients with edentulous period for at least 6 months exhibiting normal range of maximal mouth opening [40-50 mm] and normal temporomandibular joint movements were included and allocated into two groups, according to period of edentulism. Patient with any intra oral soft tissue or bony pathology and reduced intermaxillary space were excluded. The neutral zone was clinically recorded for all patients with impression compound. The shift between neutral zone and ridge crest in different edentulous periods was analyzed radio graphically and compared statistically. In longer edentulous period [>2 years], neutral zone was lingually shifted by an average of 1.06 mm in anterior, premolar and molar regions. Neutral zone may be lingually shifted in relation to alveolar ridge crest in patients with prolonged edentulous period. This may help in arranging the teeth according to the clinical situation