Bactericidal and Smear Layer Removal Efficacy of Herbal Alternatives Against Enterococcus Faecalis Dentinal Biofilm - An ex-vivo Study

Abstract Objective: To assess the antibacterial and smear layer removal ability of Trigonella foenum, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia chebula seed extracts against E. faecalis dentinal biofilm. Material and Methods: Agar well diffusion, micro broth dilution assay and time-kill curve assay were performed to determine the antibacterial activity. The ability of the herbal extracts to remove the smear layer on the root canal surface was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Results: Antibacterial activity was observed for the extracts of S. cumini and T. chebula on E. faecalis dentinal biofilm and its planktonic counterparts. The smear layer was efficiently removed by the seed extracts of T. chebula alone. Seed extracts of T. foenum neither possessed antibacterial effect nor smear layer removal ability. Conclusion: The extracts of T. chebula seeds may replace conventional irrigant due to its antibacterial properties and smear layer removing the ability. The extracts of S. cumini may be used as an intracanal medicament as it exhibited a bactericidal effect against the E. faecalis dentinal biofilm following 18 hours of incubation.

Oral Candidal Carriage Among Patients with Oral Potential Malignant Disorders: A Case-Control Study

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Candida species in the saliva of patients with clinically suspected oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and healthy cohorts. Material and Methods: Unstimulated saliva was collected from patients with OPMD (n=100) and age and sex matched healthy subjects (n=170). The samples were inoculated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and incubated for a week. The colonies of the isolates were enumerated using a colony counter. The isolates were identified using standard phenotypic methods. The significance of oral candidal carriage was calculated using Independent T test. Odds and Risk ratio was calculated using Pearson's Chi-square test. Results: Oral candida carriage was present in 51% of patients with OPMD while healthy cohorts had a prevalence of 20.6%. A good statistical significance was observed for the prevalence of oral candidal carriage for patients with OPMD in comparison to healthy cohorts (p=0.013). Significant Odds and risk ratio was observed for the prevalence of Candida species among OPMD. Majority of the isolates in both groups were C. albicans. Colony forming units were high among patients with OPMD. Conclusion: A significant association of oral candidal carriage to oral potentially malignant disorders in comparison to healthy cohorts was observed. Candidal species may be potent risk factor for transition of OPMD to oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

An Herbal Alternative to Control Nosocomial Pathogens in Aerosols and Splatter During Ultrasonic Scaling

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of herbal mouthwash (Himalaya Hiora Regular) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumanni during ultrasonic scaling. Material and Methods: Group B (n=25) received herbal mouthwash and Group A (n=25) received 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash respectively as a preprocedural rinse. The aerosols produced by the ultrasonic unit were collected on MeReSa and Leeds Acinetobacter Agar plates. The experimental setting included eight different locations covering all areas of the operatory. The plates exposed to aerosols for a period of 30 minutes were incubated aerobically at 37ºC for 48hrs and the colony forming units (CFU) were statistically analyzed Results: Herbal mouthwash (Himalaya Hiora Regular) showed a significant reduction in mean CFU of MRSA compared to 0.12% chlorhexidine. While herbal mouthwash was on par with 0.12% chlorhexidine in the reduction of A. baumannii Conclusion: Herbal mouthwash was found to be more effective against MRSA than 0.12% Chlorhexidine mouthwash as a pre-procedural rinse. Both herbal mouthwash and chlorhexidine mouthwash was found to be effective against A. baumannii. Herbal mouthwash may be a safe alternative to chlorhexidine against nosocomial pathogens like MRSA and A. baumannii.

Evaluation of periodontal status and detection of Dialister pneumosintes in cerebral palsy individuals: A Case–Control study

The worldwide prevalence of cerebral palsy among live births is estimated to be between 1.9 and 3.6/1000. The presence of periodontal disease in cerebral palsy children typically is due to bacterial plaque accumulation caused by their inability to correctly clean their own teeth, difficulties in chewing and swallowing food, and improper movements of masticatory muscles and tongue muscles. Objectives: The objective of this study is to estimate the periodontal status in cerebral palsy individuals and evaluate the presence of Dialister pneumosintes. Materials and Methods: Thirty cerebral palsy children from the Spastics Society of Tamilnadu with signs of periodontitis were compared with the same number of age- and gender-matched controls for oral hygiene and periodontal parameters. Subgingival plaque samples were screened for the presence of respiratory pathogen D. pneumosintes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: A variation was noted between types of cerebral palsy individuals with a mean probing pocket depth value of 6 in spastic type, 4.86 in the ataxic, and 4.3 in the dyskinetic. Clinical attachment level varied from 6.71 in spastic to 5.43 in ataxic and 3.50 in dyskinetic. Oral hygiene index-simplified ranged from 2.764 in spastic to 2.25 in ataxic and 1.41 in dyskinetic. PCR results indicated 25% and 21.7% positivity for D. pneumosintes among cerebral palsy and control group, respectively. The odds ratio calculated to estimate the risk of periodontitis due to D. pneumosintes was 0.765. Conclusion: It was concluded that oral hygiene status and severity of periodontitis worsens as the rigidity and muscle tone limiting limb movement increases in cerebral palsy individuals.