Current Perspectives on Use of Aloe vera in Dentistry.

Introduction: Aloe vera is known from centuries as a medicinal plant. It’s a wonder plant with a lot of health benefits and hence often been called the 'natural healer'. It is a tropical plant that flourishes in warm and dry climate and looks like a cactus with fleshy thorny leaves. There are around 400 species of Aloe, but it is the Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera or "true aloe") plant which has been used most (found mainly in Asia, Africa and other tropical areas) because of its medicinal uses like moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Medicinal Uses: Aloe vera has its uses in various systemic conditions like skin disorders (e.g. psoriasis), arthritis, asthma, digestive and bowel disorders, diabetes and lowering lipid levels in hyper-lipidemic patients. It has also be used as a detoxifying agent, for topical application of first and second degree burns, as a immune enhancer, in Alzheimer’s disease and in various cosmetic, medical and dental products. Dental Uses: This wonder plant has also been used in dentistry for its beneficial properties in various conditions like lichen planus, apthous stomatitis, oral submucous fibrosis, pulpotomy of primary teeth, prevention of dry sockets, obturation of primary teeth, disinfection of irrigation units, bleeding and painful gums, disinfection of gutta percha cones, burning mouth syndrome and in radiated head and neck cancer patients. The purpose of this article is to highlight the role of A. barbadensis in various branches of dentistry and its potential future role. Conclusion: Aloe vera indeed has a definitive useful role in dentistry. However, future researches should be aimed to determine its method of preparation, optimal concentration, time of application and effects on the oral cavity.

Oto-mandibulo-facial dysostosis: a case report.

The case presented here is a 6 year old male child with oto-mandibulo-facial dysostosis syndrome. Oto-mandibulo-facial dysostosis is a term used for a unilateral congenital birth defect in which abnormalities can range from minor unilateral ear anomalies or preauricular tags to severe ones involving anotia and mandibular hypoplasia.

Prevalence of dental caries and co-relation with fluorosis in low and high fluoride areas.

The aim of the study was to determine the degree of caries prevalence in the permanent dentition and the accompanying fluorosis in children between 6-16 years of age in both low (0.5 ppm) and relatively high (1.2 ppm) fluoride areas. In 3605 children in a low fluoride area (Dharwad), the mean DMFT was 0.65; 77% of the children were caries free. Grade I fluorosis (using Dean's fluorosis inded) was observed in only 0.66% of the children. Among 3618 children of similar age groups, living in high fluoride areas (Gadag), 84% were caries free and the mean DMFT value was 0.39. Varying degrees of fluorosis were present in 57.07% of the children. The results of the study suggest a definite relationship between the amounts of fluoride ingested through water and caries experience observed in the population.

In vitro evaluation of NaF and APF-gel application on surface microhardness of enamel in children of low, optimum and high fluoride areas.

An in vitro study was conducted on 78 sound human pre-molars collected from low (0.24 ppmF), optimum (0.7 ppmF) and known endemic fluoride areas (> 1.5 ppmF), to study the effects of topical application of sodium fluoride and APF-gel on surface microhardness of enamel of these three areas using Vickers microhardness measurements before and after application of topical fluorides at time intervals of 1/2 an hour, 6 hours and 24 hours. It was found that both the topical fluorides increased the surface microhardness of enamel in the three areas; the maximum increase in surface microhardness was observed in fluorosed teeth. APF-gel was found to be more effective than sodium fluoride.