Ameloglyphics and predilection of dental caries.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is an infectious disease of microbiologic origin resulting in destruction and loss of tooth structure and is related to every speciality of dentistry. Many studies have been carried out to identify the causative factors, methods of prevention, and treatment of dental caries. Ameloglyphics is the study of enamel rod end patterns. These patterns have been found to be unique to individual teeth of the same individual and also to different individuals. A possible correlation between the type of enamel rod end pattern and the occurrence of dental caries might help in predicting caries susceptibility of an individual and implementation of preventive measures. This is a simple and easy method cutting short elaborate methods currently in use and can be invaluable in caries prevention. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at ascertaining the possibility of a correlation between enamel rod end patterns and occurrence of dental caries, which might help in identifying predisposition to dental caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty carious and 30 noncarious teeth were used to obtain enamel rod end patterns. Occurrence of any particular pattern in either of the study groups, which might affect the predisposition of teeth to dental caries was analyzed. RESULTS: No particular rod end pattern was found in teeth affected by dental caries. Also, no particular pattern was found to be unique to teeth not affected by dental caries.

Flowable composite an alternative orthodontic bonding adhesive: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical applicability of Ormocer based fowable adhesive (Admira fow) in comparison with BisGMA based adhesive (Transbond XT) and Ormocer based packable adhesive (Admira). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty human premolars, divided into group I (n = 20) Transbond XT, group II (n = 20) Admira and group III (n = 20) Admira fow were bonded with metal brackets using adhesives. Brackets were debonded in shear on an Instron universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 1 mm per minute. The mode of bond failure was determined by modifed ARI index. RESULTS: The results obtained from SBS evaluation and modifed ARI showed highest shear bond strength for Transbond XT (SD 11.64) 3.68 followed by Admira fow (SD 11.0) 2.87 and least for Admira (SD 9.42) 2.21. However, the difference was not statistically signifcant, but an intergroup comparison done using Independent student 't' test, showed statically signifcant difference between Transbond XT and Admira. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed least survival median value for Admira, but the survival median value is not statistically signifcant among the three groups. All groups had modifed ARI score of three (60-70%), suggestive of cohesive type of failure. CONCLUSION: The in vitro study showed that fowable Ormocer can be an good alternative to commonly used BisGMA based adhesive but the its effcacy needs clinical assessment through a survival analysis. CLINICAL SIGNIFCANCE: Admire fow can defnitely be considered as an alternative bonding system due to their comparable bond strength and debonding characters and reported properties of biocompatibility.

Morphometry of the basal cell layer of oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma using computer-aided image analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To study and compare the changes in nuclear and cellular size, shape and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of the cells in the basal layer of oral leukoplakia and well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with normal buccal mucosa, using computer-aided image analysis in tissue sections. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study conducted on tissue sections on a total number of 70 cases to determine the various morphometric parameters. The data collected in this study were analyzed statistically by computing descriptive statistics, viz., percentage, mean, standard deviation, standard error of mean, 95% confidence interval for mean. The difference in the control and study groups for various diagnostic variables was compared by means of analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student's t-test for independent samples, wherever applicable. Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used where the data were found to be asymmetrical and the standard deviations were also different. The results were considered statistically significant whenever P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Our results were significant for the morphometric parameter, size. The values of nuclear perimeter and area, cellular perimeter and area increased gradually from the normal buccal mucosa to leukoplakia, reaching the highest value in SCC. There was statistically significant difference in the nuclear and cellular areas to differentiate between leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. Two variables which were used to study the shape, "form perimeter (PE)" and "contour index (CI)", showed significant difference between normal buccal mucosa and leukoplakia and between normal buccal mucosa and SCC. The morphometric parameter, nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, in our results showed an increase in leukoplakia and SCC compared to normal buccal mucosa, but the difference was not significant between leukoplakia and SCC. CONCLUSION: The morphometric parameter, size, was useful to differentiate between normal, potentially malignant leukoplakia and SCC.