Cognizance and Use of Minimally Invasive Dentistry Approach by General Dentists: An Overlooked Companion.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries begins with the decalcification of the first nonorganic part, followed by the decay of the organic tooth matrix. Minimally invasive dentistry (MID) focuses on using the adhesive technique for restoration as these techniques allow minimum removal of healthy tooth structure. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the attitude, knowledge, and behavior of the general dentists toward the use of MID and to evaluate if MID is considered as standard care measure among general dentists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-section observational survey and included 285 practicing dentists. The survey questions were divided into two parts. The question related to the use of sharp explorer utilized response categories (1-5), with options of always, most of the time, often, sometimes, and never or rarely. The independent variables collected were age, gender, years of practice, clinical hours, type of practice, postgraduate education, and clinic environment. The data collected were tabulated and were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The results of the present study showed that MID meets the standard of care for the treatment of both primary teeth 85.96% (n = 245) as well as permanent teeth 78.24% (n = 223). ART, sandwich technique, in-office, and at-home topical fluoride application were considered active for treating dental caries. The use of sharp explorers, nonsharp explorers, radiographs, and magnification were considered common for caries detection. CONCLUSION: The more dentists who listened to about MID in the past responded that the MID concept is the standard of care for the treatment of primary and permanent teeth than dentists who have heard little or nothing about MID.

Cariostatic Efficacy of Cinnamon Water Extract on Streptococcus mutans: An In vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is a chronic, widespread, and infectious disease affecting the large population. Anticariogenic effects of different herbs and natural products are observed, cinnamon among these, showed the ability to inhibit Streptococcus mutans biofilm. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the cinnamon water extract use on nicotine exposed S. mutans biolfilms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microtiter plates having S. mutans culture were treated using varying nicotine concentration range (0-32 mg/ml). These were then either subjected to cinnamon water (2.5 mg/ml) extract or no treatment and analyzed using a spectrophotometer to see planktonic growth, total growth absorbance, and biofilm formation. RESULTS: About 2.5 mg/ml of cinnamon water inhibits the S. mutans biofilm (nicotine-induced) considerably at various nicotine levels (0-32 mg/ml). CONCLUSION: Cinnamon water extract has a powerful inhibitory effect for S. mutans growth. Nicotine-induced S. mutans growth is markedly reduced by treating with cinnamon water extract.

Evaluation of Relationship between Quality and Performance Measures Concepts of Pediatric Oral Health: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The dental quality alliance of the American Dental Association developed quality and performance measure concepts (QMCs) for pediatric dentistry to identify variations in care and to improve quality of care. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the relationship between the proposed QMCs and oral health, measured as caries status. METHODOLOGY: Parents/guardians of new patients presenting to the Nationwide Children's Hospital Dental Clinic for a nonurgent hygiene appointment were asked to complete a 10-question survey that reflected the QMCs. An oral examination was completed on each patient to determine his/her caries status. RESULTS: For the majority of the QMCs evaluated in the study, there was no statistically significant difference in caries status between patients who had attended care according to the QMCs and those who had not. CONCLUSIONS: From the findings, attending care as outlined by the QMCs may be no better than counting procedures as a measure of quality oral health-care outcomes.

Remineralization of Artificial Dentin Lesion In vitro using Dental Nanomaterials.

BACKGROUND: Teeth in the human body are the most mineralized tissue, which contain both organic and inorganic components. Demineralization and remineralization of teeth occur continuously, but demineralization causes structural loss of a tooth. AIM: This study was done to find the effect of ceramic by adding mono-n-Dodecyl phosphate to ceramic in dentin remineralization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of sixty permanent intact tooth specimens were randomly divided into four equal groups: Group 1: control group, Group 2: dentin was etched and restored with plain ceramic restoration, Group 3: etched dentin restored with ceramic containing 2% mono-n-Dodecyl phosphate, and Group 4: etched dentin restored with ceramic containing 5% mono-n-Dodecyl phosphate. Each sample was immersed completely in simulated body fluid and was kept in an incubator at 37°C to simulate the human body environment. Knoop microhardness measurements were recorded at 10, 20, and 38 days. RESULTS: Knoop microhardness of dentin (KHN) reduced to 32.6% after dentin was etched. No significant difference was found between group 2, 3 and 4 after 10 days. KHN value was increased and showed significant changes restored with group 2 and 3, group 3 showed nonsignificant changes. CONCLUSION: Through this study, we found that Ceramic can be used as a remineralizing agent to restore marginal dentine around of the cavity and root lesions from secondary caries.

Evaluation of Dental Status in Relation to Excessive Horizontal and Vertical Overlap in North Indian Population.

INTRODUCTION: Tooth wear (attrition) is a multifactorial entity, the pathogenesis of which involves many factors but the role of malocclusion cannot be undermined. Overjet and overbite play an important role in defining occlusion, hence they should also play an important role in causing attrition. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the relationship of dental health status between the vertical and horizontal overlap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 600 patients selected randomly from rural population which were divided into three equal groups as per the predefined criteria, namely, horizontal overlap, vertical overlap, and control group. All patients were examined for the tooth attrition. RESULTS: In Group 1 - 73 patients out of 200 showed one or more teeth attrition, in Group 2 - 38 patients out of 200 showed one or more teeth attrition, and in the control group, 22 patients out of 200 showed one or more teeth attrition. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that both vertical and horizontal abnormal relationships of teeth play an important role in the etiology of attrition, with abnormal horizontal overlap being the more detrimental as compared to the vertical one.