ABSTRACT
AIM: This in vitro study was designed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of a dentifrice containing 8% arginine and calcium carbonate, diode laser (810 nm) and the combined use of diode laser (810 nm) and the same dentifrice in occluding dentinal tubules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty sectioned dentine discs were observed in this study. The Samples were randomly divided into 4 groups. In group A, a dentifrice containing arginine and calcium carbonate was applied. In group B, the specimens were subjected to diode laser (810 nm) irradiation. In group C, the same dentifrice was applied and the specimens were subjected to diode laser (810 nm) treatment. Group D was left untreated and served as the control. The specimens were observed under the scanning electron microscope. Then the photomicrographs of each specimen were taken which were uploaded into Photoshop 7®, and the diameters of the dentinal tubules of each specimen were measured and the data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The overall comparison between different treatment modalities using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparisons of two modalities assessed using post hoc Tukey method revealed that there is a highly significant difference (p value = 0.0001) in the dentinal tubule diameter and rate of occlusion in different treatment modalities. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that all three treatment modalities caused significant occlusion of dentinal tubules. The combined use of desensitizing toothpaste and diode laser (810 nm) is the most effective, then comes the diode laser (810 nm) alone and finally the desensitizing toothpaste alone. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests an effective treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity using diode laser and desensitizing toothpaste.
Subject(s)
Dentin Desensitizing Agents , Dentin Sensitivity , Dentin , Humans , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , ToothpastesABSTRACT
AIM: This in vitro study evaluated the resistance form of die preparations for all ceramic restorations and, thereby, explored the concept of effective taper and its correlation between the ideal in theory and actual in the clinical situation by analyzing the digital images of the die preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scanned digital images of 114 die preparations for all ceramic restorations (n = 114) were collected from a dental laboratory. All the images were also analyzed digitally using Adobe Photoshop® software to analyze the degree of taper (angle of convergence) of each preparation and then applied the Zuckerman's circle, and the Lewis perpendicular methods were used to measure the resistance form. RESULTS: For the current study, the overall average degree of taper was found to be 20.9° (range, 2-80°), which is more than what is recommended by most previous studies and also sharply greater than the textbook ideal of 3 to 6°. Mean degree of taper for maxillary was 17.56° (anterior-10.50°, posterior-23.7°), and for mandibular teeth, it was 25.22° (anterior-15°, posterior- 28.45°). Out of the 64 analyzed images of maxillary teeth, 61 presented resistance form, while 3 were without it. Out of the 50 mandibular teeth analyzed, 38 possessed resistance form, whereas 12 were without. All the anterior teeth showed resistance form irrespective of the arch. CONCLUSION: The degree of taper showed a significant relationship with resistance and retention form, which was inversely proportional to each other. The recommended "degree of taper" is not always the clinically achievable as advocated in textbooks, as it is modified by various factors in the actual clinical situation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study provides scientific background regarding the relationship between the degree of taper with resistance and retention form, and the relationship was found to be inversely proportional to each other. The recommended "degree of taper" is not always the clinically achievable as advocated in textbooks, and it is modified by various modifying or limiting factors in the actual clinical situation.
