Prevalence and severity of temporomandibular joint disorder in partially versus completely edentulous patients: A systematic review.

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) following tooth loss may or may not be prevalent, but the risk of developing these disorders is always there due to changes in occlusion and vertical dimension, leading to changes in the disc-fossa relationship. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder in partially versus completely edentulous patients. An elaborated literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases including all articles about varied effects of partial and complete edentulism on the TMJ published from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 2022. After the meticulous screening, only publications which fulfilled the inclusion parameters were ultimately selected for full-text evaluation and tested for bias using the Joana Briggs Institute Appraisal tools for cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. A total of 547 articles from various electronic databases and manual searches were found. After eliminating the duplicates and thorough screening, 13 studies were included for qualitative synthesis. Most of the studies demonstrated at least one or two signs of the presence of TMDs following tooth loss, the intensity/frequency of which increased in proportion to the number of missing teeth.

Comparative Analysis of Three Surface Treatments on the Bond Strength of Zirconia to Resin-luting Agents: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: To study the impact of three different surface treatments namely sandblasting, silane-coupling agent, and laser on the retention of zirconia prosthesis and bond strength of zirconia to a resin-luting agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty zirconia crowns were fabricated and were divided into four groups of 15 samples each on the basis of surface treatments. A control group with no surface treatment (group A), laser-treated (group B), treatment with silane-coupling agent (group C), and sandblasting with aluminium oxide (Al2O3) particles (group D). Testing was then carried out using a universal testing machine (0.5 mm/min crosshead speed). At a point where the crown got separated from the tooth, the reading in kilogram force (kgF) was recorded. The data were collected and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Group D produced the highest mean bond strength (17.5233 kgF) followed by group B (10.0067 kgF), group C (8.6907 kgF), and group A (3.3773 kgF). One-way ANOVA test showed a p-value more than 0.05, concluding no significant difference among the groups. Tukey's HSD post hoc test gave the p-value corresponding to the F-statistic of one-way ANOVA lower than 0.01 when intergroup comparison was done confirming a significant difference among the groups. CONCLUSION: The bond strength significantly increased in the samples treated by sandblasting compared with those treated with laser and silane-coupling agents. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The success of a zirconia prosthesis lies on its bonding with the tooth structure. Bond failure leads to loss of function and hence ends up in failure. Selection of the proper surface treatment will not only improve the bond strength but also amplify the retention of zirconia-based prosthesis, thereby reducing the failure of the final prosthesis. It also improves the longevity of the prosthesis and restores the lost function which is the basic clinical aim of a prosthodontic treatment.

Effect of Addition of Antifungal Agents on Physical and Biological Properties of a Tissue Conditioner: An In-Vitro Study.

Purpose: Tissue conditioners are used for healing of abused oral tissues. They may harbour microorganisms causing oral diseases such as candidiasis compromising the health of the patient. Also, addition of antifungal agents into tissue conditioner may alter its properties. This study compares the anti-fungal property and mechanical properties of tissue conditioner containing different antifungal agents. Methods: Three antifungal agents, one synthetic - fluconazole, and two natural - oregano oil and virgin coconut oil were added into the tissue conditioner (Viscogel) in different concentrations. The antifungal property, tensile bond strength and viscoelasticity of Viscogel containing these antifungal agents were assessed after 24 hours, three days and seven days. Results: While, the highest antifungal activity was shown by Viscogel containing fluconazole, the maximum tensile bond strength was found to be of Viscogel alone (control). Although Viscogel alone and in combination of fluconazole showed deterioration in viscoelasticity, Viscogel in combination of natural agents showed no significant changes over the period of seven days. Conclusion: Incorporation of the natural agents in the tissue conditioner can be used as an effective alternative to systemic or topical synthetic antifungal agents.