A quantitative evaluation of the effects of potassium iodide on the clinical properties of silver diamine fluoride.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF), an effective topical fluoride agent for arresting caries, has a reputation for staining the teeth. Potassium iodide (KI) has been reported to minimize such staining, but doubts remain over its long-term efficacy and potential adverse influence on the effectiveness of SDF. This in vitro study used quantitative evaluation of color changes and the silver and fluoride release of treated tooth specimens to determine the effect of KI on the staining and caries-arresting properties of SDF. Twenty-one noncarious premolars were sectioned buccolingually to create 42 tooth specimens that were divided into 3 groups for color comparison and ion release measurements. The specimens in the experimental group were treated with a combined SDF + KI product (n = 16), the specimens in the positive control group were treated with SDF (n = 16), and the specimens in the negative control group were untreated (n = 10). Digital color analysis was performed weekly for a month according to the CIE L*a*b* color system of the International Commission on Illumination. Atomic spectrophotometry and ion-selective electrodes were used to measure the quantity of fluoride and silver ions released after 24 and 48 hours. The data from the color measurements were analyzed with the Friedman and Fisher tests, while the data from the ion release measurements were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. The analysis revealed that KI reduced the dentinal staining caused by SDF, but its effectiveness decreased over time as evidenced by the significantly deteriorating perceptual lightness (L*) values of SDF + KI-treated tooth specimens. The SDF + KI-treated specimens released significantly less silver and fluoride ions than the SDF-treated specimens. Because KI lost its stain-reducing property over time and reduced the effectiveness of SDF, a better "antidote" to SDF staining is needed.

Effect of Aerva sanguinolenta (Lal bishalyakarani) plant extract on biofilm-induced human enamel demineralization: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Controlling cariogenic biofilm formation by plant extracts could add to preventive strategies to dental caries. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in vitro the role of Aerva Sanguinolenta ethanolic extract on biofilm-induced microbial human enamel demineralization. METHODOLOGY: The prepared enamel sections of study group (SG), positive control group (PCG), and negative control group (NCG) were immersed in 2 ml of 0.2% ethanolic extract of A. sanguinolenta, 0.12% chlorhexidine, and distilled water, respectively, for 2 min before subjecting to closed batch culture technique utilizing mono- or dual-species culture media of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Quantification of biofilm and demineralization of enamel was performed by crystal violet (CV) assay and scanning electron microscope (SEM) attached to energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test were used for analysis. RESULTS: CV assay of biofilm recorded the highest and lowest optical absorbance value in NC3 (2.728660) and PC3 (0.364200), respectively. Thus, biofilm formation is highest in NCG and lowest among PCG. Surface roughness and porosity in enamel are greatest among NCG and lowest among SG as evident by SEM. Wt% of calcium (S3 47.7170) and phosphorus ion (S3 22.7330) was highest in SG, closely resembling that of B enamel (Ca = 41.9530, P = 19.6650). Wt% of oxygen is lowest in SG (S3 28.8920) and resembles baseline O2 (37.4950). Thus, the amount of biofilm formation is moderate and amount of demineralization of enamel is least among SGs. CONCLUSION: Enamel exposed to 2 ml of 0.2% solution of A. sanguinolenta for 2 min could fairly inhibit formation of biofilm and positively inhibit underlying demineralization in cariogenic environment.

A fixed intraoral nail biting habit-breaker appliance: A case report of a novel approach to prevent onychophagia.

Onychophagia or nail biting is the performance of repetitive actions of biting one's nails often to the level of mutilation of the nail beds. It is a compulsive act most often seen in adolescents but may continue into adulthood, leading to deleterious consequences. Often spurred by anxiety and stress, this oral habit is not so readily addressed by patients and in turn not very much treated by dentists or physicians. This case report describes successful treatment of an adolescent patient with a nail biting habit, with an innovative intraoral fixed habit-breaker appliance.

An in vitro study of root canal system of human primary molars by using multidetector computed tomography.

CONTEXT: The primary tooth has numerous functions and is important in a child's development. Pediatric endodontic treatment has a very important role in maintaining oral health of the child. However, the morphology of root canals in deciduous teeth usually leads to complications in root canal therapy. To improve the success in endodontic, a thorough knowledge of the root canal morphology is essential. AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the thorough in vitro, morphological evaluation of root canal system of human primary molars using multidetector computed tomography. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A total of 64 human primary maxillary and mandibular molars without any macroscopic root resorption were selected and divided into four groups. The samples were arranged in wax block, and the scanning was done on the computed tomography scanne (GE light speed 16 slice CT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The images were grabbed by the computer as a raw image and reformatted in a GE Advantage workstation version 4.2 (GE healthcare) with the help of Denta Scan (GE healthcare) software and volume rendering was done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistical analysis (Student's t-test) was performed to calculate the means with corresponding standard deviations. A value of P ≤ 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. RESULTS: It enlightens the clinicians view to access the morphological variations of the root canals for the effective pediatric endodontic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The images showed the complexity of the root canals of the primary mandibular molars and also the several capabilities of the CT scan in advance endodontic research in primary teeth were observed.

A cross-sectional study of soft tissue facial morphometry in children of West Bengal.

CONTEXT: Facial analysis is the first step in the evaluation of patients with orthodontic, cosmetic, or reconstructive procedures of the face, and one of the most important components of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. It is a well-established fact that human faces differ from one another on the basis of race and ethnicity. The study will provide the aesthetic guidelines to assess the facial discrepancy in Bengali children to develop a proper treatment plan. AIMS: To find out the mean values for selective linear measurements on the facial soft tissue of Bengali children, to demonstrate gender differences in the measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done on 250 Bengali children of 6-14 years age, by measuring certain identified facial landmarks using a digital caliper. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Analytical statistical method with the help of student's t-test was used to determine mean values, standard deviation, and gender differences in the measurements using SPSS version 11.0. RESULTS: In 6-8 years age group, male's average inter-endocanthion distance was significantly higher than that of females (P < 0.05), whereas in 12-14 years age group, the same parameter for females was significantly higher than that of males (P < 0.001). In 9-11 years age group, the average distance of exocanthion to exocanthion was higher for males compared to females, but the difference was not significant at 5% level (P > 0.05), though for 87% of cases, it was significant (P = 0.13). Total facial height for male subject was significantly high compared to that of females (P < 0.001) in 12-14 years age group. CONCLUSIONS: The study will provide the aesthetic guidelines to assess the facial discrepancy in Bengali children and provide a proper treatment plan through a simple and economically reasonable soft tissue analysis method.

Comparison of two non-radiographic techniques of mixed dentition space analysis and evaluation of their reliability for Bengali population.

CONTEXT: Mixed dentition arch analysis system is an important criterion in determining the type of orthodontic treatment plan. Different mixed dentition arch analysis system are available and among them both Moyer's and Tanaka-Jhonson method of space analysis was developed for North American children. Anthropological study reveals that tooth size varies among different ethnicities The present study was performed to determine the reliability of Moyer's and Tanaka-Jhonson's method of mixed dentition arch analysis system among Bengali population. AIMS: To perform the comparative evaluation of the two mixed dentition space analysis system among Bengali population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental casts of maxillary and mandibular arches of 70 Bengali children with permanent dentitions were fabricated. The mesiodistal crown dimensions of all erupted permanent incisors, canines, and premolars were measured with digital callipers. For particular sum of mandibular incisors, Moyer's and Tanaka-Jhonson's mixed dentition arch analysis were calculated and further statistical analysis was carried on. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistics including the mean, standard deviation, and minimum and maximum values, unpaired't' tests, correlation coefficient "r" were calculated and tabulated. RESULTS: Tanaka and Johnston regression equations under-estimated the mesiodistal widths of permanent canines and premolars. On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences between actual mesiodistal widths of canines and premolars and the predicted widths from Moyers charts at the 50% level for the lower and upper arches, among Bengali population. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggested that both Moyer's and Tanaka-Jhonson's mixed dentition arch analysis are applicable in Bengali population but with little modification in their regression equation.