Incidence of postoperative pain after single-visit and multiple-visit root canal therapy: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Short-term complications after root canal therapy (RCT) include mild pain or flare-up. Patients regard these complications as a benchmark for the assessment of clinician's abilities. In this context, the evidence for recommending either one- or two-visit RCT is not consistent. Aims: This study aims to compare the prevalence of postoperative pain and tenderness to percussion after single-visit (SV) versus two-visit RCT on the mandibular first molar. Materials and Methods: The study was registered with www.ctri.nic.in (CTRI/2019/05/019067). Seventy individuals requiring RCT on a mandibular first molar were selected and randomly ascribed to either single- (Group 1, n = 35) or two-visit RCT (Group 2, n = 35). Postoperative pain levels were assessed using heft parker visual analog scale. The treated teeth were appraised for tenderness to percussion after 1 week of obturation. Statistical Analysis: Thirty-four patients were evaluated in each group: One patient, each, dropped out from both the groups. The data analysis was done using Student's t-test and Chi-square test. Results and Conclusion: Pain score in multiple-visit (MV) was significantly higher than SV after 12- (P = 0.039) and 48 h (P = 0.043). Short-term postoperative pain was higher in MV than SV RCT of mandibular first molar teeth.

Pulpal-anesthesia of a mandibular first molar with irreversible pulpitis by inferior alveolar nerve block plus buccal infiltration using articaine or lignocaine.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to compare the efficacy of a combination of an inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) plus buccal infiltration using 4% articaine versus 2% lignocaine in achieving anesthesia of lower first molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy adult patients were selected. A random sequence list was employed to administer IANB plus buccal infiltration. After the onset of lip numbness, cold test and electric pulp testing were performed. Five patients, four missed blocks and one no bleeding, were excluded. Heft Parker Visual Analog Scale scores during pulp extirpation were recorded. The data of sixty-five patients were statistically analyzed using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The success rate after lip-numbness for articaine is 91.42% and for lignocaine is 94.28%. The difference is statistically, not significant (P = 0.6425). During access, the success rate for lignocaine is 96.87%, whereas 96.96% for articaine. This difference is also not significant (P = 0.982366). CONCLUSION: IANB plus buccal infiltration using articaine or lignocaine is equally effective in anesthetizing mandibular first molar with irreversible pulpitis.

Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness and fracture rate of three pathfinding nickel-titanium rotary instruments, Mtwo, OneG, and ProGlider, in mechanically negotiating moderately curved molar canals to the full working length.

AIM: To evaluate the scouting ability of three pathfinding nickel-titanium rotary instruments in moderately curved molar canals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety maxillary and mandibular molars were collected and were divided randomly into three groups each having 15 maxillary and 15 mandibular molars. The teeth were mounted on a specific apparatus for simulation of dento-alveolar socket. After access cavity preparation, the canals were negotiated with 08 K-file. Glide path preparation was performed using Mtwo or ProGlider or OneG instruments. The number of teeth in which the file reached the full working length (RFWL), number of passes required, and number of fractured instruments were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis using Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). The RFWL of ProGlider was significantly higher than that of Mtwo (P = 0.005) and OneG (P = 0.037). The percentage of fracture with ProGlider was 6.67% and both Mtwo and OneG had 26.67% frequency. The difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was significant difference in the number of insertion passes in maxillary distobuccal (P < 0.05), mandibular mesiobuccal (P < 0.01), and distal (P < 0.01) canals. ProGlider was the most effective pathfinding instrument due to its file's design and a progressive taper of 2%-8%. This achieves a greater preflaring of the coronal and middle portions of the root canal, rendering the advance of the instrument toward the apex easier. CONCLUSION: ProGlider performed more efficiently and with less instrument breakage in scouting moderately curved canals of molar teeth.

Intra-oral Mouth-Guard In Sport Related Oro-Facial Injuries: Prevention is Better Than Cure!

India is rapidly assuming a more health-conscious posture. Olympic competition and professional sports have turned from mere dreams into goals. Many major professional sports leagues are expanding. Sports dentistry is a composite of skills for treatment, prevention, education and research in which dentistry and sports come together. Custom athletic mouth guards present additional health-care opportunities. They are designed to reduce the impact force of a direct blow to the jaw and create a gap between the condyle and skull thereby reducing the transference of the impact to the brain. The prevalence and severity of injuries to the teeth, jaws and intra-oral and peri-oral soft tissues, concussions and neck injuries are reduced when mouth guards are used. The dentist can play a proactive role in helping to deliver important expanded health care services.

The nano era in dentistry.

Nanotechnology is a new transnational and transcultural development that is growing rapidly and pervasively. The potential impact of novel Nanodentistry Applications in disease diagnosis, therapy and prevention is foreseen to change oral health care in a fundamental way. This review presents a general overview of the novel nanomaterial and relevant advances of nanotechnology, focusing on promising dental applications. In particular, relevant applications are reported in Restorative dentistry, minimally invasive dental procedures, cancer diagnosis and treatment, molecular imaging and implant dentistry. Many applications are still in their infancy. An increasing number of products are currently under clinical investigation while some are commercially available.

Candida colonisation and the efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate on soft silicone-lined dentures of diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate Candida colonisation in the dentures with silicone soft liner in diabetic and non-diabetic patients and to assess the antifungal efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate on Candida colonies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with resorbed ridges, fifteen each in the diabetic and non-diabetic group, were selected. The mandibular denture of each patient was lined with heat-polymerised silicone resilient liner. Patients were instructed to clean the dentures with soap water and brush. Samples from the fitting surface of mandibular dentures were collected at 15, 21 and 30 days. Subsequently, samples were collected at 15, 21 and 30 days, after cleaning the dentures with a detergent solution of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, and incubated for the evaluation of Candida growth. These data were subjected to statistical analysis by Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Normal oral flora in diabetics and non-diabetics showed no difference (p > 0.05). The density of colonies increased after 21 and 30 days in diabetic patients (p < 0.05). Number of Candida colonies significantly reduced in both the groups after 21 and 30 days of cleaning the dentures with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dentures with silicone resilient liner exhibit increased Candida growth in diabetic patients. Four per cent chlorhexidine gluconate solution effectively disinfects these dentures.