An analysis of maxillary anterior teeth dimensions for the existence of golden proportion in the representative North Indian population.

Context: Esthetic appearance of the face is a major concern in self-image among the majority of the population. The dimensions, anatomy, and arrangement of maxillary anterior are the key factors in the esthetic appearance of the face. Aim: The present study aimed to measure the mesiodistal dimensions of maxillary anterior teeth and analyzing the golden proportion in the representative North Indian population. Materials and Methods: Subjects were seated in the upright position in a dental clinical chair. A digital Vernier caliper was used to record the mesiodistal dimensions of central incisors (CIs), lateral incisor (LI), and canine (C) teeth in maximum smile position. A total of three sets of recordings were made by a single observer to avoid the measurement bias of both left and right sides of teeth. Digital images were also captured. Obtained measurements were used for the calculation of ratios and statistical analysis was done. Results: The prevalence of golden ratio between right CI/LI was observed in 3.1% males and 3.2% females. The calculated median ratio was 1.2 for males and 1.3 for females which differs significantly (P > 0.05) from the golden ratio. The divine proportion between visible portion of right C/LI was seen in 39.5% males and 32.3% females with calculated median value for males being 0.6 and that for females was 0.7. Conclusion: The prevalence of golden proportion between the CI/LI in esthetically pleasing smiles was too small (mean-3.9 in males and 2.75 in females) while the golden ratio of 0.6 was found in the majority of the population irrespective of the gender.

Clinical performance of various bonding agents in noncarious cervical defects.

Aim: Four bonding agents and a composite restorative resin were evaluated in patients having noncarious cervical defects. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in patients having at least 4 noncarious cervical defects in posterior teeth evaluating the clinical effectiveness in relation to retention, discoloration at margins, and postoperative sensitivity of 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th generations of bonding agents over a period of baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Statistical Analysis: Data were recorded and put into statistical analysis using Chi-square tests. Results: At 24 months, retention rate was found out to be 92.6% for the 7th generation which was better than 5th (66.7%) and 6th (70.4%) generation whereas significant marginal discoloration was seen at 6 months follow-up in which 5th generation showed maximum results. However, all the four generations have an equal score of postoperative sensitivity at all the time intervals. Conclusions: The 7th generation adhesives performed better than other generations in terms of retention. Changes in marginal discoloration were detected at 6 months with maximum score in 5th generation adhesives.

Development of Efficacious and Less Toxic Endodontic Irrigants from Biosurfactants of Bacterial Origin - A Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope Study.

Aim: The study compared the penetration depth and area of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biosurfactants inside the dentinal tubules against sodium hypochlorite at three levels (coronal, middle, and apical) under a confocal laser scanning microscope. Materials and Methodology: Three experimental groups and one control were created using freshly extracted thirty-five maxillary central incisors; Group 1: B. subtilis biosurfactant; Group 2: P. aeruginosa biosurfactants; Group 3: sodium hypochlorite; and Group 4: distilled water. The experimental data were statistically analyzed by two-way analysis of variance, duly coupled with Tukey's post hoc test to draw concrete conclusions between paired comparisons, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis biosurfactant showed the maximum mean penetration depth and area at all the level as compared to sodium hypochlorite. Conclusion: Biosurfactants showed better results than sodium hypochlorite in reaching to higher penetration depth and area at all the three levels.

Evaluation of dental expertise with intra-oral peri-apical view radiographs for forensic identification.

BACKGROUND: Identification of a dead person is important in starting the investigation into the circumstances of death. In the absence of forensic odontologist, it is vital that general dentists are able to compare the ante mortem-post mortem (AM-PM) records and with their ability, correctly interpret the individuality of the person. AIMS: This study wascarried out to find out the accuracy with which undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate dentists can do this comparison, using the simulated AM-PM intra-oral peri-apical (IOPA) view radiographs. SETTING AND DESIGN: A total of 60 investigators of which 20 undergraduate students, 20 general dentists, 20 post-graduate dentists viewed 10 pairs of simulated AM and PM radiographs and recorded their findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten pairs of simulated AM-PM IOPA view radiographs were given to 60 dentists to investigate their discriminatory potential for dental identification purposes. The results were statistically analyzed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: χ(2) -test and Mann-Whitney U-test were carried out to compare the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the three types of examiners (UG, G, PG). RESULTS: The results showed sensitivity of 59.8%, specificity of 62.6%, accuracy of 61% for undergraduate students, sensitivity of 86.6%, specificity of 87.5%, accuracy of 87% for graduate doctors, sensitivity of 89.3%, specificity of 92.3% and accuracy of 90.5% for post-graduate doctors respectively. CONCLUSION: Inexperienced investigators in forensic identification showed fairly acceptable results, therefore, introduction of forensic odontology in an undergraduate course may help general dentists to provide better service, if required, in the absence of a forensic odontologist.