Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Root Canal Sealers Modified with Various Herbal Extracts against Candida Albicans and E Faecalis.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of ZOE-based, calcium hydroxide, and epoxy resin-based sealers on modification with three herbal extracts. Materials and Methods: Methanolic extracts of selected herbs were combined with ZOE-based, calcium hydroxide, and epoxy resin-based sealers. Cultures were prepared from E. faecalis and C. albicans and agar plates prepared. Prepared mixtures were inoculated in punched holes, and inhibitory zones were measured. Results: No statistical significance was obtained on comparing mean scores of test groups. Conclusion: None of the combinations used was found to be significantly better than others.

A Comparative Analysis of Fracture Resistance and Mode of Failure of Endodontically Treated Teeth Restored Using Different Fiber Posts: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: To evaluate the fracture resistance under static loading of endodontically treated teeth (maxillary central incisors) restored with carbon fiber posts, glass fiber posts, and everStick posts. The objectives of this study were to check the fracture resistance of the everStick post and compare it with glass fiber posts and carbon fiber posts and evaluated their modes of failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An estimated 80 freshly extracted human maxillary central incisors were collected for this study. The coronal portions of 60 teeth were sectioned 4 mm incisal to the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and 20 teeth were left intact to be used as controls. All the samples were embedded vertically in acrylic resin blocks and the groups were divided as follows. I-control group, II-carbon fiber group, III-glass fiber group, and IV-everStick (E-glass) group. Root canal treatment was completed in all the 80 teeth of 4 groups. Control group teeth were restored with a composite. In all other teeth, post and core placement was carried out. All specimens were mounted on a test block and subjected to static loading until fracture and the mode of fracture was recorded. Statistical analysis was carried out using ANOVA to calculate the mean values of all groups. An intergroup comparison was carried out using Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: The study showed that group I showed the highest fracture resistance followed by group IV, which is everStick post group under static loading. There was a significant difference among test groups. The main mode of fracture was repairable as there was debonding of the core in all the fiber posts. CONCLUSION: Teeth of the control group showed highest fracture resistance and teeth restored with everStick posts showed higher fracture resistance than those restored with glass fiber or carbon fiber posts under static loading (p < 0.05). The principal mode of fracture was debonding of core and remaining root. Teeth restored without application of a post showed the highest fracture resistance than all other groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: EverStick/E-glass fiber posts showed significantly higher fracture resistance than the other fiber posts and can be suggested for clinical use. How to cite this article: Doshi P, Kanaparthy A, Kanaparthy R, et al. A Comparative Analysis of Fracture Resistance and Mode of Failure of Endodontically Treated Teeth Restored Using Different Fiber Posts: An In Vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2019;20(10):1195-1199.

The Comparative Efficacy of Different Files in The Removal of Different Sealers in Simulated Root Canal Retreatment- An In-vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: Root canal treatment enjoys a high success rate all over the world and has saved billions of teeth from extraction. However, there are instances of failure, the main causes being insufficient cleaning and inadequate obturation. In such cases the most conservative treatment option would be non-surgical retreatment. It requires regaining access to the entire root canal system through removal of the original root canal filling thus permitting further cleaning and re- obturation. Removal of gutta-percha and sealer becomes a critical step to gain access to the root canal system, remove necrotic tissue debris, bacteria and infected dentin. AIM: To compare and evaluate the efficacy of manual hand Hedstrom files and two rotary retreatment file systems ProTaper Universal retreatment files and Mtwo(R) (retreatment) files in the removal of root canal filling material during root canal retreatment and the influence of the type of sealers zinc oxide eugenol and AH plus on the presence of remaining debris in the reinstrumented canals in the apical, middle and coronal third. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty single rooted human premolar teeth were divided into 3 Groups of 20 teeth each Group I (20 Teeth): prepared using hand K Files, Group II (20 Teeth): prepared using ProTaper rotary system and Group III (20 Teeth): prepared using Mtwo rotary system. In Groups- IA, IIA, IIIA: (10 teeth each) Obturation was done using Zinc Oxide Eugenol sealer and gutta percha. In Groups- IB, IIB, IIIB: (10 teeth each) obturation was done with AH Plus sealer and gutta percha. All the teeth were subjected to retreatment. Groups IA and IB with Hedstrom files, Groups IIA and IIB with ProTaper retreatment files and for Groups IIIA and IIIB with Mtwo retreatment Files. The roots were longitudinally split and were observed under a stereomicroscope for remaining amount of filling material on the canal walls. Statistical analysis was done using One-way ANOVA (Analysis of variance) test and Tukey HSD Test. RESULTS: Mtwo(R) files showed statistically significant difference in the removal of filling material in the apical third and ProTaper R in the coronal and apical thirds. Better cleaning efficacy was seen in canals obturated with zinc oxide eugenol sealer. Mtwo(R) files showed better removal of filling material than ProTaper R followed by Hedstrom files, even though there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: None of the instrument group showed complete removal of the filling material. It was easier to remove zinc oxide eugenol sealer than AH plus sealer.

Postural awareness among dental students in Jizan, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to assess the postural awareness of dental students in Jizan, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Close-ended, self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection in the survey. The questionnaire was prepared by observing the positions of students working in the clinics and the common mistakes they make with regard to their postures. The questionnaires were distributed among the dental students who were present and reported to work in the clinics. Levels of postural awareness and the relationship between postural awareness and the degree of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) among the students was evaluated. This study was carried out in the College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Jizan. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The level of knowledge of postural awareness was evaluated and correlated with the presence or absence of the MSDs. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test. P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 162 dental students from the age group of 20-25 years were included in the survey, of which 134 dentists responded (83%). When their postural awareness was evaluated, results showed that 89% of the students had poor-to-medium levels of postural awareness. The relation between postural awareness and prevalence of MSDs indicated that 75% of the students with poor awareness, 49% of the students with average awareness, and 40% of the students with good awareness have MSDs. The results were statistically significant (0.002127, which is <0.005) stating that better awareness about proper postures while working helps to minimize the risk of MSDs. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of levels of postural awareness showed that 21% of the students had poor postural awareness, 67% had average awareness, and 11% had good postural awareness. The analysis of results showed that those students with low-to-average postural awareness had significantly greater prevalence of MSDs.

The efficacy of passion fruit juice as an endodontic irrigant compared with sodium hypochlorite solution: an in vitro study.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of several concentrations of two forms of passion fruit juice (PFJ) in the elimination of Enterococcus faecalis and to compare the antibacterial property of PFJ with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an intracanal irrigant. METHODS: Two types of PFJs, aqueous and alcohol extracts, were prepared and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test was performed with both the extracts against E. faecalis. Two concentrations of each extract were selected from the results given by the MIC test and subjected to a broth dilution test (BDT) for nine different time periods. After each time period, samples were inoculated in brain-heart infusion agar plates for 24 h at 37°C and results were compared statistically. RESULTS: The MIC test showed that E. faecalis was sensitive to PFJ extracts at various concentrations. The results of the BDT showed a negative growth of E. faecalis by PFJ alcohol 20% at 30 min, PFJ aqueous 20% at 1 h, NaOCl 2.5% at 10 min and NaOCl 5.25% at 1 min. NaOCl showed a much better antibacterial efficacy than PFJ. CONCLUSIONS: The PFJ alcoholic and aqueous extracts had an antibacterial effect against E. faecalis. As PFJ shows promising results, further research in this field could lead to much better results as compared to NaOCl.

Evaluation of serum C-reactive protein levels in subjects with aggressive and chronic periodontitis and comparison with healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal subgingival pathogens affect local and systemic immune responses and initiate an acute phase systemic inflammatory response characterized by the release of C-reactive proteins (CRPs). This study has been carried out to evaluate the serum concentration of CRPs, which can be used as a marker of periodontal disease as well as a risk indicator for cardiovascular diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study a total number of 45 subjects were selected from the outpatient department of periodontics a mean age of 40 years. Based on the periodontal status, the subjects were divided into 3 groups of 15 subjects each. Group I: Control group [with attachment loss (AL) ≤ 2 mm and pocket depth (PD) < 3 mm], Group II: Generalized aggressive periodontitis (AL ≤ 5 mm), Group III: chronic periodontitis (AL ≥ 2 mm, PD ≥ 5 mm), which includes moderate and severe periodontitis. The clinical parameters recorded were plaque index,gingival index, bleeding index, probing PD, and clinical attachment levels and scoring was done on 6 surfaces of all teeth. For the CRP assessment, blood samples were collected from subjects at the time of clinical examination. Analysis of covariance was used for comparison of mean values between the groups to adjust the ages (P value < 0.05). RESULTS: Overall, the mean CRP levels were high in subjects with generalized aggressive and chronic periodontitis compared with controls. This was found to be statistically significant. A statistically significant difference (P = 0.012) was found in the CRP level between groups I and II and between groups II and III, and between groups I and III. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicated an increase in serum CRP levels in subjects with generalized aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis as compared with the controls.

C-reactive protein as a marker of periodontal disease.

Periodontal subgingival pathogens affect local and systemic immune and inflammatory response and cause the release of cytokines; this results in periodontal destruction and initiation of an acute phase systemic inflammatory response characterized by the release of C-reactive proteins (CRP). This study set out to evaluate the serum concentration of CRP that can be used as a marker of periodontal disease as well as a risk indicator for cardiovascular disease. Based on their periodontal status, 45 patients were divided into three groups. The following clinical parameters were recorded: plaque index, gingival index, bleeding index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment levels. Scoring was done on six tooth surfaces for all teeth. For the CRP assessment, blood samples were collected from subjects at the time of clinical examination. The results indicated an increase in serum CRP levels in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis as compared to controls.

The changing face of dentistry: nanotechnology.

The human body comprises molecules; hence, the availability of molecular nanotechnology will permit dramatic progress to address medical problems and will use molecular knowledge to maintain and improve human health at the molecular scale. Nanomedicine could develop devices that are able to work inside the human body in order to identify the early presence of a disease, and to identify and quantify toxic molecules and tumor cells, for example. Nanodentistry will make possible the maintenance of comprehensive oral health by employing nanomaterials, including tissue engineering and, ultimately, dental nanorobots. This review is an attempt to highlight the possible applications of nanotechnology and the use of nanomaterials in dentistry.