Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Different Intracanal Medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the anti-microbial efficacy of various intracanal medicaments againstEnterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) andCandida albicans (C. albicans). Materials and methods: Sixty single rooted, non-carious, permanent mandibular premolars with no developmental defects that were previously extracted for the orthodontic purpose were included in this study. E. faecalis andC. albicans strains were cultured on brain heart infusion (BHI) and sabouraud dextrose (SD) agar plates respectively. Sixty specimens were divided into two main groups and three subgroups with 10 teeth receiving a medicament; group I: E. faecalis (Subgroup Ia: BioPure MTAD, Subgroup Ib: propolis, Subgroup Ic: Triple antibiotic paste), group II:C. albicans (Subgroup IIa: BioPure MTAD, Subgroup IIb: propolis, Subgroup IIc: Triple antibiotic paste). The antimicrobial activity of the intracanal medicaments against E. faecalis and C. albicans were assessed at the end of 2nd and 7th day. The mean zones of inhibition were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: After 2 days, the mean zone of inhibition of E. faecalis andC. albicans was maximum for triple antibiotic paste (24.74 ± 0.622 mm, 28.22 ± 0.489 mm), followed by BioPure MTAD (19.58 ± 1.734 mm, 24.75 ± 0.954 mm) and propolis (13.10 ± 0.278 mm, 17.96 ± 0.163 mm). Similarly, the mean zone of inhibition of E. faecalis and C. albicans was maximum for triple antibiotic paste (26.86 ± 0.112 mm, 32.10 ± 0.908 mm), followed by BioPure MTAD (20.13 ± 1.842 mm, 27.22 ± 1.977) and propolis (14.11 ± 0.101 mm, 19.90 ± 0.742 mm) after 7 days. Statistically significant differences (p <0.0001) were found between the groups. CONCLUSION: Present study concluded that the antimicrobial effectiveness of triple antibiotic paste was significantly more than BioPure MTAD and propolis against E. faecalis and C. albicans at the end of 2nd and 7th day. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: An endodontic treatment is considered successful only when the root canals are completely eradicated of microorganisms. As the morphology of the root canals is complex, mechanical instrumentation alone cannot completely debride them. Thus, the role of intracanal medicaments in complementing the mechanical instrumentation becomes important.

A study on the change in HbA1c levels before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy in type-2 diabetes mellitus in generalized periodontitis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate and investigate changes in HbA1c levels before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients with generalized periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A statistically significant number of type-2 diabetes mellitus subjects diagnosed with chronic generalized periodontitis were included in the study. The selected subjects were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group 1: Control group: Subjects who received only scaling and root planning. Group 2: Test group: Subjects received antibiotic coverage with non-surgical periodontal therapy (scaling and root planning). Clinical parameters included plaque index, gingival index, PRO MIG pocket depth, and clinical attachment level. In addition, the metabolic parameters were recorded at the same time intervals, which included fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar, and HbA1c levels. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: ANOVA test was applied to the parameters. RESULTS: HbA1c more significantly reduced by test group compared to the other group. Conclusion: there is definitely a positive effect of nonsurgical on HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus. This point levels significantly reduced after conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy. CONCLUSION: There is definitely a positive effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes patients with chronic periodontitis.

Assessment of Marginal Adaptation and Sealing Ability of Root Canal Sealers: An in vitro Study.

AIM: This study aims to compare the marginal adaptation and sealing ability [mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)-Fillapex, AH Plus, Endofill sealers] of root canal sealers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, the inclusion criteria include 45 single-rooted extracted mandibular premolar teeth, with single canal and complete root formation. The sectioning of the samples was done at the cementoenamel junction using a low-speed diamond disc. Step-back technique was used to prepare root canals manually. The MTA-Fillapex, AH Plus, and Endofill sealers were the three experimental sealer groups to which 45 teeth were distributed. Under scanning electron microscope (SEM), marginal gap at sealer and root dentin interface were examined at coronal and apical halves of root canal. RESULTS: Among the three maximum marginal adaptations were seen with AH Plus sealer (4.10 ± 0.10) which is followed by Endofill sealer (1.44 ± 0.18) and MTA-Fillapex sealer (0.80 ± 0.22). Between the coronal and apical marginal adaptation, significant statistical difference (p = 0.001) was seen in AH Plus sealer. When a Mann-Whitney U-test was done on MTA-Fillapex sealer vs AH Plus sealer and AH Plus sealer vs Endofill sealer, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) found between the above two groups at coronal and apical third. CONCLUSION: The present study proves that AH Plus sealer has a better marginal adaptation when compared with other sealers used. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: For sealing space of crown wall and main cone in root canal treatment, sealers play an important role. The other advantages of sealers are that they are used to fill voids and irregularities in root channel, secondary, lateral channels, and space between applied gutta-percha cones and also act as tripper during filling.