Avicenna Journal of Dental Research
Volume:15 Issue: 1, Mar 2023

According to the high prevalence of iron (Fe) deficiency anemia, it is highly important to reach simple and cost-effective methods for accurate diagnosis. Considering that saliva, as a diagnostic substance is of great value, the present study aimed to compare the amount of salivary Fe and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) levels of patients with Fe deficiency anemia and healthy individuals.

In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, thirty 20-40-year-old women participated in case (patients with anemia) and control (healthy individuals) groups. After collecting the serum and saliva samples of each participant, Fe and TIBC levels were measured in µg/dL. Data were analyzed using SPSS with Kolmogorov-Smirnov, t test and Pearson correlation tests at the significant level of 0.05.

The mean age of the participants of the case and control groups was 31.25 and 30.6, respectively. The average amounts of salivary Fe and TIBC of patients with Fe deficiency were 28.60 and 610.00 µg/dL, respectively. Further, the means of salivary Fe and TIBC of the control group were 78.80 and 290.00 µg/dL, respectively. Based on the results, the serum Fe and TIBC of anemic patients were 27.05 and 589.70 µg/ dL, whereas the means of the serum Fe and TIBC of the control group were 80.27 and 286.80, respectively. There were significant differences between both salivary and serum values of the Fe and TIBC of case and control groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the relationship between the serum and salivary levels of Fe and TIBC were positive and significant (P<0.05).

Based on the results of the present study, significant changes were found in the salivary amount of the Fe and TIBC of patients with Fe deficiency anemia corresponding to the serum levels of Fe and TIBC, thus saliva could be considered as a diagnostic substance for the detection of Fe deficiency anemia.

Denture stomatitis (DS) due to Candida albicans is a chronic inflammation of mucous membranes that occurs beneath acrylic resin dentures. Various antifungal and disinfecting agents with different formulations are used to treat this condition with different side effects. Recently, the use of herbal medicines has attracted attention in the treatment of medical and dental conditions. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of effervescent tablets containing ginger on complete dentures in patients with oral fungal infections in vitro.

In the present in vitro study, 81 acrylic resin dentures were divided into 3 groups and contaminated with Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei fungal species, and each group was assigned to 3 groups, then immersed in solutions containing effervescent ginger tables, nystatin (as a positive control group), and distilled water (as a negative control group). The dentures underwent fungal culture procedures at 30-, 60-, and 180-minute intervals. Finally, the study groups were investigated for the presence or absence of fungal colonies.

According to the results, the mean fungal colonies in the nystatin group were generally less than that in the ginger tablet group. The antifungal effect of nystatin began earlier than the ginger tablet, (i.e., in the presence of nystatin), and Candida counts diminished to zero after 60 minutes; however, this happened after 180 minutes in the effervescent ginger tablet solution.

Although the antifungal effect of nystatin was higher and faster than that of ginger-containing effervescent tablets, if necessary, it is possible to use ginger tablets for a longer time to eliminate fungal contaminants from dentures. Ginger-containing effervescent antifungal tablets require 180 minutes to exert their antifungal effect.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiographic and clinical features of malignant oral and maxillofacial lesions in patients referred to the Radiology Department of Mashhad Dental School from 2003 to 2017.

A total of 45 radiographs of patients who had been referred to the Radiology Department of Mashhad Dental School from 2003 to 2017 were selected from the radiology archive. The patients presenting with malignant lesions in jaws and a definite pathologic diagnosis were selected as the study population. The radiographic features of lesions were investigated using intraoral radiographies, panoramic, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) or computed tomography (CT) views. Then, 18 patients whose information was available were evaluated. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the characteristics of lesions.

The age of the patients ranged from 5 to 84 years, with a mean of 49.18 years. Of the 45 lesions identified, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most prevalent malignancy, followed by lymphoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Most malignant lesions were seen in the posterior region of the jaws, and lesions were generally more prevalent in the mandible. Additionally, 77.8% of the observed malignancies had an ill-defined border, and 86.6% of them were radiolucent. In the clinical view, swelling was the most common symptom, and the duration of the disease in the majority of the lesions was less than 3 months.

Paying attention to the course of the lesion, its internal structure and borders in the radiographic view can lead to a more accurate differentiation of malignant lesions from benign ones and timely referral of the patient.

Plaque accumulation and bond failure are the drawbacks of fixed orthodontic treatment. Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) could be added to orthodontic composite as an antimicrobial agent, but it may change its mechanical properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical properties of orthodontic composite modified by TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) after 10000 cycles of thermocycling.

Overall, 50 intact human premolars (extracted for orthodontic treatment) were used in this study. The orthodontic composite containing TiO2 NPs (1% wt) was prepared and used for the bonding of brackets. The bracket/tooth shear bond strength (SBS) was measured by using a universal testing machine before and after 10000 cycles of thermocycling at 5 and 55° C (dwell time=30 seconds). Eventually, the obtained data were analyzed by Student’s t test with the Excel software (significance level≤0.05).

After thermocycling, the average SBS of TiO2 containing and control group was 11.43±5.18 MPa and 13.46±5.17 MPa, respectively. The difference in the SBS of the two groups after thermocycling was not significant (P=0.7). The SBS of both groups decreased after thermocycling; however, the reduction was lower in the group with TiO2 than in the control group.

TiO2 -containing composite can be used as an antimicrobial agent in high risk of caries patients without deteriorating the mechanical properties.

Catering a tooth-colored restoration in a single sitting is the fundamental objective of chairside digital dentistry with computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, which became a legitimate reality with the initiation of ceramic reconstruction (CEREC) workflow. CAD/CAM dentistry has evolved through an amalgamation of diverse software and hardware upgrades since its launch to a viable chairside technology that allows pediatric dentists to treat patients in a single visit. Nowadays, CAD/CAM of dental restorations has become an ingrained fabrication process, especially for zirconium restorations. In this report, we have presented three cases to exemplify the clinical use of chairside digital dentistry (i.e., CEREC workflow) for the fabrication of a customized zirconium restoration in a single sitting to restore form, function, and occlusion for grossly decayed and decalcified primary molars, as well as esthetics for primary anterior teeth with utmost comfort of child patients with single-sitting treatment modality.

A non-common case of unilateral fusion between the left upper central tooth and the supernumerary deciduous tooth, which also has an extra maxillary impacted tooth, was reported in the present study. The patient was a 9-year-old Iranian boy. The left lateral maxillary tooth was found during the oral examination. In the radiographic presentations, the fused teeth showed separate roots, pulpal chambers, and separate root canals. Delayed eruption of the first and second maxillary permanent incisors was experienced due to the presence of an extra impacted tooth. In the management of this condition, both the deciduous fused teeth and extra impacted teeth were removed, and an appointment was scheduled for three months to check for spontaneous tooth eruption.