Dental Research Journal
Volume:4 Issue: 2, Mar 2007

Patients typically associate dental care with pain. Pain has both physiological and psychological components. Endodontic post-treatment pain continues to be a significant problem facing the dental profession. For those patients presenting with preoperative pain, it has been reported that up to 80% of this population will continue to report pain after endodontic treatment. Many studies have demonstrated that endodontic treatment is efficacious in reducing post-treatment pain. Despite the fact that the pain relief afforded by endodontic treatment is effective, it is rarely immediate and complete. Therefore, it is evident that post-treatment analgesic intervention is required in a variable percentage of endodontic cases. The purpose of this review article was to assess three main pharmacologic approaches in the control of post-treatment endodontic pain.

There has been no recent assessment of public attitudes and opinions concerning risk of blood-borne pathogen transmission during health care. To assess public attitudes and opinions towards dentists infected with blood-borne viruses, this study was carried out.
Six items in this cross-sectional survey were used to assess current attitudes and opinions about dentists infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and C Viruses, and the risk of blood-borne virus transmission during health care in a sample of 500 cases, in Yazd. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 13) and chi-square tests were used, when appropriate.
Of 500 respondents, 94% agreed that they want to know whether their dentist is infected with HIV, HBV or HCV; 93.8% agreed that disclosure of HIV, HBV or HCV infection in a provider should be mandatory. However, 15.8% did not believe that HIV-infected dentists were more likely to infect patients than those dentists infected with HBV or HCV. Opinions were divided on whether HIV-infected providers should be able to care for patients as long as they use good infection control: only 41.6% thought that infected providers should be allowed to provide patient care.
These findings suggest that improved public education and risk communication on health care-associated blood-borne infections is needed

Metals have a wide range of applications in implant and prosthetic materials in dentistry. Corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of metals should be improved in order to utilize them as biomaterials. The aim of this work was to prepare metallic coatings on 316L stainless steel dental implants, to evaluate the corrosion characteristics of the uncoated and metallic coated dental implants as an indication of biocompatibility and, to compare the effect of the type of the coatings on biocompatibility.
In this in vitro evaluation, three types of metallic coatings including tantalum, niobium and titanium coatings were compared using a physical vapor deposition process on 316L stainless steel dental implants. Structural characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis were utilized to investigate the microstructure and morphology of the coatings. Electrochemical potentiodynamic tests were performed in two types of physiological solutions at 37±1°C in order to determine and compare the corrosion current density and corrosion potential characteristics. The mean values were statistically compared by ANOVA at a 95% level of confidence.
The findings showed that all of the three types of metallic coatings had a positive effect on improvement of the corrosion behavior. The coatings could increase the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel and this trend was independent of the type of physiological environment.
The biocompatible metallic coatings could decrease the corrosion current density and is a distinct advantage for prevention of ion release. Decreasing ion release can improve the biocompatibility of the dental implant, and consequently can prevent tissue damage, tissue inflammation and irritation, and can also lead to obtaining a desirable histopathological response.

Bio Active Glass (BAG) is often used as a filler material for regeneration of dental bone defects. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is used as retrofilling agent, repair of root resorption and pulpotomy agent in primary dentition. Formocresol (FC) is old and standard fixation agent in pulpotomy procedures. Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a biologic constitute. It is used in ridge augmentation, bony defect repair and pulpotomy agent in teeth. The purpose of this study was evaluation of histopathologic responses of dog’s dental pulp to MTA, BAG, FC and HA after three months follow up.
For this experimental prospective study forty-eight teeth were randomly selected in four dogs. Animals were anesthetized and pulpotomized. Three months later, animals were anesthetized and sacrificed. Then, teeth were extracted and histologic sections were prepared. Histologic sections were observed by an oral pathologist. The sections were observed from the view of inflammation, hyperemia, necrosis, vitality, calcification and dentinal bridge. Relative frequency of histopathologic outcomes of dental pulp was analyzed and reported. Mean differences of four groups were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.
Relative frequency of inflammation of FC, MTA, HA and BAG groups were 29.2, 25.9, 42.4 and 29.2 percent, respectively. Relative frequency of hyperemia of FC, MTA, HA and BAG groups were 75.1, 63.6, 59.2, 81.6 and 62.5 percent, respectively. Relative frequency of necrosis of FC, MTA, HA and BAG groups were 29.2, 11.1, 12.1, 0 percent, respectively. Relative frequency of calcification of FC, MTA, HA and BAG groups were 75, 51.9, 69.7 and 54.8 percent, respectively. Relative frequency of dentinal bridge of FC, MTA, HA and BAG groups were 29.2, 70.4, 30.3 and 29.2 percent, respectively.
Histopathologic reactions of dental pulp to four materials (MTA, HA, BAG, FC) were different. Histopathologic outcomes of MTA was more proper than those of BAG, HA and FC. Considering these findings, use of mineral trioxide aggregate and bioactive glass in pulpotomy is more favorable than using Formocresol and Hydroxyapatite.

Resin composites are common materials used to restore anterior teeth following root canal therapy, but are accompanied with shrinkage during polymerization. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of the insertion method and polymerization shrinkage of resin composite on residual tooth structure.
Stereomicroscopy and computerized Finite Element Modelling (FEM) were used to compare residual stresses in endodontically treated, extracted maxillary central incisor teeth, in which the access cavities were restored with resin composite. Theoretical stresses derived from the FEM were analyzed during preparation and after teeth were restored using either a “bulk” or a “wedge incremental” method. These data were subsequently compared with stresses measured directly using strain gauges.
Results showed that intensive stresses, which had the potential to cause fracture in dental structures and composite de-bonding, were applied to teeth during polymerization.
According to the results of this study, the “bulk” build up led to less stress induction during restoration of teeth following root canal therapy.

Despite advances in the oral health of children in recent decades, early childhood caries (ECC) continues to pose a serious threat to child welfare. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence and severity of ECC in 6-60 month old children in relation to socioeconomic factors, feeding practices and oral health behaviors in Quchan.
This cross-sectional study included almost all children enrolled in Quchan
s day care centers; 232 six to sixty months children were examined. Social and behavioral information were obtained from parents through a self-administered questionnaire. ECC and severe ECC (S-ECC) were diagnosed based on NIDCR and WHO recommendations.
The prevalence of ECC and S-ECC were 59% and 25%, respectively. The overall mean of d2mfs (with cavitated carious surface lesions) and d2psmfs (with cavitated and non-cavitated carious surface lesions) were 2.1 ± 4.45 and 3.80 ± 5.34, respectively. The variables significantly associated with ECC or S-ECC were socioeconomic status, frequency of bottle-feeding, snacking frequency, probable age of starting tooth brushing, person responsible for child’s oral health care and eruption age of the first tooth.
This study demonstrated that the prevalence of ECC was high among of preschool children in the city of Quchan. It is recommended to increase knowledge of parents about proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and also preschool children accessibility to dental services.

With introducing composite teeth, their wear resistance has been well investigated, but there are few papers about their bonding to acrylic denture base resins. The aim of this study was to compare the four pre-bonding preparation methods on the ridge lap surface of one multilithic denture tooth by determining its bond strength to denture base resin.
In this experimental laboratory study, 84 maxillary anterior teeth were divided into four groups based on four different pre-bonding methods (untreated, grinding, 2 retention grooves and diatorics). The teeth were mounted on 2 sides of triangular shaped wax models. Then, the laboratory procedures (wax elimination and resin packing) were done. Each of the specimens was tested by universal testing machine with cross head speed of 5 mm/min. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann- Whitney tests.
The mean bond strength in untreated group was 287.38 ± 51.82 N, in grinding group was 301.52 ± 113.65 N, in retention grooves group was 374.38 ± 88.22 N and in diatorics group was 415.19 ± 226.37 N. The highest mean bond strength was seen in diatorics group (P=0.009). The percentage of cohesive fractures in this group (90.5%) was significantly more than that in other groups (P < 0.001).
The results of this study showed that creating retention hole in the ridge lap surface of the multilithic tooth can increase its bond strength with denture base resin.

The Persian toothbrush tree or Miswak (Salvadora Persica L.) has been used as a brushing stick for more than 1,300 years. Pharmacological studies indicated antibacterial and antiinflammatory activities of Miswak extract. The present study was performed to determine antibacterial effects of Miswak extract.
The present experimental research involved three in vitro studies including: 1) in vitro testing of the effect of Miswak extract on selected bacteria; 2) comparing the paraclinical effects of Iranian toothpaste containing Miswak extract and placebo toothpaste on dental plaque; and 3) comparing the antibacterial effect of Iranian toothpaste with Swiss toothpaste (Quail Miswak) on dental plaque. The disc diffusion method was used to test bacterial sensitivity of toothpastes. Data were analyzed by paired t-test and ANOVA.
In the first study, Miswak extract inhibited the growth of some dental plaque bacteria. In the second study, antibacterial effect of the herbal toothpaste was significantly greater than that of the placebo (P =0.002). In the third study, four samples of dental plaque bacteria were used and there was no difference between the antibacterial effects of Swiss and Iranian herbal toothpastes (P =0.66).
Due to antimicrobial effects of Miswak extract, its use in mouth rinses and toothpastes is highly recommended.

To our knowledge, the occurrence of multiple mucoceles is not very common. This case report presents a 62-year-old man with multiple nodules on the upper and lower labial mucosa as well as both buccal mucosae with unknown history. Histopathology evaluation showed minor salivary gland ducts dilated to the point of cyst formation. The cysts seemed to be formed either as a result of dilatation of salivary ducts due to altered secretion or because of an acquired or congenital weakness in the ductal structure. The physiopathology of these findings is discussed.