Dental Research Journal
Volume:8 Issue: 3, May 2011

Surface microhardness is a physical property which access the effect of chemical and physical agents on hard tissues of teeth, and a useful way to examine the resistance of fluoride treated enamel against caries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate microhardness of enamel following pH-cycling through demineralization and remineralization using suspensions of dentifrices with different fluoride contents. In this in vitro study 56 enamel blocks of primary incisors were soaked in demineralizing solution and four dentifrices suspensions including: Crest 1100 ppm F (NaF), Crest 500 ppm F (NaF), Pooneh 500 ppm F (NaF,) and Pooneh without fluoride. The means and percentage changes of surface microhardness in pre-demineralization, after demineralization and remineralization stages in four groups were measured. The findings of four groups in three stages were compared by, ANOVA, Tukey and paired t-tests. (α=0.05) Average surface microhardness changes of Crest 1100 ppm F, was higher than Crest 500 ppm F, Pooneh 500 ppm F, and Pooneh without fluoride. The percentages of surface microhardness recovery for Crest 1100 ppm F, Crest 500 ppm F, Pooneh 500 ppm F, and Pooneh without fluoride were 45.4, 35.4, 28.6, and 23.7 respectively. Demineralization treatment decreased the surface microhardness of enamel (P<0.05) and the surface microhardness recovery in all groups were significant (P<0.0001). Surface microhardness of enamel after remineralization by Crest 1100 ppm F was higher than Crest 500 ppm F, Pooneh 500 ppm F, and Pooneh without fluoride.

Knowledge about root canal morphology and its frequent variations can exert considerable influence on the success of endodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to survey the root canal morphology of mandibular first premolar teeth in a Gujarati population by decalcification and clearing technique. One hundred thirty eight extracted mandibular first premolar teeth were collected from a Gujarati population. After decalcifying and clearing, the teeth were examined for tooth length, number of cusps and roots, number and shape of canal orifices and canal types. The average length of mandibular first premolar teeth was 21.2 mm. All the teeth had 2 cusps. One hundred thirty four teeth (97.1%) had one root, and just 4 teeth (2.89%) had two roots. Mesial invagination of root was found in 21 teeth (15.21%). One canal orifice was found in 122 teeth (88.4%) and two canal orifices in 16 teeth (11.59%). Shape of orifices was found to be round in 46 teeth (33.33%), oval in 72 teeth (52.17%) and flattened ribbion in 20 teeth (14.49%). According to Vertucci’s classification, Type I canal system was found in 93 teeth (67.39%), Types II,III,IV,V,and VI in 11 teeth (7.97%), 5 teeth (3.62%), 4 teeth (2.89%), 24 teeth (17.39%), and 1 tooth (0.72%) respectively. Mandibular first premolar teeth were mostly found to have one root and Type I canal system.

Assessment of prosthetic needs in a special population would aid in planning the oral health service programs. The aim of this study was to assess the dental prosthetic status and prosthetic needs in a sample of green marble mine laborers of Udaipur, India. The study population comprised of 513 green marble mine laborers who were divided into four age groups (15-24, 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54). Prosthetic status and treatment needs along with dentition status were recorded using WHO oral health assessment form. The examination was done by two examiners who were calibrated for inter examiner variability with kappa statistic of 86%. Chi-square test was used to compare the proportions. The significance level was set at α= 0.05. Mean number of missing teeth due to any reason for the whole sample was 0.82. Approximately, 96.5% of the subjects were free from any kind of prosthesis and only the rest of sample (3.5%) had single fixed prosthesis. The overall prosthetic treatment needs was 15.5%. Prosthetic needs increased as the age increased with the age group 45-54 showing the greatest. Prosthetic needs in the lower arch were found to be greater than that of the upper arch. Single unit prosthesis comprised a greater percentage of the whole prosthetic needs (41%). Most of the prosthetic needs of the study population were unmet. The prosthetic needs being four and half-fold greater than the status.

Triple-course vaccination against hepatitis B might sometimes fail to increase antibody titers or maintain it at sufficient levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of seroprotection in dental students after receiving recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Anti-HBs levels of 124 dental students who had received triple-course hepatitis B vaccines (scheduled at months 0, 1, and 6) were examined. Titers ≥ 100 mIU/ml were considered as protective. Associations between age, gender and duration of being vaccinated with the titer of anti-HBs were assessed. The participants’ mean age was 24 ± 1.3 years and 93% of them were female. The time passed from receiving the final dose was 3.5 ± 1.4 years. Fifty four percent of the students had protective immune response (95% CI 45.2% to 62.8%), 24.2% had positive but weak immune response (anti-HBs titer was between 10 and 100 mIU/ml), and the rest of the subjects (21.8%) were seronegative after receiving routine HBV vaccination. There was a considerable rate of failure in achieving or maintaining acceptable titer levels following routine vaccination against HBV. Hence, determining serum anti-HBs titer after vaccination is recommended.

Decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) may have the potential to enhance bone formation around dental implants. Our aim in this study was the evaluation and comparison of two types of DFDBA in treatment of dehiscence defects around Euroteknika® implants in dogs. In this prospective clinical trial animal study, all mandibular premolars of three Iranian dogs were extracted. After 3 months of healing, fifteen SLA type Euroteknika® dental implants (Natea) with 4.1mm diameter and 10mm length were placed in osteotomy sites with dehiscence defects of 5mm length, 4 mm width, and 3mm depth. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures were performed using Cenobone and collagen membrane for six implants, the other six implants received Dembone and collagen membrane and the final three implants received only collagen membrane. All implants were submerged. After 4 months of healing, implants were uncovered and stability (Implant Stability Quotient) of all implants was measured. Then, block biopsies of each implant site were taken and processed for ground sectioning and histomorphometric analysis. The data was analyzed by ANOVA and Pearson tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. All implants osseointegrated after 4 months. The mean values of bone to implant contact for histomorphometric measurements of Cenobone, Denobone, and control groups were 77.36 ± 9.96%, 78.91 ± 11.9% and 71.56 ± 5.61% respectively, with no significant differences among the various treatment groups. The correlation of Implant Stability Quotient and histomorphometric techniques was 0.692. In treating of dehiscence defects with GBR technique in this study, adding DFDBA did not significantly enhance the percentages of bone-to-implant contact measurements; and Implant Stability Quotient Resonance Frequency Analysis appeared to be a precise technique.

Patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) produce functional IgG against cholinoreceptor of exocrine glands modifying their activity. The aim of the present work was to demonstrate pSS IgG antibodies (pSS IgG) interacting with M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) of rats submandibular glands that alter mucin release and production via phospholipase C (PLC) and cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) pathways. Mucin release and production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and total inositol phosphates (InsP) were measured in rat submandibular gland in the presence of pSS IgG auto antibodies. The auto antibodies interacting with M3 mAChR decreased mucin release and production through stimulation of PLC and COX-2. This stimulation leads to an incremental increase in InsP production and in PGE2 generation, inducing signalling through the prostaglandin membrane receptors subtype 2 (EP2). Moreover, the decrease in mucin production had negative correlation with PGE2 generation and InsP accumulation. IgG in patients with pSS could play an important role in the pathoetiology of dry mouth, decreasing the salivary mucin through the production of proinflammatory substances and leading to the reduction in the protection of the oral tissues.

The need to relieve pain and inflammation after periodontal surgery and the side effects of systemic drugs and advantages of topical drugs, made us to evaluate the effect of Diclofenac mouthwash on periodontal postoperative pain. In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial study 20 quadrants of 10 patients(n=20) aged between 22-54 who also acted as their own controls, were treated using Modified Widman Flap procedure in two quadrants of the same jaw with one month interval between the operations.After the operation in addition to ibuprofen 400 mg, one quadrant randomly received Diclofenac mouthwash (0/01%) for 30 seconds, 4 times a day (for a week) and for the contrary quadrant, ibuprofen and placebo mouthwash was given to be used in the same manner. The patients scored the number of ibuprofen consumption and their pain intensity based on VAS index in a questionnaire in days 1, 2, 3 and the first week after operation. The findings were analysed using two-way ANOVA, t-test and Wilcoxon. P-value less than 0.05 considered to be significant. There was a significant difference between the mean values of pain intensity of two quadrants in four periods (P = 0.031). But, there was no significant difference between the average ibuprofen consumption in two groups (p=0.51). Postoperative satisfaction was not significantly different in two quadrants (p=0.059). 60% of patients preferred Diclofenac mouthwash. Diclofenac mouthwash was effective in reducing postoperative periodontal pain but it seems that it isn’t enough to control postoperative pain on its own.

The neurilemmoma is a benign neoplasm of Schwann cell origin. One of the histopathologic subtypes of this tumor is ancient schwannoma which is characterized by degenerative alterations including cystic change, calcification, hemorrhage, and hyalinization.Intraosseous schwannomas especially ancient ones are rare tumors. Here we present a case of intraosseous ancient schwannoma in the lower jaw of an 11-year-old girl which caused a non-tender expansion. Radiographic examination showed a well-circumscribed, unilocular radiolucent lesion with thin sclerotic borders in the mandibular body and the ramus. Histopathologic examination of the incisional biopsy showed areas of typical Antoni A with verocay bodies and Antoni B that was strongly suggestive of a schwannoma. Complete excision of the lesion was done under general anesthesia. The histopathologic examination confirmed the primary diagnosis and also degenerative changes such as hyalinization and calcification. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of ancient schwannoma was made. No recurrence was observed in the follow-up examination after 3 months.

Tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is a chronic granulomatous disease that can affect any part of the body, including the oral cavity. Oral lesions of tuberculosis, though uncommon, are seen in both the primary and secondary stages of the disease. This article presents a case of tuberculosis of the buccal mucosa, manifesting as non-healing, non-painful ulcer. The diagnosis was confirmed based on histopathology, sputum examination and immunological investigation. The patient underwent anti-tuberculosis therapy and her oral and systemic conditions improved rapidly. Although oral manifestations of tuberculosis are rare, clinicians should include them in the differential diagnosis of various types of oral ulcers. An early diagnosis with prompt treatment can prevent complications and potential contaminations.