Comparative Clinical Evaluation of Composite Overcast Gold Post and Core Buildups in Endodontically Treated Teeth.

BACKGROUND: The management of non-vital teeth includes endodontic treatment and restoration followed by post and core restoration in selected cases. The present study was conducted to compare the indirect cast post, and core buildup with direct composite post build up in patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted on 128 teeth of 82 patients. The success rate over 3 years was evaluated clinically and radiographically by observing caries, tooth mobility, probing depth, periapical pathology, and root fractures. RESULTS: Group I consisted of 16 incisors, 20 canines, 22 premolars, and six molars while group II had 17 incisors, 14 canines, 25 premolars, and eight molars. The difference was statistical non-significant (p-0.1). Forty-four teeth in group I and 42 teeth in group II utilized composite cement, whereas 18 teeth in group I and 16 teeth in group II used GIC and zinc phosphate was used in two teeth in group I and six teeth in group II. The difference was statistical ly significant (p< 0.05). Four teeth in group I and 8 in group II were lost. One tooth in group I and two teeth in group II showed root fracture and three teeth in group I and six teeth in group II showed periapical pathology. The difference was statistically significant (p-0.01). Most common type of complication was probing depth > 4 mm, caries, tooth mobility, and root fracture. The difference was non- significant (p-0.31). CONCLUSION: Both composite post buildup and cast gold post and core build-up exhibited similar properties. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Both composite post buildup and cast gold post and core build-up exhibited similar properties hence either of the methods can be used in post core build up.

Assessment of changes in enamel colour following fixed orthodontic therapy using an advanced spectrophotometer: An in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Any manipulation of the surface of natural teeth may result in a variation of their colour. The fixed orthodontic treatment (FOT) is one such procedure which alters the enamel surface during the procedure. OBJECTIVE: To clinically evaluate the colour changes in teeth associated with comprehensive FOT (to compare the changes in test and control groups) and to determine the relationship of age and gender on enamel colour due to FOT by using an advanced spectrophotometer. METHODS: The selection of sixty patients for the study was done randomly and among these thirty patients who underwent the FOT as the case group, the other thirty patients who did not need FOT, were the control group. The recordings of spectrophotometric data were done in a standardized manner for all patients in the labial circular region of every anterior tooth, following debonding and cleaning operations, and before bracket bonding. The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage's L*, a*, and b* (lightness, red/green, and blue/yellow) tooth-type characteristics were used to measure color, and the associated color differences (DE) between the groups were computed. One-way ANOVA (a < 0.05) and the paired t-test were used to evaluate any changes in these color characteristics. RESULTS: Fixed orthodontic treatment is associated with changes in colour parameters. L* values decreased (P< 0.001), while a* and b* values increased (P< 0.001) at the end of treatment. All measured tooth types showed significant colour change (DE); their mean differences ranged from 1.64 to 2.96 DE units. CONCLUSIONS: Fixed orthodontics can change the natural colour of teeth. The CIE colour parameters L*, a*, and b* of natural teeth showed statistically significant differences after debonding the orthodontic appliances. The L* values decreased making the teeth look darker. The adolescent and male patients had more tooth colour changes than the adult and female groups.

Dimensional Stability of Light-Activated Urethane Dimethacrylate Denture Base Resins.

An accurate and dimensionally stable trial denture base is required for a successful denture. The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the dimensional stability of a light-activated urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) visible light cure (VLC) denture base with three fabrication techniques and different curing cycles. Forty-five VLC denture base samples were divided evenly into three groups. Group A used a conventional fabrication technique with a curing cycle of 5 min. Group B used a modified fabrication technique with two 4-min curing cycles. Group C used a multi-step fabrication technique with three curing cycles (4 min, plus 4 min, plus 2 min). The samples were sectioned and observed under a stereomicroscope to measure the discrepancy between the sample and the master cast. The mean dimensional discrepancy (mm) at the molar region at mid-palate, after 24 h in Group A, B and C was 0.790 mm, 0.741 mm and 0.379 mm, respectively; at the right ridge crest, it was 0.567, 0.408 and 0.185, while at the left ridge crest it was 0.475, 0.331 and 0.125, respectively. Statistical analysis showed significantly different dimensional discrepancies among the groups at all three sites; right ridge crest (F = 93.54, p < 0.001), left ridge crest (F = 105.96, p < 0.001) and mid-palate (F = 125.53, p < 0.001). Within the limitations of this laboratory study, it can be concluded that the denture base using a multi-step fabrication technique with three curing cycles provides better adaptation than the conventional technique. The significance of the study is that clinicians should consider performing denture base fabrication using a multi-step technique to enhance adaptation and hence the stability of the dentures for patients.

Unique tooth dislocation into submental space during a pan facial trauma - Importance of an orthopantomogram.

BACKGROUND: There are certain reported cases of unusual displacements of teeth involved in a maxillofacial trauma to the maxillary sinus, nasal cavity, gastrointestinal tract or the airway, if worst. All these usually lead to complication the worst being death. So enquiring about them is a very essential part of surveying a maxillofacial trauma patient involving dentition. CASE: This patient was referred to our department for a dental consultation for his ill-defined firm, mildly tender, non-suppurative, submental swelling unresponsive to medication. He had undergone a polytrauma involving his face two months back. An orthopantomogram was ordered which showed a lower central incisor from the fracture site had slipped through the fracture gap into the submental space possibly missed by the CT scan. There was also a lower border splaying at the fracture site. A layer-wise dissection was done extra-orally to retrieve the tooth. CONCLUSION: This case envisages the importance of an OPG as an adjuvant to the basic radiographic study, in the emergency room, for a patient with oral and maxillofacial trauma. It also establishes the importance of a meticulous secondary survey, including counting the number of teeth and establishing a correct occlusion to avoid a complication and re-operation. Besides, a medical negligence lawsuit can also arise as some teeth may slip to lungs even.

Evaluation of Clinical Parameters in Implant Maintenance Phase for Prevention of Peri-implantitis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis are one of the common biological complications affecting implant success. The present study aimed to evaluate various clinical parameters during implant maintenance phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included patients undergoing implant maintenance phase for 1-year follow-up. The study consists of a total of forty individuals with age ranging from 35 to 65 years. They were further categorized into two subgroups on the basis of their history, i.e., Group 1: patients with no history of periodontitis before implant placement and Group 2: patients with a history of periodontitis before implant placement. Among the selected patients, a total of 98 implants were studied. All were individually evaluated for clinical parameters such as gingival index, pocket probing depth (PPD), and bleeding on probing (BOP). All the data obtained were tabulated and analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 18.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). Quantitative analysis was done using t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in Group 1 and Group 2 was 58.6 and 62.8 years, respectively, with not much gender difference. The mean plaque index for Group 1 was 0.17 ± 0.20, while for Group 2, it was 0.24 ± 0.14. The mean PPD and mean BOP for Group 1 came to be 2.60 ± 0.42 and 0.42 ± 0.15, respectively, whereas for Group 2, it was 4.08 ± 0.30 and 0.39 ± 0.48, respectively. Only PPD was found to be statistically significantly different between both the groups. Group 1 showed 2.0% peri-implantitis, whereas Group 2 showed 28% peri-implantitis. CONCLUSION: Due to increased prevalence of peri-implantitis cases with the increase in usage of implants, it becomes imperative to look up to the etiological factors and contributing factors so that the incidence of these can be minimized.