Comparison of the Effectiveness of Combined Diode Laser and GLUMA Bonding Therapy With Combined Diode Laser and 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish in Patients With Dentin Hypersensitivity.

Introduction: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is one of the most common complaints of patients referred to a dental office, so this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of combined diode laser and GLUMA bonding therapy with combined diode laser and 5% sodium fluoride varnish in patients with DH. Methods: Sixty patients were divided into three groups (bonding, laser-bonding, laser-varnish), and before the intervention, the amount of DH was measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS) scale. In the bonding group, GLUMA Desensitizer solution was applied and then air-dried. In the bonding-laser group, first bonding was used, and then the affected tooth was irradiated with a diode laser. In the varnish-laser group, 5% sodium fluoride varnish was coated and then the laser was irradiated with the said method. DH was measured immediately after the treatment and then 2, 7 and 30 days after the treatment. Results: Laser-varnish treatment was not different from laser-bonding treatment at all measurement times (P=1). Laser-varnish and bonding treatment were not significantly different up to one week after the intervention, but on the 30th day after the intervention, the difference in pain was significant (P=0.01). There was no significant difference in laser-bonding treatment up to one week after the intervention, but on the 30th day after the intervention, the difference in pain was significant (P=0.003). Conclusion: The combined treatment with GLUMA bonding and the 660 nm diode laser is effective in reducing DH and this is more effective than GLUMA bonding alone in the long term. However, it does not have a significant advantage over the combined varnish-laser method, but it seems that due to its ease of use, it can be a suitable alternative to the varnish-laser method.

The effect of 904 nm low level laser on condylar growth in rats.

A growth center of the mandible that contributes to its length and height is the mandibular condyle. Proliferation of prechondroblasts, followed by synthesis of the extracellular matrix and hypertrophy of the cartilage cells, governs the major part of condylar growth. The sample consisted of 54 male rats, weighing between 60 g and 80 g, divided randomly into three groups. Group I was the control group, group II was irradiated bilaterally, and group III was irradiated on the right side. Laser irradiation (lambda = 904 nm, 2000 Hz, pulse length 200 ns and output power 4 mW) was performed, and the procedure was repeated after a 50-day interval. Two months later, the rats were killed. In a single blind manner the lengths of denuded mandibles and the lengths of mandibles on soft tissue were measured. The growth of the mandibles in the unilaterally irradiated group (P < 0.001) and the bilaterally irradiated group (P < 0.05) was significantly more than that in the control group. There was no significant difference between right and left condylar growth in the bilaterally irradiated group (P = 0.3). Soft tissue analysis also verified these results (P < 0.001). Histomorphometric results also revealed a significant difference between laser-irradiated groups and the control group (P < 0.01). We concluded that particular laser irradiation with the chosen parameters can stimulate condylar growth and subsequently cause mandibular advancement. These findings might be clinically relevant, indicating that low level laser irradiation can be used for further improvement of mandibular retrognathism.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial effects of MTAD, NaOCl against selected endodontic pathogens.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effects of MTAD, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and their combination on endodontic micro-organisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zone of Inhibition (ZI) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were the techniques used. In ZI technique blood agar plates were inoculated with organisms, paper discs were soaked with irrigants and maximum zones of bacterial inhibition were recorded. In the MIC technique the irrigants were serially diluted in TSB tubes and 0.1 mL of the tested microbe solutions were added. Results were obtained on the basis of turbidity and growth on agar plates. Statistical analyses were carried out using ANOVA and Tukey tests. RESULTS: In ZI technique, we investigated 120 specimens including 5 microbial species, 3 irrigants and their control groups, each with 6 repetitions. The results demonstrated MTAD greater antimicrobial efficacy compared to NaOCl, and their mixture (M+N) against Staphylococcus (S) aureus, Enteric (E) bacteria and Enterococcus (E) faecalis (P<0.001). NaOCl was more effective in eradicating Candida (C) albicans than the others (P<0.01). MIC method (155 tubes) showed MTAD to be more effective against E. bacteria and S. aureus. MTAD and NaOCl were equally effective against E. faecalis; however, NaOCl was more effective against C. albicans. CONCLUSION: Bacterial species were more susceptible to MTAD than NaOCl, C. albicans, however, was more susceptible to NaOCl. The advantage of NaOCl is that it has broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. The joint solution (M+N) did not prove to be more effective than their individual use.