Clinical evaluation of winged versus wingless rubber dam clamps in single tooth isolation - A randomized clinical study.

Context: Retention of the rubber dam is done with metallic or nonmetallic clamps for isolation. The two types of metallic clamps most frequently used are winged and wingless. The clinical efficacy of both clamps is needed to be compared. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the postoperative pain and clinical efficacy of winged clamps and wingless metallic clamps in rubber dam isolation of permanent molars in class I restoration. Materials and Methods: After obtaining ethical approval and CTRI registration, a total of 60 patients with mild-to-moderate deep class I caries were included after obtaining informed consent and randomly allocated into two assigned groups: Group A - winged clamp and Group B - wingless clamp, with n = 30 per group. Local anesthesia was administered and the tooth was isolated using a rubber dam as per the standardized protocol. The postoperative evaluation was done for pain using the Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) at 6 and 12 h; trauma to the gingival tissues, sealing ability of the clamp, and slippage of the clamp were evaluated using criteria for clinical evaluation of rubber dam isolation. Statistical Analysis Used: Independent t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare VRS and clinical parameters, respectively, with P < 0.05. Results: Gingival trauma (P = 0.006) and postoperative pain were statistically significantly more in the wingless group at 6 h (P = 0.016) and 12 h (0.01). Statistically significant lower seepage of fluid (P = 0.017) was observed in the wingless group. Slippage was observed more with the winged group but was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Both clamps showed acceptable clinical performance. Their use should be planned as per the requisite of the case and the position of the tooth.

Recommended clinical practice guidelines of aesthetic dentistry for Indians: An expert consensus.

Objective: The research for analyzing the smile characteristics in the Indian population has been limited with contradictory outcomes. This consensus statement aims to critically review the literature and provide basic practice guidelines on dental aesthetics related to the Indian population. Clinical Considerations: 9 clinicians and 6 resource persons from dental colleges in India collaborated in this consensus statement which covered 6 topics along with 6 introductory and 6 conclusive remarks. The statement was developed through a colloquium conducted on topics; global aesthetics: different smile design proportions and guidelines, patient perspective towards aesthetic dentistry in India, a literature survey of aesthetic dentistry for the Indian population, macro and micro-aesthetics, multidisciplinary approach in aesthetic dentistry, inclusion of high-end technologies in Indian modern-day practice, followed by a panel discussion to devise and establish the practice guidelines of aesthetic dentistry in India. The Consensus Statement has been formulated according to AGREE Reporting checklist. Conclusion: The experts and panelists reached a Consensus on protocols to institute clinical practice guidelines of aesthetic dentistry for Indians. However, based on all available literature from India, further research is required to investigate many questions that have not been previously considered.

Position Statement of IACDE for managing dental patients during COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a major health concern globally ever since it was declared as Pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Due to the evolving and contagious nature of coronavirus, it continues to remain a threat for dental health-care personnel. As the virus travels from person-to-person via direct contact through droplet inhalation, cough, and sneeze or through contact transmission, it remains infectious even through inanimate surfaces. A seemingly healthy asymptomatic person may have the potential to trigger the spread of this disease. Coronavirus has the capability of spreading through community transmission. There is no specific treatment or vaccine as of now for stopping the spread of COVID-19, hence universal precautions and awareness with mass involvement is required to ward off this pandemic. Dental health-care personnel are at immense risk due to the near proximity with patients and continual exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids. Management protocol regarding awareness and preventive measures should be laid down for dental clinic/hospital to contain the outspread of this infectious disease.

Synthesis, growth, structural, thermal and optical studies of pyrrolidinium-2-carboxylate-4-nitrophenol single crystals.

Organic nonlinear optical material, pyrrolidinium-2-carboxylate-4-nitrophenol (PCN) was synthesized and single crystals were grown by slow evaporation solution growth method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the structure and lattice parameters of PCN crystals. Infrared, Raman and NMR spectral analyses were used to elucidate the functional groups present in the compound. The thermal behavior of synthesized compound was studied by thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analyses. The photoluminescence property was studied by exciting the crystal at 360 nm. The relative second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of grown crystal was estimated by using Nd:YAG laser with fundamental wavelength of 1,064 nm.

Studies on the growth, spectral, structural, electrical, optical and mechanical properties of Uronium 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate single crystal for third-order nonlinear optical applications.

Organic Uronium 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate (UCHBS) nonlinear optical single crystal was grown by solution growth technique. The solubility and nucleation studies were performed for UCHBS at different temperatures 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55°C. The crystal structure of UCHBS was elucidated from single crystal X-ray diffraction study. High resolution X-ray diffraction technique was employed to study the perfection and internal defects of UCHBS crystal. Infrared and Raman spectra were recorded to analyze the vibrational behavior of chemical bonds and its functional groups. The physico-chemical changes, stability and decomposition stages of the UCHBS compound were established by TG-DTA studies. The dielectric phenomenon of UCHBS crystal was studied at different temperatures with respect to frequency. Linear optical properties of transmittance, cut-off wavelength, band gap of UCHBS were found from UV-visible spectral studies. Third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, nonlinear refractive index, nonlinear optical absorption coefficient values were measured by Z-scan technique. The mechanical properties of UCHBS crystal was studied by using Vicker's microhardness test. The growth features of UCHBS crystal were analyzed from etching studies.

Studies on the growth, structural, spectral and third-order nonlinear optical properties of ammonium 3-carboxy-4-hydroxy benzenesulfonate monohydrate single crystal.

An organic nonlinear optical bulk single crystal, Ammonium 3-carboxy-4-hydroxy benzenesulfonate monohydrate (ACHBS) was successfully grown by solution growth technique. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study confirms that, the grown crystal belongs to P21/c space group. Powder X-ray diffraction and high resolution X-ray diffraction analyses revealed the crystallinity of the grown crystal. Infrared spectral analysis showed the vibrational behavior of chemical bonds and its functional groups. The thermal stability and decomposition stages of the grown crystal were studied by TG-DTA analysis. UV-Visible transmittance studies showed the transparency region and cut-off wavelength of the grown crystal. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of the grown crystal was estimated by Z-scan technique using He-Ne laser source. The mechanical property of the grown crystal was studied by using Vicker's microhardness test.

Effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine on hyperbaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia: A randomized study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of intravenous dexmedetomidine on spinal anesthesia with 0.5% of hyperbaric bupivacaine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I/II patients undergoing elective surgeries under spinal anesthesia were randomized into two groups of 50 each. Immediately after subarachnoid block with 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine, patients in group D received a loading dose of 1 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine intravenously by infusion pump over 10 min followed by a maintenance dose of 0.5 µg/kg/h till the end of surgery, whereas patients in group C received an equivalent quantity of normal saline. RESULTS: The time taken for regression of motor blockade to modified Bromage scale 0 was significantly prolonged in group D (220.7 ± 16.5 min) compared to group C (131 ± 10.5 min) (P < 0.001). The level of sensory block was higher in group D (T 6.88 ± 1.1) than group C (T 7.66 ± 0.8) (P < 0.001). The duration for two-dermatomal regression of sensory blockade (137.4 ± 10.9 min vs. 102.8 ± 14.8 min) and the duration of sensory block (269.8 ± 20.7 min vs. 169.2 ± 12.1 min) were significantly prolonged in group D compared to group C (P < 0.001). Intraoperative Ramsay sedation scores were higher in group D (4.4 ± 0.7) compared to group C (2 ± 0.1) (P < 0.001). Higher proportion of patients in group D had bradycardia (33% vs. 4%) (P < 0.001), as compared to group C. The 24-h mean analgesic requirement was less and the time to first request for postoperative analgesic was prolonged in group D than in group C (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intravenous dexmedetomidine significantly prolongs the duration of sensory and motor block of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia. The incidence of bradycardia is significantly higher when intravenous dexmedetomidine is used as an adjuvant to bupivacaine spinal anesthesia. Dexmedetomidine provides excellent intraoperative sedation and postoperative analgesia.

Crystal growth, spectral, structural and optical studies of π-conjugated stilbazolium crystal: 4-bromobenzaldehyde-4'-N'-methylstilbazolium tosylate.

Nonlinear optical (NLO) organic compound, 4-bromobenzaldehyde-4'-N'-methylstilbazolium tosylate was synthesized by reflux method. The formation of molecular complex was confirmed from (1)H NMR, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectral analyses. The single crystals were grown by slow evaporation solution growth method and the crystal structure and atomic packing of grown crystal was identified. The morphology and growth axis of grown crystal were determined. The crystal perfection was analyzed using high resolution X-ray diffraction study on (001) plane. Thermal stability, decomposition stages and melting point of the grown crystal were analyzed. The optical absorption coefficient (α) and energy band gap (E(g)) of the crystal were determined using UV-visible absorption studies. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the grown crystal was examined by Kurtz powder method with different particle size using 1064 nm laser. Laser induced damage threshold study was carried out for the grown crystal using Nd:YAG laser.

Synthesis, crystal growth, structural, thermal, optical and mechanical properties of solution grown 4-methylpyridinium 4-hydroxybenzoate single crystal.

Organic nonlinear optical material, 4-methylpyridinium 4-hydroxybenzoate (4MPHB) was synthesized and single crystal was grown by slow evaporation solution growth method. Single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses confirm the structure and crystalline perfection of 4MPHB crystal. Infrared, Raman and NMR spectroscopy techniques were used to elucidate the functional groups present in the compound. TG-DTA analysis was carried out in nitrogen atmosphere to study the decomposition stages, endothermic and exothermic reactions. UV-visible and Photoluminescence spectra were recorded for the grown crystal to estimate the transmittance and band gap energy respectively. Linear refractive index, birefringence, and SHG efficiency of the grown crystal were studied. Laser induced surface damage threshold and mechanical properties of grown crystal were studied to assess the suitability of the grown crystals for device applications.

Studies on growth, structural, dielectric, laser damage threshold, linear and nonlinear optical properties of methylene blue admixtured l-arginine phosphate single crystal.

L-Arginine phosphate (LAP) and methylene blue dye admixtured L-arginine phosphate single crystals were grown by slow cooling technique and their cell parameters, crystalline perfection, dopant inclusion were confirmed by single crystal, powder X-ray diffraction and high resolution X-ray diffraction analyses respectively. The modes of vibrations of different functional groups present in pure and dye admixtured LAP crystals have been identified by FTIR spectral analysis. The UV-Vis-NIR spectral study was performed on the grown crystals and found that the crystals are transparent in the entire visible-NIR region. The dielectric measurement was carried out on the grown crystals as a function of frequency at room temperature. The microhardness hardness study on (100) plane of grown crystals reveals the mechanical behavior of the crystals. The laser damage threshold value significantly enhanced for dye admixtured crystal in comparison with pure LAP crystal. The relative SHG efficiency of methylane blue admixtured LAP crystal was found to be 1.3 times higher than that of pure LAP crystal.

Studies on synthesis, growth, structural, thermal, linear and nonlinear optical properties of organic picolinium maleate single crystals.

Picolinium maleate (PM), an organic material has been synthesised and single crystals were grown by slow evaporation technique. The structure of the grown crystal was elucidated by using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. PM crystal belongs to the monoclinic crystallographic system with space group P2(1)/c. The crystalline perfection of the grown crystals was analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction rocking curve measurements. The presence of functional groups in PM was identified by FTIR and FT-NMR spectral analyses. Thermal behaviour and stability of picolinium maleate were studied by TGA/DTA analyses. UV-Vis spectral studies reveal that PM crystals are transparent in the wavelength region 327-1100 nm. The laser damage threshold value of PM crystal was found to be 4.3 GW/cm(2) using Nd:YAG laser. The Kurtz and Perry powder second harmonic generation technique confirms the nonlinear optical property of the grown crystal.

Growth, structural, thermal, linear and nonlinear optical and laser damage threshold studies of picolinium tartrate monohydrate single crystals.

Picolinium tartrate monohydrate (PTM), a novel organic nonlinear optical material was synthesized and bulk crystals were grown from aqueous solution by slow cooling technique. The cell parameters of the grown crystal were found by single and powder X-ray diffraction analyses. The crystalline perfection of the grown crystals has been analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) rocking curve measurements. The presence of functional groups in the grown crystal was identified by FTIR and FT-Raman spectral analyses. UV-Vis spectral studies reveal PTM crystals are transparent in the wavelength region of 295-1100 nm. The thermal characteristics of PTM were analyzed by TGA/DTA studies. The dielectric and mechanical behaviours of PTM crystals were investigated. Dislocation density was estimated to be 2.89 × 10(3) cm(-2) on the flat-surface of PTM crystals from the etching studies. The laser induced surface damage threshold for the grown crystal was measured using Nd:YAG laser. Its second harmonic generation relative efficiency was measured by Kurtz and Perry powder technique and was observed to be comparable with KDP crystal.

5-Meth-oxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-[(2E)-2-methyl-but-2-eno-yl]-10-phenyl-2H,8H-pyrano[2,3-f]chromen-8-one (calophyllolide).

The title compound, C(26)H(24)O(5), was isolated from calophyllum inophyllum seeds. In the mol-ecule, the phenyl and 2-methyl-but-2-enoyl groups are almost orthogonal to the chromene fragment [C-C-C-C torsion angles = 81.4 (3) and -90.1 (2)°, respectively]. In the crystal packing, centrosymmetrically related mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O contacts into dimers, which are connected via further C-H⋯O inter-actions into a double chain along [010].