Customised enriched coconut oil as panacea for oral biofilm mediated diseases - A prospective study.

Aims: To evaluate a customised enriched formulation of coconut (CEC) oil with Arimedadi Tailam (AT) and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth rinse (CHX) for their plaque control and potential anticaries effects using the oratest in healthy volunteers. Settings and Design: Parallel, double-blinded (outcome assessor and statistician), randomised controlled institution-based pilot study. Methods and Materials: 60 adults (18-22 years) having DMFT score of 2-11, gingival and plaque index as zero, no history of antibiotics for one month or fluoride application in 2 weeks were randomly divided (computer-generated list) and allocated into 3 groups (A-CHX, B-CEC, C-AT) of 20 subjects each based on the intervention. Oratest at baseline, days 15 and 30 were recorded. Statistical Analysis Used: Due to 5 dropouts on day 30, data were analysed based on the intention-to-treat (ITT) approach. The difference in oratest scores (baseline vs. day 15 and 30) were found to be normally distributed (Shapiro-Wilk test and Levene's test). One way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used to determine the statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between groups. Results: Plaque and gingival index was zero throughout the study period. Difference in oratest scores was highest with CEC oil, followed by CHX and AT though there was no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline vs day 15 (P = 0.203) and baseline vs day 30 (P = 0.085) and between oils from baseline vs day 30 (P = 0.068). Conclusions: Within the limitations of the pilot study, both oils are comparable to CHX for their antiplaque and anticaries potential. Clinically, CEC was better than AT though statistical difference was not there.

Treasure from trash - Is Ecoenzyme the new panacea in conservative dentistry and endodontics?

Context: Endodontic biofilm eradication is achieved by chemo-mechanical disinfection. The search for a safer, nontoxic irrigant led us to a natural product, Ecoenzyme. Aim: This study aims to analyze Ecoenzyme (EE) and explore its antimicrobial and biofilm disrupting activity against a 1-week mature multi-species biofilm. Materials and Methods: Qualitative assessment of the phytochemicals present in EE was conducted. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration, and zone of inhibition (ZOI) were recorded. Multi-species biofilm of Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 497), Lactobacillus acidophilus (MTCC 10307), and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) was grown and time-kill assay was performed to test biofilm disruption for EE, 3.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (control). Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA with post hoc analysis were conducted for ZOI and time-kill assay, respectively. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: EE contained secondary metabolites having antibacterial properties. MIC was 25% (S. mutans), 50% (E. faecalis), and >50% (L. acidophilus). EE disrupted ~90% of biofilm species in 5 min of exposure while NaOCl achieved ~99.9% reduction. Further reduction by EE progressed over 20 min after which no viable bacteria in the biofilm was cultivable. Conclusions: Lemon peel Ecoenzyme (EE) is antimicrobial with effective biofilm-disrupting properties on a mature multi-species biofilm. However, its effects were slower than 3.5% sodium hypochlorite.

Correlation of elution and sensitivity of cell lines to dental composites.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to understand the role played by composition on the elution of dental composites and the subsequent cytotoxicity, the sensitivity of different cell lines to eluates on a temporal basis and the correlation of the two parameters elution and cytotoxicity. METHODS: LC-MS was done to analyze the eluates. MTT assay was done to assess cytotoxicity on two cell lines. RESULTS: Eluates were found to have matrix monomers, photoinitiators and their degradation products. The short-term viability of other mammalian cell line was inferior to human cell line. However human cell line became more sensitive to long-term incubation with composites. There was a strong inverse correlation to elution of monomers and photoinitiators and cell viability for both cell lines. Bisphenol A elution did not correlate to cell viability. SIGNIFICANCE: Other mammalian cell lines may be more sensitive to acute toxin build-up than human cell line while the latter may be more sensitive to prolonged toxin exposure. Dimethacrylate based composites elute more and exert strong cytotoxicity than Ormocer and Silorane based composites. Most of the eluates correlated linearly to cytotoxicity.

Combined effects of photodynamic therapy and irrigants in disinfection of root canals.

In this study, the combined effects of photodynamic therapy and irrigants in eradicating common endodontic pathogens are evaluated. Roots of 80 extracted single rooted teeth are divided into 2 groups (1) mechanical flushing; (2) antibacterial irrigation. After cleaning and shaping, they are inoculated with either (A) Streptococcus mutans or (B) Enterococcus faecalis and incubated. They are again subdivided and either only irrigated or irrigated and lased. Dentin shavings are taken from root canal walls and cultured. Statistical analysis using One-Way ANOVA and Post-hoc tests are done. The combination eradicated both bacteria. Antibacterial irrigants controlled S. mutans better than PDT (p = 0.041). The combination of PDT and antibacterial irrigation proposed in this study can be used in all primary cases for thorough and reliable disinfection of root canals but may be highly effective in resistant cases like endodontic failures, as E. faecalis is prevalent in such cases.