Evaluation of split-cast techniques for remounting casts on a dental articulator: A survey and an in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the difference between senior dental students and prosthodontic faculty members regarding their opinions, attitudes and adoption of six split-cast techniques for remounting complete dentures. The accuracy of each technique for measurements of the vertical and the anteroposterior dimensions was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six split-cast techniques to remove the casts were compared. A total of 115 participants removed a set of casts on six different articulators, and a questionnaire survey was administered. A digital Vernier caliper was used to measure the linear dimensional changes between the laterally pindexed references on each cast. The data were statistically analysed at α = 0.05. RESULTS: There were significant differences between senior dental students and prosthodontic faculty members in their responses regarding adoption of daily practice and techniques requiring more skill (p = .001). To adopt a specific technique in daily practice, most students and faculty members chose long round die pins (36.4%) and central groove indexing (CGI; 40.7%), respectively. For techniques requiring more skills, most students and faculty members chose long rectangular die pins (30.7%) and short round dowel pins (33.3%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Dental students preferred ShRP, whilst faculty members preferred LReP. All participants considered CGI to be the easiest amongst the techniques. For comparison with baseline measurements, both senior dental students and prosthodontic faculty members considered side notch indexing and double dowel pins to be the most accurate techniques for vertical measurements, and CGI for anteroposterior measurements.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Various Topical Fluorides on Enamel Demineralization Adjacent to Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: White spot lesions (WSLs) occur frequently after fixed orthodontic treatment. This in vitro study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of 2.26% fluoride varnish, 1.23% APF gel, 0.21% fluoride toothpaste and 0.04% sodium fluoride mouthwashes in preventing enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets in extracted premolars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample for this study included 100 premolars free of caries and enamel cracks. They were divided into five groups of 20 samples each. Group 1 (FV): light-curable Fluoride varnish (Clinpro™ XT 3M ESPE, Pymble, New South Wales, Australia), group 2 (FG): 1.23% APF gel (Patterson NE. International, USA), group 3 (FTP): 0.21% w/w sodium fluoride toothpaste with tri-calcium phosphate (Clinpro™ Tooth Crème, 3M ESPE, Australia), group 4 (FMW): sodium fluoride 0.044% (w/v) mouthwash (Colgate® Phos-Flur® Ortho Defense Rinse, Colgate-Palmolive, NY) and group 5 (C): control. The samples were subjected to laboratory pH cycling. The demineralization changes in the enamel were assessed before the start of the experiment and after 14 days. RESULTS: There was a significant change in the mean Diagnodent score value (p <0.001) in all groups from day 1-day 14. The mean values were significantly different among groups at day 1 (p = 0.002), day 14 (p = 0.001) and also the change from Day 1 to Day 14 was significantly different among Groups (p = 0.001). The least change in the mean value from baseline to 14 days was seen in group 1 (FV) followed by group 3 (FTP), group 2 (FG), and group 4 (FMW) and then the group 5 (C). CONCLUSION: All the topical fluorides tested were able to reduce the demineralization when compared to the control group under similar testing conditions, but to varying degrees. light-curable fluoride varnish outperformed all the topical fluorides followed by 0.21% w/w dodium fluoride toothpaste with tri-calcium phosphate, 1.23% Acidulated phosphate fluoride gel and sodium fluoride 0.044% (w/v) mouthwash. The control group where no topical fluoride was applied showed the least resistance to demineralization. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Within the limitations of this study, routine application of light cured fluoride varnish (Clinpro) can be recommended to prevent enamel demineralization to prevent white spot lesions in patients receiving orthodontic treatment.

Crestal Bone Changes around immediately loaded Single-piece Implants using Flap and Flapless Technique: A Radiographic Study.

AIM: With the trend shifting toward the minimally invasive surgeries in implant surgery, the flapless technique of implant placement is gaining popularity among the implantologists. This study was done to assess the crestal bone loss level in flap and flapless surgery at follow-up periods of 0, 1, and 3 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients presenting with missing teeth requiring dental implants for rehabilitation were included in the study. Implant placement was done in 10 patients with traditional flap technique, while in other 10 patients, flapless technique was performed after determining the availability of sufficient bone width with ridge mapping. Radiographical follow-up was done for 3 months at 0-, 1-, and 3-month intervals. RESULTS: It was observed that for most of the flapless cases, the bone loss settled at 1st thread or just below the implant collar after 3 months. CONCLUSION: It was seen that crestal bone height was reduced in both flap and flapless techniques. On comparing the bone loss, the flapless approach showed statistically significant lesser reduction as determined by radiovisiography. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study has been done to evaluate crestal bone level using flap and flapless technique. It was seen that reduction of crestal bone height was seen in both flapless and with flap techniques. However, on comparison, less bone resorption was observed in flapless technique.