The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash.

OBJECTIVES: Oil pulling is an age-old practice that has gained modern popularity in promoting oral and systemic health. The scientific verification for this practice is insufficient. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of coconut oil pulling on the count of Streptococcus mutans in saliva and to compare its efficacy with that of Chlorhexidine mouthwash: in vivo. The null hypothesis was that coconut oil pulling has no effect on the bacterial count in saliva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled study was planned and 60 subjects were selected. The subjects were divided into three groups, Group A: STUDY GROUP: Oil pulling, Group B: STUDY GROUP: Chlorhexidine, and Group C: CONTROL GROUP: Distilled water. Group A subjects rinsed mouth with 10 ml of coconut oil for 10 minutes. Group B subjects rinsed mouth with 5 ml Chlorhexidine mouthwash for 1 minute and Group C with 5 ml distilled water for 1 minute in the morning before brushing. Saliva samples were collected and cultured on 1st day and after 2 weeks from all subjects. Colonies were counted to compare the efficacy of coconut oil and Chlorhexidine with distilled water. RESULTS: Statistically significant reduction in S. mutans count was seen in both the coconut oil pulling and Chlorhexidine group. CONCLUSION: Oil pulling can be explored as a safe and effective alternative to Chlorhexidine. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Edible oil-pulling therapy is natural, safe and has no side effects. Hence, it can be considered as a preventive therapy at home to maintain oral hygiene.

Grape seed extract as a potential remineralizing agent: a comparative in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: Remineralization is an effective treatment that may stop or reverse early tooth decay. Grape seed extract (GSE) is the potential remineralizing agent under investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sound human tooth sections were obtained from the cervical portion of the root and stored in demineralizing solution at 37°C for 96 hours to induce artificial root caries lesions. The sections were divided into four treatment groups including 6.5% grape seed extract, sodium monofluorophosphate (220 ppm) with 0.05% calcium glycerophosphate, 0.5% calcium glycerophosphate and control (no treatment). An in vitro pH cycling model was used to cycle the demineralized specimens through treatment solutions, acidic buffer and neutral buffer for 8 days at 6 cycles per day. Subsequently, they were evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscope. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (p < 0.05). RESULTS: GSE revealed less demineralization and more remineralization compared with other groups. CONCLUSION: GSE promotes remineralization of artificial root caries lesions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The search for the perfect remineralizing agent continues to this day. GSE could be a welcome addition to the remineralization armamentarium.

Noninvasive Ventilation in the Management of Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19 Infection: Experience From a Resource-Limited Setting.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) related acute respiratory failure (C-ARF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with C-ARF managed on NIV were categorized as NIV success or failure (death or intubation). Factors associated with failure were explored using regression analysis and expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI. RESULTS: Between April 1, 2020, and September 15, 2020, a total of 286 patients with a mean ± SD age of 53.1±11.6 years and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 11.1±5.5 were initiated on NIV. Of the 182 patients (63.6%) successfully managed on NIV alone, 118 had moderate or severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. When compared with NIV success, NIV failure was associated with lower admission PaO2 to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (P<.001) and higher respiratory rate (P<.001). On penalized logistic regression analysis, NIV failure was associated with higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.24), severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR, 3.99; 95% CI, 1.24 to 12.9), D-dimer level of 1000 ng/mL DDU (to convert to mg/L, divide by 1000) or greater (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.16 to 5.87), need for inotropes or dialysis (OR, 12.7; 95% CI, 4.3 to 37.7), and nosocomial infections (OR, 13.6; 95% CI, 4.06 to 45.9). Overall mortality was 30.1% (86/286). In patients requiring intubation, time to intubation was longer in nonsurvivors than survivors (median, 5; interquartile range, 3-8 vs 3; interquartile range, 2-3 days; P<.001). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive ventilation can be used successfully in C-ARF. Illness severity and need for non-respiratory organ support predict NIV failure.

Comparing the Efficacy of Twin Mix and Lidocaine for Inferior Alveolar Nerve Blocks in Patients With Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis.

This randomized, active-controlled, double-blind, prospective clinical trial evaluated the anesthetic efficacy of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine versus an admixture of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine and 1 mL of 4 mg dexamethasone (Twin mix) for inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP) of the mandibular molars. Seventy-eight patients with SIP of mandibular molars were randomly allocated to the 2 groups of 39 subjects. All patients were required to have profound lip numbness within 10 minutes of local anesthetic deposition. The efficacy of pulpal anesthesia was confirmed by absence of pain or mild pain (Heft-Parker visual analogue scale ≤54 mm) during access cavity preparation and placement of glide path files. The collected data were subjected to independent t test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact test using SPSS software version 20.0 at a significance level of 0.05. IANB success rates for the lidocaine group and the Twin mix group was 66% and 68% respectively, which was not a statistically significant difference (p > .05). This study demonstrated that the anesthetic efficacy of Twin mix was equivalent to 2% lidocaine for IANBs in teeth with SIP.

Evaluation of alpha-adrenomimetic agents for gingival retraction: A randomized crossover clinical trial.

CONTEXT: The displacement of the gingiva around the tooth allows proper access during preparation, precise impression taking, and cementation procedures that has a direct bearing on the health of the periodontium. Several methods and agents are used for this purpose. AIMS: The primary aim of the study was to clinically evaluate the efficacy of naphazoline as a gingival retraction agent. The secondary aim was to compare it with tetrahydrozoline and aluminum chloride. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Fifteen patients participated in a randomized crossover clinical trial at the Army College of Dental Sciences, Secunderabad, Telangana, India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Preliminary maxillary impressions were made with irreversible hydrocolloid for all patients to fabricate custom trays. After that, baseline impressions and cast for control group measurements were prepared. Gingival displacement was carried out in the right maxillary central incisor for all, with retraction cord soaked in three agents, either, aluminum chloride, tetrahydrozoline, or naphazoline. These agents were used in all patients with a washout period of 14 days. Elastomeric monophase impressions and die stone casts were recorded for each group. The central incisors were sectioned, and gingival retraction was measured using a measuring stereomicroscope. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The gingival displacement was statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni. RESULTS: Naphazoline had the highest retraction (138.160 µm) followed by tetrahydrozoline (136.039 µm) and aluminum chloride (130.759 µm). CONCLUSIONS: Naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, and aluminum chloride show a clinically and statistically significant amount of displacement when compared to control. Among the three agents, naphazoline showed maximum displacement and maybe a good alternative with fewer side effects.

Comparative evaluation of effects of natural antioxidants on the shear bond strength of composite resin to bleached enamel.

CONTEXT: The use of antioxidants immediately after bleaching showed increased bond strength. AIMS: This study aimed to compare the effects of natural antioxidants on the shear bond strength of composite resin to bleached enamel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty extracted single-rooted upper incisors were decoronated by sectioning the roots 2 mm below the cementoenamel junction, and then, crowns were embedded in autopolymerizing acrylic resin block (3.0 cm × 3.0 cm × 3.0 cm) with the labial surface exposed. They were randomly divided into five groups, depending on the type of antioxidant used (n = 10): (i) Group 1: control (no bleaching), (ii) Group 2: bleaching only, (iii) Group 3: bleaching + 10% sodium ascorbate (antioxidant), (iv) Group 4: bleaching + green tea, and (v) Group 5: bleaching + white tea. Labial surfaces of 40 teeth were bleached with 38% hydrogen peroxide for 20 min following manufacturer's instructions. After that, the experimental groups (Groups 3, 4, and 5) were treated with respective antioxidant solutions before composite restorations were done using a cylindrical plastic mold (3 mm × 5 mm). Shear bond strength of the specimens was tested under universal testing machine. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between shear bond strength of control groups (Groups 1 and 2) and experimental groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in bond strength was observed among the antioxidants used. CONCLUSION: Application of antioxidants immediately after bleaching showed increased bond strength. Green tea and white tea extract can be used as alternative antioxidants in improving the bond strength of enamel.

Stress distribution in endodontically treated abfracted mandibular premolar restored with different cements and crowns: A three-dimensional finite element analysis.

CONTEXT: Noncarious cervical lesions may penetrate the pulp and require root canal treatment followed by crown placement. Such teeth may be susceptible to fracture, especially at the cervical area. AIMS: To estimate which combination of restorative material and crown resulted in homogenous stress-strain distribution of endodontically treated abfracted mandibular premolar using three-dimensional finite element model (FEM). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A three-dimensional model of mandibular single-rooted premolar along with alveolar bone was created in finite element analysis (FEA) software preprocessor ANSYS rel 14.5 FEM software (ANSYS Inc., Houston, USA, 1994). Cervical lesion was created in the model with specific dimensions, 3 mm mesiodistally and 2 mm gingivoocclusally with enamel occlusal margin and dentin gingival margin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tooth was simulated to be root canal treated and restored with different types of cements and crowns followed by placing a static load of 300 N at an angle of 135°. Analysis was run and stress distribution pattern was studied. RESULTS: Cervical region of an endodontically treated tooth is subjected to stresses, irrespective of restorative material used. Porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns showed least strain values with different postendodontic, restorative materials. CONCLUSIONS: FEA is a predictable and reproducible model to predict stress-strain behavior. PFM crowns with different postendodontic restorative materials showed least strain values in the cervical area of abfracted, endodontically treated premolars.

Regenerative endodontics--Creating new horizons.

Trauma to the dental pulp, physical or microbiologic, can lead to inflammation of the pulp followed by necrosis. The current treatment modality for such cases is non-surgical root canal treatment. The damaged tissue is extirpated and the root canal system prepared. It is then obturated with an inert material such a gutta percha. In spite of advances in techniques and materials, 10%-15% of the cases may end in failure of treatment. Regenerative endodontics combines principles of endodontics, cell biology, and tissue engineering to provide an ideal treatment for inflamed and necrotic pulp. It utilizes mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, and organ tissue culture to provide treatment. Potential treatment modalities include induction of blood clot for pulp revascularization, scaffold aided regeneration, and pulp implantation. Although in its infancy, successful treatment of damaged pulp tissue has been performed using principles of regenerative endodontics. This field is dynamic and exciting with the ability to shape the future of endodontics. This article highlights the fundamental concepts, protocol for treatment, and possible avenues for research in regenerative endodontics.

The comparison of the effects of different whitening toothpastes on the micro hardness of a nano hybrid composite resin.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the micro hardness of a nanohybrid composite resin after brushing with two herbal and one non-herbal whitening toothpastes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We divided Eighty disk-shaped specimens of a nanohybrid composite (Tetric N Ceram, Ivoclar Vivadent, Asia) into 4 groups of 20 specimens each: Groups A, B, C, and D. Group A was control, Group B was brushed with Colgate total advanced whitening (Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited), Group C with Salt and Lemon, Dabur (Dabur International Limited, Dubai, UAE), and Group D with HiOra Shine, Himalaya (The Himalaya Drug Company, India). The specimens were polished using medium, fine, and superfine discs (Sof-lex, 3M, ESPE, USA) and subsequently placed at 37°C in distilled water. They were brushed for 2 minutes twice daily with a soft motorized toothbrush (Colgate 360 sonic power battery-operated tooth brush, Colgate Palmolive, India) for 30 days. The samples were rinsed under running water to remove the toothpaste and stored in distilled water at 37°C until the readout was taken on the Vickers's hardness tester for microhardness. RESULTS: The results revealed that the difference among the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Tukey's test showed that reduction in microhardness for Group B was significantly higher than that for Group C and Group D (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, non-herbal whitening toothpaste had a greater impact on the microhardness of nanohybrid resin composite than herbal whitening toothpastes.

Comparative evaluation of voids present in conventional and capsulated glass ionomer cements using two different conditioners: an in vitro study.

This in vitro study evaluated the presence of voids in powder-liquid and capsulated glass ionomer cement. 40 cavities were prepared on root surfaces of maxillary incisors and divided into four groups. Cavities were conditioned with glass ionomer cement liquid (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) in Groups 1 and 3 and with dentin conditioner (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) in Groups 2 and 4. Conventional powder-liquid glass ionomer cement (GC Fuji II, GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was used as a restorative material in Groups 1 and 2. Capsulated glass ionomer cement (GC Fuji II, GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was used in Groups 3 and 4. Samples were sectioned and viewed under stereomicroscope to check for the presence of voids within the cement and at the cement-tooth junction. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests. Group 4 showed statistically significant results (P < 0.05) when compared to Groups 1 and 2 for voids within the cement. However, for voids at the margins, the results were statistically insignificant.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Four Endodontic Biomaterials against Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Root canal sealers that possess good antimicrobial property can prevent residual and recurrent infection and contribute to successful endodontic therapy. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of four endodontic sealers, AH Plus, Tubliseal EWT, EndoRez, and iRoot SP, against three different microorganisms, E. faecalis, C. albicans, and S. aureus, by direct contact test. 10 µL microbial suspensions were allowed to directly contact the four endodontic sealers for 1 hr at 37°C. Subsequently microbial growth was measured spectrophotometrically every 30 min for 18 hours. The microbial suspensions were simultaneously tested to determine the antimicrobial effect of components which are capable of diffusing into the medium. The results revealed that AH Plus and iRootSP had significantly higher antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis. AH Plus and Tubliseal EWT showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity against C. albicans and S. aureus compared to iRoot SP and EndoRez. EndoRez showed the least antimicrobial activity against all the three microorganisms. Inhibition of microbial growth is related to the direct contact of microorganisms with the sealers. In conclusion AH Plus had significantly higher antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis, C. albicans, and S. aureus.