Effect of a Submucosal Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Rate of Orthodontic Tooth Movement - A Split-Mouth, Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of submucosal injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the rate of mini-implant-supported retraction, using a split-mouth randomized clinical design. Materials and Methods: Twenty subjects of either gender between 16 and 25 years of age with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion and crowding of <4 mm scheduled to undergo fixed mechanotherapy with the extraction of 1st premolars; were recruited for the study. Those with a periodontally compromised dentition, blood dyscrasias, smoking/alcoholism, or with a history of fixed orthodontic treatment were not considered. The intervention side received a submucosal injection of autologous PRP which was prepared using 10 ml of the patient's blood. The rate of extraction space closure on both sides was recorded and compared monthly for 3 months using a digital caliper. Results: Mean overall retraction was faster on the intervention side as compared to the control side by 1.5 times and was statistically significant with a P value of 0.001. There was no influence of gender on the rate of retraction. There was no reported swelling or discomfort associated with the PRP injection. Conclusions: Submucosal injection of PRP significantly accelerates orthodontic tooth movement and can therefore be used as an effective, safe, and minimally invasive method to expedite orthodontic treatment.

Comparative Evaluation of Plaque Inhibitory and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Probiotic and Chlorhexidine Oral Rinses in Orthodontic Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial agents serve as an effective adjunct in plaque control, and chlorhexidine has been the gold standard. However, the philosophy that natural agents are better for children's oral health is on the rise. Probiotic technology represents a breakthrough approach to maintain oral health by utilizing natural beneficial bacteria commonly found in healthy mouths. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of probiotic and chlorhexidine oral rinses in orthodontic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 healthy patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment were randomly selected for the study by block randomization and allocation concealment and were divided into three groups: group a, 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash; group b, probiotic mouthwash; and group c, a control group. RESULTS: Probiotic and chlorhexidine groups had significantly decreased plaque indices as compared to the control group. However, greater improvement was seen in the gingival indices than plaque indices with better results in the probiotic group than the chlorhexidine group. No statistical significance was observed in the streptococcus count of probiotic and chlorhexidine groups at the end of the intervention period. CONCLUSION: The comparison of probiotics to chlorhexidine has proven that probiotics are as effective as chlorhexidine as an adjunctive chemical plaque control agent.

A comparison of the effect of application of sodium ascorbate and amla (Indian gooseberry) extract on the bond strength of brackets bonded to bleached human enamel: An In vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: Whitening of teeth is a popular choice among dental clinicians and patients. However, the changes in enamel structure and composition induced by the bleaching agents cause a decrease in the shear bond strength of brackets leading to premature bracket debonding. Among several methods to overcome this, the most common is delaying bonding by 2-4 weeks. This waiting period can be eliminated by applying an antioxidant (sodium ascorbate) which causes a reversal in the reduction of bond strength. AIM: This study aims to compare the efficacy of a naturally occurring antioxidant (gooseberry) and sodium ascorbate in normalizing the bond strength of enamel to prebleached levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two extracted premolars were divided into 4 equal groups; 1st group - control group - unbleached teeth, bonded directly, 2nd group - bleached with 16% carbamide peroxide (8 h for 1 week), then bonded. 3rd and 4th group - similarly bleached, followed by application of 10% sodium ascorbate and gooseberry extract (3 h respectively), then bonded. Bond strength was checked using Instron Universal Testing Machine. RESULTS: The bond strength of the control group was the highest and that of the carbamide group was drastically reduced. Considerable increase in the bond strength was seen after treatment with sodium ascorbate with negligible difference between sodium ascorbate and control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with gooseberry extract did improve the bond strength but was not as effective as sodium ascorbate postbleaching.

Transposition of teeth: A forensic perspective.

Dental identification plays a key role in mass casualties and is usually based on disturbances of tooth eruption, malocclusions and/or previous dental treatments, changes brought about by age, pathological conditions and developmental disturbances. Tooth transposition is a disturbance of tooth eruption and is defined as change in the position of two adjacent teeth within the same quadrant. This review aims to discuss the prevalence and the etiology of transposition through a literature survey and to discuss its importance and implications as pertaining to the field of forensics. In summary, transposition is a rare and severe positional anomaly that represents a challenge for a dentist. It requires a keen eye on the part of the forensic pathologist to identify the condition.

Morphometric analysis of cervical vertebrae morphology and correlation of cervical vertebrae morphometry, cervical spine inclination and cranial base angle to craniofacial morphology and stature in an adult skeletal class I and class II population.

OBJECTIVE: The study was carried out to compare the morphometry of the cervical column between adult Class I and Class II individuals and between gender and to analyze the correlation between the cervical column morphology, the cranial base angle, the craniocervical inclination with craniofacial morphology and stature of Angles Class I and Class II individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data for this institutional retrospective study were systematically selected according to the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria from the pretreatment cephalometric radiographs of 19 male and 30 female patients visiting the Department of Orthodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal University, based on their ANB angle. The radiographs were traced and digitized. The reliability of the variables describing the cranial base and vertical and sagittal craniofacial dimensions was assessed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that there was no statistically significant variation in the cervical vertebrae dimensions between Class I and Class II patients. There was found to be a definite sexual dimorphism, which was not statistically significant. Correlation exists between sagittal skeletal patterns, especially mandibular length and cervicovertebral morphology, but its use to classify the subjects in different sagittal classes is questionable.

Orthodontic management of non-syndromic multiple supernumerary teeth.

Hyperdontia amounts to an odontostomatologic anomaly wherein, there is an increase in tooth number irrespective of the location. This case report represents a form of hyperdontia characterized by bilateral multiple supernumerary teeth in both the jaws without any evident familial history.