A biomechanical reinforcement of PMMA denture base material with sericin and fibroin: A preliminary screening study.

BACKGROUND: Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a commonly used denture base material, but susceptibility to fracture under functional loading remains a challenge. OBJECTIVE: This preliminary screening study aims to investigate the potential of sericin and fibroin as reinforcing agents in the PMMA denture base material. METHODS: The flexural and impact strengths of PMMA incorporated with 0.01% sericin, and 0.01% each of sericin and fibroin, were evaluated. The control group consisted of PMMA without any additives. The maximum load and energy required to break the samples were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA test and Scheffe Post Hoc tests to compare mean values between subgroups. RESULTS: The results indicated significant improvement in the flexural and impact strengths of PMMA with the addition of sericin and fibroin. The subgroups with 0.01% sericin, and 0.01% each of sericin and fibroin, demonstrated higher mean values in load and energy measurements compared to the control group. The statistical analysis confirmed the significance of these findings. CONCLUSION: The addition of 0.01% sericin and 0.01% each of sericin and fibroin to PMMA denture-based resin material significantly increases its flexural and impact strengths. These preliminary findings suggest the potential of sericin and fibroin as effective reinforcing agents in PMMA denture base materials, thereby enhancing their biomechanical properties.

Stereomicroscopic evaluation of sealing ability of four different root canal sealers: an in-vitro study.

AIM: To compare and evaluate the sealing ability of four different commercially available sealers to provide seal against the dye penetration test using a stereomicroscope-an in-vitro study. MATERIAL/METHOD: 80 extracted single rooted mandibular premolar with single canal were used in this study. The samples were divided in 4 groups (20 in each) based on sealer. Group I (Diaproseal), Group II (apexit Plus), Group III (MTA Fillapex) and Group IV (Bio-C). The samples were analyzed using a stereomicroscope and data analysis was done with one-way Anova And post hoc Tukey's test. RESULT: The mean dye penetration score was 1.2400 ± 0.778 mm for Group I. 2.6000 ± 0.897 mm for Group II, 4.2000 ± 0.923 mm for Group III and 4.225 ± 2.055 mm for Group IV. One-way Anova analysis shows that intergroup comparison was statistically significant between the four groups. The post hoc Tukey's test reveals that the difference was statistically non-significant between group III and group IV. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that between the four groups the Group I (Diaproseal) showed the least dye penetration followed by Group II (Apexit Pus), Group III (MTA Fillapex) and then Group IV (Bio-C), where there was no significant difference between the Group III (MTA Fillapex) and Group IV (Bio-C).

Gene sequencing applications to combat oral-cavity related disorders: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Gene sequencing (GS) has numerous applications in combatting oral-cavity related disorders, including identifying genetic risk factors for diseases, developing targeted therapies, and improving diagnostic methods. It can help identify specific genetic mutations or variations that increase the risk of developing oral-cavity related disorders, such as oral cancer, periodontal disease, and cleft lip and palate. By the means of the following investigation, our primary objective was to assess the impact of GS technique in diagnosing and potentially treating diseases of the oral cavity by the means of a systematic review and meta-analysis. We commenced by defining the terms "gene sequencing," "oral cavity," and "disorders" as the important elements in our investigation's subject. Next, relevant databases like PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched using keywords and synonyms for each concept, such as "genomic sequencing," "DNA sequencing," "oral health," "oral diseases," "dental caries," "periodontal disease," "oral cancer," and "salivary gland disorders." We combined several search terms, such as "gene sequencing AND oral disorders AND periodontal disease" or "oral cancer OR genomic sequencing," to further hone your search results using Boolean operators like "AND" and "OR." The oral cavity analysis obtained by CS in the selected articles revealed that most of the disorders were, in fact, a direct causal event influenced by the oral microbiome. Moreover, each sampled oral cavity evidenced a different microbial community, which predicted the precipitation of benign as well as malignant conditions, though not on a definitive basis. In the last ten years, genomic sequencing had advanced remarkably as majority of our selected studies observed, making it possible to diagnose and treat a variety of oral and maxillofacial disorders, including cancer. It was also used to ascertain a person's genetic make-up as well as to spot numerous genetic abnormalities that can predispose individuals to diseases. Understanding the different sequencing techniques and the resulting genetic anomalies may help with their clinical application and lead to an improvement in illness diagnosis and prognosis as a whole in the field of dentistry.

Applications of artificial intelligence in the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Since AI algorithms can analyze patient data, medical records, and imaging results to suggest treatment plans and predict outcomes, they have the potential to support pathologists and clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial pathologies, just like every other area of life in which it is being used. The goal of the current study was to examine all of the trends being investigated in the area of oral and maxillofacial pathology where AI has been possibly involved in helping practitioners. METHODS: We started by defining the important terms in our investigation's subject matter. Following that, relevant databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched using keywords and synonyms for each concept, such as "machine learning," "diagnosis," "treatment planning," "image analysis," "predictive modelling," and "patient monitoring." For more papers and sources, Google Scholar was also used. RESULTS: The majority of the 9 studies that were chosen were on how AI can be utilized to diagnose malignant tumors of the oral cavity. AI was especially helpful in creating prediction models that aided pathologists and clinicians in foreseeing the development of oral and maxillofacial pathology in specific patients. Additionally, predictive models accurately identified patients who have a high risk of developing oral cancer as well as the likelihood of the disease returning after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology, AI has the potential to enhance diagnostic precision, personalize care, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. The development and application of AI in healthcare, however, necessitates careful consideration of ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges. Additionally, because AI is still a relatively new technology, caution must be taken when applying it to this industry.

Comparative effectiveness of low-level laser therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in symptomatic Temporomandibular Disorders: A Randomised Control Trial.

BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain is one of the most common facial region pains, presenting itself with various signs and symptoms like tenderness of masticatory muscles and difficulty in mouth opening. Considering its multifactorial aetiology various treatment modalities are present. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the patients of temporomandibular disorders (TMDS). METHODS: The study was conducted with 20 patients diagnosed with TMDS. Group A received LLLT at 660 nm, 6 J/point, two sessions/week for 4 weeks and group B received TENS at 2-250 Hz, two sessions/week for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Pain Score decreased and mouth opening increased in both groups with time, however, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Right and left lateral excursions showed improvement at different intervals in both groups. However, the LLLT group showed significant improvement. CONCLUSION: Clinical trial showed improvement in visual analogue scale (VAS), maximum mouth opening (MMO) and lateral excursion in the different time intervals in both the groups with LLLT showed more improvement with lateral excursions movements.

Telemedicine in the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine (T-Med) has always been an important tool in the arsenal of clinicians worldwide. This technique has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult for some people to access traditional dental care. The current review aimed to analyse the usage of telemedicine in the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and its impact on general health. METHODS: An extensive search of databases was conducted using keywords such as, "telemedicine," "teledentistry," "TMJ" and "temporomandibular disorders," resulting in a total of 482 papers to be available from which eligible studies were selected. The Risk of Bias in Observational Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) tool was used to evaluate methodological quality of included studies. RESULTS: Two studies were selected which fulfilled the eligibility criteria. All assessed studies indicated varying degrees of positive outcomes for patients who were intervened for TMDs using T-Med. CONCLUSION: T-Med shows promising results for the diagnosis and management of TMDs, especially since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter. Long-term clinical trials with larger samples are needed to further ascertain validity in this regard.

Analytical Study on Current Trends in the Clinico-Mycological Profile among Patients with Superficial Mycoses.

Infections affecting the superficial keratinized layer of the skin, nails, and hair are referred to as dermatophytosis and dermatomycoses, which constitute the most common type of fungal infection that affects people. This clinical ailment has a prevalence of between 30 and 60% and is more common in India's hot, muggy, tropical climate. Examining the prevalence of superficial mycoses (SM), their clinical symptoms, and the fungal species that were identified as the disease-causing agents were the main objectives of the current study. This study comprised 250 clinically confirmed patients with SM who visited our dermatology department over the course of a year. Skin scrapings, nail clippings, and hair samples were gathered, mounted, and cultured using KOH. Macroscopic examination of culture, tease mount, and phenotypic tests were used to identify the species. The age group of 11-20 years (29%) had the highest prevalence of SM out of the 250 clinically verified cases of the condition that were included in our study, followed by 21-30 years (20%) and 31-40 years (18%). Candida albicans, dermatophytes, and non-dermatophytic moulds were the three most prevalent fungal isolates. The most typical dermatophyte isolate was T. rubrum, which was primarily found in Tinea corporis (TCo), Tinea cruris (TCr), and Tinea faciei (TFa). T. mentagrophytes was the second most frequent isolate. According to our investigation, it was determined that non-dermatophytic moulds constitute a significant contributor to the development of SM in addition to dermatophytes.

Evaluation and Comparison of Self-applied Remineralizing Agents Using Confocal Microscopy: An In Vitro Study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to assess and compare the remineralization ability of fluoride varnish, casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF), bioactive glass-ceramic, and nanohydroxyapatite crystals using a confocal microscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty premolars and 80 deciduous central incisors were included in this study. Two windows of approximately 3 × 3 mm were created on the labial surface of the premolars and 2 × 2 mm on deciduous maxillary incisors. Artificial caries like lesions was created by demineralizing the sample windows. The teeth sections were then randomly assigned into four groups (n = 20). Specimens of the first group were once painted with fluoride varnish, while those in CPP-ACPF, bioactive glass-ceramic, and nanohydroxyapatite were brushed twice daily for 2 minutes each for 40 days, respectively. 150-200 µm longitudinal sections were obtained and were photographed under a confocal laser scanning microscope. They were quantified using a computerized imaging system for demineralization and later for remineralization. The recorded values were tabulated and analyzed using Fisher's test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and post hoc Bonferroni's test. RESULTS: All the materials used in the study showed remineralization potential at the end of 40 days in both permanent and deciduous teeth. The highest remineralization potential was observed in the fluoride varnish group followed by bioactive glass, CPP-ACFP, and nanohydroxyapatite in both permanent and deciduous teeth. In permanent teeth, the difference in the remineralization potential of fluoride varnish and bioactive glass was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that self-applied bioactive glass has similar remineralization potential to fluoride varnish in permanent teeth. Therefore, bioactive glass can be used for the management of incipient caries lesions daily. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Goel T, Singhal A, Singh I, et al. Evaluation and Comparison of Self-applied Remineralizing Agents Using Confocal Microscopy: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(S-1):S34-S39.