ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine salivary melatonin and malondialdehyde levels in individuals with and without dental caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Saliva samples were collected in a fasting state from patients with active dental caries (n â= â16) and patients without dental caries (n â= â16). Melatonin was measured in the samples using a commercially available ELISA kit and malondialdehyde was assayed using a standardized spectrophotometric method. RESULTS: The salivary melatonin levels were significantly lower (p â< â0.01) in patients with active dental caries than patients without dental caries, while the salivary malondialdehyde values were significantly higher (p â< â0.01) in patients with active dental caries than patients without dental caries. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed a negative correlation (-0.513) between the salivary melatonin and malondialdehyde levels which was statistically significant (p â< â0.042) in the patient group with active dental caries, while no such relationship could be demonstrated in the patient group without dental caries. CONCLUSION: Melatonin depletion and augmented malondialdehyde levels potentially indicate that the endogenous melatonin has been utilized to counter the oxidative stress-induced during the initiation and progression of dental caries. Further research could explore the potential use of exogenous melatonin supplementation as a preventive and therapeutic measure for dental caries.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of a novel endodontic irrigant octenidine against conventional irrigants sodium hypochlorite and EDTA on Candida albicans growth in the young and old population by calculating the number of colonies formed and by qualitative identification of dead/viable fungi by Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total number of samples used in the study was eighty samples after decoronation of the crown portion the middle third of root canal. Each group was subdivided into four subgroups with various irrigation protocols: (A) 17% EDTA + 5.25% NaOCl, (B) 100% Octenisept, (C) 17% EDTA + 5.25% NaOCl + 1% clotrimazole, and (D) phosphate buffer saline. After completion of irrigation ATCC samples (90028) of C. albicans were inoculated with 5 mL of peptone water each and incubated at 37°C for 72 hours to attain the turbidity corresponding to 0.5 McFarland standards CFU. Eight samples were analyzed for the formation of candidal colonies, and two samples for the assessment of viability of Candida by confocal laser scanning microscope in each subgroup. RESULTS: Comparison of antifungal efficacy of endodontic irrigants employed in the young and old populations revealed a significant reduction in the mean values of CFU and the mean values of percentage of non-viable microorganism by CLSM method. A positive relationship was revealed in the younger population which had a better antifungal efficacy than the older population in all the irrigant subgroups evaluated in the study. CONCLUSION: All the endodontic irrigants employed in our study had a good antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans. Octenisept had a maximum antifungal efficacy, while phosphate saline showed the least efficacy in both age groups, which was quantitatively evaluated by CFU method, and the same was confirmed through qualitative evaluation by CLSM method. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Candida albicans plays a major role in the establishment and pathogenesis of failed root canal treatment. Age-related changes alter the adhesion potential of dentin, in turn influence the outcome of endodontic therapy. Octenidine, a novel antifungal agent, can be substituted over the conventionally used EDTA and NaOCl with less adverse effects.
