Flexural strength of hydrogen plasma-treated polypropylene fiber-reinforced polymethyl methacrylate denture base material.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate flexural strength of hydrogen plasma-treated polypropylene fibers-reinforced polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer composite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One control group with no fiber reinforcement and 9 polymer composite test groups with varying fiber weight percentage (2.5, 5, and 10 Wt%) and aspect ratio (3/220, 6/220, and 12 mm/220 µm) were prepared. Flexural strength was measured using Instron. RESULTS: All hydrogen plasma-treated polypropylene fiber-reinforced test groups obtained significantly higher flexural strength characteristics. Among the test groups, 6 mm long fibers reinforced in 10 Wt% showed superior flexural strength. CONCLUSION: Hydrogen plasma treatment on polypropylene fiber has a significant role in enhancing the adhesion between PMMA polymer matrix and the polypropylene fibers and thereby the flexural strength.

Knowledge and awareness of dental implants as a treatment choice in adult population in South India: A hospital-based study.

CONTEXT: Implant-supported prosthesis improves the self-confidence and quality of life of the patient by giving them masticatory comfort and a high level of satisfaction. For any professional community, it is essential to know whether patients feel well informed and whether what they know reflects on the current advances in dental health care. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and awareness of dental implants as a treatment choice in patients visiting a dental college situated in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 13 close-ended questions was used to assess the level of knowledge and awareness among patients visiting prosthodontics outpatient department regarding dental implants as a treatment option for replacing missing teeth. A total of 242 participants were interviewed to collect the required data. Chi-square test was used to study the association between demographic variables and awareness about implantation. RESULTS: Only 17.8% of the population with missing teeth knew about dental implants as a treatment choice. For 69.8% of the population, the source of information regarding prosthetic options was through friends and relatives, and for 28.1%, it was from dentists. Awareness percentage was significantly higher among males (P = 0.024) and among those whose education level was graduation and above (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that knowledge and awareness regarding dental implants was disturbingly low. The patients had a very minimal and superficial knowledge regarding prosthetic options. Emphasis is placed on the need for conducting and implementing various public awareness campaigns and for establishing counseling centers.

Correlation between Interalar Distance and Mesiodistal Width of Maxillary Anterior Teeth in Thrissur, Kerala, Indian Population.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the validity of interalar distance as an aid in maxillary anterior teeth selection in Thrissur, Kerala, Indian population. The study also evaluated whether interalar distance and maxillary anterior teeth undergo any changes as age increases in this population and whether there is a gender difference in these parameters in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was planned on 1200 participants in Thrissur Municipal Corporation area, Kerala, India, with the aim of checking the validity of interalar distance as a successful aid in maxillary anterior teeth selection. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Mean standard deviation and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Student's t-test was used for comparison between gender and two age groups such as 18-25 and 40-50 years. One-way ANOVA analysis was done for combined effects. RESULTS: The study showed that there is a high statistical significance between the interalar distance and the mesiodistal width of six maxillary anterior teeth in females (P < 0.01) and no significance in males. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that, within the population evaluated, there was a high significant correlation between interalar distance and the mesiodistal width of six maxillary anterior teeth in both males and females. Both interalar distance and mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth showed a significant increase in size as age increases. There was a significant increase in size difference for males compared to females in relation to interalar distance and not for mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth.

A clinico-radiographic study to compare and co-relate sagittal condylar guidance determined by intraoral gothic arch tracing method and panoramic radiograph in completely edentulous patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare and correlate sagittal condylar guidance determined by intraoral gothic arch tracing method and panoramic radiograph in edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve completely edentulous patients were selected by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Conventional steps in the fabrication of complete denture till jaw relation were carried out. Intraoral gothic arch tracing and protrusive interocclusal records were obtained for each patient. Protrusive interocclusal record was used to program the Hanau Wide-Vue semi-adjustable articulator, thus obtaining the sagittal condylar guidance angle. Using RadiAnt DICOM software, on the orthopantomogram obtained for each patient in the study, two reference lines were drawn. The Frankfort's horizontal plane and the mean curvature line (joining the most superior and the inferior points on the glenoid fossa curvature) were drawn. The mean curvature line was extended to intersect the Frankfort's horizontal plane, thus obtaining the radiographic sagittal condylar guidance angle. The condylar guidance angles obtained by these two methods were compared and subjected to paired t-test. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the sagittal condylar guidance angles obtained between right and left sides with intraoral gothic arch tracing and radiographic methods (P = 0.107 and 0.07, respectively). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the protrusive condylar guidance angles obtained by panoramic radiograph may be used for programming semi-adjustable articulators.

Correlation between Innercanthal Distance and Mesiodistal Width of Maxillary Anterior Teeth in a Thrissur, Kerala, India, Population.

BACKGROUND: Selecting and replacing missing teeth to natural proportions and esthetic preference of a patient in the absence of pre-extraction records is a very challenging task. Although facial analysis and proportions are well discussed in many populations, none exists for the Thrissur, Kerala, population. A prosthodontic rehabilitation for Kerala patients relying on other racial norms may result in dissonant facial proportions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the validity of innercanthal distance as a guide in determining the mesiodistal dimension of six maxillary anterior teeth in a selected Malayalee population in the Thrissur Municipal Corporation area; (2) to check whether innercanthal distance undergoes dynamic changes over time as a result of aging; and (3) to evaluate whether there is a gender difference in the analyzed mean facial and dental proportions in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 1,200 subjects in the Thrissur Municipal Corporation area. From five wards, 240 subjects were selected, out of which 120 were from the 18 to 25 years age group and 120 from the 40 to 50 years age group. Sixty males and females were selected from each group. The innercanthal distance was measured using a Digital Vernier Caliper, and alginate impressions were made to evaluate the size of maxillary anteriors. The data was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The study showed that there is a high statistical significance between the innercanthal distance and the mesiodistal width of six maxillary anterior teeth in females (p < 0.01) and no significance in males. There was also dynamic changes in the innercanthal dimension and the mesiodistal width of maxillary anteriors with increase in age (p < 0.001). The difference in the mean of innercanthal distance between the genders was highly statistically significant, but no significance was found between the genders in the mesiodistal width of maxillary anteriors. CONCLUSION: Within the population evaluated, there was a high statistical significance in females between the innercanthal distance and the mesiodistal width of six maxillary anterior teeth, but not for males. Innercanthal dimension was found to undergo dynamic changes as age increases in both males and females, and it was much higher in males than in females. There was no statistical significance in the comparative evaluation of mesiodistal width of maxillary anteriors of males and females in the study. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Teeth selection is a critical step in determining the outcome of successful prosthodontic treatment. No definite guidelines for the selection of maxillary anterior teeth pertaining to the Thrissur, Kerala, population exist. A prosthodontic rehabilitation of Thrissur, Kerala, patients relying on other racial norms will result in dissonant facial proportions. In selecting maxillary anterior teeth, the knowledge of racial norms will help specify certain esthetic and functional modifications in treatment plans, which might be specific to each group. Therefore, there remains an unquestionable need for a scientific and reliable method for maxillary anterior teeth selection, which can be applied on this group of Indian population.

Prosthetic rehabilitation of an orbital defect for a patient with hemifacial atrophy.

Removal of an eye may be indicated in cases of congenital abnormality, severe trauma, or disease such as an infection, tumor, or malignancy. The disfigurement associated with a loss of an eye is often accompanied with physical problems, psychological trauma, and a poor quality of life. A prosthetic replacement is the treatment of choice to return the individual to his normal vocation by producing an acceptable and life-like appearance. This article describes prosthetic rehabilitation of a 19-year-old male suffering from facial hemiatrophy with the loss of his left eye due to retinoblastoma when he was 2-year-old using medically graded silicone material. The technique used is simple, cost effective, and easy way for fabrication and rehabilitation of an orbital defect using silicone prosthesis where retention is achieved by a combination of silicone adhesives and tapes, and to a very small extent by bony and soft tissue undercut, hence providing better esthetic and psychological outcome. The acrylic part of the prosthesis was adhered to the socket with the help of a two-way silicon adhesive tape. Since the patient had lost his eye when he was 2-year-old, the development of eye and periorbital tissue on the defect side lead to hemiatrophy; in our approach, we have attempted to build the prosthesis in par with the normal side so that the fullness on the defect side was restored to that of the contralateral side. The fabricated facial prosthesis was durable, esthetic, and had good retention.

Position of Occlusal Plane in Dentate Patients with Reference to the Ala-Tragal Line Using a Custom-Made Occlusal Plane Analyzer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine which of the three positions on the tragus, (superior, middle, inferior) when joined with the ala of the nose for the ala-tragal line was most parallel to the natural occlusal plane in dentate patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 500 individuals, selected randomly and who agreed to participate in the study. A custom-made occlusal plane analyzer was used to check the parallelism between the ala-tragal line and the occlusal plane. The tragus was divided into three parts: superior, middle, and inferior. The instrument was placed in the participant's mouth, and the posterior points on the tragus were determined. RESULTS: For the 500 dentate participants in this study, the most common location of the posterior point on the tragus was the inferior part of the tragus (50.8%). The second most common location of the tragus was the middle part (24.7%), followed by the superior location (12.1%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that the occlusal plane was found parallel to a line joining the ala of the nose and the inferior part of the tragus in a slight majority of the participants.

Occlusal plane location in edentulous patients: a review.

Occlusal plane orientation is an important factor in the construction of a complete denture. Occlusal plane could be oriented using landmarks in the mandibular arch as well as in the maxillary arch. In the mandibular arch there are few landmarks which could be used to orient the occlusal plane like the retromolar pad, corner of the lips (lower lip length) whereas the maxillary arch has a number of landmarks, of which the ala-tragal line is the most commonly used and the same being the most controversial. In the following article different landmarks and its accuracy for orientating the occlusal plane in an edentulous subject as studied by various authors has been discussed.

Flexural strength and hardness of resins for interim fixed partial dentures.

CONTEXT: Materials used for the fabrication of interim restorations must satisfy biological, esthetic, and functional needs. Strength and wear resistance are two important physical properties contributing to clinical efficiency. AIM: The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the flexural strength and hardness of five resins used for the fabrication of interim fixed partial dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five groups containing ten specimens of each material were fabricated in customized brass split molds with dimensions 65 × 10 × 2.5 mm. The materials subjected to this study were Revotek LC (group RLC), Protemp II (group PSC), Acry-lux V with regular monomer (group AHC), Acry-lux V with self-cure monomer (group ASC), DPI self-cure tooth molding powder (group DSC). The specimens were polymerized according to the manufacturers' instructions and were evaluated for flexural strength using a universal testing machine and for hardness using a microhardness tester. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The mean of the five groups was compared using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pair-wise comparison was done using Tukeys honesty significance difference (HSD) test. P ≤.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Flexural test results showed that group AHC (79.8950 MPa) had the highest flexural strength followed, in descending order, by group PSC (77.9700 MPa), group ASC (63.7150 MPa), group RLC (58.8110 MPa), and group DSC (51.9840 MPa). Statistically, the difference was found to be highly significant among all the groups. The hardness tests showed that group AHC (17.6900 KHN) had the highest hardness value followed, in descending order, by group PSC (15.9400 KHN), group RLC (12.6000 KHN), group ASC (11.2500 KHN), and group DSC (8.7700 KHN). Statistically, the difference was found to be highly significant among all the groups. CONCLUSION: Group AHC, representing a heat-polymerizing resin, showed the highest flexural strength and hardness values as compared to auto-polymerizing resins and light-polymerizing resin.