Effect of Various Vital Bleaching Systems on Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction.

Objective To evaluate the clinical behavior of different bleaching products - the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), carbamide peroxide (CP), and titanium dioxide bleaching systems. Methods Three bleaching systems with different concentrations (H2O2 15%, 38%, CP 15%, 35%, and titanium dioxide 20% H2O2) were used. Sixty participants with discolored teeth were enrolled and equally divided into six groups. Each group was rendered the assigned bleaching protocol against the control group, which received plain dentifrice polishing. Each case was evaluated immediately, two weeks, three months, six months, and one year after the bleaching treatment. The clinical evaluation was made for color change by (shade guide and digital images with L*a*b* parameters), tooth sensitivity, gingival irritation, and participants' satisfaction. Results All bleaching systems showed color improvement after bleaching regimens with significant effect showed by in-office titanium dioxide 20% H2O2 followed by 38% H2O2 with Δ=10.26 and Δ=6.52, respectively, when compared to other bleaching techniques. Higher sensitivity was recorded in group III with 50% of the participants reporting postoperative sensitivity. Higher gingival irritation was recorded in group IV (15% CP) where 60% of the patients reported gingival irritation. Thirty-five of the 60 participants (58.5%) recorded that the treatment whitened their teeth "moderately" and "a lot" while seven participants recorded "a slight" difference. There was a highly significant difference in participants' satisfaction between all bleaching groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion It is evident that there is a development of dental sensitivity and gingival irritation irrespective of the bleaching system used. The color assessment showed that the desired result can be achieved with variable levels of patient satisfaction with excellent overall results with the titanium dioxide system.

Comparison of the Fracture Resistance of Root-Canal-Treated Premolars Obturated With Dissimilar Materials: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction The utilization of endodontic sealers is of paramount importance in ensuring the sustained efficacy and resilience of endodontic treatment. The primary objective of the research was to appraise and contrast the fracture resistance (FR) of three distinct categories of endodontic sealing materials that are frequently employed in the context of endodontic therapy. Materials and methods This research used an in vitro experimental design. Sixty single-rooted human teeth indicated for extraction were utilized according to established protocols. These teeth were then arbitrarily divided into four piles, one for each of the four possible sealants. All specimens were put through a standardized thermal cycling procedure to simulate clinical conditions after the root canals were obturated. The subsequent step involved testing the FR of each group by utilizing a universal testing machine up until failure. Any statistically significant difference in FR among the three sealing materials was identified through appropriate statistical analysis. Results Group 1, which utilized a particular sealing material, exhibited the highest mean fracture resistance, measuring at an impressive 1198.33 ± 321.4 Newtons (N). A post hoc analysis was done to see the exact differences between each group and statistically significant differences between Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05), Groups 1 and 4 (p<0.05), and Groups 3 and 4 (p<0.001) were observed. Conclusion The FR of Group 1 specimens were noticeably greater than those of Group 2 and Group 4 while the FR of Group 3 specimens was more than that of the Group 4 specimens. This study provides important insights into the fracture resistance of various endodontic sealing materials.

Dental Students' Ability to Detect Only-Enamel Proximal Caries on Bitewing Radiographs.

Introduction The dental students are trained to identify the proximal carious lesion using clinical tools and radiography over three years of academic curriculum. During these years the students are expected to learn detection of incipient carious lesions and take appropriate preventive/restorative measure. Method This study aimed at evaluating the ability of the students and interns to detect only-enamel proximal caries on the five digital bitewing radiographs. The digital bitewing radiographs were having incipient carious lesions involving enamel on proximal surface of mandibular first molars. Results A total of 101 participants (M = 29, F = 72) from fifth (D5) and sixth (D6) years of dentistry evaluated the radiographs and the KR20 values for D5, D6, and total sample were 0.79, 0.64, and 0.41 respectively. Conclusion Overall students' assessment of detection of incipient carious lesion was low. There is need to enhance clinical and radiological cognitive skills among students with emphasis on interdisciplinary learning objectives.