Effect of Dental Varnishes in Prevention of Enamel Demineralization Adjacent to Orthodontic Brackets.

Aim: The aim of the current research was to assess the ability of different dental varnishes in averting enamel demineralization adjoining the orthodontic brackets. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five premolars devoid of dental caries that were subjected to extraction for orthodontic purposes were employed in this research. The surface of enamel was etched with 37% phosphoric acid and subjected to primer application. Individual brackets were placed on the midregion of the buccal surfaces of the premolars with Transbond™ XT adhesive. Postbracket bonding, the dry premolar tooth samples were set aside cautiously. The samples were then allocated to three groups: Group I: Duraphat Varnish, Group II: Clinpro XT Varnish, and Group III: Profluorid Varnish. Every sample was independently subjected to immersion in demineralizing solution for a period of 96 h at 37°C in an incubator. Areas of demineralization were evaluated by documenting the microhardness along the severed surface using a microhardness tester equipped with a Vickers diamond. Results: The highest surface microhardness was noted with Profluorid Varnish group at 328.48 ± 1.12 in pursuit by Clinpro XT Varnish group at 322.08 ± 0.04 as well as Duraphat Varnish group at 307.42 ± 0.28 with a statistically noteworthy dissimilarity amid the groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, the three varnishes employed had an influence on the prevention of enamel demineralization surrounding the orthodontic brackets. Profluorid varnish however exhibited maximum efficiency in avoiding enamel demineralization versus Clinpro XT varnish as well as Duraphat varnish group.

Ponticulus Posticus: An Important Diagnostic Finding Often Missed in Lateral Cephalograms.

AIM: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the presence of the ponticulus posticus (PP) frequently encountered in lateral cephalograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 500 patients of age 12-40 years were selected whose digital lateral cephalogram was recorded and traced to confirm the presence of the PP and categorize as: (A) Absent, as evidenced by lateral cephalograms. (B) Complete PP evidenced by the presence of circumferential bone bridge that connected the upper articular process to the atlas's posterior arch. (C) Partial PP: presented as a bone spike that protruded from the top articular process or the posterior arch of the atlas and extended above the vertebral artery sulcus. Symptoms of migraine, shoulder discomfort, orofacial pain, and headache were also evaluated on interaction with the patients. Using the Chi-square test, the relationship between the patient's gender and the presence of the PP was assessed. A p-value of 0.05 or less was regarded as statistically significant. RESULTS: About 10% of the patients reported with the presence of complete variant, 70% with partial variant and rest 20% of patients with neither a partial nor a complete form of PP. There was no statistically significant association between the PP and gender, as indicated by the Chi-square values (3.146; p = 0.526). CONCLUSION: On conclusion, according to the findings of the current study, patients with a complete form of PP experience more symptoms than those with a partial form of PP. In both groups, the PP frequency was higher in females. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In lateral cephalograms, the cervical spine region is typically ignored and given little weight. A common variation of atlas vertebrae is the PP, which is located in the posterior arch of the atlas. The PP exacerbates symptoms, such as migraine, tension headaches, shoulder pain, double vision, vertigo, stroke, and pain in the neck and orofacial region. Therefore, orthodontic specialists serve as initial diagnosticians and direct the patients to qualified physicians so that they can experience symptom relief.

Prevalence of Ectopic Canine in Different Sagittal and Vertical Skeletal Patterns.

AIM: The present investigation aims to find out the prevalence of ectopic canines among skeletal class I, II, and III malocclusions and to evaluate its variability among different genders and their growth patterns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample included orthopantomograms (OPGs), lateral skull views, and study models of 999 patients collected from departmental archives. Among the selected samples, 258 were males and 738 were females. They were divided into skeletal class I, II, and III malocclusions sagittally and hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent groups according to their angle formed between point A-Nasion - point B (ANB) and angle formed between the Sella-Nasion (SN) plane and Gonion (Go) - Gnathion (Gn) plane (SnGoGn) values respectively. RESULTS: Of the 999 samples, 738 (73.9%) were female and 260 (25.8%) were male patients. When compared to men, females had a higher proportion of ectopic canines. An estimated 62.3% of skeletal class I, 29.1% of skeletal class II, and 8.6% of skeletal class III cases were found to have ectopic canines. An estimated 720 (72.1%) patients were found to have maxillary ectopic canines and out of the available sample, 474 patients have horizontal growth patterns, 335 have average growth patterns and 190 patients have vertical growth patterns. Labial impaction was the commonest (65.4%) followed by palatal (24.8%). Bilateral impaction was comparatively more (51.1%) than unilateral impaction (48.2%). Maxilla was more prevalent (72.1%) as compared to the mandible (16.3%) and for both the arches it was (11.6%). Ectopic canines were identified in a total of 62.3% of cases with skeletal class I, 29.1% of cases with skeletal class II, and 8.6% of cases with skeletal class III. CONCLUSION: The bilateral ectopic canine was mostly seen in skeletal class I and class III malocclusions, whereas, a unilateral presentation was mostly seen in skeletal class II malocclusions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Knowing the likelihood of a maxillary canine erupting ectopically will aid clinicians in starting with interceptive therapy since this condition necessitates complex orthodontic mechanics.

Lantana camara leaf extract ameliorates memory deficit and the neuroinflammation associated with scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's-like cognitive impairment in zebrafish and mice.

CONTEXT: Lantana camara Linn. (Verbenaceae) is used for improving memory in certain African societies. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of prophylactic treatment with hydroethanolic leaf extract of Lantana camara (LCE) on short-term memory deficit and neuroinflammation induced with scopolamine in zebrafish and mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zebrafish (AB strain) and mice (ICR) were given donepezil (0.65 mg/kg, oral) and LCE (10, 30, 100 mg/kg, oral) for 7, and 10 days, respectively, before induction of cognitive impairment with scopolamine immersion (200 µM) and intraperitoneal injection (2 mg/kg), respectively. Spatial short-term memory was assessed in zebrafish using both Y- and T-mazes, whereas Y-maze was used in mice. Mice hippocampal and cortical tissues were analyzed for mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2) using qRT-PCR. RESULTS: In the zebrafish Y-maze, LCE (10 and 100 mg/kg) increased time spent in the novel arm by 55.89 ± 5.70%, and 68.21 ± 2.75%, respectively, but not at 30 mg/kg. In the zebrafish T-maze, there was an increase in time spent in the food-containing arm at 30 (44.23 ± 2.13) and 100 mg/kg (52.30 ± 1.94). In the mouse Y-maze, spontaneous alternation increased by 52.89 ± 4.98% at only 10 mg/kg. LCE (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) inhibited proinflammatory gene (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2) mRNA expression, with the highest inhibitory effect on IL-6 in both the hippocampus (83.27 ± 2.49%; 100 mg/kg) and the cortex (98.74 ± 0.11%; 10 mg/kg). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: LCE ameliorated scopolamine-induced AD in both zebrafish and mice.

Responses to autobiographical memories involving being a victim or perpetrator of betrayal in people with OCD and community controls.

Mental contamination in people with OCD has been linked to the perceived impact of being betrayed and betraying others. In this study, participants with OCD (N = 56) and community controls (N = 37) were randomised to an induction involving eliciting autobiographical memories of either being betrayed by someone they trusted or betraying someone that trusted them. The OCD group experienced greater increases in state mental contamination and anxiety than the control group, but no differences were observed between groups in urges to wash or drink. Both betrayal conditions elicited similar levels of mental contamination and anxiety. The results of this study suggest that people with OCD experience similar increases in mental contamination and anxiety not only when recalling memories of being a victim of betrayal but also when recalling being a perpetrator. People with OCD are therefore more sensitive to betrayal experiences than community controls. Clinical implications and implications for future research are discussed.

Effect of Different Chemical Solvents on Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of various chemical solvents on bond strength of orthodontic brackets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred healthy human premolars with undamaged buccal surfaces that were extracted for orthodontic purposes were gathered. Using 37% orthophosphoric acid, primer, and Transbond XT adhesive, ceramic 0.018" × 0.022" slot orthodontic brackets were adhered to the tooth surface. Following thermocycling, all samples were divided into four groups, with 25 samples in each group: group I: control; group II: application of ethanol; group III: application of acetone; and group IV: application of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Following the debonding tests, a double-ocular stereomicroscope was used to inspect the tooth surfaces. Additionally, adhesive remnant index (ARI) values were evaluated at 40× magnification. Data were recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The bond strength was lesser in acetone applied group (16.18 ± 3.64) followed by DMSO applied group (22.08 ± 2.86), ethanol applied group (24.36 ± 4.02), and control group (27.14 ± 3.68). There was a highly significant difference found between the chemical solvents group. The ARI score 3 was present in control (12%), ethanol (8%), and DMSO (4%), and it was absent in acetone applied group. The ARI score 0 was more in acetone applied group (24%). CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that the reduced debonding force was found with the application of acetone solvent followed by DMSO, ethanol, and control groups. Applying acetone can be a substitute technique to help with ceramic bracket debonding. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Orthodontic bracket debonding cannot occur without shear bond strength (SBS). The need for an ideal debonding technique for ceramic brackets without negative consequences arises from the risk of enamel damage that frequently follows the process. Acetone treatment prior to ceramic bracket debonding could be an alternate clinical technique to preventing enamel damage and facilitating debonding. How to cite this article: Bhushan R, Singh S, Sam G, et al. Effect of Different Chemical Solvents on Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2023;24(12):940-943.

Comparison of the Antimicrobial Activity of Aloevera Mouthwash with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash in Fixed Orthodontic Patients.

AIM: Aim of the present research was to compare the antimicrobial activity of Aloevera mouthwash with chlorhexidine mouthwash in fixed orthodontic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 90 fixed Orthodontic patients participated in this study. Full-mouth oral prophylaxis was performed for every patient at the start of the study. Patients were advised to brush twice a day with the modified bass technique and rinse with respective mouthwashes for 20 days. Once the patients with fixed orthodontic appliances were accepted to participate in the study, they received dental prophylaxis which includes the removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth by scaling and polishing. Then they were randomly divided into the following three groups: chlorhexidine (group I), Aloevera (group II), and control (group III). A washout period of 8-10 days (baseline) was awaited post-oral prophylaxis and then the following clinical parameters were recorded: Plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI). The data included clinical examination, inspection, and microscopic observation techniques. RESULTS: The mean reduction of the PI score on the 20th day of group II was 0.03 ± 0.18, group I was 0.43 ± 0.49, and the control group was 1.65 ± 0.88. The mean reduction of GI score on the 20th day of group II was 0.83 ± 0.40, group I was 0.93 ± 0.55, and group III was 1.85 ± 0.77. Student's t-test had been used to evaluate within each group between day 1 and day 20, group I and group II had shown higher differences compared to control. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, both chlorhexidine mouthwash and Aloevera mouthwash are important chemical adjuncts in controlling gingival inflammation, gingival bleeding, and plaque accumulation in orthodontic patients. Aloevera could be an alternative to chlorhexidine in patients who are seeking a chemical-free, indigenous, and patient-friendly oral hygiene aid. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Chlorhexidine is known to produce temporary tooth discoloration, allergic responses, dry mouth, burning in the mouth, and transient bad taste, which deter patients from using this mouthwash. The hunt for plant extract-based antimicrobial medicines has been prompted by the emergence of medication resistance and the unfavorable side effects of several antibiotics. These natural remedies can be a valuable substitute for creating a comparable effect.

Intentional gesturing increases social complexity by allowing recipient's understanding of intentions when it is inhibited by stress.

Examining the links between intentional communication and social relationships provides insights into the cognitive skills needed to manage a differentiated set of social bonds. Great apes gesture intentionally, but how this intentionality relates to sociality is still unclear. Stress in the form of dominant audience members inhibits understanding of intentions, downgrading cognition to understanding of behaviour, but intentional communication may enable social bonding in stressful conditions. We examined the associations between gestural communication, sociality, stress and the outcome of interactions in wild chimpanzees. Social network size was positively associated with intentional but not non-intentional communication. When a dominant bystander was present with whom the recipient was weakly bonded, and gesturing was non-intentional, recipients produced avoidance response toward signallers to whom they were weakly bonded, indicating understanding of behaviour. Signallers used intentional gestures more frequently to recipients who were stressed, and intentional gestures evoked approach behaviour by the recipients, indicating understanding of intentionality. These results suggest that the presence of dominant bystanders is stressful, inhibiting understanding of intentionality. However, intentional gestures facilitate social bonding by allowing understanding of intentions. The cognitive skills underpinning intentional gestures may therefore play a key role in enabling primates to meet the demands of sociality. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cognition, communication and social bonds in primates'.

Assessment of Marginal Integrity and Color Stability of Provisional Restoration Fabricated from Different Autopolymerizing Acrylic Resins - A Comparative Study.

AIM: The present study is aimed to assess the marginal integrity and color stability of provisional restorations fabricated from different autopolymerizing acrylic resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 60 provisional crowns were fabricated. A mandibular first molar artificial typodont was mounted on a base of dental stone. The mandibular first molar which was mounted was prepared for full cast crown, using the tooth preparation standard principles with shoulder finish line of 1 mm and taper 6°. There were 20 samples in each acrylic resin group: Group I: Polyvinyl-ethyl methacrylate resin, Group II: Autopolymerizing bis-acrylic material, and Group III: Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) autopolymerizing resin. Crowns were verified for marginal adaptation using stereomicroscope at a ×40. The color stability was measured using spectrophotometer poststaining period. RESULTS: Autopolymerizing bis-acrylic material group showed minimum mean vertical marginal discrepancy (128.68 ± 18.036 µm) followed by PMMA autopolymerizing resin group (147.49 ± 20.128 µm) and polyvinyl-ethyl methacrylate resin group (172.89 ± 22.118 µm). Analysis of variance demonstrated a statistically significant difference between different autopolymerizing acrylic resins. The color change values did not show any significant difference between the groups on numerous comparisons between different autopolymerizing acrylic resin groups. A statistically significant difference was seen between Groups I and II, Groups I and III, and Groups II and III (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the autopolymerizing bis-acrylic material demonstrated significantly improved marginal integrity when compared to PMMA autopolymerizing resin and polyvinyl-ethyl methacrylate resin.

Assessment of Separation Impact and Perception of Discomfort on Various Orthodontic Separators: A Comparative Clinical Study.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the extent of separation and perception of pain and discomfort with the use of three different orthodontic separators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of sixty participants (26 males and 34 females) aged between 18 and 25 years were enrolled in this study. Participants were divided into three experimental groups: Group I: elastomeric separator, Group II: Dumbbell separators, and Group III: Kesling Separators. All the participants were asked to revisit 24 h after separator placement, and the effect of separation obtained by three different types of separators was measured. The space generated between premolars and molars was recorded separately on days 1, 3, and 7. The visual analog scales were used to assess pain. RESULTS: The mean age in Dumbbell separators group was slightly more (23.32 ± 2.28) compared to Kesling Separators and Elastomeric separator group (22.46 ± 1.20 and 21.10 ± 1.19 years, respectively). The extent of separation on days 1, 3, and 7 was more in Group II study participants (0.20 ± 0.02, 0.32 ± 0.05, and 0.48 ± 0.07 mm, respectively) compared to other groups. A statistically significant (P = 0.022) difference was noted on day 7 in terms of no pain being recorded more in Group II participants, followed next by Groups III and I. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the Dumbbell separators produce acceptable separation with negligible pain and discomfort when compared to elastomeric separators and Kesling separators.

Evaluation of Frictional Forces Generated between Three Different Ligation Methods with Four Different Sizes of Orthodontic Archwires: An In vitro Study.

AIM: This in vitro study was done to evaluate and compare the frictional forces produced by a passive self-ligating bracket (SLB) and two types of elastomeric ligatures (unconventional elastomeric ligatures [UELs] and conventional elastomeric ligatures [CELs]) on a conventional bracket used with four types of wires. MATERIALS: In this in vitro study, 8 numbers of conventional preadjusted edgewise appliance stainless steel brackets and 4 numbers of passive SLBs were tested. Four types of archwires and two types of ligatures were tested. Brackets were divided into three groups - Group I, Group II, and Group III. All the three groups were further divided into four subgroups based on different archwires. METHODS: Custom-made mounting jig was specially constructed for this study - upper member and lower member. After the samples were mounted, traction test was conducted using universal testing machine and readings were tabulated for all specimens. The variables in each group were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: All the three groups were tested for its total friction, static friction, and kinetic friction. SLBs showed a static mean little lower and had kinetic mean little greater than conventional bracket with unconventional module. CONCLUSION: UELs on conventional brackets and SLBs are able to produce lower frictional force when compared with CELs on conventional brackets.

Prevalence of Dental Caries and Treatment Needs in Tibetan Monks and Nuns in Karnataka.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs among Tibetan monks and nuns in Bylakuppe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, stratified random sampling was used to obtain desired sample for the study. The clinical examination was carried out to obtain data regarding dental caries status and treatment needs using World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Assessment Pro forma 1997. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, version 20.0. The data were statistically analyzed by using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 345 Tibetan monks (men) and 35 Tibetan nuns (women). Prevalence of dental caries was 88.68% with mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) value of 6.06 ± 5.37. Assessment of dental treatment needs showed 82.3% of participants needed one surface filling, 11.9% of participants needed pulp care and restoration, and 9.3% of participants required extraction of teeth. CONCLUSION: The study population is characterized by high prevalence of dental caries and lack of awareness about treatment needs.

Evaluation of Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Patient with Removable Prosthesis: A Cross-sectional Study.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health and quality of life in removable prosthesis users. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An investigative cross-sectional study was designed, and 200 participants were considered based on calculations from the studies in the past. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 survey comprises two parts in the study. Questions related to sociodemographic factors that documented age, gender, and type of removable prosthesis were included in the initial part of survey. Questions related to impact of oral health on quality of life make up the latter part of the survey. The answers ranged from "Definitely no" to "Definitely yes" for every item on a scale having 5 points. The likely range of scores is from 14 to 70. Data were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, version 20.0 for Windows. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A survey evaluating the relationship between oral health and quality of life was adequately completed by 200 participants. Of these, 18 (22%) were women and 154 (78%) were men. The parameters such as gender, age, and the relationship between oral health and quality of life did not show significant difference either within groups or between the groups. The enrolled participants were wearing different dental prostheses such as complete dentures (CDs) in both upper (U) jaw and lower (L) jaw (19%), U jaw (3%), L jaw (4%) and removable prostheses in both jaws (30%), U jaw (24%) and L jaw (20%). No statistically significant differences were seen between them. The scores for oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were associated positively with removable prosthesis score (r = 0.122) and were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the use of removable prosthesis may positively impact OHRQoL. The period of usage of removable dentures was the highly significant parameter affecting patient gratification, whereas the practice of using removable prostheses was the highly significant parameter affecting the relationship between oral health and quality of life.

Effectiveness of Various Dental Varnishes in Prevention of Enamel Demineralization around Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of different dental varnishes in prevention of demineralization of enamel along the orthodontic brackets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 premolars that do not have caries and were extracted for orthodontic purposes were used in this study. Transbond™ Plus was used to bond premolar brackets onto the treated surface of enamel. The teeth were then divided into three groups. Group I: Profluorid varnish, group II: CPP-ACP varnish, and group III: Duraflor™ varnish. A Vickers diamond indenter was used to assess the microhardness of the surface of enamel at baseline, fourth day, and seventh day. RESULTS: A slightly meaner surface microhardness (SMH; 334.20 ± 2.10) was seen in group III when compared with group I (332.16 ± 3.02) and group II (330.40 ± 2.02). The mean SMH was 342.02 ± 0.82 in group I on the fourth day which was slightly higher than that of the baseline values, followed by group III (339.48 ± 0.34) and group II (336.64 ± 1.14). No statistically significant differences were noted between the groups. A higher mean microhardness of 349.84 ± 0.66 was seen in group I on the seventh day, followed by group III (342.26 ± 1.08) and group II (338.18 ± 1.08). A statistically highly significant difference was seen between the groups. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded Profluorid varnish to have maximum potential to reduce demineralization of enamel followed by Duraflor and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) group. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A most common clinical challenge encountered in orthodontic clinical practice is enamel demineralization or white spot lesion (WSL) development throughout the fixed appliance treatment. Thus, the information about several available varnishes is important to prevent demineralization in regular dental practice.

Evaluation of the Microbial Load and Heavy Metal Content of Two Polyherbal Antimalarial Products on the Ghanaian Market.

The use of herbal products has increased and become more popularized globally; however, limited studies coupled with questions related to the quality and safety of these herbal products have been raised. Herbal products with hope of their nontoxicity may play a role of alternative to overcome the problems of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Medicinal plants used as raw materials for production may have quality and safety issues due to proximity to wastewater application of fungicides and pesticides, which may be directly deposited superficially or absorbed by the plant system. Therefore, possible contamination of some Ghanaian herbal products cannot be ignored, as it may severely affect human life in the process of treatment. Aim. To evaluate the microbial load and the presence of toxic heavy metals in Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure, two polyherbal products used in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Ghana. Methods. Thermo Elemental M5 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) fitted with graphite furnace and an auto sampler was used to determine the heavy metal contents of the herbal products. The herbal samples were evaluated for the microbial load by using the appropriate culture media. Results and Analysis. Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure complied with the safety limits evaluated for all different microbial counts and contamination. The following heavy metals were present in Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure Mixture: Fe, Ni, K, Zn, Hg, Cu, Mn, Cr, Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu, K, and Na. Ni was below detectable limit in Edhec Malacure. Conclusion. Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure may be assured of safety. The products contained heavy metals, but all were within acceptable limit established by the FAO/WHO. The levels of microbial contamination were below the maximum acceptable limit.

Evaluation of the Impact of Acidic Drink on the Microhardness of Different Esthetic Restorative Materials: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of acidic drink on the microhardness of different esthetic restorative materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty samples (20 samples of each group) were prepared. group I: nanohybrid ormocer-based composite, group II: glasiosite compomer, and group III: nanoceramic composite. A cylindrical aluminum mold of 5 mm depth and 10 mm internal diameter was used to prepare the samples. All the esthetic restorative samples were submerged in 25 mL of acidic drink (Coca-Cola) for 10 minutes each day up to 15 days. The microhardness of each sample was measured using a Vickers diamond intender. These values were matched with baseline, 7th day, and 15th day for final microhardness values. RESULTS: The mean surface microhardness of 61.13 ± 0.82 was shown by group I, which was slightly more than that in group II (59.65 ± 1.16) and group III (59.22 ± 1.30). Analysis of covariance did not show any statistically significant difference between the groups. The samples in group III showed the highest reduction in surface microhardness value after immersion into acidic drink, followed by group II and group I on 7th day and 15th day. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was found on 7th day. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that the esthetic restorative material-nanohybrid ormocer-based composite-showed the finest behavior both before and after being dipped in the acidic drink followed next by glasiosite compomer and nanoceramic composite. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The various esthetic restorative materials with different physical characteristics and colors are marketed in numerous ways. Nevertheless, all dental restorative materials show surface degradation under acidic conditions over a period of time. So, it helps to know the surface microhardness changes of various esthetic restorative materials upon repeated exposure to acidic beverages.

Complex Sociality of Wild Chimpanzees Can Emerge from Laterality of Manual Gestures.

Humans are strongly lateralized for manual gestures at both individual and population levels. In contrast, the laterality bias in primates is less strong, leading some to suggest that lateralization evolved after the Pan and Homo lineages diverged. However, laterality in humans is also context-dependent, suggesting that observed differences in lateralization between primates and humans may be related to external factors such as the complexity of the social environment. Here we address this question in wild chimpanzees and examine the extent to which the laterality of manual gestures is associated with social complexity. Right-handed gestures were more strongly associated with goal-directed communication such as repair through elaboration in response to communication failure than left-handed gestures. Right-handed gestures occurred in evolutionarily urgent contexts such as in interactions with central individuals in the network, including grooming reciprocity and mating, whereas left-handed gestures occurred in less-urgent contexts, such as travel and play. Right-handed gestures occurred in smaller parties and in the absence of social competition relative to left-handed gestures. Right-handed gestures increased the rate of activities indicating high physiological arousal in the recipient, whereas left-handed gestures reduced it. This shows that right- and left-handed gestures differ in cognitive and social complexity, with right-handed gestures facilitating more complex interactions in simpler social settings, whereas left-handed gestures facilitate more rewarding interactions in complex social settings. Differences in laterality between other primates and humans are likely to be driven by differences in the complexity of both the cognitive skills underpinning social interactions and the social environment.

Efficacy of Three Types of Plaque Control Methods During Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of three types of plaque control methods among 13- to 35-year-old subjects receiving fixed orthodontic treatment in Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, Virajpet, Coorg district, Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 111 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly included in the study. The subjects were recalled after 1 month of the commencement of fixed orthodontic treatment for the recording of baseline data including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and modified papillary bleeding index (MPBI). After recording of the baseline data, the subjects were randomly allocated into each of the intervention groups, i.e., group A (manual tooth brush), group B (powered tooth brush), and group C (manual tooth brush combined with mouthwash) by lottery method. Further, all the subjects were recalled after 1 and 2 months for recording the data. RESULTS: Regarding plaque levels, it was seen that there was a highly statistically significant difference between the three groups (P = 0.001), with the manual tooth brush combined with chlorhexidine mouthwash group recording the lowest mean PI score of 0.5 ± 0.39. A comparison of the mean GI scores among the groups at the end of 2 months shows a highly statistically significant difference (P = 0.001). The mean MPBI scores at the end of 2 months were highly statistically significant among the three groups (P = 0.001), with the group C recording the lowest mean MPBI score of 0.3 ± 0.3. CONCLUSION: The powered tooth brush group subjects exhibited significantly lesser PI, GI, and MPBI scores than the manual tooth brush group at the end of 2 months, whereas the manual tooth brush combined with chlorhexidine mouth wash group subjects showed maximum improvement, having significantly lesser PI and GI scores than the powered tooth brush group.

Visual attention, indicative gestures, and calls accompanying gestural communication are associated with sociality in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii).

The challenges of life in complex social groups may select for complex communication to regulate interactions among conspecifics. Whereas the association between social living and vocalizations has been explored in nonhuman primates, great apes also have a rich repertoire of gestures, and how the complexity of gestural communication relates to sociality is still unclear. We used social network analysis to examine the relationship between the duration of time pairs of chimpanzees spent in proximity (within 10 m) and the rates of gestural communication accompanied by visual attention of the signaler, one-to-one calls, indicative gestures (collectively self-relevance cues), and synchronized pant-hoot calls. Pairs of chimpanzees that spent a longer duration of time in proximity had a higher rate of visual gestures accompanied by these behaviors. Further, individual chimpanzees that had a greater number of proximity bonds had a larger social network maintained through gestures accompanied by synchronized pant-hoot calls. In contrast, gestures unaccompanied by these behaviors were not positively associated with either proximity bonds in pairs of chimpanzees or individual differences in sociality. These results suggest that self-relevance cues and synchronized pant-hoot calls accompanying gestures may increase the efficiency of gestural communication in social bonding and that multimodal communication may have played a key role in language evolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Persistence in gestural communication predicts sociality in wild chimpanzees.

A key challenge for primates is coordinating behaviour with conspecifics in large, complex social groups. Gestures play a key role in this process and chimpanzees show considerable flexibility communicating through single gestures, sequences of gestures interspersed with periods of response waiting (persistence), and rapid sequences where gestures are made in quick succession, too rapid for the response waiting to have occurred. The previous studies examined behavioural reactions to single gestures and sequences, but whether this complexity is associated with more complex sociality at the level of the dyad partner and the group as a whole is not well understood. We used social network analysis to examine how the production of single gestures and sequences of gestures was related to the duration of time spent in proximity and individual differences in proximity in wild East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). Pairs of chimpanzees that spent a longer duration of time in proximity had higher rates of persistence sequences, but not a higher rate of single gestures or rapid sequences. The duration of time spent in proximity was also related to the rate of responding to gestures, and response to gesture by activity change. These results suggest that communicative persistence and the type of response to gestures may play an important role in regulating social interactions in primate societies.