Comparison and Evaluation of Effect of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) with Intracanal Medicament on Periapical Healing.

Photobiomodulation (PBM), also commonly referred to as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), uses light energy to elicit biological responses from the cell and normalize cell function. 40 persons with periapical lesions were selected and were assigned randomly into two groups.Group I - Conventional root canal therapy and low-level laser therapy. Group II - Conventional root canal therapy Root canal therapy was completed, and radiographs were obtained and assessed 3, 6, and 9 months postoperative. VAS pain scale was assessed postoperatively on 0, 7th, and 14th days respectively. An independent t-test was used for the evaluation of the data. No significant difference was noted for postoperative pain and PAI scale between both groups Significant difference was noted in the reduction of the periapical lesions for 3 and 9 months follow up, but was not significant for 6 months. The healing was better in Group I which received Low-level laser therapy with the conventional root canal treatment. Low-level laser therapy can be the newer additional treatment modality that can be applied to the periapical lesion for its faster healing.

Perception of dental students regarding possible career challenges and associated factors towards working in rural areas: A questionnaire based survey.

OBJECTIVE: The shortage of health care professionals in rural areas contributes toward discriminatory health care delivery. The present study was planned with a similar intent and aimed to evaluate the perception of dental students regarding their future in rural areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was designed as a cross-sectional study comprising of a 30-item questionnaire survey instrument distributed among a total of 550 dental students while the results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Independent student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for comparison among the variables while the Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the attitude based on gender (P = 0.43), although, a statistically significant difference was observed in the attitude of students based on the year of their education with a positive attitude toward rural dental practice generally noted in the first year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students which significantly declined with the increasing level of education (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Dental students were more influenced by the negative aspects of rural dental practice though they had, in their mind, a positive approach for the same at the beginning of their education, but this significantly declined with the increasing level of their education.

Correlation of Body Mass Index to Oral Hygiene and Dental Caries in School Students: An Original Research.

Introduction: The general health of the individual can be calculated using the body mass index (BMI). In our study, we aim to evaluate the association of the BMI to the oral hygiene (OH) and dental caries (DC), in the school pupils. Materials and Methods: We piloted a cross-sectional study with 1000 participants of the ages 5-15 years with mixed dentition. We evaluated the BMI and the Oral Hygeine Index (OHI), DC. We compared the two oral parameters among pupils to the BMI using "ANOVA and Logistic regression analysis" for the identification of the significance and correlation. Results: We observed a significant variation for the different categories of the BMI and the OH, DC. BMI and the OHI, DC both depicted a strong and positive correlation. Conclusions: The nutritional status and the oral health are interrelated. Good oral health has to be promoted for the better general health.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Herbal Solutions in Disinfecting Gutta Percha Cones Against Enterococcus Faecalis.

Objective: Even when endodontic procedures are performed with the utmost care, reinfection can occur. One possible explanation is that contaminated gutta-percha cones were used in the root canals. The study's goal is to assess the antimicrobial activity and efficacy of Neem, Turmeric, and Calotropis Procera in disinfecting gutta percha cones prior to obturation. Materials and Methods: 80 Gutta percha (GP) cones were contaminated with 0.5ml Ferlands standard Enterococcus Faecalis for 10 minutes.20 cones each were treated up to 5 minutes in their prepared neem, turmeric, calotropis and sodium hypochlorite solutions. Then, they placed in BHI broth and vertex is done for 1 minute. One loopful of broth was stroked on 20 blood agar plates of 5 each neem, turmeric, calotropis and sodium hypochlorite. The plates were then incubated for 24 hours aerobically at 37°C and the colony forming units were counted with a digital colony counter. Results: Mean colony forming units were compared in all the groups and there was a statistically significant difference present among the groups (p<0.01). Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCL)as control group showed average of 5 colony forming units(CFU). Turmeric had the least average of 55 CFU and was the most effective of the experimental groups. Neem and Calotropis had the higher average of 130 CFU and 200 CFU respectively, making it the least effective of the solutions tested. Conclusion: All of the herbal solutions tested positive for disinfection of GP points. When compared to Neem and Calotropis, Turmeric was the most effective and has superior antibacterial activity.

Comparative Evaluation of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Pulpotomy and Laser-Assisted Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Pulpotomy: An Original Research Article.

CONTEXT AND AIM: Formocresol has been used as the material of choice (gold standard) for pulpotomy procedures because of the ease of use but was discouraged due to its potential immune sensitization and mutagenic effects. Laser irradiation was first applied for pulpotomy procedure in the year 1985. Recently, diode lasers have been used for pulpotomy in primary teeth and have shown clinical success rates comparable to formocresol. The present in vivo study was carried out to compare the clinical and radiographic success rates of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy and diode laser-assisted pulpotomy in human primary molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a randomized clinical trial in design wherein 40 primary teeth requiring pulpotomy treatment which met the selection criteria (clinical and radiographic) were divided into two groups, Group 1 (n = 20) wherein the pulpotomy was performed with MTA alone and Group 2 (n = 20) wherein laser-assisted pulpotomy was performed with MTA (L-MTA). The patients were recalled after 3, 6, and 9 months, respectively and evaluated clinically and radiographically. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22 (IBM corporation, Washington DC, United States). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data while the Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to analyze the statistical correlation between the overall success rates observed in the clinical and radiographic findings of both the groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The clinical success rate in the MTA group was 90%, 84.21%, and 88.23% at 3, 6, and 9 months, respectively, with no clinical signs or, symptoms reported at the said follow-up visits while the radiographic success rate was found to be 85%, 84.21%, and 82.3%, respectively. On the contrary, the clinical success rate in the L-MTA group was found to be 95%, 94.74%, and 94.44% at 3, 6, and 9, months, respectively with the radiographic success rate reported being 90%, 89.47%, and 88.89%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The combination of diode laser and MTA yielded better clinical and radiographic success rates over the pulpotomy procedures done with the help of MTA alone, thereby, concluding that lasers may be considered as adjuvant alternatives for vital pulp therapy on human primary teeth.

Antibacterial Activity and Fluoride Release of Glass-Ionomer Cement, Compomer and Zirconia Reinforced Glass-Ionomer Cement.

INTRODUCTION: The cariostatic property of glass ionomer cement (GIC) stems from its ability to release fluoride into the oral environment. Recently, zirconia reinforced GIC has been launched which promises the protective benefits of glass ionomer while completely eliminating the hazard of mercury. AIM: To evaluate invitro antibacterial activity and fluoride release from two conventional glass ionomer cements (GC II and GC IX), compomer (Compoglass) and a zirconia reinforced glass ionomer cement (Zirconomer). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antibacterial activity of the cement specimens was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans using the agar inhibition test. Zone of inhibition on Mueller-Hinton agar plates was measured after 48 hours. The fluoride release from the cement specimens in ppm were measured at day 1, 7, 14 and 21 using a fluoride ion selective electrode. Data was analysed using one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by LSD post-hoc test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Statistically significant largest zone of inhibition was observed with Zirconomer. Also, significant differences were seen in fluoride release of different materials. At all the time intervals maximum fluoride release was observed with Zirconomer and minimum with Compoglass. CONCLUSION: This invitro investigation has revealed that zirconia reinforced GIC (Zirconomer) had maximum antibacterial activity against S.mutans and fluoride release.