Evaluation of flexural strength and color stability of different denture base materials including flexible material after using different denture cleansers.

AIMS: Present study aimed at evaluating the colour stability and flexural strength of flexible denture base materials (Valplast) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base material (Meliodent) processed by two different methods (Injection moulding and compression moulding) after immersing them in three different denture cleansers with acidic, basic and neutral PH. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Total 120 specimens (65 × 10 × 3 mm3), 40 specimens of each material (Valplast, Meliodent compression moulding and injection moulding) were immersed in denture cleansers having different PH; Valclean (Acidic), Clinsodent (Basic) and Polident (Neutral) as well as Distilled Water. Color changes were measured with a spectrophotometer after 1 month, 3 months and 6 months of immersion cycle. A flexural 3-point bending test was carried out by using an Instron universal testing machine after 6 months of soaking. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Maximum effect on colour stability was noted with Clinsodent followed by Valclean. Least color changes were observed after immersion in Polident. Colour difference was increased significantly as the immersion time increased. For both Meliodent and Nylon resins, statistically significant change in flexural strength occurred with immersion in all denture cleansers. Clinsodent has greater effect as compared to Valclean and Polident. CONCLUSIONS: Polident and Valclean can be safely used as denture cleanser for both nylon and acrylic resin denture base materials as far as colour stability and flexural strength both are concerned.

Prosthetic status and prosthetic need among the patients attending various dental institutes of ahmedabad and gandhinagar district, gujarat.

The oral health being an integral part for the healthy living, necessity of disability limitation and rehabilitation in oral health has taken a paramount role. To assess the prosthetic status and to evaluate the prosthetic needs of the patients attending various institutes of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar district. A total of 510 (264 males and 246 females) subjects at various dental institutes were examined in the study. A survey proforma was prepared with the help of WHO oral health assessment form (1997). Prosthetic status and prosthetic treatment need was recorded. Out of 510, any type of Edentulousness was 322 (63 %). Among them, 254 (49.8 %) were partially edentulous while 68 (13.3 %) were completely edentulous. Only 69 (13 %) were having any prosthesis in upper arch while only 80 (16 %) were having any prosthesis in lower arch. Need for any type of prosthesis in upper and lower arch was 55 and 60 % in males and females, respectively. In lower social class group need of prosthesis in upper and lower arch was 62 and 63 %, respectively. It was found that prosthetic status and prosthetic treatment need increased with increase in age. Steps should be taken to overcome this disparity and more emphasis should be given to meet the felt need of the people through government and non government organizations to improve the oral health. The unmet prosthetic treatment need should be met to rehabilitate needy people so that their disability may be limited.

Oral health attitudes and behaviour as predisposing factor for dental caries experience among health professional and other professional college students of India.

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to determine if there existed any difference between the attitudes and behaviour apart from dental caries status among health professional and other professional college students and to investigate the association of oral health attitudes and behaviour with dental caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Hiroshima University-Dental Behaviour Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire was used to survey 1824 young student population of Udaipur, India. Dental caries status was evaluated using the World Health Organization caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing and filled teeth and surfaces (DMFT and DMFS, respectively). RESULTS: There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the health professional and other professional college students for various components of DMFT and DMFS. Moreover, health professional students reported significantly higher HU-DBI scores (better oral health attitudes and behaviour) than their comparative group. Untreated dental caries played a major contribution to the total DMFT scores in both the groups, with 0.23 and 0.28 mean decayed teeth reported among health professional and other professional students, respectively. Decayed and missing teeth components exhibited a significant negative correlation with HU-DBI scores, whereas a positive correlation existed with the filled teeth component. CONCLUSIONS: A difference existed between the health professional and other professional students with regard to caries experience, oral health attitudes and behaviour. DMF indices and their components were related to most of the oral health attitudes and behaviours. Decayed and missing teeth components were negatively related while filled component was positively related to HU-DBI score.