In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of silymarin/hydroxyapatite/chitosan nanocomposites and its cytotoxic effect using brine shrimp lethality assay.

Silymarin, a bioactive compound, is one of the most prominent drugs used in liver diseases. Chitosan and hydroxyapatite (HAP) are the major materials used employed in many biomedical processes like drug delivery, osteointegration, etc. The nanoparticles and nanocomposites are advanced materials with many biomedical applications in diagnosis and therapeutics. In this study, HAP and chitosan were used as a polymeric material, silymarin as a bioactive compound, and other nanoparticle based combinations. The prepared individual materials and nanocomposites were used for the anti-inflammatory activity and brine shrimp lethality assay. The results clearly show that the nanocomposites are good anti-inflammatory agents with lower toxicity.

Efficacy of Fluoride Varnish with Casein Phosphopeptide and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate vs Fluoride Varnish in Prevention of White Spots Lesion in fixed Orthodontic Patients: In Vivo Study.

AIM: The aim of the study is to compare the in vivo efficiency of Michigan (MI) varnish containing casein phosphopeptide (CPP) and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and Fluoritop containing sodium fluoride (5% NaF) in the prevention and remineralization of white spot lesions (WSLs) around orthodontic brackets at days 28 and 56 after bonding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients were selected and divided into two groups I (MI varnish) II (Fluoritop varnish) of 15 patients in each group. All the patients were bonded and then varnish was applied around the brackets. Right-side upper and lower first premolar teeth were taken as the control group and left-side upper and lower first premolar teeth as the experimental group. Also, 14, 24 teeth were extracted on day 28 after bonding and 34, 44 teeth after day 56 of bonding. Samples were collected and sent to laboratory for evaluation of surface microhardness (SMH). RESULTS: Based on the statistics results, there was a significant decrease in demineralization and an increase in remineralization of WSLs after the application of varnish. No statistical significance was found between the effectiveness of MI varnish and Fluoritop except in the cervical region. CONCLUSION: Through our study, we concluded that no statistical significance was found between the effectiveness of MI varnish and Fluoritop except in the cervical region where MI varnish was found to be more effective than Fluoritop in preventing WSLs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results from the above study concluded that CPP-ACP varnish can be an effective method in preventing WSLs in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

Acceleration of Intruding Anterior Tooth by Alveolar Corticotomy.

True intrusion is one of the difficult and complex goals to achieve which requires clinical judgment, skills, and experience. Intrusion requires less force level than other tooth movement, but it requires delicacy since the entire stress is concentrated in the apex of the root. Although true intrusion alone is not challenging, eliminating the adverse effect while intruding requires tedious skills of the clinician. A 17-year-old male patient with Class I malocclusion with open bite has a prominent maxillary cortical bone. He had a convex profile with an unpleasant smile. To reduce the bulkiness of cortical bone and to intrude the upper anterior, so the decision was made to perform corticotomy.

A hard tissue cephalometric comparative study between hand tracing and computerized tracing.

AIMS: To analyze and compare the angular and linear hard tissue cephalometric measurements using hand-tracing and computerized tracings with Nemoceph and Dolphin software systems. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 30 cephalograms were randomly chosen for study with the following criteria, cephalograms of patients with good contrast, no distortion, and minimal radiographic artifacts were considered using the digital method (Kodak 8000 C) with 12 angular and nine linear parameters selected for the study. Comparisons were determined by post-hoc test using Tukey HSD method. The N-Par tests were performed using Kruskal-Walli's method. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: ANOVA and post-hoc. RESULTS: The results of this study show that there is no significant difference in the angular and linear measurements recorded. The P values were significant at 0.05 levels for two parameters, Co-A and Co-Gn with the hand-tracing method. This was significant in ANOVA and post-hoc test by Tukey HSD method. CONCLUSIONS: This study of comparison provides support for transition from digital hand to computerized tracing methodology. In fact, digital computerized tracings were easier and less time consuming, with the same reliability irrespective of each method of tracing.

Extrusion of impacted mandibular second molar using removable appliance.

The purpose of this article is to review the principles of case management of impacted mandibular molars and to illustrate their potential to respond well to treatment. Although the scope of treatment may be influenced by the patient's age, past dental history, severity of impaction, dentoalveolar development, and root form, the case reports demonstrate the inherent potential for good treatment outcome even in the most unfavorable circumstances.

Effectiveness of mini implants in three-dimensional control during retraction - a clinical study.

INTRODUCTION: Three-dimensional control throughout the orthodontic treatment is essential for uncompromised results. Mini screws introduced for orthodontic anchorage has given the clinician an option of absolute three dimensional control. The purpose of this study was to compare and measure the vertical control and torque control of incisors and molar during enmass retraction with titanium microimplants and conventional molar anchorage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients were selected with extraction of all first premolars and bonded with 0.022″ slot MBT system. After aligning and leveling, all subjects were placed with 0.019″ X 0.025″ posted SS wire with standardized torquing curve. The 20 subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups consisting of 10 each (Group A & Group B). Group A subjects, implants were placed and Group B formed the control group. Retraction was carried out using NiTi closed coil springs. The assessment of the vertical and torque control of incisors and tipping and vertical control of molars was done by radiographic method using lateral cephalogram taken before and after retraction. RESULTS: The torque control of incisors, P11 value in group A and B indicated no significant difference. The molar tip, P12 value in group A indicated that there was distal tipping of molars while the P12 in group B indicated mesial tipping. On vertical plane P21, P22 and P23 values in Group A indicated that there was intrusion of incisors and molars while value in Group B indicated extrusion of incisors and molars. CONCLUSION: Three dimensional control is better in the implant group compared to the non implant group. Therefore the implant group definitely has citied advantages over conventional method.

Apical stress distribution on maxillary central incisor during various orthodontic tooth movements by varying cemental and two different periodontal ligament thicknesses: a FEM study.

CONTEXT: During fixed orthodontic therapy, when the stress levels in the periodontal ligament (PDL) exceedsan optimum level, it could lead to root resorption. AIMS: To determine an apical stress incident on the maxillary central incisor during tooth movement with varying cemental and periodontal ligament thickness by Finite Element Method (FEM) modeling. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A three dimensional finite element model of a maxillary central incisor along with enamel, dentin, cementum, PDL and alveolar bone was recreated using EZIDCOM and AUTOCAD software. ALTAIR Hyper mesh 7.0 version was used to create the Finite Element meshwork of the tooth. This virtual model was transferred to Finite Element Analysis software, ANSYS where different tooth movements were performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cemental thickness at the root apex was varied from 200 µm to 1000 µm in increments of 200 µm. PDL thickness was varied as 0.24 mm and 0.15 mm. Intrusive, Extrusive, Rotation and Tipping forces were delivered to determine an apical stress for each set of parameters. RESULTS: Results indicated that an apical stress induced in the cementum and PDL, increased with an increase in cementum and PDL thickness respectively. Apical stress induced in the cementum remained the same or decreased with an increase in the PDL thickness. Apical stress induced in the PDL decreased with an increase in the cementum thickness. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the clinical delivery of an orthodontic forces will cause stress in the cementum and PDL. Hence, it is necessary to limit the orthodontic force to prevent root resorption.