The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a new, light-activated toothbrush, (Soladey-J3X) incorporated with a TiO₂ semiconductor and a solar panel (test) with a similar toothbrush but without the active semiconductor and solar panel (control).

Forty-nine adults aged 19 to 34 years completed a double-blind, cross-over study with each participant using the test and control brush for a period of 3 weeks each. The mean differences between baseline plaque and gingivitis scores and, after the subjects used, the test and control brushes were analyzed by the paired t-test.

The test and control brush demonstrated a reduction in overall plaque scores, but the difference between the two brushes was not statistically significant. The Soladey-J3X, however, showed a statistically significant difference in the overall mean reduction in gingivitis and on the buccal and interproximal surfaces compared to the control.

Both the test and the control toothbrushes induced a reduction in plaque scores after 3 weeks of use but the differences between the two type of brushes were not statistically significant. However, the test brush was more efficacious than the control in reducing overall gingival index scores and on the buccal and interproximal surfaces. Additional in vivo and longer term clinical trials are, however, warranted to fully investigate the mechanism and efficacy of TiO₂ semiconductor toothbrushes on plaque biofilm and gingival inflammation.

Uswak G, Hoover J, Lee J, Li J, Karunanayake C. A Double-blind Cross-over Study evaluating the Efficacy of a Light-activated Toothbrush. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):57-60.

This article evaluates the inter-relationship between the feeding time, presence of deleterious oral habits and the development of malocclusion.

For this purpose, a document focused on the quantitative aspects and was prepared using forms filled out according to the information available in the medical records of 93 children of both genders, aged between 4 and 12 years old, who were treated at the Dental Clinic of UESB (University of the Southwest State of Bahia), Jequié Campus, in the period from 2006 to 2009. The Chi-square statistical test was applied.

We observed a higher frequency of children who were naturally breast-fed for a period longer than 6 months (47%). There was a significant relationship between the shorter duration of breastfeeding leading to deleterious oral habits, and consequently to the development of malocclusion (p < 0.001). The existence of one or more deleterious oral habits also favored the development of malocclusion, even in the group that was breast-fed for longer than 6 months (p < 0.001). The habit that appeared most frequently was onychophagy (nail biting; 26%) followed by lingual interposition (17%) and pacifier sucking (14%). The highest prevalence of crowding was found among children with malocclusion (33%).

Mothers should be encouraged to extend the time of breastfeeding and motivate children not to develop deleterious oral habits, as these are crucial factors in diminishing the development of malocclusion.

Barreto LB, Souza RA, Freitas LM, Pithon MM. Association between Breastfeeding and Deleterious Oral Habits with Development of Malocclusions in Pediatric Dental Patients. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):61-66.

Popoff DAV, Menezes MS, Gomes AS, Faria-e-Silva AL, Soares PV, Santos-Filho PC, Martins LRM. Does bonding to Dentin reduce Gap formation in Composite Restorations? Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):67-70.

Brito-Júnior M, Camilo CC, Popoff DAV, Saini R, Faria-e-Silva AL. Quality of Preclinical and Clinical Root Canal Fillings performed by Undergraduate Students on Singlerooted Teeth. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):71-74.

Dental amalgam discharge in the wastewater stream is a potential source of mercury (Hg) that may contaminate the soil, water and wildlife, once released without safety measures. This study aimed the total Hg accumulation in fish Carassius auratus comparing different water environments: Water from the Tietê river basin close to the metropolitan area of Bauru, Brazil; tap water contaminated with 0.5 gm/l load of dental amalgam and tap water was used as control.

Fish were kept in glass aquaria, each water environment consisted of 25 specimens. The inner organs and muscles were sampled at 1 hour and 28 days for total Hg accumulation analysis. Also, water samples were analyzed at 1 hour, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days through cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry.

Only the fish kept at water from the Tietê river and contaminated tap water had Hg detected on its sampled tissues. The highest median levels were found in inner organs: 12.36 mg/kg–Tietê river and 262.64 mg/kg–contaminated tap water. The lowest median concentrations were found in muscles: 0.13 mg/kg–Tietê river and 0.54 mg/kg–contaminated tap water.

These findings alert to the potential environmental risks of dental amalgam waste discharge.

Pinheiro TN, Consolaro A, Sakuma A, Buzzo ML, de Carvalho MS, Duran MC. Mercury Accumulation in Fish: The Potential Effect of Dental Amalgam Wastewater. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):75-80.

Koçak MM, Cengiz S, Koçak S. Bond Strength of Resin Composites used as Core Materials around Different Types of Fiber Posts. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012; 1(2):81-83.

Ballini A, Desiate A, Cantore S. In vitro Comparison between Two Different Implant Titanium Surfaces in Osseointegration Process. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012; 1(2):84-88.

One of the major challenges of fixed clinical orthodontics is the correction of deep overbite. Miniscrew implants are ideally suited for absolute intrusion because they make it possible to apply light continuous forces of known magnitudes without producing any reciprocal reactionary effect on posterior teeth. The purpose of this finite element method (FEM) study was to evaluate and compare the stresses generated in maxillary anterior region during absolute en masse intrusion of six maxillary teeth using mini-implants at strategic locations.

Finite element model was generated using FEM software and on the same model finite element analysis was carried out to study the stress distribution in maxillary anterior region during true incisor intrusion.

Soft bone and hard bone showed significantly high stress distribution in maxillary anterior region.

Stresses on the teeth, soft bone and hard bone, were concentrated more on and near the central incisors as compared to lateral incisors. This was probably because the point of force application was between the central incisors and away from the lateral incisors.

Padmawar SS, Belludi A, Bhardwaj A, Vadvadgi V, Saini R. Study of Stress Distribution in Maxillary Anterior Region during True Intrusion of Maxillary Incisors using Finite Element Methodology. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):89-92.

Plasma leptin is associated in patients with inflammatory diseases. A high concentration of leptin is associated with healthy gingival tissue. The purpose of this study was to assess the concentration of human leptin in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum within healthy and diseased gingiva, further to explore the possibility of using the levels of leptin in GCF and serum as a biochemical marker of periodontal disease progression.

Ninety subjects were selected with age (30-39 years) and sex (15 males and 15 females) matched, to eliminate age and sex as confounders. The subjects were divided into three groups consisting of 30 subjects in each group based on the clinical and radiological parameters; healthy (group I), gingivitis (group II), periodontitis (group III), from whom the GCF samples were collected with Periopaper GCF collection strips (Proflow, Amityville, NY, USA) for 30 seconds and blood samples with 20-gauge needle syringe respectively. Leptin concentration was determined from individual GCF and serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The highest mean leptin concentration in GCF was observed in group I (2,664.30 pg/ml ± 324.73) and least mean leptin concentration was obtained in group III (1,309.43 pg/ml ± 202.45). The mean concentration of group II (1,639.43 pg/ml ± 344.46) was intermediate between the highest and lowest values. In contrast, the highest mean leptin concentration in serum was obtained for group III (12,086.57 pg/ml ± 1,698.23) and least mean leptin concentration was obtained for group I (8,715.09 pg/ml ± 1,649.19). The mean concentration of the group II (10,694.01 pg/ml ± 1,777.72) were intermediate between the highest and lowest values.

The results indicated a statistically significant decrease in the GCF leptin concentration and increase in serum leptin concentration as the periodontal disease progressed.

Vadvadgi VH, Saini R, Padmawar N. An Evaluation and Correlation of Leptin in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Serum in Health, Gingivitis and Periodontitis. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):93-97.

Meningioma is a benign intracranial tumor. Occurrence of ectopic meningioma in maxillary alveolar ridge is very rare. Our aim is to add another case of ectopic meningioma in the maxillary alveolar ridge to the literature.

Meningioma is a benign tumor that originates from meningocytes found in arachnoid villous structures of the meninges. The tumor is rarely seen in extracranial locations from the oral cavity.

We report on a 51-year-old edentulous woman with an ectopic meningioma on the right maxillary alveolar ridge. The patient had complained of dull pain and discharge from the right maxillary alveolar region. On clinical examination, we observed a lobulated lesion 2 × 2 cm in size. Radiographic examination showed ill-defined radiolucency with irregular radiopaque areas. We also noted oroantral communication from the root of the lesion into to the maxillary sinus with bony destruction. We closed the oroantral communication by a buccal advancement flap. The histopathological diagnosis of the specimen was transitional type grade I meningioma. The patient's 5-year follow-up was uneventful.

The histological subtype of the meningioma dictates the mode of surgery. Hence, resection is not considered the treatment of choice for grade I lesions. It is important to keep in mind that meningioma is the differential diagnosis of the intraosseous mandible tumors.

Ectopic meningioma is very rare. Meningioma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in clinical lesion. In the literature review, this is the fifth case report and review of the literature.

Simsek HO, Komerik N. Ectopic Meningioma in the Maxillary Alveolar Ridge: Report of a Case with a Review of the Literature. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):98-101.

Saylor C, Beaini N, Rokos J, Satheesh K, Cobb C. Primary Manifestation of Sarcoidosis Involving the Gingivae. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):102-105.

Saini SK, Bogra P, Saini A. Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Root Resorption by Intentional Reimplantation. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):106-109.

Talwar M, Awana M. Unusual Presentation of Foreign Body in a Pediatric Patient. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):110-112.

SUN Cb, YU Jh. ISW for the Treatment of Facial Asymmetry Crossbite Case with Upper Right Lateral Incisor Missing. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2): 113-117.

This work was supported by China Medical University and Medical Center, Taichung City, Taiwan (Grant number: CMU97-080 (2008) to JH YU).

Mani S, Mani A, Saini R. Chlorine Dioxide: A Potential Mouth Rinse for Oral Health. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):118-119.