Panwar M, Dubey D, Kosala M. Innovative Periodontal Surgery by Monocortical Corticotomy in Management of Bimaxillary Protrusion Cases: A Clinical Study. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):55-60.

Smoking is a significant source of oxidative stress. Also, the disruption in equilibrium between free-oxygen radicals and antioxidants plays a pivotal role in the progression of periodontal inflammation. Green tea with antioxidant potential might have an effect on periodontal disease. This study evaluated the periodontal status in different groups of smokers compared with nonsmokers and investigates the association with salivary antioxidant levels after a period of green tea consumption.

In this interventional study, 60 healthy males, including 20 light and 20 heavy cigarette smokers and 20 control nonsmokers, participated. Periodontal status was determined by the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) at the beginning of the study. All participants were asked to consume a total of two cups of green tea (4 gm) per day. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of saliva was measured at baseline and after 21 days. Statistical evaluation was done by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 software.

The Pearson correlation coefficient between CPITN and salivary TAC showed significant correlation in light and heavy smokers (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003 respectively). Changes in salivary TAC from baseline to day 21, after green tea consumption, in subjects with CPITN ≤ 18 were 139 (± 61.5), and 66.16 (± 67.37) in subjects with CPITN > 18. There was a significant interaction effect between time of TAC evaluation and patients' periodontal state (p = 0.009).

This study confirmed the association between periodontal status and smoking, and the association with salivary antioxidant capacity. A significant alteration in TAC of whole saliva in cases with clinical periodontal problems after green tea consumption was indicated.

Considering the safety and availability of green tea, it can be used as a preventive or supplementary treatment in periodontal problems, especially in smokers, after further investigation.

Bakhtiari S, Azimi S, Mansouri Z, Kruger E, Tennant M, Namdari M. Periodontal Status and Relation with Salivary Total Antioxidant Capacity after Green Tea Consumption in Smokers. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):61-64.

The main objective of root canal treatment is to disinfect the entire root canal system, and irrigation is an important step in reducing the bacterial load from the root canal system. However, irrigants currently used in the field of endodontics have their share of limitations, and the search for an ideal root canal irrigant continues. The use of herbal extracts as endodontic irrigants is today gaining popularity.

To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial potential of herbal extracts, such as neem (Azadirachta indica), triphala (Terminalia chebula), green tea (Camellia sinensis), and combination of neem and triphala as endodontic irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis.

Freshly prepared extracts of neem, triphala, green tea, and 2% chlorhexidine were used to assess the antimicrobial efficiency against E. faecalis using the agar well diffusion test. Agar plates were incubated at 370°C for 24 hours in an incubator. The diameter of bacterial inhibition zones around each well was recorded to the nearest size in mm.

Higher mean zone of inhibition was recorded in chlorhexidine followed by neem extract and combination of neem and triphala than triphala and green tea extract respectively. The lowest mean zone of inhibition was found in green tea extract.

From the present study, it can be concluded that neem leaf extract shows comparable zones of inhibition with that of chlorhexidine and combination of neem and triphala.

Singhal AC, Jain AS, Tiwari J, Surana P, Saini N. Antibacterial Efficacy of Neem, Triphala, Green Tea, and Combination of Neem with Triphala Extract against Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro Study. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):65-67.

To determine the effect of substrate on the depth-of-cure determination when using hardness profiles in a covered-slot technique and to introduce a new covered-slot method that uses tooth substrates.

Three bulk-fill composites and one conventional composite were tested: Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, Venus Bulk Fill, Filtek Bulk Fill Flowable, Filtek Supreme Ultra. The composites were light-cured in rectangular slots (2 mm deep, 2 mm wide) made in a plaster mold or an extracted tooth. The slots were covered with an orange glass plate during curing, leaving one end exposed for light-curing. After curing, the glass plate was removed and the sample was stored in the dark for 24 hours before Vickers hardness was measured as a function of depth at 0.5-mm intervals. Results were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparisons (significance level 0.05).

The hardness of composites cured in covered-slot molds decreased with increasing depth (p < 0.001). Bulk-filled composites cured in plaster molds had a slightly lower depth-of-cure than those cured in natural tooth substrates. Differences between the tooth and plaster substrates were significant at all depths in the “packable” bulk-fill composite (Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill), and were significant at ≥2.5 and ≥3.5 mm in the flowable bulk-fill composites (Filtek Bulk Fill Flowable and Venus Bulk Fill) respectively.

Using natural tooth substrates in the covered-slot method increased the depth-of-cure of bulk-filled composites in comparison to opaque plaster molds.

Church BW, Tantbirojn D, Do T, Wells MH, Versluis A. Depth-of-cure of Bulk-fill Composites Cured in Tooth or Opaque Substrate. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):68-73.

The aim was to evaluate the bone height and bone density of the peri-implant area with resorbable and non-resorbable barriers as guided tissue regeneration with immediate implants after functional loading under mandibular overdenture.

Eight male patients (the age ranged between 45 and 60 years old), who had the upper jaw as fully edentulous and the lower jaw with only two remaining canines and indicated for extractions, were selected. Each patient received two immediate implants after extraction of remaining canines and were divided into two groups: Group I: The left side received non-resorbable barrier and group II: The right side received resorbable barrier. Radiographic evaluation was done for marginal bone height loss and bone density immediately after overdenture insertion and 6 months later.

Mean marginal bone loss with non-resorbable barriers was 0.7 ± 0.16 mm and with resorbable barrier was 0.6 ± 0.1 mm, with nonsignificant difference between the two groups. There was significant increase in bone density with resorbable barrier after 6 months of functional loading, with significant difference between the two groups.

There was no difference in marginal bone height changes between resorbable and non-resorbable barriers with immediate implant under overdenture. However, after 6 months of functional loading, bone density increased with the use of resorbable barrier over non-resorbable barriers. Using of resorbable barrier with immediate implantation did not require second stage surgery for removing the barrier as with the non-resorbable one.

Elkholy S, Elcharkawi H. Resorbable vs Non-resorbable Barriers with Immediate Implantation after Functional Loading under Overdenture. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):74-79.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of blood contamination and decontamination procedures on the microtensile bond strength of a new self-etch adhesive before and after curing.

A total of 90 human extracted mandibular molars were stored in 0.5% thymol solution and distilled water. Midcoronal sections were obtained using a diamond disk and the dentin surface was ground with 320 grit SIC abrasive paper. Universal self-etch adhesive (3M ESPC) and Filtex Z-250 resin composite were used. The dentin specimens were randomly divided into nine groups: Control group, group I—blood contamination before curing, group II—blood contamination before curing followed by air drying, group III—blood contamination before curing followed by rinsing with water and air drying, group IV—blood contamination before curing followed by rinsing with water, air dry, and reapplication of bonding agent, group V—blood contamination after curing, group VI—blood contamination after curing followed by air dry, group VII—blood contamination after curing followed by rinsing with water and air drying, group VIII—blood contamination after curing followed by rinsing with water, air dry, and reapplication of bonding agent. The microtensile bond strength was measured by universal testing machine and the data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post hoc test.

The contamination groups (I, V) showed the least bond strength followed by the decontamination groups (II, III, VI, VII). The reapplication groups (IV, VIII) restored the bond strength equal to control group.

A contamination-free area is required for adequate adhesion. It is important to rule out measures to prevent and manage contamination, so as to achieve durable seal between composite resin and tooth surface.

Shaikh A, Hegde V, Shanmugasundaram S. Effect of Blood Contamination and Decontamination Procedures on the Microtensile Bond Strength of a New Self-etch Adhesive: An in vitro Study. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):80-83.

To determine the accuracy of an opto-electronic pantograph (Freecorder Bluefox, Dentron) in locating a known transverse horizontal axis (THA); To determine the accuracy of the opto-electronic pantograph and the mechano-electronic pantograph (Cadiax Compact 2, Whip Mix Corp) in recording preset condylar control values; and additionally, compare the accuracy of the opto-electronic and mechano-electronic pantographs with each other.

A fully adjustable articulator (Denar D5A, Whip Mix Corp) was employed as a mock patient. True condylar control settings and condylar control values determined by each recording device were documented and statistically analyzed using 2-sample independent t-tests (p < 0.05).

Statistical data analysis indicated that (1) the opto-electronic pantograph did not accurately locate the known THA; (2) the condylar control values registered by opto-electronic and the mechano-electronic pantographs were statistically different from the preset condylar control values; and (3) different degrees of accuracy existed between the opto-electronic pantograph and mechano-electronic pantograph.

Errors up to 5 mm in the location of the THA may not have much clinical significance. The majority of articulator condylar control settings predicted by the opto-electronic and mechano-electronic pantographs investigated in this study were statistically different. Clinically, the predicted mean values for the lateral condylar inclination (LCI) and progressive mandibular lateral translation (PMLT) were within 5° of the known mock patient settings. However, the medial wall angulation and immediate side shift values obtained from the opto-electronic instrument suffered from large errors.

Practical goals for complex restorative dentistry often include attaining accurate occlusal relationships, simulating the patient's mandibular movements in the laboratory using three-dimensional instrumentation and achieving desired occlusal contacts and relationships. Clinicians may rely on mandibular motion-recording devices to render accurate and useful information. Cost of purchase of electronic mandibular motion-recording devices (opto-electronic and mechano-electronic recorders), their accuracy, and time required for training should be compared with the use of conventional pantographs. The use of electronic pantograph may lead to savings in time and efforts over conventional pantograph and interocclusal records.

Balch H, Cagna DR, Ahuja S, Scarbecz M. Verification of the Accuracy of Electronic Mandibular Movement-recording Devices: An in vitro Investigation. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):84-94.

Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic disorders worldwide and presents public health and social challenges in areas of high incidence. Thalassemia major (TM) type is associated with most severe clinical changes.

To evaluate dental and oromaxillofacial features of TM.

The sample consisted of 54 children and adolescents with TM, 31 males and 23 females, aged 5.5 to 18.3 years (mean age 11.6 ± 3.2 years) and thalassemia-free controls. They were examined for dental caries, oral hygiene, periodontal status, orofacial features, tooth size and dental arch dimensions, dental development, and physical pattern. Clinical, radiographical, and odontometric assessments were carried out.

Thalassemia major patients were at high risk of dental caries. The average decayed, missing, filled tooth (DMFT) value was 6.26 for 15-year-olds compared with 4.84 in the control group (p < 0.001). Poor oral hygiene and gingivitis were observed in 61.1 and 92.2% of the thalassemic patients respectively. Clinical orofacial features of TM include frontal bossing, saddle nose, and maxillary protrusion, giving a “chipmunk”-like face. Lip incompetence, dental discoloration, and pallor oral mucosa have been noted. Radiographical examination showed the following: thickened frontal bone, thinned mandibular cortex, and maxillary sinus hypoplasia. Class II malocclusion, significant reduction in tooth size and dental arch dimensions, and delay in dental development were evident. Growth retardation was present in 75.9% of the patients.

Thalassemia major produces a variety of orofacial and systemic complications that increase with age. Early diagnosis and management allow more favorable prognosis and minimize complication.

Dental practitioners, especially working in multiracial communities, require understanding of the complications and management of the disease.

Hattab FN. Thalassemia Major and related Dentomaxillofacial Complications: Clinical and Radiographic Overview with Reference to Dental Care. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):95-104.

Kumar KVA, Legha VS, Saini DK. Wadhwa VN, Sarkar A, Chahar PK. Twin Occlusion in Maxillary Overdenture with Access Posts and O-ring Attachments in the Rehabilitation of Hemimandibulectomy Patient. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):105-107.

Wadhwa VN, Kumar KVA, Legha VS, Saini DK, Chahar PK, Sarkar A. Esthetic Rehabilitation of an Orbital Defect Secondary to Surgical Management of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2017;6(2):108-110.