Volume 18 – Issue 1 (January – March 2009)

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare the sealing ability of three obturation techniques, cold lateral condensation, carrier based thermafill, and resilon with epiphany sealer using lateral condensation technique.

Methodology:

Forty five single rooted extracted human teeth were selected and randomly divided into three groups, containing 15 in each group, setting aside six teeth as positive and negative control groups. They were obturated with gutta percha and adseal sealer using cold lateral condensation and carrier based thermafill with adseal sealer and with resilon and epiphany sealer using lateral condensation technique. The apical leakage was measured using dye penetration methodology.

Results:

The teeth filled with gutta percha and adseal using cold lateral compaction technique showed the least apical leakage, while the most apical leakage was shown with resilon.

Conclusion:

Based on the data of this study, all groups produced a satisfactory seal. However, resilon and epiphany sealer showed the most apical leakage.

Keywords:

Apical leakage, dye penetration, resilon, root canal filling, root canal obturation technique, thermafill.

Objective:

To compare the level of patients satisfaction with replacement complete dentures fabricated by copy denture technique versus conventional technique.

Methodology:

This was a Quasi experimental comparative study (Phase 2 trial). Conducted from May 2005 to May 2006 at the Department of Prosthodontics, AFID, Rawalpindi. First 60 patients seeking replacement complete dentures were registered and divided into two groups. Group-A patients were given dentures fabricated by copy denture technique and Group-B patients were given dentures fabricated by conventional denture fabrication technique. The patients satisfaction level was assessed after 6 weeks of denture insertion with the help of a questionnaire. Questions about appearance, looseness of dentures, ability to chew food, ability to taste foods, speech and comfort of the patient were asked from each of the patients. Each of the questions had three answers (a) Good (b) Fair and (c) Poor. Good was given a scoring rate of 3, fair a scoring rate of 2 and poor a scoring rate of 1. The maximum scoring rate was 18 and minimum was 6. The patients who had a rate of 15 to 18 were categorized as highly satisfied, from 11-14 were categorized as fairly satisfied and from 06 to 10 were categorized as poorly satisfied.

Results:

In group A, 10 patients (33 %) were highly satisfied, 11 patients (36 %) were fairly satisfied and 7 patients (23 %) were poorly satisfied. Chi-square test was applied for the comparison of satisfaction level of the two groups. Differences in satisfaction scores between the subjects belonging to the two groups were statistically significant. The p value was 0.002.

Conclusion:

Copy denture technique is a valid, biologically acceptable and cost effective treatment modality.

Keywords:

Copy dentures, duplicate dentures, patients satisfaction with dentures, replacement complete dentures, .

Objective:

The aim of the study is to record the frequency and pattern of missing maxillary teeth in a sample population of Karachi, Pakistan.

Methodology:

A total of 4000 patients were screened at Dr Ishrat- ul-Ibad Institute of Oral Health Diseases, Karachi. Out of the total, 3621 patients were selected for the study. Student’s t test was used to analyze the data using SPSS 10.

Results:

Total missing maxillary teeth were 2197 (60.6 %) out of the total molars were 1119(30.9%), premolars were 537 (14.8%), canine 156 (4.3%) and incisors 385 (10.6%). No significant difference was seen between male ad female.

Conclusion:

The present cross sectional study formulates a base line data to depict the pattern of tooth loss and its frequency in our Pakistani population.

Keywords:

Cross sectional study, maxillary, missing teeth

Objective:

Avulsion of permanent tooth is the most serious of all dental injuries. The prognosis depends on the measures taken at the place of accident or the time immediately after the avulsion. An appropriate emergency management and treatment plan is important for a good prognosis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate and investigate the knowledge of dental professionals about the emergency management of tooth avulsion in Karachi.

Methodology:

Two Hundred questionnaires were distributed amongst General dental practitioner, Postgraduate trainees and House officers, the questions were related to knowledge of how to treat and manage the traumatic avulsion of teeth.

Results:

Out of 200 dentists targeted 50% were involved in Continuing Education Programme 25% updated their knowledge through journals and books. While rest had only information they got during their education at dental schools.

Conclusion:

The data suggested that the level of knowledge on the management of dental avulsion among dental professional in city of Karachi is adequate.

Keywords:

Dental trauma, knowledge, survey, tooth avulsion

Objective:

Periodontitis is usually a painless, slowly progressing infectious disease in tooth supporting tissues. The main etiological agents in periodontitis are dental plaque bacteria, especially gram negative micro organisms. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether the salivary TNF-alpha concentration affect the periodontitis.

Methodology:

Salivary tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were estimated in 25 patients with periodontitis and ten healthy normal. Concentrations of TNF-alpha were determined using the human TNF-alpha ELISA kit (SIGMA ImmunoChemicals St Louis, MO, USA).

Results:

Significantly higher levels of Salivary tumor necrosis factor alpha were observed in periodontitis patients as compared to controls (p<0.001). Saliva provides an ideal medium for the detection of pro-inflammatory markers of the oral cavity.

Conclusion:

Salivary TNF-alpha analysis may be a useful diagnostic tool and a potential prognostic marker in periodontal disease.

Keywords:

Periodontal disease, salivary levels, tumour necrosis factor-alpha

Adult patients have many preexisting conditions that are not seen in the adolescent population including tooth loss, severe skeletal dysplasias, periodontal disease and various forms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Frequently, the preexisting conditions that are present in the adult patient interfere with the achievement of orthodontisc’s general idealized goals. Problem-oriented synthesis of the dental needs of each case helps determine specific treatment objectives that one must establish before determining the treatment plan. A 51 years old patient approached the dental clinic to improve her smile esthetics. She was a skeletal class III high angled case with an increased lower facial height and a dentally class I with supraerupted upper right central incisor, mild spacing between right upper central and lateral incisors and moderate lower anterior crowding. Bolton discrepancy showed 4 mm of overall tooth material excess in the lower arch. Gingival overgrowth associated with nifedipine intake was also recorded. As a more realistic treatment plan with an interdisciplinary approach was considered to be appropriate in terms of treatment efficacy and duration, a team comprising of a periodontist, an orthodontist and a restorative dentist was formed to manage the case. The importance of multidisciplinary approach in managing the case was explained. After gingivectomy, the patient was kept in a maintenance program, including oral hygiene instructions and professional tooth cleaning during the complete orthodontic treatment. Follow-up of the case for a year did not reveal any recurrence of the drug induced gingival enlargement. This case not only emphasizes the role of meticulous oral hygiene maintenance in preventing the recurrence of gingival enragement but also the ease with which adult cases could be managed efficiently with minimal endeavors by a team approach.

Keywords

Drug induced gingival enlargement, multidisciplinary approach, nifedipine, orthodontic treatment.