Volume 23 – Issue 4 (October – December 2014)

The aims of Part-1 updated review are present the chemical composition, setting reaction, mechanism of action and physical properties of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA). MTA is a biocompatible and bioactive material which gained rapid acceptance in the field of dentistry. The powder of MTA contains fine hydrophilic particles (1.0-30 μm) of calcium silicate phases and bismuth oxide whereas; different liquids have been used to hydrate MTA powder. Several methods have been reported for compositional analysis including energy dispersive analysis with X-ray (EDAX), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), energy x-ray spectrometry and energy dispersive spectroscopy. When MTA powder is mixed with water, calcium hydroxide (CH) and calcim silicate hydrate (C-S-H) are initially formed and eventually transform into a poorly crystallized and porous solid gel. The mineral phases of MTAinclude dicalcium silicate (C2S), tricalcium silicate (C3S), tricalcium aluminate (C3A) and tetracalcium aluminoferrate (C4AF) which reacts with water to produce calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and calcium hydroxide. The physical properties of MTA are influenced by the storage media, powder/(C-S-H) ratio, method of mixing, condensation pressure, humidity, the type of MTA, environmental pH, the length of time between mixing and evaluation, thickness of the material and temperature during setting. Generally, MTA has a long setting time, high pH, low compressive strength and possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties.

KEYWORDS:

Mineral trioxide aggregate, composition, setting reaction, mechanism of action, physical properties.

ABSTRACT:

Effect of Cavity Design on Postoperative Sensitivity in Conventional and Bonded Amalgam Restorations.

INTRODUCTION:

Post-operative sensitivity is a major problem with amalgam restorations. Different approaches including bonding agents have been recommended to manage this problem. Bonding agents are claimed to improve retention, decrease microleakage and reduce post-operative sensitivity. We evaluated post-operative sensitivity in Class I & II preparations restored with conventional and bonded amalgam.

METHODOLOGY:

A clinical trial was conducted at the Aga Khan University, Pakistan. We included class I and II cavities requiring amalgam restorations. Group “A” teeth were restored with conventional amalgam while Group “B” with bonded amalgam. The outcome (post operative sensitivity) was measured on the next day by giving cold stimulus using compressed air and chill spray application for 10 seconds. The response was recorded on an ordinal scale. Chi square test was applied to see the difference in tooth sensitivity in the two groups.

RESULTS:

Bonded and conventional amalgam was restored in 67 teeth each. Out of 134 teeth studied, 93 were class I and 41 were class II. Class II restorations exhibited more post operative sensitivity than class I (p-value < 0.001). There was no difference in post-operative sensitivity in the conventional and the bonded amalgam restorations in both class I and II preparations.

CONCLUSION:

Class II preparations were significantly associated with post-operative sensitivity than Class I. This association was irrespective of the restoration being conventional or bonded type.

KEYWORDS:

Amalgam restorations, bonded amalgam, post operative sensitivity.

ABSTRACT:

Age is an important factor for consideration while providing options to the patient for orthodontic correction of their malocclusion. Various approaches can be used for its estimation. Studies have shown that the chronological age is unreliable to ascertain the developmental status of a person.

METHODOLOGY:

Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 53 individuals were used to determine the developmental stage and finding its co-relation to the chronological age of the patient. Spearman rank order correlation coefficient was used to determine the co-relation between the developmental age and the chronological age.

RESULTS:

The most frequent cervical vertebrae stages in males were stage 4 followed equally by stage 1 and stage 3. In females, the most frequent stages were stage 4 followed by stage 5. Spearman rank order correlation coefficient between chronological age and cervical vertebral maturation stages was 0.90 with statistically insignificant correlations (p>0.05) were found between male and female subjects; at 0.93 and 0.85, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

There was a statistically significant correlation between chronological age and cervical vertebral maturation stages and that the peak of growth lies in the age range between 10-12 years.

OBJECTIVE:

To gather baseline data about different prosthodontic treatments provided by the dental practitioners belonging to various specialties of dentistry, residing in Karachi, Pakistan.

METHODOLOGY:

A total of 150 self-designed-structured anonymous questionnaire in English language were included. The questionnaire comprised of three sections which included questions regarding the age, gender, years of experience and type of dental practice, the number of patients treated in a month by the GDP for different dental prosthesis and questions regarding the perceived change in the provision of dental prosthesis. Descriptive statistics and analysis of the collected data was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 (SPSS, Chicago, Illinios, USA).

RESULTS:

Alarge number of respondents (84.6%) reported that the number of complete denture prosthesis provided to the patients were either increasing or not changing. A total of 81.4% reported activity in RPDs to be either ”increasing” or ”not changing”.With regard to the prosthesis supported by implants, very low number of respondents reported this practice was declining.

KEYWORDS:

Dental practitioners, Prosthodontic referrals, Prosthodontic restorations, Implant supported prosthesis

BACKGROUND:

Dentistry may play its role in transmission of infection through dental impressions. Instructing dentists about infection control may decrease the odds of infection transmission.

OBJECTIVE:

This study investigated to determine the knowledge of dentists regarding the disinfection of impression materials.

METHODOLOGY:

A Cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 51 dentists from 09 dental colleges of Karachi. A self-administered questionnaire having 30 open and closed ended questions on knowledge related to disinfection of impression materials was used to collect data by convenient sampling technique. Variables included type of disinfectant they used, its concentration, duration of disinfection for particular impression materials, importance of disinfecting impressions prior to handling and they were observed about their actual practices. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16 version. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and presented in frequency tables.

RESULTS:

There were 17 (33.3%) male and 34 (66.7%) female dentists. Seniority wise, there were 27 (52.9%) house officers, 3 (5.9%) lecturers, 11 (21.6%) demonstrators, 6 (11.9%) senior registrars and 4 (7.8%) assistant professors. Almost 55% participants had an experience of less than a year, 20% of 1-3 years, 12% of more than 3 years and 14% of working 5 years in the prosthodontic department. Qualification wise, 88.2% were BDS. 5.9% MSC and only 2% were postgraduates. (MDS, MCPS or FCPS). Forty one (41%) of the participants washed impression trays before taking dental impressions. Moreover, only 1/3rd of the practitioners disinfected impression material and more than 1/3rd never practiced impression scrubbing after taking impression. It was also interesting to find out that majority of the study group stored dental impressions in tissue papers and only few in disinfectant soaked paper towels It was observed that almost half of the total participants did not know about the methods and type of disinfectants used to disinfect dental impressions. Out of 51 dentists, 19 (38 %) did not have knowledge on the method used for the disinfection of alginate impression material while 32 (62%) had knowledge. When inquired about the type of disinfectant used 22 (43.1%) did not know while 29 (56.9%) knew it.

CONCLUSIONS:

Dentists practicing in the Prosthodontic department had insufficient knowledge on disinfection of impression materials.

KEY WORDS:

Disinfection, Chemical Disinfectants, Impression Materials, Prosthodontics department, Cross Infection control.

India and Pakistan are two neighbouring countries of South-East Asia, not only sharing common border but also socio-demographics, eating habits, cultural and climatic conditions. All these factors have an impact on general and oral health of individuals. This study was conducted with an aim to compare the oral health awareness and dental caries status among school going children of India and Pakistan.

METHODOLOGY:

Across-sectional study was conducted among children aged 12-15 years attending government schools of Moradabad and Karachi cities of India and Pakistan respectively. A two-stage sampling technique was used to produce representative samples from each location based on probability proportional to enrolment size (PPE). Selected participants were interviewed using a close-ended, pre-tested questionnaire for assessing oral health awareness followed by dental examination at respective locations using DMFT Index.

RESULTS:

A total of 809 school children, 409 from India and 400 from Pakistan were examined. Mean DMFT of India was found to be 1.9 ± 1.46 and that of Pakistan was 1.00 ± 1.57.

CONCLUSIONS:

An increase in decayed component in comparison to the overall DMFT in both the countries indicate the need of care, less utilization of available care, unavailability of care and ignorance. There is a need to change the attitude and knowledge about dental health care in these developing countries to cope up with the lack of resources and still have a better dental health.

KEYWORDS:

Child Dental health, Dental Caries, Oral Health.

Feedback in medical and dental education system provides gateway to integrate the systemized approach towards incorporating the desired standards both by learner and tutor. It has standardization and particular components to set goals towards achieving professional practice based upon advance education. It is deemed to be necessary for enhancing the educational values and yet equally provide means for patient care in more efficient and targeted fashion.