Volume 24 – Issue 4 (Oct – Dec 2015)

While it is heartening to see the improved aptitude for research in dentistry across the country in the recent past, there is always room for improvement.

The rate of dental implants osseo-intergration is strongly related the implant material composition and surface roughness. It is believed that implants with roughened surfaces offer better bone anchoring and bio- mechanical stability. This article presents an overview of the surface modifications that are carried out to improve and promote osseo-integration. There are various methods for enhancing the surface roughness and to improve the osteoconductive coatings. This paper discusses the processes of grit-blasting, plasma spraying, acid-etching, anodization and implant surface coatings with hydroxyapatite. The modifications described here are essentially methods employed to improve the osseo-integrative ability of titanium implants. Although the precise role surface topography plays in osseo-integration remains unclear, it is required in future that surfaces with controlled and standardized topography are developed and the process of osseo-integration of implants is enhanced to achieve long- term clinical success.

Keywords

1.Ossointegration; 2. Implant surfaces; 3. Implant surface modifications; 4. Hydroxyapatites.

Teledentistry, the remote dental care through tools of telecommunication technologies, is considered cost-efficient, easily accessible in distant geographical areas particularly in countries like Pakistan with sparsely spread rural population with a network of rural health services having dental facilities. Consultation of sacredly available dental specialty & specialized dental care is the value added advantage of Teledentistry.

Keywords

Teledentistry, telecommunication, oral health care

Teledentistry, the remote dental care through tools of telecommunication technologies, is considered cost-efficient, easily accessible in distant geographical areas particularly in countries like Pakistan with sparsely spread rural population with a network of rural health services having dental facilities. Consultation of sacredly available dental specialty & specialized dental care is the value added advantage of Teledentistry.

Keywords

Teledentistry, telecommunication, oral health care

Background

Successful root canal therapy requires extensive knowledge of root canal morphology and configuration of teeth.Various studies have reported that the frequency of missed second mesio buccal canal (MB2) canal in maxillary first molars is very high.

Methodology

The purpose of the current study wasto determine the occurrence of MB2 in maxillary first molar in a Saudi sub-population that was referred to the clinics for primary endodontic treatment. After creating a rhomboidal access under magnification (Dental Loupes, Orascoptic 2.5 x) the MB2 canals was identified and verified by a radiograph. The association between age, gender and frequency of MB2 canal was determined with chi-square test(p,0.05) using the SPSS software.

Results

Second mesiobuccal canal was found in 45% of the. Further, 36% females and 55% males had a second MB canal. About 64% and 36% of the second MB canals exited from one and two foramens respectively. There was no statistical difference observed in the incidence of types of MB canals with regards to age and gender.

Conclusions

The use of surgical telescopes, head lamps along with modified access preparations helped locating MB2 canals in half of our study population.

Keywords

Maxillary first molar tooth; root canal morphology; canal configuration; Mesiobuccal canal, Second mesio-buccal canal.

Objective

The purpose of this clinical study was to analyze the etiology, assess the factors associated with non carious cervical lesions and to determine the most commonly involved teeth and their inter/intra arch relations.

Methodology

100 patients with non carious cervical lesions (NCCL) were clinically examined and a questionnaire of associated factors to help determine the cause of the presence of the lesion was included in the assessment. The obtained data was statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency, Chi-square test and cross tabs to determine the relationship between the number of NCCL in groups and the associated factors.

Results

Sensitivity ( P= 0.471), aesthetic concern ( P= 0.077), diet concerns (P = 0.557), regurgitation ( P= 0.810), medical condition ( P= 0.344), nervous habits ( P= 0.799), drug use ( P= 0.880), Unilateral chewing habits ( P= 0.159) were not associated with the presence of NCCL. However, parafunctional habits ( P= 0.039 ), right working side ( P= 0.012 ) were associated with increase in the number of NCCL. First premolars were found to be the most affected teeth and cross tabs suggested that if there was a lesion in the maxillary first premolar, the mandibular first premolar was also involved of the same side.

Conclusions

Parafunctional habits do have association with NCCL. Premolars are the mostly affected teeth. If a premolar of maxillary arch is affected, it is most likely that the premolar of mandible on the same side will be affected.

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association among improper sleep, stress and parafunctional habits in undergraduates and postgraduate dental students at Dow University of Health Sciences.

Methodology

The study design was Cross-sectional. 579 students (Undergraduate and postgraduate) were included in the study by convenient sampling method. The response rate was 96.5%. Data was gathered through self-compiled questionnaire and it consisted of demographic variables, sleep related questions, stress consequences, occupational stresses and the stress reduction methods. SPSS version 16 was used for statistical analysis. Chi-square test was applied to evaluate association among improper sleep, stress and parafunctional habits and the locations of pain. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

It was found that most common stress-related consequence were grinding teeth at night (n=322, 55.6%), feeling numbness in the mouth in the morning (n=255, 44%) have pain in temporomandibular joint (n=224, 38.7%) and jaw joints affected (n=271, 46.8%). More than 80 % respondents (n=487) also reported to feel frustrated (84.1%) and restless during stress (n=507, 87.6%). The association among stress, improper sleep and teeth grinding found to be significant (p >0.05).

Conclusions

It was concluded that there was significant association among improper sleep, stress and parafunctional habits in dental students at Dow University of Health Sciences.

Keywords

Stress, Sleep, Bruxism, Dental Students.

Objective

To find out the association of halitosis in different age groups with oral conditions/oral hygiene maintenance, habits, medical/systematic problems and self-perception

Methodology

A cross section study was conducted at the Dow Dental College, OPD Karachi. Convenience type sampling was used to collect the data of 450 participants. Data collection was done by using self-administered questionnaires, visual examination and palm test. Data was statistically analyzed using SPSS 20.0 computer software. Chi square test was used to detect statistically significant association of halitosis in different age groups with oral hygiene maintenance/oral conditions, habits, systematic conditions and self-perception.

Results

Four hundred fifty participants, out which 51% participants were males and 49%, were females with mean age of 34.38+13.368. Statistically significant association was found of halitosis in different age groups with factors such as tongue coated with whitish or yellowish deposits, dry mouth, flossing, mouth breathers, raw onion/ garlic consumption gastrointestinal problems and palm test.

Conclusions

Mouth breathing, poor oral hygiene and gastro-intestinal problems were found to be significantly associated with halitosis.

Keywords

Self-reported halitosis, caries, oral hygiene practices, dental factors, malodour.

Background

One of the major causes of death throughout the world remains the cancer. Though research have shown the importance of diet and physical activity in preventing cancers and awareness programs have been introduced and reported but still studies available on awareness programs regarding anti-cancer impact of vegetables are limited. Aim of this study is thus to assess the base line knowledge of Dental Graduates about the anti-cancer vegetables with the aim that their knowledge will have an impact on the awareness of the community.

Methodology

he study was conducted through a 10 instrument questionnaire on a sample consisted of Sixty Four Dental Graduates (24 males and 40 females) from University College of Dentistry, The University of Lahore.

Results

Awareness regarding different vegetables that can have anticancer effect was assessed through the questionnaire. Baseline knowledge of Dental graduates about anticancer effect of vegetables was limited and only 7-11% of the Dental Graduates were actually aware of the antitumorigenic effect of different vegetables.

Conclusions

This study concludes that base line knowledge of dental graduates about anti-cancer effects of vegetables was poor.

Keywords

Anti-cancer vegetables, cancer, cancer awareness program.

Abstract

Management of mobile and flabby tissues over mandibular and maxillary edentulous ridges during complete denture construction is a challenging task in removable prosthodontics. If not managed effectively, the presence of flabby ridges may lead to poor denture retention, stability and support. Many techniques and materials have been used to effectively overcome the difficulty. The current case report sheds light upon a classical and effective technique termed as the “window technique” for the management of flabby ridges.

Keywords

1.Flabby ridges 2. Impression plaster 3. Conventional prosthodontics 4. Window technique