Dental Products Research Articles

Evaluation of patient anxiety level and patient decision-making in selecting dental services

This study aimed to assess the patient decision-making process regarding dental visits and evaluate patient perceptions in selecting dental services/clinics. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 624 patients attending the Dental Outpatient Department from February 2023 to March 2023. A questionnaire consisting of 15 questions covering various aspects of patient perception was administered to willing participants. Questions were framed in both English and vernacular languages, focusing on patient perspectives, expectations, decision-making, anxiety reduction, and suggestions for future dental practices. The study revealed key insights into patient behavior: 87% sought opinions from others regarding dental treatment, 50% visited the dentist only when a problem arose, and 51.5% relied on friends and peers for treatment information. Factors influencing clinic choice included proximity (41%), procedure quality (43.5%), and popularity (38%). Brand image (35.5%) and pricing (29%) were significant in purchasing dental products. Patient anxiety was reduced when procedures were explained thoroughly (57.5%) and restorations lasted long (34%). Recommendations for dental clinics were based on treatment quality (62%) and dentist honesty (45%).Understanding patient decision-making processes are vital for dental practitioners. Clear communication, quality care, and honesty are crucial in building patient trust and satisfaction. Dentists should address patient concerns honestly and provide assurances regarding treatment outcomes to meet patient expectations effectively.

Applications of nanoscale silica (silicon dioxide) in the cosmetics industry

Applications of nanoscale silica (silicon dioxide) in the cosmetics industry

Herbal Alternatives for Oral Health: Mechanistic Exploration with their Market Potential

The utilization of customary methods for oral cleanliness maintenance has a long-written history. Herbs are making a comeback all over the world. Herbal extracts have been used in dentistry to alleviate pain as antimicrobial plaque specialists, to delay receptor arrival, and as germicides, cancer prevention agents, antimicrobials, antifungals, antibacterial, antiviral, and analgesics. Current article gives an outline of different natural products used in oral care with their impacts on oral health, restorative actions, applications, and marketed products. This article also highlights mechanistic need of oral cleanliness and the different dental diseases associated with it. The regular phytochemicals could offer a successful anti-microbial and address ways to deal with avoidance and restorative systems for different dental infections. There are different herbal formulations available on the market for oral care such as paste, mouthwash, gargles, gels, etc. creating need for awareness of consumers towards the herbal products. In these review, we have also discussed the commercial aspect of the herbal dental products along with assessment of side effects and toxicity of these herbs.

Dynamics of Dental Enamel Surface Remineralization under the Action of Toothpastes with Substituted Hydroxyapatite and Birch Extract.

To address tooth enamel demineralization resulting from factors such as acid erosion, abrasion, and chronic illness treatments, it is important to develop effective daily dental care products promoting enamel preservation and surface remineralization. This study focused on formulating four toothpastes, each containing calcined synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) in distinct compositions, each at 4%, along with 1.3% birch extract. Substitution elements were introduced within the HAP structure to enhance enamel remineralization. The efficacy of each toothpaste formulation was evaluated for repairing enamel and for establishing the dynamic of the remineralization. This was performed by using an in vitro assessment of artificially demineralized enamel slices. The structural HAP features explored by XRD and enamel surface quality by AFM revealed notable restorative properties of these toothpastes. Topographic images and the self-assembly of HAP nanoparticles into thin films on enamel surfaces showcased the formulations' effectiveness. Surface roughness was evaluated through statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA followed by post-test Bonferroni's multiple comparison test with a p value < 0.05 significance setting. Remarkably, enamel nanostructure normalization was observed within a short 10-day period of toothpaste treatment. Optimal remineralization for all toothpastes was reached after about 30 days of treatment. These toothpastes containing birch extract also have a dual function of mineralizing enamel while simultaneously promoting enamel health and restoration.

Remineralizing effect of the association of nano-hydroxyapatite and fluoride in the treatment of initial lesions of the enamel: A systematic review

ObjectiveAssessed the effect of dental products containing nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HA) + fluoride on the remineralization of white spot lesions (WSL) in vivo or in situ. MethodsSeven databases were explored using a two-pronged approach (intervention/treatment). After screening, full-text assessment, and further exclusion, the qualitative synthesis of five studies (four clinical and one in situ) was performed. Based on the Cochrane collaboration guidelines relevant data of the studies were collected and summarized. The Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0) was used to appraise the studies’ methodological quality and the GRADE guidelines to assess their level of evidence. The RoB 2.0 domains were rated on their risk of bias (RoB) as low, high, or with some concerns, and an adaptation of the tool was used to the in situ study. ResultsThe included studies assessed 151 WSL in anterior permanent teeth, on patients with varying ages. The protocol application, treatment length (7d-12 w), and control groups varied greatly between the studies making the performance of a quantitative analysis unfeasible. The general RoB of the clinical studies was classified as being of low risk (n = 2) or some concerns (n = 2). The in situ study was considered as being of low risk. The level of the evidence was moderate. Most of the studies found moderate evidence regarding the superiority of this association in clinical settings. ConclusionEven with the nano-HA + fluoride promising results for the remineralization treatment of WSL, due to the restricted number of studies and types of products, its extended use cannot be recommended based on the current systematic review, especially when considering the moderate level of the evidence found. Clinical significanceDue to the biocompatibility and higher surface coverage of nano-HA and the remineralization capacity of fluoride formulations, the association of these elements to remineralize WSL has been positively reported. After the collection and qualitative appraise of the data, the clinical evidence of the use of these dental products is promising but limited.

Influence of glass composition on the network structure and mineralization of europium containing mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles

A mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticle (MBN) containing functional elements effectively enhances its healing effect in medical applications. The MBN mainly comprises SiO2 structure and controls the composition by incorporating functional ions into the glass network, which affects the network structure and bioactivity. Europium has already been identified to have luminescence properties for drug delivery systems and positively affects osteogenic properties. Therefore, in this study, we recognize the changes in the glass network according to different compositions with the same amount of europium oxide (10 mol%).The MBN compositions with SiO2–CaO–P2O5–Eu2O3 were synthesized by sol-gel method, and we control the contents of SiO2 and CaO, respectively. The obtained Eu-containing MBNs had spherical morphology with mesoporous structure. Changes in bioactivity and mineralization properties would be investigated to apply the dental products. After soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF), Eu-containing MBNs with substituted SiO2 form an amorphous calcium phosphate phase on their surface. The results indicate that incorporating Eu in the bioactive glass network is an effective strategy for mineralization and developing novel multifunctional MBNs for bone tissue and drug delivery carriers.

Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Various Composite Resin Materials: An In Vitro Study.

Aim This study aimed to determine and comparethe cytotoxicity of light-cured composite resin (Enlight light cure composite (Ormco, Glendora, California, USA)), light-cured acrylic resin (Orthocryl LC (Dentaurum, Ispringen, Germany)), and the self-cure acrylic (DPI RR cold cure acrylic (Dental Products of India, Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd., Mumbai, India)) material and to determine which component is best to be used for the purpose of nasal stent fabrication in the nasoalveolar molding (NAM) technique for cleft therapy. Methods Circular discs made from Enlight light cure composite, Orthocryl LC, and self-cure acrylic were submerged for 24 hours in gingival fibroblast media (three discs of each material) and control medium (three discs of each material) that were both contained in plates. After analyzing the optical densities of the plates, the cytotoxicity of the products was assessed by measuring cell viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The compiled data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, V. 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The normality of the data was evaluated using the Shapiro-Wilk test.One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparison made with Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) post hoc test with a significance level (p) of 0.05 were considered. Results The percentage of cell viability was between 80% and 150%. A significantmean difference was noted in the cell viability between the three groups (p=0.009). High mean cell viability was seen in Orthocryl LC. However, there was no significant mean difference between Orthocryl LC and Enlight light cure composite material (p=0.854). Conclusion Both Orthocryl LC and Enlight light cure composite materials are less cytotoxic when compared to the self-cure acrylic resin material and can be used to fabricate the nasal stent component for infants with cleft defects, undergoing NAM procedure.

Self-reported preparedness of final year undergraduate dental students and interns in Saudi Arabia: a multi-institutional study

BackgroundContemporary undergraduate dental education aims to equip the dental students with clinical competence, empathy, and professionalism to enable them to deliver safe and effective dental care to the communities. The purpose of this study was to assess the self-reported preparedness of final year dental students and interns at three Saudi dental institutions, using the pre-validated Dental Undergraduates Preparedness Assessment Scale (DU-PAS).MethodsA cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the self-reported preparedness of the participants using the DU-PAS. Following ethics approval, a probability sampling technique was used to recruit undergraduate dental students and interns from three dental institutions in Saudi Arabia. The data was collected online on Google Forms and all participants provided their consent to participate in the study prior to providing their responses to DU-PAS.ResultsResponses were received from 397 participants including 171 males and 226 females yielding a response rate of 60.3%. The total mean score of the participants was 81.85 ± 13.11. Although higher scores were reported in males, the interaction between gender and DU-PAS scores were not significant. Interaction between DU-PAS scores and stage of education showed significant effect of the stage of education with interns reporting higher overall scores. The participants reported that they were able to perform most clinical procedures independently. However, low confidence was reported in performing multi-rooted endodontics, fabrication of removable dentures and orthodontic assessment. The participants also expressed their confidence in a wide range of behavioural attributes related to communication, teamworking and professionalism. However, lack of experience was noted in referral for oral cancer, interpreting research, and evaluation of new dental products using an evidence-based approach.ConclusionThe study provides useful insights into the self-reported preparedness of undergraduate dental students and interns in three dental institutions. While the overall preparedness of the participants was comparable to their international peers, the findings underscore the need for further enhancements to the teaching and training of undergraduate students particularly in multirooted endodontics, removable prosthodontics and orthodontics.

Aging processes in dental thermoplastics – Thermoanalytical investigations and effects on Vickers as well as Martens hardness

ObjectiveThe influence of various aging protocols, representing and accelerating influences present in the dental context, on possible changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties of thermoplastics was investigated. In order to minimize the complexity of the systems, first pure polymers and then later the equivalent dental polymeric materials were analyzed. Materials and methodsPure polymers (Poly(methyl methacrylate) – PMMA, Polyoxymethylene homopolymer – POM-H, Polyether ether ketone – PEEK, Nylon 12 – PA12, Polypropylene – PP) were analyzed before as well as after applying different aging protocols relevant to the oral environment (ethanol, thermocycling, alkaline and acidic setting) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The thermoanalytical parameters used were glass transition temperature (Tg), melting peak and crystallization peak temperature (Tpm, Tpc) and decomposition behavior.In a second step selected commercially available dental products (Telio CAD – PMMAD, Zirlux Acetal – POMD, Juvora Natural Dental Disc – PEEKD) aged by the protocol that previously showed strong effects were examined and additionally tested for changes in their Vickers and Martens hardness by Mann-Whitney-U test. ResultsThe combinations of pure polymers and viable aging protocols analyzed within this study were identified via TGA or DSC as PA12 & thermocycling, POM-H & denture cleanser/lactic acid/ethanol, PP & lactic acid. The dental polymeric materials PMMAD and POMD due to aging in lactic acid showed slight but significantly (p < 0.01) reduced Vickers and partly Martens hardness. PEEK showed the greatest material resistance within this study.

Finite Element Analysis and Fatigue Test of INTEGRA Dental Implant System.

The study involved numerical FEA (finite element analysis) of dental implants. Based on this, fatigue tests were conducted according to the PN-EN 14801 standard required for the certification of dental products. Thanks to the research methodology developed by the authors, it was possible to conduct a thorough analysis of the impact of external and internal factors such as material, geometry, loading, and assembly of the dental system on the achieved value of fatigue strength limit in the examined object. For this purpose, FEM studies were based on identifying potential sites of fatigue crack initiation in reference to the results of the test conducted on a real model. The actions described in the study helped in the final evaluation of the dental system design process named by the manufacturer as INTEGRA OPTIMA 3.35. The objective of the research was to identify potential sites for fatigue crack initiation in a selected dental system built on the INTEGRA OPTIMA 3.35 set. The material used in the research was titanium grade 4. A map of reduced von Mises stresses was used to search for potential fatigue crack areas. The research [loading] was conducted on two mutually perpendicular planes positioned in such a way that the edge intersecting the planes coincided with the axis of the system. The research indicated that the connecting screw showed the least sensitivity (stress change) to the change in the loading plane, while the value of preload has a significant impact on the achieved fatigue strength of the system. In contrast, the endosteal implant (root) and the prosthetic connector showed the greatest sensitivity to the change in the loading plane. The method of mounting [securing] the endosteal implant using a holder, despite meeting the standards, may contribute to generating excessive stress concentration in the threaded part. Observation of the prosthetic connector in the Optima 3.35 system, cyclically loaded with a force of F ≈ 300 N in the area of the upper hexagonal peg, revealed a fatigue fracture. The observed change in stress peak in the dental connector for two different force application surfaces shows that the positioning of the dental system (setting of the socket in relation to the force action plane) is significantly decisive in estimating the limited fatigue strength.

Comprehensive in vitro and in ovo assessment of cytotoxicity: Unraveling the impact of sodium fluoride, xylitol, and their synergistic associations in dental products.

Over the past several decades, dental health products containing fluoride have been widely employed to mitigate tooth decay and promote oral hygiene. However, concerns regarding the potential toxicological repercussions of fluoride exposure have incited continuous scientific inquiry. The current study investigated the cytotoxicity of sodium fluoride (NaF) and xylitol (Xyl), both individually and in combination, utilizing human keratinocyte (HaCaT) and osteosarcoma (SAOS-2) cell lines. In HaCaT cells, NaF decreased proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and induced apoptosis-related morphological changes at low concentrations, whereas Xyl exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects. The combination of NaF and Xyl reduced cell viability, particularly at higher concentrations, accompanied by apoptosis-like morphological alterations. Sub-cytotoxic NaF concentrations (0.2%) significantly affected caspase activity and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes. Conversely, Xyl demonstrated no discernible effect on these biological parameters. In SAOS-2 cells, NaF increased proliferation at high concentrations, contrasting with Xyl's concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects. The combination of NaF and Xyl had a minimal impact on cell viability. Sub-cytotoxic NaF concentrations did not influence caspase activity or gene expression, while Xyl induced dose-dependent morphological alterations, increased caspase activity, and upregulated pro-apoptotic gene expression. In ovo experiments on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) revealed that only NaF induced irritant effects, suggesting potential vascular adverse outcomes. This study advocates for the combined use of NaF and Xyl, highlighting their cytotoxicity benefits in healthy cells while maintaining safety considerations for tumor cells.

Progress in dental materials: application of natural ingredients

The existing additives for dental restorative materials used in therapeutic dentistry, dentures, orthodontic appliances and adhesives (for example, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles) and also additives to root canal irrigants used in endodontics and to mouthwashes can be toxic to humans, cause allergic reactions and accumulate in organs and tissues. Today, a relevant trend is development of dental materials that have an antimicrobial effect and are non-toxic to humans. A promising alternative to the above-mentioned additives are phyto-components, including plant and propolis extracts, since they are cheap and non-toxic. This review is devoted to natural antimicrobial additives to dental materials used in orthodontics, dentures, therapeutic dentistry and endodontics. The review makes recommendations regarding additional research required for practical implementation of the considered dental materials (filling materials, mouthwashes, orthodontic adhesives and orthopaedic dental products), examines the influence of antimicrobial additives on the physicochemical and physicomechanical properties of polymer dental materials, and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of natural additives compared to synthetic ones. The main challenges in this research area are the narrow range of microorganisms for which the antimicrobial effect was studied (which are mainly &lt;i&gt;S. mutans, E. faecalis, C. albicans&lt;/i&gt;) and the predominance of &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; studies over clinical studies. The review covers published data of the past five years.&lt;br&gt; The bibliography includes 123 references.

Acquired Pellicle and Biofilm Engineering by Rinsing with Hemoglobin Solution

Introduction: The identification of acid-resistant proteins, including hemoglobin (Hb), within the acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) led to the proposition of the “acquired pellicle engineering” concept, which involves the modification of the AEP by incorporating specific proteins, presenting a novel strategy to prevent dental demineralization. Objective: Combining in vivo and in vitro proof-of-concept protocols, we sought to reveal the impact of AEP engineering with Hb protein on the biofilm microbiome and enamel demineralization. Methods: In the in vivo studies, 10 volunteers, in 2 independent experiments, rinsed (10 mL,1 min) with deionized water-negative control or 1.0 mg/mL Hb. The AEP and biofilm formed along 2 or 3 h, respectively, were collected. AEP was analyzed by quantitative shotgun-label-free proteomics and biofilm by 16S-rRNA next-generation sequencing (NGS). In in vitro study, a microcosm biofilm protocol was employed. Seventy-two bovine enamel specimens were treated with (1) phosphate-buffered solution (PBS), (2) 0.12% chlorhexidine, (3) 500 ppm NaF, (4) 1.0 mg/mL Hb, (5) 2.0 mg/mL Hb, and (6) 4.0 mg/mL Hb. The biofilm was cultivated for 5 days. Resazurin, colony forming units (CFU), and transversal microradiography were performed. Results: Proteomics and NGS analysis revealed that Hb increased proteins with antioxidant, antimicrobial, acid-resistance, hydroxyapatite-affinity, calcium-binding properties and showed a reduction in oral pathogenic bacteria. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the lowest Hb concentration was the most effective in reducing bacterial activity, CFU, and enamel demineralization compared to PBS. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Hb could be incorporated into anticaries dental products to modify the oral microbiome and control caries, highlighting its potential for AEP and biofilm microbiome engineering.

Antimicrobial Activity on Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis of Cyperus articulatus Ethanolic Extracts.

Oral diseases are one of the biggest public health problems worldwide, caused by opportunistic pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis. Cyperus articulatus (priprioca) is a plant conventionally used in traditional medicine in the Amazon region. However, little is known about the possible dentistry-related uses of extracts from the rhizomes and solid waste generated by the extraction of essential oils from this vegetable. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of volatile compounds and antimicrobial activity through the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration test (MIC and assessment of the toxicity by Hens Egg Test-Chorion Allantoic Membrane (HET-CAM) of the ethanolic extracts from Cyperus articulatus intact rhizomes and solid waste. We identified sesquiterpenes as the main constituents, strong antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of intact rhizomes against S. mutans (MIC = 0.29 mg/mL), moderate antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis of the extract obtained from the solid waste (MIC = 1.17 mg/mL), and absence of toxicity for both tested extracts. The absence of irritation and the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract from C. articulatus rhizomes and solid waste reveal its potential for use in the alternative control of bacteria that cause oral infections and may present economic viability as a raw material for dental products.

Systematic Review of Zinc's Benefits and Biological Effects on Oral Health.

This review was based on the following question: "What is the state-of-the-art regarding the effect of zinc exposure in the oral cavity on a population of adults and children, compared to dental products containing materials other than zinc, considering in vivo (clinical trials and observational studies) and in vitro studies?" according to a PICOS strategy format. This study aims to analyze zinc application in dental materials, with different compositions and chemical formulations, considering how mechanical and biological properties may influence its clinical applicability. In vivo (clinical trials: controlled clinical trials (CCTs) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs); and observational studies: case control and cohort studies) trials or in vitro studies published in English or Italian during the last 10 years on children and adult patients with zinc exposure were included by three different reviewers using the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases. Titles and abstracts were evaluated following the eligibility criteria. The full texts of eligible studies were then reviewed against the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Scientific and technical information of the 33 included studies were collected into evidence tables, reporting data on in vivo and in vitro studies. A narrative approach was adopted. Antibacterial activity was found to be the most studied property of zinc, but further investigations are needed to establish adjuvant zinc therapies in patients with oral disease.

Multiple energy X-ray imaging of metal oxide particles inside gingival tissues.

Periodontal disease affects over 50% of the global population and is characterized by gingivitis as the initial sign. One dental health issue that may contribute to the development of periodontal disease is foreign body gingivitis (FBG), which can result from exposure to some kinds of foreign metal particles from dental products or food. We design a novel, portable, affordable, multispectral X-ray and fluorescence optical microscopic imaging system dedicated to detecting and differentiating metal oxide particles in dental pathological tissues. A novel denoising algorithm is applied. We verify the feasibility and optimize the performance of the imaging system with numerical simulations. The designed imaging system has a focused X-ray tube with tunable energy spectra and thin scintillator coupled with an optical microscope as detector. A simulated soft tissue phantom is embedded with 2-micron thick metal oxide discs as the imaged object. GATE software is used to optimize the systematic parameters such as energy bandwidth and X-ray photon number. We have also applied a novel denoising method, Noise2Sim with a two-layer UNet structure, to improve the simulated image quality. The use of an X-ray source operating with an energy bandwidth of 5 keV, X-ray photon number of 108, and an X-ray detector with a 0.5 micrometer pixel size in a 100 by 100-pixel array allowed for the detection of particles as small as 0.5 micrometer. With the Noise2Sim algorithm, the CNR has improved substantially. A typical example is that the Aluminum (Al) target's CNR is improved from 6.78 to 9.72 for the case of 108 X-ray photons with the Chromium (Cr) source of 5 keV bandwidth. Different metal oxide particles were differentiated using Contrast-to-Noise ratio (CNR) by utilizing four different X-ray spectra.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Pharmacovigilance and Materiovigilance among Oral Health Practitioners in India

ABSTRACT Aim: This electronic survey was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices among the oral health practitioners. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among undergraduates, graduated practitioners, and specialist practitioners. A Google Form that included a specified instruction format, informed consent with a clear description of the purpose of the study, and questions in different categories were sent through Whatsapp and email. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses. The association of knowledge and attitude with respect to oral health professionals was analyzed with the Chi-square test. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 570 participants. Thirty percent of participants encountered ADR related to the drugs available in the market and 33.2% of participants encountered adverse reaction related to materials used in practice. ADR should be reported as soon as it is detected, according to this study about 12.1% of participants reported the ADRs, and this reporting is primarily for patient safety. Almost 66.8% of participants perceived that dental products can cause ADR owing to a lack of information about ADR and reporting procedures, or due to fear of legal concerns. Only about 9.5% of the participants had previously attended an ADR workshop. Conclusion: Oral health practitioners have a general understanding of ADR; however, there is substantial evidence of underreporting and a lack of reporting system information. Organizing an orientation program and raising awareness about ADR reporting could help improve spontaneous reporting and better patient care.

Comparison of Some Properties between Commercially Available Gypsum Products

Gypsum models are often used in dental healthcare, and there is an increased need for manipulation of master casts in extensive reconstructions requi ring a material that is not easily abraded or damaged with dimensional accuracy, accurate reproduction of details, and the use of a voids free surface master model. This study was conducted to compare between commercially available type III and type IV dental stones in some of their properties. Four groups were compared: Zhermack and Geastone of Type III dental stone, and Zhermack and Bluejey of Type IV improved dental stone. Ten specimens were fabricated for each material from a rubber ring w ith dimensions of 20mm height and 30mm diameter. Dimensional stability, reproduction of details, surface porosity, and surface hardness were evaluated for the different gypsum products. Results of this study show that for the dimensional stability there was an increase in dimension more than that of the test block and was only highly significant for groups Z3 and Z4. The surface hardness for groups Z3 and Z4 was significant higher than groups G3 and B4 in all of time intervals except after 24h for groups Z4 and B4 this was insignificant. Surface porosity test and reproduction of details test, both revealed no significant difference between the test groups. As conclusion the Zhermack dental stone products, type III &amp; IV, showed higher surface hardness than Zeus dental stone products, type III &amp; IV (Geastone and Bluejey). On the other hand we found that Zeus dental stone products showed good dimensional stability than the Zhermack dental stone products. All stone products provided similar scores for details reproduction, and were similar in relation to surface porosity.

The Incidence of Pain after Root Canal Treatment Using Different Irrigation Methods

The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative level of pain after root canal therapy using different irrigation protocol. Materials and method: in a clinical trial, 90 asymptomatic single-rooted teeth were treated endodontically with different irrigation techniques. The teeth were randomly assigned into three groups. In group I(n = 30), procedures were performed using an endodontic irrigating syringe (Vista, Appli-vac). The group II (n = 30) used an irrigation device based on subsonic system Endoactivator (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialist). In group III (n = 30) used Safety Irrigator (Vista Dental Products, WI). Pain levels were assessed by an analog scale questionnaire after 4, 24, and 48 hours. Results: during the all time intervals after treatment, the pain experience with group III was significantly lower than the other methods. In conclusion, an irrigation/evacuation system Safety Irrigator resulted in significantly less postoperative pain than subsonic Endoactivator and conventional needle irrigation

Herbal Extract and White Spot Lesion: A Review

One of the most important complications of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances is the development of white spot lesions (WSL) which represent the first clinical observation of dental caries. Fluoride is an efficient prophylaxis for WSL; however, its excessive use may lead to fluorosis. In addition, other chemicals (e.g., chlorhexidine) that have bactericidal effects may negatively affect the oral microflora. In the last decade, interest has shifted to using natural products that have beneficial effects on health. Using dental products (toothpaste, mouthwash, or oral gel) containing herbal extracts, has been shown to inhibit pathogenesis of cariogenic bacteria and consequently reduces enamel demineralization. Future longitudinal and in vivo studies are needed to explore the advantages and disadvantages of dental products containing herbs.