Surface tension comparison of four common root canal irrigants and two new irrigants containing antibiotic

The aim of this study is to compare the surface tension of four common endodontic irrigants: Moltendo EDTA 17%, Cetrexidin, Smear Clear, Sodium hypochlorite 5.25%, with the surface tension of MTAD and Tetraclean. Freshly produced MilliQ water was used as a reference. All measurements were performed following the Wilhelmy plate technique, using a Cahn DCA-322 Dynamic Contact Angle Analyzer at the temperature of 22 degrees C. MilliQ water, sodium hypochlorite 5.25%, and EDTA 17% had the highest surface tension, whereas those of Cetrexedin and Tetraclean has shown the lowest surface tension value. Both new irrigants, MTAD and Tetraclean, are capable of removing the smear layer. Thanks to their low surface tension, increasing the intimate contact of irrigant solutions with the dentinal walls, they may permit deeper penetration.     

Effectiveness of metronidazole gel on cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth in heart transplant patients

To evaluate the efficacy of metronidazole on cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth (GO), a prospective intra-subject double-blind longitudinal study was performed on six heart transplant patients with GO. All patients underwent scaling and root planing before any treatment. Metronidazole gel (Elyzol, Cabon) was then applied in two of the four anterior hemi-sextants of each subject, following a balanced random pre-programmed list, with a placebo gel being applied to the remaining two hemi-sextants. Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BP) and probing depth (PD) were recorded for all teeth of the four anterior hemi-sextants before and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months after gel application. A general linear model was fitted and ANOVA for repeated measurements with split-plot design and Chi-square analysis were used for statistical analysis. PD significantly decreased after 1 month following both treatments. Analogous results were obtained as regards PI and BP. No statistically significant difference was detected between results obtained with metronidazole and placebo. However, PD in the group of teeth treated with placebo significantly increased after 4 months, while PD values obtained from teeth treated with metronidazole remained statistically unchanged with respect to the 1st month. In conclusion, short-term results suggest that metronidazole and placebo are equally effective in reducing periodontal parameters and GO when associated with scaling and root planing. Long-term results, however, showed greater efficacy of metronidazole with respect to placebo in controlling cyclosporine-induced GO.     

Maxillary and mandibular overlay removable partial dentures for the treatment of posterior open-occlusal relationship: a clinical report

This clinical report describes the use of maxillary and mandibular overlay removable partial dentures to treat a patient with class III skeletal malocclusion and a posterior open-occlusal relationship. Overlay removable partial denture therapy was used as an alternative to other options such as orthodontics and combined orthodontic/oral surgery procedures; it satisfied the esthetic and functional requirements of the patient and provided a stable occlusion. Overlay removable partial dentures are a reversible and relatively inexpensive treatment for patients with congenital or acquired anomalies, but the potential disadvantages of these prostheses include compromised esthetics when the dentures are removed; caries and periodontal disease as a result of poor oral hygiene; and veneer material fracture, debonding, discoloration, and wear.     

Prevalence and distribution by gender of occlusal characteristics in a sample of Italian secondary school students: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and distribution, by gender, of occlusal traits in a sample of Italian students aged 11-14 years (mean 13 +/- 1 years). Using standardized and validated recording criteria, a single operator measured the overjet, overbite, open bite, anterior and posterior crossbites, crowding, coincidence of the upper and lower midlines, and diastema, in 810 secondary school students (53.6 per cent males). Chi-square, t-test statistics, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95 per cent confidence intervals (CI) were used to investigate the relationship between gender and malocclusion characteristic. Logistic regression was used to further analyse the independent association between gender and each outcome measure. Ninety-three per cent of the subjects showed at least one occlusal trait, with one or two anomalies recorded in 63 per cent of children. The prevalence of occlusal traits ranged from 1.1 (negative overjet) to 54 per cent (upper and lower midlines not coincident). Males were more likely than females to show both an increased overbite and an increased overjet, although the latter result was not confirmed by logistic regression (P = 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed a negative association between overbite and misalignment of the lower incisors and lack of coincidence of the upper and lower midlines, whereas subjects with an increased overbite were more likely to have an increased overjet (all P < 0.01). Further studies are required in order to further clarify these findings and to provide accurate estimates of the orthodontic treatment need in Italian adolescents.     

An in vitro model to investigate filling of lateral canals

Aims of this work were to examine lateral canals in extracted teeth, to propose a new technique to produce artificial lateral canals, and to compare two obturation techniques. Cleared roots were examined to record measure and shape of lateral canals. Artificial lateral canals were prepared on human demineralized teeth before final clearing. Specimens were divided in two groups: canals of group 1 were filled with Schilder's technique, canals of group 2 were filled with vertical compaction with apical backfilling. Stereomicroscopic analysis of lateral canal filling revealed lower filling rates in apical canals compared to coronal ones and higher filling rates with "vertical compaction with apical backfilling" compared to Schilder's group. The tested procedure appears to be a reliable technique to obtain standardized lateral canals and to compare filling procedures.     

Friction of conventional and self-ligating brackets using a 10 bracket model

The friction generated by various bracket-archwire combinations previously has been studied using in vitro testing models that included only one or three brackets. This study was performed using a specially designed apparatus that included 10 aligned brackets to compare the frictional resistance generated by conventional stainless steel brackets, self-ligating Damon SL II brackets and Time Plus brackets coupled with stainless steel, nickel-titanium and beta-titanium archwires. All brackets had a 0.022-inch slot, and five different sizes of orthodontic wire alloys used. Each bracket-archwire combination was tested 10 times, and each test was performed with a new bracket-wire sample. Time Plus self-ligating brackets generated significantly lower friction than both the Damon SL II self-ligating brackets and Victory brackets. However, the analysis of the various bracket-archwire combinations showed that Damon SL II brackets generated significantly lower friction than the other brackets when tested with round wires and significantly higher friction than Time Plus when tested with rectangular archwires. Beta-titanium archwires generated higher frictional resistances than the other archwires. All brackets showed higher frictional forces as the wire size increased. These findings suggest that the use of an in vitro testing model that includes 10 brackets can give additional interesting information about the frictional force of the various bracket-archwires combinations to the clinician and the research worker.     

Fracture and displacement of lingual cortical plate of mandibular symphysis following bone harvesting: case report

This article describes a unique complication after chin bone harvesting. The complication consisted of fracture and posterior displacement of the lingual cortical plate that did not occur at the time of the operation but during the healing phase. The bone was harvested for a bilateral sinus lift procedure. Diagnosis was made by chance with the aid of a postoperative CT scan that was taken to study the sinus area. The mandibular scans revealed a bony fragment 2 to 4 mm in width and 3 cm in length fractured and displaced 1 cm posteriorly. This bony fragment was pedicled to the geniohyoid and genioglossus muscles. The patient was asymptomatic, and no treatment was carried out. The patient is still symptom-free 16 months after the initial diagnosis of the fracture.     

The ramp mattress suture: a new suturing technique combined with a surgical procedure to obtain papillae between implants in the buccal area

This article has been written to show the opportunity and eventually the predictability to obtain new papillae between implants and a better esthetic result by the use of a new suturing technique. After raising a full-thickness flap from the palatal to the vestibular side, it can be stabilized in such a position using a new suturing technique (ramp mattress suture) to apply pressure and tearing forces on the flap in an apicocoronal direction at the vestibular site and an opposite traction in a coronoapical direction at the palatal site. The ramp mattress suture seems to be capable of pulling the flap in an apicocoronal direction in the vestibular site, as well as in a coronoapical direction in the palatal site. Thanks to such a mattress suture, it will be possible to obtain a more coronal gingival margin. After an adequate healing period of approximately 5 weeks, a vestibular scalloped gingivectomy is performed around the vestibular surface of the abutment to create either a scalloped gingival margin or interproximal papillae only in the vestibular area, forming a gingival ramp in a palatovestibular direction to reasonably reduce the residual increased vestibular depth and optimize the esthetic result. Eight patients, for a total of 56 papillae, were treated with this new suturing technique. The esthetic results satisfied both clinician and patient expectations.