What Happens if you swallow a Partial Denture (Gum Stripper)
Watch this real life video



How to Create Natural looking Smile ?

When it comes to restoring the mouth with porcelain in order to improve the aesthetics, the PLVs are one of the most conservative and aesthetic techniques that we can apply. The longevity of the veneers are quite long and durable especially if the right indications are chosen and the correct techniques are applied. Download to see Full technique

Dentists in India at Risk of Death from Hepatitis

MUMBAI: The 43 deaths in Modasa town of Gujarat's Sabarkantha district over the last fortnight due to hepatitis B underlines how widespread this viral infection really is. "It is one of the biggest public health challenges,'' said gastroenterologist Dr D N Amarapurkar of Bombay Hospital. Statistics bear this out: around 45 million Indians carry the deadly virus that can lead to liver failure and even cancer. "Around 30% of this patient pool would be seriously affected while the rest would carry on as though they are not affected,'' he added. "Mumbai is not a high-incidence zone, yet two out of 100 Mumbaikars carries the virus,'' said Dr Samir Shah, gastroenterologist from Jaslok Hospital. HIGHLY INFECTIOUS Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver, causing jaundice. It is transmitted through blood, body fluids and use of infected syringes among drug-abusers. "The virus can be transmitted even from a razor in a barber shop that has a drop of blood from an infected person. Infected children hurt while playing in the grounds can spread the virus,'' said Dr Amarapurkar. In Modasa, the Union health ministry believes that reusing of syringes and needles led to the outbreak.
There is ever-present danger of Hepatitis B transmission in dentistry if, i) dental personnel are not vaccinated and ii) vaccinated but with inadequate sero- conversion, Read How dentist can be saved from Hepatitis

Credit card as flossing tool ?
Dentists and periodontists everywhere have been horrified to learn poker decks do double duty as floss, a seamstress turns to her sewing thread, or needle, to remove the midday snack, and office workers turn pencils, paper clips or car keys into it'll-do-for-now floss. It's just not good dental practice.

"Improper tools can actually contribute to, or accelerate recession or abrasion [of the gums]. People actually chew off their fingernails and use them as floss," says dentist Gregg Liberatore. "Abrasion can also cause damage to the enamel or damage to the root surface." Full Release

Anger can kill you !
Anger and other strong emotions can trigger potentially deadly heart rhythms in certain vulnerable people, U.S. researchers. "It's definitely been shown in all different ways that when you put a whole population under a stressor that sudden death will increase," said Dr. Rachel Lampert of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, whose study appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"Our study starts to look at how does this really affect the electrical system of the heart," Lampert said. Full News

Time to bid Good bye to Dentures,
Scientists believe they have found a way to grow teeth in the laboratory, a discovery that could put an end to fillings and dentures.

The US team from Oregon have located the gene responsible for the growth of enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth which cannot grow back naturally.

Other scientists are already growing the inner parts of teeth in animals - but they have no hard enamel coatings.
Dr Kioussi said: "A lot of work would still be needed to bring this to human applications, but it should work. It could be really cool, a whole new approach to dental health."

Paul Sharpe, an expert on tooth development at the Dental Institute at King's College London, said: "If you could find some way of growing ameloblasts that make enamel, you could find a way to repair teeth. Full Report from BBC

Prenatal vitamin D linked to dental health of kids
By maintaining adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy, mothers may be protecting their babies against early tooth decay in childhood, according a study reported Friday at the International Association for Dental Research meeting in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Robert Schroth from the University of Manitoba reported that mothers of children who developed cavities at an early age had significantly lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy than those whose children were cavity-free. Full News

Scientists Discover Why Teeth Form In A Single Row And How Each Tooth Signals The Next To Start Growing
A system of opposing genetic forces determines why mammals develop a single row of teeth, while sharks sport several, according to a study published today in the journal Science. When completely understood, the genetic program described in the study may help guide efforts to re-grow missing teeth and prevent cleft palate, one of the most common birth defects.

Gene expression is the process by which information stored in genes is converted into proteins that make up the body's structures and carry its messages. As the baby's face takes shape in the womb, the development of teeth and palate are tightly controlled in space and time by gene expression. Related abnormalities result in the development of teeth outside of the normal row, missing teeth and cleft palate, and the new insights suggest ways to combat these malformations. Full News

Hospitals may be dangerous for you
This news from Newzealand, What is happening in India ?
Adverse events in the country's hospitals last year included patients falling from operating tables, a surgical drape left inside a patient after surgery and all of a patient's teeth being mistakenly removed. Full paper

Indoor Plants for Health, Retreat Endo easy, 3 million treat their own teeth

Indoor plants boost your Health, read on....
To see the latest net video of a kid dental patient HOTvideo CLICK HERE

Dental Receptionist Jailed for stealing credit card info

A DENTAL receptionist who defrauded patients of almost £20,000 was jailed for a year yesterday.
Adele Ballantyne copied details from patients' credit cards and files and passed them on to her stepfather, John Hill.

Hill was jailed for two years for his part in the scheme which involved him ordering goods using the details and selling them on, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard.

Their co-accused, Patrice Massey, was ordered to carry out 300 hours community service for receiving delivery of the goods – mainly industrial catering equipment – at her home in Clydebank. More HERE

Mischievous Dental College of Bihar pays compensation to students after 15 year legal Battle

New Delhi: Students aggrieved at misleading advertisements, given by unrecognised educational institutions that their courses are recognised, are entitled to refund of fees and compensation, the Supreme Court has held. Students misled by educational institutes on affiliation and recognition awarded to their courses can drag them to consumer courts, the Supreme Court has said. Bhupesh Khurana and 10 others joined this college in Bihar during 1992-93 paying a huge capitation fee. The court directed the college to pay a total compensation of Rs. 22 lakh, in addition to refund of fees and a Rs. 30,000-penalty imposed by the Commission. Dismissing with costs the appeal filed by the college against this order, the Bench pointed out that its wrong claim that it was affiliated to Magadh University and its BDS course was recognised by the Dental Council of India amounted to deficiency in service under the CP Act.

Implant compression necrosis: Current understanding and case report
JOP Jan 2009

Implants fail for a variety of reasons, although it is sometimes difficult to determine the exact cause of failure. This is especially confusing if multiple factors are contributing to the failure. Overcompression of the adjacent bone during implant placement is a potential contributing factor to implant failure that is not well-documented in the literature.
Methods: This case report reviews the concept of bone loss induced by overcompression and presents a case of implant failure with overcompression as a potential etiology. Histology, radiographs, and clinical data are presented that document the failure of 4 implants placed in the posterior mandible of a 48-year-old female patient.
Results: After uneventful implant placement, one implant exfoliated 3 weeks post-operatively. The other 3 implants were subsequently removed due to severe bone loss up to 2 months later. Histology of the area revealed nonviable bony sequestra with bacterial colonization.
Conclusions: This case highlights unusual implant failures that likely occurred due to overcompression of the bone during placement. Situations involving dense bone appear to be at increased risk for compression necrosis.

Tooth decay now the 'THIRD most common reason children are admitted to hospital'

More than 36,000 children are admitted to hospital with tooth decay each year and the number is rising, new figures have revealed.

It is now the third most common reason children are admitted to hospital after a rise of 13 per cent over five years, the data obtained by the Conservatives shows.

But Labour's Health Minister Ben Bradshaw accused the Tories of distorting the statistics.

He said the increase was a result of the introduction of a ban on dentists carrying out general anaesthetics, which came into force in 2001. More HERE

Pigmentation susceptibility of teeth after bleaching with 2 systems: An in vitro study
Quintessence International January 2009

Objective: To determine the susceptibility of teeth to darken after bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide and 16% carbamide peroxide.
Method and Materials: Thirty-eight premolars were covered with varnish and the mesiobuccal facets polished up to 0.04 µm, leaving a flat surface. Thirty-six of these premolars were then randomly assigned to 3 groups and the shade of the polished surfaces recorded using a Vita shade guide set in a value disposition. According to the manufacturers’ instructions, 12 samples were bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide (in-office group) and 12 samples with 16% carbamide peroxide (at-home group). The 12 samples in the control group were not bleached. Two days later, the shades of the bleached teeth were recorded; all samples were immersed in silver nitrate 50% for 4 hours, rinsed, and fixed (using a dithioxamide solution) for 24 hours. Polished surfaces were cleaned and the samples’ shade recorded and analyzed using ANOVA. The remaining 2 premolars were bleached the same as those in the test group and analyzed using atomic force microscopy.
Results: The mean shade values were 6.2, 3.7, and 10.9 for in-office samples; 8.8, 1.7, and 6.1 for at-home samples; and 7.8 and 9.4 for the control group. After pigmentation, the at-home group had a lighter shade than the in-office group (P ≤ .001). Atomic force microscopy showed no significant surface differences.
Conclusion: While all the samples were susceptible to pigmentation, this tendency was greater following application of 35% hydrogen peroxide.

Protaper Efficiency in Retreatment- Gutta percha removal
IEJ Feb 2009

Aim :To compare the efficacy of conventional and new retreatment instruments when removing gutta-percha root fillings in curved root canals.

Methodology :A total of 56 curved molar roots were instrumented with ProFile instruments and filled using system B and Obtura II. The root fillings were removed with manual K-files and Hedström files (Dentsply Maillefer), ProFile (Dentsply Maillefer), R-Endo (Micro–Mega) or ProTaper Universal retreatment files (Dentsply Maillefer). Eucalyptol was used as a solvent with all techniques. Bucco-lingual and proximal radiographs of the roots were exposed and the percentage area of the remaining material was calculated by dividing the area of remaining filling material by the area of canal wall. Data were statistically analysed with Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests (P = 0.05).

Results :None of the techniques completely removed the root filling materials. No significant differences were found amongst the coronal, middle and apical thirds in both radiographic projections (P > 0.05). In the bucco-lingual direction, the remaining filling material was significantly less following manual instrumentation than R-Endo and ProTaper instrumentation
Conclusions :In this laboratory study in curved molar roots, ProTaper Retreatment and R-Endo instruments were less effective in removing filling material from canal walls than manual and ProFile instruments.

3 million get their teeth into DIY dentistry (Do It Yourself)
Around 3 million people have resorted to DIY dentistry, with a further 3 million knowing someone else that has, according to new research* by Which?

[UKPRwire, Tue Feb 17 2009] People would rather check their bank balance, go to the gym or face a packed Ikea on a Saturday afternoon instead of going to the dentist so it’s easy to see why so many people are having a crack at it themselves.

Of those trying DIY dentistry, 26 per cent have tried to pull a tooth using pliers and 12 per cent have tried doing this using a piece of string tied to a door handle. Three in ten DIY dentists (30 per cent) have tried to whiten their teeth with household cleaning products.

Other DIY procedures people admitted to include using household glue to stick down a filling or crown (11 per cent), popping an ulcer with a pin (19 per cent) trying to mend or alter dentures (8 per cent) and trying to stick down a loose filling with chewing gum (6 per cent).

The research comes as Which? launches a campaign** (http://www.which.co.uk/dentistry )to find out what the real problems are with dentistry today. The consumer champion is calling on people to share their stories – good or bad – about their dental treatment. More HERE

Attention Medical Professionals :Periodontal disease – another cardiovascular risk factor to consider?Mark DavisBr J Cardiol 2009;16:11–12.

General practitioners (GPs) have become used to asking their patients fairly detailed questions about the traditional risk factors, such as smoking habits, and measuring blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose to allow cardiovascular risk to be calculated. However, few would dream of including an oral examination within an assessment of global cardiovascular risk. Oral health has been viewed as the domain of dentists and has not troubled physicians when considering the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. Physicians should encourage patients with poor oral health to visit their dentist. Full Paper

Indoor plants boost your Health

ScienceDaily (Feb. 20, 2009) — The toxic gas formaldehyde is contained in building materials including carpeting, curtains, plywood, and adhesives. As it is emitted from these sources, it deteriorates the air quality, which can lead to "multiple chemical sensitivity" and "sick building syndrome", medical conditions with symptoms such as allergies, asthma, and headaches. The prevalence of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) is greater in new construction. Full Story

"Rotten mouth can ruin your body"

Relationship between Postendodontic Pain, Tooth Diagnostic Factors, and Apical Patency
JOE Feb 2009

This study compares the incidence, degree, and length of postoperative pain in 300 endodontically treated teeth, with and without apical patency, in relation to some diagnostic factors (vitality, presence of preoperative pain, group, and mandible of treated tooth). Of the questionnaires received back, apical patency was maintained during shaping procedures with a #10 K-file in one group (n = 115) and not in the other (n = 121). There was significantly less postendodontic pain when apical patency was maintained in nonvital teeth.

If pain appeared, its duration was longer when apical patency was maintained in teeth with previous pain or located in the mandible. Maintenance of apical patency does not increase the incidence, degree, or duration of postoperative pain when considering all variables together.

Tooth loss and osteoporosis: Fewer teeth means more of Osteoporosis
Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Feb 2009

Aim: To determine the cross-sectional association of the osteoporotic status of patients with the number of their teeth, with and without taking into account age and/or smoking.
Material & Methods: At four centres, the study recruited 665 females aged 45–70 years and the number of teeth was counted for 651 subjects. Bone density was measured at the total hip, femoral neck and lumbar spine.
Results: The mean number of teeth in the osteoporotic subjects was 3.3 fewer than normal subjects and 2.1 fewer if those with no teeth were excluded. The association between osteoporosis and having <6>0, three clusters were identified corresponding to different degrees of tooth loss. The overall effect of osteoporosis was as follows: −1.8 teeth before and after adjusting for smoking, −1.2 teeth after adjusting for age, and −1.1 teeth after adjusting for both age and smoking.

Conclusions: We have established a significant association between osteoporosis and tooth loss after adjusting the effect for age and smoking. More

Patients with Gum Disease have more chances to develop AIDS

A recent study conducted by researchers in Japan found that an acid produced in the mouth because of gum disease might promote the progression of HIV
According to study author Kuniyasu Ochiai of Nihon University, butyric acid -- produced by a group of bacteria that causes periodontal disease --hinders an enzyme called HDAC, which blocks HIV from proliferating.
Ochiai said, "Serious periodontal disease could lead to the development (of AIDS) among HIV-positive people ... although the probability largely depends on individual physical strength." He adds that there are "fears that even those [who] were unaware that they had contracted HIV could develop the epidemic once they have periodontal disease." Full report

Durability Of Dental Fillings Improves If The Enzyme Activity Of Teeth Is Inhibited

Composite dental fillings have one problematic feature, in that the bond between the filling and the dental tissue deteriorates over time in fact, sometimes by as much as 50 per cent in one year. As the bond deteriorates, it may allow bacteria to enter and this brings a high risk of further tooth decay.

By inhibiting the activity of these enzymes, the research team has succeeded in significantly slowing down the deterioration of the bond between dental tissue and a composite filling, and in some cases to prevent deterioration completely. Full Report from Finland

New Orthodontic Product Line Proven To Dramatically Improve Oral Hygiene: SeLECT Defense™

A breakthrough new orthodontic product line - SeLECT Defense™ - with implications for improved oral hygiene, has been released by ClassOne Orthodontics to the Texas market, to be followed by a worldwide launch in April.
"SeLECT Defense is the next big advance in orthodontic treatment," said Kenny Gallagher, President, ClassOne Orthodontics. "Research shows that parents and their children are concerned about oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment.

SeLECT Defense technology is used in orthodontic treatment to coat brackets, ligature ties, and closing chain to help reduce plaque build-up and improve oral hygiene.

The patented formula is also mixed in with adhesives, cements and sealants to prevent tooth decalcification or demineralization. SeLECT Defense products do not require the doctor to perform any special steps when applying to patients - they are used exactly as standard orthodontic products.

In laboratory tests, SeLECT Defense technology has proven to dramatically reduce microbial development, commonly known as plaque, and eliminate the appearance of white spots, which can form during orthodontic treatment.

Dentist fear kills 8 year old, kiss at your own peril, truth about Implants

Truth about Dental Implants Revealed
With inputs from prof. Björn U Zachrisson

"The better dentist you are, the fewer implants you insert"
by Dr. Jan Lindhe April 2007

From a long-term (esthetic) perspective, a tooth or root is almost
always better than an implant

Disadvantages of Implants (Advantages are well known)

Progressive infraocclusion even in adults, see fig below, look at the left max lateral incisor progressively appearing in infra occlusion.

This happens more often in following situations:

• Young adults
• Vertical growers
• (high angle cases)
• Gummy smiles
• Open bites
• Females

Blue-coloring of labial gingiva, very damaging in anterior zone, See fig



Visible abutment with time (metal, porcelain), see fig


Interdental recession particularly distal papilla, see how gingival margins differ, fig below


Don´t upright like natural incisors
Non-adjustable by orthodontic means
Not easy to make crown entirely natural
No long term observations (> 10-15 years))

Use pomegranate juice as mouthwash for healthy teeth/gums

Pomegranate components have properties that could promote oral health, including reducing the risk of gingivitis. The present study examined young adults (n = 32, split evenly among both genders), for the effects of 4 weeks of thrice daily mouth rinsing with the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract PomElla® dissolved in water. This treatment changed salivary measures relevant to oral health including gingivitis. The changes were: reduced total protein (which can correlate with plaque forming bacteria readings), reduced activities of aspartate aminotransferase (an indicator of cell injury), reduced alpha-glucosidase activity (a sucrose degrading enzyme), increased activities of the antioxidant enzyme ceruloplasmin (which could give better protection against oral oxidant stress) and increased radical scavenging capacity (though this increase was significant only by nonparametric statistical analysis). A placebo of cornstarch in water did not affect these measures. These data raise the possibility of using pomegranate extracts in oral health products such as toothpaste and mouthwashes.

In India ayurveda has used pomegranate and its peel for various ailments and disorders and west is discovering it now.


Fear of Dentist killed 8 year old British girl ?

When 8-year-old Sophie Waller cracked a baby tooth eating candy, it set off a chain of events that led to her death.

Eight-year-old Sophie Waller from St Dennis, Cornwall, had an operation to remove her milk teeth after she stopped eating or speaking because of pain in one of them.

All eight of the teeth were removed so she would not have to undergo repeat operations. However she continued to refuse to eat solid food once discharged from hospital.
Full story

No kissing please, we are Indians


Look before you kiss in India. A smooch can get you in serious trouble in the world's largest democracy.
Earlier this week, a court in Delhi - ah, of all places, in the "happening" capital! - threw out the case against a young, married couple who were picked up by police allegedly for kissing near a railway station. More here

Overdrinking of soda increases risk for early kidney disease

Soda (carbonated cold drinks/colas etc) damage teeth and also cause kidney to fail.. read on
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Women who drink two or more cans of soda pop per day are nearly twice as likely to show early signs of kidney disease, a recent study has found.

However, researchers did not find an elevated risk for men, or for people who drink diet soda, said lead researcher David Shoham of Loyola University Health System. The study was published in PLoSONE, a peer-reviewed journal of science and medical research published by the Public Library of Science. More here

Interalar Distance to Estimate the Combined Width of the Six Maxillary Anterior Teeth in Oral Rehabilitation Treatment: Journal of Esthetic and Rest Dent, Feb 2009

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether there is a consistent relationship between the interalar distance (IAD) and the combined mesiodistal width of the six maxillary anterior teeth.
Methods: Standardized digital photographs of 81 dentate Brazilian subjects were included in the sample. They were 37 men and 44 women (age 17 to 33). Through image processing software, the IAD and the distance between the tips of the maxillary canines were measured when viewed from the frontal aspect. Accurate casts were made to quantify the distance between the distal surfaces of the maxillary canines on a curve, by use of a flexible millimeter ruler. Nonparametric statistics were performed to analyze the results (p < style="font-weight: bold;">Results: The IAD when compared with the width of the six maxillary anterior teeth, on a straight line and on a curve, presented a ratio of 0.914 and of 1.305, respectively. The Wilcoxon test showed no significant difference between the calculated width values and the mesiodistal width measured on a curve and on a straight line (p = 0.986).
Conclusion: The IAD, when increased by 31% of its value, can suggest the circumferential distance of the six maxillary anterior teeth.

Map of India online for all your needs

Microsoft has just launched an excellent service, most of city maps and highway connections can be easily checked and your route can be well planned just visit online for this excellent service. CLICK HERE
Older service by mapmyindia is still great Click here

SMS Fraud ? Are you a victim ?

According to Airtel, "an instance has come to notice in one of the circles wherein some subscribers have received SMS of the type - !Urgent! Your number has been selected for a $5,000 prize guaranteed! To claim your prize call +423697497456/ +447024054367. The above SMS is sent through bulk SMS product and is a type of Premium Rate Service Fraud (PRS) operated by organized gangs. The intent of the SMS is to induce the subscribers to call international numbers as listed above which have very high terminating rates. When the subscriber calls the number he is usually connected to a recorded message and the customer is billed a high amount. Replying to such SMS's could also result in viruses being downloaded on the subscriber's phone." more Here

Biomers: New Generation Clear Orthodontics Wires -Just out in Market

This is a pic of ceramic brackets with Biomer wires

Clear Wire is a translucent orthodontic wire made by BioMers Products. Like any other arch wire it applies force to effect tooth movement. However, unlike traditional arch wires that are made of metal alloys, the Clear Wire is made of materials that are translucent in appearance. Therefore, it naturally blends with your tooth enamel resulting in a complete aesthetic appearance when worn with aesthetic brackets made of either plastic or ceramic materials. The Clear Wire is available from select distributors and under a variety of names including OPTIS™ (TP Orthodontics), Illusion™ (DynaFlex), Bai Mo (Anderson), Translucent Arch Wire (BioMers Products), etc. Click here for a complete listing of the distributors and names assigned to the wire. Although the trade names may differ, all are the same wire.

Orthodontic tooth movement enhancing bony apposition in alveolar bony defect: a case report
Case presentation:This case report describes a 20-year-old gentleman who suffered from a complication from a bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. A bone grafting was carried out to repair the bony defect from the surgery but it was unsuccessful. A non-invasive technique employing the use of very light orthodontic force with a laceback stainless steel ligature is described and a successful space closure with an improvement in the periodontal condition and bone apposition has been shown.
Conclusion:This technique can be considered if orthodontic tooth movement is needed across a deficient alveolar ridge. Full Paper
See the intra oral pics and radiograph, notice how the alveolar crest hight is enhanced.


















UK Man with no insurance pulls own teeth

BEVERLY, England, Feb 4, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A British man says he used pliers to pull 13 teeth from his own mouth because he couldn't find a dentist willing to take government-insured patients.
Iraq War veteran Ian Boynton told the British tabloid The Daily Mail Wednesday that he asked more than two dozen dentists in East Yorkshire to look after his teeth, which he says were causing him severe pain. But since he couldn't provide private insurance, he was turned down, he said. More here

Regenerative Endodontic Treatment for Necrotic Immature Permanent Teeth
JOE Feb 2009

This retrospective study included 23 necrotic immature permanent teeth treated for either short-term (treatment period <3>3 months) using conservative endodontic procedures with 2.5% NaOCl irrigations without instrumentation but with Ca(OH)2 paste medication. For seven teeth treated short-term, the gutta-percha points were filled onto an artificial barrier of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). For 16 teeth treated long-term, the gutta-percha points, amalgam, or MTA were filled onto the Ca(OH)2-induced hard tissue barrier in the root canal. We found that all apical lesions showed complete regression in 3 to 21 (mean, 8) months after initial treatment. All necrotic immature permanent teeth achieved a nearly normal root development 10 to 29 (mean, 16) months after initial treatment. We conclude that immature permanent teeth with pulp necrosis and apical pathosis can still achieve continued root development after proper short-term or long-term regenerative endodontic treatment procedures.

Teeth bleaching Light-Scam? Depression/Suicide among Dentists

UV Light-Enhanced Tooth Bleaching, A Scam ?
Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., Feb, 2009

The use of optical radiation in the so-called light-assisted tooth bleaching procedures has been suggested to enhance the oxidizing effect of the bleaching agent, hydrogen peroxide. Documentation is scarce on the potential adverse effects of bleaching products and on optical exposure risks to eyes and skin. The efficacy of seven bleaching products with or without simultaneous use of seven different bleaching lamps was investigated using extracted human teeth. The bleaching effect was determined immediately after treatment and one week later. Tooth surfaces were examined for adverse alterations after bleaching using a scanning electron microscope. Source characteristics of eight lamps intended for tooth bleaching were determined. International guidelines on optical radiation were used to assess eye and skin exposure hazards due to UV and visible light emission from the lamps.

Inspection of teeth one week after bleaching showed no difference in efficacy between teeth bleached with or without irradiation for any of the products. Scratches, probably from the cleaning procedure were frequently seen on bleached enamel irrespective of irradiation. Maximum permissible exposure time (tmax) and threshold limit values were exceeded for about half the bleaching lamps investigated. One lamp exceeded tmax even for reflected blue light within the treatment time. This lamp also exceeded tmax values for UV exposure. The lamps were classified as low risk and as borderline to moderate risk according to a relevant lamp standard. Read Full paper


Dentists Facing Depression And Suicide

An article published in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association claims that many dentists are at risk of suffering from a chronic mood disorder known as dysthymia. It's a condition the Université de Montréal Department of Dentistry is fighting - preventively.

Dysthymia is characterized by loss of appetite, low levels of energy, desperation, excessive anger, social withdrawal and working long hours to compensate for declining performance, troubles in concentration, guilt and suicidal thoughts.

A 2005 study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association claims that 10 percent of the 560 dentists surveyed suffer from this condition. However, only 15 percent of them are followed by a doctor and receive treatment. More Here

Odontogenic infections as the source of acute maxillary sinusitis
Laryngoscope, Feb, 2009

Objective: To identify radiographic features of odontogenic acute maxillary sinusitis and to determine the frequency of a causative dental infection in patients with radiographic evidence of maxillary sinus fluid.

Study Design: Retrospective review of 101 sinus computed tomography scans with unilateral or bilateral maxillary sinus fluid.

Methods: Each maxillary sinus was graded for extent of fluid, degree of mucosal thickening, and presence of dental pathology. Univariate chi-square analysis was used to identify potential radiologic and demographic features predictive of sinus fluid. Multivariate logistic regression was then used to determine which features were independently predictive.

Results:124 of the 202 maxillary sinuses (61%) had sinus fluid. Univariate analysis excluded age, gender, and prior surgery as predictive features. The multivariate analysis included the radiographic features of oroantral fistula, periapical abscess, periodontal disease, projecting tooth root, and dental caries. Of these, only oroantral fistula and the combination of periodontal disease with either a projecting tooth root or periapical abscess were identified as significant sources of maxillary sinusitis. In sinuses that were <1/3>2/3 opacified by fluid, 79% had an identifiable dental source. Mucosal thickening demonstrated a similar relationship with dental sources, so that sinuses having both >2/3 fluid opacification and moderate mucosal thickening were 86% likely to have an identifiable dental source.

Conclusions:Odontogenic infections are often the source of acute maxillary sinusitis, especially if the radiographic findings of sinusitis are severe.

Fracture of the maxillary tuberosity During Extraction
Dental Traumatology Jan 2009
Abstract – Fracture of the maxillary tuberosity sometimes can happen when pneumatization of the maxillary sinus extends between the roots of upper molars. Some factors may lead to this complication including prominent or curved roots, chronic periapical infection, hypercementosis, root ankylosis and
tooth fusion. This paper reports a case with fracture of the maxillary tuberosity following extraction of an upper first molar in general dental practice.
Prevention from any complication during extractions of maxillary molars with large antral enlargement is possible with careful preoperative examination and accurate surgical planning. The general dentist should be prepared to refer such cases to an oral surgeon when facing difficulties like the presented case.
Full Paper

Reattachment of Dehydrated dental fragment using two techniques-Dental Traumatology Jan 2009

Abstract – The reattachment of dental fragments is a conservative treatment and should be considered in the restoration of anterior tooth fractures. This study compared the fracture strength of dehydrated and rehydrated tooth fragments submitted to two different bonding techniques.
Materials and Methods: Sixty human central and lateral mandibular incisors were divided into six groups and sectioned 3 mm from the incisal edge, using a diamond disk. Two reattachment
techniques were applied: (a) bonding, using the Single Bond adhesive system and FiltekZ250 composite resin, followed by placement of a chamfer on the fracture line that was filled with composite resin (Groups 1, 3 and 5); and (b) use of the same bonding technique after dentin removal from the tooth fragment (Groups 2, 4 and 6). The following hydration treatments were applied to the fragments before bonding: (a) 48-h hydration (Groups 1 and 2); (b) 48-h dehydration (Groups 3 and 4); (c) 48-h dehydration followed by rehydration 30 min before
bonding (Groups 5 and 6). The reattached teeth were mounted in acrylic resin cylinders and stored in distilled water for 24 h. The specimens were fractured at a speed of 1 mm min)1
in a universal testing machine.
Results: The following mean fracture strengths (kgf) were recorded: (G1) 12.9 ± 0.6; (G2) 18.8 ± 4.8; (G3) 7.3 ± 1.5; (G4) 15.2 ± 2.4; (G5) 13.4 ± 2.2; and (G6) 17.1 ± 3.2. Analyses using two-way anova and the Tukey test (P < 0.01) revealed significant differences between the restorative techniques and the hydration treatments. Conclusions: The bonding technique that incorporated dentin removal from the fragment before bonding showed greater fracture strength across all groups. Fragment dehydration for 48 h caused a reduction in fracture
strength, which was recovered by a 30-min rehydration. Full paper



Periodontal Treatment Not Found To Reduce Preterm Birth Risk

The study, involving researchers from Duke University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is one of the largest randomized trials to date to look at the link between the two conditions.

Previous research had suggested that gum disease was associated with very preterm deliveries (defined as less than 32 weeks gestation). That led insurance policies and healthcare providers to recommend scaling and root planing, sometimes referred to as "deep cleaning," in pregnant women. It was thought that such care had the potential to reduce preterm delivery risk.

These new findings, based on a randomized trial of 1,800 pregnant women with periodontal disease, indicate that routine gum treatments do not reduce the risk of early delivery.

Despite the findings, Murtha said much remains unknown about the relationship between the two conditions. "Periodontal disease and poor pregnancy outcomes travel together, but we don't know why." More here

Government Dental College Celebrates Golden Jublee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A year-long programme has been planned to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram. The function will be inaugurated by Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi on February 8. Different programmes have been charted out for the year, including a mid-year meeting and a get-together of the students present and past; especially those working abroad. This has been planned on July 11 and 12. The valedictory function will be held on December 20. For personal info/enquiry you can call +919633301959 More Here