Objective:The objective of this study is to test the antimicrobial effect of zinc oxide when incorporated into an orthodontic bonding material and to check the effect of addition of zinc oxide on the shear bond strength of the bonding material.Materials and Methods:Zinc oxide was added to a resin modified light cure glass ionomer cement (GIC) (Fuji Ortho LC GC America, Alsip, Ill) to make modified bonding agent containing 13% and 23.1% ZnO and the antimicrobial assay was done using agar disc diffusion method. Discs of the modified bonding agent were prepared and a culture of Streptococcus mutans mixed with soft agar was poured over it and incubated at 38°C for 48 h and zones of inhibition were measured. The test was repeated after a month to check the antimicrobial effect. In addition shear bond strength of the brackets bonded with the modified bonding agent was tested.Results:The agar disc showed zones of inhibition around the modified bonding agent and the antimicrobial activity was more when the concentration of ZnO was increased. The antimicrobial effect was present even after a month. The shear bond strength decreased as the concentration of ZnO increased.Conclusion:The incorporation of ZnO into a resin modified light cure GIC (Fuji Ortho LC GC America, Alsip, Ill) added antimicrobial property to the original compound.

'Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder'. Beauty has been admired since time immemorial not only by the medical personals but also by the general masses. Beauty undoubtedly has a strong influence on human life. Orthodontists have a special interest in facial beauty. One of the most socially significant of human behaviors is expression of emotions on the face with smile being the most important of those emotions. The display of excessive gingival tissue in the maxilla upon smiling has been called a 'gummy smile', a condition some consider esthetically displeasing. Some people with excessive gingival display are self-conscious or embarrassed about it, and some are psychologically affected. There are a number of different treatment methods described in the literature for the treatment of gummy smile. These includes both surgical and nonsurgical options, including Le Fort I osteotomy, crown lengthening procedure, maxillary incisor intrusion, self-curing silicone implant injected at the anterior nasal spine and finally myectomy and partial resection of the levator labii superioris or muscle repositioning. Some patients do not wish to go through the long presurgical orthodontic treatment in preparation for a Le Fort I osteotomy while others wish to avoid the possible complications surrounding surgery, such as postoperative pain, swelling and infection, permanent or temporary nerve damage and root damage during osteotomy. A nonsurgical alternative for reducing excessive gingival display caused by muscle hyperfunction would be advantageous. Botulinum toxin has been under clinical investigation since the late 1970s for the treatment of several conditions associated with excessive muscle contraction or pain. The aim of this article is to give an overview about the science of Botox and its various uses.

A good for dental photography protocol greatly enhances the dental practice. Aim: To assess photographic practices in various dental colleges within the India. Methods: The questionnaire was created online using "Kwiksurveys" and was emailed to 170 dental colleges registered with Dental Council of India..

Introduction: Malocclusion is one of the most important oral health problems among children and young adults, leads to social stigma and psychological disorders. Early detection of orthodontic disorders is essential in motivating patients to intervene prior to long-term complications when the disorders are not recognized. The aim of this study is to determine and evaluate the knowledge and attitude of general dentists and non-orthodontic specialists towards early orthodontic treatment. Materials and Method: A total of 240 dentists and other specialists than orthodontists participated in the study. A questionnaire consisting of 3 domains having 17 items was circulated using Google forms. The responses were collected further coded and analysed to assess the knowledge and attitude scores. Data was entered in SPSS (v.21.0) and statistical analysis was performed. (p<0.05) Result: A total of 122 general dentists and 122 non-orthodontic specialists responded to the questionnaire. The results showed that the non-orthodontic specialist had a higher mean knowledge score of 7.2 as compared to general dentists (6.1). Furthermore, both the study participants had a positive strong attitude towards improving their knowledge in early orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: The study highlights the need of better education for treatment concepts in orthodontics to the general dentist and non-orthodontic specialist.

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