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Nano hydroxyapatite (Nano-HA) and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) because of its better qualities can be used as an alternative to calcium hydroxide in direct pulp capping procedures. The aim of the study was to compare the response of exposed human pulp to Nano-HA, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and calcium hydroxide. Study design: The study was done on 30 premolars, ranging from patients between 11-15 years. Intentional pulp capping was done using one of the experimental materials. The extracted teeth were then subjected to staining procedure and evaluated for dentin bridge and pulpal response after 15 and 30 days. Intragroup comparisons of the observed values were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: Nano-HA and MTA produced continuous dentin bridges. Dentin bridge that was formed in MTA group had regular pattern of dentinal tubules but no tubules were seen in the nano-HA group. Dentin bridge was not observed in Dycal group for the 15 days period in majority of the sample and by 30 days dentin bridge was observed that were both continuous and interrupted in equal number of samples. The initial inflammatory response and necrosis was more with Nano-HA and calcium hydroxide which reduced with time. Conclusion: MTA showed no inflammatory changes in majority of the samples in both the study periods. Necrosis was least observed in MTA group followed by Nano-HA. Vascularity increased in Nano-HA group in the initial periods which reduced with increasing time. Based on the ability of nano-HA to produce complete dentinal bridges, favorable cellular and vascular response, the material could be considered as an substitute and could be tried used as a direct pulp capping agent.

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Objectives:To determine the prevalence, pattern, and awareness of self-medication practices among patients presenting at oral health outreach programs in coastal Karnataka, India.Materials and Methods:The cross-sectional study, based on an interview conducted in randomly selected 400 study subjects from the patients presenting at these oral health outreach programs. Data were collected regarding demographic information and the interview schedule consisting of 14 questions was administered.Results:Prevalence of self-medication was 30%. Respondents’ gender (χ2 = 5.095, P < 0.05), occupation (χ2 = 10.215, P < 0.05), the time from the last dental visit (χ2 = 8.108, P < 0.05), recommendation of drug(s) to family members or friends (χ2 = 75.565, P < 0.001), and the likelihood of self-medication in the next 6 months (χ2 = 80.999, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with self-medication. Male respondents were less likely to have undertaken self-medication (odds ratio = 0.581 [0.361, 0.933]). The frequently self-medicated drug was analgesics (42.5%) for toothache (69.2%). The regression model explained 39.4% (Nagelkerke R2) of the variance in self-medication practices.Conclusions:Prevalence of self-medication was 30% with demographic influence. Hence, this study highlights the policy implications for drug control by government agencies and stresses on the need for dental health education to discourage irrational drug use.

Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) is a new material with numerous exciting clinical applications. MTA promises to be one of the most versatile materials of this century in the field of dentistry. Some of the appreciable properties of MTA include its good physical properties and its ability to stimulate tissue regeneration as well as good pulp response. In this article the availability, composition, manipulation, setting reaction,properties and clinical applications of MTA in pediatric practice has been reviewed.