The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of 10% water extraction of Salvadora persica (Miswak) when used clinically as an endodontic irrigant. Twenty four uniradicular teeth with necrotic pulps were chosen. The patients were divided randomly into 2 groups: Experimental group, in which water extract of Salvadora persica (10%) was used as a root canal irrigant; and control group, in which distilled water was used as a root canal irrigant. Bacteriological samples were obtained from the canal at the step of working length determination (before the canal was subjected to instrumentation and irrigation procedures), and at the end of the biomechanical instrumentation procedures by using a sterile K-file. The file was separated from the handle using a sterile wire cutter, and the severed portion was placed in a sterile screw-capped vial containing 5 ml of thioglycollate broth as a transport media. A 0.1 ml of thioglycollate broth was inoculated on each of two brain-heart infusion agar plates: One plate was incubated under aerobic conditions, and the other was incubated under anaerobic conditions using anaerobic jar and gas pack anaerobic system. Both plates were incubated at 37 ºC for 24 hours; then, the number of bacterial colonies was counted. The results revealed that 10% water extraction of Salvadora persica is an effective antimicrobial agent when utilized clinically as an irrigant in the endodontic treatment of teeth with necrotic pulps.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of type of the tooth and the placement site of electrode on electrical pulp testing of the anterior teeth. Twenty persons were participated in this study. The six maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were checked to evaluate the response threshold to electrical pulp testing; each tooth was examined at four placement sites on its labial surface, which are the incisal edge, incisal third, middle third and the cervical third. The results showed that the response threshold of the mandibular anterior teeth was lower than that of the maxillary anteriors. The canines may respond to the electrical stimulus in a highest threshold than the lateral incisors and the central incisors which had the lowest response threshold. Also, this study showed that the best placement site of electrode was in the incisal edge of the tooth and the pulp tester reading was increased as the electrode moved toward the cervical region of the tooth.

Aims: The study was conducted to evaluate the pH and antimicrobial properties of newly prepared calcium based cement, polycarboxylate cement and biodentine material. Methods: The new cement was prepared from egg shell, for pH measurements, 9 standard discs (6 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) were prepared for each material, The antibacterial effects of set specimens against Streptococcus mutans, oral Lactobacillus and Enterococcus faecalis were assessed by agar diffusion tests, 90 discs shaped specimens (30 of each type of materials; 6 mm in diameter x 2 mm in thickness) were prepared. Three discs, one for each material was placed on each agar plate, and the plates incubated for 24 hours. After incubation, the diameter of inhibition zone was measured at three different points and the mean value was used as the result of the specimen. Results: Statistically significant differences were identified between cements, calcium based cement and biodentine exhibited higher mean values of pH than polycarboxylate cement, ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test were done to evaluate the effect of materials against each type of bacteria, it showed that the inhibition zones produced by experimental cement were statistically significantly larger than those produced by the other materials. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this research, it was concluded that new calcium based cement has a better antimicrobial properties than biodentine and polycarboxylate cement.

Aims: To investigate the incidence of handpiece asepsis in general dental practice in Mosul City and to evaluate the problems associated with routine handpiece sterilization which are commonly needed by those practitioners. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed to collect the information about handpiece asepsis techniques performed by dentists. One hundred twenty dentists in Mosul City were randomly selected and the data were analyzed. Results: About 55.8% of the respondents know about the importance of handpiece sterilization, but no one do ideal sterilization between each patient due to absence of sufficient number of handpiece and lack of autoclave system in clinics. No one disinfect the handpiece scientifically; 59.38% smear the handpiece between each patient by one of the antiseptic solutions. Conclusion: Handpiece asepsis in Mosul dental clinics is poor. Most of dentists depend on disinfection by disinfectant solution to prevent cross infection by handpieces. Most dentists, because of their poor equipment in both private and national clinics, cannot sterilize handpieces after each patient.

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