Aim: To investigate the pulp chamber penetration of bleaching agent in intact teeth and teeth following restorative procedure.Methodology: Sixty extracted human incisors were selected and divided into 6 Groups. Four Groups were restored with hybrid composite resin and resin modified glass ionomer cement respectively, while 2 Groups were left intact. The Groups were then immersed in the treatment agents for 60 mins at 37°C. The optical density of the resultant blue solution obtained by adding leucocrystal violet and horseradish peroxidise to the acetate buffer solution present in the pulp chamber was measured spectrophotometrically and the data thus obtained was statistically analysed using ANOVA and paired t-test. Results:The amount of pulpal peroxide penetration in restored teeth was significantly higher than intact teeth (p< 0.001). the control Group showed no peroxide penetration. Groups restored with resin modified glass ionomer cement showed higher pulpal peroxide levels than Groups restored with hybrid composites, though the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.52). Conclusion:Peroxide readily penetrates into the pulp through intact and restored teeth, with restored teeth showing higher pulpal peroxide levels than intact teeth. Teeth restored with resin modified glass ionomer cement showed higher pulpal peroxide level than teeth restored with composite resins.

Retention of restoration depends on the surface of the abutment as well as the luting agents used. Incorporation of retentive grooves or particle abrasion can enhance retention especially in situation of short clinical crown.

No abstract

Purpose and Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of hamular notch-incisive papilla (HIP) plane as an anatomical landmark in establishing occlusal plane in edentulous subjects. Materials and Methods: Seventy subjects were selected from the South Indian population, of which 50 were dentulous and 20 were edentulous. Dental stone casts were fabricated for dentulous and edentulous subjects. Dental stone casts of the dentulous and edentulous subjects, along with occlusal rims were analyzed using the three-dimensional analyzing machines. The angles between the occlusal planes and HIP plane were determined using the reference coordinate system based on characteristic points in the dentition on the cusp tips in dentulous casts and on maxillary occlusal rim on edentulous casts. Results: The HIP plane tends to be parallel to the occlusal plane. There is no statistical difference between sexes. Conclusion: The HIP plane is parallel to the natural occlusal plane and can be used as a reference plane to re-establish the occlusal plane in edentulous patients.

Purpose: This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was conducted to compare the anesthetic efficacy of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine and 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine in inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) combined with buccal infiltration in patients with irreversible pulpitis. Methods: Group I: Thirty patients received IANB of 2% lidocaine without buccal infiltration. Group II: Thirty patients received IANB of 2% lidocaine followed by buccal infiltration with 2% lidocaine. Group III: Thirty patients received IANB with 4% articaine followed by buccal infiltration with 4% articaine. Pain during the procedures was recorded by using a Heft Parker visual analog scale. No pain or mild pain on endodontic access was recorded as success and analyzed using Chi-square analysis. Results: Group I obtained 30% success rate. Fifty percent successful anesthesia was obtained for Group II. The success rate was increased to 70% for Group III with statistically significant difference among all the groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of 4% articaine as both IANB and buccal infiltration recorded the highest success rate (70%) when compared to either 2% lidocaine as IANB with buccal infiltration (50%) or 2% lidocaine as IANB alone (30%) in patients with irreversible pulpitis.