Veena Hegde

Partial edentulousness in a rural population based on Kennedy's classification: an epidemiological study.

Edentulousness falls in a special category among the various conditions of dental origin. Tooth loss is the dental equivalent of mortality. A simple estimation of the proportion of the partial edentulous persons is a rough indication of the prevalence of dental diseases and the success or failure of dental care. The epidemiological features of partial edentulousness of one community or one village can be evaluated on the basis of a cross-sectional house-to-house survey. In this study a cross-sectional house-to-house survey was carried out at Herga village of Udupi District, Karnataka, India. The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological features of partial edentulousness in the age group of 35-44 years in a rural population based on the Kennedy classification. Chi-square test was conducted and results were obtained and P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Comparative evaluation of antifungal activity of melaleuca oil and fluconazole when incorporated in tissue conditioner: an in vitro study.

PURPOSE This in vitro study sought to compare the antifungal activity of melaleuca alternifolia oil and fluconazole mixed with a tissue conditioner. MATERIALS AND METHODS By testing several concentrations of fluconazole and melaleuca oil in Visco-gel, the minimum most effective concentration of each antifungal agent against Candida albicans was determined. Mean inhibition diameter (MID) was used to measure the antifungal activity, and data were analyzed statistically for significance of findings. To determine the minimum most effective concentration of fluconazole, different concentrations of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10% w/w in Visco-gel were tested on Sabouraud dextrose agar pregrown with C. albicans. MIDs were measured at 24 hours and on day 7, while carrying out the monitoring every day. Similarly, the minimum most effective concentration of melaleuca oil in Visco-gel was found by testing it in several concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 27.5%, 30%, 35% w/w). Subsequently, the minimum most effective concentration of each antifungal agent was used to compare the antifungal activity against C. albicans over 7 days using the same procedure and using plain tissue conditioner as the control. RESULT The minimum most effective concentrations of melaleuca oil in Visco-gel and fluconazole in Visco-gel were 30% w/w and 5% w/w, respectively. Thirty percent w/w melaleuca oil was found to be the most effective (p < 0.001) and superior to 5% fluconazole in Visco-gel, as it retained substantial antifungal activity (MID), even on day 7 when fluconazole had lost its antifungal effect completely as evidenced by regrowth of C. albicans by day 7. CONCLUSION Thirty percent melaleuca oil in tissue-conditioner Visco-gel was superior to 5% fluconazole in Visco-gel as an antifungal agent. Though both showed comparable antifungal activity at 24 hours against C. albicans, fluconazole had completely lost it by day 7, whereas melaleuca oil had substantially retained its antifungal action.

Evaluation of Efficacy of Microwave Irradiation in Disinfecting Dental Gypsum Casts: An Ex Vivo Study

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of microwave irradiation in disinfecting gypsum casts and also to compare its efficacy with validated method of chemical disinfection. The present study is an ex vivo study conducted on a sample of five irreversible hydrocolloid impressions in vitro and on ten patients gypsum casts in vivo following standard impression techniques to check the efficacy of microwave oven irradiation and compare its efficacy with standard chemical method of disinfection. Results were analysed using Mann–Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Untreated gypsum casts showed cfu/ml counts with a median log value of 6, while microwave-irradiated ones had median cfu/ml counts of 0. Casts poured from chemically disinfected impressions demonstrated cfu/ml counts with a median log value of 5. Microwave irradiation was found to be effective in disinfecting gypsum casts when compared to chemical disinfectant in disinfecting dental impressions.

A review of the disorders of the temperomandibular joint

Temperomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases and disorders refer to a complex and poorly understood set of conditions, manifested by pain in the area of the jaw and associated muscles, and limitations in the ability to make the normal movements of speech, facial expression, eating, chewing, and swallowing. It has been estimated that 25% of the general population suffer from TMJ related symptoms and only 2% of them seek treatment. General joint and muscle diseases, psychological and psychosocial factors, and local influences such as occlusal disturbances, parafunctional activities, that is, bruxism, and traumas, can affect the condition of the TMJ. This article describes the functional anatomy, classification, aetiopathology, and management of this condition in detail.

Prosthetic Conformer as a Pressure Device in the Prophylactic Management of Postsurgical Auricular Keloid Formation: A Clinical Report

Keloids form as a result of aberrations of physiologic wound healing and may arise following any insult to the deep dermis. By causing pain, pruritus, and contractures, keloids significantly affect the patients quality of life, both physically and psychologically. Multiple studies have been conducted for decades and have led to a plethora of therapeutic strategies to prevent or attenuate keloid formation, of which no single treatment has proven to be widely effective. Also, there is a dearth of information in the prosthodontic literature regarding appropriate management of such cases, especially when located in cosmetic areas. This clinical report presents an interdisciplinary cooperative approach between maxillofacial prosthetics and dermatology in prophylactic management of postsurgical auricular keloid. A new and an innovatively designed custom prosthesis for the management of the same is presented.Keloids form as a result of aberrations of physiologic wound healing and may arise following any insult to the deep dermis. By causing pain, pruritus, and contractures, keloids significantly affect the patients quality of life, both physically and psychologically. Multiple studies have been conducted for decades and have led to a plethora of therapeutic strategies to prevent or attenuate keloid formation, of which no single treatment has proven to be widely effective. Also, there is a dearth of information in the prosthodontic literature regarding appropriate management of such cases, especially when located in cosmetic areas. This clinical report presents an interdisciplinary cooperative approach between maxillofacial prosthetics and dermatology in prophylactic management of postsurgical auricular keloid. A new and an innovatively designed custom prosthesis for the management of the same is presented.

Prosthodontics in velopharyngeal incompetence

The development of sophisticated surgical techniques and procedures in the past decade has greatly enhanced the rehabilitation of congenital cleft palate patients. However, some of these patients may present oral and / or systemic factors contraindicating surgical intervention. In addition, since total elimination of surgical failure has not yet become a reality, there exists a patient population for whom rehabilitation must be approached with the help of a prosthodontist. The function of a prosthodontist is to restore the basic vital functions of mastication, deglutition and speech production. To accomplish this, the prosthodontist is most concerned with the preservation of residual teeth, the health of the periodontium, the physiology of residual soft palate musculature and the activity of the anatomic structures identified with the palatopharyngeal sphincters. This article provides an overview of palatopharyngeal incompetence

The posterior palatal seal: Its rationale and importance: An overview

The location and preparation of the posterior palatal seal is frequently neglected procedure. This seal contributes significantly to the retention of a maxillary complete denture. Hundreds of dentures have failed due to the improper establishment of the distal limit and to an improper posterior palatal seal. Its location and preparation on the master cast are often done by the dentist or dental technician without reference to anatomical landmarks of the mouth. Various methods of achieving posterior palatal seal and reproducing it in the maxillary denture have been described in the literature. This article aims toward rationale and importance of posterior palatal seal, anatomical reference landmarks, functions, methods to record, and discusses various problems associated with recording posterior palatal seal.

Evaluation of marginal gap of Ni-Cr-based base metal alloys invested in phosphate-bonded investment with the use of conventional and accelerated casting techniques—an in vitro study

Abstract Objectives This study evaluated the marginal gap of Ni-Cr-based base metal alloys (Remanium CSe & Wiron 99) and the clinical acceptability of single castings invested in phosphate-bonded investment with the use of conventional and accelerated casting techniques. Materials and Method Forty individual stone casts were poured from impression made from master die. Conventional and accelerated method of investing and casting were followed. Twenty casts were used in each of the groups. Each casting and its respective dies were measured with a stereomicroscope equipped with reticule scale at 4× magnification. Results Measurements revealed that mean values for the marginal gap of cast metal crown casted with accelerated casting technique were 34.5 μ for remanium Cse and 43.5 μ for Wiron 99 and marginal gap of cast metal crowns casted with conventional casting technique mean values were 34 μ for Remanium CSe and 39 μ for Wiron 99 base metal alloys. All marginal gap measurements were within the range of clinical acceptability. For the marginal gap, cast metal crowns fabricated with the accelerated casting technique were not significantly (p>0.05) different from those fabricated with the conventional technique. Conclusion The accelerated casting technique described in this study could be a vital alternative to conventional casting technique.

Ocular impressions in children—review of literature and a case report

Abstract Loss of a body part particularly involving the face has profound psychologic, physical, and social effects on a patients life especially in children. Facial defects should be rehabilitated to provide a matrix for growth and development of the surrounding structures and enable the patient to have better psychologic and mental status, and hence improve the lifestyle of the patient. In this article, various techniques used for recording ocular impression have been classified and explained. A case report has been presented which utilizes one of the techniques described in the literature review to record soft tissue contours of the patient.

Overdenture with accesspost system: A clinical report

A patient presented with an unfavorable distribution of teeth in the arch which precluded treatment with a removable partial denture. The unique pattern of partial edentulism was treated with an overdenture restoration using accesspost system. The final restoration was stable, well retained and esthetic, serving as a conservative approach to root preservation.