Search

Introduction: Direct pulp capping (DPC) procedures require the placement of a bioactive material over an exposure site without selective pulp tissue removal. This web-based multicentered survey had 3 purposes: (1) to investigate the factors that affect clinicians’ decisions in DPC cases, (2) to determine which method of caries removal is preferred, and (3) to evaluate the preferred capping material for DPC. Methods: The questionnaire comprised 3 sections. The first part comprised questions regarding demographic features. The second part comprised questions on how treatment plans change according to factors such as nature, location, number and size of the pulp exposure, and patients’ age. The third part composed of questions on the common materials and techniques used in DPC. To estimate the effect size, the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a meta-analysis software. Results: A tendency toward more invasive treatment was observed for the clinical scenario with carious-exposed pulp (RR = 2.86, 95% CI: 2.46, 2.32; P < .001) as opposed to the clinical scenario with 2 pulp exposures (RR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.53; P < .001). Complete caries removal was significantly preferred to selective caries removal (RR = 4.59, 95% CI: 3.70, 5.69; P < .001). Among the capping materials, calcium silicate-based materials were preferred over calcium hydroxide-based materials (RR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.76; P < .05). Conclusions: While carious-exposed pulp is the most important factor in clinical decisions regarding DPC, the number of exposures has the least impact. Overall, complete caries removal was preferred over selective caries removal. In addition, the use of calcium silicate-based materials appears to have replaced calcium hydroxide-based materials.

Background: A post and core crown is a type of dental restoration required where there is an inadequate amount of sound tooth tissue remaining to retain a conventional crown. A post is cemented into a prepared root canal, which retains a core restoration, which retains the final crown. Aim of the study is to assess the number of prefabricated metal posts placed in mandibular molars with two or more walls present. A Retrospective study was conducted using the records of the patients. Overall, 283 case sheets were reviewed which were dated between june 2019 to march 2020. The data was collected by the patient records of Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals. Data was recorded in Microsoft excel and later exported to IBM SPSS (version 20.0 Chicago USA) and subjected to Statistical analysis Data consisted of all the patients who underwent restorative procedure and opted for post and core with a total of 285 patients were analysed. Association between the number of walls present and the gender of the patient revealed that male patients with two walls present had the highest number of prefabricated metal post (29.72%) and the least being in the patients having 4 walls with 1.75% among males(Pearson's chi square test value-125.7, p

Background: Dental amalgam is one of the most versatile restorative materials used in dentistry. It constitutes approximately 75% of all restorative materials used by dentists. It has served as a dental restoration for more than 165 years. There is still no adequate economic alternative for dental amalgam. The combination of reliable long-term performance in load bearing situations and low cost is unmatched by other dental restorative material. Aim: The present study aims to evaluate the association between age and gender of patients who underwent amalgam class II restoration in mandibular first molar. Materials and Method: The study sample consists of all patients between the age group 18-71 years who underwent amalgam class II restoration in mandibular first molar from june 2019 - april 2020 at the SDC. The data collected were analysed for the number, age, gender for amalgam class II restoration in mandibular first molar. For a comparison between different variables, statistical package IBM SPSS 20 software analyzer was used and the statistics were obtained. Result: In this study, we can contemplate that Males(50.6%) have undergone more amalgam class II restoration in mandibular first molar when compared to females. Whereas, people of age groups 18-30 years(37%) have undergone more amalgam class II restoration in mandibular first molar. When compared to 36, more number of amalgam class II restoration was done in 46 (50.6%). There is no significant association between age, gender in patients undergoing amalgam class II restoration in mandibular first molar. Risk analysis was done. It is observed that males have higher risk when compared to females with highest confidence interval 1.490 and lowest confidence interval 0.785. (risk value - 1.082, males>females) Conclusion: Within the limitations, the age group 18-30 years underwent more amalgam class II restoration in the mandibular first molar. The Male population seem to have undergone more amalgam class II restoration in the mandibular first molar and are at greater risk when compared to females.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has thrown the world into a great deal of health care crisis, with over 2 million people affected globally and more than 1,50,000 deaths. Testing is crucial to gauge the extent of transmission with the currently having the lowest ratio of testing in the world. It is of crucial importance that healthcare workers specially dental practitioners should have adequate knowledge, attitude and practice protocol to prevent any transmission to take place. A Questionnaire-based survey was done among 200 dental practitioners in the South Indian region in which 133 dental practitioners responded. The survey was distributed through electronic media (Google forms). The survey data was collected, analyzed and interpreted. The results suggested that about 80% of Dental practitioners have adequate knowledge and attitude towards the different protocols to be followed during the COVID-19 crisis in their dental practice. Still, there was a lack of recommended practice protocol by these practitioners during the pandemic crisis in the South Indian population. The survey shows that dental practitioners have a sound knowledge, attitude, but the practical application during the pandemic crisis was seen to be varied among various dental practitioners.

Unusual root canal anatomy always poses a diagnostic and treatment challenge. Identification of such variation is important for the success of root canal treatment outcome. C-shape canal is such an aberrant morphology of molar teeth that vary in different population. Thus, knowledge of racial predilection of C-shape canal configuration in different population for early diagnosis is obligatory. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of C-shape canal in mandibular second molar. Case records of patients who visited the department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics at Saveetha Dental College from June 2019 to March 2020. 475 patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The data was analysed through chi square. It was observed that C-shape canal was prevalent in the mandibular second molar. Out of 475 patients, 5.89% were reported with C-shape canal in the mandibular second molar with maximum prevalence in the age group 14-34 years and slightly more in females than males (p>0.05). Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that C-shape canal is less prevalent when compared to normal canal anatomy in mandibular second molar.