Background:Enterococcus faecalis is a persistent organism that plays a major role in the etiology of persistent periradicular lesions after root canal treatment has been associated with different forms of periradicular disease including primary endodontic infections and persistent infections. The present study compares the antibacterial activities of calcium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide mixed with silver zeolite, and calcium hydroxide mixed with 2% chlorhexidine against E. faecalis using direct contact test.Materials and Methods:The test materials of the in vitro experimental study were grouped as group 1—calcium hydroxide mixed with sterile water, group 2—2% silver zeolite added in calcium hydroxide mixed with sterile water, and group 3—calcium hydroxide mixed with 2% chlorhexidine. The bottom of microtiter plate were coated with freshly mixed tested material and a 10 μL of bacterial suspension was placed. After 1 h of incubation at 37°C, brain–heart infusion (BHI) broth (245 μL) was added and mixed for 2 min. These were designated as “subgroup 1” wells. A volume of 15 μL of broth then transferred from subgroup 1 wells to an adjacent set of four wells containing fresh BHI medium (215 μL); these wells were designated as “subgroup 2”’ wells. The optical density was measured by a spectrophotometer after the first day, third day, and seventh day. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey tests were performed for the analysis.Results:Calcium hydroxide mixed with silver zeolite showed maximum antibacterial activity.Conclusion:Silver zeolite can be added in calcium hydroxide to enhance the latter's antibacterial activity against E. faecalis.
Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 2% sodium fluoride (NaF) as endodontic irrigants on microhardness of root dentin.
Materials and Methods In this in vitro study, access cavity and root canal preparations were done on 24 freshly extracted anterior teeth. After sectioning into 24 dentin discs using hard tissue microtome in 2 mm thickness, all samples were immersed in solutions of 17% ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) (2 minutes) followed by 2.5% of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (10 minutes). Then samples were randomly divided into three groups based on the irrigant used: Group I: saline (control group); Group II: 2% NaF; Group III: 2% CHG for two minutes each. Dentin microhardness was measured before (pretreatment), during (after treatment with 17% EDTA and 2.5% NaOCl), and after the experimental period (after treatment with saline, 2% NaF, and 2% CHG) using a Vickers indenter. Statistical evaluation of the data was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Student’s t-test, and the values are tabulated.
Results Specimens rinsed in 2% CHG showed a significant increase in Vickers hardness number (VHN) values (p < 0.05), as compared with EDTA and NaOCl groups, whereas saline and 2% NaF groups showed no significant difference.
Conclusions NaF did not show any significant effect on microhardness of the root dentin. CHG as an irrigant was seen to have a strengthening effect on dentin microhardness in comparison to NaOCl and EDTA, which has decreased the strength of root dentin.
Bioinformatics is an emerging field that focuses on using information science to solve biological problems. It is mainly concerned with collecting, storing, retrieving and analysing data from databases. In the last decade it has catalysed the research in the field of healthcare to a great extent. Bioinformatics can aid the research in dentistry by understanding the underlying pathways and mechanisms in certain oral diseases. It can also help in early prediction and personalized treatment of cancer. Application of Bioinformatics in drug design has been a boon to the pharmaceutical companies reducing the time required to develop a novel drug. It can also assist in developing patient care databases, image Processing of X-rays and CT can supplement the diagnosis. In this era of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, incorporation of these technologies into dental sciences can improve the research, diagnosis and treatment to a great extent.
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