The purpose of this paper is to review the phenomenon of nanotechnology as it might apply to dentistry as a new field called nanodentistry. Treatment possibilities might include the application of nanotechnology to local anesthesia, dentition renaturalization, the permanent cure for hypersensitivity, complete orthodontic realignment in a single visit, covalently bonded diamondized enamel, and continuous oral health maintenance using mechanical dentifrobots. Dental nanorobots could be constructed to destroy caries-causing bacteria or to repair tooth blemishes where decay has set in, by using a computer to direct these tiny workers in their tasks. Dental nanorobots might be programed to use specific motility mechanisms to crawl or swim through human tissue with navigational precision, to acquire energy, to sense and manipulate their surroundings, to achieve safe cytopenetration, and to use any of a multitude of techniques to monitor, interrupt, or alter nerve-impulse traffic in individual nerve cells in real time.

Background: Research has been done previously on the oxidizing property and the clinical efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) on malodor. The aim of the present study was to compare the inhibitory effect of a mouthwash containing 0.1% ClO 2 with 0.2% Chlorhexidine mouthwash.on morning oral malodor. Materials and methods: A randomized, double blind, crossover trial was conducted among18 healthy male volunteers, who were divided into 2 groups. Group-1 subjects were instructed to rinse with the experimental mouthwash containing 0.1% ClO 2 and group-2 subjects were asked to rinse with 0.2% chlorhexidine, twice per day for 7 days. After a one week washout period, each group then used the opposite mouthwash for 7 days. At baseline and after 7 days, oral malodor was evaluated with halimeter which measures Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs) in parts per billion. The clinical variables that were measured included the plaque and gingival indices. Results and conclusion:A decrease in the amount of VSCs was noted after a 7 day use of ClO 2 as well as with the use of chlorhexidine mouthwash, which were statistically significant, with greater significance after the use of ClO 2 . Also, a significant reduction in plaque scores was noted after the use of test mouthwash .The decrease in the amount of VSCs indicates a reduction in oral malodor. Future research is needed to examine the long-term effects, as well as effects of ClO 2 on plaque accumulation and periodontal diseases in a well-defined sample of oral malodor patients and broader population samples.

Potassium Nitrate has been used as a desensitizing agent to treat dentinal hypersensitivity. The effectiveness of a potassium nitrate is evaluated both in the form of a toothpaste and a mouthwash in a clinical study. Thirty patients were assessed using evaporative stimuli and thermal stimuli and response was evaluated using Visual Analogue Scale at baseline, at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The patients were divided into. group I: fifteen patients who used toothpaste containing 5% potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride, xylitol and triclosan, group II: Fifteen patients who used mouthwash containing 3% potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride, xylitol and triclosan . The results of both the assessment methods indicated that potassium nitrate toothpaste as well as mouthwash showed statistically significant decrease in the sensitivity score on a Visual Analogue Scale. This was effective in reducing the symptoms of dentinal hypersensitivity when used either as toothpaste or as a mouthwash. But, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups, although both were effective in the treatment of hypersensitivity. Key words:Dentinal hypersensitivity, potassium nitrate toothpaste, potassium nitrate mouthwash, desensitizing agents.

A BSTRACT Background: Complete and uneventful recession coverage should be the aim of gingival recession treatment. Systematic reviews have said that coronally advanced flap with connective tissue graft (CTG) is the gold standard for gingival recession treatment. Minimally invasive procedures with optical magnification allow minimal tissue manipulation and precise adaptation of wound edges helping in faster and uneventful healing, thus bringing about a satisfactory clinical and patient outcome. Thus, the following study compares the clinical- and patient-related outcomes of modified microsurgical tunnel technique (MMTT) and modified coronally advanced flap (MCAF) using CTG in the coverage of multiple adjacent Miller’s class I and II gingival recessions. Materials and Methods: Gingival recession patients were selected and were assigned randomly to either MMTT+CTG or MCAF+CTG. Clinical parameters were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months. Patient’s satisfaction level was assessed by measuring root coverage esthetic score, hypersensitivity, and morbidity. The statistical analysis was performed using commercially available software SPSS version 14. Descriptive statistics were expressed as mean±standard deviation for each parameter. Intragroup comparison was done by using the paired T -test. Intergroup comparison was done using the independent Student’s T -test. The significance level was set at P = 0.05. Results: MMTT+CTG showed a statistically significant greater clinical- and patient-related outcome. Conclusion: MMTT+CTG, being a closed procedure, preserves the blood supply, helps in faster healing, and does not compromise the esthetics. All these lead to decreased morbidity and increased patient satisfaction which makes MMTT a superior technique than the conventional procedure in gingival recession treatment.

Background:With the advances in optical technology, dentistry has been benefitted in varied ways over the ages.Aim:The aim of this study was to assess the effect of dental magnification loupes on psychomotor skill acquisition during preclinical operative exercise.Methods:40 Typhodont teeth tooth no. 36 and 46 (Frasaco - U.S.A.) were mounted on the acrylic lower jaw base of Phantom Head. Teeth are prepared for class II (MO) cavity with conservative design using micromotor, mouth mirror and probe. Tooth no.36 was prepared using magnifying loupes while tooth no.46 was prepared without the loupes. Data collected was statistically analyzed using Chi square test.Results:The results revealed that tooth preparations were better under magnifying loupes as compared to those without it with statistically significant difference with Kappa value 0.64 for samples with loupes and 0.76 for without loupes. Moreover, the study samples expressed their difficulty for using the magnifying loupes during the tooth preparation since they were using it for the first time.Conclusions:Magnifying loupes help the dental students to have better vision, thus improved dexterity with hands while preparing the tooth for restoration. However, dental students have to get adapted to the loupes for the ease of using loupes. Using loupes frequently may help them to get adapted to the loupes.