IntroductionNumerous antimicrobial agents are used to eliminate oral biofilm. However due to emergence of multi drug resistant microorganisms, the quest to find out biologically safe and naturally available antimicrobial agents continues.AimTo evaluate antimicrobial efficacy of silver nano-particles against five common oral pathogenic bacteria.ObjectiveTo determine antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles and chlorhexidine gluconate against oral pathogenic bacteria.Material and MethodWe used strains of Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 497), Streptococcus oralis (MTCC 2696), Lactobacillus acidophilus (MTCC 10307), Lactobacillus fermentum (MTCC 903), and Candida albicans (MTCC 183). We used commercially available silver nanoparticles (experimental group) and chlorhexidine gluconate (positive control). We determined minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of both agents and analyzed the data using paired ‘t’ test, one way ANOVA and Tucky’s post Hoc HSD.ResultSilver nanoparticles inhibited bacterial growth moderately. The mean MIC of AgNP against S. mutans was 60 ± 22.36 μg/ml, S. oralis – 45 ± 11.18 μg/ml, L. acidophilus – 15 ± 5.59 μg/ml, L. fermentum – 90 ± 22.36 μg/ml, Candida albicans – 2.82 ± 0.68 μg/ml respectively. For chlorhexidine gluconate, mean MIC for S. mutans was 300 ± 111.80 μg/ml, S. oralis – 150 ± 55.90 μg/ml, L. acidophilus – 450 ± 111.80 μg/ml, L. fermentum – 450 ± 111.80 μg/ml and Candida albicans – 150 ± 55.90 μg/ml. MIC and MBC values of AgNP were significantly lower than chlorhexidine gluconate and statistically significant (p < 0.05).ConclusionSilver nanoparticles exhibited better bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect with concentration less than five folds as compared to chlorhexidine. Silver nanoparticles when used in appropriate concentration as safe alternative to present chemically derived other antimicrobial agents.

IntroductionStem cells have unmatched capacity and potential for regeneration and when used alone or in combination with scaffolds to replace or repair damaged cells, can differentiate into any mature cell.AimTo evaluate the functional differentiation potential of EMD (Enamel Matrix Derivative), MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) and Biodentine on Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth (SHED).ObjectiveTo determine functional differentiation potential (osteogenic/odontogenic) of various biomaterials on SHED.Material and methodSHED derived from 5th linear passage after sub-culturing were treated with EMD, MTA and Biodentine individually and their effect on cell viability was compared and evaluated by MTT (3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay for 7 days. Alizarin red S staining was used to assess mineralization potential of these materials by the staining calcium deposits for 14 days. The results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA, Post hoc Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons.ResultsIt was observed that EMD imparted the highest cell viability at the end of 7 days (p < 0.001) followed by Biodentine and MTA. Likewise EMD showed highest potential to enhanced mineralization and expression of dentine sialoprotein (p < 0.001) followed by Biodentine and MTA at the end of 14 days (p<0.001).ConclusionIt can be concluded that all the tested materials are bioinductive to SHED. EMD can be used for various vital pulp therapies as that of Biodentine and MTA with predictable as well as enhanced success rate.

Background and objectives: Fluoride is being used for the prevention of dental caries since a long time. Incorporation of fluoride in pit and fissure sealants has been found to reduce initiation and progression of pit and fissure caries. Authors conducted this study to evaluate and compare the effect of fluoride releasing pit and fissure sealants on the inhibition of demineralization of adjacent enamel and to reduce wall lesion frequency.Materials and methods: A total of 60 caries-free human third molars were randomly assigned into three groups receiving conventional resin sealant without fluoride (Group A), fluoride releasing resin sealant (Group B), glass ionomer pit and fissure sealant (Group C). Fissure cavities of 5 × 2 × 1.5 mm were prepared on buccal surfaces of teeth using fissurotomy bur and sealants were applied onto the cavities.The teeth were then thermocycled and exposed to acidified gelatin gel for 6 weeks to induce caries like lesions. A 150 μ m section was taken from each tooth and observed under polarized light microscope to measure the depth of advancing front of outer enamel lesion. The outer lesion depths of all three groups were compared.Results: Enamel demineralization was least in glass ionomer pit and fissure sealant while the demineralization exhibited by nonfluoridated resin and fluoridated resin were comparable. Wall lesion frequency was found to be 0% in all groups.Conclusion and interpretation: The glass ionomer pit and fissure sealant exhibited highest anticariogenic efficacy and hence can be advocated as a means of preventing dental caries.How to cite this article: Prabhakar AR, Dahake PT, Raju OS, Basappa N. Fluoride: Is It Worth to be added in Pit and Fissure Sealants?. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012;5(1):1-5.

Presence or eruption of teeth immediately at or after birth is a rarely reported phenomenon. This condition is referred to as natal teeth, neonatal teeth, congenital teeth, fetal teeth, predeciduous teeth and dentitia praecox. The most affected teeth are lower primary central incisors with the incidence of 1:2000 for natal and 1:3500 for neonatal teeth. The aetiology of this anomaly is still not clear, however, attributes have been reported in relation to congenital teeth, multiple factors and some syndromes. The management of such cases depends on clinical characteristics of natal or neonatal teeth, as well as complications that they might cause. The aim of this paper is to discuss a rare case of occurrence of two natal teeth in both premature dizygotic twin female babies with specific emphasis on the literature review related to concerns regarding prevalence, aetiology, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, complications and management.

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Background: Removal of all the pathogenic bacteria from the root canal system is of prime importance for the success of endodontic therapy. Objective: The study aimed to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of three antibiotics and their new combination against selected endodontic pathogens. Methods: In this in-vitro study, we used bacterial strains associated with the refractory endodontic condition and determined MIC and MBC of Clindamycin (C), Metronidazole (M), Doxycycline (D) as well as their combination CMD. We cultured Candida Albicans, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Enterococcus Faecalis, Streptococcus Mutans, Bacillus Subtilis subsp. spizizenii, Actinomyces Actinomycetemcomitans on selective culture media. We analyzed the data using paired 't' test, one-way ANOVA, and Tuckey's HSD post hoc test. Results: Clindamycin inhibited the growth of C. Albicans (90%) and S. Mutans (90%) significantly and P. Aeruginosa, E. Coli, E. Faecalis, B. Subtilis, and A. Actinomycetemcomitans were resistant to it. Metronidazole did not inhibit any of the bacteria. Doxycycline inhibited C. Albicans (90%), P. Aeruginosa (90%), and S. Mutans (90%) significantly while E. Coli, E. Faecalis, B. Subtilis, and A. Actinomycetemcomitans were resistant to it. The combination of CMD inhibited all the microbes significantly. However, at bactericidal concentrations of CMD, E. Faecalis (p = 0.024), B. Subtilis (p = 0.021) and A. Actinomycetemcomitans (p = 0.041) were eliminated significantly, while C. Albicans (p = 0.164), P. Aeruginosa (p = 0.489), E. Coli (p = 0.106) and S. Mutans (p = 0.121) showed resistance. Conclusion: Combination CMD can be used against resistant endodontic pathogens to achieve predictable endodontic results.KEYWORDSAntimicrobial agents; Clindamycin; Doxycycline; Metronidazole; Root canal therapy.

Objective: Thermo-modulated in-situ hydrogel (TSHG) are formulated routinely utilizing poloxamer for extended drug release. However physical properties of such formulations may have some flaws, which can be rectified using a combination of polymers with better physical properties such as chitosan. The purpose of the present study was to fabricate biodegradable chitosan-poloxamer-based in-situ drug delivery systems and assessment of their physical properties. Methods: The present chitosan-poloxamer gel base was formulated using a two-stage method. Initially, chitosan gel was prepared by dissolving 1% w/w chitosan in glacial acetic acid. The poloxamer gel was prepared using “cold method”. The final chitosan-poloxamer gel base was prepared by mixing equal amounts of both solutions and evaluated for physical and mechanical properties. Result and Discussion: The DSC thermogram demonstrated no obvious interactions among ingredients or micellization temperature. The gelation temperature of the gel was between 27 and 330C. The pH was 7 with slight clarity. The viscosity of the gel ranged from 15.14 to 41.19 pa.s. The gel was syringable between 4-300C and biodegradable under physiological conditions. The mean particle size of the gel under SEM was found in the range of 300-554 nm. Conclusion: After the evaluation of the formulation, it can be concluded that all the ingredients in the gel showed good compatibility with each other, which could form a stable and homogeneous gel with favorable mechanical and physical properties. Keywords: chitosan, drug delivery system, hydrogels, poloxamer