Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in students and to evaluate if any relationship existed between the stress levels, salivary cortisol levels, and TMD. Material and Methods: A total of 348 students, 187 female, and 161 male students, participated in this cross-sectional study. Students were evaluated based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. The stress levels were evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale. The students were divided into the control and TMD groups. Salivary cortisol levels in the salivary samples were analyzed. Results: The prevalence rate of TMDs was 30.7% in the study population. Of the female students, 61% had TMD compared with 46% of male students. Muscle disorders were the most predominant disorder in 14.2% of the students with TMD. The TMD group showed significantly higher salivary cortisol and stress levels than the control group. The TMD group also showed a moderate positive correlation between cortisol and stress levels (p=0.01). Conclusion:The study showed a strong association between salivary cortisol levels, stress, and temporomandibular disorders. Salivary cortisol could be used as a prognostic biomarker for stress while assessing the severity of TMJ problems in stressed individuals.

Purpose. To study the effect of different surface treatments on the micro-shear bond strength and surface characteristics of zirconia. Methods. Two types of zirconia ceramics were tested: opaque (O) and translucent (T). Each type of zirconia was further allotted into four groups based on the type of surface treatment method. The four groups were: control (C), air abrasion with 110 µm Al2O3 particles (A), etching with Zircos–E Etching solution for 2 hours (E), and a combination of air abrasion and etching (AE). After the surface treatment, all specimens were ultrasonically cleaned and 10 resin cement cylinders were attached to the zirconia discs in each group. A micro-shear bond strength test was performed in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The fracture surfaces were assessed under a compound microscope. SEM, EDAX, and AFM analyses were done for the zirconia specimens after being subjected to surface treatment. Statistical analysis for the bond strength test was done using the Shapiro–Wilk test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Post hoc Tukey test. Results. The micro-shear bond strength values for the groups were as follows in megapascals (MPa): OC 18.96 (5.54), OA 22.66 (2.51), OE 28.48 (4.50), OAE 28.63 (4.53), TC 22.82 (5.46), TA 25.36 (5.17), TE 28.12 (4.76), and TAE 32.00 (3.47). The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey HSD tests were done which showed significant results in the groups. In opaque zirconia, significant differences were seen in the etching and air abrasion with etching groups when compared with the control and air abrasion groups. There was no difference between the etching and air abrasion with etching groups. For translucent zirconia, the only significant difference was seen in the air abrasion with etching group in comparison with the control and air abrasion groups. The mode of failure was majorly adhesive. The surface topography and surface roughness showed significant differences between the groups. The EDAX results showed material loss that occurred due to sandblasting in the air abrasion groups. Conclusions. Etching with Zircos–E Etching solution significantly increased the bond strength of zirconia to resin cement when compared with other surface treatment methods. In translucent zirconia, the best results can be achieved by combining etching with air abrasion.

Background: Several biometric systems like fingerprints, voice scan, iris scan, and palm scan are currently in use. Biometric authentication is an essential process to identify and verify any person for safety reasons. Tongue print is a new method for biometric identification that is unique and cannot be copied easily. Objectives: This study aims to assess the tongue morphological features and its variations regarding gender and different ethnicities. Methods: The study sample included two hundred fifty participants. Visual examination of the tongue was done, followed by capturing digital photographs. The photographs were analyzed for the surface morphological features like tongue shape, the presence of fissures, and its distribution pattern. The shape of the tongue was determined by considering three reference points. Results: Central fissures are the most common feature seen on the dorsal surface of the tongue. The shallow fissure is more common than deep fissures. Females had a higher number of both deep and shallow fissures when compared to males. U shaped were common in males (52.6%) than females (40.6%), while V-shaped was more in females (56.1%). A significant proportion of Malay race has a U-shaped tongue; meanwhile, V-shaped is predominantly found in Indian race. Conclusions: Tongue prints may constitute secure methods for forensic dentistry identification. The tongue can be a real proof of life as it is unique, and there are no two tongues with similar shape and texture. Lingual morphological aspects are difficult to copy and display stability over time.

Nano technology is the science and engineering related to particles sized 10-9 of a meter. Albeit, the small size, they have opened up a huge array of possibilities for this world. By the inclusion of nanoparticles in various materials not only, the field of engineering but also, medical and dentistry have been benefitted largely. Researchers have manipulated the particles at a molecular and atomic level, which have opened up huge possibilities for the same material. The recent advances have helped to achieve accurate and fast diagnosis, helped to prolong the longevity of dental materials and hence helped to create a healthy oral environment. However, with all these developments, it is important that we focus on the shortcoming or the hazards too and carefully comply with the same before its long-term application. Therefore, this article focuses on the basis, all the present applications of Nano dentistry and the potential it holds for the field of dentistry in future.

Purpose. To investigate and compare the cellular host response of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) on four currently used cements. Methods and Material. 5 cement pellet samples were made for each of the 4 test cements (n = 20). The cements used for this study were zinc phosphate, zinc oxide noneugenol (ZOE), RelyX U200, and glass ionomer cement (GIC). One commercially available cell line was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of peri-implant tissues. Direct contact cell culture testing was conducted following International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methods 10993-5 and 10993-12 (MTT assay test). Cell cultures without dental cement were considered as control. Cells were allowed to grow and confluence over 48 hours after subcultivation according to standard laboratory procedures. The cells were kept in direct contact with the cement samples for 24 hours before being subjected to analysis. All specimens were tested in triplicate to validate the results. Quantitative evaluation of cytotoxicity was done to measure cell death and inhibition of cell growth. Results were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA (a = 0.05) followed by Tukey B post hoc test. Results. The results of the study showed that HGF was vulnerable to the dental cement test material. GIC, zinc phosphate, ZOE, and resin cement were cytotoxic in decreasing order, respectively, and significantly reduced the cell viability after exposure to HGF p < 0.001 . Conclusions. Within the limitations of this in vitro cellular study, results indicated that the test dental cements were cytotoxic to HGF. The highest cytotoxicity was observed in GIC followed by zinc phosphate, ZOE, and resin cement.

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Aim: To assess the knowledge and attitude of students of dental schools in Southern India towards Basic Life Support (BLS), as well as to study the retention of BLS knowledge over time. Subjects and methods: A prevalidated questionnaire was employed, which contains 12 knowledge Questions and five questions designed to assess the students perspective towards BLS. It was hosted on Google Forms, and the URL was distributed to the Students. Results: A total of 267 responses were received, of which 66 were males and 201 were female students. Out of a maximum possible score of 12, the mean knowledge score of the group was 4.54. It was found that those who attended a BLS workshop within the last 2 years scored significantly better than those who either took it more than 2 years ago or had never undergone BLS training. Almost all participants (96%) agreed that there is a need for BLS to be learned by all dental students and hence BLS training should be part of the dental curriculum. 76.8% of respondents expressed reluctance to perform CPR on strangers. Conclusion: The findings show that the dental students who participated in the study had inadequate knowledge in BLS, but had a positive attitude towards the adoption of BLS into the dental curriculum.

Background. To evaluate and compare the shear bond strength of feldspathic porcelain to four distinctively surface-treated Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloys and to assess the impact of oxidation-heat treatment on porcelain to base metal alloy bond strength. Methods. 40 specimens each of nickel-chromium alloy and cobalt-chromium alloy were cast. A total of four groups of specimens were created. Group I was surface-treated by sandblasting with 50 μm alumina particles, Group II was surface-treated by sandblasting with 110 μm alumina particles, Group III and Group IV were surface-treated with 250 μm alumina particles. In Group IV, after sandblasting initially with 250 μm alumina particles, the alloys were subjected to oxidation and resandblasting with 250 μm alumina particles. Each of the specimen was coated with opaque and body porcelain and fired to a total thickness of 2 mm porcelain. A universal measuring machine was used to assess shear bond strength at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Results. Two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test was used to assess the significant difference within the groups. Unpaired t-test was used for the intergroup comparison of the obtained data. The study showed that the size of the air abrasion particles used for sandblasting significantly influenced the porcelain to metal surface bond strength, with p value <0.001. The bond strength values of the two alloys tested showed no major variations. Result also showed that oxidation influences the metal-ceramic bond strength. Conclusions. The bond strength of the metal-ceramic interface is influenced by the alloy’s surface treatment. The oxidation process impacts the bond strength of the metal-ceramic system.