Objectives: This study was aimed to find out the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of five essential oils against oral pathogens and to find out the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of five essential oils against oral pathogens. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activities by detecting MIC and MBC/MFC of five essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, thyme oil, peppermint oil and eugenol oil were evaluated against four common oral pathogens by broth dilution method. The strains used for the study were Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Enterococcus fecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Candida albicans ATCC 90028. Results: Out of five essential oils, eugenol oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil exhibited significant inhibitory effect with mean MIC of 0.62 ± 0.45, 9.00 ± 15.34, 17.12 ± 31.25 subsequently. Mean MBC/MFC for tea tree oil was 17.12 ± 31.25, for lavender oil 151.00 ± 241.82, for thyme oil 22.00 ± 12.00, for peppermint oil 9.75 ± 14.88 and for eugenol oil 0.62 ± 0.45. E. fecalis exhibited low degree of sensitivity compared with all essential oils. Conclusion: Peppermint, tea tree and thyme oil can act as an effective intracanal antiseptic solution against oral pathogens.

Purpose: The present study was aimed to evaluate and compare the color stability of two hybrid tooth-colored restorative materials, namely, resin-modified glass ionomer cement (GC Fuji II LC Capsules - GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and giomer (Beautifil II - Shofu Inc, Kyoto, Japan) when subjected to immersion in various children's beverages. Materials and Methods: Standardized disc specimens were prepared using the test restorative materials. After preparation and rehydration of the specimens, baseline color evaluations were performed using spectrophotometer. The readings were recorded according to CIELAB color space. The experimental groups were further subdivided for immersion in orange juice, bournvita milk, and coke. Subsequent to immersion and pH cycling, new color evaluations were carried out after 1 week and 4 weeks for all the experimental groups. The mean color change values were calculated. Results: The obtained data was subjected to statistical analysis. The results indicated that giomer specimens exhibited less color change as compared to RMGIC specimens indicating better color stability. The maximum color changes were found with the use of coke for a period of 4 weeks. Conclusion: Amongst the two materials, giomer showed less color changes as compared to RMGIC indicating a better color stability.

Mohite V, et al. J Dent Anesth Pain Med. 2019 Apr;19(2):83-90. https://doi.org/10.17245/jdapm.2019.19.2.83

Aim: this study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of 6 root canal filling materials and a negative control agent against 18 strains of bacteria isolated from infected root canals of primary molar teeth using agar diffusion assay. Materials: Aloevera with sterile water, Zinc oxide and Eugenol, Zinc oxide-Eugenol with aloevera, Calcium hydroxide and sterile water, Calcium hydroxide with sterile water and aloevera, Calcium hydroxide and Iodoform (Metapex) and Vaseline (Control). MIC and MBC of aloevera was calculated. Results: All materials except Vaseline showed varied antimicrobial activity against the test bacterias. The zones of inhibition were ranked into 4 inhibition categories based on the proportional distribution of the data. All the 18 bacterial isolates were classified under 2 groups based on Gram positive and Gram negative aerobes. Statistical analysis was carried out to compare the antimicrobial effectiveness between materials tested with each of the bacterial groupings. Conclusion: Aloevera + Sterile Water was found to have superior antimicrobial activity against most of the microorganisms followed by ZOE + Aloevera, calcium hydroxide + Aloevera, ZOE, calcium hydroxide, Metapex in the descending order and Vaseline showed no inhibition.

Aims: Evaluation of calcium ion and hydroxyl ion release and pH levels in various calcium hydroxide based intracanal medicaments. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate calcium and hydroxyl ion release and pH levels of calcium hydroxide based products, namely, RC Cal, Metapex, calcium hydroxide with distilled water, along with the new gutta-percha points with calcium hydroxide. Materials and Methods: The materials were inserted in polyethylene tubes and immersed in deionized water. The pH variation, Ca ⁺⁺ and OH⁻ release were monitored periodically for 1 week. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc tests with PASW Statistics version 18 software to compare the statistical difference. Results: After 1 week, calcium hydroxide with distilled water and RC Cal raised the pH to 12.7 and 11.8, respectively, while a small change was observed for Metapex, calcium hydroxide gutta-percha points. The calcium released after 1 week was 15.36 mg/dL from RC Cal, followed by 13.04, 1.296, 3.064 mg/dL from calcium hydroxide with sterile water, Metapex and calcium hydroxide gutta-percha points, respectively. Conclusions: Calcium hydroxide with sterile water and RC Cal pastes liberate significantly more calcium and hydroxyl ions and raise the pH higher than Metapex and calcium hydroxidegutta-percha points.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of aloevera gel as a new storage medium in maintaining the viability of periodontal ligament cells. Study design: Premolars extracted for orthodontic reason were obtained. Confluent monolayers of fibroblasts were grown by cell culture method from the PDL cells isolated from the extracted teeth. One ml of this cell suspension was transferred to wells of culture plates, incubated for 24 hrs, followed by exposure to the three experimental media, Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), aloevera gel, and packaged drinking water. These plates were then assessed for viable cells using trypan blue dye exclusion test with haemocytometer after 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mins. The results obtained were statistically analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: At 15 min, HBSS presented maximum mean percentage of viable PDL cells (89%), followed by aloevera at 81% and packaged drinking water at 10%. Aloevera demonstrated 71%, 59%, 57% viable cells at 30, 60, 90 mins respectively. At 120 min, HBSS presented 57% viable cells followed by aloevera gel (45%) and packaged drinking water (3%). No statistical significant difference was observed between HBSS and aloevera gel. Conclusions: Within the parameters of this study, both aloevera gel and HBSS were effective in maintaining the viability of PDL cells. Hence, aloevera gel could be used as a storage media for avulsed tooth in situations where availability of HBSS is in question.