Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in Wuhan city in December 2019, and became a grave global concern due to its highly infectious nature. The Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2, with its predecessors (i.e., MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV) belong to the family of Coronaviridae. Reportedly, COVID-19 has infected 344,710,576 people around the globe and killed nearly 5,598,511 persons in the short span of two years. On November 24, 2021, B.1.1.529 strain, later named Omicron, was classified as a Variant of Concern (VOC). SARS-CoV-2 has continuously undergone a series of unprecedented mutations and evolved to exhibit varying characteristics. These mutations have largely occurred in the spike (S) protein (site for antibody binding), which attribute high infectivity and transmissibility characteristics to the Omicron strain. Although many studies have attempted to understand this new challenge in the COVID-19 strains race, there is still a lot to be demystified. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to summarize the structural or virologic characteristics, burden, and epidemiology of the Omicron variant and its potential to evade the immune response.

Background and objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from Salvadora persica (Miswak), Commiphora molmol (myrrh) and Azadirachta indica (neem) in combination with commercially available antimicrobial agents: penicillin, tetracycline, ofloxacin and fluconazole on endodontic pathogens such as Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mitis,Actinomyces naeslundii and Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: Microbiological samples from the root canals of the teeth undergoing retreatment were taken using sterile paper points kept at full length in the canal for 30 s. The disc diffusion method was used to check the susceptibility of microbes to the plant extracts and antimicrobials by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zones. Against the microbes, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)/minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the plant extracts were assessed. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was used to estimate the synergistic effect of plant extracts combined with antimicrobials against the resistant endodontic microbes. Results: The findings clearly indicate the effectiveness of all the three plant extracts, Commiphora molmol, Azadirachta indica, Salvadora persica, against all the experimental pathogenic microorganisms except for the ineffectiveness of Azadirachta indica, Salvadora persica against Candidaalbicans. Maximum antimicrobial activity was displayed by Azadirachta indica against Enterococcusfaecalis (MIC = 0.09 ± 1.2 mg/mL, MBC = 0.78 ± 1.25 mg/mL) and the minimum antimicrobial activity was displayed by Commiphora molmol against Actinomyces naeslundii (MIC = 12.5 ± 3.25 mg/mL, MBC = 100 ± 3.75 mg/mL). The best synergy was displayed by Commiphora molmol with fluconazole against Candidaalbicans (FICI = 0.45). Conclusions: The current study delineates the variable antimicrobial activity of plant extracts against the experimental endodontic pathogenic microorganisms. Plant extracts in conjunction with various antimicrobials can be valuable aids in combating relatively resistant endodontic microorganisms that have been the cause of worry in recent years, leading to failure even in treatment procedures following all required protocols.

Inter-appointment pain (IAP) is a subtype of postoperative pain which occurs between endodontic appointments. It may begin within a few hours after the first appointment and may continue for several days. Apart from mechanical instrumentation and thorough irrigation, intracanal medicaments play a central role in the disinfection of root canals and thus decreasing IAP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Curcuma Longa as an intracanal medicament on IAP in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP). One hundred healthy adult patients having SIP in one of their single-rooted maxillary or mandibular teeth participated in this randomized, parallel, single-blinded clinical trial. After thorough biomechanical preparation, the root canals were randomly medicated with one of the following medicaments, Control (no medicament), Calcium Hydroxide, triple antibiotic paste (TAP), and Curcuma Longa. The pain was recorded using Visual analog scale at 4 h, 24 h, and every day until the seventh day. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. No statistical difference in pain scores was observed between Calcium Hydroxide, TAP or Curcuma Longa groups. It can be concluded that Curcuma Longa, Calcium hydroxide, and TAP are equally effective in controlling IAP.

Inconsistent findings will be found by practitioners who research the published literature to find answers to their questions about the best procedure to use when treating teeth that may have postoperative pain. Undoubtedly, the available research does not provide a clear roadmap for selecting the ideal kinematic system for automated endodontic treatment that will minimize postoperative discomfort. To thoroughly examine two alternative kinematics of instrumentation—rotary, and reciprocatin

Background: The superimposition in radiographic images makes it difficult to diagnose C-shaped canals using two-dimensional imaging techniques. A non-invasive technique called cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) makes it easier to comprehend the C-shaped canal architecture along the root. Aim: This study was undertaken to evaluate C-shaped canals in permanent second molars of mandible in a Saudi Arabian subpopulation using CBCT. Methods: This research was a non-interventional, retrospective clinical trial. CBCT images of 452 mandibular second molars were selected from 300 patients. Every CBCT scan was interpreted by a certified oral radiologist to gather information regarding root canal anatomy, configuration, location, etc. Results: The C-shaped canal was present in 51 (11.28%) of the 452 teeth. The C2 configuration was found to be the most common (28 teeth, 6.19%) followed by C3 (15 teeth, 3.31%), and C1 (7 teeth, 1.54%). Only one tooth (0.22%) had the C5 configuration, and none had the C4 configuration. The C-shaped canal was present in 35 (13.46%) of the 260 teeth from female patients and in 16 (8.33%) of the 192 teeth in male patients (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of C-shaped canals in mandibular second molars was 11.28% in Saudi population. This arrangement was more common in women than in men.

“Invasive cervical resorption” (ICR) is a disorder that impacts the region of root surface that is present below the level of attachment of epithelium. Clinically, it manifests as a pink stain on the cervical part of the tooth. It may be due to visualization of the densely vascularized granular tissue across the resorbed structure of the tooth. The invasive defect should be made visible, the granulation tissue should be removed, and the defect should be sealed using a variety of restorative materials. In this report, a patient who presented with trauma related Class II ICR in the cervical region of the left second premolar of the maxilla was treated conservatively. It was shown that patients who are reluctant to undergo surgery or in whom surgery is not recommended could be treated with this conservative approach to stop the advancement of ICR.