Comparison of antiplaque effectiveness of herbal toothpaste: A randomized triple-blinded cross-over clinical trial

Background

Cleansing the teeth with a toothbrush and paste is an indubitable mechanical plaque control method practiced by almost everyone. Eliminating dental plaque is an essential, fundamental and mandatory step to prevent the occurrence of periodontal diseases that are rife globally. The aim of the present study is to compare the antiplaque effectiveness of a prepared herbal and commercially available dentifrice.

Materials and Methods

Thirty healthy individuals within the age group of 18-25 years were recruited to participate in the study. After achieving induced gingivitis and measuring plaque levels using Turesky modification of the Quigley Hein Plaque index in all the subjects, they were randomly divided into test arms A and B. Commercial dentifrice was distributed to one group, whereas the other group received prepared herbal dentifrice. Supervised brushing was carried out for 5 min, and plaque amounts after brushing were noted. After a washout period of 1 week, the same steps were repeated as per the cross-over study protocol. Unpaired t-test and paired t-tests were employed with P < 0.05.

Results

Both the toothpastes show the difference in plaque scores immediately after brushing when compared to baseline and was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The mean plaque scores of commercial dentifrice (1.93 ± 1.52) were less than that of the prepared herbal dentifrice (2.35 ± 1.39) after brushing.

Conclusion

The prepared herbal dentifrice had good antiplaque action. However, the plaque inhibitory action of self-prepared herbal toothpaste was marginally less when compared to commercial dentifrice.

A Large Pregnancy Tumor of Tongue - A Case Report

Pyogenic granuloma is a tissue overgrowth which commonly develops as a response to irritation or trauma which is usually localized. Though gingiva is said to be the common site, it also can occur on lip, tongue and buccal mucosa. Pathogenesis is unclear but trauma, infection and hormonal imbalance are attributed as reasons for occurrence. Histologically this reactive lesion is filled with immature fibroblastic connective tissue, profilerative blood vessels and inflammatory cells. This article presents a case of a large pyogenic granuloma of the tongue which is a rare site for this tumor in a 27 year old woman.

Root coverage with free gingival autografts--a clinical study

AIM

To assess the percentage of root coverage with autogenous free gingival grafts.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Ten non-smoking patients with Miller's class I or class II recessions were included in the study. The clinical parameters such as recession depth, recession width, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and width of the keratinized gingiva were recorded at the baseline, at the end of 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the surgical procedure. Autogenous free gingival grafts harvested from the palatal mucosa were used to cover the denuded roots.

RESULTS

Four out of ten sites showed 100% root coverage. A mean percentage of 80.3% of root coverage was achieved.

Hospital periodontal surgery

Phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth is a recognized side effect in many cerebral palsy patients using diphenyl hydantoin for the control of seizures. Severe gingival overgrowth in these patients can affect normal masticatory function, lead to poor occlusal development, and compromise esthetics. This report addresses the complex nature of treating phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth in a mentally retarded 20-year-old female patient. For this patient, full-mouth gingivectomy procedure was performed under general anesthesia in a single session. Post operative follow-up was uneventful. This article discusses major indications, contraindications, and protocols to be followed for periodontal surgical procedures done under general anesthesia.

Evaluation of Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus using Cytomorphometry of Buccal Cells and Correlation with Glycosylated Hemoglobin

BACKGROUND

To study cytological alterations in the exfoliated buccal cells of diabetic patients. To analyze the cytomorphometric findings in the smears of uncontrolled and controlled diabetic patients and compare it with that of normal healthy controls. To establish a correlation between cytomorphometric changes and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in diabetics and normal controls, for evaluation of glycemic control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out in 40 confirmed diabetic patients from a hospital out-patient diabetic ward and 20 healthy individuals as controls (Group A: n = 20), in Chennai. Specific exclusion criteria were used to select the study group from a larger group of subjects. Based on HbA1c values, the diabetic patients were categorized into Group B = Controlled diabetics (n = 20) (HbA1c <7%) and Group C = Uncontrolled diabetics (n = 20) (HbA1c >9%). After informed consent, buccal smear was collected from clinically normal appearing mucosa and stained with papanicoloau (PAP) stain. Cytomorphometric analysis of selective PAP stained cells was done using image analysis software, Image Pro Plus 5.5 (Olympus) and parameters determined were average cytoplasmic area (CA), average nuclear area (NA) and cytoplasmic:nuclear (C: N) ratio for an average of 50 cells/patient.

RESULTS

Comparing the average NA among three groups, an increase through Group A, B, C, with a maximum significance between Group C and A was seen. The average C: N ratio showed a statistically significant difference between all three groups. Significant correlation existed between the HbA1c values and both the C: N ratio and average NA in all the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytomorphometric analysis of buccal smears using the C: N ratio alteration as a reliable criteria, may serve as yet another non-invasive tool for screening programs for diabetic detection. And the technique may possibly be used also for evaluation of glycemic control in known diabetics.