Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 40 healthy children aged between 10 and 12 years of age who were randomly assigned to either of the groups: Group I--Chewable Toothbrushes and Group II--Manual Toothbrushes. Following oral prophylaxis, baseline records of oral hygiene indices (Simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) in indexed teeth and Turesky modification of Quigley Hein plaque index (TMQHI) were taken. Baseline Saliva samples were collected and sent for Streptococcus mutans counts. Children were then instructed to use their respective toothbrush twice daily for a week. Oral hygiene indices and S. mutans counts were repeated after 1 week.
Results: Differences in pre-brushing and post-brushing plaque scores and salivary S. mutans counts were statistically significant when compared using paired-sample t test and independent-sample t test. There was a significant reduction in salivary S. mutans counts after using both chewable and manual toothbrushes. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.08).
Conclusion: Chewable toothbrushes are equally effective in plaque control when compared to manual toothbrushes. These can be a reliable alternative for children who lack manual dexterity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HVGICs evaluated were Zirconomer [ZR] (Shofu), Equia Forte [EQ] (GC) and Riva [RV] (SDI). Sixty specimens (12mm x 2mm x 2mm) of each material were fabricated using customized Teflon molds. After initial set, the specimens were removed from their molds, finished, measured and randomly divided into 3 groups of 20. Half the specimens in each group were left uncoated while the remaining half was covered with the respective manufacturers' resin coating. The specimens were subsequently conditioned in distilled water, artificial saliva or citric acid at 37°C for 7 days. The uncoated and coated specimens (n=10) were then subjected to dynamic mechanical testing in flexure mode at 37°C with a frequency of 0.1 to 10Hz. Storage modulus, loss modulus and loss tangent data were subjected to normality testing and statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA/Scheffe's post-hoc test and Ttest at significance level p<0.05.
RESULTS: Mean storage modulus ranged from 1.39 ± 0.36 to 10.80 ± 0.86 GPa while mean loss modulus varied from 0.13 ± 0.03 to 0.70 ± 0.14 GPa after conditioning in the different mediums. Values for loss tangent ranged from 39.4 ± 7.75 to 213.2 ± 20.11 (x10 -3 ). Significant differences in visco-elastic properties were observed between mediums and materials. When conditioned in distilled water and artificial saliva,storage modulus was significantly improved when ZR, EQ and RV were uncoated. Significantly higher values were, however, observed with resin coating when the materials were exposed to citric acid.
CONCLUSION: The visco-elastic properties of HVGICs were influenced by both resin coating and chemical environment.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the wettability of 3 different artificial saliva substitutes on heat-polymerized acrylic resin and to compare these properties with natural saliva and distilled water.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 150 heat-polymerized acrylic resin specimens were prepared with 25×15×2 mm dimensions. The specimens were divided into 5 groups (n=30): human saliva, distilled water, Aqwet, Mouth Kote, and Stoppers 4. The advancing and receding contact angle values were measured by using a goniometer, and the contact angle hysteresis and equilibrium angle were calculated. One-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni multiple comparisons test were performed to determine the difference between contact angle values among the groups (α=.05).
RESULTS: The means of the 5 groups differed significantly (Psaliva and Aqwet showed no significant difference for advancing contact angle, receding contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, or equilibrium contact angle, while comparison between the remaining groups indicated statistically significant (Psaliva substitutes used in this study (Aqwet, Mouth Kote, and Stoppers 4) had significantly better wetting properties than distilled water.
CONCLUSIONS: Human saliva had the lowest advancing, receding, and equilibrium contact angle values and the highest angle of hysteresis on heat-polymerized acrylic resin. Aqwet had better wetting ability than the other artificial salivary substitutes tested and was comparable to the human saliva on heat-polymerized acrylic resin. All saliva substitutes have better wetting properties than distilled water.
METHODS: Three sets of fake archwires (AWs) and brackets (Bs) as well as a set of controls were immersed in AS and placed in an incubator shaker at 50 rpm and 37°C. At Days 0, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28, the pH of the AS medium was measured and 3.0 ml of AS was collected and stored at -20°C for elemental analysis.
RESULTS: Significant changes in pH were observed on Days 0, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 in the AS of the AW group. However, these changes were only observed in the B group on Days 0 and 7. The fake samples released a large quantity of sodium (Na), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) ions, at concentrations exceeding 100 mg/L, post-28 days of immersion. The control and fake braces samples released other ions; such as lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and aluminium (Al); at concentrations that did not exceed 10 mg/L.
CONCLUSIONS: The pH of the AS of all the samples increased post-incubation. Only 10 ions; namely, Na, Li, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Al; were detected in the AS.