The rehabilitation of partially edentulous patients is a real challenge for prosthodontists. Attachment retained cast partial dentures can be an excellent option when economic or anatomic conditions do not permit the use of dental implants. They give functionally and esthetically good results. This article describes rehabilitation of a partially edentulous patient with attachment retained hybrid prosthesis.
Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) over the whole salivary flow rate in normal healthy adults.
Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy adults were included in this study with no salivary gland pathology. Saliva before TENS therapy was collected for each patient in a plastic container on each minute one spit basis for about 5 minutes. The tens electrode pads were placed on the skin over the parotid gland on both sides. Post therapy salivary collection was done by the above mentioned procedure.
Statistics: Paired ‘t’ test used to compare unstimulated and stimulated whole salivary flow rate. P value is 0.03 and hence results are statistically significant.
Results: Out of 20 patients, 19 patients have been observed with increased salivary flow post TENS therapy.
Conclusion: TENS acts as a valuable device in increasing salivary flow rate and can be used in all cases of xerostomia and hyposalivation to increase the salivary flow.
Introduction: Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer occurring worldwide. In many cases, cancer develops from the site of potentially malignant lesion. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an ubiquitous enzyme the level of which is known to increase in serum and saliva as a result of shift of glycolytic pathway from aerobic to anaerobic in dysplastic cells.
Aim: This study aims to emphasize salivary LDH as a reliable bio-marker in diagnosing potentially malignant and malignant diseases.
Materials and Methods: Forty patients from the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology were enrolled in the study and divided into 2 groups: Group I consisting of patients with oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and oral carcinoma; Group II consisting of healthy controls. Unstimulated saliva of about 2 ml was collected from all patients. LDH level in saliva was estimated using semi-automatic analyzer and LDH (P-L) kit. The obtained values were tabulated and statistical results were obtained.
Results: The mean salivary lactate dehydrogenase level was higher in case group than control group with value of 962.8 U/l in case group and 398.1 U/l in control group. There was statistically significant difference between the mean salivary LDH levels of the above groups.
Conclusion: This study concludes that Salivary LDH estimation can be used as an efficient, non‑invasive, cost effective and friendly new tool for diagnosis of patients with oral potentially malignant and malignant diseases.
Background: Periostin is among the most important extracellular matrix proteins, that seems to play a role in the healing of periodontal defects as a modulator of periodontal ligament (PDL) hemostasis. This study aims to review the available literature on this protein and its role in the healing of periodontal defects.
Methods: An electronic search of the literature was carried out in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords “periostin”, “gingival crevicular fluid”, “saliva” and “periodontitis”.
Results: Periostin, as an extracellular matrix protein, was found to play a key role as a modulator of critical cellular interactions in disease conditions. It is necessary for tissue integrity and plays a critical role in wound healing.
Conclusion: The role of periostin in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and signalling to maintain hemostasis has yet to be identified. Further studies are warranted in this respect.
Orthodontic treatment requires moving and aligning the teeth into a favorable position aesthetically and functionally. To achieve that, the teeth are subjected to forces to push them to their new position. Loading of force on the crown causes tipping of tooth, subsequently the periodontal ligament is compressed adjacent to the alveolar bone on the side toward which the force is directed. On the opposite side of the root, the periodontal ligament is stretched and undergoing tension. Blood vessels are compressed and blood flow is decreased on the compression side, hence less oxygen supply is received on that side. Compression and tension are triggering specific signaling factors and mediators, which create local environment and gradients to regulate remodeling of the periodontal ligament and bone for tooth movement. In this review, we highlight the structures and mediators released in the very narrow zone periodontal ligament during orthodontic tooth loading.
