Dentistry has witnessed some major discoveries during the past two decades, to the extent that many routine procedures in modern dental practice vary considerably from the way in which they were practiced for over half a century. The purpose of this article is to provide an insight to the latest techniques of crown preparation. A sound tooth preparation is the foundation stone for the longevity of a restoration. This can only be achieved if the dentist has an adequate knowledge and understanding of the various factors, which enable one to achieve this goal.

Oral health influences the general quality of life and poor oral health is linked to chronic conditions and systemic diseases. Inter-relationship of oral diseases and the oral microbiota is well established. A number of species of bacteria that are inhabitant of the oral cavity are also implicated in oral diseases. Various plant species like Garlic, lemon, walnut and their extracts are now a days used in place of allopathic drug regimen because of near to minimum side effects. The advent and progression of dental caries involves acid producing gram-positive and gram negative bacteria and these bacterial strains have also been seen as the cause of periodontal diseases. Keeping in view the adverse effects of the various medications used in dentistry such as vomiting, diarrhoea and tooth staining and financial considerations in developing countries, there is a need for a safe and effective alternative and treatment options. Natural medicinal extracts isolated from plants come as good alternatives as they inhibit the growth of oral pathogens thereby reducing the development of biofilm on the tooth thus reducing the symptoms of oral diseases thereby enhancing the immunity.

The introduction of lasers in the field of prosthodontics has replaced many conventional surgical and technical procedures and is beginning to replace the dental handpiece. Since its first experiment for dental application in the 1960's the use of the laser has increased rapidly in a couple of decades. Today lasers have become an integral part of effective treatment planning. This article reviews the literature on lasers with the aim of providing a complete understanding of fundamentals of lasers and their applications in various fields of prosthodontics.

Background: Avulsion is defined as complete displacement of a tooth from its socket after trauma. The most accepted treatment for an avulsed permanent tooth is immediate replantation. Children spend a considerable amount of waking hours in school where teachers are the primary caregivers. Hence, this study was carried out to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of school teachers regarding the emergency management of an avulsed tooth in the district of Patiala, Punjab. Materials and Methods: A two-stage sampling process was used which involved the sampling of schools within the educational district followed by sampling of teachers in the selected schools. A self-structured pretested questionnaire was personally administered to 500 school teachers of district Patiala. Statistical analysis was done using frequency and percentages and descriptive statistics like Student's t-test. Results : Almost half of respondents were aware of mouth guards. 82.8% felt that treatment should be carried out immediately after injury. Approximately, one-fourth of respondents (25.6%) believed that knocked out tooth cannot be saved so no attempt should be made at cleaning it. There was a statistically significant association of knowledge regarding replantation of tooth with education level and training in first aid. Conclusion: The present study revealed that overall knowledge regarding the emergency management of avulsed tooth was low in teachers. There is a need of first aid training to all the teachers along with emergency management of dental trauma.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare autologous platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) combined with a porous hydroxyapatite bone graft to porous hydroxyapatite bone graft alone in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects clinically and radiographically using Dentascan. Materials and Methods: In a split-mouth study design, 10 patients suffering from generalized chronic periodontitis, having two almost identical intrabony defects with probing pocket depth of at least 5 mm were selected for the study and randomly divided into two groups. In Group I periodontal flap surgery followed by placement of porous hydroxyapatite bone graft was done and in Group II, periodontal flap surgery followed by placement of a homogenous mixture of PRF and porous hydroxyapatite bone graft was done. All the clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, 3 and 6 months postoperatively and radiographic parameters were recorded at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. Results: There was statistically significant reduction in probing pocket depth and gain in clinical attachment level in both groups. On comparison Group II showed statistically significant more probing pocket depth reduction than Group I at all-time intervals. There was statistically significant mean defect fill and mean defect resolution observed in both groups at all-time intervals. However, the intergroup comparison was statistically nonsignificant. Conclusion : Within limits of the study it may be concluded that a combination of PRF with porous hydroxyapatite bone graft demonstrated better results as compared to porous hydroxyapatite bone graft alone in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects. Spiral multislice computed tomography equipped Dentascan provides three-dimensional images of excellent quality for evaluating the morphology of the periodontal bone defects. Its use in ascertaining the various defect parameters in the periodontal treatment of intrabony defects is promising.

Introduction: Plants have been used for health disorders and to prevent diseases including epidemics since times immemorial. The knowledge of their healing properties has been transmitted over the centuries within and among human communities. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial potential of herbal extracts, namely neem (Azadirachta indica), tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), bitter gourd (Momordia charantia), and arka (Calotropis procera) as endodontic irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans in vitro. Materials and Methods: Agar well diffusion test was performed. The inoculums of E. faecalis and C. albicans were streaked on the blood agar plate, and wells were made using cork borers. The prepared herbal extracts of the test samples were loaded onto agar plate. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The inhibition zones indicating the antimicrobial potential were measured using a millimeter scale and results were analyzed statistically. Results: Bitter gourd showed the maximum zones of inhibition followed by neem, tulsi, and calotropis for both E. faecalis and C. albicans. Conclusion: The tested irrigants showed significant antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis and C. albicans. Thus, the use of herbal alternatives as root canal irrigants might prove advantageous considering the undesirable characteristics of presently used irrigants.

Introduction: A well-fitted root canal filling prevents percolation and microleakage of periapical exudate into the root canal space, prevents reinfection and creates a favorable biological environment for healing to take place. Several techniques using gutta-percha have been used in an attempt to achieve a void-free, homogeneous filling. Aim: Three different obturation techniques that are Thermafil obturation, cold lateral condensation and warm vertical condensation using rotary canal technique were compared. Materials and Methods: This study was in vitro study. Forty-five extracted permanent human premolars with single canal, and fully developed apices were selected for the study. Statistical Analysis: This was done with the help of analysis of variance. Results: There was leakage measuring 0.5-3.5 mm in 73.3% of roots in group I, 80% in group II and 40% in group III. Similarly, the leakage was 3.51-6.5 mm in 20% of the roots in group I, 13.3% in group II and group III. The leakage was found to be more than 6.5 mm in 6.7% of the roots in group I and II and 46.7% in group III. There was sealer extrusion in two teeth in group I and II and in four teeth in group III. Conclusions: It was observed that the warm vertical condensation and lateral condensation techniques were more effective in restricting apical dye penetration. However, the results of this in vitro study need to be confirmed by further in vivo research.

Background: Tobacco habit is one of the biggest curses that modern society has come across. It is not confined to any one country or region alone, but has widely afflicted the globe by addiction, ill-health, loss of man hours and premature death leading to various social problems. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of oro-mucosal lesions among rural population having tobacco habits in Ambala district (Haryana). Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was carried out among 680 subjects; a two-stage sampling technique was adopted for selection of villages in each block of Ambala and selection of subjects from individual villages. Oro-mucosal lesions were diagnosed using. Oral mucosal lesions were diagnosed using World Health Organization criteria and Pindborg's colored atlas. Type III clinical examination was done. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16, P = 0.05 or less was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of oro-mucosal lesions was found to be 34.8% among 680 subjects. Prevalence of smoker's palate/tobacco pouch was seen in 29.7%, in which 35.2% were males. Majority of the subjects (68.5%, 466) were bidi smokers and 72.3% of females were smoking bidi. The most common affected intra-oral site was hard palate on which 5.6% lesions were present. Prevalence of oro-mucosal lesions was significantly associated with age. Conclusion: One-third of the subjects were having oro-mucosal lesions with high prevalence of smoker's palate and tobacco pouch and two-third of the lesions were on hard palate. There is an urgent need for awareness and mass health education programs.

Numeric disturbances in the human dentition are quite a common occurrence in the general population. When less than the normal complement of teeth develops, it is termed as hypodontia, whereas hyperdontia is a condition with an excess number of teeth developing. Therefore, though both conditions manifest as changes in the number of teeth, they represent the opposite ends of the spectrum in the development of the dentition. The literature contains numerous reports of the exclusive occurrence of these anomalies; however coexistent oligodontia, hypodontia, and supernumerary teeth or hyperdontia is a rare manifestation of the human dentition.

Regenerative endodontics is now an established treatment modality for necrotic immature permanent teeth. This case report describes the treatment of a necrotic immature permanent maxillary central incisor with crown fracture using a regenerative approach instead of the conventional apexification procedure. The necrotic root canal was gently debrided, irrigated and then medicated with triple antibiotic paste. At 1-month recall appointment, the tooth was asymptomatic. Bleeding was induced by filing the canal beyond the apex and collagen was placed along with induced blood clot. After 12 months follow-up, healing of periapical lesion, progressive thickening of the root canal walls, and apical closure was radiographically evident. This suggests that regenerative endodontic treatment is an appropriate treatment modality for the management of necrotic immature permanent teeth. Collagen scaffold combined with bleeding induction results in apical closure in immature teeth.

Amelogenesis imperfecta has been described as a group of hereditary enamel defects not associated with systemic diseases. Restoration of these defects is important not only because of esthetic and functional concern, but also because there may be a positive psychological impact on the patient. Among various treatments described for rehabilitation of amelogenesis imperfecta, this case report described the rehabilitation of patient utilizing twin stage procedure with aim of improving patient's function, appearance, restoring the proper contacts, and simplifying the prosthetic clinical and lab work procedures. Twin stage procedure is based on the fact that prevents horizontal forces acting during various mandibular excursion in full mouth rehabilitation case, to control horizontal forces which in turn depends upon the condylar path, incisal path, and cusp angle. Among them, role of cusp angle is more supported whereas condylar path and incisal path role is considered unreliable.

Taurodontism is a morphological developmental abnormality of a tooth in which the body of the tooth is enlarged at the expense of roots. The condition complicates nonsurgical root canal therapy because of the complexities within the root canal system, variable canal configurations, and expecting additional root canals. The present case report describes a case of bilateral hypertaurodontism and the endodontic therapy of right mandibular hypertaurodont second molar.

Eagle's syndrome, also known as an elongated styloid process, is a condition that may be the source of craniofacial and cervical pain. It is infrequently reported but is probably more common than generally considered. The symptoms related to Eagle's syndrome can be confused with those attributed to a wide variety of facial neuralgias and/or oral, dental, and temporomandibular joint diseases. Surgical treatment is considered as the best option to remove the styloid process to its normal limit through extraoral or intraoral techniques. We are reporting a case and reviewed the recent literature of trans-oral extratonsillar approach without tonsillectomy and advantage such as simple, time-saving, and without any extra oral scar.

Aberrations in the root canal anatomy are a commonly occurring phenomenon. A thorough knowledge of the basic root canal anatomy and its variations is necessary for successful completion of the endodontic treatment. Maxillary first molars usually have three roots and three or four canals (two mesiobuccal canals, one distobuccal and one palatal canal). The incidence of two palatal canals in a palatal root is quite rare. This case provides an evidence of variations in the root canals in palatal root of maxillary first molar. Clinicians should thoroughly examine the pulpal floor and radiographs for the possibility of additional canals. The clinician must know not only the normal root canal anatomy but also variation from the normal. It is also paramount for the clinician to seek out every possible aberration of root canal anatomy for all teeth undergoing treatment.

Mandibular complete dentures frequently lack retention and stability and offer less denture-supporting area than maxillary dentures. In case of severely resorbed ridges retention is highly compromised. Extending the anterior lingual flange of the lower denture sublingually makes it possible to achieve satisfactory retention in severely resorbed ridges. This clinical report describes a simpler method to achieve retention during impression making and thus help to maintain the retention and stability of lower dentures during the function.