Split obturator: An innovative approach

A palatal prosthesis can improve function by closing the palatal defect, preventing regurgitation, and improving swallowing and speech. Although techniques have been previously described for fabrication of palatal obturator, but there has not been any technique to devise an obturator for a patient with palatal defect with a quadhelix orthodontic appliance overlying it. One cannot wait in such patients for completion of lengthy orthodontic treatment and then think of devising prosthesis as the patient cannot carry out normal functions like swallowing and speech without the closure of defect. This article focuses on an innovative method of fabricating a palatal obturator which aims at restoring the above-mentioned functions along with improving aesthetics. It also enables us to devise the fabrication of prosthesis in two parts for easy insertion and removal and as well as to be self-cleansable. Such prosthesis would markedly improve patient psychology and confidence

Interoperator variability in shade matching for restoration with two shade guides- a study

A study was undertaken in the department of Prosthodontics to compare to compare the interoperator variability in  shade matching by visual techniques using two shade guides. 2 prosthodontists selected shades of upper right central incisor of 30 patients in a dental chair under ceiling daylight-corrected fluorescent lights. Two shade guides were used- Vitapan Classical and the Vitapan 3D Master shade guides (Vita Zahnfabrik). The 3 closest shade tabs were selected and ranked in order of best, second best, and third best matches. Interoperator agreement was found by comparing the best shade and the common shade for each subject by the 2 clinicians. The result was calculated using the CIE Lab color difference, ΔE*, between the best shade and the common shade selected by the clinicians for each subject. Statistical analysis was done  to find clinician differences of the means of the best shade and the common shade for both shade guides using a t test (α= .05)  Interoperator agreement was 32% for the best shade and over 84% for the common shade ( significant difference at the .05 level). No significant differences were found between the 2 shade guides by means of the mean color differences between the best shade match and the common shade match .Vitapan 3D Master shade guide was better than the Vitapan Classical shade guide in reducing the interoperator color differences from 0.7 to 0.2

Mercury and Other Biomedical Waste Management Practices among Dental Practitioners in India

Objectives. The objective of the study was to assess the awareness and performance towards dental waste including mercury management policy and practices among the dental practitioners in North India. Materials and Methods. An epidemiologic survey was conducted among 200 private dental practitioners. The survey form was composed of 29 self-administered questions frame based on knowledge, attitude, and those regarding the practices of dentists in relation to dental health-care waste management. The resulting data were coded and a statistical analysis was done. Results and Discussion. About 63.7% of the dentists were not aware of the different categories of biomedical waste generated in their clinics. Only 31.9% of the dentists correctly said that outdated and contaminated drugs come under cytotoxic waste. 46.2% said they break the needle and dispose of it and only 21.9% use needle burner to destroy it. 45.0% of the dentists dispose of the developer and fixer solutions by letting them into the sewer, 49.4% of them dilute the solutions and let them into sewer and only 5.6% return them to the supplier. About 40.6% of the dentists dispose of excess silver amalgam by throwing it into common bin. Conclusion. It was concluded that not all dentists were aware of the risks they were exposed to and only half of them observe infection control practices

Lost salt technique for severely resorbed alveolar ridges: An innovative approach

The success of a complete denture relies on the principles of retention, stability and support. The prosthodontist skill lies in applying these principles efficiently in critical situations. Severely resorbed maxillary edentulous ridges that are narrow and constricted with increased inter ridge space provide decreased support, retention and stability. The consequent weight of the processed denture only compromises them further. This article describes a case report of an edentulous patient with resorbed ridges where a simplified technique of fabricating a hollow maxillary complete denture using lost salt technique was used for preservation of denture bearing areas. The hollowing of the denture reduces the weight of the denture, thereby enhancing stability and retention, reducing the further resorption of the jaws

Peripheral giant cell granuloma

Peripheral giant cell granuloma or the so-called “giant cell epulis” is the most common oral giant cell lesion. It normally presents as a soft tissue purplish-red nodule consisting of multinucleated giant cells in a background of mononuclear stromal cells and extravasated red blood cells. This lesion probably does not represent a true neoplasm, but rather may be reactive in nature, believed to be stimulated by local irritation or trauma, but the cause is not certainly known. This article reports a case of peripheral giant cell granuloma arising at the maxillary anterior region in a 22-year-old female patient. The lesion was completely excised to the periosteum level and there is no residual or recurrent swelling or bony defect apparent in the area of biopsy after a follow-up period of 6 months