Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Nanocomposites Based on Nano-Hydroxyapatite (HAP), Chitosan, and Vitamin K2

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of nanocomposites containing vitamin K2, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAP), and chitosan (Chito)-coated dental implants against clinically relevant microbial strains.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four test compounds were prepared: vitamin K2 + nHAP, K2 + Chito + nHAP, vitamin K2, and vitamin K2 + Chito. Agar well diffusion test was conducted to assess the antimicrobial activity of these compounds against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), and Candida albicans (C. albicans). Results: The vitamin K2 + nHAP nanocomposite exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms, with E. faecalis showing the highest sensitivity (25 mm zone of inhibition at 100 µL concentration). The K2 + Chito + nHAP nanocomposite demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity with C. albicans displaying the highest sensitivity (28 mm zone of inhibition at 100 µL concentration). Pure vitamin K2 showed limited antimicrobial activity, vitamin K2 combined with chitosan exhibited significant susceptibility to C. albicans, resulting in a substantial inhibition zone of 24 mm diameter at a concentration of 100 µL.

CONCLUSION

The synergistic effects of vitamin K2 with nHAP and chitosan highlight the potential of these nanocomposites for biomedical applications. These findings contribute to the development of effective nanocomposites to address antimicrobial resistance and improve infection control in various biomedical fields.

Evaluation of Implant and Prosthesis Survival Rates Based on Crestal Bone Loss

A dental implant mimics the tooth and restores its function. It has flourished as a replacement of missing natural teeth that has a success rate over 90% over the years. However, this root-form implant has also been associated with some complications after its application. Crestal bone loss, one of the biggest challenges in dental implant placement, occurs around the dental implant neck within a few months post-loading. The aim of this study was to determine survival rates and to measure crestal bone changes after placement of a single crown prosthesis. Data collection was done in a private dental university setting. Data from approximately 296 cases were retrieved after analyzing 86,000 case sheets. The following parameters were evaluated based on dental records: age, sex, implant placement area, implant diameter and length, and presence or absence of exudate. Crestal bone loss was assessed radiographically. Excel tabulation and SPSS version 23 were used for data analysis. Chi-square testing was done to correlate various parameters used in this study. Incipient crestal bone loss was commonly observed. It was seen that the association between crestal bone loss and exudate was statistically significant (Chi-square, p < 0.05). Within the limits of this study, incipient crestal bone loss was observed in most dental implants irrespective of bone density, implant length, implant diameter, and implant placement area.

Knowledge and awareness on neurolept anesthesia among dental students

N20 omission or addition to the combination of an opioid and neuroleptic is referred to as neuroleptanalgesia and neuroleptanesthesia, respectively. Conscious sedation is the result of this evolution. The requirement for high-quality anesthesia that is also related with speedier recovery, improved comfort, and lower costs all support the concept of neuroleptanesthesia. A set of eight questions was formulated and circulated among the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Saveetha Dental College. Responses were collected and the data were entered into MS Excel sheet and transferred to SPSS for the analysis. Results were made into graphs and interpreted. In the present study, among the students who took part in the study, 36.3% of the students were postgraduates and 63.7% of them were undergraduates. About 45.2% of the students were not aware and 54.8% of the students were aware that neuroleptanalgesia refers to the combination of a potent sedative analgesic agent and a tranquillizer. Many of the students were not aware of what neuroleptic esthetic is and how it evolved. The current study showed that most students did not have enough knowledge about neurolept anesthesia. However, dentists should make efforts to improve knowledge, awareness of neurolept anesthesia for further advancement, and the need for high-quality anesthesia.

Knowledge, awareness, and attitude of dentists toward use of denture adhesives in Tamil Nadu: A questionnaire survey

Dentists, especially the clinicians, struggle to achieve comfort, stability, and retention in removable dentures, which eliminates need of denture adhesives, and often prescribe denture adherents as an adjunct aid in denture aftercare. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitude of dentists in Tamil Nadu toward use of denture adhesives in clinical practice. This survey was conducted among 150 dentists in Tamil Nadu, of which 128 dentists responded. The survey had 22 close-ended questions circulated through online forms. The data were collected, tabulated, and interpreted. Respondents were 24.2% general practitioners, 14.8% undergraduate students, 25.8% postgraduate students - prosthodontics, 30.5% other than prosthodontics, and 4.7% were prosthodontists. Awareness of usage of denture adhesives, 99.2% of the population responded positively and 1.6% respondents had no awareness. Majority of clinicians were not familiar with the toxic effects and thus a difference in recommendation was seen. The results of this survey conclude that knowledge and attitude of dentists in state of Tamil Nadu pertaining to use of denture adhesives as a retentive adjunct in denture fabrication is good overall, but depth of knowledge about its indication in clinical practice, toxicity, and complications needs some improvement.

Crestal Bone Loss in Implants Postloading and Its Association with Age, Gender, and Implant Site: A Retrospective Study

We evaluate crestal bone loss in implants after loading and bone loss associated with age, gender, and implant site. This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College, India. We obtained ethical clearance from the Scientific Review Board at the college. Data were collected from 86,000 patients who visited Saveetha Dental College between June 2019 and March 2020. From these, we retrieved data from 335 patients, in whom implants were placed during this time frame. We tabulated data using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM; Armonk, NY), ver. 20 for Windows. Chi-squared tests determined association among bone density, implant site, crestal implant position, and primary implant stability. We observed significant correlation between age and crestal bone loss (p = 0.019), but not between gender (p = 0.792) nor implant site (p = 0.223) with crestal bone loss.

Evaluation of the Marginal Fit of Implant-Supported Crowns

Marginal adaptation is an important feature of implant-supported crowns, ensuring long-term survival and the success of the prosthetic restoration. The long-term success of a fixed prosthesis such as an implant is highly associated with its marginal adaptation. Improper marginal adaptation increases the risk of plaque accumulation, which leads to decay and periodontal diseases and eventually results in the failure of the fixed dental restoration. The aim of this study is to evaluate the marginal fit of different types of implant-supported crowns following the cementation procedure. It is a retrospective study conducted by reviewing 86,000 patient case records of the Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India. A total of 196 consecutive case records of patients for a period of June 2019 to March 2020, with signed informed consent, were retrieved and analyzed. Information such as patient name, patient identification number (PID), age, gender, marginal adaptation, and type of materials was retrieved from patient case records. Data were entered in Excel and analyzed using SPSS software version 23.0. Descriptive analysis was done for the assessment of age, gender, type of materials, and marginal adaptation. A Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association between marginal adaptation and type of materials. The significant level was set at less than or equal to 0.05 (p ≤ 0.05). In this study, we observed that all-metal, metal-ceramic, hand-layered, and monolithic crowns mainly have smooth margins adaptation (52.55%) following cementation. The placement of implant-supported crowns is mostly done in individuals within the 21-30 years age group (29.08%). A higher prevalence of implant-supported crowns is seen in males (61.73%) compared to females (38.27%). Within the limits of the study, placement of implant-supported crowns is done mainly in individuals within the 21-30 years age group, with higher predilection in males compared to females. Metal-ceramic crowns are commonly placed, followed by hand-layered crowns, monolithic crowns, and all-metal crowns. Most of the implant-supported crowns exhibit satisfactory marginal adaptation with smooth margins. However, there is no significant association between the types of material and marginal adaptation.

Evaluation of Bone Density, Implant Site, and Crestal Position of Implants and Their Influence on Implant Primary Stability-A Retrospective Study

Dental practice has had a turning point with the introduction of implants. A major prerequisite for implant success is the presence of primary stability at the time of implant placement and during loading. Poor primary stability can be one of the causes of implant failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone density, implant site, and crestal position of implants and their association with implant primary stability. A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College. Data was collected from a total of 86,000 patients who visited Saveetha Dental College between June 2019 and March 2020. The data of 500 patients in whom implants were placed in this time frame and who were between 25 and 50 years of age were retrieved and tabulated in SPSS for Windows, version 20. Chi-square testing was done to determine the association of bone density, implant site, and crestal position of implants with implant primary stability. There was no significant association between primary stability and crestal position (P = 0.297), implant site (P = 0.467), or bone density (P = 0.378).

Awareness of Dental Students on the Application of PRF in Dental Practice - A Survey

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix in which platelet cytokines, growth factors, and cells are trapped and may be released after a certain time and that can serve as a resorbable membrane. In other words, it is an increased concentration of platelets suspended in a matrix which can serve as a vehicle to carry cells involved in tissue regeneration. This survey aimed at assessing the knowledge and awareness of Platelet-rich fibrin among dental students. The study was done in an online setting among the dental students of the Chennai population. The sample size of 150 participants of the age group 20-23 years, both males and females were selected by a simple random sampling method. Both descriptive (frequency of the responses) and inferential statistics (Chi-square tests) were done and the results were presented in the forms of graphs. According to this survey-based study, it was noted that the majority of participants were comprised of females (67%). It was observed that 87% of the population participated in the study were aware of the term PRF (ie. platelet-rich fibrin) whereas 13% of the population was not aware of the term. The statistical association between gender and the awareness of PRF, its advantages, and components was found to be significant (p<0.05), with females having more awareness than males. Within the limitations of this study, we can conclude that while dental students are aware of PRF they do not have extensive knowledge of its components and its application in various procedures. It was also observed that there was a disparity in awareness between the genders where females were much aware compared to males. We propose to include this knowledge of PRF in the curriculum to ensure increased awareness of PRF among dental students. 

Awareness of Botox Injections in Facial Aesthetics among Dental Students

The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and knowledge on the use of Botox injections in facial aesthetics among undergraduate dental students. Botulinum toxin is considered as a quick and effective non-surgical solution for enhancing physical appearance. Botox is considered as the best choice, as it is affordable and less radical than surgery. It is derived from gram-positive spore forming, clostridium botulinum. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the awareness of dentists towards using botulinum toxins in facial aesthetics. The survey was conducted online via survey planet. There were about 103 study population, participated in this study. Data is collected using an online survey planet link and statistically analysed.  95.1% of participants reported that they have general knowledge on the Botox (95.1%). 66 % of  respondents agreed  that clostridium botulinum bacterium is the source of Botox. 24.51% of respondents stated that Botox was commonly used for wrinkle reduction and 96.1% were aware of the toxicity effect of Botox when it is administered in a high dosage. Association between response of the participants and knowledge on Botox was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). According to our study, the majority of students showed an acceptable level of knowledge and awareness on Botox and its use in facial aesthetics.

The Awareness of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics Prescription among Dental Students

Beta-lactam antibiotic is the most common antibiotic prescribed by dental students. However, the actual knowledge on beta lactam is important as antimicrobial resistance is currently an alarming and growing phenomenon and in turn becoming a public health challenge. A survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness of beta-lactam antibiotics prescriptions among dental students in their third years, final years and interns. A total of 145 responses were obtained and the results were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software. Based on their knowledge on beta-lactam antibiotics, 59.3% of the participants knew exactly the mechanisms of action of beta-lactam antibiotic which was by interfering with the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. In the case of penicillin allergy, 40% of the participants chose erythromycin as the alternative for penicillin allergy. 84% of the participants were aware that the combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid may increase its effectiveness. Meanwhile, 98% of the participants were aware that amoxicillin is the drug of choice for bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. 72% of the participants were aware that most beta-lactam antibiotics are considered safe for pregnant and lactating women which was statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, the students had quite a good knowledge and awareness regarding the prescription of beta-lactam antibiotics since they have been practicing under guidance from the practitioner in the college.

Awareness on Nanoparticles Incorporation in Dental Materials among Undergraduate Students - A Cross Sectional Survey

Nanotechnology is widely used in day to day life including its use in medicine. Using nanotechnology it is easy to analyse the atoms , chemical bonds and molecules present between various compounds. Use of nanoparticles in the field of dentistry is called nano dentistry. Chemical, physical and biological aspects of nanoparticles should be taken into account while choosing nanoparticles for the use in the field of nano dentistry. Nanoparticles are used in innovations of dentistry. Nano materials can be used for preventing and curing oral diseases such as oral cancer and to maintain oral health care. This study aims at evaluating knowledge and awareness of nanoparticles incorporated in dental materials among undergraduate dental students. A questionnaire with a set of 9 questions to assess the students knowledge and awareness about nanoparticles incorporation in dental materials. The sample size of 99 participants of dental students of Saveetha Dental College were selected by a simple random sampling method. The participants were asked to fill the questionnaire in an online site called survey planet. The results were collected and statistically analysed. Chi square test was done and it was found that 71% of the participants were aware about the use of nanoparticles in dental materials, even though it is statistically not significant (p value- 0.436), 73% of respondents were aware about nanoparticle incorporation in impression materials with p value 0.449 (not significant) and 72% were aware about use of nanomaterials in titanium implants(p value-0.340). Within the limitations of the study, it can be observed that the undergraduate students at the Faculty of Dentistry of Saveetha were well aware about the use of nanoparticles in dental materials.

Evaluation of Osseointegration and Crestal Bone Loss Associated with Implants Placed in Diabetic and Other Medically Compromised Patients

Diabetes and other medically compromising diseases may affect people in many ways. Missing teeth can be replaced by various methods including dental implants. The stability, a more natural appearance, and minimizing the risk of bone resorption attribute to its direct anchor into bones. Nevertheless, diabetic patients may experience failure of implant placement due to microvascular complications that lead to sluggish healing after surgery. In addition, some medications are believed to impair bone healing, thus compromising dental implant success. This paper evaluates osseointegration and crestal bone loss of implants placed in medically compromised patients. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using patient records from Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, from June 2019 to March 2020. Patients who had dental implants and were medically compromised were chosen randomly. Data were collected and then subjected to statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics analysis was done to find the correlation between crestal bone loss and medically compromised individuals. Microsoft Excel 2016 data spreadsheets were used to collect data, which were later exported to SPSS. Among 89 patients, more than 60% experienced crestal bone loss following implant placement. Diabetic patients recorded the highest prevalence of bone loss in comparison to other medically compromised patients. A significant association was found between crestal bone loss and diabetic patients (p < 0.05) Patients whose diseases were under control with medication were also observed to have bone loss. Overall, the prevalence of crestal bone loss seems to be higher in diabetic patients compared to other medically compromised patients. There seems to be definite correlation between diabetes and crestal bone loss.

Survival Rates of Implants Placed by Undergraduate Students: A Retrospective Study

Edentulism (partial or complete) is considered a major indicator of the oral health of a population. In partially edentulous patients the alveolar bone, adjacent teeth, and supporting structures influence the choice of prosthetic restoration. Dental implants are becoming a very viable option for rehabilitation. While many studies report the success of rehabilitations using implants, there is limited literature regarding survival of implants in the concerned district taken for study. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival rates of implants and prosthesis placed by undergraduate students in a dental hospital. The study was a University/Hospital based retrospective study, and included patients visiting the dental hospital. Out of 86,000 patients who visited Saveetha Dental College, a total of 79 patients were included in the study as per the inclusion criteria of patients who had undergone implant therapy done by undergraduate students. Age, gender, presence of inflammation, infection, bone loss, and mobility were evaluated and tabulated in MS Excel. The data collected was imported to IBM SPSS for analysis and results were obtained. A majority of patients (92.4%) were found to have optimum survival rate of implants placed. No significant association was found between implant survival and age (p > 0.05) and gender (p > 0.05). Within the limits of the study, it was found that implants have a high survival rate but survival is not influenced by age and gender.