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Missing tooth can be easily replaced today with almost natural looking artificial substitute. One of the biggest factors behind the success of replacement tooth is their placement for which dental implants are used. Implants are akin to artificial root for a replacement tooth and are hence, responsible for its stable placement.

Best base for artificial teeth: Dental implants offer the best support for artificial teeth. They are placed securely in the jaw, providing firm support. Their solid base ensure your artificial teeth is as firmly embedded as your natural teeth. It is considered to be a much better option than bridgework, resin bonded bridges, endodontic treatment. It is also much better than dentures which have to be taken out repeatedly.

Long-term solution: Dental implants have been used in dentistry for decades now and have lasted the test of time. It offers the most long-term solution among all other options. Most options do not last more than a decade. While implants may need some adjustments from time to time, they will last much longer.

Protect adjacent teeth, gum: Dental implants offer a base to artificial teeth. Replacing missing tooth is not just a cosmetic issue. Missing tooth can take a severe toll on adjacent teeth and the affected gum area. As the adjacent tooth try to compensate for the missing teeth, they become crooked. The jawbone can deteriorate, resulting in erosion. Implants fill up this space, strengthening the jaw.

Lead normal life: By giving a permanent base to your teeth, dental implants help you lead a normal life. You no longer have to live with missing tooth. This way they help in discharging many essential functions in our body, including eating and speaking. Implants are also used in replacing more than one teeth, like dentures. However, as permanent teeth they are much better than dentures. They do not have to be taken out and are good as natural teeth.

Cosmetic benefits: As part of your replacement teeth, dental implants have obvious cosmetic benefits. Today these are built to be as good as your natural teeth, ensuring that your smile remaining as beautiful as ever. Not just that, implants ensures that your jaw retains its shape and does not sag.

Ref:- http://www.axissdental.com/benefits-of-getting-dental-implants/

Do you love your teeth? We mean, really love them. As in appreciate all that they do for you. As in being grateful that you have them, no matter how much trouble they may be giving you at the moment.

If not, we urge you to take a few moments every now and then to really think about how great teeth are so that you’ll be sure to show them some real love by taking care of them in the way they deserve.

Love your beautiful smile? Make sure you continue to show some love to your teeth.

Read below for why we love teeth (and you should, too):

• A beautiful smile sends a message to the people who see it. It says you care about your appearance enough to take care of yourself. It doesn’t signal that you’re vain and obsessed with your looks. Instead, knowing that you take good care of your teeth allows you to beam a big smile when you meet friends and acquaintances. People are drawn to those with self-confidence. If your teeth are in poor condition you may not smile as much as you’d like, possibly keeping potential new friends at bay.
• Your teeth can be an indication of your overall health. Unhealthy teeth and gums (which present themselves if you don’t practice proper oral hygiene) can lead to a whole host of bad health issues, including heart disease.
• Your teeth and gums – so long as they’re healthy -- allow you to eat just about any food you want, any time you want. Ask anyone who has lost one or more teeth, or who has major gum issues, and he or she will tell you that that ability to eat anything at any time is nothing to take for granted.
• Unhealthy teeth and gums also mean you could suffer from painful swollen gums, mouth lesions/ulcers or dry mouth.
• Loving your teeth means you visit your dentist at least two times a year for a professional cleaning and checkup. Oral cancer is a nasty disease and your dentist can discover the beginning stages of this disease during one of those visits, helping you get the treatment you need as soon as possible.

We urge you to show some appreciation and love to your teeth by taking care of them properly. It doesn’t take much effort or time (certainly not nearly the constant effort your teeth exert for you as they let eat and smile a beautiful smile). All you need to do is brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day, visit your dentist at least twice a year, watch your sweets intake, and never smoke (or quit).

That’s pretty much all you need to do to show your teeth some love and reap the benefits of doing so.

Photo courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tooth enamel is one of the strongest parts of your body. The enamel is the strong coating that covers the tooth, giving it structure and protecting the delicate dental pulp inside the tooth, over time the enamel can wear, which can lead to tooth decay, pain and further problems, if left untreated.
Acid is one of the leading causes of enamel erosion. Acid is found in a number of foods, but in most instances your saliva, which is alkaline, controls the erosion. Eating acid foods and drinks, combined with sugared foods and drinks can all have a negative impact on the enamel, increasing your risk of tooth erosion in the future.

Signs of Tooth Enamel Erosion
There are four signs you can look for to identify if your enamel is suffering from erosion. The first is pain. Most people who have enamel erosion will suffer from sensitivity to hot and cold. Taking a sip of iced water can increase pain, or enjoying a hot drink can leave you in agony.

Another sign is discolouration. As the enamel erodes, the dentin, which sits below the enamel is exposed. Dentin is slightly yellow in colour, which will make your teeth discolour. If you notice this, seek dental assistance and get a treatment plan in place as quickly as possible.

In some cases you may notice that the edges of your teeth appear transparent. The transparency is usually noticed where you bite. The final sign of enamel erosion is cracks in the tooth. While your entire tooth may not be cracked, when you look closely you may notice small hair-line cracks or dents on the surface of the tooth. This is mainly on teeth that are used for chewing and is seen on the chewing surfaces.

Preventative Measures
In order to reduce the risk of your tooth enamel eroding and keeping your teeth strong and healthy, there are preventative steps you can take.

The first is to reduce the amount of acid and sugar in your diet. Remember if you drink something sugary or eat something acidy, don’t brush immediately. Wait an hour and then brush so you don’t spread the acid or sugar to the other teeth.

If you want a sports drink or sugared drink, do so in moderation and use a straw. Drinking through a straw you can position the liquid to the back of the mouth, avoiding the teeth.

Chewing sugar free chewing gum is another option. Chewing gum encourages the production of saliva, which is alkaline and can help protect the enamel from erosion.

Modern dental milling machine models are extremely compact, enable easy installation and can be used for more than one purpose. CORiTEC 240i is one among them. It lets productive entry in CAD/CAM automation and is carefully designed with a system of 4 axes suitable for wet and dry milling of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, resins, wax, feldspar, etc.

When your milling machine is compact in size and offers more features, you can be sure of producing more number of high quality dentures.

Technology: This mill has high compatibility to CAD/CAM software along with high stability of rotary axis transmission. The efficiency of this mill with the additional adaptor makes it appropriate for milling and grinding of nano-composite block materials.

CORiTEC 240i lets you produce up to 45 units without you having to change the blank and this is made possible with the 10-times automatic tool changer, which also includes tool measurement. It has automatic control for tool breakage and features the simplest handling of single click operation.

The night mode feature of the CAD/CAM software enables automatic switching off after process completion. This milling machine offers the highest precision, as it has the spindle frequency that goes up to 60,000 rpm. In fact, this is the best option if your lab is small or medium sized and needs an efficient, low cost system with high-end features.

With CORiTEC 240i, you can produce precision milling of the required models such as dies-ditched model or sawn and pinned model. The pin plates, which are patented facilitates, direct application through magnet along with short milling times. This would ensure that your products are finished with precision and on time.

You can also make milling and modeling of sport splints, bite splints, and night guards. The material costs are low with absolute accuracy of fit in 16 different colors.

In essence, CORiTEC 240i milling machine offers you high return on low investment.

It will take place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April at the NEC in Birmingham.
An extensive trade exhibition will host leading dental suppliers and manufacturers, each showing the latest products, materials and technologies available. Experts in every field will be on hand to provide any information, advice or guidance you may need.

Of course DentLab Manager will be there.
We will be happy to help you choose the most suitable option for optimal results!

Do some of the foods you love now “bite back” at you? That is, are you finding that your usual Sunday afternoon ice cream cone causes some pain when you bite into it? Do hot or cold foods see you quickly placing your hands on your mouth from the pain? And this is for food temperatures that never bothered you before?

This tooth sensitivity could be signs that your tooth enamel has started to erode or thin.

Your tooth enamel is the outer layer of the tooth. It’s actually a very tough shell – it’s the hardest tissue in the human body, stronger even than our bones. It’s the part of your teeth that others see when you smile.

Enamel does more than just present a pretty smile to your friends. It protects your teeth from the rigors of daily use – from biting, crunching, chewing, and grinding.

Your tooth enamel is the white covering over your tooth. It’s actually stronger than your bones.

The bad news: should your tooth enamel erode/thin to the point that it develops cracks or chips, the damage is done: enamel has no living cells and the human body isn't able to repair cracked or chipped enamel.

Enamel erosion can be caused by several things, including a diet high in sugar and starches, drinking a lot of soft drinks (the phosphoric and citric acids can wear it away), medications such as aspirin and antihistamines, low flow of saliva, acid re-flux disease (GERD), as well as gastrointestinal problems that cause frequent vomiting, which can erode enamel.

Normal wear and tear also can erode enamel as you grow older.

'Root canal' is often touted as one of the most painful dental procedures. The mere name is enough to give people jitters and prevent them from seeing their dentist no matter how painful their tooth ache is. However, avoiding a trip to dental clinic means facing the inevitable root canal treatment sooner or later. In worse circumstances, you may risk losing your tooth if you do not pay attention to your dental problems. Incidentally, root canal procedures are no longer painful and have become one of the most commonly done dental procedures all over the world. In this article, we will uncover a few facts about root canal treatment.

What is a Root Canal                                                                         

Root canal is essentially a term used to define natural cavity within a tooth. This cavity consists of soft pulp, which contains the nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue. The pulp helps the tooth to grow out during the development phase. However, once the tooth erupts completely from gums, the pulp does not have any functional purpose. The nerve functions only as a sensor to hot or cold stimulus. In short, the tooth can survive without pulp.

Why Root Canal Treatment is Necessary

At times, the pulp may get infected due to a damaged nerve or injury to surrounding tissue. In that case, bacterial growth may lead to formation of abscess. Some of the physical symptoms of this condition may include red, painful gums, severe, acute tooth pain and swelling around the infected tooth. The pain may get triggered when you eat hot or cold food. Also, the pain may subside for a few days and may return again. However, one must understand that disappearance of pain is not an indication that the tooth has healed. You should pay due attention to your tooth condition as tooth abscess may lead to loss of tooth, if not treated on time.

What is Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal treatment is a dental procedure used to save the affected tooth from permanently getting damaged or decayed. The treatment involves removal of infected pulp from the root canal. The cavity is then cleaned and disinfected. It is then sealed with an artificial material and a crown is placed over the tooth. A root canal treatment renders a natural appearance to the tooth and it can function in pretty much the same way as any other tooth. Root canal treated teeth can last as long as other teeth. Root canal treatment can also save other teeth from getting infected. Besides, it also saves you from losing tooth, which can impede your biting or even alignment of other teeth.

What to Expect in a Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is a normal dental procedure which can be completed within 2 - 3 sittings, depending upon the condition of your tooth. Firstly, the dentist will take an X-Ray to determine the state of tooth and nature of infection. He may prescribe medicine to cure infection before proceeding to the actual treatment. During actual treatment your dentist will execute anesthesia to numb your tooth and surrounding area.. He will then clean and disinfect the root canal cavity and then fill an artificial material to seal it. During the next sitting he will place a crown atop the tooth to give it a natural look and feel.

Always trust a reliable dental clinic and a qualified dentist to perform root canal treatment on your teeth.

When treating patients, dentists may order for production of several dental restorations that are required for the treatment. Such restorations are usually produced by certified dental laboratories using advanced dental lab technology. When such a restoration is required, a dentist has to send a copy of the prescription specifying the treatment that the patient is undergoing, along with the items to be manufactured and also mold of the patients’ teeth or mouth to the laboratory, which would be used as a measurement. Dental laboratory technology is used by the lab technician to create the exact item.

Certain specific standards with regard to quality assurance, safety, manufacturing and business practices need to be followed by such certified dental laboratories. Here are certain facts to know about these laboratories before using their services:

• It is important to find out if such laboratories have the license and are authorized to carry on such activities.

• You should check if excellent and qualified technical support is being used in the laboratory for production of various products.

• The laboratory should uphold safety and quality standards with regard to the products used and the processes followed for creating the various items as per dentists’ prescriptions.

• The dental lab should maintain proper record of the various products it uses, their manufacturing and expiry date as well as the brands of such products. It should be ensured that quality products are used, which won’t pose any health hazard to the patient.

• It should meet different government regulations imposed on such laboratories and maintain proper records of the same.

• It should be monitored to see if the certified dental laboratories have trainings on infection control and that all their staff has mandatorily attended such training and procedures and applies such knowledge while producing products required in the treatment.

• The lab should have a remake policy in writing.

• The fact that the laboratory provides expertise in the specific areas should also be stated.

• It will be best if The laboratory have the latest machines like a milling machine, 3D Dental scanner, CAD/CAM software etc. which gives a better result in less time.

A certified dental laboratory (CDL) should check all these above pointers and use modern dental laboratory technology to provide the patients with excellent service in dental care. Such a lab takes pride in its professionalism and top-notch quality as its certification represents it to be in the top rungs of its industry. In case your dentist uses a CDL, you can have the confidence of knowing that the lab in question meets the specific standards and uses modern dental laboratory technology to offer outstanding services and facilities.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article must be used for reference purpose only. It is not intended to provide a substitute for an expert's medical advice.

A whopping 10 million wisdom teeth are removed every year! Interestingly, a majority of them aren't deemed an absolute necessity. The dental health fraternity is divided into two sections when it comes to wisdom tooth extractions. One section, mostly comprising dental surgeons defends the necessity of wisdom tooth removal while other non surgeon dentists challenge this solution that is prescribed regardless of the nature of wisdom tooth problem. Thus, it is very confusing to decide if you really need a wisdom tooth extraction. You would also want to know if there is any other substitute treatment for wisdom tooth problems other than removal. Let us take a look at the scenarios in which wisdom tooth removal becomes an absolute necessity.

 When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed

Wisdom teeth typically erupt during teen years of a person's life. It is also normal for wisdom teeth to erupt after the person is well into his adulthood. The peculiarity of wisdom teeth is that they may take few months to several years to fully erupt. Since, the other teeth are fully erupted and functional by this time, eruption of wisdom teeth may lead to minor to severe dental problems. Some of the common problems are listed in this article.

Pain, Swelling, Discomfort

It is important to find the underlying cause of pain and swelling. It could be due to the fact that wisdom teeth have no place to erupt and are damaging the jaw or gums. Swelling, redness is often a sign of infection and must be treated on priority. Your dentist will often diagnose the cause of pain before right away recommending a tooth extraction.

X-Ray Indicating Possible Problems

If your wisdom teeth are not fully erupted, your dentist will still know if they could pose a possible problem by looking at the X-ray. Many teenagers are advised to undergo a removal surgery at this stage to avoid discomfort in future. This precautionary measure can also prevent the possible misalignment of teeth.

Damage to Jaw, Gums

If wisdom teeth do not have required space to grow, they may damage your gums or jaws while erupting. Besides, if they do not grow in proper direction, you may have trouble locking your jaws. This could lead to difficulty while eating. Removal becomes essential if physical discomfort also persists.

Disruption to Teeth Alignment

Wisdom teeth push other teeth while erupting, if the space is already crowded. If you have a smaller jaw, the chances are that your wisdom teeth may disrupt the alignment of your other teeth. This could be an annoying problem for teenagers who may have undergone orthodontic procedures to align their teeth.

All the above conditions provide a solid ground for taking out your wisdom teeth. Your dentist will be the best person to gauge your condition and suggest remedy.

About Author:

Oracare Dental Centre: A dental clinic based in Pune, India offers you a pleasant experience in regards to your dental needs. Oracare features state of the art technological equipments doubled up with some of the best dentists that Pune has to offer. Rest assured for a pain free treatment at one of the best dental clinics in Pune, Oracare.

Dentists play a very important role in our lives by fixing our dental problems and help us sport that perfect smile. Hence, it is very important for the dental labs to be equipped with the latest technologies and dental lab equipments to ensure that the patients get treated fast and with ease. It is equally essential to maintain hygiene and safety while carrying out any dental procedure to avoid infections and other serious health complications.  This is why protective equipment should be used and equipments disinfected properly before and after every use.

When a dental care unit is set up with the motive of taking excellent care of patients, certain laboratory equipments are required to be present for the dentist to perform the procedures on the patients. Equipments such as scale, drills, mirrors, picks, suction tubes, air compressors, dental scanners, sintering furnaces, milling machines and the likes are required compulsorily for the treatment of the patients safely and easily.

Dental lab equipments used may not be the same in each dental care units as it all depends on the procedure that is practiced in a specific unit. While some units deal with a very limited set of dental problems and issues, some others may have a broader scope. Hence, based upon the services that the dentists wish to offer, the decision to buy dental lab equipments is taken. For instance, some basic dental lab equipments that a dental care unit should have include specialty chair for patients, X-ray machines, masks, gloves, trays, water lines, dental syringes etc. Units with a wide scope of work may also use advanced dental laboratory technology such as pinhole drills, articulators, ultrasonic cleansers, oral vibrators, electric waxers, water baths, pneumatic chisels, ceramin oven and much more so that better care of patients can be taken.

Teeth are very strong. Think about it: they chomp cookies, crackers, on shelled nuts, tough meat, gooey caramels, large lolly pops – you name it, your teeth have probably conquered it.

Until they meet their match.

Most people never break or chip a tooth. But many people do. Sometimes the cause is as innocuous as biting down on an errant unpopped popcorn kernel.

Sometimes it’s caused by doing something you should never do, such as pop a beer bottle cap off with your teeth.

Sometimes we fall down and break a tooth. Or something hits us hard in the mouth.

No matter the cause, take a look below for tips on what to do if you break or chip a tooth.

• First of all, don’t be surprised if you don’t feel any pain. Minor fractures usually don’t cause pain; you probably will feel pain if a large piece of your tooth breaks off. If you do feel pain it may be constant…or not: the pain could come and go. Most people will feel some discomfort when chewing.
• So how can you know if you chipped/broke a tooth? Your tongue undoubtedly will feel the jagged/broken edge of the tooth.
• If you see that your tooth is “just” cracked, you may think it’s Ok to skip the visit to your dentist, but you should see a dentist as soon as possible. In addition, chances are that you’ll be in pain. If the pain is constant, that could be a sign that you’ve damaged blood vessels or a nerve in your tooth. This is a serious matter and you should see a dentist as soon as you can.
• You’ll definitely need to visit a dentist if you’ve broken a tooth.  The dentist will take a look and determine if the tooth’s nerve is in danger. (If it is, you probably will need to undergo a root canal).

A broken tooth means there’s definitely a dentist visit in your future!

• As you make your way to the dentist’s office, do all you can to find the tooth, or its broken bits, and bring it to the dentist’s office with you.
• Rinse your mouth repeatedly with warm water.
• Your mouth probably will bleed; apply pressure for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Use a piece of clean gauze on the wound and apply pressure. If this doesn’t stop the bleeding, place a tea bag on the wound and apply pressure.
• To reduce swelling and relieve pain, apply a cold pack to your lips or cheek over the broken tooth.
• If you can’t get to the dentist quickly, head to the drugstore and purchase temporary dental cement. Cover the part of your tooth that remains in your mouth with the cement.
• While at the drugstore, if you’re in pain, purchase an over-the-counter pain reliever.
• If you need to eat, eat only soft foods and chew on the side of your mouth opposite of the broken tooth.

By James Heilman, MD (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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Introduction :

 Mental attitude of the patient is important in diagnosis and treatment planning

1.Cornell Medical index id a health questionnaire used to obtain a large amount of relevant medical and psychiatric information

2.Psychological testing [ Psychometrics] is a field characterised by use of behaviour samples to assess the cognitive and emotional functioning of an individual.

3.Graphology is described as a scientific study and analysis of hand writing ,art of interpreting character and personality from pecularities in Hand writing -GARDNER 1977

4.First serious treatise on Hand writing analysis -1622- By Camillo Baldo -"How to Judge the nature and character of a person from his letter "

Classification :

1.Blum In 1960 - [Sharry 1974]

1.reasonable /unreasonable

2.Realistic/Unrealistic

The psychological changes assosciated with ageing were well described by BURDACH [1819]

2.M.M House classification 

a.The Philosophical patient 

b.The Exacting 

c.Indifferent

D.The Hysterical

3.Heart well classification 

a.the realists

b.the resenters

c.the resigned

4.Dr.Suzanne Richard Classification [1957]

a. the Mature group

b.The rocking chair group

c.the armoured 

d.the angry men

e.the self haters

4.Winklers Traits of an ideal patient 

5.Simon Gamer's Classification 

-Modification of House classification 

a.Level of involvement

b.Level of trust

+ -disengaged

+++- reasonably engaged [ideal patient ]

engagementt -++++.trust ++ -- Submitter

engagement ++, trust ++ -Reluctant

eng -+ ,trust + - Indifferent

engagement-++++.trust + - Resistant 

++++- over involovement

6.Pankey system by Dr.L.D Pankey

Class I -High level Dental I.Q

Class II - Good dental I.Q

Class III- Poor Dental I.Q

Class IV-  Very Low Dental I.Q

7.O'Shea Classification 

a.Complaint

b.Sophisticated

c.Responsive

8.Koper classification

a.Problem patients

b. Difficult denture wearers

Jamieson stated that fitting the personality of the aged patient is often more difficult than fitting the prostheses to the patient mouth .

Krochack, recognizing the critical need to understand the behaviour of the edentulous patient stated that many patients with favourable anatomy cannot tolerate a well fabricated prosthesis and yet other patient with unfavourable anatomy willing endure prosthesis that may be ill fitting. He asserted that the inconsistencies of patient adaptation in this situation may be related to the patient psychological state .

Kent stated that the ability of a doctor to determine when a patient has unrealistic expectation and the ability to manage that interaction effectively may avert a conflict

A specific classification system has been presented to identify response by individuals who are edentulous. Three types of maladaptive responses are considered as probable consequences of fear, anxiety and depression associated with complete edentulism. In class1, the patient adapts physically but is maladaptive psychologically. In maladaptive class 2, the so called difficult patients is maladaptive physically and psychologically and there by keeps the doctor involved technically and emotionally for a protracted period of time . The maladaptive class 3 patient collapses with complete edentulisim. Physical and emotion maladaptibility is accompanied by much suffering and social withdrawal

Specifications and Technical Reports

    * Specifications and Technical Reports

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 1—Alloy for Dental Amalgam: 2003

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 6—Dental Mercury: 1987 (Reaffirmed 2005)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 12—Denture Base Polymers: 2002 (Reaffirmed 2008)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 15—Artificial Teeth for Dental Prostheses: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 17—Denture Base Temporary Relining Resins:1983 (Reaffirmed 2006)

    * ADA Specification No. 18—Alginate Impression Materials: 1992

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 19—Dental Elastomeric Impression Materials: 2004

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 23 (with Addendum)—Dental Excavating Burs: 1982 (Reaffirmed 2010)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 25—Dental Gypsum Products: 2000 (Reaffirmed 2005)

    * ADA Specification No. 26—Dental X-Ray Equipment: 1991

    * ADA Specification No. 27—Resin-Based Filling Materials: 1993

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 28—Root Canal Files and Reamers, Type K: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 30—Dental Zinc Oxide - Eugenol and Zinc Oxide - Non-Eugenol Cements: 2000 (Reaffirmed 2005)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 32—Orthodontic Wires: 2006

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 33—Dental Product Standards Development Vocabulary: 2003

    * ADA Specification No. 34—Dental Aspirating Syringes: 1978

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 37—Dental Abrasive Powders: 1986 (Reaffirmed 2005)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 38—Metal-Ceramic Dental Restorative Systems: 2000 (Reaffirmed 2010)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 39—Pit and Fissure Sealants: 2006

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 41—Recommended Standard Practices for Biological Evaluation of Dental Materials: 2005

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 43—Electrically Powered Dental Amalgamators: 1986 (Reaffirmed 2010)

    * ADA Specification No. 44—Dental Electrosurgical Equipment: 1979

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 46—Dental Patient Chair: 2004

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 47—Dental Units: 2006

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 48—Visible Light Curing Units: 2004 (Reaffirmed 2009)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 48-2—LED Curing Lights: 2010

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 53—Polymer-Based Crown and Bridge Materials: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 54—Double-Pointed, Parenteral, Single Use Needles for Dentistry: 1986 (Reaffirmed 2009)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 57—Endodontic Sealing Material: 2000 (Reaffirmed 2006)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 58—Root Canal Files, Type H (Hedstrom): 2010

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 62—Dental Abrasive Pastes: 2005

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 63—Root Canal Barbed Broaches and Rasps: 2006

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 69—Dental Ceramic: 2010

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 70—Dental X-Ray Protective Aprons and Accessory Devices: 1999 (Reaffirmed 2005)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 71—Root Canal Filling Condensers (Pluggers and Spreaders): 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 73—Dental Absorbent Points: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 74—Dental Operator's Stool: 2010

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 75—Resilient Lining Materials for Removable Dentures - Part 1: Short Term Materials: 1997 (Reaffirmed 2003)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 76—Non-Sterile Natural Rubber Latex Gloves For Dentistry: 2005 (Reaffirmed 2010)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 78—Dental Obturating Cones: 2006

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 80—Dental Materials - Determination of Color Stability: 2001 (Reaffirmed 2008)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 82—Dental Reversible/Irreversible Hydrocolloid Impression Material Systems: 1998 (Reaffirmed 2009)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 85-Part 1—Disposable Prophy Angles: 2004

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 87—Dental Impression Trays: 1995 (Reaffirmed 2003)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 88—Dental Brazing Alloys: 2000 (Reaffirmed 2006)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 89—Dental Operating Lights: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 94—Dental Compressed Air Quality: 1996 (Reaffirmed 2003)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 95—Root Canal Enlargers: 2003 (Reaffirmed 2009)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 96—Dental Water-based Cements: 2000 (Reaffirmed 2005)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 97—Corrosion Test Methods: 2002 (Reaffirmed 2008)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 99—Athletic Mouth Protectors and Materials: 2001 (Reaffirmed 2007)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 100—Orthodontic Brackets and Tubes: 2004 (Reaffirmed 2009)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 101—Root Canal Instruments: General Requirements: 2001 (Reaffirmed 2010)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 102—Non-Sterile Nitrile Gloves: 1999 (Reaffirmed 2010)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 103—Non-Sterile Poly Vinyl Chloride Gloves For Dentistry: 2001 (Reaffirmed 2010)

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 105—Orthodontic Elastomeric Materials: 2010

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 108—Amalgam Separators: 2009

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 109—Procedures for Storing Dental Amalgam Waste and Requirements for Amalgam Waste Storage/Shipment Containers: 2006

    * ADA Technical Report No. 110—Standard Procedures for the Assessment of Laser-induced Effects on Oral Hard and Soft Tissue: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 113—Periodontal Curettes, Dental Scalers and Excavators: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 116—Oral Rinses: 2010

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 119—Manual Toothbrushes: 2008

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 120—Powered Toothbrushes: 2009

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 122—Dental Casting and Baseplate Waxes: 2007

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 125—Manual Interdental Brushes: 2009

    * ANSI/ADA Specification No. 126—Casting Investments and Refractory Die Materials: 2009

Definition :

“The creation of functional materials, devices and systems through control of matter on

the nanometer scale (1-100 nm), and exploitation of novel phenomena and properties (physical, chemical and biological) at that length scale”.

-Indian Journal of Multidisciplinary Dentistry, Vol. 1, Issue 5, July-August 2011

Introduction

Ò  The term “Nanotechnology” was coined by Prof. Kerie E.Drexler

Ò   «Nano»-the Greek word - “dwarf”.

Ò   Nanotechnology- science of manipulating matter measured in the manometer, roughly the size of 2 or 3 atoms

Ò  The basic idea of nanotechnology- to employ individual atoms and molecules to construct functional structures.

Ò  The late Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard P. Feynman in his historic lecture in 1959,

“this is a development which I think cannot be avoided”

Classification

1.Nanoelectronics

2.Nanomaterials/particles

3.Nanobiotechnology

Nanoelectronics :

Ò  Use Of nanotechnology on electronic components,especially transistors,computer processors etc.

Nanomaterials :

Ò  Essentially Polymers Reinforced by nanoparticles

Ò  Results in  novel materials –used as light weight replacements for metal

Ò  Can affect the mechanical properties like Stiffness or elasticity

The various nanoparticles are

Ò  1. Nanopores

Ò  2. Nanotubes

Ò  3. Quantum dots

Ò  4. Nanoshells

Ò  5. Dendrimers

Ò  6. Liposomes

Ò  7. Nanorods

Ò  8. Fullerenes

Ò  9. Nanospheres

Ò  10. Nanowires

Ò  11. Nanobelts

Ò  12. Nanorings

Ò  13. Nanocapsules

Classification of Nanomaterials :

1.Carbon based

2.Metal based

3.Dendrimers

4.Composites

Ò  Nano assemblers –smaller than cell nucleus

Ò  Potential

Ò  Customisation of diagnosis and treatment

Nanodiagnostics –

 is the use of nanodevices for the early disease identification or predisposition at cellular and molecular level

in-vitro diagnostics,

Ò  increase the efficiency and reliability of the diagnostics

Ò   uses human fluids or tissues samples by using selective nanodevices, to make multiple analyses at subcellular scale

In vivo diagnostics,

Ò  devices able to work inside the human

1.to identify the early presence of a disease,

2. to identify and quantify toxic molecules, tumor cells

NANODENTISTRY

Ò  maintenance of comprehensive oral health by employing nanomaterials, including tissue engineering, and ultimately,dental nanorobots.

Ò  1.local anaesthesia,

Ò  2. dentitionrenaturalization, and permanent hypersensitivity cure,

Ò  3.Complete orthodontic realignments during a single office visit,

Ò  4. covalently bonded diamondised enamel,

Ò  5. continuous oral health maintenance using mechanical dentifrobots

Nanomaterials in dentistry

1.Nano composites

2.Nanosolution

3.Impression materials

4.Nanoencapsulation

5.Local nanoanesthesia

6.Dentinal hypersensitivity

7.Tooth durability and appearance

8.Orthodontic treatment

Uses of Nanomaterials in dentistry:

Ò  Nano impression materials

Ò  Nano bonding agents

Ò  Nano drug releasing systems

Ò  Nano composites

Ò  Nano Ceramics

Ò  Nano Sterilizing agents

Ò  Dental implants

Nanocomposites :

Ò  nonagglomerated discrete nanoparticles that are homogeneously distributed in resins or coatings to produce nanocomposites

Ò  The nanofiller used is

Ò   aluminosilicate powder having a mean particle size of 80 ran

Ò  a 1:4 M ratio of alumina to silica and

Ò   a refractive index of 1.508.

Advantages:

• Superior hardness

• Superior flexural strength, modulus of elasticity andtranslucency

• 50% reduction in filling shrinkage

• Excellent handling properties

Nanosolution:

Ò  Nanosolutions produce unique and

dispersible nanoparticles, which can be used in bonding agents.

Ò  Ensures homogenecity and ensures that the adhesive is perfectly mixed everytime

Nanoencapsulation

Ò  targeted release systems that encompass nanocapsules including novel vaccines, antibiotics and drug delivery with reduced side effects

Ò  targeted delivery of genes and drugs to human liver -developed by Osaka University in Japan 2003

Ò  Engineered Hepatitis B virus envelope L particles were allowed to form hollow nanoparticles displaying a peptide that is indispensable for liver-specific entry by the virus in humans.

Ò  Future specialized nanoparticles could be engineered to target oral tissues, including cells derived from the periodontium

Local nanoanaesthesia

Ò  colloidal suspension containing millions of active analgesic micron-size dental robots will be instilled on the patient’s gingiva.

Ò   After contacting the surface of crown or mucosa,the ambulating nanorobots reach the pulp via the gingival sulcus, lamina propria and dentinal tubules

Ò  Once installed in the pulp, the analgesic dental robots may be commanded by the dentist to shut down all sensitivity in any particular tooth that requires treatment.

Ò  After oral procedures are completed, the dentist orders the nanorobots to restore all sensation, to relinquish control of nerve traffic and to egress from the tooth by similar pathways used for ingress

Dental hypersensitivity

Ò  Natural hypersensitive teeth have eight times higher surface density of dentinal tubules and diameter with twice as large than nonsensitive teeth.

Ò  Reconstructive dental nanorobots, using native biological materials, could selectively and precisely occlude specific tubules within minutes, offering patients a quick and permanent cure

Tooth durability and appearance

Ò  Durability and appearance of tooth may be improved by replacing upper enamel layers with covalently bonded artificial materials such as sapphire or diamond, which have 20-100 times the hardness and failure strength of natural enamel or contemporary ceramic veneers and good biocompatibility.

Ò  Nanorobotic dentifrice (dentifrobots) delivered by mouthwash or toothpaste could patrol all supragingival and subgingival surfaces at least once a day metabolizing trapped organic mater into harmless and odorless vapors and performing continuous calculus debridement.

Orthodontic treatment :

Ò  Orthodontic nanorobots could directly manipulate the periodontal tissues, allowing rapid and painless tooth straightening, rotating and vertical repositioning within minutes to hours

Nanotechnology in Dental Implants:

Ò  Coating of nanoparticles over the dental implants.

Ò  The surface of the implant plays a critical role in determining biocompatibility and biointegration because it is in direct contact with the tissues.

Ò  Implant surface composition

Ò   surface energy

Ò  surface roughness

Ò  surface topography

-the four material related factors which can influence events at bone-implant interfaces.

Ò  Surface textures are of three types- macro, micro and nano

Ò  Nanostructured (NS) materials contain a large volume fraction (>50%) of defects such as grain boundaries, inter phase boundaries, and dislocations, and this strongly influences their chemical and physical properties.

Ò  Biomimetic dental implants may be the next development in the field.

Ò  Coating implants with nanotextured titanium, hydroxy apatite, and pharmacological agents such as bisphosponates –

1. may induce cell differentiation and proliferation and

2. may promote greater vascularity in highly cortical bone,

-improves conditions for early and long-term

Ò  (in response to functional loading) bone remodeling

Ò  Successful osseointegration is influenced by both the chemical composition and the surface geometry or topography of the implant

Ò  Surface nanotopography affects cell interactions at surfaces and alters cell behavior when compared to conventional sized topography

Ò  Nanoscale topography is a powerful way of altering protein interactions with the surface.

Methods of Synthesis of Implant Nanomaterials:

1.Top down                            2.Bottom up

Top down: Produced from larger structures by use of ultrafine grinders,lasers and vaporisation followed by cooling

Bottom up: Arranging molecules to form complex structures with new and useful properties

Imaging of nanomaterials:

Ò  X-ray diffraction[XRD]

Ò  Atomic force microscopy[AFM]

Ò  Scanning electron microscope[SEM]

Ò  Transmission electron microscopy[TEM]

Ò  Magnetization measurements

Ò  Nuclear magnetic reasonance[NMR]

Ò  Spectroscopy

Ò  2-D electrophoresis and Mass spectrometry of proteins

Ò  Confocal Microscopy

Nanobiotechnology :

Ò  Nanorobotics

Nanorobots are theoretical microscopic devices measured on the scale of nanometers (1 nm equals one millionth of 1 mm).

Hazards of nano :

Ò  The potential deleterious effect analyzed so that expanded development and use

Ò  of nanotechnology can proceed.

Ò  rapid withdrawal of a nanotechnology-based

Ò  product, Magic Nano, a spray-on ceramic sealant to repel dirt.

Ò  Over 110 consumers in Europe reported respiratory symptoms after using the spray.The product was withdrawn in March 2006.

Synonyms : Spare denture, back-up denture.

TECHNIQUES :

There are mainly three techniques.

(1)Modified denture flask method-(Brewer and Morrow 1975)-

• Remove a rectangular section from the upper pat of the flask for the wax sprue.
• Add utility or orthodontic tray wax in thin areas in the external surface of the denture.
• 75mm long with a diameter of 15mm wax is rolled to make the sprue which is attached the lingual surface of the mandibular heel region.
• Apply adhesive on the interior surface of the flask to aid in the retention of alginate.
• Mix alginate and place in the lower part of the flask and the remaining alginate is painted on the interior of the denture.
• Place the denture in to the alginate in the flask with the sprue projecting out through the triangular opening and supporting the denture.
• After alginate has set, the other half of the flask is filled with another mix of alginate and the flask is closed.
• After alginate has set separate the flasks and remove the denture.
• Dry the tooth indentations using tissue paper and mix tooth coloured acrylic and add in to the indentations till the cervical region.
• Now assemble the flask together and mix pour type acrylic resin and pour it through one sprue hole till the other sprue hole fills.
• Gently rock the flask to avoid air entrapment. Sprue should be upward facing and the flask is immersed in warm water at 20psi for 30minutes

(2)Pour resin flask method (Boos and Carpenter 1974)-

• Attach the denture in the base of the flask using modeling clay.
• Place the counter and pour a mixture of alginate.
• Allow it to set.
• Open the flask and remove the clay.
• Mix alginate and pour it.
• Once the second pour of alginate is set open the flask and remove the denture.
• Mix tooth coloured self cure resin and pour it in the teeth indentation and later pink colour pour type resin the denture base area.

(3)The cup flask method(Wanger 1970) or zipper technique by singer (1975)-

• In this method a 12 ounce ceramic cup is used to duplicate the denture using hydrocolloids. Singer modified it by adding a dental floss to section the alginate.
• A  16 inch floss is dipped in melted orthodontic tray wax and this is placed 2-3mm below the border of maxillary denture and across the posterior region.
• In case of mandibular denture the 2 floss are used one on buccal side and another on lingual side and extend it to the sprue wax which is attached to the heel of the cast.
• Suspend the denture using two wooden rods.
• A modeling clay wedge is placed on the inner surface of the cup and the alginate is mixed with three times the water recommended by the manufacturer.
• Fill the cup with alginate and sink the denture in to it.
• Wooden rod and the clay wedge is removed and a stream of air is blown through the space of the clay wedge to remove the mold from the cup.
• Now the floss is pulled across the posterior border and flanges to section the mold in to two halves.
• Tooth coloured self cure resin is placed in the tooth indentations and the halves are assembled back in the cup.
• Through the sprue holes the pour type resin is mixed and poured.

Scanner is one of the most essential dental lab equipments that dentists require in order to perform dental surgeries. Dental scanner is an integral part of most dental operations, especially the complicated ones. The scanners deliver superior data with improved measurements. Although there are several imaging technologies that can be used for dental surgeries, the dental scanners are designed to create a 3D digital model, based on either an impression or a physical dental model. These scanners are one of the most revolutionary inventions of the dental laboratory technology. However, it's essential to know the features of an Identica scanner, as mentioned below, in case you are planning to buy one:

• Twin camera technology – The Identica scanner boasts of a function that obtains a single set of data with two high resolution cameras. This precise data is way more accurate as compared to other scanners that are equipped with a single camera.
• 3D white light scanner – These scanners are manufactured following the white light 3D scanning technology. This enables users to obtain clearer data than the conventional laser type scanners. White light scanning ensures noise free and clearer 3D data.
• Sharp margin line – With the help of the twin camera technology, the scanner is designed for optimal measurements of margin lines. With a superior arrangement of the 3D scanning module and the rotary stage, this scanner offers a margin line that’s way sharper than other types of scanners.
• Fast scanning speed – The Identica scanner is designed in such a way such that it can scan a single tooth model just within 1 to 2 minutes, while bridges take anywhere between 3 and 4 minutes. The scanner can scan any object, irrespective of the shape of the model.

With the help of these advanced features, an Identica scanner enhances the quality of the end product in dental CAD/CAM applications. Thanks to its high-precision 3D scanning and the use of excellent 3D measurement technology, the Identica scanner has revolutionized dental laboratory technology by optimizing production and cost efficiency for the laboratories.

If you have been looking for a high-end 3D scanners ideal for CAD/CAM applications, invest in an Identica scanner today!

Brushing teeth, a seemingly simple activity can have lasting effects upon your dental health. How you brush your teeth, how frequently you do it and whether you are doing it correctly or not are some of the deciding factors about your dental health. Naturally, a toothbrush plays a very important role in maintaining oral hygiene. Unfortunately, many people are ignorant about the correct type of brush for their teeth. Simply, dropping at a store and picking up a toothbrush in your favorite color doesn't help! Choosing the right toothbrush goes a long way in maintaining and improving your dental health and hygiene.

How to Choose a Right Toothbrush

Bristles

Most dentists agree that a soft bristled toothbrush can suffice the cleaning needs of most individuals. It gently removes the debris and plaque from the teeth. If you are not too comfortable using a soft bristled toothbrush, then we recommend you settle for a medium bristled brush. However, using a hard bristled toothbrush is totally unadvisable. It can damage your gums and rip off your tooth enamel. Apart from that, one should also take into account the material of the bristles. A synthetic, nylon bristled brush is better than natural one. Natural bristles are made of animal hair, which can promote breeding of bacteria.

Head

A toothbrush with a small, angular head is better than one with a larger head. A small head can easily access narrow areas and clean teeth that are inaccessible. Angular placement of bristles on the head means you can clean teeth from all directions. This can help in prevention of plaque, which can accumulate if not cleaned on time.

Handle

The handle of the brush should be long enough to hold comfortably. It should neither be too thick nor too thin to hold. A lightweight, plastic handle is very comfortable to use. It helps you to easily maneuver and clean from all directions.  

Electronic or Manual

The choice is entirely yours, as both the brushes can effectively clean teeth. If you do not know the correct brushing technique, then you can invest in an electronic toothbrush. However, a manual toothbrush is as effective if you brush properly.

Usually, it is recommended to replace your toothbrush every 3 - 4 months. If you brush frequently, you may have to replace it before. You should consider replacing your brush as and when you see signs of wearing out. These days, you can get brushes that change bristle color when it's time to replace. Thus, a good toothbrush and a proper brushing technique go a long way in preserving your dental care.

About Author:

Oracare Dental Centre: A dental clinic based in Pune, India offers you a pleasant experience in regards to your dental needs. Oracare features state of the art technological equipments doubled up with some of the best dentists that Pune has to offer. Rest assured for a pain free treatment at one of the best dental clinics in Pune, Oracare.