The shape of the coronoid process and sigmoid notch is useful in anthropological studies and forensic dentistry. Literature review shows that the morphological variation in the shape of coronoid process and sigmoid notch may be due to hereditary or functional changes and have a correlation with the mode and degree of the attachment of temporalis muscle.

In this study the shape of the coronoid process and sigmoid notch were analyzed in 200 orthopantomographs. The coronoid process and sigmoid notch were classified as beak shaped, flat round, triangular and sloping, round and wide respectively. In this study, we have attempted to analyze the prevalence of different shapes of coronoid process and sigmoid notch in the residents of South India. The different shapes of coronoid process and sigmoid notch were compared for sexual dimorphism and difference on either side.

The mean age ± SD of the study population was found to be 35.03 ± 18.37. No significant changes were observed among right and left coronoid process and sigmoid notch, neither was there any changes observed among males and females. Triangular shape coronoid process and the sloping form for sigmoid notch appears to be more common. Variation in the shape according to age was found to be statistically insignificant.

A multicentric study involving various ethnic groups of larger sample size may be undertaken to analyze variations in the morphology of coronoid process and sigmoid notch.

Shakya S, Ongole R, Nagraj SK. Morphology of Coronoid Process and Sigmoid Notch in Orthopantomograms of South Indian Population. World J Dent 2013;4(1):1-3.

Sharma NS, Shrivastav SS, Hazarey PV, Kamble RH, Sharma PN. The NS Matrix System. World J Dent 2013;4(1):4-5.

To evaluate and compare shear bond strength (SBS) and debonding characters of the Transbond XT (BisGMA-based composite), Esthet-X flow (flowable composite), Filtek Z-350 (flowable composite).

A total of 90 human premolars were divided into group I, Transbond XT (n = 30); group II, Esthet-X flow (n = 30) and group III, Filtek Z-350 (n = 30), the preadjusted edgewise stainless steel premolar brackets were bonded to evaluate the shear bond and debonding properties.

The results of the statistical analysis comparing the three groups indicated no statistically significant differences between the groups. In general, the SBS with groups I and III exhibited similar bond strength with 11.58 ± 1.3 MPa and 11.07 ± 1.0 MPa respectively. Groups III exhibited least bond strength of 10.7 ± 2 MPa. In modified adhesive remnant index (ARI) the majority of bond failures occurred at enamel-adhesive interface or cohesive type failure in all the three groups. Groups II and III showed increased frequency of score 2, 4 and 5 compared to group I which showed increased frequency of score 0 and 1.

When considering the SBS and ARI scores obtained, flowable composites can be effectively applied to orthodontic bracket bonding.

Pradeep S, Shanthraj R, Kiran HJ, Shivalinga BM. Comparative Evaluation of the Shear Bond Strength and Debonding Properties of a Conventional Composite and Flowable Composites used for Orthodontic Bracket Bonding. World J Dent 2013;4(1):6-16.

Chronic periodontitis is the inflammatory disease of the periodontium; the tissue that surround and support the teeth. The aim of the study was to estimate and compare some biochemical oxidative stress markers in patients with chronic periodontitis and healthy controls and to assess the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on these parameters.

Eighty-two chronic periodontitis patients and 120 healthy controls were recruited for the study. The periodontal status was evaluated using gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), papillary bleeding index (PBI) and clinical attachment loss (CAL). The biochemical parameters estimated were total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), antioxidant enzymes RBC-superoxide dismutase (RBC-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), vitamin C, malondialdehyde (MDA) and Creactive protein (CRP) were also evaluated. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing; SRP) was performed on chronic periodontitis patients and a follow-up was done after 3 months.

The study suggests that oxidative stress is induced in chronic periodontitis, as the levels of CRP, MDA and RBC-SOD were significantly higher (p < 0.001) and those of TAOC, GPx and vitamin C were significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared to healthy controls at baseline. SRP therapy significantly improved the clinical and biochemical oxidative stress markers in periodontitis patients.

Chronic periodontitis patients show higher inflammatory manifestations and oxidative stress. SRP therapy helps in lowering inflammatory burden and improving systemic oxidant: Antioxidant imbalance. The SRP therapy may be a useful support in the control and prevention of various inflammatory diseases associated with periodontitis.

Aziz AS, Kalekar MG, Benjamin T, Suryakar AN, Prakashan MM, Bijle MNA. Effect of Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy on Some Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis: A Biochemical Study. World J Dent 2013;4(1):17-23.

To determine the prevalence of stress among clinical students from Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in May 2012 on fourth, fifth and sixth year clinical dental students from Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, using a modified form of dental environment stress (DES) questionnaire. A total of 353 questionnaires were distributed and incomplete questionnaires were excluded from the study. SPSS version 15 was used to do statistical analysis.

A total of 353 students were asked to complete the questionnaire and 232 (65.7%) responded; of these 120 (51.7%) were males and remaining 112 (48.3%) were females. More or less all the students were having stress. In male students severe stress was due to difficulty in getting suitable patient (51%) and the patient who were arriving late or not coming on appointment, p = 0.16, whereas in female they were having severe stress due to fear of failure (59%), p = 0.02, examination and grading (57%) and completing examination requirement (52%). In male, amount of academic overload was also main cause of severe stress (p = 0.03). Sixth-year students were having more stress due to amount of overload (59.1%), lack of time to do assigned work (53.4%), difficulty to get suitable patient (71.6%) and patient arriving late or not coming on appointment (64.8%). Fifth-year students were more stressed due to completing examination requirement (65.7%). Fourth-year students were having more stress due to fear of failure (58.4%) and examination and grading (58.4%).

The finding of this study show some considerable degree or severe stress among the students. Longitudinal studies that include preclinical dental students should be carried out to know how the pattern of stress varies during preclinical and clinical training period.

Al-Samadani KH, Al-Dharrab A. The Perception of Stress among Clinical Dental Students. World J Dent 2013;4(1):24-28.

To determine efficacy of commonly used methods of disinfection/sterilization of extracted human teeth.

A total of 140 freshly extracted human single-rooted teeth were randomly divided into 14 different groups and sterilized using different methods: Formalin, hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium, glutaraldehyde, thymol, boiling, autoclaving, keeping sodium chloride as control. Following the assigned treatment procedures, teeth from each group were placed individually in separate test tubes containing 10 ml of tryptic soy broth at 37°C for 48 hours. Evidence of growth was observed after 2 days.

A statistically significant difference in the outcomes was obtained when comparing the different methods of disinfection and sterilization.

It was concluded that immersion in 10% formalin for 1 week, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite for 1 week or autoclaving at 121°C at 20 psi for 40 minutes were significantly better than all other methods tested.

Chandki R, Maru R, Gunwal M, Garg A, Mishra A. A Comparison of Different Methods for Disinfection or Sterilization of Extracted Human Teeth to be Used for Dental Education Purposes. World J Dent 2013;4(1):29-31.

To evaluate and compare the effect of a soft drink and a fresh fruit juice on microleakage as well as surface texture of flowable composite (Filtek” Flow 3M Dental products) and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (GIC) (Vitremer” 3M Dental products).

Seventy noncarious human premolars extracted for orthodontic treatment purpose were collected and stored in saline for microleakage study. The experimental groups comprised of 60 teeth, while the remaining 10 formed the control group. Class V cavities were prepared and restored with RMGIC on the buccal surface and Filtek Flow on the lingual surface for evaluating microleakage. The experimental samples were then divided into two groups (group I: Cola drink and group II: Fresh orange fruit juice) of 30 teeth. Each of this group was further divided into three subgroups (low, medium and high immersion) containing 10 teeth. The control group (group III: Water) contained 10 teeth.

Using a brass mold, 56 pellets were prepared with Filtek” Flow and Vitremer” tri-cure restorative material each for studying surface texture. Again these were divided into experimental group of 48 pellets each and control group of eight pellets each. The experimental samples were then divided into two groups (group I: Cola drink and group II: Fresh orange fruit juice) of 24 pellets of each. Each of this group was further divided into three subgroups (low, medium and high immersion) containing eight pellets each. The control group (group III: Water) contained 16 pellet (eight pellets of each material).

Both the teeth and pellets were subjected to a common immersion regime according to Maupome et al. Microleakage was evaluated by using Rhodamine B dye and surface texture was evaluated prior to immersion and final surface roughness (Ra) after subjecting the pellets to immersion regime.

Statistical analyses used were Chi-square test/Fisher exact test, Wilcoxon's signed rank test and Mann-Whitney test and ANOVA test.

The teeth and the pellets showed statistically significant microleakage and surface roughness respectively as the immersion regime increased. Thus, the study conclusively proves that the 'sipping habit’ associated with commonly available low pH beverages, are detrimental to the longevity of restorations.

Maganur PC, Prabhakar AR, Satish V, Namineni S, Kurthukoti A. Erosive Effect of Soft Drink and Fresh Fruit Juice on Restorative Materials. World J Dent 2013;4(1): 32-40.

The purpose of the study is to find the divine proportion in young attractive North Indian women.

Thirty young unmarried women perceived to be attractive out of 100 subjects (18-26 years age group) representing North Indian population were selected by a panel of judges from different background. Divine proportions were evaluated in these women by using Ricketts RM (1982) Divine Proportion Analysis on frontal facial photographs.

The subjects in the group adhered to the golden proportions. The ‘t’ test was significant (t < 2.05) for facial height and width ratios.

Ratios in transverse and vertical dimension as well as soft tissue of attractive face affirm to the divine proportion.

Tripathi AA, Tandon RP, Hantodkar N. Facial Divine Proportions in Attractive North Indian Females: A Photographic Study. World J Dent 2013;4(1):41-46.

The success of endodontic therapy depends upon the ability of the clinician to locate, clean, shape and completely obturate all the root canal systems present in a tooth. In the recent times number of additional canals vs traditional canals has been very striking and pointing toward a greater degree of variation in the root canal morphology which needs to studied, understood and born in mind during practice so as to enhance the success. Introduction of surgical operating microscope is a major breakthrough in enhancement of vision in endodontics which not only gives required magnification but also coaxial illumination and video output. These facilities should be of a great help in location of small otherwise difficult to locate accessory canals.

This in vivo study was planned to study variations in the canal anatomy of maxillary and mandibular first molar using surgical operating microscope using 200 first molar teeth, 100 maxillary and 100 mandibular groups, each group to be divided into 50 males and 50 female subgroups. After access opening chambers were cleaned, dried and observed and imaged under the microscope.

The observations were recorded and incidences of variations in anatomy were analyzed subjecting the same to SPSS version 16.0.

It was observed that surgical operating microscope enhances clinician's ability to locate additional canals in the teeth.

Abrar BAS, Pawar MG. An in vivo Study of Variations in the Canal Anatomy of Maxillary and Mandibular First Molar using Surgical Operating Microscope. World J Dent 2013;4(1):47-55.

Avinash B, Avinash BS, Shivalinga BM, Jain S. Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Orthodontic Patients. World J Dent 2013;4(1):56-59.

Patil SH, Bhat KG, Lotlekar PS, Hombal LV. Polymerase Chain Reaction: An Innovative Tool in Periodontal Diagnosis. World J Dent 2013;4(1):60-66.

Dabas N, Dabas A, Yadav H. Management of the Mandibular Compromised Ridge: A Literature Review and Case Report. World J Dent 2013;4(1):67-71.

Joyce S, Mathias V, Rao BHS. Bilaterally Symmetrical Multiple Impacted Permanent Teeth in a Nonsyndromic Patient: A Rare Finding. World J Dent 2013;4(1):72-73.

Sharma NS, Shrivastav SS, Hazarey PV, Kamble RH, Sharma PN. Universal Wire Grid for Implant Placement in Three Dimensions. World J Dent 2013;4(1): 74-76.

Kaushal A, Upadhyay Y. Pediatric HIV Infection. World J Dent 2013;4(1):77-79.