Background: Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is a prototypical resistant bacterium in root canal infections and a leading cause of endodontic treatment failure. German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flower extract has been used as a traditional medicine to treat infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of chamomile extract on the removal of E. faecalis root canal biofilm. Materials and Methods: Chamomile flower extract was prepared and subjected to detailed chemical analysis. For the in vitro biofilm model, human mandibular premolars (n=48) with 18-20mm working length were used. Root canal preparation was performed using the ProTaper® Next system. Each sample was split longitudinally and reassembled within a pre-prepared silicone matrix, and a mature E. faecalis biofilm was grown for seven days. Samples were randomised into four groups (n=12 for each arm) based on the type of irrigant protocol comprising normal saline, 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), dual irrigation with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 3% NaOCl, and chamomile extract. After irrigation, residual biofilms were measured in (n=9/group) using densiometric measurements. Observational analysis of residual biofilm was performed in (n=3/group) using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results: Phytochemical investigations showed that chamomile extract is rich in antimicrobial components such as flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, tannins, and others. Spectrophotometry analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the normal saline group with mean optical density (OD)= 0.63044; ±0.106 and each of EDTA and NaOCl group (mean OD=0.35922; ±0.091), chamomile group (mean OD=0.37611; ±0.106) at p<0.001, and the NaOCl group (mean OD=0.46344; ±0.096) at p<0.01. No statistically significant difference between chamomile group and NaOCl and the dual EDTA and NaOCl irrigation protocol. SEM images showed removal of E. faecalis biofilm and smear layer was in the order: dual EDTA and NaOCl irrigation>chamomile extract>NaOCl. Conclusions: Chamomile flower extract has an apparent removal efficacy of E. faecalis biofilm from root canals. It may be a promising antimicrobial material to be used as a natural endodontic irrigation solution.
Objective: The present study was aimed to develop a pH-triggered in situ gel for local release of lidocaine hydrochloride (lidocaine HCL) in the buccal cavity to improve the anesthetic effect of this amino amide drug which has very high water solubility. The formulations were introduced to the oral cavity as a spray to improve compliance and for easier administration.Methods: In this work, two grades of carbopol (934 and 940)-based in situ gel spray were designed. The formulations containing lidocaine HCl 5% were prepared by mixing different concentrations of carbopol with xanthan gum. Eight formulations were investigated and evaluated for gelation capacity, spray angle, volume of solution delivered per each actuation, rheological p
... Show MoreFrictional resistance occurs whenever sliding happens, negatively impacting treatment outcomes and duration. It is a clinical challenge and must be dealt with efficiently to achieve the best orthodontic results. Aims of this study: compare and evaluate the static frictional forces under the wet condition to mimic the oral environment produced by using a polycrystalline ceramic bracket, monocrystalline ceramic bracket, 0.014 of an inch nickel-titanium (Rhodium coated archwires, and ilusio aesthetic archwires), and 0.019 x 0.025 of an inch stainless steel (Rhodium coated archwires, and ilusio aesthetic archwires). Ninety-six aesthetic brackets (48 monocrystalline and 48 polycrystalline brackets) were used and stored in different incub
... Show MoreThe photodynamic inactivation against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using two different lasers, 532 nm diode pumped solid state laser (DPSS) in combination with safranin O and 650 nm diode laser in combination with methylene blue was investigated in the present work. A hundred swab samples were collected from patients with burn and wound infections admitted to two hospitals in Baghdad (Specialized Burns Hospital in Medical City and Al Imamein Al Jwadein Medical City Hospital) from December 2015 to February 2016 Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by using Kirby- Bauer method. The irradiation experiments included four groups; a control group, a photosensitizer only group, a laser irradiation only group and a laser irr
... Show MoreBackground: Endodontically treated teeth have low resistance to fracture against occlusal forces. The strengthening effect of bonded esthetic onlay restoration on weakened tooth has been reported. This study aimed to assess the fracture resistance of endodontically treated premolars restored with composite with and without cuspal coverage by using direct and indirect techniques. Indirect technique done by CAD/CAM system (computer aided design –computer aided manufacturer) and laboratory processing. Material and methods: Forty human extracted maxillary premolars of approximately comparable sizes were divided into four groups: Group (A): Ten endodontically treated teeth directly filled with Filtek Z250xt without cuspal coverage. Group
... Show MoreBackground: This study was conducted to assess the effects of various beverages on the shear bond strength of light-cured orthodontic composite used to bond stainless steel orthodontic brackets on human teeth and to determine the site of bonding failure of this material. Materials and Methods: Fifty extracted human premolars were selected and randomly divided into five equal groups each with 10 teeth according to the beverage type (Control, One Tiger, Milk, Green tea and Coffee). After bonding, the teeth were immersed in specific beverages for 5 minutes twice daily with equal intervening intervals then washed and stored in distilled water at 37º C for the reminder of the day. The process was carried out for 30 days. The samples were then
... Show MoreBackground: Dental erosion is a common oral condition which results due to consumption of high caloric and low pH acidic food such as carbonated drinks and fruit juices. It is expected that these food types can cause irreversible damage to dental hard tissues and early deterioration of the dental restorations. So, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the erosive potential effects of orange fruit juice and Miranda orange drink on the microhardness of an orthodontic composite material. Materials and methods: Thirty discs with a thickness of 2 mm and a diameter of 10 mm were prepared from orthodontic bonding composite. The prepared discs were equally divided into three groups (n=10). Microhardness analysis was carried out both prior to
... Show MoreThe Leishmania donovani parasite causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL), an acute and fatal form of leishmaniasis. Because traditional therapy alternatives, such as glucantime and other pentavalent medicines, are toxic and have side effects, new treatments with fewer negative effects are needed. Only a handful of drugs are clinically beneficial to treatments of the disease, but considerable limitations threaten their very usage. Novel, safe, and efficient drugs, including those against antimalaria and leishmaniasis co-infections, are so essential. Artemether (ATM) is an Artemisinin derivative that has been demonstrated to be useful in the treatment of malaria and, more recently, leishmaniasis. The current research was carried out to evaluate th
... Show MoreThe purpose of this work was to study the effects of the Nd:YAG laser on exposed dentinal
tubules of human extracted teeth using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Eighty 2.5mm-thick
slices were cut at the cementoenamel junction from 20 extracted human teeth with an electric saw. A
diamond bur was used to remove the cementum layer to expose the dentinal tubules. Each slice was
sectioned into four equal quadrants and the specimens were randomly divided into four groups (A to D ).
Groups B to D were lased for 2 mins using an Nd:YAG laser at 6 pulses per second at energy outputs of
80 , 100 and 120 mJ. Group A served as control. Under SEM observation, nonlased specimens showed
numerous exposed dentinal tubules. SEM o
This study was aimed to director wheat production's technical efficiency grown under two irrigation systems(fixed and pivot sprinkler irrigation systems)using random border analysis.Samples were collected randomly from267farmers from Salah Al-Din Governorate/Iraq.The samples were divided into two groups;187farmers used a pivot sprinkler irrigation system with three categories of possession(80,60and120dunums),while the other group used a fixed sprinkler irrigation system with four categories of possession(40,30,20and10dunums).Transcendent production function was used to study the effect of production factors on wheat yield. The results indicated that the mechanization work and the amount of added irrigation water increased by 1% whil
... Show More