A Journal of Clinical Dentistry-Heal Talk

03

Authors: Dr. Saavi H Punia1, Dr. Himanshu Punia2

Dental amalgam is the silver colored material that is commonly used to fill teeth that have decay. Amalgam is a mixture of mercury and other metals in a stable form and makes strong, long-lasting fillings. Dental amalgam fillings have been used to restore decayed teeth for more than 150 years. Doctors and individuals request the removal of their amalgam (silver mercury) restorations due to the high mercury content. Prenatal exposure to high levels of mercury, radiation, and inflammation have been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes such as increases in preterm delivery, low birth weight, and delayed neurodevelopment. Few data are available to evaluate the potential effects of prenatal low-level exposure to these factors. A safe protocol to replace the silver mercury filling will ensure that there is minimal if any absorption of materials while being removed. Strong alternative white composite and lab-processed materials are available today to create a healthy and functioning mouth. Preparation of the patient prior to the procedure and after treatment is vital to establish the excretion of the mercury from the body

03

Authors: Dr. Vivek Chaudhary, Dr. Puneet Batra, Dr. Karan Sharma, Dr. Amit Srivastava, Dr. Mir Yasser Abdullah

Extended treatment time is a major concern for the patients who seek the orthodontic treatment. Several methods have been used by many clinicians for reducing overall treatment duration. Accelerated orthodontics enable in reduction of overall treatment time. Various drugs, devices and surgical intervention are used for obtaining final orthodontic treatment outcome in less time.

04

Authors: Dr.Shubhankar Kumar Singh1, Dr.Deepak Chopra 2

Pregnancy is a unique physiological state that affects almost all the organs, because of changes in the hormonal milieu meant to support the pregnancy. These changes generally reversible after delivery, are sometimes not without adverse effects. Recent upsurge in the interest in periodontal disease in pregnancy is attributed to association between periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcome. Periodontal diseases are a group of infections and conditions that cause inflammation of the gingiva and the surrounding structures, which leads to destruction of the supporting tooth structures. Periodontal infections are predominantly caused by Gram-negative bacteriae that induce local and systemic elevations of proinflammatory cytokines. Transient bacteremia that occurs due to high vascularity of the periodontal tissue may lead to direct bacterial invasion of the fetoplacental unit. The release of toxic products incites host’s response and triggers an inflammatory response. As a source of subclinical and persistent infection along with the cascade of systemic inflammatory responses and immune-mediated injury, periodontitis puts the pregnancy at high risk. Evidence for and against association between oral diseases and adverse pregnancy outcome comes from cross-sectional studies and a few trials. Like any other association of obstetric outcome with systemic diseases, this one is also a subject of debate. We reviewed the studies providing evidence for and against effect of periodontal diseases on pregnancy. We found that different investigators have used different parameters to define periodontal disease, hence different results. Larger randomized controlled trials with uniform definitions of disease and outcome are needed to arrive at a definite conclusion.

06

Authors: DR. ASHIK MOHAN , DR. ASWATHI.R,

Background: Since late December 2019, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has spread rapidly around the world, causing unprecedented changes in provided health care services. Patients diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are subject to a higher risk of worse outcomes from COVID-19, due to the high prevalence of coexistent comorbidities such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, features which are typically seen in patients with OSA. Additionally, treatment with positive airway treatment devices (PAP) can be challenging because of PAP-induced droplets and aerosols. In this context, sleep medicine practices are entering a new era and need to adapt rapidly to these circumstances, to provide the best care for patients with SDB.