The use of the laser in improving acid resistance of tooth enamel has captured the imagination of most researchers. Man's susceptibility to dental caries presents itself as one of the most complicated problems to solve. The carbon dioxide laser at a wavelength of 10.6 microns is highly efficient for dental purposes as this wavelength is close to optimum absorption of dental enamel. A study was carried out using a pulsed carbon dioxide laser to find the effects of laser beam on human tooth enamel in an energy range of 2-20 J/cm2 at a pulse rate of 5 Hz. The effective resistance to acid was determined by wet chemical analysis whereas superficial changes seen on the surface were determined using the scanning electron microscope.

A ten-year-old girl was referred for the management of a recurrent lobulated mass present in the upper anterior region. Histopathological investigations were suggestive of capillary hemangioma. Surgical excision of the lesion was performed and postoperative recovery was uneventful.

The present study, performed in-vivo, included 30 infected primary teeth in 26 children in the age group of 3-8 years. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of two obturating materials, zinc oxide-eugenol and Maisto's paste, in infected primary teeth. 30 teeth were divided into two groups of 15 teeth. Teeth in Group I were obturated using zinc oxide-eugenol and those in Group II were obturated using Maisto's paste. On clinical evaluation, teeth obturated with Maisto's paste showed 100% success. Five teeth that were overfilled with Maisto's paste showed complete resorption of excess material within 3 months while the two teeth overfilled with zinc oxide-eugenol showed incomplete resorption of the excess material even after 9 months. Zinc oxide-eugenol treated cases showed only 26.7% bone regeneration while in case of Maisto's paste, it was 93%. Complete healing of the inter-radicular pathology was seen with Maisto's paste. However, the pathology was present in 40% of the zinc oxide-eugenol treated teeth even after 9 months. Maisto's paste was thus seen to be superior to zinc oxide-eugenol both in clinical as well as radiological evaluation, done over a period of 9 months in relation to bone regeneration, healing of inter-radicular pathology and resorption of excess material.

Fifty repaired complete cleft lip and palate cases (38 UCLP and 12 BCLP) in the age of 6 to 14 years were evaluated for sagittal craniofacial morphology using lateral cephalograms. A total of twenty three measurements (19 angular and 4 linear) were used in the analysis to represent a comprehensive pattern of dento craniofacial morphology. The results of comparison between UCLP and BCLP revealed differences for only the skeletodental and interincisor sagittal relationship (greater retroclination in BCLP group).

Dentigerous cysts arising from overlying infected predecessor teeth are very rare. This report describes one such case where extraction of the infected deciduous tooth with marsupialization led to the eruption of the premolar. Periodic radiographic evaluation is required to note and prevent recurrence and other serious complications arising from these cysts.

Amalgam remains unchallenged as a posterior restorative material. But its inability to bond to the teeth leads to some amount of microleakage at the restoration-tooth interface with associated problems such as post operative sensitivity, pulpal complications etc. Also a broken amalgam restoration requires replacement which will further weaken the tooth structure. Recently, 4-META has been introduced which can graft amalgam and composite to enamel, dentin and old amalgam restorations. In this study, the bonding and marginal sealing abilities of 4-META was assessed both at the tooth-amalgam interface and old amalgam fresh amalgam interface.

Fluoride dentifrices are well accepted for their caries preventive effects. Although it is generally accepted that the presence of fluoride in the enamel protects teeth against carious attack, at the same time, there is some concern that ingestion of fluoride from toothpastes may substantially contribute to the total intake of this element. The present study was undertaken to clinically evaluate the fluoride uptake by human enamel after the use of lower concentrations of fluoride dentifrices and compare their potency to higher concentration in increasing the uptake of fluoride by enamel. Enamel biopsy was conducted on first permanent molars of 100 school children, aged 6-8 years before brushing and at intervals of one hour, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks following brushing with different concentrations of fluoride dentifrices. The fluoride content of the enamel biopsy samples were estimated using the Orion microprocessor ion analyser and by taking into consideration the enamel biopsy mass and depth of the etch. The results of the present study suggest that low fluoride concentration dentifrices provide similar fluoride uptake by enamel when compared with that of higher concentrations.

An in-vitro study was carried out on 80 human premolars to study the use of Nd:YAG laser as a potential alternative for acid etching in the surface treatment of enamel prior to sealant application. The determination of bond strength using Universal Testing Machine, Model 1011 and marginal leakage using the spectrophotometric dye recovery method showed no statistically significant difference between the groups with laser and acid surface treatments. But, there was a significantly lower bond strength and increased dye penetration in the group with no surface treatment. Scanning electron microscopic study of the interface between sealant and enamel surface of the acid and laser treated specimens was also carried out.