Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common subacute, chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of the oral mucosa with unknown etiopathogenesis. Currently, the antioxidants such as retinoids, β-carotenoids, Aloe vera, purslane, turmeric, and lycopene are being successfully used in the treatment of OLP lesions, suggesting the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of OLP.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effects of lycopene in the management of OLP lesions.

Materials and Methods: After obtaining written informed consent, 13 patients with symptomatic OLP and proven by biopsy were received capsule lycopene 4 mg/day for 8 consecutive weeks. The assessment was done at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of the interval using Thongprasom clinical sign scores to record the improvement in the clinical sign and symptoms of OLP lesions. Complete remission of the disease was defined as a complete absence of symptom and clinical sign scores of OLP lesions.

Results: Among 13 patients, seven patients were male. The age ranged from 27 to 74 years. At baseline, the mean Thongprasom clinical sign score was 2.77 ± 1.74 that became 0.85 ± 0.37 (69%) after 8 weeks of treatment with lycopene, which was statistically significant (P = 0.005). Complete remission of the lesions was seen in two patients, and partial remission was seen in 11 patients after 8 consecutive weeks of treatment with lycopene.

Conclusion: The result of this study was encouraging. In contrast to other management modalities for OLP, lycopene offers a safe, efficacious, and reliable treatment that yields a significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of the patients, which may be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, lycopene can be recommended as a good treatment option in the prevention and management of OPL lesions.

Clinical Significance: Finding from this study may help the dentist and clinician to choose lycopene as an alternative drug with less reported adverse effect for the effective management and prevention of OLP lesions

Key words: Antioxidant, lycopene, oral lichen planus, reactive oxygen species, treatment, β-carotenoid

How to cite this article: Kushwaha RP, Rauniar GP, Rimal J. Clinical Assessment of the Effects of Lycopene in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus. Int Dent Med J Adv Res 2019;5:1-5.

Received: 26 June 18;

Accepted: 03 November 18

Aim: This study aims to evaluate and compare the tensile strength of gutta-percha points after disinfection with different types of disinfectants with different time durations.

Materials and Methods: Gutta-percha points of size 25, 6% taper were disinfected with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, 5.25% calcium hypochlorite, 10% hydrogen peroxide, and Aloe vera gel for 20 s, 40 s, and 1 min separately except the control group. Tensile strengths of gutta-percha were measured using the computer control universal testing machine. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way (ANOVA).

Results: Results were subjected to statistical analysis one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. All these disinfectants solutions decreased the tensile strength of GP cones. Among the study groups, A. vera gel shows maximum reduction in tensile strength when used for 60 s as compare to 20 and 40 s duration.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide are safer disinfectants for the gutta-percha cones.

Clinical Significance: Gutta-percha disinfectants can affect the tensile strength of gutta-percha that may lead to change in the treatment outcome after root canal treatment.

Keywords: Aloe vera, calcium hypochlorite, disinfection, gutta-percha cones, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, tensile strength

How to cite this article: Naved M. Comparative evaluation of tensile strength of gutta-percha points after using different disinfectants and time durations - An in vitro study. Int Dent Med J Adv Res 2019;5:1-5.

Received: 25 November 2018;

Accepted: 07 March 2019

Background: Halitosis, defined as an offensive or unpleasant odor, is a very common problem affecting up to 50% of the population.

Aim: This study aims to assess the efficacy of different mouthwashes in the treatment of halitosis.

Methodology: A PubMed search through June 2018 using the following Medical Subject Headings terms “halitosis/therapy” and “mouthwashes” was performed. Studies with findings of the use of mouthwashes for the treatment of halitosis were assessed. From 75 studies of mouthwashes with full-text availability, 62 were excluded for several reasons: Studies with no placebo group (35) and no usable data (27). The data were analyzed using statistical software RevMan 5.3 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). For continuous outcomes, the estimates of the effects of an intervention were expressed as mean differences (MD) or standardized MD (SMD) using the inverse variance method with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: A total of 13 studies on the treatment of halitosis with mouthwashes were included in this meta-analysis. The greatest reductions in organoleptic score were achieved with the zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate mouthwash (MD: -1.10); of volatile sulfur compounds with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash (SMD: -6.19); of the hydrogen sulfide levels with the zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate mouthwash (SMD: -1.31); of the methyl mercaptan levels with the chlorine dioxide mouthwash (SMD: -1.06); and of the dimethyl sulfide levels also with the ClO2 mouthwash (SMD: -1.22).

Conclusions: Mouthwashes are an acceptable alternative for the treatment of halitosis, especially those that contain chlorhexidine as the main active principle.

Keywords: Clinical trials as topic, halitosis/therapy, mouthwashes

How to cite this article: Rodriguez-Archilla A, Muñoz-Martin M. Evaluation of different mouthwashes for the treatment of halitosis. Int Dent Med J Adv Res 2019;5:1-7.

Received: 19 February 2019;

Accepted: 12 April 2019

Background: The article is an attempt to provide a true and clear understanding of the principles of Islam and their psychological influence on the followers. Like all religions, Islam, its teachings and rituals also have an impact on the everyday life of an individual. This makes the study of mental health in relation to Islam an important field of research which is very much required in the current global sociopolitical scenario.

Aim: The aim of the article is to discuss various Islamic rituals and how they influence on mental health. To provide a clear understanding of Islamic principles, the impact of Islamic rituals on mental health and to understand factors outside of Islam that contributes to poor mental health outcomes.

Materials and Methods: To explore the research question, a literature review was conducted. Deakin library resources were used through EBSCOhost, databases such as MEDLINE complete, PsycARTICLES, PsycEXTRA, CINHAL Complete, and Psychology were also systematically explored for appropriate peer-reviewed research literature. Reference lists of the retrieved articles were also searched. Google Scholar was also used to search for and obtain literature unavailable in other databases. Articles relating to Islamic principles and mental health outcomes were included.

Results: At the end of literature review, it is concluded that Islamic rituals play a constructive part in developing the personality of the believer where some rituals are seen encouraging a disciplined lifestyle and some play a part in increasing self-control. Following most of the Islamic rituals reduces stress and depression of everyday life.

Conclusion: It is recommended that non-Muslims should participate more in exploring Islam and conduct studies on it with the western perspective. For studies to be more neutral, researchers from different religious backgrounds should work together with the help of scales especially meant for measuring Islamic religiosity.

Keywords: Awareness, Islam, mental health, psychological influence, religion

How to cite this article: Najam KS, Khan RS, Waheed A, Hassan R. Impact of Islamic practices on the mental health of Muslims. Int Dent Med J Adv Res 2019;5:1-6.

Received: 02 January 2019;

Accepted: 26 April 2019