Gutta-Percha is a dried coagulated extract of plants of Palaquim, Blanco, Genus of Sapotaceae family. These plants are rare in Indian flora. Gutta- percha is usually imported from Central South America for its use in Dentistry. This is one of the causes for it's high cost in our country. However, few plants of Palaquim Genus that yield gutta-percha are reported from Assam. This paper highlights the Indian plants that contain gutta-percha. The identification and phyto-chemical analysis for total gutta-percha content of these plants have been reported which shows an encouraging result. Thorough investigation into the problem will help to develop an indigenous and economic gutta-percha product from Indian plants.

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The purpose of the present scanning electron microscopic study was to investigate the smear layer removal by manual instrumentation of ‘K’ files versus Light speed, Profile and Hero 642 nickel titanium rotary instruments. Forty eight canals were divided into four groups, instrumented and irrigated as follows : Group I - instrumented with ‘K’ files. Group II, III, IV instrumented with Light speed, Profile and Hero 642 instruments respectively. In all the four groups irrigation was limited to 3% NaOCl. After scanning electron microscopic evaluation, group I showed lesser removal of smear layer in middle and apical 1/3 compared to all the other groups (P<0.01). Between Group II, III and IV, Light speed instrumented canals showed better removal in middle (P<0.05) and apical 1/3 (P<0.01; P<0.05). At coronal 1/3 all the groups showed no significant difference. Larger canal preparations obtained in our study with light speed instrument enabled a more effective removal of smear layer.

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Apical extrusion of debris during cleaning and shaping of the root canal is one of the common problems encountered by an Endodontist. The debris which contain necrotic dentin and bacteria initiates the antigen-antibody reaction, triggers the complement cascade and other inflammatory processes in the periradicular region. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively measure - the amount of debris extruded apically in single rooted canals with three different instrumentation techniques and to quantify the amount of irrigant forced apically. Time taken for each instrumentation was also determined. Group-I was instrumented with K-files by conventional step back method. Group-II with Profile 0.04 series by crown down technique and Group-III using engine driven Gates Glidden drills and K-files by Hybrid technique. Distilled water was used as an irrigant. Debris was collected in preweighed plastic vials. The irrigant was desiccated by dry seal vacuum dessicsator and plastic vials were weighed again. The mean difference in pre and post instrumentation of plastic vials showed the amount of debris extruded. Results showed that in Group-I the extrusion of debris and irrigant was more than the other groups. The time taken for Group-I was also significantly more.

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The aim of this study was to compare the obturation of internal resorption cavities (IRC) with 4 different techniques, for which 24 extracted human central incisors were selected. Teeth were instrumented up to file size 50. The roots were sectioned transversely 7 mm from the apex and hemicircular cavities were prepared in both section using #6 round bur. The sections were glued back together using superglue and embedded in plaster cast, thus obtaining root canal with cavities simulating internal resorption. The teeth was randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 teeth each. The following obturation techniques were evaluated - Lateral Compaction (Group - I), Ultrasonic Condensation (Group - II), Termafil (Group - III), Obtura - II (Group IV). ZnO-eugenol was used as a sealer. After obturation, plaster cast was removed and the teeth were radiographed in buccolingual and mesiodistal view to evaluate the quality of obturation at internal resorption cavitiy (IRC). The teeth were then sectioned at the previous level and types of material that filled the IRC was viewed under stereomicroscope. Both Ultrasonic Condensation and Obtura - II gave good results and obturated IRC was filled mainly with Gutta percha. Statistical analysis showed that there was significant difference between Group II and IV Vs. I and III.

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Non vital bleaching has enjoyed wide success in the treatment of discolored papules teeth. It has been that residual hydrogen peroxide in the bleaching agent affects the resin tooth interface. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different application times of bleaching agent on the tooth resin interphase. 40 human freshly extracted maxillary incisors were taken and root canal treatment was completed. The teeth were divided in 4 groups, with 1st group teeth no bleaching, 2nd group teeth bleached for 2 days, 3rd group teeth bleached for 4 days and the last group teeth were bleached for 7 days. Access cavities were restored with composite resin. Silver nitrate dye was used for dye penetration test. The longitudinal sections were evaluated under stereomicroscope for the measurement of dye penetration. It was concluded that the bleaching agent definitely affects the seal at the tooth resin interphase and microleakage increase with increased bleaching time.

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