African Journal of Dentistry

African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Forensic Identification via ABO Blood Grouping of Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth

Inne S. Sasmita¹*, Fahmi Oscandar² and Novita H. Effendi³

¹Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia.
²Department of Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia.
³Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia.

Accepted 20 November, 2025

This study investigated the feasibility and accuracy of blood types identification through deciduous teeth, using absorption-elution. A total of 15 deciduous teeth extracted from 15 children were used to identify blood types which were compared with the blood types of the children's parents. The blood types of 5 (of 5) samples were fully-identified whose agglutination process took place less than a week. The blood types of four samples (of 5 samples) were identified if the agglutination process took place more than a week. The blood types of two samples (of 5 samples) were identified if the agglutination process took place more than a month. Taken together, our results suggest that deciduous teeth can be used to identify blood types using absorption-elution method for forensic odontology and the accuracy of blood types identification depends on the duration of agglutination.

Key words: Absorption-ellusi, blood type, deciduous teeth, agglutination.

African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-003, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Advances in Structural Preservation During Root Canal Therapy

Shibu Thomas Mathew¹* and Julie Susan Rajan²

¹Department of Endodontics, Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
²Department of Preparatory Health Sciences, Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 17 November, 2025

The primary goal of endodontic therapy is the long-term retention of a functional tooth by preventing or treating apical periodontitis. However, there are many other factors that impact endodontic outcomes such as the quality of the restoration and structural integrity of the tooth after root canal preparation. Contemporary research efforts are currently directed to better understanding dentine behaviour and structure during aging and function. An alternative approach is to minimize structural changes during root canal therapy, which may result in a new strategy that can be labeled 'minimally invasive endodontics'. This paper focuses on describing minimally invasive dentistry in endodontics from a conceptual perspective, relating to diagnosis, access opening, instrumentation and obturation of the root canal system.

Key words: Minimally invasive dentistry, caries removal, pulpal diagnosis, periapical diagnosis, gouging.
 

African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Case Report

Conservative Resolution of Odontogenic Cutaneous Sinus Tract: A Case Report

Ehsen Abdelmoumen1*, Sonia Zouiten Skhiri2 and Abdelatif Boughzela3

1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Monastir, Tunisia.
2Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, EPS Farhat Hached-Sousse, Tunisia.

3Department of Dental Medicine, EPS Farhat Hached-Sousse, Tunisia.

Received 14 May, 2024; Accepted 5 November, 2024

Cutaneous sinus tracts of dental origin are often initially misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated because of their uncommon occurrence and the absence of symptoms in approximately half the individuals affected. This paper reports a case describing the diagnosis and treatment of an extra-oral cutaneous sinus tract of odontogenic origin in relation to a mandibular left first molar. Non-surgical endodontic treatment was performed, and it resulted in resolution of the sinus tract and promoted peri-apical healing of the tooth involved.

Key words: Apical periodontitis, cutaneous sinus tract, necrosis pulp, non-surgical endodontic treatment.
 

African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-004, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Case Report

Preventing Denture Stomatitis: A Case Study on the Antifungal Properties of Denture Base Resins Against Candida albicans Adhesion

Sundos Al-Awadhi1, Chan W. Cheong2 and Sang E. Park3*

1Department of Restorative Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
2Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, Harvard University,
School of Dental Medicine, Boston, USA.

3Office of Dental Education, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, USA.

Received 20 August, 2024; Accepted 12 November, 2024

The objective of this case report was to investigate whether Candida albicans adhesion to the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture surface is reduced by surface modifications in two innovative methods. Three experimental groups on the tissue surface of a maxillary denture consisted of a control (pure PMMA), negatively surface-charged modified-PMMA (mPMMA), and application of a self-bonding polymer (SBP). The results of the clinical report revealed that both mPMMA and SBP groups had reduced amounts of adherent C. albicans on the resin surfaces compared to the control. Interestingly, the SBP demonstrated a reduced amount of C. albicans adherence up to 21 days follow-up, where the mPMMA group exhibited a longer effect till 30 days.

Key words: Surface-charged resin, self-bonding polymer, Candida albicans.
 

African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Rinsing with Tap Water: A Comparative Study with Tooth Brushing and Sugar-Free Chewing Gum for Oral Hygiene

Narges Mirjalili1*, Mohammad-Hassan Akhavan Karbassi1 and Jaffar Farahman2

1Department of Oral Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Received 9 July, 2024; Accepted 10 December, 2024

Among all oral diseases, tooth decay still imposes the greatest burden on health care systems. While patients prefer less complicated and time consuming preventive methods, the effectiveness of rinsing mouth with water has remained in the shadow. A great number of people, whether professional or not, believe that water rinse can be helpful where tooth-brush is not available. This study aimed to investigate that belief. In this study in three different attempts the basal saliva pH of 60 participants and their saliva pH after introducing to sugar solution, brushing teeth, chewing xylitol gum, and rinsing mouth with water were recorded. Data analysis showed that tap water may not be of any help in correcting oral pH after an acidic attack.

Key words: Saliva pH, sugar-free chewing gum, mouth rinse, tap water, tooth brushing, xylitol.
 

African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-012, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating the Efficacy of NaF and Tricalcium Phosphate Toothpastes on White-Spot Lesions Using Synchrotron Radiation Micro-CT

Makoto Asaizumi1*, Kentaro Uesugi2, Masato Hoshino2, Tomoaki Kato3, Allen C. Mackey4 and Robert L. Karlinsey5

1Dr. Makoto Asaizumi Orthodontic Practice, Ban Bldg., 3F., 1-8 Chiyodacho, Mobara, Chiba 297-0023, Japan.
2SPring-8/JASRI, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayocho, Sayogun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan.
3Dr. Tetsuya Kuga Dental Practice, 924 Kamiichiba, Mutsuzawamachi, Chouseigun, Chiba 299-4403, Japan.
4University of Michigan, 2122 Lurie Biomedical Engineering, 1101 Beal Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2110, USA.
5Indiana Nanotech, 14 East Washington Street, Suite 6A, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA.

Accepted 22 November, 2024

Synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography (SR micro-CT), considered superior to standard polychromatic micro-CT techniques, was used to assess the densities of bovine enamel white-spot lesions (WSL) treated in a 10-day pH cycling model with either: (A) Clinpro Tooth Crème (0.21% NaF plus TCP), (B) Clinpro 5000 (1.1% NaF plus TCP) or (C) Tom’s of Maine (0% NaF) dentifrice. Each day consisted of four 2 min treatments, one 4 h acid challenge (pH=5.0), and immersion in artificial saliva (pH=7.0) between these events. After 10 days, WSL specimens were evaluated for lesion depth using confocal microscopy and lesion density using SR micro-CT with depths ranging from 2.76 to 113.16 μm, in 2.76 μm slice increments. Statistical analyses (Student’s t-test) were performed at the 95% confidence level. SR micro-CT analyses revealed the NaF plus TCP dentifrices improved WSL densities relative to the fluoride-free toothpaste, and is consistent with an earlier study utilizing polychromatic micro-CT. In contrast to previous findings, SR micro-CT analyses also revealed significant differences in WSL densities treated with the two NaF dentifrices at enamel depths of 13.80, 16.56, and 19.32 μm. These findings suggest SR micro-CT may be especially suited for detecting density differences in lesions sensitive to fluoride-driven remineralization processes.

Key words: Toothpaste, synchrotron radiation micro computed tomography (SR micro-CT), density, remineralization, fluoride, monochromatized X-ray beams, X-ray linear attenuation coefficient (X-ray LAC).