Obtunding , Mummfication, Disclo (BDS. Faculty of Dentistry, 6 OCU . Postgraduate student in Dental Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Egypt) sing agent in Dentistry.pdf

Obtundants acts by one of the following mechanism
1-paralyzing of sensory nerves e.g. phenol, menthol, thymol, clove oil, campher , benzyl alcohol cause irritation of sensory nerve followed by desentizing .
2. Precipitating protein astringents like silver nitrate, zinc oxide , zinc choloride .
3. Destruction of nervous tissue. e.g, Absolute alcohol.
An agent or drug that has the property of dull sensitivity and reducing or relieving pain
Obtundant meaning Desentizing agent
Mechanism of action
Protoplasmic posion ,paralysises of nerves , initial iritation followed by numbness
Advantages
Rapid action , does not stain healthy dentine ,
penetrability can be increased by KOH and glycerin
Disadvantages
Infected dentin is darkened ,poor penetrability
Mechanism of action
Protoplasmic posion ,paralysises of nerves , initial iritation followed by numbness
Advantages
Rapid action , does not stain healthy dentine ,
penetrability can be increased by KOH and glycerin
Disadvantages
Infected dentin is darkened ,poor penetrability
Mechanism of action
Protoplasmic posion ,paralysises of nerves , initial iritation followed by numbness
Advantages
Rapid action , does not stain healthy dentine ,
penetrability can be increased by KOH and glycerin
Disadvantages
Infected dentin is darkened ,poor penetrability

1. By
Ayah Gamal
(BDS. Faculty of Dentistry, 6 OCU .
Postgraduate student in Dental
Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry,
Mansoura University, Egypt)

2. What is an obtunding agent in dentistry
An agent or drug that has the property of dull
sensitivity and reducing or relieving pain
Obtundant meaning Desentizing agent

3. Examples of obtunding agent
Benzyle alchole
Camphor
Thymol
Menthol
Silver nitrate
Zinc choloride
Zinc oxide eugenol

4. Mechanism of action
Obtundants acts by one of the following mechanism
 1-paralyzing of sensory nerves e.g. phenol, menthol,
thymol, clove oil, campher , benzyl alcohol cause
irritation of sensory nerve followed by desentizing .
2. Precipitating protein astringents like silver nitrate,
zinc oxide , zinc choloride .
3. Destruction of nervous tissue. e.g, Absolute alcohol.

5. Disadvantages
1. Pulp may shrink
2. Irritants may stimulate the formation of
secondary dentine .
After the advent of local anathesia, the use of
obtundent has declined.

6. Advantages
Painless
Rapied action
Does not stain the teeth

7. henolP
Mechanism of action
Protoplasmic posion ,paralysises of nerves , initial
iritation followed by numbness
Advantages
Rapid action , does not stain healthy dentine ,
penetrability can be increased by KOH and glycerin
Disadvantages
Infected dentin is darkened ,poor penetrability

8. , Menthol ,clove oil ,camphorThymol
Mechanism of action
Paralysis sensory nerves, initial irritation followed
by numbness
Advantages
Combination of These oils has rapid action
Disadvantages
Clove oil may stain the dentin yellow .

10. Silver nitrate
Mechanism of action
Astringent , precipitate superficial proteins
Advantages
Rapid action
Disadvantages
Penetrating is poor
Stain the dentine black

11. Zinc chloride
Mechanism of action
Astringent , precipitate superficial
proteins
Advantages
Rapid action
Does not stain the teeth
Disadvantages
Initial pain is sharp

12. Paraformaldehyde
Mechanism of action
Acts by release of formaldehyde which precipitates
proteins
Advantages
Painless , nonstaining
Disadvantages
Slow action
Formaldehyde may penetrate pulp to cause
inflammation

13. eugenolZinc oxide
Act as pain relieve
It is used as restoration

14. Benzyl alcohol
Paralysis of sensory nerve.
It is used as pain relieve

16. agent Mummifing
Agent used to harden and dry the tissue of the pulp are
called mummifing agents
This harding makes the tissue resistance to infection
Astringents and antiseptic were used in combination
as a paste for this purpose.

17. Tannic acid --is an astringent, precipitate proteins
and harden the tissue.
The tissue may also shrink, with the advent with
modern techniques and availability of more suitable
material for root canal therapy now , mummifying
agents are not of much use .

18. Mummifying agent
Some mummifying agent are
Liquid formaldehyde – it is used with zinc oxide and
glycerin to harden the tissue.
Paraform – acts by slow release of formaldehyde and
is used in combination with zinc oxide and glycerin.
Iodoform – acts by liberation of iodine . It is made
into the paste with eugenol , phenol , tannic acid and
glycerol for use in dental practice .

21. Formocresol

The formaldehyde component of formcresol is
strongly bactericidal and reversibly inhibits many
enzymes in the inflammatory process.
Bactericidal and a mummifying agent.
An additional devitalizing medicine for the
secondary treatment, on teeth and root canals.
Nowadays, it is not used due to its carcinogenicity.

22. Formocresol
Extremely effective pulp devitalized
Has pain-relief effect
Powerful disinfectant
Root canal dressing
Primary teeth (pulp preparation)
Does not influence physiological root resorption
of primary tooth

23. Clinical uses of formaldehyde
To control the pain (desentizing) beside the anesthesia
in case of
 1- Acute pulpitis in permanent tooth from 2-4 minutes.
(mumfication of the vital pulp)
 2- Pulpotomy in deciduous tooth.
In addition it is not used in dead pulp case.
Some doctors used pulp tec , granuleo tec in replacement
of formaldehyde to fixed the vital pulp these lead to future
necrosis of periapical area.

24. tecPulp
 a medicament for long term treatment of pulpitis, by
pulpotomy of vital molars, both permanent and
deciduous.
 This treatment is both simple and rapid.
 Pulpotec is a filling paste for simple, rapid and long
term treatment by pulpotomy of vital molars, both
permanent and deciduous.
Not recommended for further toxicity . ( arsenic
poisoning )

25. Tec Granulo
One of the mummifying agent.
It has a composition of Dexamethasone Acetate (0.1%),
Phenol, Formadehyde, Gaiacol, Iodoform, Excipient.
 It is an Eugenol free, bactericidal, non resorbable and
radiopaque.
Not recommended for its further toxicity

26. Disadvantages
Systemic toxicity
Retained to dead tooth pulp
Dry and hard condition
Chances of future infection/ inflammation

28. Disclosing agent
Dental plaque are relatively invisible
Certain agent (dyes) and iodine containing solution
may be used to make the supragingival plaques visible
and such agents are called disclosing agents .

29. Examples
Erythrocyne: Erthrocyine tablet are dissolved into
a solution or chewed to dissolve in the mouth. It
is stain the plaque area red but also may stain the soft
tissue . It is the most widely used disclosing agent .
Flouresicent dye: on application fluorescent dye
stains the plaque yellow . It does not stain the soft
tissue . But special light is required to see the stain
plaque. It is more expensive.

31. Two stain dyes: a solution containing a combination
of two dye is used. Mature plaque are stained blue ,
while new plaque are stained red .
Iodine containing solution : Iodine containing
solution have been used as disclosing agents but have
the disadvantages
 of causing a high incidence of allergic reaction
They also have an unacceptable taste. Hence iodine
solutions are not preferred.

32. Advantages
Dyes used as disclosing agents used to differentiate
mature and immature plaques
They don’t stain the gingival tissue.

33. Method of application
To stain the plaque, solution of disclosing agents may
be used as follows:
Painting the teeth with cotton swab
 Rinsing the mouth
As tablets/wafers to be chewed dissolving it in the
saliva. The mouth should then be rinsed with water.