title: Evaluation of Fluid Absorbency of Retraction Cords after Immersing in Two Retraction Medicaments - An In-vitro Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dry retraction cords help to displace the gingiva and also to absorb the gingival crevicular fluid and saliva to maintain a dry field. When used along with medicaments whether these medicaments help to improve the absorption of fluid or affect the fluid absorption by decreasing the efficiency of the retraction cord is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to know the effect of various medicaments on the fluid absorbency of the retraction cords and also, to know whether the thickness of the retraction cords influences it's fluid absorbency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 90 samples of 5cm length retraction cords were taken. Cords were divided into 30 samples for each cord thickness of 0, 1 and 2. Of these 30 samples, 10 samples were used to measure dry weight (Group I), 10 samples were immersed in 15.5% ferric sulfate (Group II) and remaining 10 samples were immersed in 10% aluminium chloride (Group III) for a period of 20 minutes. The excess medicament was removed by blotting paper. Initial weight was recorded. Following this, five cords from each group were immersed in plasma solution and remaining in artificial saliva for 10 minutes. Then these were taken out and measured. The amount of the fluid absorbed was determined by subtracting the weight before fluid immersion (weight after immersion in test medicament) from the weight after fluid immersion (weight after immersion in plasma or artificial saliva). The study was analyzed through one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons for pair wise differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When immersed in medicaments, there is a significant difference in absorption of fluids (artificial saliva and plasma) between the untreated dry cord and cord treated with 15.5% ferric sulfate (p<0.05). But, there was no significant difference in fluid absorption between the dry untreated cord and cord treated with 10% aluminum chloride and between cords treated with 15.5% ferric sulfate and 10% aluminum chloride.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ferric sulfate (15.5%) is a better medicament for absorption of fluid.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, GDCH , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vishnubhotla
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor and Incharge, Department of Prosthodontics, GDCH , Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Sreeramulu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basapogu
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, GDCH , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Rajeev Kumar Reddy
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Karnati
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, GDCH , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Pradeep Prabhu
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Dasari
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, GDCH , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Mani Victor
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Thommandru
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, GDCH , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Mohana Bindu
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bethu
keywords: Artificial saliva; Electronic analytical balance; Human plasma