Search

The Himalaya plays a vital role in regulating the freshwater availability for nearly a billion people living in the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra River basins. Due to climate change and constantly evolving human-hydrosphere interactions, including land use/cover changes, groundwater extraction, reservoir or dam construction, water availability has undergone significant change, and is expected to change further in the future. Therefore, understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of the hydrological cycle over the Himalaya and its river basins has been one of the most critical exercises toward ensuring regional water security. However, due to the lack of extensive in-situ measurements, complex hydro-climatic environment, and limited collaborative efforts, large gaps in our understanding exist. Moreover, there are several significant issues with available studies, such as lack of consistent hydro-meteorological datasets, very few attempts at integrating different data types, limited spatiotemporal sampling of hydro-meteorological measurements, lack of open access to in-situ datasets, poorly accounted anthropogenic climate feedbacks, and limited understanding of the hydro-meteorological drivers over the region. These factors result in large uncertainties in our estimates of current and future water availability over the Himalaya, which constraints the development of sustainable water management strategies for its river catchments hampering our preparedness for the current and future changes in hydro-climate. To address these issues, a partnership development workshop entitled “Water sEcurity assessment in rIvers oriGinating from Himalaya (WEIGH),” was conducted between the 07th and 11th September 2020. Based on the intense discussions and deliberations among the participants, the most important and urgent research questions were identified. This white paper synthesizes the current understanding, highlights, and the most significant research gaps and research priorities for studying water availability in the Himalaya.

Background: Ego defense mechanisms (EDMs) act as a major factor for overcoming stressful situations in life. Aims: The study aimed to assess the various patterns and factors of EDMs employed by pediatric dental postgraduate students in India. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional design, web-based questionnaire survey. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study on EDM was conducted among 246 pediatric dental postgraduates in India from July to October 2019. The modified form of the Defense Style Questionnaire-20 included 10 EDMs under three major patterns– Mature, Immature, and Neurotic. The questionnaire was sent to all pediatric dental postgraduates enrolled in the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry and reminders were sent every week for 6 weeks. Results: Among the 1041 pediatric dental postgraduates who received the E-mail, two hundred and forty-six students responded to the same. The respondents included 89 males and 157 females. The mature pattern was found to be the most commonly employed EDM (males-47.20%; females-51.60%). Sublimation (72.76%), a mature type of defense was found to be the most common EDM factor employed by the majority of the students. The immature pattern was higher among males when compared to females (males-14.60%; females-5.70%). Conclusion: Most pediatric dental postgraduates exhibited a mature pattern, followed by a neurotic and immature pattern of EDM. The mature pattern of EDM was displayed more by the female students than the male students. Sublimation was found to be the maximum expressed factor followed by acting out.

Aim: The aim was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two distraction techniques, magic trick and mobile dental game with tell-show-do (TSD) in the management of anxious children. Methodology: Two hundred and thirty children aged 4–5 years were screened for their baseline anxiety using the Chotta Bheem-Chutki scale. A double-blinded randomized control trial was conducted among 60 children with high anxiety scores. They were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 received a magic trick distraction technique. Group 2 received a mobile dental game distraction technique. Group 3, the control group received TSD. Readiness to accept the dental treatment and postoperative anxiety scores were recorded. Results: Statistically significant reduction in the anxiety level was seen in children who received magic (P = 0.001), mobile dental game (P < 0.001), and TSD technique (P < 0.001). Based on the readiness to accept dental treatment, there was a statistically significant difference between the three groups (P = 0.025). The children in the mobile group were found to accept the treatment faster compared to the magic and TSD groups. Conclusion: All three techniques were equally effective in reducing the anxiety of children. The mobile dental game was superior to magic trick and TSD in terms of children's readiness to accept dental treatment.

Objective: To systematically review the association between black stains and early childhood caries. Methods: Seven electronic databases and hand search were carried out using keywords on black stains and early childhood caries. Articles published in English from January 1947 to January 2020 were included. A total of 38,686 articles were retrieved, and 38,645 duplicate and irrelevant records were removed. Among the 41 articles obtained, 21 articles were excluded after screening the title and abstracts. Fifteen articles were excluded after analyzing the full text. Finally, five articles with cross-sectional study designs were included in this review. Quality analysis was carried out using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Results: All the five articles included in this review had a low risk of bias. Two articles showed a significant negative association and one article showed a significant positive association between black stains and early childhood caries. Conclusion: Cross-sectional design and heterogeneity of the included articles provide an ambiguous opinion on the association between black stains and early childhood caries. More of longitudinal studies following rigid methodology is needed to establish the association between black stains and early childhood caries.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of school dental health education on the oral health status, oral health-related knowledge, and practice behavior of 6–12-year-old children. Methods: Hand search and electronic search based on the keywords on school dental health education in seven search engines till 2017 identified 7434 articles. Trials involving school-based dental health education with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were screened. Risk of bias assessment was done independently by two authors. Results: Among the 18 articles which fulfilled the eligibility criteria, six were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 12 were non-RCTs. Quality assessment showed that 12 trials had a low risk of bias. Oral health-related knowledge improved in children. Oral health-related practice behaviors such as frequency and duration of brushing improved. Use of fluoridated toothpaste was increased. Plaque scores and gingival bleeding scores reduced. Conclusion: School dental health education had a positive impact on the oral health status, knowledge, and practice behavior of children. There is a definite need for high-quality RCTs analyzing the effectiveness of school dental health education on specific oral health outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the changes in dental plaque pH, salivary pH, and its buffering capacity after the use of three different chewing gums for 1 month in children aged 8–12 years. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial consisted of 90 children with Decayed, missing, Filled teeth (dmft/DMFT)

Background: Oral health of schoolchildren is a strong predictor of their overall well-being. This study was planned to assess and compare the objective and subjective parameters of oral health of South Indian school children. Methodology: Three hundred and sixty school children participated in this cross-sectional study. Their oral hygiene status, dental caries status, and treatment needs were assessed. Two questionnaires were filled by these children, to assess their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and their knowledge on oral health. Their academic scores were collected from the schools. Statistical analysis was done using Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test and Spearman correlation test appropriately. Results: Children with no caries had better OHRQoL (P = 0.02). There was a negative correlation between dental caries status and OHRQoL score (P = 0.003) and dental caries treatment needs and OHRQoL score (P = 0.01). There was a positive correlation between knowledge on oral health and OHRQoL score (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Children with no caries had a better OHRQoL when compared to children with caries. Children with caries had more treatment needs, poor oral hygiene, low quality of life, and performed lesser in academics. However, they had adequate knowledge on oral health. Hence, both objective and subjective parameters of oral health should be given importance while treating children.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of school absenteeism, academic performances, and self-esteem of school-going children on their oral health status. Materials and Methods: The study sample included 2014 children aged 12–15 years from India. Rosenberg self-esteem scale was used to assess the self-esteem of the children. Data on school performance, homework completion, and absenteeism were obtained from the school authorities and parents. Clinical examination for each child was done to assess the Decayed, Missed, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) scores. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney test, and Kruskal–Wallis test with the aid of SPSS software. Odds ratio was calculated with 95% confidence interval. P ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Oral health had a significant association with school absenteeism and homework completion. School absenteeism was significantly associated with dental caries (P = 0.007) and poor oral hygiene (P = 0.001), whereas homework completion was significantly associated with dental caries alone (P = 0.002). There was no significant association between variables like self-esteem, first language, mathematics, and DMFT/OHI-S score. Conclusion: School records such as absenteeism data and homework completion can be used as proxy measures of the oral health status in children.

Background: School textbooks have been considered as an effective platform for promoting oral health. The information on oral health in the Indian school textbooks has not been evaluated. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contents of school textbooks on oral health and to quantitatively analyze the school health camps and guest lectures/demonstrations conducted in the schools of three districts in Tamil Nadu. Methodology: Twenty schools which participated in the study followed the Central Board of Secondary Education, matriculation, or the state board syllabus. A questionnaire was designed to collect information about the medical camps, dental camps, guest lectures, and demonstrations conducted in the last academic year from the schools. The questionnaires were distributed among the school teachers of grades I–V. They were asked to provide photocopies of the topics on oral health which were included in the syllabus. Content analysis of the information on oral health-related topics in the school textbooks was done. Descriptive statistics of the details of the camps and lectures was done using Pearson's Chi-square test (SPSS version 17) (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, USA). Results: There was no significant difference in the number of medical camps (P = 0.445), dental camps (P = 0.055), and guest lectures (P = 0.069) organized among the three boards of schools. Basic information on the parts and type of teeth, tooth decay, and brushing were present in the textbooks of all three boards of schools. Conclusion: The school textbooks of all the three boards contained basic and adequate information on oral health. Periodic revisions of the content and quality of information in the school textbooks are essential. To make the information sticky for long-term, reinforcements in the form of school health education is needed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine™ when used to repair the furcal perforations in primary molars using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Study Design: The study sample comprised forty recently extracted primary molars. These teeth were placed in a 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution for 24 h and washed with tap water. Access cavities were made using a round bur in high-speed handpiece. Perforations were made in the center of the floor of the pulpal chamber using a 0.5 mm round bur. The teeth were randomly assigned into two experimental groups based on the material used to seal the perforation: Group A - MTA and Group B - Biodentine™. The packed materials were allowed to set for 24 h. The samples were sectioned longitudinally and the extent of marginal adaptation was measured by SEM. Wilcoxon-signed rank test was used for statistical analysis using SPSS software. Results: All teeth exhibited microleakage, but Biodentine™ showed significantly less leakage (0.149) compared to MTA (0.583). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Biodentine™ showed lesser microleakage compared to MTA and thus may be a good alternative to MTA.