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Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that manifests itself in primary and permanent dentitions. Pit and fissure sealants have become the most effective noninvasive treatment for addressing teeth with deep pits and fissures in children. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of the child when administering the pit and fissure sealant using the rubber dam and MiniDam. Methodology: Fifty-two children in the age range of 9–12 years were randomly allocated into two groups: Group I, rubber dam and Group II, MiniDam. The children were randomly assigned into two groups with 26 members in Group 1 (rubber dam isolation) and 26 members in Group 2 (MiniDam isolation). Children’s anxiety was assessed using the modified Venham scale and heart rate. The children’s pain intensity was assessed using Memojis Pain Scale. The data collected were tabulated and statistically analyzed using SPSS software. The level of significance was established at 0.05. Results: Intergroup comparison of heart rates showed a statistically significant difference for both the groups at various intervals (P value 0.05), that is, before placing the dam, with the dam, and during treatment. Pain and anxiety scores showed a statistically significant difference in both the groups before and after the procedure (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of MiniDam can offer a better option for the pit/fissure sealant procedure due to its unique qualities, including simplicity of placement, improved behavior management, and less chair time in children.

Background: Effective communication with children can improve their understanding and aid in complying with oral hygiene instructions. Aim: The aim is to compare the retentiveness of oral hygiene instructions in children educated using three communication techniques. Methodology: One hundred and twenty children in the age range of 12–13 years were included in the study. Baseline awareness of oral hygiene maintenance was assessed using a questionnaire. Twenty children were randomly assigned to each group: Tell-Tell-Tell, Ask-Tell-Ask, Teach-back, and information provided. Knowledge was reassessed after a week; data were tabulated and assessed statistically. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline data among the groups (P > 0.05). Regardless of the group, there was an improvement in knowledge regarding the frequency and timing of brushing as well as the cause of dental caries after the intervention. However, children in Ask-Tell-Ask and Teach back showed significant improvement over Tell-Tell-Tell (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Communication strategies, such as Ask-Tell-Ask and Teach back, which have a strategy to involve children, have been shown to be superior over Tell-Tell-Tell.

Supernumerary teeth have been proposed to be one of the most significant dental defects affecting the primary and early mixed dentition. These teeth can cause poor facial and dental aesthetics, as well as many pathological problems for the development of permanent dentition. Mesiodens are the extra teeth that have erupted or not yet erupted in the maxilla between the central incisors. Early identification and treatment are necessary to mitigate the negative effects of the mesiodens dentoalveolar structures. This case series discusses three different cases for the presence of supernumerary teeth leading to discomfort and aesthetic concerns. Extraction of the supernumerary teeth was performed to reduce future complications and was further suggested for orthodontic correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index was developed as an innovative instrument for evaluating dental caries in epidemiological studies. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of CAST in evaluating caries prevalence and treatment needs among children in primary dentition stage. Materials and Methods: Children in the age range of 5-6 years were selected and their caries status, along with the treatment needs, was recorded using CAST index. The differences in caries status between maxillary and mandibular arches, right and left quadrants as well as boys and girls were assessed using Mann–Whitney U test with the level of significance set at 0.05 and correlation of the distribution of CAST codes among the evaluated teeth was explored through Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: A strong correlation was found between the status of the teeth from the right and left sides of the oral cavity. The correlation coefficient (r) for neighboring maxillary anteriors was 0.67 and 0.57, whereas 1 for all mandibular anteriors (P < 0.001). The correlation coefficient (r) for neighboring maxillary posteriors was

Avulsion or exarticulation is one of the most severe injuries of the tooth, frequently encountered in young children and the maxillary anterior teeth. Immediate transplantation of the avulsed tooth is the suggested treatment that results in a favorable prognosis, although this may not be possible every time. Here, we present a case report of an 8-year-old girl who sustained an avulsion injury of the maxillary left central incisor with 4 1/2 days extraoral time. Treatment guidelines for avulsed immature permanent teeth with prolonged extraoral dry time were followed. Portland cement was used for obturation of the root canal. The clinical and radiographic findings after 18 months revealed minimal inflammatory root resorption and ankylosis of the replanted tooth, whereas clinically, the tooth was asymptomatic and maintained the aesthetics of the child, suggesting the importance of replantation, although there was prolonged extraoral dry time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]