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Background and Objective : The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the impact strength of fractured anterior teeth reattached using three different restorative materials and compare their impact strengths to those of control. Materials and Methods : Sixty human maxillary permanent central incisors were selected and divided into control and experimental groups. The teeth in the experimental groups were fractured and then bonded using Composite resin, Compomer and resin-modified GIC. Intact teeth served as control. All the specimens were then tested in an impact testing machine. Results : The results revealed statistically significant differences between Compomer and resin-modified GIC groups, control and experimental groups. No statistically significant differences were observed between Composite resin and Compomer groups. Conclusion : Thus the fractured fragments bonded with Composite resin and Compomer provided better adhesion than resin-modified GIC.

The purpose of this study was to find out: (a) pupils' attitudes towards open-ended science investigations, and (b) the problems that pupils encounter when carrying out such investigations in groups. The study was conducted in a class of 39 primary 6 pupils of mixed ability who carried out four investigations. Data were based on pupils' responses on an attitude survey questionnaire, interviews, video tapes of pupils performing the investigations and field notes. The majority of the pupils liked conducting such investigations. Reasons for positive responses were that the pupils had the freedom to explore and devise their own procedures to find out things that they wanted to know about, they could work together and discuss with friends, the investigations were interesting and it was a valuable learning experience. Reasons for negative responses included the difficulty of coming up with good ideas to design the investigations, and group conflicts. The findings also indicate that group dynamics played an important role in influencing pupils' attitudes towards the investigations.

Reports on a study that explored the types of questions that students ask for open-ended science investigations. Discusses how teachers can help students identify problems and pose questions that are feasible for investigation. (Contains 55 references.) (DDR)

Background: The contact areas in between primary teeth are broader, flatter, and located further cervically when compared with the contact areas of permanent molars. Aim: We investigated the prevalence of interproximal contact area types of primary molars using CBCT images in children aged 3‐10 years. Our second objective was to correlate OXIS contact areas when observed with CBCT images and clinical photographs. Design: A retrospective cross‐sectional study was performed with 367 CBCT images of children, aged 3‐10 years, obtained from Children's Dental Centre, South Korea. The type of contacts in between primary molars was scored at various levels, specifically, occlusal, middle, and cervical thirds, according to OXIS criteria. Following this, the same patient's records were checked for the presence of clinical photographs and scored according to the same criteria. Prevalence was stated as percentages along with numbers. Chi‐square test was applied to determine association of contact areas across genders and arches. The correlation between the two methods was done by Cohen's Kappa correlation test. Results: The prevalence of the OXIS contacts obtained from CBCT images was as follows: I (79.7%), followed by X (10.0%), S (6.6%), and, finally, O (3.7%). The overall score of all the 1343 contact areas matched with the score observed at the occlusal third. All included contacts were of O (open) type at cervical third, and 1,231 contacts were of O (open) type at the middle third. Significant results were observed with respect to arches (P <.001). The correlation between the two methods was found to be 0.958. Conclusions: The contact area observed at the occlusal level determined the overall type of contact based on OXIS criteria. Thus, reports in the literature concluded that contact areas are broad, flat, and extend further gingivally should be revised. The study also concluded almost perfect agreement between CBCT images and clinical photographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the contact areas of primary molar teeth and approximal caries after three years of observation. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 1,119 caries-free children, aged three to four years, from Puducherry, India. At baseline, 4,476 contacts were assessed using the OXIS criteria, which denotes O for open contact and X, I, and S for closed contacts. X contact represents a point contact, I is a straight contact, and S is a curved contact. Two calibrated dentists measured dental caries at one-year intervals following the International Caries Detection and Assessment System for three years. Poisson regression analysis with a multilevel approach was used to determine the association between contact type and approximal caries. Results: Of 3,848 contacts observed at the end of three years, 499 (13 percent) were carious. The adjusted analysis revealed a significant association between contact type and approximal caries (P<0.05). The risk ratios for the development of approximal caries were 2.3 for X-type contacts (0.5 to 11.4, P=0.307), 12.7 for I-type (4.1 to 39.6, P<0.05), and 22.5 for S-type (7.2 to 70.6, P<0.05) when compared with O-type. Conclusions: Compelling evidence suggests that variations in contacts between teeth are significant in the development of approximal caries. The S-type contact is the most susceptible to approximal caries, followed by the I-type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digit sucking is a common childhood behavior, which has an adaptive value for children up to the fourth year of life. It is usually associated with oral pleasure and self comforting behavior. Chronic practice may lead to dental and skeletal deformities. Reminder therapy using Bluegrass appliance has been proven successful to intercept digit sucking habit. We present here a case of a child aged 7 years with digit sucking habit intercepted by using a nonpunitive reminder therapy using Bluegrass appliance. This nonpunitive Bluegrass appliance proved to be very comfortable to the patient unlike other appliances and also it was successful in intercepting the habit within a short period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the susceptibility of OXIS contact areas, namely, O (open type), X (point type), I (straight type), and S (curved type) in the development of approximal caries. We conducted this study among 953 school children with 3,812 contacts in Puducherry, India. At baseline, the contacts were assessed in accordance with OXIS criteria. At the end of 12 months, two calibrated dentists measured dental caries following the International Caries Detection and Assessment (ICDAS) criteria. Information about feeding practices, diet, and oral hygiene was collected by means of a structured questionnaire from each child's parent. Data were analyzed by unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression analysis with a multilevel approach. The two levels of analysis were tooth and child. Of 3,812 contacts observed during the follow-up, 127 (3.3%) were observed as carious. Poisson regression analysis revealed a significant association between type of contact and caries prevalence (p < 0.05). The risk ratios for the development of approximal caries in X contacts were 2.4 (0.3-17.2), p value 0.38; in I contacts 4.9 (1.2-19.9), p value 0.027; and in S contacts 8.2 (1.9-34.2), p value 0.004, when compared with the O contacts. Among the child variables, male gender (relative risk [RR] = 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3, 3.5), parental supervision while toothbrushing (RR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1, 2.4), and the use of toothpaste (RR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3, 3.1) were found to be associated with approximal caries after adjustment for the other variables. Among the OXIS contacts, the S type was most susceptible to approximal caries due to its complex morphology, followed by I, X, and O., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the individual susceptibility of four different types of OXIS contact areas (open [O], point [X], straight [I], and curved [S]) to approximal caries in children. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using clinical photographs and cone-beam computed tomography images of children, available from January 1, 2014, to August 31, 2015, showing the presence of at least one caries-free contact area between the primary molars. A single calibrated examiner scored 1,102 selected contacts using OXIS criteria from the occlusal view and subsequently evaluated the same contacts with a minimum follow-up period of one year for the presence of approximal caries. Results: Of the 1,102 contacts, 259 (23.5 percent) were found to be carious or restored due to approximal caries. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only the type of contact played a significant role in caries prevalence (P<0.05). The odds ratios of OXIS contacts for the development of approximal caries were: S contact-147.4 (95 percent confidence interval [95% CI] equals 19.7 to 1101.7); I contact-24.5 (95% CI equals 3.4 to 177.9); X contact-1.1 (95% CI equals 1.0 to 12.5); and O contact-1.00 (reference). Conclusions: Among the OXIS contacts, the S type was most susceptible to approximal caries due to its complex morphology. The broad contact areas, namely, I and S types, are at greater risk for approximal caries in primary molars than O and X contacts.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the remineralizing efficacy of fluoride and its combination varnishes on white spot lesion (WSL) in children with early childhood caries (ECC)., Materials and Methods: Sixty children with active WSL on primary maxillary anterior teeth were randomly selected. At baseline, the WSL activity was evaluated using ICDAS II [lesion activity assessment (LAA)] and its dimensions through photographic method. They were allocated to group I (GI) (5% NaF), group II (GII) [5% NaF with amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)], and group III (GIII) [5% NaF with casein phosphopeptides - amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP -ACP)]. First, oral hygiene instructions and diet counseling were given followed by application of fluoride varnishes in their respective groups. The same parameters were recorded at follow-up of 2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks intervals. Data were collected and subjected to statistical analysis using Friedman Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests., Results: Overall, the active WSL changed to inactive over a period of 24 weeks in GI was 90%, GII was 95%, and 100% in GIII. There was a significant reduction in dimension of WSL in GI from 4.119 to 2.525 ( p = 0.0001). Likewise, there was a significant reduction in dimension of WSL in GII and GIII from 4.586 to 3.258 and 4.696 to 1.2155, respectively ( p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001). Comparatively, group III (MI varnish) showed statistically significant reduction in the dimension of WSL from baseline to 24 weeks ( p = 0.002). But the results were statistically insignificant with change of active lesions to its inactivity ( p = 0.349)., Conclusion: Fluoride varnish with CPP-ACP was found to be an effective preventive strategy in reversing WSL in children with ECC., Clinical Relevance: These combination varnishes could prove to be a promising preventive measure for pediatric dentists in reversing white spot lesions of ECC., Clinical Trial Registry: NCT03360266., How to Cite This Article: Radha S, Kayalvizhi G, Adimoulame S, et al. Comparative Evaluation of the Remineralizing Efficacy of Fluoride Varnish and its Combination Varnishes on White Spot Lesions in Children with ECC: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(4):311-317., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2020; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of different interproximal contact areas of primary molars, as described in the OXIS classification, in a group of three- to four-year-old caries-free children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out with a representative sample of 4,476 contact areas of 1,119 caries-free school children. A single calibrated examiner performed a type III examination to assess the type of contact area between primary molars, as seen from the occlusal view. The contacts were scored as O (open contact), X (point contact), I (straight contact), and S (curved contact) using OXIS classification. The prevalence of the types was expressed in the form of numbers and percentages. The findings were subjected to chi-square and McNemar's tests. Results: The most common contact type was I (75.5 percent), followed by S (15.3 percent), O (5.8 percent), and X (3.3 percent). Significant differences were obtained (P<0.001) when the inter- arch comparison was performed for all except the X type of contact. Further, 401 (35.8 percent) children had more than one type of contact in dif- ferent quadrants. Conclusions: The present study highlights the existence of four different types of interproximal contact areas, O, X, I, and S, in caries-free three- to four-year-olds.

Context: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is the most virulent form of caries, which requires early intervention. Pediatricians are health professionals who first examine the child, and must be able to educate parents about basic preventive dental care, early diagnosis of pathological changes in the oral cavity and appropriate referrals for the children., Aims: To assess the awareness, attitude, and practice among pediatricians regarding ECC and Infant Oral Healthcare (IOHC) in Puducherry., Settings and Design: Setting: Study was conducted among pediatricians of Puducherry. Design: Observational Cross-sectional study., Methods and Material: After obtaining consent from Pediatricians, a prevalidated questionnaire was distributed and collected from them regarding their awareness, attitude, and practices toward ECC and IOHC., Statistical Analysis Used: Percentage., Results: Out of 85% Pediatricians who responded, 57% of them were aware of initial white spot lesions, and 39% of them were aware of maternally-derived Streptococcus mutans disease. 100% of them were willing to avail information, training on IOHC., Conclusions: It is clear from the study that Pediatricians in Puducherry had limited awareness regarding the prevention of oral diseases. It is essential to provide sufficient knowledge to them by incorporating a module on ECC and infant oral health care in their curriculum., Competing Interests: None

Objective: In children, manual dexterity poses a problem with the use of manual tooth brushes (MB), resulting in inefficient plaque removal. Recently, novel chewable brushes (CB) have been introduced which could overcome this problem but are less researched in children. The objective of this study is to assess and compare the plaque removal effectiveness of CB with that of MB., Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients aged 8 to 10 years were enrolled in a single-blinded randomized clinical trial. At baseline, disclosing solution was applied and the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein index (TQHI) plaque index and Loe and Silness gingival index were recorded. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups as group I (MB) and group II (CB) and they were instructed to use their respective brushes for a period of 1 week. For statistical comparison, the difference (prebrushing minus postbrushing) in average scores was calculated. Data were evaluated by the independent t test and paired t test, with p < 0.05., Results: The overall plaque scores reduced from 1.71 ± 0.4 to 0.79 ± 0.24 when using CB and from 1.64 ± 0.64 to 1.13 ± 0.47 when using MBs. On lingual tooth surfaces, CB showed a plaque reduction of 38.70 ± 11.04 to 12.60 ± 4.79 compared to less reduction from 37.43 ± 14.26 to 28.73 ± 11.37 for MB. The overall gingival scores were also reduced from 0.33 ± 0.51 to 0.09 ± 0.07 when using CB and from 0.30 ± 0.33 to 0.19 ± 0.23 when using MB. Differences in scores between the two brushes were statistically significant ( p = 0.0001)., Conclusion: It was concluded that the experimental CB was able to remove a significant amount of plaque, particularly on the lingual surfaces, and reduced gingival index scores, thereby improving oral hygiene and gingival health status., How to Cite This Article: Kayalvizhi G, Radha S, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Plaque Removal Effectiveness of Manual and Chewable Toothbrushes in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(2):107-110., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2019; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.)

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the variations in the levels of Streptococcus mutans in saliva before and after short-term daily intake of the probiotic lozenge. To estimate the prevalence of S. mutans serotypes e, f, and k and its variations in salivary levels before and after short-term daily intake of the probiotic lozenge., Materials and Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted among 60 children of 6-12 years old, who were given lozenge twice daily containing probiotic bacteria twice daily, one in the morning and another in the evening after brushing for 1 month. The placebo lozenge group also followed the same protocol. A pre- and post-quantitative analysis of S. mutans and serotypes e, f, and k level were done in the saliva of both experiment and control groups., Statistical Analysis: The data thus collected were statistically evaluated using repeated measures of ANOVA, followed by post hoc test and independent t-test., Results and Conclusion: When compared with baseline, a significant reduction of S. mutans was seen after 1 month intervention and 6 months follow-up. The prevalence of serotype e was found to be 5% and serotype k was found to be 12%, whereas none of the samples carried serotype f. Future long-term research with a larger sample size is required to determine the prevalence of S. mutans serotype and longer evaluation period is required to assess the preventive role against caries development., Competing Interests: None

Introduction: Dental caries is an infectious disease with Streptococcus mutans as the main cariogenic bacteria. Children with early S. mutans colonization have a higher risk of developing dental caries than those with later colonization. Therefore, prevention or delay of S. mutans colonization may be advantageous for the prevention of early childhood caries (ECC)., Aim: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of xylitol and placebo wipes on S. mutans count in 19- to 35-month-old children., Materials and Methods: Forty-four children were randomly selected from a daycare center and divided into two groups. Allocation concealment was done and both (placebo and xylitol) wipes were distributed to their parents. Instructions were given regarding their use, to be used twice daily for 2 weeks and the S. mutans levels in the saliva were enumerated before and after wipes usage. The collected data were tabulated and statistically analyzed using paired and unpaired t-tests., Results: A clinically significant decrease in the S. mutans count was observed in the xylitol wipes group than the placebo wipes group. Intergroup comparison results were found to be statistically insignificant., Conclusion: Xylitol wipes usage could serve as a useful adjunct in reducing the cariogenic bacteria, especially S. mutans, and thus can be considered as an adjunct oral hygiene tool for caries prevention in young children How to cite this article: Kayalvizhi G, Nivedha D, Sajeev R, Prathima GS, Suganya M, Ramesh V. Evaluating the Efficacy of Xylitol Wipes on Cariogenic Bacteria in 19- to 35-month-old Children: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(1):13-17., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None

Introduction: Dental setting plays an important role in child's behavior and cooperation to the planned dental treatment. Adding attractive colours to the dental environment and by incorporating colourful equipments can make the child feel good and be at ease. This study tries to convey the relationship between colours and dental anxiety among children., Aim: To evaluate the colour preference to emotions in relation to children's age, gender and anxiety level., Materials and Methods: A total of 382 children aged 6-12 years were randomly selected from schools in and around Puducherry. Modified dental anxiety scale was recorded by a calibrated examiner. Each question was scored from one (not anxious) to five (extremely anxious); such that the total score ranges from 5 to 25, wherein a score of 15 or more was considered to be anxious. Based on this, children were divided into anxious and non-anxious groups. All the children were provided with eight different coloured crayon pencils and were asked to shade two cartoon emoticons indicating happiness and sadness with their preferred colour. Values were tabulated and statistically analyzed to evaluate the association between the variables using Z test, Chi-square, Chi-square goodness of fit and odds ratio. (p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant)., Results: Among 382 children, 77% (294) were graded as anxious and 23% (88) as non- anxious. For positive emotion (happiness), 31.2% (119) children preferred blue followed by pink 29.3% (112). For negative emotion (sadness), 52.1% (199) of children preferred black and 46.9% (179) preferred red. Association between colour and emotion was highly significant (p= 0.005)., Conclusion: From the colours preferred by the children in our study, it can be concluded that colours like blue and pink in the dental set-up could enhance a positive attitude while black and red could develop a negative outlook in their mind.

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is a multisystem congenital disorder characterized by abnormal facial development, deformed limbs and dentition. This report describes a rare incidence of ODDD-linked dermatological, cardiac, dental, and neurologic manifestations noted in an Indian child patient.

Root canal infections are polymicrobial in nature, consisting of both aerobic and anaerobic species. The successful treatment of both primary and secondary endodontic infections involves effective eradication of the causative microorganisms during root canal treatment procedures. Reduction and elimination of microorganisms from the infected root canal provides optimal opportunity for treatment success. Local application of antibiotics has been considered an effective way to deliver antibiotics. A combination of antibiotic drugs have been tried under the concept of lesion sterilization and tissue repair therapy to eliminate the target bacteria, which are possible sources of endodontic lesions. The purpose of this article is to discuss the lesion sterilization and tissue repair therapy technique in primary teeth.

Background: Thumb sucking habits make up the majority of oral habits. While thumb sucking is considered normal during the first two years of life, if it is not controlled and persists beyond the preschool period it may cause deleterious effects on dentofacial structures. Reminder therapy using Bluegrass appliance has been proven successful to intercept thumb sucking habit., Case Report: We present here two cases of thumb sucking habit in 7 and 10 year old children corrected by non- punitive reminder therapy using a customised Bluegrass appliance.