Search

Introduction: Over the years, there has been an increase in the practice of self-medication (SM) with over-the-counter drugs for dental conditions. Regarding paediatric patients, it is important for parents to have proper knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding SM for their children. Aim: To assess the parental KAP towards SM for various oral health-related problems of children below 15 years of age. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at schools in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, between March 2021 and January 2022. A total of 323 parents of children aged up to 15 years were included in the study. Data were collected from parents through a prevalidated questionnaire to record their demographic details and KAP of SM. Fisher's exact test was used to compare KAP of SM with the age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status (SES) of parents. Results: The most common medicine and reason for which SM was practiced were pain relievers (85%) and expensive dental treatment (39.8%), respectively. The pharmacist was the most common source of information for SM (46.9%) and drug dosage (46%). There was a significant association (p=<0.001) between children age groups and the presentation form of medicine. Additionally, statistically significant differences were found when comparing parents' educational level and SES with dosage difference (p=0.01, p=<0.001), route of administration of medicine (p=0.04, p=<0.002), preference for expensive medicine (p=<0.001, p=<0.001), and reasons for not visiting the dentist (p=<0.01, p=<0.001), respectively. Furthermore, when SES was compared with course completion, a statistically significant difference was found (p=<0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge regarding SM practice was lower in the low educational and low SES groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the newer innovation and recent technological advances in modern dentistry, fear and anxiety constitute an important theme in dentistry. They are a usual reaction to stressful conditions that help children while staying alert in situations of an impending threat. Aim: To evaluate the effect of deep breathing exercise in reducing dental anxiety, behaviour and pain using smartwatch during maxillary buccal infiltration in children aged 7-11 years. Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional and single-blinded randomised clinical trial conducted in the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, NDCH, Nellore, Andhra pradesh, India, from November 2019 to October 2020. A total of 70 children of age between 7-11 years. They were randomly allocated into two groups, 35 in each. Children in group I were trained for deep breathing exercise using smartwatch and group II (control group) was traditional tell show do technique. The reaction of children during maxillary buccal infiltration anaesthesia was recorded in terms of behaviour (Frankl's behaviour rating scale), anxiety {Facial Image Scale (FIS) and pulse rate}, and pain perception (Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale and face, leg, activity, cry and consolability scale). Data was tabulated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Kruskal-Wallis for data distribution. Independent Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test (Quantitative variables) and Chisquare test or Mann-Whitney test (Qualitative variables) were used to test statistical significance using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Results: The mean age of children in smartwatch group was 8.9±1.4 years and in control group was 8.9±1.6 years with no statistical significant difference. Statistically significant decrease in pulse rate was observed in smartwatch group (p=0.003), subjective anxiety and pain was lowered in intervention group. Objective pain was decreased significantly in smartwatch group (p=0.007). Conclusion: Children performing deep breathing exercise using smartwatch had efficiency to reduce dental anxiety and pain perceived during maxillary buccal infiltration anaesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The infection potential of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is remarkable due to its airborne transmission through droplets and aerosols. Paediatric dental needs were severely compromised during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Aim: To assess parents' attitudes and concerns towards approaching paediatric dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry at Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, from August 2021 to October 2021. The study included 200 parents to assess the attitudes and concerns towards approaching Paediatric dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic. A structured questionnaire was used through Google forms to collect from parents, information regarding precautions, mode of transmission of the virus and type of treatment option. The Chi-square test and Fischer-exact test were used to compare the parameters such as education and occupation with parents' attitude and knowledge. Results: Out of the 200 parents, 37 were males and 163 were females with mean age of the parents was 34.8 years. Out of total 200, 153 (76.5%) of the parents were worried to visit a Paediatric dentist. Only 56 (28%) of the children suffered from toothache during the pandemic. About 28 (14%) of parents believed that the virus is transmitted through the air and 70% of the parents preferred teledentistry. A 152 (76%) of them were willing to pay extra costs and 123 (61.5%) of respondents expected to treat the emergency condition alone. A statistically significant difference was not observed between different occupation in the answers given about transmission paths of a virus (p-value=0.39), extra payment (p-value=0.77), and preference of approach (p-value=0.223). Conclusion: Majority parents were worried to visit a Paediatric dentist and preferred teledentistry. They were ready to pay extra costs for the sanitisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study aimed to determine the risk factors related to permanent maxillary incisors and soft tissue injuries along with providing information about the age distribution of trauma, overjet, lip competence and physical activity.Methods and Materials: The sample consisted of 2100 school children aged 8-14 years from 15 schools in the Nellore district. The sample was selected adopting a stratified random sampling method and screened applying WHO criteria for the oral examination. The screening was done in classrooms to obtain demographic data, including name, age, gender and children's experience to the maxillary incisor and soft tissue injuries. The injuries were categorized according to Andreasen classification. Overjet and lip competences were recorded, and physical activity was assessed using a questionnaire (PAQ-C).Results: Of the 2100 children, 228 (10.8%) had suffered traumatic injuries. Boys were 1.6 fold more prone to trauma than girls. Enamel fractures were a common type of trauma, and the commonly involved were maxillary central incisors. The relative risk for trauma is 1.215 times higher in increased overjet when compared to normal overjet. Incompetent lips showed 1.189 times greater risk of trauma. The high physical activity showed 1.692 times higher risk for trauma when compared to low physical activity.Conclusion: The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries among 8-14 year children was 10.8%. Boys were more commonly injured than girls. Increased overjet incompetent lips and high physical activities are risk factors for trauma. Enamel fracture was the most common type, and maxillary central incisors were the most common teeth having traumatic injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dental treatment for children requires the use of behaviour guidance techniques (BGTs), which are used in the dental office to make children cope with dental treatment.Aim: Evaluate how children and parents felt towards BGTs used in a dental office, by attitude meter and to correlate them.Materials and Method: Children (200) from 7-17 years and their parents were selected randomly to participate in the study. Each child and parent was asked to watch four video scenes of live BGTs, which include Tell Show Do (TSD), Modeling, Reward system, and Hand holding. A questionnaire collected demographic data, and their expressive attitudes were assessed using Line of favour (LOF) scale and Kruskal-Wallis Test.Results: Most preferred BGTs for Group I was modeling, Group II Reward, Group III Tell Show Do, and Group IV was Modeling, with a mean score of 5.95, 6.04, 5.57, and 5.78, respectively. Gender wise preferences, 32% of boys and 34% of girls preferred modeling in Group I, whereas, in Group II, 20% of boys and 21% of girls preferred reward, respectively. Chi-square test revealed that there is no significant difference between the groups and gender for the preference of BGTs in Group I (P=0.893) and Group II (P=0.592). There was no significant correlation between preferences of children and their parents.Conclusion: Modeling was the most preferred BGT for primary school children and parents of High school children. A reward was the most preferred BGT for high school children. TSD was the most preferred BGT for parents of primary school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the advent of modern injection techniques, palatal injection continues to be a painful experience for children. Aims: To compare the pain experienced during extraction of maxillary primary molars with conventional lignocaine anesthesia versus lignocaine and articaine buccal infiltration in children aged 6-14 years. Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized triple blinded study was conducted with ninety children (n = 90), randomly allocated to receive lignocaine conventional anesthesia (Group I [control group]), and buccal infiltration using articaine (Group II [articaine group]) or lignocaine (Group III [lignocaine group]). A composite score of self-report (faces pain scale-revised), behavioral measure (face legs activity cry consolability scale), and a physiological response (pulse rate) was measured following maxillary primary molar extraction. Statistical Analysis Used: To test the mean difference between two groups, Students' t-test was used and among the three groups, one-way ANOVA with post hoc test was used. Results: Articaine group had significantly lower pain scores for self-report (P < 000.1) and behavioral measures (P < 000.1) while there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between articaine and control groups during primary maxillary molar extraction. Conclusion: Maxillary primary molar extraction procedure can be successfully accomplished by bypassing the palatal injection. Articaine buccal infiltration can be considered as an alternative to conventional local anesthesia for the extraction of maxillary primary molars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of Apgar index with that of enamel defects and to explore gender predilection as a co-variable in the formation of enamel defects.Materials and Methods: A random sample of 108 individuals (46 boys and 62 girls) aged 4-5 years (mean - 4.4 years) were included in the study. A questionnaire containing subject's demographic information, Apgar Index (AI), enamel hypoplasia and hypocalcification was collected. Intraoral examination of the subjects was performed by using the type III diagnostic criteria recommended by WHO for oral health surveys. According to the modified index for developmental enamel defects, visual and tactile examinations of the entire primary dentition were performed.The data obtained was analysed using chi-square test.Results: Of all the examined individuals 18 (16.7%) showed enamel defects, of which 10 (9.3%) were having enamel hypoplasia, 4 (3.7%) were having enamel hypocalcification and 4 (3.7%) were having both. Correlation of the enamel defects such as hypoplasia, hypocalcification and both had no significant relationship with the gender (P = 0.36).Conclusion: Subjects with lower Apgar Index exhibited more hypoplastic and hypocalcified teeth both qualitatively and quantitatively. If the Apgar value is less than 6, the vulnerability for the development of enamel defects has considerably increased. Gender of the individuals did not influence the final outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate preferences of dentist's attire and gender by anxious and nonanxious children in India. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,008 nine- to 14-year-old children. Anxiety levels were measured using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule--Dental Sub-scale. Children were provided with a series of photographs of dentists in different attires and were asked to choose in which attire they would prefer their dentists to perform treatment. The data obtained was analysed using Pearson's test and chi-square analysis. Results: There were 603 boys (60 percent) and 405 girls, among whom 56 percent were anxious. Anxious children preferred female dentists in formal attire (19 percent). Nonanxious children equally preferred female dentists in formal attire and white coat with glasses (15 percent). Conclusion: Irrespective of the anxiety levels, the female dentist was the preferred choice among most of the children. However formal attire might be more appropriate for anxious children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the remineralizing potential of child formula dentifrices on primary teeth using an in vitro 7 days pH cycling model. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one primary teeth were placed in demineralizing solution for 96 h to produce artificial carious lesions; then cut longitudinally into 100-150 µm thick sections and randomly assigned to three groups. Sections in Group A were treated with dentifrice containing 458 ppm monofluorophosphate (MFP) and sections in Group B with 500 ppm sodium fluoride (NaF). Group C sections were treated with a nonfluoridated dentifrice. Results: Group A (458 ppm MFP) and Group B (500 ppm NaF) showed significant decrease in lesion depth, whereas Group C (non F) showed a significant increase in depth (P ≤ 0.05, paired t-test). Conclusion: Though dentifrices containing 458 ppm MFP and 500 ppm NaF demonstrated remineralization of carious lesions, it was not complete. Therefore, it is also important to emphasize on other preventive methods in the prevention and/or reversal of carious lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Administration of sweetened medicaments poses many oral health related problems in children due to the lack of awareness among the pediatricians regarding their ill effects. Purpose: To assess pediatricians' awareness and attitudes toward the use of liquid pediatric medicines and their relationship with dental caries and erosion. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among the pediatricians residing in Nellore city. Data were obtained from 55 pediatricians using questionnaires. Results: Among the respondents, 95.6% prescribed liquid medicaments, 51.1% expressed that they may be associated with dental effects, 60% were not aware regarding the sweetness of medicaments, whereas majority of them (77.8%) opined that children complained regarding the taste, 73.3% stated that sugar substitutes were used as sweetening agents, 70.9% believed that they were not acidic, 68.9% did not recommend brushing after intake of medicines, 90% failed to deliver oral health instructions, and 54.5% believed that lack of oral hygiene was a contributing factor for development of dental caries. Conclusion: Majority of the respondents prescribed liquid medicaments and were unaware regarding the sweetening agents and acidity, which cause ill effects on the dental hard tissues. Most of them neither recommended nor delivered oral hygiene instructions (OHI) after prescribing sweetened liquid medicaments. Hence, OHI should be delivered to enhance the oral health related quality of life in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental anomalies of tooth number influencing the development of permanent dentition are quite common, and more numeorus than in the case of primary dentition, however, combined occurrence of hypodontia and hyperdontia is a rare phenomenon, especially in the same dental arch. The purpose of the present report is to describe a case of concomitant hypo-hyperdontia (CHH) in an 8 year-old male with missing mandibular central incisor and an erupted mandibular mesiodens, and its minimally invasive management. This is a unique case of CHH in the mandible in the dental literature, the two anomalies being manifested in the anterior region of the mandible. Furthermore, this is the only case report describing the evidence of taurodontism in association with mandibular CHH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental anomalies of tooth number in development of the permanent dentition are quite common than the primary dentition, however, the combined occurrence of hypodontia and hyperdontia is a rare phenomenon, especially in the same dental arch. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of concomitant hypo-hyperdontia (CHH) in three patients (one girl and two boys) with missing mandibular central incisor and an erupted mandibular mesiodens. Three rare cases of mandibular CHH were observed during routine examination, where the two anomalies manifested in the anterior region of the mandible. Furthermore, these are the only cases exhibited taurodontism in association with mandibular CHH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess awareness of school teachers concerning the emergency management of traumatized teeth. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective intervention study conducted with 1000 teachers (500 urban, 500 rural) randomly selected from the entire government and private, primary (elementary) as well as secondary (high) schools of Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Study was carried out in three phases: the first phase being an initial survey conducted to assess the existing knowledge of teachers on management of traumatic injuries by using self-administered questionnaire. This was followed by a comprehensive informative promotion regarding the initial management of the traumatic dental injuries for the teachers. A post-promotion follow-up review was conducted 3 months later to evaluate the effect of the informative promotion, using the same set of questionnaires. Study was completed over a period of 9 months. Statistical Methods: Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 14.0, and Chi-square test was used to compare the knowledge of teachers prior to and after the informative promotion. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The teachers' overall knowledge with respect to the emergency management of the traumatic injuries was deficient and significant differences were found in the knowledge of teachers before and after the informative promotion. Conclusion: Informative promotion programs to improve the knowledge and awareness of this group of community, who are generally the first line of assistance in case of dental trauma in schools, are mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of different disinfectant agents in decontaminating the toothbrushes, and to educate the children, parents and the community on the decontamination of toothbrushes. Materials and Methods: Fifty healthy male children in the age range of 8-11 years were enrolled. They were divided into five groups of 10 each and provided with toothbrushes and disinfectants. Instructions were given to the children and the toothbrushes were collected after brushing and cultured for the growth of microorganisms. The efficacy of Hexidine®, 3.0% hydrogen peroxide and Listerine® and Dettol® were evaluated. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Hexidine, 3.0% hydrogen peroxide and Listerine showed 100% efficacy, whereas Dettol showed 40% effectiveness in decontaminating the toothbrushes. Water as a control showed the least effectiveness in cleaning the toothbrushes. Conclusions: The study concluded that 3.0% hydrogen peroxide is the most economical and effective disinfectant when compared with the other disinfectants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit juices are popular worldwide with children of all ages as they are sweet and perceived to be healthful. This in vitro study was sought to measure pH of 10 different fruit juices, to find out possible erosive effects on human dental enamel of 40 extracted sound premolars and also to measure fluoride and trace elements of these juices. The estimation of pH of fruit juices was done by using Systronic upH 362 pH meter. The erosive effects of fruit juices were tested by using polarized light microscope. Orion electrode was used to measure fluoride. The trace elements were estimated by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer No. 6501F. The pH values in different juices were observed at different levels, and pH values of these juices were more acidic than baseline after 24 hours. As the time increased, the erosion effect became more in pineapple; grape and sugarcane juices, and they had more cariogenic trace elements like selenium, iron and manganese. So, these juices were found to be cariogenic. To conclude, orange, mousambi, mango, pomegranate, apple, chikku and watermelon juices had no erosive effect on the human enamel, with the presence of highest amount of trace elements like fluoride and phosphorous which are considered as strongly cariostatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agenesis of teeth in a patient who also presents with a supernumerary tooth is one of the rare numerical anomalies in human dentition. Agenesis of third molars was shown to be associated with other missing permanent teeth. A review of literature on hypodontia including third molar agenesis, hyperdontia and a concomitant presence of these two conditions which is termed as hypohyperdontia is presented along with a case showing agenesis of three third molars, both mandibular central incisors and a midline supernumerary tooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case of dentin dysplasia, a rarely reported disorder that is also associated with pyogenic granuloma in a 12-year-old girl. The case presented as excessively mobile teeth that appeared radiographically as rootless teeth and also as a soft tissue lesion in the right maxillary anterior region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supernumerary permanent teeth in the mandibular incisor area are rare, and there are very few reported cases of the supernumerary teeth in the mandibular incisor area leading to impaction of Incisors. A south Indian boy aged 14 presented with 3 supernumerary teeth in the mandibular right permanent incisor area resulting in impacted permanent central and lateral incisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) of the jaws is a relatively rare malignant bone tumor. Like, its counterpart in the long bones, OS affecting the head and neck region shows distinct yet diverse clinical, histologic and prognostic characteristics. Here, we report a rare case of OS of fibroblastic variant in a 10-year-old girl, who came with a bony swelling in the left mandibular posterior region, with a radiographic presentation of sunburst appearance, the histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent partial mandibulectomy under general anesthesia followed by prosthodontic rehabilitation and is currently undergoing regular follow-up examination.

Mucormycosis is one of the most rapidly progressing and lethal form of fungal infections in humans which usually begins in the nose and paranasal sinuses. The fungus assaults the arteries, leading to thrombosis that subsequently causes necrosis of hard and soft tissues. The purpose of this article is to describe a rare case of maxillary necrosis due to mucormycosis in a 12-year-old diabetic patient and emphasizes on early diagnosis and timely management of this potentially fatal fungal infection.

Delayed eruption of maxillary permanent central incisors in a child poses a distressing esthetic quandary to parents, by virtue of its location in the dental architecture. Well-aligned anterior teeth add confidence to smile and have enhanced self-esteem, which is critical even in early life. Impaction of the maxillary central incisors compared to third molars or the canines is less reported; bilateral supplemental maxillary central incisors related to impacted permanent maxillary central incisors are rare and one of the supplemental central incisors showing unusual talon is still infrequent. A case of impacted maxillary permanent central incisors related to supplemental maxillary central incisors, with one of them showing an unusual talon cusp, is presented.