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Background: Today, most approaches to caries viewed that catastrophic change in normal plaque biofilm is responsible for the disease. The behavior and composition of the biofilm are a reflection of the oral environment; the caries is a reflection of adverse changes occurring in that environment. Thus, it is important to identify the pathogenicity of the plaque biofilm so as to predict the caries risk. The recently developed three-tone plaque disclosing agent was used to test its ability in identifying the pathogenicity of plaque. Aim: To assess the efficacy of three-tone plaque disclosing agent in identifying the plaque pathogenicity and correlate with the clinical caries status and microbiological findings. Materials and Methods: Sixty children of 6-13 years age group of both sexes were clinically examined for caries and plaque scores, and then disclosing agent was applied; the color stained plaque samples were collected and cultured for microbiological assessment, and the data were analyzed based on the caries status of the children. Results: There was a significant difference between the pathological plaque of caries active and caries free group (P < 0.05). The pathological plaque scores and the total colony counts, Streptococcus counts and mutans streptococci counts increased with the increase in caries. Conclusion: Three-tone plaque disclosing agent was effective in identifying pathological plaque and can be used as one of the chairside adjuvants in caries risk assessment.

Aim: Pain is highly subjective and it is neurologically proven that stimulation of larger diameter fibers - e.g., using appropriate coldness, warmth, rubbing, pressure or vibration - can close the neural "gate" so that the central perception of itch and pain is reduced. This fact is based upon "gate control" theory of Melzack and Wall. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of vibration stimuli on pain experienced during local anesthetic injections. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients aged 6-12 years old of both the genders with Frankel′s behavior rating scale as positive and definitely positive requiring bilateral local anesthesia injections for dental treatment were included in the split-mouth cross over design. Universal pain assessment tool was used to assess the pain with and without vibration during the administration of local anesthesia and the results obtained were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results: Local anesthetic administration with vibration resulted in significantly less pain (P = 0.001) compared to the injections without the use of vibe. Conclusion: The results suggest that vibration can be used as an effective method to decrease pain during dental local anesthetic administration.

Aims: This study aimed to document the prevalence of oral manifestations seen among pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Methodology: This study was performed at various children's hospitals in Chennai. Fifty-one GERD patients who were assessed by endoscopy and 24 h pH-metry, 31 (60.78%) males and 20 (39.21%) females, aged 2-12 years (mean age, 7.43 years), comprised the study group. All patients answered a detailed frequency questionnaire related to regurgitation and acidic foods and participated in a clinical dental examination.Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software package version 19.Results: Among the GERD patients, 42 (82.35%) had dental erosion. A total of 668 (57.98%) deciduous teeth and 484 (42.02%) permanent teeth were examined, of which dental erosion was detected in 248 (21.52%) and 171 (14.84%) teeth, respectively. The most commonly affected primary tooth was the occlusal surface of the maxillary posteriors and commonly affected permanent tooth was occlusal surface of the mandibular molars.Conclusions: There may be a positive correlation between GERD and dental erosion. According to this study, presence of erosion, especially in posterior teeth, could be a key to diagnose GERD and refer the child to the gastroenterologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to document the prevalence of oral manifestations seen among pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Methodology: This study was performed at various children's hospitals in Chennai. Fifty-one GERD patients who were assessed by endoscopy and 24 h pH-metry, 31 (60.78%) males and 20 (39.21%) females, aged 2-12 years (mean age, 7.43 years), comprised the study group. All patients answered a detailed frequency questionnaire related to regurgitation and acidic foods and participated in a clinical dental examination. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software package version 19. Results: Among the GERD patients, 42 (82.35%) had dental erosion. A total of 668 (57.98%) deciduous teeth and 484 (42.02%) permanent teeth were examined, of which dental erosion was detected in 248 (21.52%) and 171 (14.84%) teeth, respectively. The most commonly affected primary tooth was the occlusal surface of the maxillary posteriors and commonly affected permanent tooth was occlusal surface of the mandibular molars. Conclusions: There may be a positive correlation between GERD and dental erosion. According to this study, presence of erosion, especially in posterior teeth, could be a key to diagnose GERD and refer the child to the gastroenterologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The available literature confirms the effectiveness of intraligamentary injections equal to nerve blocks and articaine equal to lignocaine with better depth of penetration for single tooth pulpectomy procedures with less postoperative soft tissue trauma. An advancement in the field of local anesthesia delivery is the Single Tooth Anesthesia-Wand (STA-Wand) which is relatively pain-free and offers comfort to the child. Aims: This study aims to evaluate and compare the anesthetic effectiveness and postoperative complications of 4% articaine and 2% lignocaine intraligamentary injection administered as single tooth anesthesia using a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system, the STA-Wand. Settings and Design: Using a randomized, split-mouth, cross-over study design, twenty children aged 4-10 years who required bilateral mandibular pulpectomies were administered intraligamentary injections with 4% articaine and 2% lidocaine in two appointments using STA-Wand. Pain, anxiety, and cooperation levels were scored by an operator and an observer at four phases of treatment using Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale and Two-6 point Co-operation Anxiety Rating Scale. Results were tabulated and analyzed. Statistical Analysis: Mann-Whitney U-test, paired t-test, and Student's t-test. Results: Both the local anesthetic agents were equally effective with no significant difference (P > 0.05) throughout rest of the treatment procedure compared to injection phase in minimizing pain, anxiety, and gaining the cooperation levels of children whereas during injection phase, 4% articaine showed superior effectiveness in minimizing pain compared to 2% lignocaine (P = 0.054). Conclusion: Both the local anesthetic agents delivered using STA-Wand is clinically acceptable, effective, and safe for usage in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the closest matching shade for primary maxillary anterior teeth from the most widely used Vitapan classical shade guide available for permanent teeth.Materials and Methods: A total of 313 children aged between 3 and 5 years were evaluated. Vitapan classical shade guide was used to determine the shade of six primary maxillary anterior teeth. Scores obtained were noted down in a scoring sheet and values were tabulated. Data collected were tabulated and statistically analyzed using Pearson Chi-square test.Results: A1 was found to be the closest matching shade for primary maxillary anterior teeth. D3 was found to be the least prevalent shade for primary maxillary anterior teeth. There was no statistical significant difference in the shades among teeth of same quadrant (p > 0.05) and also between teeth of right and left quadrants (p > 0.05), respectively.Conclusion: A1 shade of Vitapan classical shade guide is the most prevalent shade for primary maxillary anterior teeth and can be satisfactorily reproduced to all primary maxillary anterior teeth in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Restoration of carious primary molars is still a major concern while treating the young children that too in deep carious lesion which extends below the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) where pulp protection and achieving adequate marginal seal are very important to prevent secondary caries. The needs were met with the development of new materials. One such of new bioactive material is tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine), recommended for restoring deep lesions. Aim: To evaluate and compare shear bond strength and microleakage of tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine) and glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) in primary and permanent teeth. Materials and Methods: Occlusal surface of crowns were ground flat. PVC molds were stabilized over flat dentin surface and filled with tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine)/glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) according to group ascertained. Shear bond strength was evaluated using universal testing machine (INSTRON). Standardized Class II cavities were prepared on both primary and permanent teeth, and then restored with tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine)/glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) according to group ascertained, over which composite resin material was restored using an open sandwich technique. Microleakage was assessed using dye penetration. Microleakage was examined using a stereomicroscope. Results: Results showed that glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) exhibited better shear bond strength than tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine). Mean microleakage score for glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) in permanent teeth was 1.52 and for primary teeth was 1.56. The mean microleakage for tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine) in permanent teeth was 0.76 and for primary teeth was 0.60. Glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) exhibited more microleakage than tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine), which was statistically significant both in permanent (P = 0.02) and primary (P = 0.006) teeth. Conclusion: Shear bond strength of glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) is greater than tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine) in both primary and permanent teeth. Tricalcium silicate-based restorative material (Biodentine) exhibited less microleakage compared to glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP) in both primary and permanent molars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]