Ashima Goyal

Evaluation of a mixture of zinc oxide, calcium hydroxide, and sodium fluoride as a new root canal filling material for primary teeth

Endodontic treatment was performed on 25 pulpally involved mandibular primary molars in 4 to 9-year-old children; the root canals were obturated with a new root canal filling material consisting of a mixture of calcium hydroxide, zinc oxide, and 10% sodium fluoride solution, using hand-operated lentulo-spirals. All cases were evaluated clinically every 3 months and also radiographically every 6 months to assess the success of the treatment; we also examined the resorption of the root canal filling material from the root canals and the status of overpushed material, if any, as the tooth resorbed with the passage of time. At 6 months, endodontic treatment in 2 of the 25 teeth had failed and one tooth had exfoliated; the remaining 22 teeth were without any signs or symptoms. At the end of 2 years, 14 teeth could be evaluated; out of these 12 had physiologically exfoliated. It was observed that the rate of resorption of this new root canal obturating mixture was quite similar to the rate of physiologic root resorption in primary teeth. In three cases, where there was an overpush of the mixture, a gradual partial resorption was noted.

Mesiodistal crown dimensions of the permanent dentition in North Indian children.

This investigation was conducted on 110 individuals, (40 males and 70 females) in the age range of 12-18 years. The results revealed the mesiodistal crown dimensions of teeth of males to be more than that of the females. Further the ratio of the mesiodistal crown dimension of the maxillary lateral incisors to the maxillary central incisors was 80% in females and 78% in males. The total arch length in males was 117.77 mm in maxilla and 111.60 mm in mandible, while in females, the figures were 113.98 mm in maxilla and 107.10 mm in the mandible.

Epidemiology of dental caries in Chandigarh school children and trends over the last 25 years

The prevalence of dental caries in 6, 9, 12 and 15-year-old school children of Chandigarh, selected on a randomized basis was evaluated using Mollers criteria (1966) and correlated with the various risk factors. The mean deft was found to be 4.0 +/- 3.6 in 6 year old and 4.61 +/- 3.14 in 9 year old, whereas the mean DMFT in 12 and 15 year old was found to be 3.03 +/- 2.52 and 3.82 +/- 2.85 respectively. The high prevalence of dental caries in these children was attributed to the lack of use of fluoride toothpaste (80% children), lack of knowledge about etiology of dental caries (98%) and frequency of sugar exposures up to more than five times per day (30%).

Comparison of validity of DIAGNOdent with conventional methods for detection of occlusal caries in primary molars using the histological gold standard: an in vivo study.

AIM This study was conducted to compare the in vivo effectiveness of DIAGNOdent with other conventional methods (visual, tactile and bitewing radiographs) for the detection of occlusal caries in primary molars. Another objective of the study was to calculate new cut-off limits for the detection of caries by DIAGNOdent in primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-four primary molars in 52 children (aged 8-12 years), which were indicated for extraction, were selected and evaluated for dental caries using DIAGNOdent, visual and tactile examination and bitewing radiographs. Histological examination of the sections, prepared subsequent to extraction of the teeth, served as the gold standard for comparison of the above-mentioned methods. RESULTS When considering enamel caries, values obtained for sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 48.15, 100 and 49.40% for visual examination, 48.15, 100.00 and 49.40% for tactile examination, 49.38, 50.00 and 49.40% for bitewing radiographs, 85.19, 50.00 and 84.34% for DIAGNOdent scores interpreted according to manufacturers cut-off limits and 81.48, 100.00 and 81.93% for DIAGNOdent scores interpreted according to newly formulated cut-off limits, respectively. At dentin caries cut-off levels, the values of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for visual examination were 52.78, 89.36 and 73.49%; 50.00, 91.49 and 73.49% for tactile examination; 30.56, 82.98 and 60.24% for bitewing radiographs; 72.22, 76.60 and 74.70% for DIAGNOdent scores when interpreted according to manufacturers cut-off limits and 77.48, 74.47 and 75.90%, respectively, for the DIAGNOdent scores when interpreted according to the newly formulated cut-off limits. CONCLUSIONS DIAGNOdent showed higher sensitivity and accuracy as compared with other conventional methods for detection of enamel caries, whereas for detection of dentinal caries, even though the sensitivity was high, accuracy of the DIAGNOdent device was similar to other conventional caries diagnostic methods.

Effect of three different motivational techniques on oral hygiene and gingival health of patients undergoing multibracketed orthodontics

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of three different motivational techniques for maintaining good oral hygiene during fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 62 adolescents in the age range of 12-18 years, requiring fixed orthodontic treatment were evaluated for the efficacy of three different motivational techniques, ie, conventional plaque control measures (group I), chair side motivational tests with conventional plaque control measures (group II), and phase contrast microscopy with conventional plaque control measures (group III), in improving oral hygiene and gingival health over a period of 6 months. RESULTS A gradual decline in mean plaque scores in group III was found, ie, from 1.13 ± 0.42 at baseline to 0.64 ± 0.39 at 6 months (P < .05). An intragroup analysis of mean gingivitis scores in group III showed statistically significant decline in the mean gingival scores from 1.49 ± 0.45 to 1.08 ± 0.61 over a period of 6 months(P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Phase contrast microscopy along with the conventional method of plaque disclosure and demonstration of the horizontal scrubbing method of brushing have a long-lasting effect on the patient. This reduces the need of frequent reinforcement sessions of plaque control programs when compared to chair side motivational tests and conventional plaque control measures.

Early class III occlusal tendency in children and its selective management

Class III malocclusion may develop in children as a result of an inherent growth abnormality, i.e., true class III malocclusion, or as a result of premature occlusal contacts causing forward functional shift of the mandible, which is known as pseudo class III malocclusion. These cases, if not treated at the initial stage of development, interfere with normal growth of the skeletal bases and may result in severe facial deformities. The treatment should be carried out as early as possible with the aim of permitting normal growth. This paper deals with the selection of an appropriate treatment approach from the various current options available for early intervention in children developing class III occlusal tendencies; the different clinical features are depicted in the three case reports.

Management of inverted impacted primary incisors: an unusual case.

The prevalence of impacted primary teeth has been reported to be very rare and it has been reported to occur in 1:10,000 times, most commonly involving the primary second molars. This report discusses the presence of an impacted inverted maxillary primary incisors and their management by surgical intervention in a 5 year old boy. The inverted primary maxillary central incisors were extracted and prosthetic rehabilitation was done to improve the esthetics, speech and psychosocial behaviour of the child. Co-incidentally the permanent maxillary incisors were also found to be hypoplastic although the parents did not give any history of trauma to the maxillofacial complex. It is important for pediatric dental surgeons to carefully monitor the eruption of primary and permanent teeth for early identification and management of developmental anomalies.

Nature of feeding practices among children with cleft lip and palate

OBJECTIVE To find out the nature of feeding practices among children with cleft lip and palate. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 155 subjects of less than 2 years of age with cleft lip and palate were chosen and divided into three groups according to their chronological age. Group I included 47 subjects (M=35, F=12) who were <6 months old, Group II included 56 subjects (M=36, F=20) aged between 6 months and 1 year, and Group III included 52 subjects (M=28, F=24) of age between 1 and 2 years. Both the parents of the subjects with cleft lip and palate were interviewed and the details of the existing feeding practice were recorded on a standard pro forma. Chi-square test was applied to find out any significant difference in the feeding method between males and females. RESULTS Spoon feeding was found as the most common feeding practice method. Breast feeding was the second most common feeding practice method among Group I subjects, whereas bottle feeding was the second most common feeding practice method among Group II and III subjects. The difference in the feeding practice between male and female subjects in all the three groups was very negligible and statistically not significant. CONCLUSION Spoon feeding was found as the most common feeding method practiced by the parents of children with cleft lip and palate.

Comparison of risk indicators of dental caries in children with and without cleft lip and palate deformities

Objective: To test the hypothesis that there are no differences in various risk factors of dental caries among children with cleft lip and palate when compared to non-cleft high caries risk and non-cleft caries free children. Design: Seventy-three children in the age range of 4-9 years comprised three groups; Group-I (n = 23, children with cleft lip and palate), Group-II (n = 25, non-cleft high caries risk children) and Group-III (n = 25, non-cleft caries free children). Various risk factors for dental caries like type of oral hygiene practice, sugar exposures/day, developmental defects of enamel, caries activity, salivary streptococci mutans levels and lactobacilli levels were evaluated and compared among the three groups of children. Results: The mean deft score among Group-II children was significantly more (P < 0.01) as compared to the Group-I children. The mean deft + DMFT score among Group-I and Group-II children was comparable (P = 0.149). Developmental enamel defects were more among Group-I children as compared to Group-II and Group-III children (P < 0.01). Hypoplasia of the maxillary anterior teeth was more common among Group-I children as compared to Group-II (P < 0.05) and Group-III children (P < 0.001). The association between hypoplastic teeth and dental caries was significant (P < 0.05). The salivary acidogenic potential as evaluated by Snyder test was comparable among Group-I and Group-II children. The salivary streptococcus mutans levels in Group-I and Group-II children were higher when compared to lactobacillus counts. Conclusion: The risk factors of dental caries among children with cleft lip and palate were more as compared to non-cleft high caries risk and non-cleft caries free children.

Delayed replantation of avulsed tooth with 15-hours extra-oral time: 3-year follow-up

BACKGROUND Avulsion is one of the most serious injuries of the tooth which is most commonly seen in young children and occurs in the upper front teeth. Immediate transplantation of the avulsed tooth is recommended treatment and results in good prognosis although this may not be always possible. CASE REPORT The present case highlights the 3-year follow-up of delayed replantation (after 15h) of maxillary central incisor which was avulsed due to trauma. The complications seen in the present case were ankylosis and inflammatory resorption, but clinically the tooth was asymptomatic and maintains the esthetics of the individual signifying the importance of delayed replantation even after prolonged extra-oral time. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION Although complications like ankylosis or root resorption may be unavoidable, delayed replantation of avulsed tooth may be a good alternative to prosthesis (implant or fixed partial denture) till the growth is completed due to preservation of the alveolar bone and psychological benefit to the patient. Also efforts should be made to educate and update children, teachers and parents regarding management of avulsed tooth at accident site and also the dentists regarding its management in dental office.