Manikandan Ekambaram

An unusual case of double teeth with facial and lingual talon cusps

Double teeth and talon cusps are rare developmental dental anomalies affecting both primary and permanent dentitions. Talon cusps normally occur on the palatal surface of permanent maxillary incisors, although double teeth are more common in the primary anterior dentition. This paper describes a rare case of fusion of the mandibular permanent incisors with labial and lingual talon cusps. An understanding of these dental anomalies and their associated problems are important to provide prophylactic measures, thereby preventing or minimizing possible complications.

Changes in the oral health-related quality of life in children following comprehensive oral rehabilitation under general anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVES To assess changes in the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), after comprehensive oral rehabilitation under general anaesthesia (CORGA), among children (i) <6 years using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and (ii) aged 6-14 years using the child oral health-related quality of life (COHRQoL) instrument. METHODS A total of 136 healthy children who had CORGA were recruited over a period of 12 months. The parent or caregiver of the study participants completed the age-appropriate questionnaire prior to the dental treatment and at the subsequent follow-up appointments (2 weeks and 3 months). Data were analysed using repeated-measures anova and Bonferroni tests. RESULTS The overall ECOHIS scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001) demonstrating large effect sizes. The greatest decreases were for the domains of child oral symptoms (57.5%) and psychology (38.7%) in the child impact section (CIS) and for the domain of parental distress (38.9%) and family function (40%) in the family impact section (FIS). For COHRQoL, the overall P-CPQ and FIS scores decreased significantly for all items (P < 0.001), demonstrating large effect sizes. The greatest decreases were for the domains of oral symptoms (77.7%), functional limitations (74.3%), and the FIS (80.1%). CONCLUSIONS The OHRQoL of children in both age groups (<6 and 6-14 years) was significantly improved after CORGA.

Effect of chlorhexidine and ethanol-wet bonding with a hydrophobic adhesive to intraradicular dentine

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of adjunctive application of ethanol-wet bonding and chlorhexidine (CHX) with a hydrophobic adhesive on bond durability of fibre posts to intraradicular dentine. METHODS Ninety-six extracted human teeth with a single root and root canal were prepared for post placement after endodontic treatment. The teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n=24) after etching and rinsing for rewetting: Group 1: water-wet bonding, Group 2: water-wet bonding with CHX, Group 3: ethanol-wet bonding and Group 4: ethanol-wet bonding with CHX. Teeth in Groups 1 and 2 were treated with either distilled water or distilled water with 2% CHX for 60 s; while teeth in Groups 3 and 4 were treated with either 100% ethanol or 100% ethanol with 2% CHX. Two coats of primer, followed by neat resin were applied and light-cured for 40 s. Fibre posts were luted to bonded root dentine using dual-cure resin cement. Bonded roots were subjected to push-out bond strength testing and interfacial nanoleakage evaluation after 24 h, 6 and 12 months of storage. Data were analyzed using 3-way ANOVA (rewetting solutions, time and post space regions) and SNK tests. RESULTS Groups 3 and 4 showed significantly (p<0.05) higher bond strengths and lower nanoleakage than Groups 1 and 2 after 12 months of ageing. Addition of 2% chlorhexidine to ethanol-wet bonding with a hydrophobic adhesive did not further improve the bonding of a fibre post to intraradicular dentine, when compared to ethanol-wet bonding alone after 12 months of ageing. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Ethanol-wet bonding with a hydrophobic adhesive alone could improve the bond durability of fibre post to intraradicular dentine and therefore would increase the success rate of post and core restorations of endodontically treated teeth.

Comparison of the remineralizing potential of child formula dentifrices

BACKGROUND Although child formula fluoridated dentifrices can be used safely by young children their remineralizing capability remains questionable. AIMS To evaluate the remineralizing potential of child formula dentifrices on primary teeth. DESIGN In vitro single-section technique utilizing a 7 days pH-cycling model. METHODS Primary teeth were placed in demineralizing solution for 96 h to produce artificial carious lesions 100 μm deep, and then cut longitudinally into 50 sections 100-150 μm thick and randomly assigned to five groups. Sections in Groups A to D were treated with dentifrices containing 500 ppm AmF, 500 ppm MFP, 500 ppm MFP and xylitol, or 500 ppm NaF, respectively. Group E sections were treated with a nonfluoridated dentifrice. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Lesions were evaluated using polarized light microscopy and microradiography. RESULTS Group D (500 ppm NaF) sections exhibited a significant decrease in lesion depth, whereas those in Group E (nonF) showed a significant increase in depth (P<0.05, paired t-test). Decrease in lesion progression was observed in Groups A, B and C. CONCLUSIONS The 500 ppm NaF dentifrice demonstrated remineralization of carious lesions by virtue of a significant decrease in lesion depth; whereas dentifrices that contained AmF, MFP and MFP with xylitol decelerated the progression of demineralization.

Effect of Solvents on Dentin Collagen Cross-linking Potential of Carbodiimide.

PURPOSE This study compared the dentin collagen cross-linking potential of carbodiimide (EDC) prepared in three most commonly used solvents in dental adhesive systems: water, ethanol, and acetone. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-eight extracted caries-free human permanent molars were used in this study. Demineralized dentin beams were prepared and cross linked by 0.3 M EDC in water, acetone, or ethanol. The modulus of elasticity of demineralized dentin, the resistance of dentin matrix to enzymatic degradation, the swelling ratio, and the mass change of demineralized dentin matrix were examined to compare the cross-linking efficacy of EDC in their respective solvents. RESULTS The modulus of elasticity of demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in acetone was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in ethanol and EDC in water. Furthermore, the ultimate tensile strength of demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in water and ethanol dropped significantly following enzymatic degradation, while the ultimate tensile strength of demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in acetone was preserved. The swelling ratio of demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in acetone and ethanol was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in water. Conversely, the mass change of demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in acetone was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than demineralized dentin cross linked by EDC in water and EDC in ethanol. CONCLUSION The dentin collagen cross-linking potential of EDC could be enhanced by using acetone as a solvent.

Quality of life changes in children following emergency dental extractions under general anaesthesia

OBJECTIVES To assess the changes in the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of 221 preschool children who presented to the emergency department with the consequences of untreated dental caries requiring dental extractions under general anaesthesia (DEGA). METHODS Two hundred and twenty-one healthy preschool children, who required emergency DEGA, were recruited over a period of 12 months. The same parent or caregiver completed the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) questionnaire; both, prior to the DEGA and at the 2-week post-treatment visit. Data were analysed using repeated anova with adjustments for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni tests with the significance level set at 5%. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-six participants, with a mean age of 4.02 and a mean dmft score of 8.27 (SD = 4.13), completed the 2-week post-treatment questionnaires. The overall ECOHIS, CIS, and FIS scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after emergency DEGA, demonstrating large effect sizes. The biggest decrease in prevalence after emergency DEGA was observed for the items of pain in teeth, trouble sleeping, being irritated or frustrated, difficulty drinking food, and parents being upset. CONCLUSIONS The OHRQoL of preschool children, who presented to the emergency department with the consequences of untreated dental caries, was significantly improved following emergency DEGA.

Prevalence, characteristic features, and complications associated with the occurrence of unerupted permanent incisors

This study examined the prevalence, characteristic features, and complications associated with the occurrence of unerupted permanent incisors among children and adolescents attending a university dental teaching hospital. A retrospective review was performed of the clinical records of children and adolescents who attended the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong between 2005 and 2014. All patients who had at least one unerupted permanent incisor tooth were included. A total of 266 subjects with 320 unerupted permanent incisors were identified. The prevalence of unerupted permanent incisors among children and adolescents was 2.0%. Permanent maxillary central incisors (70.6%) were the most commonly affected teeth. The most common cause for unerupted incisors were dilacerations (n = 83, 36.7%) for maxillary central incisors; developmental dental anomalies (n = 22; 30.6%) together with unfavorable root development (n = 22; 30.6%) for maxillary laterals incisors; and abnormal tooth/tissue ratio (n = 11, 50.0%) for mandibular incisors. A majority of unerupted incisors presented with complications the most common being ectopic/displacement/rotation of the unerupted incisors (46.6%), loss of space (36.9%) and midline shift (27.5%). In conclusion, the causes were distinct for different manifestations of unerupted permanent incisors. As the majority of unerupted incisors presented with complications, a systematic and organized method of history taking as well as clinical and radiographic examinations is mandatory in the diagnosis of unerupted permanent incisors.

Genetic basis of dentigerous cysts associated with supernumerary teeth: A narrative review

In the present study, we sought to: (a) analyze the p53 gene status in dentigerous cysts (DC) associated with supernumerary teeth (ST) in a pair of siblings with ST, of whom one developed a DC; and (b) conduct a narrative review of the literature on ST associated with DC. Blood samples were obtained, and the isolated DNA was used to amplify exons 4-8 of the p53 gene using specific primers, and subsequently sequenced. No mutations were identified in the coding regions of the p53 gene. A review of the literature revealed a prevalence of DC associated with ST to be as high as 13.6%, and that 83% of the case reports performed enucleation of DC and removal of ST. Dentigerous cysts associated with ST in one sibling demonstrated that variations in phenotypes exist, and the absence of mutations cannot eliminate the potential influence of genetic risk factors.

Can oral ADS activity or arginine levels be a caries risk indicator? A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the association between salivary and plaque arginine levels/ADS activities with dental caries.Materials and methodsA systematic search was performed as per PRISMA statement using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Published studies that investigated adults and children (P) with caries-active status (E) and caries-free status (C), whereby arginine levels/ADS activity (O) was measured in saliva/plaque to analyze exposure-outcome association compared to the control group were deemed eligible for inclusion. Quality assessment was performed using combined Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Modified RTI Item Bank scale. Meta-analysis was performed for effect size, precision estimation, and subgroup effects analysis.ResultsOf 233 records identified, seven (κ = 1.00) were included for qualitative synthesis (systematic review) and four for quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). No specific bias could be identified in five studies assessed as per the Modified RTI Item Bank scale. Two studies received lower scores on the Newcastle Ottawa scale. Plaque ADS activity in adults (effect size = 0.93, p = 0.008), salivary ADS activity in adults and children (effect size = 0.85, p < 0.001), and salivary ADS activity in adults (effect size = 0.87, p < 0.001) identified a statistically significant effect size. Subgroup analysis demonstrated non-significant variance (Q value = 0.042, p = 0.838) between saliva and plaque ADS activities of adults.ConclusionsThe results of this review suggest the salivary and plaque ADS activities appear to be promising caries risk indicators for adults, while results remain inconclusive in children.Clinical relevanceMeasuring ADS activities (saliva or plaque) can be a potential caries risk indicator in adults. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO database: CRD42017060701.

Calcium-based caries preventive agents: A meta-evaluation of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Objective This article aims to assess systematic reviews and/or meta‐analyses on calcium‐based caries preventive agents, evaluating reported evidence, thereby summarizing a critical appraisal on the subject. Materials and methods A systematic search was done using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Systematic reviews and/or meta‐analyses addressing PICO: P: any age or gender; I: calcium‐based caries preventive agents; C: with/without control; and O: any early caries lesion measures were included. Inter‐reviewer reliability was assessed using Cohens kappa coefficient. Results One hundred sixty‐four records were identified, of which 10 (&kgr; = 1.00) were included for quality evaluation. Seven reviews were systematic reviews (only), whereas 3 were meta‐analyses. None of the articles provided with an “a priori” review design. Majority of the reviews (7 of 10) were of high quality as assessed by Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews, whereas 3 articles were scored as moderate quality of evidence. All the included meta‐analyses were of high‐quality evidence as assessed by meta‐evaluation of meta‐analysis: 10 appraisal questions for biologists. Eight reviews addressed the intervention: casein phosphopeptide‐amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP‐ACP)/casein phosphopeptide‐amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (CPP‐ACFP). Two reviews were performed on arginine‐containing formulations. Majority of the high‐quality systematic reviews were inconclusive over the effects of CPP‐ACP/CPP‐ACFP. Conclusion This meta‐evaluation suggests that CPP‐ACP/CPP‐ACFP can be considered as an adjunct to fluorides but not as an alternative until long‐term well‐designed clinical trials assessed by systematic reviews and meta‐analysis are available. Arginine‐containing dentifrice with an insoluble calcium base and fluoride seem to be a promising agent, but more well‐designed non‐industry–supported clinical trials can provide better insights in future.