Ullal Anand Nayak

Management of an infant having natal teeth

Eruption of teeth at or immediately after birth is a relatively rare phenomenon. These teeth are known as ‘natal’ teeth if present at birth and ‘neonatal’ teeth if they erupt during the first 30 days of life. Natal teeth might resemble normal primary dentition in size and shape; however, the teeth are often smaller, conical and yellowish and have hypoplastic enamel and dentin with poor or absent root formation. Complications include difficulty and discomfort during suckling, sublingual ulceration, laceration of the mother’s breasts and aspiration of the teeth. These situations would warrant extraction. If the tooth does not interfere with breast feeding and is otherwise asymptomatic, no treatment is necessary. Negative cultural attitudes towards natal teeth demand good parental counselling and vigilant management in relation to child protection. Both general practice dentists and paediatric dental specialists may be involved in the supervision or treatment of patients with natal and neonatal teeth.

Idiopathic Gingival Fibromatosis

ABSTRACT Idiopathic gingival fibromatosis is a rare heriditary condition characterized by slowly progressive, nonhemorrhagic, fibrous enlargement of maxillary and mandibular keratinized gingiva caused by increase in submucosal connective tissue elements. This case report gives an overview of gingival fibromatosis in a 11-year-old female patient who presented with generalized gingival enlargement. Based on the history and clinical examination, the diagnosis was made and the enlarged tissue was surgically removed. The patient was being regularly monitored clinically for improvement in her periodontal condition as well as for any recurrence of gingival overgrowth.

Aesthetic management of dental fluorosis

Significant numbers of patients visiting the paediatric dental clinics have aesthetically objectionable brown stains and desire treatment for them. Intrinsic tooth discolouration can be a significant aesthetic, and in some instances, functional, problem. Dental fluorosis, tetracycline staining, localised and chronological hypoplasia, and both amelogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta can all produce a cosmetically unsatisfactory dentition. The aetiology of intrinsic discolouration of enamel may sometimes be deduced from the patients history, and one factor long associated with the problem has been a high level of fluoride intake. Optimal use of topical fluorides leads to a decrease in the caries prevalence but may show an increase in the prevalence of fluorosis staining because of metabolic alterations in the ameloblasts, causing a defective matrix formation and improper calcification. A 12-year-old male patient was screened at the dental clinic for routine dental care. He wanted us to remove and/or minimise the noticeable brown/yellow staining of his teeth. He requested the least invasive and most cost-effective treatment to change his smile. Various treatment modalities are present for the treatment of fluorosis stains. This report discusses the microabrasion technique in the patient having dental fluorosis.

Multiple idiopathic apical root resorption

Idiopathic external root resorption is a rarely reported condition which has been observed in single or multiple teeth. This is a rare case of multiple idiopathic apical root resorption (MIARR) in a 16-year-old boy. External root resorption of the permanent teeth is a multifactorial process. Well-recognised causes of apical root resorption in permanent teeth include orthodontic therapy, trauma, periapical or periodontal inflammation, tumours, cysts, occlusal stresses, impacted teeth, systemic conditions, endocrine imbalances and dietary habits. When none of these causes are present, it is termed idiopathic root resorption which may be either cervical or apical. MIARR is a rare condition which is usually detected as an incidental radiographic finding. However, it may cause pain and mobility in severe cases.

The Relationship of Dental Aesthetic Index with Dental Appearance, Smile and Desire for Orthodontic Correction

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between dental aesthetic index (DAI) and self – satisfaction with dental appearance, smile and desire for orthodontic care. Methods: A survey of 103 school children, 51 boys and 52 girls was carried out in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram. The subjects were interviewed using a questionnaire consisting of questions concerning smile, dental appearance and desire for orthodontic treatment. They were also assessed using the dental aesthetic index. Results: Statistically significant correlations were between subjective assessments of dental appearance and DAI (P = 0.042) and need for orthodontic treatment and DAI (P = 0.045). The strongest correlations were found between DAI and comparative evaluations of dental appearance (P < 0.005). Conclusion: This study has shown significant correlations between DAI and subjective perceptions of dental appearance.

Fixed functional space maintainer: novel aesthetic approach for missing maxillary primary anterior teeth

The first-line treatment of non-restorable traumatically injured or carious deciduous teeth is extraction which may be a curse for the future dentition as well as social activity of a child. Various therapeutic modalities from removable partial dentures to fixed space maintainer can be used for replacement of such lost teeth. Two types of fixed aesthetic space maintainers for replacing premature loss of maxillary deciduous incisors in 4-year-old children are discussed.

Oral lichen planus in a young Indian child

Lichen planus (LP) is one of the most distinct mucocutaneous diseases. It is common with the middle aged and elderly population but has rarely been described in children. Incidences of oral LP in children is most commonly reported amongst Asians. We present a 10-year-old Indian girl with the documented clinical aspects and histopathological studies.

Restoration of fractured anterior permanent teeth using reference guide technique

The most common consequence of traumatic dental injury is uncomplicated crown fracture. The main techniques for reconstructing fractured teeth include the use of direct adhesive restorative materials. However, this type of treatment is time consuming and requires a skilled operator. An alternative to the direct restorative technique is the use of a reference guide. The advantage is that the restorative procedure can be carried out in two short clinical sessions with a drastic reduction in chair time. The size, shape and inclination of the teeth are determined in advance, which reduces the need for eventual adjustments. In addition, the use of a reference guide makes it possible for two or more teeth to be restored simultaneously; in contrast, with the conventional technique. This paper offers a step-by-step description, of a reference guide technique for restoration of permanent maxillary incisors fractured through trauma.

Hookah addiction among adolescents of five major cities in Central India.

Abstract Introduction: Hookah use among the Indian adolescents is on the rise without them being aware of its tobacco content. This prevalence study highlights the issues associated with hookah use among high school students of five cities of Central India. Methods: A study among 3500 students of high schools was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of hookah users and its associated factors including initiation/cessation, patterns, perceptions and behavior. Responses were received from 225 hookah users. Results: The prevalence of hookah users in the present study was found to be 6.4% (225). Most of the subjects first learned about hookah use from friends (64.5%) and smoked hookah in hookah lounges (90.7%). Generally, the adolescents were aware of various lounges in their locality. Conclusion: This study suggests that the use of hookahs is attracting adolescents at a very early age and is attributed to the presence of hookah lounges in various cities of Central India. Hence, the legality of hookah lounges in India should be reconsidered.

Knowledge of hepatitis B virus infection and its control practices among dental students in an Indian city

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus infection is a general cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepato-cellular carcinoma worldwide. It is highly contagious. It is an important reason for morbidity and mortality in the Indian population. Oral health professionals are at the highest risk. Vaccination for hepatitis B can prevent this deadly disease. Methods The present study was designed to evaluate the degree of awareness, knowledge of hepatitis B infection and status of hepatitis B vaccination among dental students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 students of 3rd year, 4th year and interns of a professional dental course. A pre-tested questionnaire was given to the students of each year. All the data management and analysis were carried out using SPSS software version 16. Results Eighty-six percent of the students had knowledge about hepatitis B infection. The majority of the students had correct knowledge regarding mode of transmission, however, 21% failed to recognize saliva as the mode of hepatitis B transmission. Forty-five percent of the students were vaccinated for hepatitis B. Conclusion The present study concludes that there is reasonable awareness of hepatitis B infection hazards, its transmission and vaccination, among the dental students who will be entering into the profession. However, half of the students were not vaccinated for hepatitis B in our study group, which keeps them at risk to the disease. The Indian Health Ministry should make hepatitis B vaccination mandatory for all health care professionals. A strategy should be executed for health education and compulsory vaccination of all students joining the health care professional colleges. Antibody titers should be routinely checked among those who are vaccinated.