Urvashi Sharma

Inter-relationship of intelligence-quotient and self-concept with dental caries amongst socially handicapped orphan children

CONTEXT India has been the focus of many health surveys among normal, physically, and mentally handicapped children. However, the data, concerning oral health conditions of socially handicapped children living in orphanages, are scanty. AIMS To study the effect of parental inadequacy, environmental deprivation, and emotional disturbances on dental caries through intelligence quotient (IQ) and self-concept in orphan children and also to co-relate dental caries with different levels of IQ and self-concept. SETTINGS AND DESIGN The study was carried out amongst socially handicapped children living in orphanages. PATIENTS AND METHODS 100 children in the age group of 10-14 years from orphanages were selected. Malins Intelligence Scale for Indian Children (MISIC) was used to assess the intelligence quotient; self-concept questionnaire to assess self-concept of the child and recording of dental caries status of children was done as per WHO Index (1997). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED To assess the relationship of dental caries with IQ, students unpaired t-test was used and; to find the relationship between self-concept and dental caries, Karl-Pearsons coefficient of co-relation was applied. RESULTS the children in orphanages had a lower IQ and high caries experience but had an above average self-concept. There was also no co-relation between dental caries and self-concept. CONCLUSIONS Orphan children, being socially handicapped, are at an increased risk for dental caries due to a lower IQ level, parental deprivation, and institutionalization. Moreover, lack of co-relation between dental caries and self-concept could be explained by the fact that dental caries is a lifelong process whereas different dimensions of self-concept are in a state of constant flux.

Concrescent triplets involving primary anterior teeth

Odontogenesis is a complex process wherein more than 200 genes are known to play a significant role in tooth development. An imbalance can lead to an abnormality in the number, size, shape or structure of the developing tooth/teeth. The presence of an extra dental lamina forms a supernumerary tooth. The supernumerary teeth are of two types: A rudimentary tooth where the supernumerary tooth does not resemble any tooth in the normal series or a supplemental tooth in which this anomalous tooth resembles one in the normal series. It is also very rare to encounter triple teeth in primary dentition. The union of these teeth may be through fusion, gemination, concrescence or a combination of fusion and gemination. Presented is a rare case of concrescence involving maxillary deciduous incisors and a supplemental tooth in a 7-year-old boy. The differential diagnosis, etiology, and complications of primary anterior triple teeth are discussed.

Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumor in Anterior Maxilla Associated with a Supernumerary Tooth: A Case Report

Odontogenic tumors are derived from epithelial, ectomesenchymal and/or mesenchymal elements that are or have been a part of the tooth-forming apparatus. Of all the odontogenic tumors, calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor accounts for 1% of the cases. Approximately 200 cases have been reported to date. There is no sex predilection, with a 2:1 predilection for the mandible, mostly in the premolar/molar region. It is often locally invasive. Most often, it is associated with an impacted tooth, is asymptomatic and requires biopsy for diagnosis. Presented here is a rare case of an intraosseous calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor surrounding a supernumerary tooth. Furthermore, the occurrence of this tumor in the anterior maxilla (an uncommon site) in a pediatric patient makes it rarer. Although the present case was asymptomatic, root resorption and displacement of adjacent teeth necessitated its surgical removal. The lesion was surgically enucleated and histopathological examination confirmed calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor, showing abundant calcifications in the form of Liesegang rings.

Incidental discovery of a screw in a deciduous molar

Foreign objects are often discovered in the deciduous dentition during radiological examination. We discuss the case of an 8-year-old boy who had accidentally embedded a screw in his mandibular right second deciduous molar and had forgotten about it until it became infected. The screw was impacted in the exposed pulp chamber due to a large carious lesion in the affected molar. This report also considers the possible medical and dental consequences of placing foreign bodies in the mouth.

An orthodontic guided, closed eruption of impacted maxillary canine

The current case report demonstrates orthodontic management of an impacted permanent maxillary right canine using 0.016” nickel–titanium auxiliary archwire on a 19” × 25” stainless steel base archwire. In the present case, the reason for impaction of the canine was an overlying retained primary canine and a calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) in that area. The over-retained primary canine was extracted and CEOT was enucleated. Closed eruption technique, with a Beggs bracket bonded on the labial surface of the impacted canine, was followed as it facilitates the preservation of attached gingiva around the newly erupted tooth. This case report demonstrates an orthodontic-guided eruption and repositioning of an impacted permanent maxillary canine using a ligature tie and a Beggs bracket. Closed eruption of the impacted maxillary right canine was followed by a comprehensive fixed mechanotherapy.

Unusual facial pain secondary to inferior alveolar nerve compression caused by impacted mandibular second molar.

Symptoms of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) compression are reported during endodontic procedures, placement of implants, third molar surgeries, inferior alveolar nerve block injections, trauma, orthognathic injuries, ablative surgeries or use of medicaments. Presented is a rare case of a 15-year-old girl who reported severe pain in relation to an impacted permanent mandibular left second molar, the roots of which had entrapped the mandibular canal causing compression of IAN. Timely surgical intervention and sectional removal of the impacted molar is indicated to relieve the symptoms and avoid permanent damage to the nerve.