Postgraduates' Perspective of Pediatric Dental Chair: A Questionnaire Study

The posture and positioning of pediatric dentist will greatly depend upon the type of dental chair they chose while treating children. Pediatric dentists working on a traditional adult chair for treating children frequently lean forward for close proximity to oral cavity; as a result of this poor posture, they are more prone to suffer from musculoskeletal disorders. Proper positioning of dentist during treatment will improve not only their comfort but also their career longevity. The aim of the study was to assess the comfort and need of pediatric dental chair compared with traditional adult dental chair for treatment and better management of children.

Study design

This is a questionnaire survey for postgraduate students consisting of 14 multiple-choice questions in English format. The questionnaire was structured to know whether the pediatric dental chair is beneficial compared to traditional adult dental chair while treating children.

Results and conclusion

Out of 92 responded members, 99% had an opinion that a pediatric dental chair is needed for treating children. They concluded that pediatric dental chair had many advantages over traditional adult dental chair while treating children and acceptance of pediatric dental chair among postgraduates is overwhelming.

How to cite this article

Reddy ER, Raju SS, Merum K, et al. Postgraduates' Perspective of Pediatric Dental Chair: A Questionnaire Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(3):251-254.

Comparative Evaluation of BMI, Dental Age, Salivary Alkaline Phosphatase Levels, and Oral Health Status in Children with β Thalassemia Major

PURPOSE

Thalassemia poses clear systemic and oral health problems. Clinicians must be aware of various dental treatment needs in these patients. This study was undertaken to assess body mass index (BMI), dental age, salivary alkaline phosphatase levels, malocclusion, and treatment needs in children with β thalassemia major.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 100 children within the age group of 2-15 years (50 thalassemic and 50 healthy controls) were included. Dental age, oral health status, malocclusion, and intervention urgency index was recorded. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected to assess the salivary alkaline phosphatase levels. The recorded data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

A significantly greater number of thalassemia children were found to be in the underweight category. A significantly high OHI-S scores and low gingival index scores were observed in thalassemia children. Salivary alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly low in thalassemia children compared to the control group. Intervention urgency index scores were significantly high in thalassemia group of children.

CONCLUSION

Thalassemia children had low BMI, gingival index scores, salivary alkaline phosphatase levels and higher prevalence of malocclusion, and high OHI-S index scores compared to the healthy control group. Intervention urgency index scores revealed greater dental treatment needs in children with thalassemia.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Rani ST, Reddy ER, et al. Comparative Evaluation of BMI, Dental Age, Salivary Alkaline Phosphatase Levels, and Oral Health Status in Children with β Thalassemia Major. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(4):303-306.

Paravalvular aortic rupture causing angina following aortic valve replacement

We report the first encounter of a paravalvular rupture of the aorta 5 years after aortic valve replacement with a #25 Omniscience tilting disc. The rupture involved the circumflex coronary artery causing angina.

Nonionic low-osmolality versus ionic high-osmolality contrast material for intravenous use in patients perceived to be at high risk: randomized trial

To determine the cost-effectiveness of selective use of nonionic low-osmolality contrast material, the authors randomly assigned 955 patients to receive high-osmolality and 1,158 to receive low-osmolality intravenous contrast material. All patients had one or more of the following perceived risk factors for adverse reactions: prior reaction to contrast material, allergies, asthma, diabetes, cardiac or renal disease, anxiety, severe illness, and age greater than 50 years. The occurrence of any adverse event, need for therapy, or subjective symptoms was assessed in a double-blind fashion. An adverse reaction necessitating the attention of a physician occurred in 3.9% (n = 37) of patients in the high-osmolality and 0.9% (n = 10) of patients in the low-osmolality groups (P less than .000005). Therapy was administered to 1.4% (n = 13) and 0.5% (n = 6), respectively (P = .035). The difference was due to a reduction in urticaria and other mild anaphylactoid reactions. In a multivariate analysis, only prior reactions and allergy were independent risk factors. Selective use of intravenous nonionic contrast material is best justified in those with prior reactions, allergy, or asthma; at least 67% of reactions would be prevented.

Esophageal diverticula

The clinical and radiological features in four patients with symptomatic mid-esophageal diverticula are reported here. The common clinical symptoms were retrosternal chest pain and dysphagia. Radiologically, three patients had acute obstructions revealed by barium studies and one patient had an esophago-bronchial fistula at the tip of the diverticulum.

Gastric torsion

We report a seven-week-old baby girl with a one-day history of vomiting and respiratory distress. The radiological findings were those of intrathoracic mesenteroaxial torsion of the stomach complicating a large hiatus hernia which included part of the small bowel and colon with partial colonic obstruction. This is a rare but important cause of alimentary tract obstruction and respiratory distress in infants. Prompt diagnosis and correction are vital.

Lactobezoar in a low-birth-weight neonate

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Retained lead shot in the appendix

Sixty-two patients with retained lead shot in their appendices, discovered during routine radiographic studies, were followed for periods ranging from two months to 13 years. The number of lead shot in the appendices varied from one to over 200. Twenty patients who had barium studies showed no evidence of luminal obstruction of their appendices. Eight patients who had appendectomies showed no evidence of appendicitis on tissue examination. None of the other patients developed any clinical evidence of appendicitis or lead poisoning. It is concluded that no causal relationship exists between retention of lead shot, their number, the duration of their presence in the appendix, and appendicitis.

Changes in heart size and volume in certain endocrinal and nutritional deficiency diseases. A correlative study in twenty adult patients

Twenty adult patients selected at random were studied because of a reduction in heart size, seen on routine chest radiographs. I analyzed etiologic factors, clinical, biochemical, and pathological abnormalities and cardiovascular status in relation to the radiographic findings and response to treatment. Reduction in heart size can occur as part of a wide spectrum of changes in certain endocrinal and nutritional deficiency diseases. Clinically there may be weakness as well as changes in heart rate, blood pressure, electrolytes, electrocardiograms, and loss of weight. All of these parameters improve with appropriate treatment.

Gas gangrene following perforation of the colon

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Bilateral renal cell carcinoma--unusual occurrence in three members of one family

Bilateral renal cell carcinoma occurred in a father and his two sons. Other reported instances of familial renal cell carcinoma are reviewed and the possibility that renal cell carcinoma might have a familial tendency is discussed. Radiological investigation and screening of suspected families is stressed.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

The clinical and radiological features of peritoneal mesothelioma in four patients with an industrial history of asbestos exposure are described. The radiological features of intestinal obstruction, soft tissue masses and displacement and infiltration of bowel are stressed. A normal chest radiograph does not exclude the diagnosis. More sensitive diagnostic imaging and perhaps the use of laparoscopy may help to improve the accuracy of pre-mortem diagnosis.

Pyeloduodenal fistula: a case report and review of the literature

A case of the rare condition of pyeloduodenal fistula is presented--the thirty-second case so far recorded in the literature. The authors consider that this instance shows some of the features typical of the cases so far reported. The literature is reviewed and the aetiology, presentation, diagnostic methods and treatment are briefly discussed.