Association of exposures to environmental chemicals estimated through primary teeth biomatrix and health outcomes in children and adolescents - A systematic review

Children's heightened susceptibility to environmental exposure arises from their underdeveloped detoxification mechanisms and augmented per-unit body-weight absorption capacity for chemical compounds. Primary teeth are an emerging biomatrix, which aid in storing crucial data on early exposure to harmful substances and developmental illnesses. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between environmental chemical exposure and health outcomes in children and adolescents using primary teeth as a matrix. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023428013). The review spanned studies published between 1974 and 2023, identified through an extensive literature search on databases like MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL, the Cochrane Oral Health Group Specialized Register, Scopus, and Web of Science. Distiller SR software was used to assess study quality and extract the outcome data. The NTP-OHAT scale assessed evidence quality, and case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies in English were included. Comprehensively reviewing 5287 articles resulted in 29 studies being included in the final analysis, comprising 15 cross-sectional, seven case-control, and seven cohort studies. All 29 studies qualified for qualitative analysis. Eleven studies analyzed lead (Pb) effects on health outcomes, four analyzed manganese (Mn), and 14 investigated other element groups. Primary teeth biomatrix assessed various health outcomes: neurobehavior, childhood behaviour, ADHD, birth outcomes, fetal alcohol syndrome disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and dental caries. This study contributes to existing evidence, reinforcing a link between environmental metal exposure and health consequences. The evidence extends to prenatal and postnatal periods, substantiated by primary teeth biomatrix analysis. Lead level fluctuations can influence neuropsychological functioning, potentially causing cognitive impairments. Altered manganese levels correlate with behavioral issues, adverse effects on visuospatial development, and birth weight changes. Primary teeth biomatrices aid fetal alcohol spectrum disorders diagnosis, and correlations between organo-chemical exposure and autism were observed.

Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries

BACKGROUND

Dental caries, a common chronic disease of childhood, is associated with adverse health and economic consequences for infants and their families. Socioeconomically disadvantaged children have a higher risk of early childhood caries (ECC). This review updates one published in 2019.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of interventions undertaken with pregnant women, new mothers or other primary caregivers of infants in the first year of life, for preventing ECC (from birth to six years).

SEARCH METHODS

We searched Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register, Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL EBSCO, the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (clinicaltrials.gov) and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (apps.who.int/trialsearch). The latest searches were run on 3 January, 2023.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing interventions with pregnant women, or new mothers and other primary caregivers of infants in the first year of life, against standard care, placebo or another intervention, reporting on a primary outcome: caries presence in primary teeth, dmfs (decayed, missing, filled primary surfaces index), or dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth index), in children up to six years of age. Intervention types include clinical, oral health promotion/education (hygiene education, breastfeeding and other dietary advice) and policy or service.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, assessed risk of bias, and assessed certainty of evidence (GRADE).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 23 RCTs (5 cluster-randomised), involving 25,953 caregivers (mainly mothers) and their children. Fifteen trials assessed oral health education/promotion interventions against standard care. Six trials assessed a clinical intervention for mother dentition, against placebo, or a different type of clinical intervention. Two trials assessed oral health/education promotion plus clinical intervention (for mother's dentition) against standard care. At most, five trials (maximum of 1326 children and 130 mothers) contributed data to any comparison. Enamel-only caries were included in the diagnosis of caries in some studies. For many trials, the risk of bias was unclear due to lack of methodological details reported. In thirteen trials, participants were socioeconomically disadvantaged. No trial indicated receiving funding that was likely to have influenced their results. Oral health education/promotion interventions Child diet and feeding practice advice versus standard care: We observed a probable 15 per cent reduced risk of caries presence in primary teeth with the intervention (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.97; 3 trials; 782 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), and there may be a slightly lower mean dmfs (MD -0.29, 95% CI -0.58 to 0; 2 trials; 757 participants; low-certainty evidence); however, the evidence is very uncertain regarding the difference between groups in mean dmft (MD -0.90, 95% CI -1.85 to 0.05; 1 trial; 340 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Breastfeeding promotion and support versus standard care: We observed little or no difference between groups in the risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.03; 2 trials; 1148 participants; low-certainty evidence) and in mean dmft (MD -0.12, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.36; 2 trials; 652 participants; low-certainty evidence). dmfs was not reported. Child diet advice compared with standard care: We are very uncertain about the effect on the risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.34 to 3.37; 1 trial; 148 participants; very low-certainty evidence). dmfs and dmft were not reported. Oral hygiene, child diet and feeding practice advice versus standard care: The evidence is very uncertain about the effect on the risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.07; 5 trials; 1326 participants; very low-certainty evidence) and there maybe little to no difference in mean dmfs (MD -0.87, 95% CI -2.18 to 0.43; 2 trials; 657 participants; low-certainty evidence) and mean dmft (MD -0.30, 95% CI -0.96 to 0.36; 1 trial; 187 participants; low-certainty evidence). High-dose versus low-dose vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: We are very uncertain about the effect on risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.41; 1 trial; 496 participants; very low-certainty evidence). dmfs and dmft were not reported. Clinical interventions (for mother dentition) Chlorhexidine (CHX, a commonly prescribed antiseptic agent) or iodine-NaF application and prophylaxis versus placebo: We are very uncertain regarding the difference in risk of caries presence in primary teeth between antimicrobial and placebo treatment for mother dentition (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.19; 3 trials; 479 participants; very low-certainty evidence). No trial reported dmfs or dmft. Xylitol compared with CHX antimicrobial treatment: We are very uncertain about the effect on caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.39; 1 trial, 96 participants; very low-certainty evidence), but we observed there may be a lower mean dmft with xylitol (MD -2.39; 95% CI -4.10 to -0.68; 1 trial, 113 participants; low-certainty evidence). No trial reported dmfs. Oral health education/promotion plus clinical interventions (for mother dentition) Diet and feeding practice advice for infants and young children plus basic dental care for mothers compared with standard care: We are very uncertain about the effect on risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.05 to 3.95; 2 trials, 324 participants; very low-certainty evidence) or on mean dmft (1 study, not estimable). No trial reported dmfs. No trials evaluated policy or health service interventions.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is moderate-certainty evidence that providing advice on diet and feeding to pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers with children up to the age of one year probably leads to a slightly reduced risk of early childhood caries (ECC). The remaining evidence is low to very-low certainty and is insufficient for determining which, if any, other intervention types and features may be effective for preventing ECC, and in which settings. Large, high-quality RCTs of oral health education/promotion, clinical, and policy and service access interventions, are warranted to determine the effects and relative effects of different interventions and inform practice. We have identified 13 ongoing studies. Future studies should consider if and how effects are modified by intervention features and participant characteristics (including socioeconomic status).

A systematic search, heuristic evaluation and analysis of dental trauma mobile applications

BACKGROUND

Despite the exponential growth of mobile device applications in promoting awareness on traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), the overall validity of existing applications in content, engagement, usability, functionality, esthetics, and user perception remains largely uncertain.

AIMS

The primary aim was to systematically search and assess the quality, functionality, perceived impact and usability of available applications related to TDIs using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) and the Coventry, Aberdeen, and London-Revised (CA-LO-RE) scale. A heuristic evaluation was additionally performed. The secondary aim was to categorize existing mobile applications according to their target users, including general population, dentists, dental students, medical healthcare professionals, and researchers.

METHODS

A systematic search for dental trauma applications (free and paid) was conducted using the AppStore and Google Play store. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and quality assessment for all the included applications using uMARS and CA-LO-RE. A user experience architect conducted a heuristic evaluation.

RESULTS

Only 6 of the 3061 initially screened applications were eligible for qualitative and quantitative assessments. These applications' average star uMARS rating was 12.5 (standard deviation [SD] 2.6). The mean and SD for the uMARS objective items were as follows: A-engagement (mean 12.1 [SD 3.3]), B-functionality (mean 15.5 [SD 1.4]), C-esthetics (mean 9.5 [SD 2.5]), and D-information (mean 13 [SD 4.5]). The severity rating for the heuristic evaluation criteria was low to moderate for all the included applications, excluding tooth emergencies with a high severity score.

CONCLUSION

Despite moderate quality, functionality, user perception, behavioural impact and usability scores, the inclusion of advanced features to "engagement" and "usability" in existing trauma based apps will enhance their purpose. A design-thinking approach coupled with interactive features is recommended for future mobile applications on TDIs.

Genetic variations in exon 10 of ENAM and their association with early childhood caries

OBJECTIVE

Enamelin is the largest enamel matrix protein encoded by the ENAM gene. The primary purpose of this study was to identify genetic variants in ENAM exon 10 that can alter susceptibility to early childhood caries (ECC).

METHODS

This case-control study included 248 children aged 3-6 years, with 124 children diagnosed with ECC in the case group and 124 children without caries in the control group. Questionnaires were used to record demographic data, socioeconomic status, hygienic practices, and feeding practices, and a 24-hour diet diary was kept. Seven polymorphisms (rs7671281, rs1738668322, rs3796703, rs3796704, rs759376039, rs775159311, and rs1738678483) in ENAM exon 10 were sequenced.

RESULTS

The heterozygous CT genotype of rs7671281 was significantly more common in the case group compared to the control group (odds ratio [OR], 6.1765; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05-18.58; P=0.0006). Under the dominant model, the TT genotype of rs7671281 was significantly more common in the control group (OR, 6.47; 95% CI, 2.15-19.39; P<0.001). The AG genotype of rs3796704 was significantly more common in the case group than in the control group (OR, 5.705; 95% CI, 1.60-20.25; P=0.006). Under the dominant model, the GG genotype of rs3796704 was significantly more common in children without caries than in children with caries (OR, 6.84; 95% CI, 1.96-23.90; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The C allele of rs7671281 and the A allele of rs3796704 can increase susceptibility to ECC.

Bleaching techniques in primary teeth: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Discolouration of primary teeth, often attributed to trauma and pulpal infection, is a prevalent concern that can significantly impact the esthetics and self-esteem of children. To address this issue, bleaching techniques have emerged as a viable treatment option. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the effectiveness of bleaching agents in managing discoloured primary teeth.

METHODS

Two reviewers independently conducted an electronic database search using PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL via EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science until September 26,2023. In vitro studies and case reports that assessed the quantifiable success were included. The present review utilized Distiller SR software for data extraction. The protocol of this study was registered in PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) (CRD42022329831). The quality of studies was analysed with Cochrane tool and the JBI checklist.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 1845 references of which 14 studies were included for qualitative analysis. There were 8 in vitro studies and 6 case reports included in this systematic review. There were 299 teeth samples in the in vitro studies and 18 teeth were assessed in the case reports. All the 18 teeth (6 case reports) showed considerable shade improvement within 7-14 days. However, only 3 teeth were followed up for a period of 12-24 months. Substantial shade improvement was also observed in samples in the in vitro studies.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review has comprehensively examined the various bleaching agents and methods for the management of discoloured primary teeth. However, it is crucial to recognize that the available evidence is from case reports and is insufficient to make a clinical recommendation.

AMELX gene association to early childhood caries in south-Indian children: a case-control study

PURPOSE

Genetic variants of AMELX gene can affect the protein content, organization of enamel prisms, microstructure and microhardness of the enamel, thus altering the caries susceptibility. The present study aims to assess the association between polymorphisms rs17878486, rs5934997, and rs5933871 of AMELX gene and Early Childhood Caries (ECC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This case-control study was conducted on 200 participants, aged 3-6 years, with 100 controls and 100 children with ECC. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, birth-weight, type of delivery, oral hygiene practices, feeding history and 24-h diet diary. DNA was isolated from blood and subjected to PCR followed by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

The CC genotype of rs17878486 showed an OR of 1.93 (0.34-10.81; P = 0.73). In a recessive model, the CC genotype of rs17878486 reported an OR of 2.04 (0.36-11.40; P = 0.68); rs5593871 reported an OR of 1.00 (0.31-3.21). Statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between genotype and allele frequencies of rs17878486, rs5934997, and rs5933871 were not observed between children with ECC and the controls.

CONCLUSION

Polymorphisms of AMELX gene did not show a significant association with ECC in this population. However, documentation of genetic data in a global context of ECC may be essential for the future.

Global variations in eruption chronology of permanent teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Population-based variations have been reported in permanent teeth eruption but only sparse literature exists on the same. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the global variations in eruption chronology of permanent teeth in children and adolescents and the role of sexes, jaws and classes of socio-economic status (SES) on timing of eruption was explored.

METHODS

The protocol for the systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. An extensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Cochrane library, and anthropology databases was carried out until April 2023. Additionally, grey literature search and hand-searching of relevant key journals was done.

RESULTS

Overall, 3797 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were retrieved from multiple databases. A total of 939, 191 participants were included from 80 studies of which, 41 were carried out in Asia, 26 in Europe, 5 in Africa, 4 in North America, and 4 in Oceania. The mandibular first molar eruption was found to be as early as 4.09 years while the maxillary second molar erupted as late as 13.45 years. Using a random effects model, 28 forest plots were generated. Meta-regression interpreted tooth eruption to be earlier in females and in the mandible.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study show that the ages of permanent teeth eruption was advanced in the European population followed by Africa and Asia.

Global variations in eruption chronology of primary teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to assess global variations in the eruption chronology of primary teeth in children and the role of sexes, jaws, and socio-economic status on eruption timing.

DESIGN

An extensive search of electronic databases, grey literature, and hand-searching was carried out until April 2023 RESULTS: A total of 42,109 children, with an age range of 0-83 months were included from 42 studies (22 in Asia, 7 in Europe, 5 in Africa, 4 in North America, 3 in Oceania and 1 in South America). The mandibular central incisor was the first tooth to erupt at 6 months in North America and 13.5 months in Asia while the mandibular second molar erupted at 20.1 months in Europe and 29 months in South America.

CONCLUSIONS

The age of primary teeth eruption was advanced in the European population followed by North America, Africa, Oceania, and Asia while it was delayed in the South American population. Meta-analysis showed that tooth eruption was earlier in the left quadrant than the right but the role of other factors (sexes, jaws, and socio-economic status) was insignificant. Population-specific data on primary teeth emergence may serve as a baseline for future research. In clinical practice, these population-based eruption charts can serve as a valuable asset for diagnosis and treatment planning in children.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess commonality knowledge of traumatic dental injuries and management of emergencies

BACKGROUND

Dental trauma represents a significant public health problem, causing a burden for both individuals and society. The aim of this study is to systematically develop and validate a questionnaire on 'traumatic dental injuries and management of emergencies' (TIME) for assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) for a commonality.

METHODS

The scale development phases included conceptual framework, systematic development of an item pool, refinement of the item pool by Focus-group discussion (n = 23), validity-testing using Content Validity Index (n = 5), translation and back-translation, Cognitive interviewing (n = 30,45), and reliability testing (n = 40). The conceptual framework was built based on six broad constructs, such as broken teeth, knocked-out (avulsion) teeth, pushed/moved-in and loosened teeth (luxation injuries), soft tissue injuries, follow-up and management, and prevention and protection.

RESULTS

Reviews of existing questionnaires significantly helped to generate an initial pool of 68 items (refined to 51 items). Lawshe's content validity was 0.92. High test-retest reliability was demonstrated (kappa value = 0.98). The questionnaire showed a high level of reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) with great internal consistency.

CONCLUSION

TIME is the first validated scale for recording knowledge, attitude and practices on traumatic dental injuries and management of emergencies for non-dental professionals. The 51-tem tool will allow dentists to evaluate KAP of commonality. KAP measured across the globe would have a significant impact on planning awareness programs by dentists and dental associations.

Association between polymorphisms of immune response genes and early childhood caries - systematic review, gene-based, gene cluster, and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Early childhood caries is a significant public health concern affecting about 600 million children globally. The etiology of early childhood caries can be explained as an interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are the most common variations in the human genome. Genetic variations of immune response genes can modify the defense response of the host, and alter the susceptibility to bacterial colonization of the oral cavity and early childhood caries. The aim of this systematic review is to identify genetic variants of immune response genes associated with early childhood caries.

RESULTS

A total of 7124 articles were identified by conducting an elaborate search across various electronic databases and genome-wide association studies databases. Subsequent to exclusion at various stages, fifteen articles qualified to be included into the present review. Risk of bias assessment was done with the Q-genie tool. Quantitative synthesis revealed that the odds ratio for TT and CC genotypes of rs11362 was 1.07 (0.67-1.71) and 1.16 (0.84-1.60), respectively. Gene-based analysis revealed a statistically significant association between variants of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene and T-cell receptor alpha variable 4 locus with early childhood caries. Gene clustering showed the presence of three functional clusters. To comprehend the protein-protein interaction, the bioinformatic tool of "Search Tools for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes and Proteins" was used. Among the biological processes and the reactome pathways, complement activation through the lectin pathway showed the highest strength of association with early childhood caries. To understand the interaction and functionality of the genes, "gene function prediction using Multiple Association Network Integration Algorithm" was used, which revealed that the genes were linked by physical interaction (39.34%) and through co-expression (34.88%).

CONCLUSIONS

Genotype TT of rs7217186 of arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase gene was a risk factor for early childhood caries. Multiple genetic variants of T-cell receptor alpha variable 4 locus and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene were associated with increased susceptibility to early childhood caries. Polymorphisms of genes regulating the lectin pathway of complement activation can modify the susceptibility to early childhood caries.

Mechanical Properties and Clinical Success of Intracanal Posts in Primary Maxillary Anterior Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Intracanal posts are commonly used to restore lost permanent/primary tooth structure and the smile of the patient.

Aim

This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical success of intracanal posts used in primary maxillary anterior teeth and compare their mechanical properties.

Methods

An extensive literature search was performed using Medline via PubMed, Embase via embase.com, LILACS, CINAHL via EBSCO, Cochrane Oral Health Group Specialized Register, Scopus, and Web of Science until December 2021 and was updated till December 2022. In vivo and in vitro studies in the English language that assessed clinical success and mechanical properties were included. Distiller SR software was used for everything from title screening to data extraction.

Results

A total of 30 studies were analyzed, including 11 in vivo and 19 in vitro studies. Four studies were included in a meta-analysis, and all 30 studies qualified for qualitative analysis. The meta-analysis showed that fiber posts are clinically superior to composite resin posts (CRPs) (p = 0.02). No significant difference was observed between the fracture resistance of CRPs and no posts (p = 0.73). Most of the included studies showed a high risk of bias.

Conclusion

Conclusive evidence about the effectiveness of various intracanal posts cannot be established. This is due to the limited number of clinical trials and included studies of low to moderate quality with a high risk of bias. To validate the use of posts in primary maxillary anterior teeth, further research, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of higher quality, is required.

Clinical significance

The use of intracanal posts in primary teeth is a commonly used treatment modality among pediatric dentists. However, the quality of the evidence to support its use is low. This systematic review provides a comprehensive summary of the current literature and highlights the need for further research. Results were interpreted with caution, as the evidence supporting the use of intracanal posts in primary teeth is limited.

How to cite this article

Shanmugam Y, Raghu A, Muthu MS, et al. Mechanical Properties and Clinical Success of Intracanal Posts in Primary Maxillary Anterior Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(S-3):S293-S305.

Variations in Primary Molar Contact and Approximal Caries in Children: A Three-Year Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the contact areas of primary molar teeth and approximal caries after three years of observation. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 1,119 caries-free children, aged three to four years, from Puducherry, India. At base- line, 4,476 contacts were assessed using the OXIS criteria, which denotes O for open contact and X, I, and S for closed contacts. X contact represents a point contact, I is a straight contact, and S is a curved contact. Two calibrated dentists measured dental caries at one-year intervals following the International Caries Detection and Assessment System for three years. Poisson regression analysis with a multilevel approach was used to determine the association between contact type and approximal caries. Results: Of 3,848 contacts observed at the end of three years, 499 (13 percent) were carious. The adjusted analysis revealed a significant association between contact type and approximal caries (P<0.05). The risk ratios for the development of approximal caries were 2.3 for X-type contacts (0.5 to 11.4, P=0.307), 12.7 for I-type (4.1 to 39.6, P<0.05), and 22.5 for S-type (7.2 to 70.6, P<0.05) when compared with O-type. Conclusions: Compelling evidence suggests that variations in contacts between teeth are significant in the development of approximal caries. The S-type contact is the most susceptible to approximal caries, followed by the I-type.

Assessment of OXIS contacts-a comparison of three methods

PURPOSE

To compare OXIS contacts by means of Replication using Sectional die Models (RSM) and Photographs of the Models (PM) with Direct Clinical Examination (DCE) in a sample of preschool children aged 3-4 years.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using existing records of sectional die models and their photographs among 4257 contacts of 1104 caries-free pre-school children. Two calibrated examiners scored the contacts between the distal surface of the primary first molar and mesial surface of the primary second molar using OXIS criteria from the occlusal view using the RSM & PM methods. These were compared to the OXIS scores from DCE method which was available from previous records. Kappa agreement was used to compare results obtained RSM and PM methods with DCE.

RESULTS

The kappa agreement between the RSM and DCE methods was 98.48%; and between the PM and DCE methods was 99.42%, both of which indicated perfect agreement.

CONCLUSION

The RSM and PM methods were found to have an excellent agreement in scoring OXIS contacts when compared to the DCE method. PM was found to be slightly more accurate than the RSM method for scoring OXIS contacts.

Bite force of children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review aimed to assess bite force measurements in children and adolescents and to study the various devices that measure Maximum Voluntary Bite Force (MVBF). This systematic review included observational studies and experimental studies in children and adolescents (upto 19 years of age) which evaluated MVBF using a bite force measuring device. Studies on participants with systemic conditions were excluded. Databases such as PubMed, Embase, LILACS, and the Cochrane library were searched until September 2022, for which screening and quality assessment were performed. Newcastle-Ottawa, modified Newcastle-Ottawa and ROBINS-I tools were used to assess the Risk-of-bias. All observational studies reporting overall bite force values of participants were included for meta-analyses. A total of 8864 participants (3491 males and 3623 females) were included from 61 studies. Meta-analyses were conducted to evaluate mean average bite force value for each included dentition using R software v2.4-0. Estimation was done to derive an average BF value for variables such as age (dentition), gender, side, site, device and ethnicity. MVBF values were reported as mean average in the form of MLN with 95% CI (Confidence Interval). Using a random-effects model, 29 forest plots were generated. I² values varied between 90% and 100%. Bite force ranged from 246.22 N (220.47; 274.98) to 311.72 N (255.99; 379.59) and 489.35 N (399.86; 598.87) in primary, mixed, and permanent dentitions, respectively. Six different sites for recording bite force and 11 different types of devices were reported with portable occlusal bite force gauge being the most common device. Outcomes of this review provide useful baseline reference values of bite force for clinicians and researchers.

Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Traumatic Dental Injuries

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDI) are considered a public health problem due to their high prevalence and associated physical, economic, psychological and social consequences. Hence, good Clinical Practice Guidelines are essential to achieving a favourable prognosis. The aim of this review was to appraise the existing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on TDI using AGREE II and AGREE-REX.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search for existing guidelines on TDI was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, National Institute for Health Care Excellence, BMJ Best Practice, Trip database, Guideline International Network, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, World Health Organisation, Web of Science and 'Ministry of Health worldwide' databases. Four appraisers independently appraised the included CPGs. The AGREE II tool was applied to assess the methodological quality, while AGREE REX assessed the quality of recommendations of the included guidelines.

RESULTS

Of the 7736 titles screened, three guidelines, namely, the International Association of Dental Traumatology Guidelines (IADT), and the Italian and Malaysian guidelines, were included for the final analysis. These guidelines were published between 2019-2020. The AGREE II analysis demonstrated scores above 80% for the IADT and Italian guidelines for the scope and purpose domain. Overall, the Malaysian guidelines achieved the highest score for all domains. The AGREE REX analysis indicated variability in implementation across the nine items, with five that scored above the midpoint of 4.0 on the response scale. Both the Italian and the IADT guidelines had a similar score for the values and preference domains (36.36%).

CONCLUSIONS

Several deficiencies exist in the methodological quality of existing CPGs on TDI. Future guidelines should consider improvements for domains such as "rigour of development", "stakeholder involvement", and "applicability" to overcome the existing limitations.

OXIS contacts and approximal caries in preschool children- A prospective cohort study

The present prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the susceptibility of OXIS contact areas namely O (open type), X (point type), I (straight type) and S (curved type) in the development of approximal caries. We conducted this study among 953 school children with 3812 contacts in Puducherry, India. At baseline, the contacts were assessed in accordance with OXIS criteria. At the end of 12 months, two calibrated dentists measured dental caries following the International Caries Detection and Assessment (ICDAS) criteria. Information about feeding practices, diet, and oral hygiene was collected by means of a structured questionnaire from each child's parent. Data were analyzed by unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression analysis with a multilevel approach. The two levels of analysis were tooth and child. Of 3,812 contacts observed during the follow-up, 127 (3.3%) were observed as carious. Poisson regression analysis revealed a significant association between type of contact and caries prevalence (p < 0.05). The risk ratios for the development of approximal caries in X contacts were 2.4 (0.3-17.2), p value 0.38; in I contacts - 4.9 (1.2-19.9), p value 0.027; and in S contacts 8.2 (1.9-34.2), p value 0.004, when compared with the O contacts. Among the child variables, male gender (RR=2.1; 95%CI-1.3,3.5), parental supervision while toothbrushing (RR=1.6; 95%CI-1.1,2.4) and the use of toothpaste (RR=1.9; 95%CI-1.3,3.1) were found to be associated with approximal caries after adjustment for the other variables. Among the OXIS contacts, the S type was most susceptible to approximal caries due to its complex morphology, followed by I, X, and O.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of enamel formation genes and early childhood caries - systematic review, gene-based, gene cluster and meta-analysis

Introduction

Genetic polymorphisms of genes regulating amelogenesis can alter susceptibility to Early Childhood Caries (ECC). This systematic review aims to analyze associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms of enamel formation genes and ECC.

Methods

Search was conducted across PUBMED, CINAHL, LILACS, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, Genome-Wide Association Studies databases from January 2003 to September 2022. This was supplemented by hand search. Totally 7124 articles were identified and 21 articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria proceeded to data extraction. Quality assessment was done using the Q-Genie tool.

Results

Quantitative synthesis revealed that homozygous genotype AA of rs12640848 was significantly higher in children with ECC with an odds ratio of 2.36. Gene-based analysis revealed significant association between six variants of AMBN, four variants of KLK4, two variants of MMP20, and a single variant of each of MMP9 and MMP13 genes and ECC. The Bonferroni corrected-log10 P value of amelogenesis gene Cluster was 2.25 (0.05/88 = 5.6 × 10^-4). Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes and Proteins plot constructed to comprehend the protein-protein interaction revealed the presence of four functional clusters. Gene function prediction using Multiple Association Network Integration Algorithm revealed that physical interaction between these genes was 69.3%.

Conclusion

Polymorphisms of genes regulating amelogenesis can influence the susceptibility to ECC. AA genotype of rs12640848 may increase the susceptibility to ECC. Gene-based analysis revealed a significant association between multiple polymorphisms of genes regulating amelogenesis and ECC.

Sustainable development goals and ending ECC as a public health crisis

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) remains a global issue despite numerous advancements in research and interventional approaches. Nearly, 530 million children suffer from untreated dental caries of primary teeth. The consequences of such untreated dental caries not only limit the child's chewing and eating abilities but also, significantly impact the child's overall growth. Research has demonstrated that ECC is associated with nearly 123 risk factors. ECC has also been associated with local pain, infections, abscesses, and sleep pattern. Furthermore, it can affect the child's emotional status and decrease their ability to learn or perform their usual activities. In high-income countries, dental care continues to endorse a "current treatment-based approach" that involves high-technology, interventionist, and specialized approaches. While such approaches provide immediate benefit at an individual level, it fails to intercept the underlying causes of the disease at large. In low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), the "current treatment approach" often remains limited, unaffordable, and unsuitable for the majority of the population. Rather, dentistry needs to focus on "sustainable goals" and integrate dental care with the mainstream healthcare system and primary care services. Dental care systems should promote "early first dental visits," when the child is 1 year of age or when the first tooth arrives. The serious shortages of appropriately trained oral healthcare personnel in certain regions of the world, lack of appropriate technologies and isolation of oral health services from the health system, and limited adoption of prevention and oral health promotion can pose as critical barriers. The oral health care systems must focus on three major keystones to combat the burden of ECC-1. Essential oral health services are integrated into healthcare in every country ensuring the availability of appropriate healthcare accessible and available globally, 2. Integrating oral and general healthcare to effectively prevent and manage oral disease and improve oral health, 3. Collaborating with a wide range of health workers to deliver sustainable oral health care tailored to cater to the oral health care needs of local communities.

Comparison of viscosities of human breast milk versus infant milk formulae with and without addition of sweetening agents

CONTEXT

Early childhood caries is a major health problem affecting children worldwide. Although incorrect feeding practices hold a prime position in the etiology, there are gaps in the literature pertaining to the physical properties of milk.

AIM

To assess the viscosity of human breast milk (HBM) versus infant milk formulae, with and without the addition of sweetening agents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All commercially available infant milk formulae (60 samples) and breast milk from 30 donor mothers were assessed for viscosity using Brookfield DV2T viscometer. The study period was from April 2019 to August 2019. Viscosity of infant milk formulae sweetened with sugar, honey, and brown sugar was further investigated and compared with that of HBM.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Inter-group and intra-group mean viscosity was compared using independent t-test and repeated-measures ANOVA.

RESULTS

Viscosity of HBM ranged from 18.36 centipoise (cP) to 91.30 cP, the mean viscosity being 45.7 cP. Viscosity values varied for each formula group, the least being as low as 5.1 cP and the highest being 89.3 cP. The mean viscosities of each group were in the range of 33 to 49 cP.

CONCLUSIONS

HBM was found to have a tendency toward higher viscosity than most of the infant milk formulae. Also, varied viscosity values were obtained when commonly used sweetening agents were added to infant milk formulae. Greater viscosity of HBM might increase its adherence to enamel surface leading to prolonged demineralization and potentially altering the caries risk, needs to be investigated further.

Association of Sleep-Time Feeding Practices with Early Childhood Caries: A Case-Control Study

Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a public health challenge globally, more so in developing countries. The association between sleep-time feeding practices and ECC remains obscure. The study evaluated this association using Feeding At Sleep Time (FeAST) scale. A case-control study was planned among 627 toddlers, were cases included children with ECC while controls were children without ECC. Three patterns of feeding associated with sleep were recorded: beginning of sleep, during the course of sleep, and early morning hours sleep. Dental caries was scored using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II). The study participants included 302 (48%) cases and 325 (52%) controls. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for breastfeeding at the beginning of sleep, during the course of sleep, and early morning hours sleep were 6.7, 6.5, and 3.7, respectively (p = 0.001), on comparing cases versus controls. Similarly, AORs for bottle-feeding at the beginning of sleep, course of sleep, and early morning hours sleep were 5.1, 8.3, and 3.7, respectively (p = 0.001). Addition of sweeteners yielded an AOR = 2.84, while the intake of solids during sleep yielded an AOR of 6.02(p = 0.001). Other feeding modes like sippers, tumblers, etc., had a statistically significant association (p = 0.001). Sleep-time feeding practices increase the risk for ECC in 12- to 36-month-old children.

Modified OXIS classification for primary canines

Background: A new classification called OXIS was proposed for categorising the interproximal contacts of primary molars, and its prevalence was established. The aim of this study was to establish the variations in interproximal contacts of primary canines and thereby modify the OXIS classification of primary molars to primary canines. Additionally, we aimed to estimate the applicability of modifications to primary anterior teeth.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with sectional die models obtained from a previous study of 1,090 caries-free children. Two calibrated examiners evaluated a total of 4,674 contacts from the occlusal aspect. The contacts were scored according to the former OXIS classification, with two modifications incorporated to encompass the morphological differences and rotations of primary canines and other primary anterior teeth.

Results: The most prevalent contact was O (62.1%), followed by X (19.6%), I (12.6%), S type I (4.1%), and S type II (1.6%). Inter-arch comparison by means of the Chi-square test revealed significant differences for all types of contacts ( P < .001).

Conclusions: The interproximal contacts of canines were categorised as O, X, I, S I, and S II. The OXIS classification of primary molars was modified to befit the variations in primary canines. This study showed the presence of different types of contacts in primary canines. Identification of these contacts and their complexity has warranted a need for this to be studied as an inherent risk factor for caries risk assessment.

Modified OXIS classification for primary canines

Background: A new classification called OXIS was proposed for categorising the interproximal contacts of primary molars, and its prevalence was established. The aim of this study was to establish the variations in interproximal contacts of primary canines and thereby modify the OXIS classification of primary molars to primary canines. Additionally, we aimed to estimate the applicability of modifications to primary anterior teeth. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with sectional die models obtained from a previous study of 1,090 caries-free children. Two calibrated examiners evaluated a total of 4,674 contacts from the occlusal aspect. The contacts were scored according to the former OXIS classification, with two modifications incorporated to encompass the morphological differences and rotations of primary canines and other primary anterior teeth. Results: The most prevalent contact was O (62.1%), followed by X (19.6%), I (12.6%), S type I (4.1%), and S type II (1.6%). Inter-arch comparison by means of the Chi-square test revealed significant differences for all types of contacts (P < .001). Conclusions: The interproximal contacts of canines were categorised as O, X, I, S I, and S II. The OXIS classification of primary molars was modified to befit the variations in primary canines. This study showed the presence of different types of contacts in primary canines. Identification of these contacts and their complexity has warranted a need for this to be studied as an inherent risk factor for caries risk assessment.

Dental Caries Experience among Children and Adolescents with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: An Umbrella Review

Aim and objective

To assess the systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the dental caries experience in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).

Study design and methodology

A systematic search was carried out from MEDLINE Via PubMed, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, EMBASE, OVID, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, and Epistemonikos databases. Two independent reviewers carried out the collection and analysis of the study data. Methodological quality was assessed by ROBIS (Risk of bias assessment in systematic review) tool.

Review results

An initial search of electronic databases yielded a total of 25 relevant reviews, of which only three systematic reviews were taken into consideration for qualitative synthesis. The total number of unique primary studies among the three included systematic reviews were 25, of which overlap of the studies was calculated using citation matrix. The corrected covered area (CCA) was estimated to be 0.26. Based on the ROBIS tool, only one systematic review reported with low risk of bias.

Conclusion

Individuals with CL/P report more decayed, missing, or filled teeth/surfaces than those without CL/P in primary, mixed, and permanent dentition. Future studies should focus on the factors which could modify the caries risk of an individual with CL/P.

Clinical significance

This umbrella review offers a more reliable and balanced view regarding the dental caries experience among individuals with cleft lip and/or palate. This paper also highlights the important role of pediatric dentist in multidisciplinary health care team in implementing first dental visit and anticipatory guidance to consider early diagnosis and specific preventive interventions for Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in individuals with CL/P.

How to cite this article

Abirami S, Panchanadikar NT, Muthu MS, et al. Dental Caries Experience among Children and Adolescents with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: An Umbrella Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(S-2):S261-S268.

Feeding At Sleep Time (FeAST) Scale: Assessing Risk for Developing Early Childhood Caries in South Indian Toddlers

PURPOSE

The Feeding At Sleep Time (FeAST) scale was developed and validated to assess sleep time feeding practices for children younger than three years. The purpose of this study was to describe the process of scoring and find an optimum clinical cutoff score for early childhood caries (ECC) using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, thereby enabling researchers and clinicians to assess risk for devel- oping ECC.

METHODS

The FeAST scale was administered to mothers of 527 toddlers, aged 12 to 36 months, attending four outpatient depart- ments. The score was calculated based on subconstructs of combined breast-feeding (CBR) and combined bottle-feeding (CBO), and suitable cutoff points were identified using ROC analysis.

RESULTS

The study established a cutoff score greater than 14 for the CBR construct and a cutoff score greater than 11 for the CBO construct of the FeAST scale to determine a child's risk for developing ECC. The area under the curve (AUC), which measures the overall performance of a scale, has yielded statistically significant values (P<0.001) with fair (0.707) and good (0.788) perform- ance for the CBR and CBO constructs, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The Feeding at Sleep Time scale, based on receiver operating characteristics analysis, can potentially be used by clinicians and researchers to screen toddlers at risk of developing early childhood caries.

Glanzmann Thrombasthenia: Use of the Soft Splint with Tranexamic Acid Paste to Reduce Spontaneous Oral Bleeding

Background

Glanzmann thrombasthenia is a rare bleeding disorder due to defects in the glycoprotein Ilb/IIIa complex present on the platelet membrane. The most common mode of treatment for this disorder is platelet transfusion. However, scientific evidence does state that repeated transfusions could lead to auto immunization making transfusions ineffective.

Aim and objective

To describe the use of a novel technique of soft splint with tranexamic acid paste to stop oral bleeding in a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT).

Case description

A 7-year-old female patient with a known history of GT was referred to the pediatric department. The chief complaint of the patient revealed a history of spontaneous bleeding from the oral cavity. The patient required multiple teeth extractions due to severely carious teeth. History revealed that the patient was admitted to the hospital (casualty) three times within 1 month due to a similar complaint leading to hypovolemic shock. Several transfusion procedures were done to stop the spontaneous bleeding. To stop the intraoral bleeding without transfusions, a novel method of using a soft splint with tranexamic acid paste (500 mg tablet crushed and mixed with saline) in the area of spontaneous bleeding was employed with a successful follow-up of 7 months.

Conclusion

Soft splint with the tranexamic acid paste can serve as an effective method of treatment for patients with spontaneous oral bleeding due to medical conditions like GT.

Clinical relevance

This case report highlights the need for awareness among all the healthcare providers about the importance of regular dental visits. The healthcare providers also need to emphasize the same to all patients with medical conditions to avoid such life-threatening situations.

How to cite this article

Bhavyaa R, Vignesh KC, Muthu MS, et al. Glanzmann Thrombasthenia: Use of the Soft Splint with Tranexamic Acid Paste to Reduce Spontaneous Oral Bleeding. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(4):580–585.

Early Childhood Caries and Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Identification of the association between Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) will aid paediatricians and paediatric dentists to enhance health promotion measures to reduce the related morbidity in children. This systematic review aims to determine an evidence-based association between ECC and IDA. A systematic search was carried out from MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Cochrane Oral Health Group's Specialized Register, CINAHL via EBSCO, Web of Science, and Scopus up to May 2020. Hand searching and grey literature screening were also conducted. Cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies in English language which assessed the association was included. Two reviewers independently assessed the study quality and extracted the outcome data. A total of 1,434 studies were identified. Fourteen studies qualified for qualitative review and 7 of them for a meta-analysis. In comparison with children not affected by ECC, those affected had an increased likelihood of IDA (OR = 6.07 [3.61, 10.21]). The meta-analysis showed no statistical difference when comparing blood parameters (Hb, MCV, and serum ferritin) in children with and without ECC. This systematic review demonstrates an association between ECC and increased odds of IDA rather than it being the cause for IDA. Further longitudinal studies with robust methodology are required to determine an evidence-based association.

Proximal enamel thickness of the permanent teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

This systematic review aimed to identify, evaluate, and provide a synthesis of the available literature on the proximal enamel thickness (PET) of permanent teeth.

METHODS

The eligibility criteria were studies that assessed the PET of the permanent teeth. A search of studies in Medline (via PubMed), the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Lilacs databases that measured PET was conducted until August 31, 2020. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias for systematic reviews involving cross-sectional studies. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach. PET data generated from the systematic review were summarized by random-effects inverse-generic meta-analysis.

RESULTS

From 1388 potentially eligible studies, 11 were considered for systematic review and meta-analysis. The measurement of PET was done with radiographs, microscopes, microtomographs, or profilometers. In total, 4019 mesial and distal surfaces involving 2118 teeth were assessed. All included studies showed low to moderate risk of bias, whereas GRADE revealed that the level of evidence was low. Greater mesial and distal enamel thickness was observed for the premolars and molars, whereas it was least for the mandibular central incisors. The least difference of 0.02 mm (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.07 to 0.11 and -0.06 to 0.09, respectively) between mesial and distal sides was observed for the maxillary and mandibular second molars, whereas the maximum difference of 0.12 mm (95% CI, 0.07-0.17 and 0.07-0.16, respectively) was observed for the maxillary central incisors and maxillary first premolars. The meta-analysis indicated a moderate level of heterogeneity (I² of 45%). The funnel plot revealed minimal publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The summary effect of the meta-analysis revealed that the thickness of the enamel on the distal aspect was greater than on the mesial aspect by an average of 0.10 mm (95% CI, 0.09-0.12). This finding would be of relevance to all disciplines of dentistry and especially for the clinician planning interproximal reduction, a procedure that is routinely done for clear aligner therapy.

OXIS Contacts as a Risk Factor for Approximal Caries: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the individual susceptibility of four different types of OXIS contact areas (open [O], point [X], straight [I], and curved [S]) to approximal caries in children. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using clinical photographs and cone-beam computed tomography images of children, available from January 1, 2014, to August 31, 2015, showing the presence of at least one caries-free contact area between the primary molars. A single calibrated examiner scored 1,102 selected contacts using OXIS criteria from the occlusal view and subsequently evaluated the same contacts with a minimum follow-up period of one year for the presence of approximal caries. Results: Of the 1,102 contacts, 259 (23.5 percent) were found to be carious or restored due to approximal caries. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only the type of contact played a significant role in caries prevalence (P<0.05). The odds ratios of OXIS contacts for the development of approximal caries were: S contact-147.4 (95 percent confidence interval [95% CI] equals 19.7 to 1101.7); I contact-24.5 (95% CI equals 3.4 to 177.9); X contact-1.1 (95% CI equals 1.0 to 12.5); and O contact-1.00 (reference). Conclusions: Among the OXIS contacts, the S type was most susceptible to approximal caries due to its complex morphology. The broad contact areas, namely, I and S types, are at greater risk for approximal caries in primary molars than O and X contacts.

Prevalence and correlation of OXIS contacts using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images and photographs

BACKGROUND

The contact areas in between primary teeth are broader, flatter, and located further cervically when compared with the contact areas of permanent molars.

AIM

We investigated the prevalence of interproximal contact area types of primary molars using CBCT images in children aged 3-10 years. Our second objective was to correlate OXIS contact areas when observed with CBCT images and clinical photographs.

DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed with 367 CBCT images of children, aged 3-10 years, obtained from Children's Dental Centre, South Korea. The type of contacts in between primary molars was scored at various levels, specifically, occlusal, middle, and cervical thirds, according to OXIS criteria. Following this, the same patient's records were checked for the presence of clinical photographs and scored according to the same criteria. Prevalence was stated as percentages along with numbers. Chi-square test was applied to determine association of contact areas across genders and arches. The correlation between the two methods was done by Cohen's Kappa correlation test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of the OXIS contacts obtained from CBCT images was as follows: I (79.7%), followed by X (10.0%), S (6.6%), and, finally, O (3.7%). The overall score of all the 1343 contact areas matched with the score observed at the occlusal third. All included contacts were of O (open) type at cervical third, and 1,231 contacts were of O (open) type at the middle third. Significant results were observed with respect to arches (P < .001). The correlation between the two methods was found to be 0.958.

CONCLUSIONS

The contact area observed at the occlusal level determined the overall type of contact based on OXIS criteria. Thus, reports in the literature concluded that contact areas are broad, flat, and extend further gingivally should be revised. The study also concluded almost perfect agreement between CBCT images and clinical photographs.

Embracing Psychological Ownership in Dental Education: A Potential Game Changer

Psychological ownership (PO) is conceptually defined as the state in which individuals feel as though the target of ownership or a piece of it is "theirs" (i.e., "It is MINE!"). Theoretical dimensions of PO are promotion oriented (self-efficacy, self-identity, belongingness, accountability, autonomy, and responsibility) and prevention oriented (territoriality). This paper describes the application of PO in dental education and assists us to establish or master numerous aforementioned skills during the learning process in dental school. This PO system will facilitate a gradual transition of students from the dental school environment to private practice smoothly without any apprehensions.

Morphological variations and prevalence of aberrant traits of primary molars

BACKGROUND

Morphological variations in tooth structure exhibit as metric and non-metric traits which play an important role in dental anthropology.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of morphometric traits and mean crown dimensions of primary molars in children.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in 4256 sectional dye casts of caries-free children aged 2.5-4 years from Puducherry. Two calibrated examiners graded the non-metric traits utilising the Arizona State University Dental Anthropological System classification and measured the crown dimensions in primary molars. The results are expressed in the form of numbers and percentages.

RESULTS

Of the eight non-metric traits studied, metaconule (30.17%), Cusp of Carabelli (90.6%), and deflecting wrinkle (87.41%) in second primary molars, and distal trigonid crest (93.06%) and parastyle (3.48%) in first primary molars, seemed to have higher prevalence, and the overall crown dimensions were found to be smaller in comparison with those in other populations.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the prevalence of aberrant dental traits in primary molars in a population. The study describes, for the first time, the existence of these traits in first primary molars, adding anthropological significance of primary dentition in various other populations.

Use of Puzzles as an Effective Teaching-Learning Method for Dental Undergraduates

Introduction

Passive teaching in the form of didactic lecture is the usual mode of disseminating knowledge in dental colleges in India. An innovative way to address the diverse learners learning style at the undergraduate level is much sought after in dental education. Puzzles in the form of crossword and word search are structural, self-learning educational tools that review and reinforce knowledge and concepts acquired during the lecture.

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of crossword and word search puzzles as an active teaching learning method for dental undergraduates.

Materials and methods

This is an open, randomized parallel group interventional study conducted with the final BDS students in the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research. Two modules of the “must know” category of the curriculum were selected. The class was divided into two groups (interventional and control) using computerized random generator. Learners in both the groups were exposed to didactic lectures, but the activity of solving the puzzles was undertaken only by the interventional group learners. Questionnaire in the form of MCQ was given at the end of the activity to both the groups, and results were evaluated.

Results

Mann–Whitney U test between interventional (Group I) learners revealed an average mean score of 4.2, 6.1, 9.3, and 6 out of 10 in the post-activity test when compared to 2.9, 6.6, 4.6, and 5.1 of the control (Group II) students and was statistically significant in three of four sessions.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that puzzles can be used as an effective active learning tool to reinforce lecture material for dental undergraduates.

How to cite this article

Nirmal L, MS Muthu, Prasad M. Use of Puzzles as an Effective Teaching–Learning Method for Dental Undergraduates. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(6):606–610.

Intra-arterial Instillation of a Nociceptive Agent Modulates Cardiorespiratory Parameters Involving 5-HT3 and TRPV1 Receptors in Anesthetized Rats

BACKGROUND

Since long back, it has been a matter of discussion regarding the role of peripheral blood vessels in the regulation of cardiorespiratory (CVR) system.

OBJECTIVE

The role of 5-HT3 and TRPV1 receptors present on perivascular nerves in elicitation of CVR reflexes was examined after intra-arterial instillation of bradykinin in urethane anesthetized rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Femoral artery was cannulated retrogradely and was utilized for the instillation of saline/agonist/antagonist and recording of blood pressure (BP), using a double ported 24G cannula. BP, respiration and ECG were recorded for 30 min after bradykinin (1 μM) in the absence or presence of antagonists.

RESULTS

Instillation of bradykinin produced immediate hypotensive (40%), bradycardiac (17%), tachypnoeic (45%) and hyperventilatory (96%) responses of shorter latencies (5-8 s) favoring the neural mechanisms in producing the responses. In lignocaine (2%) pretreated animals, bradykinin- induced hypotensive (10%), bradycardiac (1.7%), tachypnoeic (13%) and hyperventilatory (13%) responses attenuated significantly. Pretreatment with ondansetron (100 μg/kg), 5-HT3-antagonist attenuated the hypotensive (10%), bradycardiac (1.7%), tachypnoeic (11%) and hyperventilatory (11%) responses significantly. Pretreatment with capsazepine (1 mg/kg), transient receptor potential vanilloid 1- antagonist blocked the hypotensive (5%), bradycardiac (1.2%), tachypnoeic (6%) and hyperventilatory (6%) responses significantly.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, presence of a nociceptive agent in the local segment of an artery evokes vasosensory reflex responses modulating CVR parameters involving TRPV1 and 5-HT3 receptors present on the perivascular sensory nerve terminals in anesthetized rats.

Development of a Competency-Based Curriculum for undergraduate education in Pediatric Dentistry: A systematic approach

The changing paradigm of dental education in India has led its way to the development of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). This article describes the process of developing CBC in the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry under the initiative of Dental Council of India. Rationale behind CBC development is to bring uniform system of education for improving oral health outcomes of the society in long term. The process of CBC development was a collaborative teamwork, planned meticulously with predefined outline, tasks and timelines. Workflow involved identification of curricular content, defining program goals, outlining competencies, assigning them domains / levels of clinical competence, priority, educational strategies, assessment practices, integration and numbers needed for certification in selected competencies. Early clinical exposure was introduced in CBC. The final content was validated and submitted to the Council. CBC output can be summarized as competencies with fair share of all domains, levels, prioritization and integration. It is characterized by flexibility for choosing educational strategies and assessment practices. It opens up ways for global competition. However, it still has some inherent weaknesses like diverging learning paths, time constraints and number chasing. CBC can further have more academic flexibility and develop toward an outcome-based approach. Faculty preparedness and acceptability shall be the biggest challenges in CBC implementation besides resources' availability, support from leadership and acceptability from our primary stakeholders, our learners. CBC is the beginning of evidence-based delivery of education in dentistry. An effective implementation of CBC in current form would result in increased numbers of competent oral healthcare professionals for the society.

Interproximal contact areas of primary molars based on OXIS classification - a two centre cross sectional study

Background: Contact areas in primary teeth are known to be broader, flatter and situated farther gingivally than permanent teeth. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of OXIS contact areas between primary molars using die models of children from two different ethnic populations. The research question of the present study is "What is the prevalence OXIS contact areas of primary molars in the populations studied?". Methods: A cross-sectional study was planned in a representative sample of 200 caries-free contact areas among children aged 3-6 years in two centers, Ajman and Puducherry. Data collection was performed from sectional or full-arch die stone models. The contacts were assessed according to OXIS classification by a single calibrated examiner at Center 2. Prevalence was expressed as numbers and percentages. The Chi-square test was applied to determine the association of OXIS contacts across genders and arches. Results: The prevalence of O, X, I, and S contacts were 19%, 22.5%, 53%, and 5.5% in Center 1 and 6%, 1.5%, 75.5%, and 17% in Center 2, respectively. Significant results (p=0.005) were obtained in Center 1 when inter-arch comparison was performed and between the centers with respect to type of contact. No significant difference was obtained with respect to gender and OXIS contact areas. Conclusions: The present study confirmed OXIS contacts in both the centers. The 'O' and 'X' types of contacts were observed more in Center 1, whereas 'I' and 'S' contacts were observed more in Center 2.

Impact of Pediatric Dentistry Residents Posted in Pediatrics Department: A Retrospective Assessment of 6 Years

Aim

To measure the influence of rotatory pediatrics postings for dental residents on the outpatient census of the pediatric dentistry department. The secondary aims were to assess the change in trend toward the number of preschool children visiting the department before and after the initiation of pediatrics posting and also to find the percentage of children affected with caries among children visiting the pediatricians.

Materials and methods

Retrospectively, the census of the pediatric dentistry department was calculated from 2010 to 2016. The number of preschool children who visited the pediatric dentistry department during this period was determined. From the pediatrics posting records, the dental status of the children, the number screened, the number referred, and the number reported to dentistry following referral were tabulated. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were performed.

Results

After the initiation of pediatrics postings for residents, the outpatient census has increased by 26%. There was a significant increase in the number of preschool children visiting the pediatric dentist. About 57.09% of children screened in the pediatrics department had dental disease.

Conclusion

There is an increase in the patient flow of the pediatric dentistry department with a greater number of preschool children visiting the pediatric dentist after initiation of the pediatrics postings for residents. More than half the children visiting pediatricians had dental disease requiring professional care.

Clinical significance

Pediatrics postings for residents can be used in teaching centers as an opportunity to spread awareness and increase the number of preschool children visiting pediatric dentists, thereby increasing prevention and early intervention of early childhood caries.

How to cite this article

Mohan A, Muthu MS, Ramachandran P, et al. Impact of Pediatric Dentistry Residents Posted in Pediatrics Department: A Retrospective Assessment of 6 Years. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(1):84–87.

OXIS contact areas of primary molars - a two center cross-sectional study

Background: Contact areas in primary teeth are known to be broader, flatter and situated farther gingivally than permanent teeth. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of OXIS contact areas between primary molars using die models of children from two different ethnic populations. The research question of the present study is "What is the prevalence OXIS contact areas of primary molars in the populations studied?". Methods: A cross-sectional study was planned in a representative sample of 200 caries-free contact areas among children aged 3-6 years in two centers, Ajman and Puducherry. Data collection was performed from sectional or full-arch die stone models. The contacts were assessed according to OXIS classification by a single calibrated examiner at Center 2. Prevalence was expressed as numbers and percentages. The Chi-square test was applied to determine the association of OXIS contacts across genders and arches. Results: The prevalence of O, X, I, and S contacts were 19%, 22.5%, 53%, and 5.5% in Center 1 and 6%, 1.5%, 75.5%, and 17% in Center 2, respectively. Significant results (p=0.005) were obtained in Center 1 when inter-arch comparison was performed and between the centers with respect to type of contact. No significant difference was obtained with respect to gender and OXIS contact areas. Conclusions: The present study confirmed OXIS contacts in both the centers. The 'O' and 'X' types of contacts were observed more in Center 1, whereas 'I' and 'S' contacts were observed more in Center 2.

A Comparative Evaluation of Fracture Toughness of Composite Resin vs Protemp 4 for Use in Strip Crowns: An In Vitro Study

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the fracture toughness of pedo shade packable composite resin (Z100, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, USA) vs Protemp 4 (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) when used inside a strip crown to restore primary incisors.

Materials and methods

Thirty-six exfoliated noncarious human primary central and lateral incisors were randomly divided into two equal groups. The teeth were prepared to standardized dimensions to receive a strip crown. All the teeth were etched, rinsed, and dried following which bonding agent was applied and light cured. In group I, pedo shade packable composite resin (Z100, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, USA) was packed into strip crowns, placed on the prepared tooth, and light cured. In group II, the strip crowns were filled with Protemp 4 (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany), placed on the prepared tooth, and left to autopolymerize for 10 minutes. The strip crowns were removed, and the teeth were tested using the universal testing machine until fracture. Fracture toughness of the two groups was recorded and analyzed statistically using Student's “t” test.

Results

The mean force required to fracture strip crowns restored with Protemp 4 (416.89 ± 124.58 N) was higher when compared with pedo shade packable composite resin (338.27 ± 130.99 N). However, statistical analysis did not show a significant difference in the fracture toughness between the two groups (p = 0.074), based on Student's “t” test results.

Conclusion

The fracture toughness of teeth restored with Protemp 4 was comparable with pedo shade packable composite resin when used inside a strip crown.

Clinical significance

The use of Protemp 4 is a possible alternative to pedo shade packable composite resin in restoring the primary anterior teeth, when used inside the strip crowns. The data also showed that the fracture toughness of Protemp 4 was comparable with pedo shade packable composite resin.

How to cite this article

Vignesh KC, Kandaswamy E, Muthu MS. A Comparative Evaluation of Fracture Toughness of Composite Resin vs Protemp 4 for Use in Strip Crowns: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(1):57–60.

OXIS Classification of Interproximal Contacts of Primary Molars and Its Prevalence in Three- to Four-Year-Olds

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of different interproximal contact areas of primary molars, as described in the OXIS classification, in a group of three- to four-year-old caries-free children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out with a representative sample of 4,476 contact areas of 1,119 caries-free school children. A single calibrated examiner performed a type III examination to assess the type of contact area between primary molars, as seen from the occlusal view. The contacts were scored as O (open contact), X (point contact), I (straight contact), and S (curved contact) using OXIS classification. The prevalence of the types was expressed in the form of numbers and percentages. The findings were subjected to chi-square and McNemar's tests. Results: The most common contact type was I (75.5 percent), followed by S (15.3 percent), O (5.8 percent), and X (3.3 percent). Significant differences were obtained (P<0.001) when the inter- arch comparison was performed for all except the X type of contact. Further, 401 (35.8 percent) children had more than one type of contact in dif- ferent quadrants. Conclusions: The present study highlights the existence of four different types of interproximal contact areas, O, X, I, and S, in caries-free three- to four-year-olds.

Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries

BACKGROUND

Dental caries is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and is associated with adverse health and economic consequences for infants and their families. Socioeconomically disadvantaged children have a higher risk of early childhood caries (ECC).

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of interventions with pregnant women, new mothers or other primary caregivers of infants in the first year of life, for preventing ECC (from birth to six years of age).

SEARCH METHODS

Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the following databases: Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register (to 14 January 2019), Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (to 22 January 2019), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Cochrane Register of Studies, to 14 January 2019), MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 14 January 2019), Embase Ovid (1980 to 14 January 2019) and CINAHL EBSCO (1937 to 14 January 2019). The US National Institutes of Health Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing trials. No restrictions were placed on language or publication status.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing one or more interventions with pregnant women, mothers, or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life (intervention types included clinical, oral health education/promotion such as hygiene education, breastfeeding and other dietary advice, and policy or health service), versus standard care or placebo or another intervention. For inclusion, trials had to report at least one caries outcome.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed trial eligibility, extracted data, assessed risk of bias, and assessed certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 17 RCTs (4 cluster-randomised), involving 23,732 caregivers (mainly mothers) and their children. Eleven RCTs assessed four oral health education/promotion interventions against standard care: child diet advice, child diet and feeding practice advice, breastfeeding promotion and support, and oral hygiene with child diet and feeding practice advice. Six trials assessed clinical interventions in mother's dentition, four trials chlorhexidine (CHX, a commonly prescribed antiseptic agent) or iodine-NaF application and prophylaxis versus placebo, and two trials xylitol against CHX or CHX + xylitol. At most, three trials (maximum of 1148 children and 130 mothers) contributed data to any comparison. For many trials, risk of bias was judged unclear due to lack of methodological details reported, and there was high risk of attrition bias in some trials. None of the included trials indicated receiving funding that is likely to have influenced their results. The trials were performed in high-, middle- and low-income countries. In nine trials, participants were socioeconomically disadvantaged. For child diet and feeding practice advice versus standard care, we observed a probable 15 per cent reduced risk of caries presence in primary teeth with the intervention (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.97; 3 trials; 782 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), and there may be a lower mean dmfs (decayed, missing, filled primary surfaces) score (MD -0.29, 95% CI -0.58 to 0; 2 trials; 757 participants; low-certainty evidence); however, we are uncertain regarding the difference between the groups in mean dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) score (MD -0.90, 95% CI -1.85 to 0.05; 1 trial; 340 participants; very low-certainty evidence). For breastfeeding promotion and support versus standard care, we observed that there may be little or no a difference between groups in the risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.03; 2 trials; 1148 participants; low-certainty evidence), or mean dmft score (MD -0.12, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.36; 2 trials; 652 participants; low-certainty evidence). Dmfs was not reported for this comparison. We are uncertain whether child diet advice only compared with standard care reduces risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.34 to 3.37; 1 trial; 148 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Dmfs and dmft were not reported for this comparison. For oral hygiene, child diet and feeding practice advice versus standard care, we observed little or no reduced risk of caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.10; 2 trials; 365 participants; low-certainty evidence), and are uncertain regarding difference between the groups in mean dmfs score (MD -0.99, 95% CI -2.45 to 0.47; 1 trial; 187 participants; very low-certainty evidence) and dmft score (MD -0.30, 95% CI -0.96 to 0.36; 1 trial; 187 participants; very low-certainty evidence). We observed there may be little or no difference in risk of caries presence in primary teeth between antimicrobial and placebo treatment in mother's dentition (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.19; 3 trials; 479 participants; very low-certainty evidence). No trials assessing this comparison reported dmfs or dmft. For xylitol compared with CHX antimicrobial treatment, we observed there may be a lower mean dmft score with xylitol (MD -2.39; 95% CI -4.10 to -0.68; 1 trial, 113 participants; low-certainty evidence); however, we are uncertain regarding the difference between groups in caries presence in primary teeth (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.39; 1 trial, 96 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Neither trial evaluating this comparison reported dmfs. No trials assessed a health policy or service intervention.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that providing advice on diet and feeding to pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers with children up to the age of one year probably leads to a slightly reduced risk of early childhood caries (ECC). The remaining evidence is low to very low certainty and is insufficient for determining which, if any, other interventions types and features may be effective for preventing ECC. Large, high-quality RCTs of oral health education/promotion, clinical, and policy and service access interventions, are warranted to determine effects and relative effects of different interventions and inform practice. We have identified 12 studies currently in progress. Those designing future studies should describe the intervention components, setting and participants, consider if and how effects are modified by intervention features and participant characteristics, and adopt a consistent approach to measuring and reporting ECC.

Antibiofilm Potential of Silver Sulfadiazine-Loaded Nanoparticle Formulations: A Study on the Effect of DNase-I on Microbial Biofilm and Wound Healing Activity

Biofilm resistance is one of the severe complications associated with chronic wound infections, which impose extreme microbial tolerance against antibiotic therapy. Interestingly, deoxyribonuclease-I (DNase-I) has been empirically proved to be efficacious in improving the antibiotic susceptibility against biofilm-associated infections. DNase-I hydrolyzes the extracellular DNA, a key component of the biofilm responsible for the cell adhesion and strength. Moreover, silver sulfadiazine, a frontline therapy in burn wound infections, exhibits delayed wound healing due to fibroblast toxicity. In this study, a chitosan gel loaded with solid lipid nanoparticles of silver sulfadiazine (SSD-SLNs) and supplemented with DNase-I has been developed to reduce the fibroblast cytotoxicity and overcome the biofilm-imposed resistance. The extensive optimization using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) resulted in the formation of SSD-SLNs with a smooth surface as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and controlled release (83%) for up to 24 h. The compatibility between the SSD and other formulation excipients was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction studies. Developed SSD-SLNs in combination with DNase-I inhibited around 96.8% of biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as compared to SSD with DNase-I (82.9%). In line with our hypothesis, SSD-SLNs were found to be less toxic (cell viability 90.3 ± 3.8% at 100 μg/mL) in comparison with SSD (Cell viability 76.9 ± 4.2%) against human dermal fibroblast cell line. Eventually, the results of the in vivo wound healing study showed complete wound healing after 21 days' treatment with SSD-SLNs along with DNase-I, whereas marketed formulations SSD and SSD-LSNs showed incomplete healing after 21 days. Data in hand suggest that the combination of SSD-SLNs with DNase-I is an effective treatment strategy against the biofilm-associated wound infections and accelerates wound healing.

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in India - A Systematic Review

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in developed as well as developing nations, with high prevalence among children around the world. This systematic review of the national literature was undertaken to document the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries. Studies evaluating the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in the Indian population were investigated. The method under evaluation was the use of a caries experience index to calculate the prevalence of ECC. An extensive literature search was done in the following databases: PubMed, IndMED and Cochrane upto June 2016. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cross-sectional studies was used for assessment of the quality of the studies. A systematic literature search yielded 503 publications from the various databases searched. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final number of included studies were 54. Among the included studies, 19 studies were carried out in the state of Karnataka. Analysis of all the included studies revealed the overall prevalence of ECC in India to be 49.6%. Andhra Pradesh was found to have the highest prevalence of ECC at 63%, and the lowest prevalence was reported in Sikkim (41.92%). This review has reported a high prevalence of ECC in India. None of the states reported prevalence below 40%. The government should identify ECC as a national priority which requires significant attention.

Proposed classification for interproximal contacts of primary molars using CBCT: a pilot study

Background: Interproximal contact areas in primary teeth are known to be broader, flatter, and situated more gingivally than in permanent teeth. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the different types of intact interproximal contact areas in primary teeth using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) among children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed with 74 contacts from 28 existing CBCT images of children aged between 3 and 14 years, obtained from the Indian Dental Education Academy, Chennai, India. The shape of the contact area was observed at three levels, the coronal, middle, and apical thirds, in three different sections of CBCT. Prevalence of the types of contact areas was expressed in the form of numbers and percentages. Results: The weighted Cohen's kappa values for inter-examiner reliability was 0.893 at baseline. Results exhibited four different types of contact areas between the primary molars, namely, O type, X type, I type, and S type, based on the shapes observed; hence, the proposed classification is referred to as OXIS. The most common pattern seen was I (66.2%), followed by X (21.6%), O (9.4%) and the least common was S (2.7%). Conclusion: The three-dimensional evaluation of intact interproximal contact areas between primary molars are of four types, O,X, I and S.

Proposed classification for interproximal contacts of primary molars using CBCT: a pilot study

Background: Contact areas in primary teeth are known to be broader, flatter, and situated more gingivally than in permanent teeth. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the different types of intact contact areas in primary teeth using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) among children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed with 74 contacts from 28 existing CBCT images of patients aged between 3 and 14 years, obtained from the Indian Dental Education Academy, Chennai, India. The shape of the contact area was observed at three levels, the coronal, middle, and apical thirds, in three different sections of CBCT. The weighted Cohen's kappa values for inter-examiner reliability was 0.893 at baseline. Prevalence of the types of contact areas was expressed in the form of numbers and percentages. Results: Results exhibited four different types of contact areas between the primary molars, namely, O type, X type, I type, and S type, based on the shapes observed; hence, the proposed classification is referred to as OXIS. The most common pattern seen was I (66.2%), followed by X (21.6%), O (9.4%) and the least common was S (2.7%). Conclusion: The three-dimensional evaluation of intact interproximal contact areas between primary molars are of four types.

In vivo scanning electron microscope assessment of enamel permeability in primary teeth with and without early childhood caries

BACKGROUND

Over the years, certain primary teeth have been shown to be highly sensitive to dental caries, while others have remained caries-free. It has been hypothesized that this may be attributed to differences in the permeability of the enamel surface.

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the hypothesized differences in the permeability of primary tooth enamel in children with and those without Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) using scanning electron microscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixteen children between 3 and 6 years of age were randomly selected and divided into two groups: Group 1, children without S-ECC (n = 8), and Group 2, children with S-ECC (n = 8). In each child, 4 teeth (the maxillary right and left central and lateral incisors) were subjected to evaluation. An impression was made with polyvinylsiloxane impression material, and scanning electron microscopy was used to inspect the negative replicas for droplets.

RESULTS

The results indicated higher significance when individual regions (cervical, middle, and incisal thirds) in the two groups were evaluated and compared. Similarly, the overall results showed high statistical significance between S-ECC and non-S-ECC teeth.

CONCLUSION

There could be a positive relationship between the permeability of tooth enamel and the development of caries, which needs further research.

Supernumerary teeth: review of literature and decision support system

Supernumerary teeth are those which are additional or in excess of the normal number. They can be either single or multiple, unilateral or bilateral and can be present anywhere in the dental arch with predilection for the premaxilla. Supernumerary teeth are mostly classified on position and form. Timing of surgical intervention of supernumerary teeth has been controversial with various authors having different opinions. Hence a new decision support system is put forward which can help in the treatment planning of supernumerary teeth.