Blast wave pressure measurement and analysis in air and granular media inside a shock tube using a fiber Bragg grating sensor

In this work, we have demonstrated the use of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor to measure the pressure profile of blast waves generated inside a vertical shock tube (VST). An FBG pressure sensor probe has been designed and developed that can be incorporated into the wall of the VST. The VST facility is used to generate blast waves with decay times of the order of a few milliseconds to simulate explosive events. Pressure measurement experiments have been carried out at different incident blast wave peak pressures inside the VST. The FBG pressure sensor measurements are validated against a standard piezoelectric pressure transducer at an acquisition rate of 1 MHz. The pressure signals of both sensors are found to match well with similar rise times and decay profiles. The validated FBG pressure sensor is then incorporated into a sand column mounted in the test section of the VST to measure the pressure profile of blast wave-induced stress waves in granular media. The FBG and piezoelectric pressure sensor data are compared using fast Fourier transform analysis and continuous wavelet transform. The feasibility of FBG sensors for blast pressure measurement under harsh conditions imposed inside shock tube environments is established.

Visit to the Dentist for Oral Health Prevention at "Age One": A proposed policy report from the Indian perspective

Early childhood caries is a major public health issue in India. The primary reason for poor oral health in children is a lack of awareness about the role of primary teeth and the importance of an early dental visit for infants and toddlers. The primary objectives of an early dental visit are to analyze the child's risk level, provide guidance to parents regarding proper oral hygiene measures, review dietary and eating habits, provide information regarding the infectivity of dental caries, review the risks of traumatic injuries and discuss factors which affect the development of occlusion. Through this paper, we are proposing an "Age One" policy that recognizes dentists, physicians, allied health professionals, community health-care workers, and nongovernmental organizations to work toward a child's overall health as partners to achieve this goal. The expectation is that this policy will provide guidance to childcare centers, pediatric dentists, other health-care professionals, and legislators regarding oral health activities and the promotion of oral health in infants. The purpose of the policy is to lay the foundation for a lifetime of preventive education and dental care, to help ensure optimal oral health beginning in childhood and continuing through the life course.

Arginine: A New Paradigm in Preventive Oral Care

Dental caries is ubiquitous and one of the most prevalent oral diseases and the foremost cause of dental pain and poor quality of life (QoL). Fluoride is an effective caries preventive agent; however, despite its use, there remain some gaps in prevention of dental caries. Arginine, an amino acid, helps to maintain a noncariogenic plaque. It shows synergistic effects with fluoride in dental caries and can help nourish the tooth by enhancing the remineralization effect of fluoride. Supplementing fluoride dentifrices with arginine can bridge the gap in caries prevention. Several clinical studies with 1.5% arginine + fluoride provide evidence for its use in prevention of dental caries. This report throws light on the benefits of arginine in dental caries and guides on its use with fluoride. Recommendations given in the report will help in effective prevention of dental caries.

How to cite this article

Goyal V, Damle S, Puranik MP, et al. Arginine: A New Paradigm in Preventive Oral Care. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(5):698-706.

Pediatrician's perception of oral health in children - A qualitative study

Background It is important to assess pediatrician's perception on children's oral health as they tend to meet children early on a regular basis. Quantitative research has shown that pediatricians in India have inadequate knowledge and limited awareness about oral health care in children. Hence, it is important to assess pediatrician's opinion and perception on children's oral health using qualitative interview method.

AIM

The aim of the study is to assess and explore the perception of pediatricians on children's oral health in Western Tamil Nadu, India.

METHODS

A grounded theory approach was employed to conduct this qualitative study. Face-to-face interviews with the pediatricians were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Collected data were written as codes, from which categories and themes were derived.

RESULTS

Four themes arrived: (1) dental health and disease, (2) anticipatory guidance, (3) barriers, and (4) remedial measures. The participants felt that they were underinformed about dental home, emergency care for dental trauma, and the interceptive role of dentists on oral deleterious habits. Insufficient dental information in their curriculum and the absence of common guidelines between pediatricians and pediatric dentists in India were considered the common causes for their lack of knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Pediatricians were receptive to acquire knowledge and improvising their skills. They felt that periodic lectures and formal gatherings should be planned between pediatric dentists and pediatricians. Collaborations between pediatrics and pediatric dentistry societies are warranted to provide children with better oral health care.

Survival Function of Clinical and Radiographic Success of Three Obturating Materials in Primary Teeth at 3, 6 and 9 Months Periodic Intervals - A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

The study aims to assess clinically and radiographically the success of zinc oxide eugenol, metapex, and endoflas as root canal obturating materials in primary teeth over 3, 6, and 9 months of time intervals. The randomized controlled trial was performed in 60 primary molars of 36 children aged between 4 and 9 years. Permanent restorations were given and stainless steel crowns were placed for the treated tooth. Comparing the survival proportion between the three groups was done using the Wilcoxon (Gehans) statistical test. The clinical survival variable showed 100% survival proportion for zinc oxide eugenol and endoflas, while for metapex it was 69% at the end of 9 months. The radiographical survival proportion was 100% for zinc oxide eugenol, followed by endoflas at 92% and 58% for metapex group.

Assessment of Personality Traits among Pediatric Dentists in India: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim

To identify the most common personality traits among pediatric dentists in India.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Big Five personality test (BFPT). It included 50 questions based on five personality traits-extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience. The questionnaire was e-mailed and also sent through WhatsApp messages as a Google Form to all the pediatric dentists in India. Scoring for each trait was done based on the specific formula provided. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

A total of 390 pediatric dentists responded and filled out the questionnaire. The agreeableness trait was the most commonly exhibited trait, followed by the conscientiousness trait. Emotional stability was the least exhibited trait. Emotional stability was statistically different between male and female pediatric dentists.

Conclusion

Agreeableness and emotional stability were the most and least expressed traits, respectively, among the participants. This survey showed that pediatric dentists in India could have a high tolerance and competent behavior.

Clinical significance

Dentists may possess unique personality traits that distinguish them from the general population. Within the dental profession, there could be variations in personality traits depending on the specialty they practice.

How to cite this article

Asokan S, PR G, Dhanabalan O, et al. Assessment of Personality Traits Among Pediatric Dentists in India: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(3):489-493.

Estimation of dislocated phases and tunable orbital angular momentum using two cylindrical lenses

A first-order optical system consisting of two cylindrical lenses separated by a distance is considered. It is found to be non-conserving of orbital angular momentum of the incoming paraxial light field. The first-order optical system is effectively demonstrated to estimate phases with dislocations using a Gerchberg-Saxton-type phase retrieval algorithm by making use of measured intensities. Tunable orbital angular momentum in the outgoing light field is experimentally demonstrated using the considered first-order optical system by varying the distance of separation between the two cylindrical lenses.

Comparison of Remineralizing Agents in the Management of White Spot Lesions In Three- to Five-year-old Children: a Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of P_11-4 self-assembling peptide (CurodontTM Repair [CR]) and fluoride varnish with xylitol-coated calcium phosphate (Embrace TM Varnish [EV]) on enamel permeability and in the management of white spot lesions (WSLs) in primary teeth.

METHODS

A clinical trial was conducted among 30 children aged three to five years with WSLs in 60 anterior teeth. They were randomly assigned to receive CR or EV. Preintervention and postintervention evaluation was done by International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) and morphometric analysis. The secondary outcome was to assess the enamel permeability using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of polyvinyl siloxane impressions.

RESULTS

A statistically significant reduction in the ICDAS scores (P=0.05) and percentage area of WSLs in morphometric analysis (P=0.008) was seen in the CR group after six months. No statistically significant difference was observed in the EV group after six months. The SEM evaluation did not show a significant reduction in the percentage area of droplets in both the CR and EV groups (P=0.06 and P=0.21, respectively). No significant difference was seen between EV and CR in the three parameters assessed.

CONCLUSION

Curodont TM Repair is effective at remineralizing white spot lesions in primary teeth and can be considered as a remineralizing agent.

Detection of polarization-spatial classical optical entanglement in partially coherent light fields using intensity measurements

Detection of polarization-spatial classical optical entanglement through implementation of partial transpose on measured intensities is explored. A sufficient criterion for polarization-spatial entanglement in partially coherent light fields based on intensities measured at various orientations of the polarizer, as implied through partial transpose, is outlined. Detection of polarization-spatial entanglement using the outlined method is demonstrated experimentally through a Mach-Zehnder interferometer setup.

Association between sleep patterns and early childhood caries in 3-4-year-old children: A cross-sectional study

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the sleep practices of children and their association with early childhood caries (ECC) at three different age periods.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the sleep practices, feeding practices, and oral hygiene practices of children during nighttime from 0 to 2 years of age. A survey among 550 mothers of children aged 3-4 years with ECC (n = 275) and without ECC (n = 275) was conducted using a pretested and validated questionnaire. The three practices (sleep practices, feeding practices, and oral hygiene practices) of children at 0-3 months, 4-11 months, and 1-2 years of age were recorded and analyzed.

Results

Risk factors associated with ECC at 0-3 months of age were gender (odds ratio [OR]: 0.59, 0.36-0.98), no previous dental visit (OR: 2.30, 1.15-4.59), bedtime (OR: 3.54, 2.01-6.25), and intentional feeding practice at night (OR: 1.83, 1.0-3.35). At 4-11 months of age, no previous dental visit (OR: 3.28, 1.66-6.49), mother's education (OR: 0.42, 0.23-0.76), frequent night wakes (OR: 5.98, 1.89-19.21), and intentional feeding practice at night (OR: 111.09, 32.25-382.68) and, at 1-2 years of age, no previous dental visit (OR: 2.37, 1.45-3.88), intentional feeding practice at night (OR: 19.12, 9.09-40.21), and breastfeeding for more than 2 years (OR: 14.56, 7.17-29.56) were associated with ECC.

Conclusion

Lack of previous dental visit and intentional feeding at night were the common risk factors associated with ECC in children.

Piagetian's principles on moral development and its influence on the oral hygiene practices of Indian children: An embedded mixed-method approach

BACKGROUND

Moral principles in children can influence their oral hygiene practices and can be beneficial in providing better oral health care.

AIM

To assess the consistency of Piaget's moral development principles in Indian children aged 7 to 11 years and evaluate its influence on their oral hygiene practices.

DESIGN

The first phase of the embedded mixed-method approach included telephone interviews of 50 children on eight situations of moral development as suggested by Jean Piaget. Children were categorised into heteronomous and autonomous moralities based on the content analysis. The second phase of the study included a semi-structured qualitative interview on knowledge and practice behaviour of children on oral hygiene maintenance.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the overall moral development of children aged 7 to 9 years and 9 to 11 years (p = .57). Only 4.8% of girls had heteronomous morality, and a significant difference was noted between boys and girls (p = .014). There was a significant difference in the oral hygiene practices observed between heteronomous morality and autonomous morality children.

CONCLUSION

Children were autonomous in their morality at 7 to 9 years of age. Children with autonomous morality performed better oral hygiene practices than children with heteronomous morality.

Association between Intelligence Quotient Dental Anxiety and Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Children: A Cross-sectional Study

Background

Determining the intelligence quotient (IQ) grades of children help in managing dental anxiety (DA) and maintaining the good oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Aim

To assess the association between IQ, DA, and OHRQoL in children aged 10-11 years.

Design

This cross-sectional study was carried out among 202 children aged 10-11 years in the Southern part of Tamil Nadu, India. The IQ level, DA, and OHRQoL were measured using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM), Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), and Child Oral Health Impact Profile Short Form (COHIP-SF) 19, respectively. Chi-squared test and Spearman rank order correlation test were used for analysis.

Results

The results revealed a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05; r = -0.239) between IQ and OHRQoL. DA was negatively correlated with IQ (r = -0.093) and OHRQoL (r = -0.065), but it was not statistically significant. The gender-based comparison revealed no significant difference in the distribution of girls and boys within different grades of IQ levels (p = 0.74), DA (p = 0.29), and OHRQoL (p = 0.85).

Conclusion

Children with higher IQ showed low OHRQoL scores. DA was negatively correlated with IQ and OHRQoL.

How to cite this article

Asokan S, PR GP, Mathiazhagan T, et al. Association between Intelligence Quotient Dental Anxiety and Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Children: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(6):745-749.

Stress amongst paediatric dental postgraduate students in India: A mixed-method approach

INTRODUCTION

Dental profession is one of the most stressful healthcare occupations. Paediatric dental postgraduates face multifaceted challenges in their everyday practice. This study aimed to determine the sources of stress amongst paediatric dental postgraduate students in India using a mixed-method approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sequential mixed-methods approach was employed. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey was conducted amongst paediatric dental postgraduates in India using the "Google Forms application" link. Based on the Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire, the stress PACT questionnaire which includes 35 items was framed and validated. This validated questionnaire was used in the survey. In the qualitative phase, one-on-one, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted amongst 12 postgraduates.

RESULTS

A total of 422 participants took part in the quantitative survey. Academic and specialty-related domains were found to be the significant causes of stress amongst the five domains (p < .001). The top three stressful factors were as follows: getting an ideal case for clinical exams (68.2%), financial resources for conferences, dissertation, short studies and publications (53.2%) and fear of unemployment after graduation (52.3%). Based on qualitative interviews, four themes were derived, namely choice of paediatric dentistry, postgraduate life experience, stress management and expected changes in postgraduate life.

CONCLUSION

Psychological well-being of the student is an important factor that influences the overall performance of students. Identifying the stress factors and using appropriate coping strategies can help postgraduates achieve personal, academic and professional success.

Pre-eruptive intracoronal radiolucencies in permanent dentition of children in Tamil Nadu-A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pre-eruptive intracoronal radiolucency (PEIR) poses a challenge to paediatric dentists as it cannot be clinically detected.

AIM

To estimate the prevalence and coexisting factors of PEIR in permanent teeth of children and adolescents in western Tamil Nadu, India.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study assessed 5012 digital panoramic radiographs of children and adolescents below 14 years of age obtained from private digital imaging centers, dental clinics, and dental colleges located in five districts of western Tamil Nadu. The prevalence and PEIR and its coexisting factors were assessed by two independent calibrated investigators. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test.

RESULTS

The subject prevalence and tooth prevalence of PEIR were estimated to be 3.2% and 0.4%, respectively. Maxillary canines and mandibular premolars were commonly involved. Majority of the lesions were limited to less than one-third of dentin thickness (74%) and distal aspect of the crown (45.1%). Ectopic positioning (9.3%) and dental caries in the preceding primary tooth (9.9%) were the most common coexisting factors.

CONCLUSION

Pre-Eruptive Intracoronal Radiolucency defects were commonly seen in maxillary canines, mandibular premolars, and distal aspect of the crown involving less than one-third dentin thickness. Ectopic positioning and caries in primary teeth were commonly seen along with the PEIR defects.

Art of Listening

How to cite this article: Asokan S. Art of Listening. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(S-2):S105–S106.

Development and validation of a novel Middle childhood oral health impact scale (MCOHIS)

PURPOSE

The study was planned to develop and validate a novel middle childhood oral health impact scale (MCOHIS) for 6- to 9-year-old children in India.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study design was employed to develop and validate MCOHIS in the sequential phases. A panel of ten pediatric dentists evaluated a pool of 36 items corresponding to the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children. MCOHIS with 20 items under five domains was formulated and content validation was done. Cohen's kappa statistics was employed to measure the concordance between the child's self-report and the caregiver's proxy report. Concurrent validation was done among 130 participants from 13 districts of Tamil Nadu state, India. Discriminant validity was checked among another sample of 60 participants. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of MCOHIS were assessed using Cronbach's alpha and Kappa statistics respectively.

RESULTS

MCOHIS had adequate content validation with Scale Level Content Validity Index / Average score of 0.94 for relevance. There was a statistically significant inter-rater reliability observed between the child's self-report and caregivers' proxy report in all items with a moderate to substantial agreement. Concurrent validation showed a statistically significant positive correlation with a Rho value of 0.712. There was a statistically significant difference noted in overall discriminant validity (P < 0.001). Acceptable internal consistency reliability was observed with Cronbach's alpha value of 0.75. Test-retest reliability showed a high stability coefficient of 0.98.

CONCLUSIONS

MCOHIS was found to be a valid and reliable age-specific tool for assessing the OHRQoL of Indian children aged 6-9 years.

Polarization-spatial Gaussian entanglement in partially coherent light fields

The problem of bipartite entanglement in partially coherent paraxial vector light fields is addressed. A generalized uncertainty principle suited for the polarization-spatial degrees of freedom is introduced. Partial transpose is implemented through the obtained generalized uncertainty principle. Partial transpose is shown to be necessary and sufficient in detecting entanglement for a class of partially coherent vector light fields which have a spatial part to be Gaussian. An experimental realization of the studied entangled states using classical optical interferometry is outlined.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Behavior of Pediatric Dental Postgraduate Students on Non-restorative Cavity Control Technique: A Cross-sectional Study

Background

In the last few decades, the non-restorative treatment approach had been labeled by different names. The term non-restorative cavity control (NRCC) was recently established in 2016. The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice behavior about this technique among pediatric dental postgraduate students in India.

Materials and methods

An 18-item questionnaire was prepared from the previously established literature. The sample size was calculated as 234 responses based on the pilot study. The questionnaires were sent to 1,200 participants through the registered email address and WhatsApp as a Google form link. The online responses were received for a period of 4 weeks from July to August of 2020. The data from the responses were collected and descriptive analysis was done using a Microsoft Excel sheet (Version 2016).

Results

A total of 380 responses were received and 35 duplicate responses were eliminated. Among the 345 respondents, 61 (17.7%) were males and 284 (82.3%) were females. The average age of the participants is 27.43 years. About 78.6% (n = 271), 17.1% (n = 59), and 4.3% (n = 15) of the participants were third-year, second-year, and first-year postgraduate students, respectively. The responses were received from 21 out of 24 states’ colleges which were conducting pediatric dental postgraduate course. About 271 (76.8%) participants knew this technique with a maximum positive attitude and fewer practice behavior.

Conclusion

The knowledge and attitude about NRCC were good among the pediatric dental postgraduate students but implementing that in practice was relatively less.

How to cite this article

Balasubramani K, Asokan S, Geetha Priya PR. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Behavior of Pediatric Dental Postgraduate Students on Non-restorative Cavity Control Technique: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):217–221.

Job satisfaction and stress among dental faculty members: A mixed-method approach

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to assess job satisfaction and stress among dental faculty members. It was also planned to explore their experiences and probable solutions through a mixed-method approach.

METHODS

Sequential explanatory mixed-method approach was employed. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among dental faculty members in Tamil Nadu, India using the "Google Forms application" link. Based on Dentist Satisfaction Survey, a questionnaire was framed, validated, and used. It included 25 items under four domains (PICS): personal, institutional, cofaculty, and students. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the differences between two independent groups. Kruskal-Wallis test and Friedman test were used for multiple group comparisons. In the qualitative phase one-on-one, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted among 27 dental faculties from various sectors.

RESULT

A total of 408 participants took part in the quantitative survey. The students-related domain was found to be the most dissatisfied or stressful domain (2.05±0.3) among dental faculties followed by the institutional domain (1.92±0.4) and cofaculty-related domain (1.81±0.6). Based on qualitative interviews, four themes were derived namely (1) academia as a profession, (2) potential stressors, (3) sequelae of stress, and (4) stress-free job.

CONCLUSION

The present study provided deep insight into the stress among dental faculty members and emphasized the need for student-faculty mentor programs. It also stressed the importance of organized monetary structures or pay scales in private dental institutions in India.

Ego defense mechanisms among pediatric dental postgraduate students in India: A descriptive cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Ego defense mechanisms (EDMs) act as a major factor for overcoming stressful situations in life.

AIMS

The study aimed to assess the various patterns and factors of EDMs employed by pediatric dental postgraduate students in India.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Cross-sectional design, web-based questionnaire survey.

METHODS

A cross-sectional questionnaire study on EDM was conducted among 246 pediatric dental postgraduates in India from July to October 2019. The modified form of the Defense Style Questionnaire-20 included 10 EDMs under three major patterns- Mature, Immature, and Neurotic. The questionnaire was sent to all pediatric dental postgraduates enrolled in the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry and reminders were sent every week for 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Among the 1041 pediatric dental postgraduates who received the E-mail, two hundred and forty-six students responded to the same. The respondents included 89 males and 157 females. The mature pattern was found to be the most commonly employed EDM (males-47.20%; females-51.60%). Sublimation (72.76%), a mature type of defense was found to be the most common EDM factor employed by the majority of the students. The immature pattern was higher among males when compared to females (males-14.60%; females-5.70%).

CONCLUSION

Most pediatric dental postgraduates exhibited a mature pattern, followed by a neurotic and immature pattern of EDM. The mature pattern of EDM was displayed more by the female students than the male students. Sublimation was found to be the maximum expressed factor followed by acting out.

Association between black stains and early childhood caries - A systematic review

Objective

To systematically review the association between black stains and early childhood caries.

Methods

Seven electronic databases and hand search were carried out using keywords on black stains and early childhood caries. Articles published in English from January 1947 to January 2020 were included. A total of 38,686 articles were retrieved, and 38,645 duplicate and irrelevant records were removed. Among the 41 articles obtained, 21 articles were excluded after screening the title and abstracts. Fifteen articles were excluded after analyzing the full text. Finally, five articles with cross-sectional study designs were included in this review. Quality analysis was carried out using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Results

All the five articles included in this review had a low risk of bias. Two articles showed a significant negative association and one article showed a significant positive association between black stains and early childhood caries.

Conclusion

Cross-sectional design and heterogeneity of the included articles provide an ambiguous opinion on the association between black stains and early childhood caries. More of longitudinal studies following rigid methodology is needed to establish the association between black stains and early childhood caries.

First dental visit of children-A mixed-method approach

BACKGROUND

First dental visit (FDV), the essence of preventive paediatric dentistry, has a significant impact on the child's oral health. Mixed-method research provides meaningful insight into the multiple facets of FDV.

AIM

To evaluate the average age and most common reason for FDV of children in Namakkal district and to explore the individual perceptions of parent's view on their child's FDV.

METHOD

Sequential mixed-method approach was employed. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey on FDV was conducted among 4543 parents of children <6 years. The second phase included a semi-structured face-to-face qualitative interview for 10 parents.

RESULTS

Out of 4543 children, only 31.0% had FDV. Majority of children (49.0%) had FDV after 5 years of age. Dental caries was the most common reason for FDV (75.0%). Three themes were derived from the interviews, namely FDV experiences, barriers to child dental care, and solutions for an early dental visit.

CONCLUSION

Children in Namakkal district had delayed FDV (>5 years). The most common reason for FDV was dental caries. Lack of knowledge, lack of interdisciplinary practices, and social and financial barriers seem to have influenced the FDV of lack of knowledge these children.

Comparison of Clinical and Radiographic Success of Rotary with Manual Instrumentation Techniques in Primary Teeth: A Systematic Review

Aim and objective

A systematic review was planned to compare the clinical and radiographic success rate of pulpectomy in primary molars using a rotary system and hand files system.

Study design

The literature search was undertaken in electronic databases from January 2000 to December 2019 using keywords. Four hundred and forty-two studies were identified after applying limits. Three hundred and thirty-one irrelevant articles were eliminated. Among the 111 articles obtained, 90 articles were eliminated after reading the titles and abstracts. After assessing the full text, 18 articles were eliminated. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the English language on pulpectomy of primary molars, using hand files and rotary files and with a follow-up period of 12 months were included.

Results

Three RCTs comparing the clinical and radiographic pulpectomy success rates using rotary and hand files instrumentation were finally selected. Qualitative assessment with RoB 2.0 showed one study had a low risk of bias and two studies had a high risk of bias.

Conclusion

Pulpectomy procedures in primary teeth using rotary and hand files instrumentation techniques were equally effective in terms of success rates.

How to cite this article

Natchiyar N, Asokan S, Geetha Priya PR, et al. Comparison of Clinical and Radiographic Success of Rotary with Manual Instrumentation Techniques in Primary Teeth: A Systematic Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(1):8–13.

Effectiveness of distraction techniques in the management of anxious children - A randomized controlled pilot trial

AIM

The aim was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two distraction techniques, magic trick and mobile dental game with tell-show-do (TSD) in the management of anxious children.

METHODOLOGY

Two hundred and thirty children aged 4-5 years were screened for their baseline anxiety using the Chotta Bheem-Chutki scale. A double-blinded randomized control trial was conducted among 60 children with high anxiety scores. They were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 received a magic trick distraction technique. Group 2 received a mobile dental game distraction technique. Group 3, the control group received TSD. Readiness to accept the dental treatment and postoperative anxiety scores were recorded.

RESULTS

Statistically significant reduction in the anxiety level was seen in children who received magic (P = 0.001), mobile dental game (P < 0.001), and TSD technique (P < 0.001). Based on the readiness to accept dental treatment, there was a statistically significant difference between the three groups (P = 0.025). The children in the mobile group were found to accept the treatment faster compared to the magic and TSD groups.

CONCLUSION

All three techniques were equally effective in reducing the anxiety of children. The mobile dental game was superior to magic trick and TSD in terms of children's readiness to accept dental treatment.

Estimation of dislocated phases in wavefronts through intensity measurements using a Gerchberg-Saxton type algorithm

Estimation of the phase of a singular paraxial light field from experimentally measured intensities using a Gerchberg-Saxton type algorithm is demonstrated. A combination of cylindrical lenses which does not conserve the orbital angular momentum of the light field is used in obtaining the measured intensities. Consistent extraction of the phases in regard of the orbital angular momentum is demonstrated both at the input and output transverse planes, using the measured intensities.

Effect of Herbal Water, Ozonated Water, Water, and Chlorhexidine Mouthrinses on Oral Health Status of Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim

To evaluate the antibacterial effect of herbal water, ozonated water, and chlorhexidine mouthrinses on salivary Streptococcus mutans level and to assess their effectiveness of these mouthrinses on the oral health status of children.

Materials and methods

A parallel multiarm randomized controlled trial was conducted in 100 children aged 10–12 years. Debris index-simplified (DI-S), calculus index-simplified (CI-S), oral hygiene index-simplified (OHI-S) scores, and Streptococcus mutans counts were recorded at baseline (T₁). They were randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 25): HW, herbal water; OW, ozonated water; W, water; and CHX, chlorhexidine. Intervention period was 15 days and data collection was repeated after 15 days (T₂) and 30 days (T₃). Saliva samples were used to evaluate S. mutans count. Results were tabulated and analyzed statistically.

Results

OW had minimum DI-S score at T₂ and T₃ periods. HW had the minimum CI-S score at T₂ and T₃ periods. CHX had the minimum S. mutans count at T₂ and T₃ periods. OW showed maximum reduction in OHI-S score at T₂ period. HW showed maximum reduction in OHI-S score at T₃ period.

Conclusion

Herbal water and ozone water can be used as an alternative to chlorhexidine in maintaining the oral health status.

Clinical significance

Herbal water and ozonated water can be used in children instead of chemical mouthrinses to avoid any adverse effects.

How to cite this article

Mon J, Asokan S, Priya PRG, et al. Effect of Herbal Water, Ozonated Water, Water, and Chlorhexidine Mouthrinses on Oral Health Status of Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(6):514–519.

Gaussian spatial-polarization entanglement in a folded Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Gaussian spatial-polarization entanglement in a coherent vectorial paraxial light field is studied. Detection of spatial-polarization entanglement through fringe movement on rotation of a linear polarizer, with the light field passing through the polarizer, is outlined. The fringe movement is shown to be a sufficient condition for the detection of spatial-polarization entanglement in coherent paraxial vector light fields. Two Gaussian light fields with a small relative tilt but with significant spatial overlap and with orthogonal polarizations are shown to possess close to 1 ebit of spatial-polarization entanglement. Tunable Gaussian spatial-polarization entanglement is experimentally demonstrated in a folded Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

Impact of different modes of school dental health education on oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practice behaviour: an interventional study

PURPOSE

The study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of three modes of school dental health education (SDHE) on the oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) behaviour of school children.

METHODS

An interventional study was carried out among 8-9 year old school children from January 2016 to January 2018. Three hundred and sixty children from three schools in Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India participated in this study. Each school was randomly allotted with a mode (drama, modified snake and ladder game, flashcard) of SDHE, which was delivered for 20 min, every 6 months for 2 years. A validated questionnaire with 18 questions was used to record oral health-related KAP behaviour at baseline and after 2 years.

RESULTS

At the end of 2 years, there was an increase in the percentage of correct response for all the nine knowledge questions, in all the three modes. The mean difference in the cumulative knowledge score between baseline and 2 years was 1.39 ± 2.05 for drama mode, 1.8 ± 1.51 for game mode and 1.7 ± 1.5 for flashcard mode of SDHE. There was a significant difference in three knowledge questions and one attitude practice behaviour question between the three groups at the end of 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

All the three modes were effective in improving the oral health-related KAP behaviour of school children. Game mode made a better impact on the knowledge scores of these children, and it was observed to be more child-friendly and entertaining.

Effect of nonfluoridated remineralizing agents on initial enamel carious lesions: A systematic review

Background

Although fluoride enables remineralization, presence of calcium and phosphate ions is necessary to promote the process. So, various nonfluoridated remineralizing agents have been emerging to treat the noncavitated carious lesions.

Aim

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the clinical effectiveness of nonfluoridated remineralizing agents on initial enamel carious lesions.

Methods

Seven electronic databases were searched using the key words. In total, 158 human clinical trials were retrieved in the search from January 1950 to October 2016. Seventy-one repeated articles were excluded. Among the 87 articles obtained, 53 articles were eliminated after reading the title and abstracts. After assessing the full text, 28 articles were excluded. Three more studies were included from the cross references of the articles chosen.

Results

All the nine trials included assessed the clinical effectiveness of casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP ACP). They showed a positive effect of CPP ACP on the remineralization of white spot lesions.

Conclusion

The use of CPP ACP resulted in significant reduction of the white spot lesion size measured using visual examination methods. This systematic review indicated a lack of reliable evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of other commercially available nonfluoridated remineralizing agents.

Effectiveness of school dental health education on the oral health status and knowledge of children: A systematic review

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of school dental health education on the oral health status, oral health-related knowledge, and practice behavior of 6-12-year-old children.

Methods

Hand search and electronic search based on the keywords on school dental health education in seven search engines till 2017 identified 7434 articles. Trials involving school-based dental health education with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were screened. Risk of bias assessment was done independently by two authors.

Results

Among the 18 articles which fulfilled the eligibility criteria, six were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 12 were non-RCTs. Quality assessment showed that 12 trials had a low risk of bias. Oral health-related knowledge improved in children. Oral health-related practice behaviors such as frequency and duration of brushing improved. Use of fluoridated toothpaste was increased. Plaque scores and gingival bleeding scores reduced.

Conclusion

School dental health education had a positive impact on the oral health status, knowledge, and practice behavior of children. There is a definite need for high-quality RCTs analyzing the effectiveness of school dental health education on specific oral health outcomes.

Temperature sensor based on multi-layer MoS2 coated etched fiber Bragg grating

The development of an etched fiber Bragg grating (eFBG)-based temperature sensor with a uniform multi-layer molybdenum-di-sulphide (MoS₂) coating is presented in this paper. Multi-layer MoS₂ has been coated on clad etched FBG sensors by DC magnetron sputtering of molybdenum (Mo) and subsequent sulfurization. The dependence of temperature sensitivity on the coating thickness of MoS₂ on eFBGs has been tested from room temperature to 100°C. It has been found that MoS₂ coated clad etched FBG sensors with a coating thickness of around 10 nm exhibit a maximum temperature sensitivity of ∼95  pm/°C (almost one order higher than that of bare fiber Bragg gratings), with a resolution of ∼0.01°C obtained using an FBG interrogator with 1 pm resolution.

Highly sensitive fiber Bragg grating-based pressure sensor using side-hole packaging

In this work, an analysis of pressure response of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor in a side-hole package is presented using the finite element method. Various parameters of the side-hole packaging such as hole radius, the distance of separation between them, the radius and length of the package, and the choice of the package material are considered and optimized in order to promote maximum pressure sensitivity of the FBG sensor. This investigation on optimization of the side-hole package parameters gives rise to pressure sensitivity of nearly 10⁵ times as compared with the bare FBG sensor, with the numerical values of 3 pm/MPa for a bare FBG sensor to ∼280,000  pm/MPa for an optimized side-hole package FBG sensor. Such high-pressure sensitivity of an FBG sensor is being reported for the very first time in this work, to the best of our knowledge, and can be considered as the initial step toward the realization of a highly sensitive hydrophone based on FBG for sensing underwater acoustic signals.

Effect of Custom-made Probiotic Chocolates on Streptococcus mutans, Plaque pH, Salivary pH and Buffering Capacity in Children - A Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

To compare the effect of three custom-made probiotic chocolates and conventional chocolates on plaque pH, salivary pH and buffering capacity of saliva in children. The study also evaluated its antimicrobial efficacy against S. mutans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A parallel randomised double-blinded trial was conducted in two phases. For the phase І trial, 90 children were randomly divided into 3 groups: milk (MC), white (WC) and dark chocolate (DC). Salivary pH, plaque pH and buffering capacity were assessed at baseline, 10 min, 30 min and 60 min after consumption of the chocolates. After a washout period of 20 days, the children were assigned to their respective probiotic chocolate groups and the assessments were repeated. In the phase ІІ trial, 60 children were divided into 3 groups (n = 20): probiotic milk (PMC), white (PWC) and dark chocolate (PDC). They were given probiotic chocolates for 5 consecutive days in a week. S. mutans colony count was measured at baseline, post intervention, 15 days and 30 days.

RESULTS

All probiotic chocolates were less acidogenic than their counterparts. PWC was found to be the least acido-genic. DC was found to be the least acidogenic among plain chocolates. All probiotic chocolates were effective in reducing the S. mutans colony count.

CONCLUSION

Chocolates can serve as a vehicle for delivering probiotics with the added advantage of making them tooth-friendly.

School absenteeism, academic performance, and self-esteem as proxy measures of oral health status: A cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of school absenteeism, academic performances, and self-esteem of school-going children on their oral health status. Materials and.

METHODS

The study sample included 2014 children aged 12-15 years from India. Rosenberg self-esteem scale was used to assess the self-esteem of the children. Data on school performance, homework completion, and absenteeism were obtained from the school authorities and parents. Clinical examination for each child was done to assess the Decayed, Missed, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) scores. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test, and Kruskal-Wallis test with the aid of SPSS software. Odds ratio was calculated with 95% confidence interval. P ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Oral health had a significant association with school absenteeism and homework completion. School absenteeism was significantly associated with dental caries (P = 0.007) and poor oral hygiene (P = 0.001), whereas homework completion was significantly associated with dental caries alone (P = 0.002). There was no significant association between variables like self-esteem, first language, mathematics, and DMFT/OHI-S score.

CONCLUSION

School records such as absenteeism data and homework completion can be used as proxy measures of the oral health status in children.

Radial-angular entanglement in Laguerre-Gaussian mode superpositions

Classical optic entanglement between the radial and angular degrees of freedom in Laguerre-Gaussian mode superpositions is explored within the framework of symmetric first-order optical systems. The Gouy phase picked by a Laguerre-Gaussian mode on free propagation is seen to be of consequence to the radial-angular entanglement in the mode superpositions. We illustrate examples of mode superpositions for which radial-angular entanglement is preserved on passage through symmetric first-order optical systems. An indicator of radial-angular entanglement in two-mode Laguerre-Gaussian superpositions is demonstrated to be a robust free space signaler in the presence of atmospheric turbulence, through examples.

Objective and subjective parameters of oral health in South Indian children: A cross-sectional study

Background

Oral health of schoolchildren is a strong predictor of their overall well-being. This study was planned to assess and compare the objective and subjective parameters of oral health of South Indian school children.

Methodology

Three hundred and sixty school children participated in this cross-sectional study. Their oral hygiene status, dental caries status, and treatment needs were assessed. Two questionnaires were filled by these children, to assess their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and their knowledge on oral health. Their academic scores were collected from the schools. Statistical analysis was done using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test and Spearman correlation test appropriately.

Results

Children with no caries had better OHRQoL (P = 0.02). There was a negative correlation between dental caries status and OHRQoL score (P = 0.003) and dental caries treatment needs and OHRQoL score (P = 0.01). There was a positive correlation between knowledge on oral health and OHRQoL score (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Children with no caries had a better OHRQoL when compared to children with caries. Children with caries had more treatment needs, poor oral hygiene, low quality of life, and performed lesser in academics. However, they had adequate knowledge on oral health. Hence, both objective and subjective parameters of oral health should be given importance while treating children.

Effectiveness of Behavioral Vaccine on the Oral Health of Children in Komarapalayam, South India: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Background:

Oral health education and promotion have emerged as a strong force against the traditional, dominant, and curative model of health practice. In pediatric dentistry, the utilization of an entertaining, easy to understand, and practical educational material is warranted. Behavioral vaccine is a simple, scientifically proven practice that is repeated to increase well-being.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of conventional (instructional) dental hygiene program and “Good Behavior Game” (GBG) (contingency dental hygiene program – a behavioral vaccine) on the practice of oral hygiene among 5–7-year-old schoolchildren.

Study Design:

A total of sixty children aged 5–7 years were divided into two groups. Each group had thirty children.

Materials and Methods:

A pretest estimation of debris index-simplified (DI-S) was carried out. Children in Group A were given oral health education through instructional oral hygiene program. Children in Group B were allowed to participate in GBG daily for a week. The DI-S was recorded on the 8^th day and 3 months after the intervention in both the groups.

Results:

In Group B, the good oral hygiene score dramatically increased from 10% to 93.3% 1 week after the intervention. There was a relative decrease in percentage of children who scored fair and poor also. At the end of 3-month follow-up, 90% of children had good oral hygiene. In Group A, there was a significant improvement in oral hygiene after 1 week, but it was not significant after 3 months.

Conclusion:

The present study was undertaken to advance the area of behavioral vaccine as an alternative for teaching basic oral health concepts in children. In this study, the GBG was found to be an effective intervention aid for educating children.

Ag nanowire-assisted low threshold WGM lasing from polymer optical fiber

Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) emission has been observed from Ag nanowire doped polymer optical fiber laser. Low threshold lasing and high photostability of the active medium has been noticed with a given concentration of Ag nanowires in the microcavity of the fiber. Quantum yield and lifetime measurements of the dye (active medium) with and without nanowires confirm that presence of nanowires enhance the rate of radiative decay of the fluorophore, thereby providing low pump pulse energy for the excitation of lasing modes in the cavity, as compared with a bare dye-doped polymer fiber laser.