Prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries in fluoride endemic areas of Rohtak district, Haryana

Objectives: This study investigates the estimation of the fluoride concentration in drinking water in Rohtak district, Haryana, and quantifies its effect on the prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1262 school children in endemic fluoride areas of Haryana. Using simple random sampling, thirty villages from five blocks of Rohtak districts were selected, and children 6–12 years of age were examined. A questionnaire survey form was filled out to record the demographic details of the samples. Dental caries was recorded according to DMFT (D = Decayed, M = Missing due to caries only, F = Filled, T = Teeth)/deft index (d = decayed, e = extracted due to caries, f = filled, t = teeth). Assessment of Dental Fluorosis was done according to Dean's Fluorosis index, modified in 1942. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 19, and nonparametric tests were used to assess the significance. Results: The study participants included 615 males and 647 females among which Mean DMFT in the area of study ranged from 0.32 to 1.90. Mean deft in the area of study ranged from 0.34 to 1.91. The fluoride concentrations in groundwater are in the range of 0.532–8.802. Out of 1262 children examined, 655 (51.90%) children were having dental fluorosis. 607 (48.10%) of the subjects were free from fluorosis. 16.09%, 13.39%, 9.11%, and 8.16% and 5.15% were having questionable, very mild, mild, moderate, and severe form of fluorosis, respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that in Rohtak district, the fluoride levels in drinking water and the prevalence of dental fluorosis are high, so requiring an urgent need to improve the quality of water and institute de-fluoridation of drinking water in affected areas to lower the burden of dental fluorosis in the community.

Can silver diamine fluoride be an alternative to aerosol-based dentistry during the COVID scenario? A retrospective analysis

Background: Restrictions on routine dental procedures involving aerosols during COVID-19 have resulted in a significant increase in the suffering of pediatric patients. Aim: The study reported the alternative measures followed in our department using SDF during the COVID era when routine elective dental procedures were prohibited. Materials and Methods: The retrospective data of patients aged 2–13 years with carious molar teeth who were treated with silver diamine fluoride without (Group 1) or with (Group 2) caries excavation were collected. Results: One thousand and seventy-two patients (646 males and 426 females) with 2459 carious molar were treated. On follow-up assessment at 3 months, 28 teeth in Group 1 and 21 teeth in Group 2 showed progression of carious lesion using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II criteria). Out of these failure cases, 32 (1.8%) teeth were primary and 17 (2.5%) were permanent. Complete relief in sensitivity/pain on stimulation was reported in 2381 teeth (96.83%), whereas in 78 (3.17%) teeth, mild sensitivity/pain on stimulation was reported. The average time consumed during treatment per tooth in Group 1 was 5.04 min and in Group 2 was 5.78 min. Conclusion: SDF application can be carried out as a nonaerosol-generating procedure and is a simple technique for children and clinicians.

Parental awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward conscious sedation in North Indian children population: A questionnaire-based study

The purpose of this study is to find the opinion, attitude, beliefs, and the existing knowledge of parents of Himachal Pradesh suburban city about conscious sedation. Objective: To know the effect of education of parent and prior sedation experience of the child on opinion, attitude, and knowledge of parent about conscious sedation. Methodology: A questionnaire in Hindi/English was provided to parents who accompanied their child for the treatment in the Paedodontics Department of HPGDC College Shimla. Information regarding demography, existing knowledge gained through television, the internet, opinion about the safety of the procedure, knowledge of nothing by mouth guidelines, restraints usage, and knowing their preferences of staying with the child during treatment was explored. Questions were straight yes or no type and multiple choice type. Some questions were statements and wanted the respondents to strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. Results and Conclusion: A total of 350 questionnaires were collected. Parents feel sedation is safe in the dental office as an adjunct to dental treatment. Education played a role in existing knowledge about sedation and perception about the safety of conscious sedation.

A study on pre-XDR & XDR tuberculosis & their prevalent genotypes in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in north India.

Background & objectives: Pre-extensively drug resistant (pre-XDR) and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) have been areas of growing concern, and are posing threat to global efforts of TB control. The present study was planned to study the presence of pre-XDR and XDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis and their genotypes in clinical isolates obtained from previously treated cases of pulmonary TB. Methods: A total of 219 isolates obtained from previously treated cases of pulmonary TB were subjected to first-line (streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol) and second-line (ofloxacin, kanamycin, capreomycin and amikacin) drug susceptibility testing on solid Lowenstein-Jensen medium by proportion method. Genotyping was done for pre-XDR and XDR-TB isolates using 12 loci Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units-Variable Number Tandem Repeats (MIRU-VNTR). Results: Multi-drug resistance was observed in 39.7 per cent (87/219) isolates. Pre-XDR and XDR M. tuberculosis isolates amongst 87 multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB isolates were 43 (49.4%) and 10 (11.4%), respectively. Two most dominant genotypes among pre-XDR and XDR M. tuberculosis isolates were Beijing and Delhi/CAS types. Interpretation & conclusions: Resistance to second-line anti-tubercular drugs should be routinely assessed in areas endemic for TB. Similar genotype patterns were seen in pre-XDR and XDR-TB isolates. Beijing and Delhi/CAS were predominant genotypes.

Carisolv as an endodontic irrigant in deciduous teeth: An SEM study.

Aim: Root canal irrigation plays an important role in the debridement and disinfection of the root canal system. "The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Carisolv TM , 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) gel, and 1% NaOCl solution as root canal irrigants in deciduous anterior teeth." Materials and Methods: Thirty-six extracted deciduous anterior teeth were used. Root canals were flooded with NaOCl solution in Group A, NaOCl gel in Group B and Carisolv TM in Group C and incubated for 30 min. Scanning electron microscope photomicrographs of canal wall debris in the apical, middle and coronal thirds were scored. Results: The results showed that regardless of irrigation regime, canals were consistently cleaner in the coronal and middle thirds than in the apical thirds. NaOCl solution, NaOCl gel, and Carisolv TM had comparable activity at coronal third and middle third of root canals. At the apical third, NaOCl solution cleaned canals better than NaOCl gel and Carisolv TM . Carisolv TM cleaned debris better than NaOCl gel at the apical third. Conclusion: Carisolv TM can be used as an adjunct to root canal preparation.

Prosthodontic Rehabilitation Of Mandibular Resorbed Ridge: A Different Approach.

The treatment of edentulous patient is always a challenge for the Prosthodontist. It is connected with a lot of procedures aiming to reconstruct and replace the mandible and maxilla for the patients who have lost all their remaining teeth. Treating the highly resorbed mandibular ridge accompanied with an enlarged tongue, along with the average response of the patient to all the clinical procedures, is a tedious job. The aim of this article is the prosthetic treatment of a mentally challenged patient with asymmetry of alveolar ridges, macroglossia and the difficulties related with the treatment and the suitable techniques and approaches to overcome those difficulties.