Effectiveness of music distraction in the management of anxious pediatric dental patients.

Management of Anxious Children in dental office still remains a challenge in day to day pediatric dental practice. The effect of different behavior management procedures in managing anxious children is well documented, for example distraction. This study is an attempt to evaluate the effect of music (audio) distraction in reducing the anxiety using Venham’s picture test.

Children's behavior pattern and behavior management techniques used in a structured postgraduate dental program.

Background : Anxiety and fear remain the primary emotion of a child entering a dental office. Successful pediatric dentistry depends not only on the dentist's technical skills, but also on his ability to acquire and maintain a child's cooperation. Methods: A retrospective study was done using the case records of 247 children, to evaluate their behavior patterns, based on the Wright's modification of Frankl's behavior rating scale. Various behavior management techniques like the tell-show-do, reinforcements, voice control, and hand over mouth exercise used in the postgraduate section of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, India, were also evaluated in this study. Results: Behavior of the children improved on the subsequent visits. Tell-show-do was the most common behavior management technique used and more aversive management techniques were rarely used in managing children in the dental office. Conclusion: Proper assessment of children's behavior helps the dentist to plan appointments and render effective and efficient dental treatment. Appropriate use of management techniques can improve the child's behavior in subsequent dental visits.

Oral findings of Down syndrome children in Chennai city, India.

PURPOSE: To assess the common oral findings and anomalies of Down syndrome (DS) children in Chennai city, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the 130 DS children examined, 102 children aged 15 years and below were included in the study. There were 57 male children and 45 female children in the total study sample. A specially prepared case record was used to record the following findings in each child: a brief family and personal history; anomalies of soft tissues, teeth, occlusion, and temporomandibular joint. Age wise and sex wise comparisons of the findings were done. RESULTS: About 97 children (95%) had the habit of regular tooth brushing. Everted lower lip (66%), retained primary teeth (31%), and midface deficiency (76%) were the most commonly seen soft tissue, dental, and occlusion anomalies, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Midface deficiency was the most common orofacial anomaly seen in these children, followed by everted lower lip and retained primary teeth. Almost all the children had a regular tooth brushing habit. All the children examined were offered free dental treatment in our dental college.

Dental caries prevalence and treatment needs of Down syndrome children in Chennai, India.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of caries and the treatment needs of Down syndrome children in the Indian city of Chennai. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the 130 Down syndrome children examined, only the children aged < or =15 years were included in the study ( n = 102). There were 57 male and 45 female children in the total study sample. A specially prepared case record was used to record the findings for each child. The dentition status and the treatment needs required were recorded. Comparisons of the findings were done based on age and gender distribution. RESULTS: Twenty-nine per cent of the total sample of Down syndrome children was found to be caries-free. Extraction (in 38 children) and one-surface filling (in 26 children) were the most needed specific treatments for primary and permanent teeth, respectively. Oral prophylaxis (99%) was the most required treatment in the overall treatment category. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to the findings of earlier studies, the percentage of caries-free Down syndrome children was found to be lower in our study. However, their basic needs like oral prophylaxis, restorations and extractions remain the same and can be easily fulfilled by an efficient, community-based dental team.

Accuracy of electronic apex locator in length determination in the presence of different irrigants: An in vitro study.

Determining the root canal length accurately had been a challenge in endodontics. Introduction of apex locators have definitely served as an effective adjuvant to radiographs. This in vitro study had attempted to compare the effectiveness of electronic apex locator in the presence of various canal contents. Comparison of the length determined by apex locators with the radiographic length was also made. The results of the study had shown that the length of root canals can be accurately made irrespective of the canal contents.

Dental arch dimensions in primary dentition of children aged three to five years in Chennai and Hyderabad.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the arch dimensions in primary dentition of 3-5 years old children in Chennai and Hyderabad. As no primary to the mixed dentition and determining the existence of sexual dimorphism. METHODS: Children were selected fro various schools of both Chennai and Hyderabad, with complte set of primary dentition. Study casts were made and measurements of arch dimensions were made using digital sliding calipers. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean values and standard deviations of the various arch dimensions are given in the tables. CONCLUSION: Generally boys exhibited a greater arch dimensions than girls in both groups. Some of the dimensions showed a statistically significant mean values.

Aberrant talon cusps: Report of two cases.

Talon cusp is an uncommon anomaly seen both in primary and permanent dentition. In most instances they are associated with other clinical problems such as occlusal interferences, poor esthetics and caries susceptibility. Management of such instances requires a comprehensive knowledge of the clinical entity as well as the problems associated with it. Here, we present two cases of talon cusps.

Evaluation of physiological and behavioral measures in relation to dental anxiety during sequential dental visits in children.

Anxiety is a special variety of fear, experienced in anticipation of threatening stimuli. While some research workers have said that the response of a child improves with the number of visits, many have felt otherwise. The present study is yet another effort to find the patterns of anxiety in children during sequential dental visits. The main aim was to determine the physiological and behavioral variations during sequential dental visits and its impact on age and sex. The study was conducted at the outpatient Department of Pedodontics and preventive dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Chennai to evaluate the physiological and behavioural measures of stress and anxiety in children. One hundred and fifteen children, between four and eleven years of age who reported for dental treatment were selected for the study.

Oral lymphangioma: A case report.

Lymphangiomas are congenital malformations of lymphatic vessels filled with a clear protein-rich fluid containing few lymph cells. It can also occur in association with hemangioma. Large lymphangioma extending into the tissue spaces of neck is referred to as cystic hygroma. Herewith, we present a case of cystic hygroma associated with lymphangioma of tongue leading to macroglossia in a 5-year-old boy.

Neglected child with substance abuse leading to child abuse: A case report.

Child abuse and neglect is any interaction or lack of interaction between a caregiver and a child resulting in nonaccidental harm to the child's physical and developmental state. Substance abuse is ingestion of any drug, which is capable of altering the mental functioning eventually leading to addiction. This paper presents a case report of a 12-year-old neglected girl with substance abuse for which she was physically abused by her mother.

Crown dilaceration of maxillary right permanent central Incisor - A case report.

Dilaceration of teeth can occur as a result of trauma to its primary predecessors. Root dilaceration is more common than dilaceration of the crown. A rare case of crown dilaceration of maxillary permanent central incisor has been reported in this article.