Genetic sensitivity to the bitter taste of 6-n propylthiouracil: a new risk determinant for dental caries in children.

The aims of the present study were to contrast the prevalence of dental caries in children with different genetic sensitivity levels to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and to determine the taste quality and taste intensity preferences of food products among the taster and nontaster groups. Overall caries experience (dmfs/DMFS) was significantly higher for nontasters than tasters. Caries experience on the available surfaces (dfs/DFS) was found to be significantly higher in nontasters than in medium tasters and in medium tasters than in supertasters (r=-0.41, P < 0.001). Majority of the nontasters were sweet likers and preferred strong tasting food products, while majority of the supertasters were sweet dislikers and preferred weak tastes. There was a significant increase in the overall caries experience in the population, as the genetic ability to detect PROP taste decreased ( P < 0.001). After all associated factors (age, gender, race, number of teeth and OHI-S) were controlled; multiple linear regression analyses revealed that taste was the only variable significantly related to overall caries experience.

Lobster-claw syndrome.

Lobster-Claw syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant, hand-foot malformation with Oro-dental features. This is a rare condition and from the available reports so far, cases being reported are less than 1%. Most reports have focused on the hand-foot deformity of this syndrome. This paper highlights the typical Oro-dental features associated with this syndrome such as retained deciduous teeth, hypodontia and variation in crown size, arch length and arch width.

Band and loop space maintainer--made easy.

Space maintainers have been used in Pediatric Dentistry for many years. The use of these appliances, however, in terms of indications, contraindications, design and construction has gained little attention from researchers. This paper highlights the construction of a new technique of fabrication of band and loop space maintainer. The advantages of this new Direct technique or Single sitting technique over the conventional technique are discussed.

A review of odontogenic keratocyst with a report of unusual occurrence in the maxilla.

Odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) are keratinizing epithelium-lined cycts of the jaws with well-defined histologic criteria and possessing one clinical feature warranting their recognition and separation as a distinctive entity, due to their exceedingly high recurrence rate. This report describes a case of OKC which occurred in the anterior maxilla in a 12 year old female child, with its treatment. These lesions are normally seen in the mandible, and are rare in the maxilla.

A comparative evaluation of four adhesive tooth coloured restorative materials. An invitro study.

Four adhesive tooth colored restorative materials, Fuji II, Fuji II LC, Dyract and TPH composite resin were evaluated for the amount of microleakage in enamel and cementum. The TPH composite resin showed maximum microleakage, significantly higher than Fuji II, which showed least microleakage. All the four materials showed more micro leakage in cementum when compared to enamel.