The effect of water purification systems on fluoride content of drinking water.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of different water purification systems on the fluoride content of drinking water and to compare the efficacy of these water purification systems in reducing the fluoride content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five different water purification systems were tested in this study. They were reverse osmosis, distillation, activated carbon, Reviva , and candle filter. The water samples in the study were of two types, viz, borewell water and tap water, these being commonly used by the people of Davangere City, Karnataka. The samples were collected before and after purification, and fluoride analysis was done using fluoride ion-specific electrode. RESULTS: The results showed that the systems based on reverse osmosis, viz, reverse osmosis system and Reviva showed maximum reduction in fluoride levels, the former proving to be more effective than the latter; followed by distillation and the activated carbon system, with the least reduction being brought about by candle filter. The amount of fluoride removed by the purification system varied between the system and from one source of water to the other. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Considering the beneficial effects of fluoride on caries prevention; when drinking water is subjected to water purification systems that reduce fluoride significantly below the optimal level, fluoride supplementation may be necessary. The efficacy of systems based on reverse osmosis in reducing the fluoride content of water indicates their potential for use as defluoridation devices.

A comparison between audio and audiovisual distraction techniques in managing anxious pediatric dental patients.

Pain is not the sole reason for fear of dentistry. Anxiety or the fear of unknown during dental treatment is a major factor and it has been the major concern for dentists for a long time. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the two distraction techniques, viz, audio distraction and audiovisual distraction, in management of anxious pediatric dental patients. Sixty children aged between 4-8 years were divided into three groups. Each child had four dental visits--screening visit, prophylaxis visit, cavity preparation and restoration visit, and extraction visit. Child's anxiety level in each visit was assessed using a combination of four measures: Venham's picture test, Venham's rating of clinical anxiety, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation. The values obtained were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. It was concluded that audiovisual distraction technique was more effective in managing anxious pediatric dental patient as compared to audio distraction technique.

Music distraction - Its efficacy in management of anxious pediatric dental patients.

Managing the anxiety of pediatric dental patient has long been the purview of dentists over many years. Various techniques have been used with moderate and variant success rates over the last few years. The main aim of this study was to ascertain if music distraction is an effective means of managing anxiety in pediatric dental patients. Forty children aged between 4 and 8 years were selected for the study. The assessment of anxiety was done using Venham's picture test, Venham's anxiety rating scale, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation during different treatment visits. The values were statistically analyzed and it was concluded that audio distraction did decrease the anxiety level in pediatric dental patients, but not to a very significant level.

Comparison of shear bond strength of composite, compomer and resin modified glass ionomer in primary and permanent teeth: an in vitro study.

The aim of this study was to determine the difference in shear bond strength between Composite, Compomer and Resin modified glass ionomer cement in primary and permanent teeth. Thirty extracted primary molars and thirty premolars were selected and buccal surfaces of all the teeth were made smooth with the help of 300 grit silicon carbide paper. These specimens were then divided into 6 groups. Restorative materials were placed on the buccal surfaces of respective specimens with the help of acrylic template. All the specimens were subjected to thermocycling and shear bond strength was tested under the Honsfield testing machine and results were recorded in megapascals (MPa). The resultant scores were tabulated and statistically analysed. It was observed that in case of primary teeth resin modified glass ionomer exhibited significantly higher shear bond strength as compared to composite and compomer, where as on permanent teeth composite demonstrated a significantly higher shear bond strength than that of the resin modified glass ionomer and compomer, where as compomer gave poor shear bond strength in both primary and permanent teeth.

The marginal seal of a flowable composite, an injectable resin modified glass ionomer and a compomer in primary molars--an in vitro study.

The present study was carried out to compare the marginal microleakage of some newer materials viz. a flowable composite, an injectable resin modified glass-ionomer and a compomer in Class I cavities of 30 non carious primary molars. After 0.5% basic fuchsin dye penetration and sectioning, the teeth were studied under stereomicroscope. The results obtained revealed that flowable composite showed significantly lower microleakage (p<0.05) as compared to injectable resin-modified glass ionomer and compomer. However, no significant difference was observed when injectable resin modified glass-ionomer cement was compared to compomer. This concludes that flowable composite materials adhere better to the primary teeth than resin modified glass ionomer and compomer.

A comparison of oral hygiene status and dental caries in children on long term liquid oral medications to those not administered with such medications.

Young chronically ill children receive a greater sugar load from liquid medications than do healthy children. They receive variety of oral liquid medications that healthy children do not This study was planned to know the levels of oral hygiene and Dental caries in children on long term liquid oral medicines (LOM) and to know out if any difference existed between these and children not on LOM. 51 children on LOM were compared to 54 not on LOM after equalising for age, oral hygiene and diet intake. Highly significant difference was found for dmft and dmfs in 2-6 year age group and dmft+ DMFT for 6-13 years age group, mostly posterior teeth were affected and for this the difference was statistically significant in 2-6 year old children. Percentage of children with dmft>5 significantly increased in 2-6 years old children on LOM, when compared to that of control. Percentage of various grades of lesions (relating to the severity) also increased with an increase in the duration of LOM.

Applicability of Demirjian's method of age assessment in children of Davangere.

The assessment of age is an important facet in providing information in demographic studies and is of clinical use to diagnose and plan the treatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether the standards of dental maturation given by Demirjian et al are applicable to Davangere children and to assess the relationship between the obtained dental age and skeletal age. The study group comprised of 151 healthy children of 6-15 years age. It was found that Davangere children were dentally more advanced. Demirjians method gave an over estimation of 1.20 +/- 1.02 years and 0.90 +/- 0.87 years in males and females respectively. The obtained dental age was found to be different from the skeletal age. It may be concluded that Demirjians method of dental maturation is not applicable to the children of Davangere.

Laser and visible light cured pit and fissure sealants--comparison of microleakage at enamel-sealant interface: an in vitro study.

The efficacy of Argon laser in comparison with Visible light was assessed by the extent of marginal leakage of three commercially available pit and fissure sealants at enamel sealant interface. Enameloplasty and penetration by Rhodamine dye revealed higher degree of microleakage in Argon laser cured samples. Concise Sealant (3M) showed lesser amount of microleakage in both the curing techniques.

Foreign body in a mandibular permanent molar--a case report.

A thirteen-year-old boy was examined in the Department of Pedodontics during a school-screening programme. On examination the left mandibular first permanent molar was found to be grossly destroyed. On radiographic evaluation a radio opaque screw shaped foreign object was seen in the pulp chamber of the said tooth. Retrieval of the foreign object was tried but the attempt was unsuccessful and an extraction was planned. A case of a unique foreign object in the pulp chamber of the tooth is reported.