Study of microflora in well-nourished and mal-nourished children in relation to dental caries.

Forty-five children in the age group of 2-12 years comprising 20 well-nourished (W.N.), 20 malnourished (M.N.) (both groups having DMFS of > or = 5) and 5 caries free well nourished children (control group) were studied to find out the oral microflora in these groups S. mutans was present in 55%, 20% and 0% in W.N., M.N., and control groups while S. Salivarius was isolated in 45%, 80% and 40% in the three groups respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Lactobacillus and C. albicans in the three groups. The correlation between means DMFS and the prevalence of S. mutans in W.N. and M.N. groups was highly significant (P < 0.001). Nutritional status including different grades of malnutrition had no significant bearing on the prevalence of micro-organisms isolated. The caries prevalence was higher in the W.N. group (P) while the gingival index was higher in M.N. group.

Evaluation of the cariogenicity of sugar containing drinks by estimating changes in pH of human dental plaque and saliva.

Cariogenicity of five commonly consumed carbonated beverage and sugar containing drinks (Frooti, sugarcane juice, Limca, Thumps up and Big Sipp) was evaluated by estimating changes in pH of human dental plaque and saliva in 2 groups of subjects (20 each) differing in caries experience (Group A DMFT zero; Group B DMFT 3-5). In group A subjects, pH of plaque did not fall to levels near critical pH (5.5) with any of the test drinks or control. However, in group B children the salivary pH did fall below critical levels in the case of Frooti while salivary pH fell below critical pH with Frooti and Thums up.

Inter-relationship between dental, skeletal and chronological ages in well-nourished and mal-nourished children.

Dental casts, wrist roentgenograms and full mouth radiographs of teeth of 80 mal-nourished and 40 well-nourished children were evaluated and compared for correlation of dental, skeletal and chronological ages. The findings revealed (1) very high correlation between dental and skeletal ages (r = 0.9584); (2) high correlation of chronological age with dental and skeletal ages (r = 0.8635 and r = 0.8716); (3) out of all the three correlations considered, dental and skeletal ages had the maximum correlation; (4) malnutrition had a significant adverse effect on the skeletal and dental ages. Greater the severity of malnutrition, more pronounced was its effect on the dental and skeletal ages; and (5) no evidence of severity of malocclusion with retarded skeletal and dental ages.

Steiner's norms for North Indian pre-school children.

A roentgenographic cephalometric investigation to establish Steiner's norms in pre-school children was carried out on 60, 4-5-year-old North Indian children with complete normal established primary dentition and pleasing profiles. The North Indian children were found to possess a convex profile, steeper occlusal plane, steeper mandibular plane and more upright incisors over basal bone at 4-5 years of age as compared to that of Caucasian children. None of the measurements showed sexual dimorphism of any statistical significance. The Steiner's norms from a sample of Caucasian population are not as such applicable to North Indian pre-school children.

Study of root canals configuration in mandibular first permanent molar.

The number and configuration of root canals in mandibular first permanent molar, studied by radiographic method, on 60 teeth revealed (1) one canal in the mesial root in 5 percent, two in 78.3 percent, three in 13.3 percent and four in 3.3 percent. In distal root, one canal was observed in 58.3 percent, two in 40 percent and three in 1.7 percent of the cases; (2) transverse anastomosis existed in about half of the mesial roots; whereas in distal root, it was only 21.7 percent; (3) biconvex canal curvature was seen in 18.3 percent of mesial and 1.7 percent of distal roots (4) apical foramina: in mesial root two apical foramina were observed in 60 percent of specimens, three in 6.7 percent and four in 3.3 percent. In distal root, two apical foramina were seen in 25 percent and three in 1.7 percent cases; (5) type of root canal: type 2-1 was the most common feature of mesial as well as distal roots; (6) the mesial root canals tended to be curved in 51.7 percent, while distal root canal straight in 58.3 percent.