RESUMO
Background: Age of a child can be assessed from various parameters such as chronological age, height, weight, secondary sexual characteristics, skeletal age, or dental age. The present study was planned to assess and compare chronological age with dental age (Demirjian's method and Willem's method) and skeletal age (Fishman's method). Materials and Methods: The present study was done on a sample of 100 children in the age group of 9–14 years. The chronological age was computed through the birth certificates and dental age was calculated from their orthopantomograms (OPGs) using Demirjian's and Willem's methods. Hand-wrist radiograph of the left hand was used to compute skeletal age using Fishman's method. Paired t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated as a part of statistical analysis at a significance level of P < 0.01. Results: The mean chronological age among the group was 12.37 ± 1.34 years, the mean dental age by Demirjian's method was 12.36 ± 1.72 years, the mean dental age by Willem's method was 12.36 ± 1.51, and the mean skeletal age by Fishman's method was 13.03 ± 1.34 years. Out of the all methods evaluated in the study, Fishman's method of age estimation showed the least value of correlation coefficient (r = 0.728) with the chronological age, whereas Willem's method showed the maximum correlation with the chronological age (r = 0.885). Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that the dental age estimation evaluated by the digital OPG by both the methods, that is, Demirjian's method and Willem's method, has shown high accuracy when applied to the children of Faridabad. Skeletal maturation evaluated by Fishman's method using hand-wrist radiographs was found to overestimate the age when compared to chronological age in both the sexes.
RESUMO
Introduction: Aloe vera is known from centuries as a medicinal plant. It’s a wonder plant with a lot of health benefits and hence often been called the 'natural healer'. It is a tropical plant that flourishes in warm and dry climate and looks like a cactus with fleshy thorny leaves. There are around 400 species of Aloe, but it is the Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera or "true aloe") plant which has been used most (found mainly in Asia, Africa and other tropical areas) because of its medicinal uses like moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Medicinal Uses: Aloe vera has its uses in various systemic conditions like skin disorders (e.g. psoriasis), arthritis, asthma, digestive and bowel disorders, diabetes and lowering lipid levels in hyper-lipidemic patients. It has also be used as a detoxifying agent, for topical application of first and second degree burns, as a immune enhancer, in Alzheimer’s disease and in various cosmetic, medical and dental products. Dental Uses: This wonder plant has also been used in dentistry for its beneficial properties in various conditions like lichen planus, apthous stomatitis, oral submucous fibrosis, pulpotomy of primary teeth, prevention of dry sockets, obturation of primary teeth, disinfection of irrigation units, bleeding and painful gums, disinfection of gutta percha cones, burning mouth syndrome and in radiated head and neck cancer patients. The purpose of this article is to highlight the role of A. barbadensis in various branches of dentistry and its potential future role. Conclusion: Aloe vera indeed has a definitive useful role in dentistry. However, future researches should be aimed to determine its method of preparation, optimal concentration, time of application and effects on the oral cavity.