Oral health awareness in school-going children and its significance to parent's education level.

BACKGROUND: The oral health imparts a major impact on one's quality of life. Since last decades, there is an increase in the prevalence of dental afflictions which can be avoided by the knowledge of simple preventive measures. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status of children and to analyze its association with the education level of their parents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two randomly schools were selected and all the children from 5-15 years willing to participate in the present cross-sectional study were assessed for oral health status using the World Health Organization for the oral health awareness in children, 2004. Both child and parents were directly interviewed to avoid any bias in understanding the questionnaire. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (16.0) was used for data analysis. Chi-square/Fisher's exact test was used to compare the dichotomous variables. RESULTS: A total of 210 (133 males and 77 females) children were assessed along with their parents for the awareness of child's oral health condition. Totally 134 (63.3%) children were of age group 5-10 years, while 76 (36.7%) children were of age group 11-15 years. Children with uneducated parents have often experienced toothache, brushes once a daily and frequently visits the dentist for toothache compared to children of educated parents, and this association was observed to be statistically significant (<0.001). CONCLUSION: The oral health status of children was average. However, education level and awareness of parents regarding oral health preventive measures play a key role in determining the oral health of children.

Sleeping Habits among School Children and their Effects on Sleep Pattern.

Introduction: Sleep problems can occur at any age. Inadequate sleep affects the physiological as well as psychological well-being of an individual. Thus, the objective of the present study is, to determine the pre sleep habits, duration and pattern of sleep among school children and to determine association between their sleep schedules and sleep habits. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised of 1050 children attending the government school. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria children were from three age groups: 4-5 years, 6-10 years and 11-15 years of age. A questionnaire about demographical data, sleep problems and habits, was duly filled by the parents. The parents of children were questioned for bed time, wakeup time, sleep time and sleep duration during both weekdays and weekends. Results: Total sleep time during weekdays was 8.9 (1.2) hours and 10.7 (1.1) hours during weekends. The wakeup time was significantly delayed during weekends in all age groups. Moreover, total sleep time increased significantly during weekends in all age groups. Children using media after 8 pm and sleeping alone are also in significant sleep debt. Screen activities such as TV, internet and cellular phones in a child's bedroom had a negative effect on children's sleep/wake patterns and duration of sleep. Children in higher grades are sleep debt compared to younger ones. Practices such as co sleeping and sharing bed with parents significantly improve the duration and quality of sleep. Conclusion: The sleep durations reported in the present study were lower than recommended sleep duration for children.

Comparison of Rehabilitating Missing Mandibular First Molars with Implant- or Tooth-Supported Prostheses Using Masticatory Efficiency and Patient Satisfaction Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a fixed partial denture (FPD) or an implant replacement of a single missing tooth leads to better masticatory efficiency and patient satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred and twenty participants with missing mandibular right first molars were selected on the basis of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After obtaining informed consent, 60 participants were randomized to the teeth-supported (FPD) group and 60 to the implant placement group (IMP). The study was divided into the following parts: (i) Completion of a Likert scale satisfaction questionnaire (postrehabilitation) by the participants. (ii) Evaluation of masticatory efficiency and performance 3 months after rehabilitation. Data were evaluated by applying t-test and z-test using statistical analysis (α ˂ 0.05). RESULTS: Masticatory efficiency of participants in the IMP and FPD groups was 74.95 ± 0.90% and 74.41 ± 3.35%, respectively (p = 0.607). Total satisfaction questionnaire scores for the two groups were also not significantly different; however, the mean scores of overall satisfaction and function categories in this questionnaire were significantly higher for the IMP group, while the mean score for the duration of treatment question was higher for the FPD group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that although masticatory performance and efficiency were not statistically different for single teeth replaced with implants or FPDs, patients perceived higher satisfaction with implant restorations; they also preferred the shorter treatment times for rehabilitation in the FPD group.

Witkop's syndrome: A case report.

Witkop's syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tooth and nail abnormalities. It is a variant of ectodermal dysplasia, which is thought to occur in approximately 1 in 100,000 live births. Thus, such a low occurrence and paucity of clearly delineating features make its identification in general population a real challenge. This case report aims to add to the existing literature a commonsense approach of identifying the uncommon thing.

An In Vivo 24-Month Study to Compare Crestal Bone Loss and Pocket Depth of Platform-Switched Implants Placed in Maxillary Anterior and Mandibular Posterior Regions.

PURPOSE: To analyze and compare crestal bone loss and pocket depth around platform-switched implants placed at two intraoral locations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty platform-switched implants, 40 in the maxillary anterior region (group - ANT) and 40 in the mandibular posterior region (group - POST), were placed in healthy men aged between 25 and 45 years, and restored following two-stage surgical and progressive loading protocols. Digital radiographs for crestal bone level assessment and pocket depths on facial, mesial, distal, and palatal/lingual sites around the implant were recorded at definitive restoration cementation (baseline) and 6-month follow-up. Difference in pre- and post-periodontal pocket depths and crestal bone loss levels were measured and analyzed statistically using SPSS v.16.0, applying the Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05 considered significant). RESULTS: Mean bone loss was significantly higher in group ANT (1.2 ± 0.3 mm) than in group POST (0.7 ± 0.02 mm). Palatal pocket depth increase was significantly greater in the ANT group (p = 0.01), and distal pocket depth increase was significantly greater for the POST group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The amount of bone loss noted in the maxillary anterior region compared to the mandibular posterior region was significantly more. This could possibly be because of greater vertical cantilever and offset loads in the anterior compared to the posterior region. Significantly greater pocket depth in mandibular posterior distal and maxillary anterior palatal regions could be related to oral hygiene maintenance issues.

Platform switching: a narrative review.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Bone loss around the implant is 1 of the important factors affecting its success. Fitting an abutment of smaller circumference in comparison with the implant is known as platform switching. The concept gained importance as investigations found reduced crestal bone loss around such implants. Several studies have been conducted to understand its efficacy, mechanism of action, and the extent of switching that would provide best results. METHODS: Public databases were researched to assess if the concept of platform switching was helpful in reducing bone loss around dental implants using relevant keywords. RESULTS: Most of the studies supported the use of switched platforms with only 1 reporting no effect of switching. No study reported any harmful effect of switched platform either on bone quality or on success of implants. CONCLUSIONS: Platform switching seems to be successful in reducing bone loss around dental implants. Further research regarding its exact mechanism of action would help explain and improve the success rate of implants.

Management of mandibular deviation after mandibulectomy by simplified approach.

Unfavourable sequelae from mandibular surgeries include malocclusion and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The management of the situation before these complications arise is largely based on experience. This report presents a case where mandibular deviation is decreased through an additional row of teeth in the maxillary removable partial denture, and by decreasing scar contracture in the surgical site by means of a simple exercise.