Erratum: Addendum: Comparative evaluation of efficacy of Physics Forceps versus conventional forceps in pediatric dental extractions: a prospective randomized study.

[This corrects the article on p. 547 in vol. 21, PMID: 34909472.].

The clinical and radiographic success of Endoflas compared with other root canal obturating materials in primary teeth: A systematic review.

Pulpectomy aims at retaining the tooth in the asymptomatic state until exfoliation. Root canal obturating materials should resorb in synchronization with the primary root and get eliminated rapidly upon accidental extrusion. This systematic review aims at appraising the clinical and radiographic outcomes of Endoflas as an obturating material for primary teeth. An extensive literature search on obturating materials used for primary teeth using MeSH terms in PubMed, Cochrane library, and Ovid® from September 2002 to March 2020. Studies evaluating the clinical and radiographic success of Endoflas as an obturating material in children were included. From 45 retrieved articles, eight qualified for the systematic review. Moderate quality of evidence was elicited in this review. There was a dramatic reduction of inter radicular radiolucency in Endoflas obturated teeth compared to other root canal filling materials. Even for resorption of the extruded material beyond the apex too, Endoflas has depicted a faster clearance rate. Hence,it was concluded that, Endoflas can be a potential root canal obturating material for treating the primary teeth, even with furcal radiolucency. We recommend randomized clinical trials satisfying all the norms of CONSORT guidelines to provide a high quality of evidence.

Comparative evaluation of efficacy of Physics Forceps versus conventional forceps in pediatric dental extractions: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of Physics Forceps in pediatric dental extractions. METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial with a parallel-arm design and identical allocation ratio (1:1). Children (n=104) were randomly divided into two groups for extraction of mandibular primary teeth (group I: Physics Forceps; group II: conventional forceps). The outcome variables assessed in the study were the time taken for extraction, pre- and postoperative anxiety (using RMS pictorial scale), incidence of fractured teeth, and postoperative pain on the first and third days (using the Wong-Baker faces pain scale). RESULTS: A significant reduction (P < 0.001) in intraoperative time, anxiety, and incidence of tooth fracture was confined to group I. The pain significantly reduced from the first to the third postoperative day in both groups, but the mean reduction in RMS scores in the physics forceps group was far better than that in the conventional forceps group. CONCLUSION: Physics Forceps aid in extraction of primary teeth with minimal trauma to supporting structures, as well as reducing anxiety in the pediatric population.

Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of a mobile app (Little Lovely Dentist) and the tell-show-do technique in the management of dental anxiety and fear: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Behavior guidance is a technique used to subdue inappropriate behavior by establishing communication that meets the needs of a child. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a mobile app (Little Lovely Dentist) compared to the tell-show-do (TSD) technique in managing anxious children during their first dental visit. METHODS: Fifty children (30 boys and 20 girls) without any past dental experience, aged from 7 to 11 years, were randomly allocated into either the dental app group or the TSD group. The pre- and post-operative anxiety of children who underwent prophylactic cleaning was assessed both physiologically and subjectively using a heart rate measurement and the RMS pictorial scale, respectively. RESULTS: The intragroup comparison of heart rate and RMS scores for children allocated to the dental app group was statistically significant (P value ≤ 0.001). However, a significant reduction only occurred in the RMS scores, but not the heart rate measurements, in the TSD group. Conversely, there was an increase in heart rates in the TSD group. CONCLUSION: Educating the child prior to a dental procedure using a smartphone application such as Little Lovely Dentist can significantly alleviate the anticipatory anxiety and engage children in dental treatment during their first visit.

Favorable Outcome of a Maxillary Supplemental Premolar.

Hyperdontia/additional teeth are the commonly used synonyms for supernumerary tooth/teeth (ST). They occur due to the disturbances during the initiation stage of tooth development. They can be noticed in any region of oral cavity and may be single, double, or multiple; unilateral or bilateral; erupted or unerupted. This report presents a case of impacted single ST in the maxillary premolar region in a 14-year-old boy. Usually, ST are extracted, but there are some conditions where ST could be used beneficially. The present case is an example where ST played a beneficial role.

Effect of three commercially available chewing gums on salivary flow rate and pH in caries-active and caries-free children: An in vivo study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Adequate salivary flow is an important requisite in the maintenance of oral health. Salivary flow increases in response to both gustatory (taste) and mechanical (chewing) stimuli. Hence, the aim of the present study was to know the efficacy of commercially available chewing gums (sugar free and sugared) on salivary flow rate (SFR) and pH in caries-active and caries-free children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred school children aged between 10 and 12 years were divided into two groups on the basis of their caries status into caries free and caries active. Unstimulated saliva was collected before start of the study. Both groups were subjected to three commercially available chewing gums (2 sugar free, 1 sugared) on consecutive days, and saliva was collected at intervals of 2 min (T2), 10 min (T10), and 30 min (T30). The pH and flow rate of saliva samples were measured before and specified time intervals after gum chewing. RESULTS: In both the groups, gum chewing increased the SFR, significantly at T2, and gradually declined at T30 which was significantly higher than baseline values. The pH raised significantly at T2 and gradually declined at T30 which was significantly higher than baseline values with sugar-free gums, but with sugared gums, the pH raised slightly at T2 and dropped significantly at T30. However, no statistically significant differences in pH and flow rate were noticed in both the groups. CONCLUSION: Chewing of sugar-free gums in both caries-active and caries-free children may aid in reducing the incidence of dental caries.

Color stability of esthetic restorative materials used in pediatric dentistry: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Children consume foods that are colorful which contain food additives that stain not only the tooth structure but also the restorations. As esthetics is of prime concern for both parents and children nowadays, long-term color stability of restorative materials is of utmost importance. AIM: To evaluate the color stability of two tooth-colored restorative materials (conventional glass ionomer cement [GIC] and giomer) when immersed in various consumable drinks and food (aerated beverage, ice candy, and health drink) at different immersion periods (low, moderate, and high). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 specimens were made with each restorative material. Ten were used as a control and remaining (n = 90) as experimental. The experimental specimens were divided into three groups based on media of immersion (n = 30 each) and were further divided into three subgroups based on immersion time (n = 10 each). The color changes (ΔE values) were measured using spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Both the tested materials showed color change; however, conventional GIC showed greater ΔE values when compared to giomer and the samples exposed to aerated beverage resulted in highest color change. It is also noticed that greater the exposure time, higher are the ΔE values. CONCLUSION: Giomer showed more resistance to color change than conventional GIC with all the tested media and immersion regimes.

Dental pulp response to collagen and pulpotec cement as pulpotomy agents in primary dentition: A histological study.

INTRODUCTION: As the search for a better biocompatible medicament is on, aim of the present study was to evaluate the pulpal response to collagen particles impregnated in antibiotics (Biofil-AB™) and new commercially available cement (Pulpotec) that can be used as pulpal medicament. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total sample of 40 teeth from 20 children in the age group of 7-10 years which are noncarious having bilateral retained primary teeth were enrolled for the study. Nine teeth each were treated with collagen particles (group I) and Pulpotec cement (group II), and the remaining samples were discarded due to various reasons. Both groups were randomly subdivided into three teeth each that were extracted after 7, 15, and 30 days intervals and examined histologically. RESULTS: Moderate to severe inflammatory cells with newly formed blood vessels and disorganized odontoblastic cell layer was observed in group I after all three intervals with dentinal bridge formation in two specimens. On contrary, none of the specimens in group II showed any signs of inflammation, but there was a discontinuity in the odontoblastic layer lining along the dentin walls. CONCLUSION: Both materials were proven to be promising alternatives as pulp medicaments. However, collagen was found to be a better material.