Treatment Predicament for Pediatric Dentist: Gender-wise Comparative Correlation of Biological and Chronological Age in 8-15-year-old Children.

Introduction: The chronological age (CA) of a patient does not always correspond to the events of growth surge; therefore treatment strategies need good knowledge of biological markers. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between the skeletal age (SA), dental age (DA), and CA along with the stages of calcification of teeth and the cervical vertebral maturity (CVM) stages in Indian subjects. Materials and methods: A sample of 100 pairs preexisting radiographs, both orthopantomogram and lateral cephalogram, of the individuals in the age-group of 8-15 years were procured and were analyzed for the level of dental and skeletal maturity using Demirjian scale and cervical vertebral maturity index, respectively. Results: A high correlation coefficient (r) was found to be 0.839 (p = 0) between chronological and dental age (DA), 0.833 (p = 0) between chronological and skeletal age (SA), and 0.730 (p = 0) between skeletal and DA. Conclusion: The current research showed that the overall correlation between all three ages was found to be high. It was found that the SA assessed by the CVM stages had a high correlation with the CA. Clinical significance: Within the limits of the present study, there exists a high degree of correlation between biological ages and chronological age, but still it is imperative for a correct assessment of biological age of individual patients for quality treatment outcomes. How to cite this article: Gandhi K, Malhotra R, Datta G, et al. Treatment Predicament for Pediatric Dentist: Gender-wise Comparative Correlation of Biological and Chronological Age in 8-15-year-old Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(5):569-574.

A Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Electronic Apex Locator, Digital Radiography, and Conventional Radiographic Method for Root Canal Working Length Determination in Primary Teeth: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: Pulpectomy in the primary tooth has unique challenges due to morphological variations in root pattern and physiological root resorption. The electronic apex locator (EAL) is one of the recent methods to determine the estimation of working length without much radiation exposure to the patient as well as the operator. The present study was undertaken for evaluating and comparing the efficacy of EAL, conventional radiography, digital radiography, and actual visual method for the estimation of in the root canal working length (RCL) in extracted primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety extracted, single-rooted primary teeth were selected. Working length estimation was done with an EAL, conventional, and digital radiographic method, and compared it with an actual visual method. RESULTS: Accuracy of EAL was observed to be 99.7% followed by digital radiograph (98.1%) and conventional radiograph (96.1%). Both EAL and digital radiographic methods showed a high correlation as compared to conventional. The comparative efficacy of an EAL with a visual method was found to be statistically non-significant (p > 0.005). CONCLUSION: Root canal working length determined through the electronic method was found to be an accurate and effective tool in single-rooted primary teeth and can be indicated for clinical implementation in endodontic treatment of primary teeth. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sahni A, Kapoor R, Gandhi K, et al. A Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Electronic Apex Locator, Digital Radiography, and Conventional Radiographic Method for Root Canal Working Length Determination in Primary Teeth: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(5):523-528.

Assessment of the effect of parental presence in dental operatory on the behavior of children aged 4-7 years.

BACKGROUND: Child presents a unique challenge to accept a dental treatment, and such a challenge gets modified by the presence or the absence of a parent in the operatory. Many dentists have reportedly and controversially used parental separation anxiety as a tool to control behavior of an uncooperative child and also to deliver quality dental treatment in young children. But is the parental separation beneficial for dentist to gain child cooperation? AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objective is to evaluate the influence of parental presence or absence in the operating room on child's behavior during dental procedure on children of 4 years and above. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 30 children of 4-7 years of age group, 16 (4-6 years) preschoolers, and 14 (6-7 years) early schoolers. Two consecutive restorative procedures were carried out. On a first visit, parents were present and on a second visit, separation of parents was done. Behavior rating was done by commonly used Frankel's Behavior Rating Scale. RESULTS: Chi-square test was performed for the statistical analysis. There was no significant difference found in the child's behavior by the presence or absence of parents in the perception of dental treatment in the dental operatory. In contrast to that there was a significant increase in cooperative behavior of some children due to other factors influencing the behavior of the child with a Chi-square value = 35.296, P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Parents can be excluded from the dental operatory to eliminate many behavior-related problems during the course of treatment.

Prevalence of Oral Complications occurring in a Population of Pediatric Cancer Patients receiving Chemotherapy.

Multiagent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of both are the contemporary methods of cancer treatment. With medical advancements, though cure rates have increased considerably, focus is now shifted to the potential early and late complications of the same. The aim of this study was to assess the early oral complications in pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy. Sixty-two children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy with the mean age of 7.42 ± 3.6 years were included in the study. The various types of malignancies and oral problems during chemotherapy were recorded in the subjects. The most commonly encountered malignancy was acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 35.5%. Various oral and associated complications like mucosal inflammation with ulcerations, oral pain, xerostomia, and secondary infections were commonly seen, with mucositis being the most commonly observed complication in 58.1% of the subjects undergoing chemotherapy. Clinical importance of timely medical and dental interventions by a multidisciplinary team involving a pediatric dentist at different stages of anticancer treatment is also emphasized to minimize discomfort, increase treatment compliance, and improve the quality of life of pediatric patients. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Gandhi K, Datta G, Ahuja S, Saxena T, Datta AG. Prevalence of Oral Complications occurring in a Population of Pediatric Cancer Patients receiving Chemotherapy. Int Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(2):166-171.