Comparison of the efficacy of chemicomechanical caries removal with conventional methods - a clinical study.

BACKGROUND: There has been considerable interest in developing alternative methods of cavity preparation and caries removal due to disadvantages of using traditional rotating instruments which can result in heat, pressure ,dentin dessication, vibration and pain. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare different methods of caries removal in terms of efficacy, time taken and pain during caries removal. MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 150 carious teeth were selected among 80 children of 6-10 years of age, following Radiovisiography (RVG) according to specific inclusion criteria and caries removal was done by hand instruments ,air rotor and carisolv respectively. The efficacy, time taken and pain threshold were evaluated during caries removal by Ericson D et al scale, Time scale (Raber H et al), visual analogue scale (Nayak R et al) and verbal pain scale (Cinzia Brunelli et al) respectively. Data was collected and statistically analysed. RESULTS: Mean value of time taken for removal of caries by carisolv group (580.26 sec) was found to be significantly higher as compared to conventional hand excavation and air rotor. Air rotor was found to be the most efficient method (mean value 1.20). Mean value of pain perception was significantly less with carisolv (0.82) as compared to air rotor and hand instrument. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that chemicomechanical removal of caries with Carisolv was found to be effective measure of caries removal and could be considered as viable alternatives to painful procedures like airotor in management of dental caries especially in children. How to cite this article: Goomer P, Jain R L, Kaur H, Sood R. Comparison of the Efficacy of Chemicomechanical Caries Removal with Conventional Methods - A Clinical Study. J Int Oral Health 2013; 5(3):42-47.

Inter-relationship of intelligence-quotient and self-concept with dental caries amongst socially handicapped orphan children.

CONTEXT: India has been the focus of many health surveys among normal, physically, and mentally handicapped children. However, the data, concerning oral health conditions of socially handicapped children living in orphanages, are scanty. AIMS: To study the effect of parental inadequacy, environmental deprivation, and emotional disturbances on dental caries through intelligence quotient (IQ) and self-concept in orphan children and also to co-relate dental caries with different levels of IQ and self-concept. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was carried out amongst socially handicapped children living in orphanages. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 100 children in the age group of 10-14 years from orphanages were selected. Malin's Intelligence Scale for Indian Children (MISIC) was used to assess the intelligence quotient; self-concept questionnaire to assess self-concept of the child and recording of dental caries status of children was done as per WHO Index (1997). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: To assess the relationship of dental caries with IQ, student's unpaired t-test was used and; to find the relationship between self-concept and dental caries, Karl-Pearson's coefficient of co-relation was applied. RESULTS: the children in orphanages had a lower IQ and high caries experience but had an above average self-concept. There was also no co-relation between dental caries and self-concept. CONCLUSIONS: Orphan children, being socially handicapped, are at an increased risk for dental caries due to a lower IQ level, parental deprivation, and institutionalization. Moreover, lack of co-relation between dental caries and self-concept could be explained by the fact that dental caries is a lifelong process whereas different dimensions of self-concept are in a state of constant flux.

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of glass fiber reinforced composite resin as a space maintainer and its comparison with the conventional band and loop space maintainer. An in vivo study.

AIM: Premature primary tooth loss may result in deleterious changes in dental arch integrity like space loss, crowding and midline shift, compromising the eruption of succedaneous teeth and altering the development of normal occlusion. The most confident way to cope with these problems is through the use of space maintainers. Today is an era of bondontics, which gives us a chance to test challenging materials like glass fiber reinforced composite resin (GFRCR) as a space maintainer. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy of GFRCR as a space maintainer and to compare it with the conventional Band and Loop space maintainer. METHODS: Twenty children aged 4-9 years requiring bilateral space maintainers for premature loss of primary first molar or primary second molar were selected for the study. GFRCR and Band and Loop space maintainers were applied bilaterally and their retention was evaluated at 1, 3 and 5 months interval. RESULTS: In comparison to band and loop space maintainers, the GFRCR space maintainers showed a higher success but the difference was statistically non significant. CONCLUSION: This study showed that GFRCR space maintainer can be a new alternative to the conventional space maintainer for short-term space maintenance for primary tooth loss.

Assessment of skeletal age using MP3 and hand-wrist radiographs and its correlation with dental and chronological ages in children.

The purpose of the study was to assess skeletal age using MP3 and hand-wrist radiographs and to find the correlation amongst the skeletal, dental and chronological ages. One hundred and sixty North-Indian healthy children in the age group 8-14 years, comprising equal number of males and females were included in the study. The children were radiographed for middle phalanx of third finger (MP3) and hand-wrist of the right hand and intra oral periapical X-ray for right permanent maxillary canine. Skeletal age was assessed from MP3 and hand-wrist radiographs according to the standards of Greulich and Pyle. The dental age was assessed from IOPA radiographs of right permanent maxillary canine based on Nolla's calcification stages. Skeletal age from MP3 and hand-wrist radiographs shows high correlation in all the age groups for both sexes. Females were advanced in skeletal maturation than males. Skeletal age showed high correlation with dental age in 12-14 years age group. Chronological age showed inconsistent correlation with dental and skeletal ages.

A clinical assessment of the effectiveness of mouthwashes in comparison to toothbrushing in children.

The study compared the efficacy of unsupervised tooth-brushing done once a day before breakfast (phase 1), with twice daily mouthrinsing with the three different commercially available mouthwashes containing 0.2% sodium fluoride (phase 2), a combination of 0.03% triclosan and 0.05% sodium fluoride (phase 3), and 0.2% chlorhexidine (phase 4) in 20 children aged 13-14 year, in reducing dental plaque formation. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in plaque reduction between phases 1 & 2; 1 & 3; 2 & 4 and 3 & 4. The mandibular arch harboured more plaque than the maxillary arch in phase 1 (p<0.05). Irrespective of the mouthwash used, the lingual/palatal surfaces had less plaque than the facial surfaces (p<0.05). The mean cumulative plaque scores of the mandibular lingual surfaces was more in comparison to the maxillary palatal surfaces in phases 1, 2 and 3 (p<0.05). It was therefore, concluded that 0.2% chlorhexidine was comparable to tooth brushing done once a day, before breakfast.

An evaluation of sealing ability of endodontic materials as root canal sealers.

An in vitro dye leakage study was carried out to compare the apical microleakage of vitapex (calcium hydroxide based paste) when used with single gutta percha cone with that of dentalis KEZ (calcium hydroxide and zincoxide eugenol based sealer) and zincoxide-eugenol sealer when used with laterally condensed gutta percha obturation technique. One hundred single rooted human anterior teeth were instrumented and randomly divided into three experimental groups of 30 teeth each and two control groups of 5 teeth each. Teeth in the first group were obturated using a single master gutta percha cone and vitapex as root canal sealer and those of second group were obturated with laterally condensed gutta percha using dentalis KEZ as sealer. Third experimental group was filled with laterally condensed gutta-percha using zinc-oxide eugenol as sealer. Teeth were then suspended in 2% methylene blue. After this, teeth were demineralized dehydrated and cleared. Linear dye penetration was determined under stereomicroscope (x10) with calibrated eye piece. Results of this study showed that calcium hydroxide based endodontic material leaked comparatively less as compared to zinc oxide Eugenol sealer. Vitapex with single gutta-percha cone provided an adequate apical Seal against dye penetration.