Antimicrobial efficacy of nanosilver and chitosan against Streptococcus mutans, as an ingredient of toothpaste formulation: An in vitro study.

CONTEXT: Dental caries is the most prevalent oral infection affecting the humankind worldwide, and Streptococcus mutans is the major microrganism involved in its pathology. Mechanical plaque control in children is not performed efficiently and thus necessitates the inclusion of certain antimicrobial agents in the toothpaste. AIM: To analyze the antibacterial efficacy of nanosilver, chitosan, and fluoride as an ingredient in the dentifrices against S. mutans strains and comparing them with each other. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Pure culture of S. mutans strain (MTCC 890) was obtained from the Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India. Nanosilver (Group 1)- and chitosan (Group 2)-containing toothpastes were obtained from the respective dealers, and fluoride (Group 3) toothpaste was obtained from the local market. The antimicrobial activity of the three toothpastes was determined by modified agar well diffusion method. Saline was kept as the control. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Unpaired t-test was done for intergroup comparisons. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between Groups 1 and 2, Groups 1 and 3, and Groups 2 and 3 were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Nanosilver-containing toothpaste has the highest antibacterial efficacy against S. mutans, followed by fluoride- and chitosan-containing toothpaste.

Foreign body ingestion in dental practice.

Most foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully. The majority of the reported literature describes the management of ingested blunt objects. However, ingestion of sharp objects can still occur with a higher rate of perforation corresponding to treatment dilemmas. We report a case of inadvertently ingested sharp foreign body by a special child, which was retrieved by endoscopic guided forceps. Urgent endoscopic assessment and retrieval of recently ingested sharp dental foreign body is indicated and routine use of preventive measures such as rubber dam, gauze throat screens or floss ligatures is suggested.

Oral health knowledge, practice, oral hygiene status, and dental caries prevalence among visually impaired children in Bangalore.

INTRODUCTION: Visually impaired children daily face challenges for bearing their everyday skills. Maintenance of proper oral hygiene is one among them. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the oral health knowledge, practice, oral hygiene status, and dental caries prevalence among visually impaired children in Bangalore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 85 children were asked verbally a questionnaire regarding the frequency of brushing, cleaning tools, use of dentifrice, knowledge about the role of sugar in producing dental decay, and frequency of visit to the dentist. All children were screened and DMF and def scores were recorded and oral hygiene status were assessed by Green and Vermillion index. RESULTS: Green and Vermillion index. Kruskal Wallis Chi square test was performed and no statistically significant results were obtained with DMF and def scores as well as OHI scores across different ages in the range of 8 to 13 years. A highly statistically significant result was obtained with dental caries prevalence and oral hygiene status of visually impaired children. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows not much worsening of oral health status in the study population. A little extra care by the parent or caretaker regarding oral hygiene can give drastic results in reduction of dental caries.

A comparative study to evaluate the effect of fluoride releasing sealant cured by visible light, argon lasers, and light emitting diode curing units: an in vitro study.

In Pediatric Dentistry, the use of pit and fissure sealant is one of the essential forms of prevention. Pit and fissure caries may be substantially decreased by obliteration of these developmental defects in occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces with resin based dental sealants. Visible light-curing units, or LCUs, are an integral part of modern adhesive dentistry" They are used to cure resin based composite restoration materials, resin modified glass-ionomer and pit and fissure sealants, as well as to bond orthodontic teeth. Most recently, the argon laser has been approved for initiating the setting reaction with visible light cured-resins. Argon curing of resin materials has been show to enhance the physical properties and degree of polymerization of the resin, while reducing the polymerization time by 75 percent. The study is undertaken considering the inadequate research reports of regarding the comparison of curing ability using argon laser. LEDs and visible light as well as the resistant towards caries activity of the preventive fluoride releasing pit and fissure sealant cured by above mentioned curing units.