Prevalence of Deleterious Oral Habits among 3- to 5-year-old Preschool Children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

AIM: Oral habits during and beyond preschool age are one of the important etiological factors in developing malocclusion and other ill effects on orofacial structures. The objective of the present study was to know the prevalence of deleterious oral habits among 3- to 5-year-old preschool children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool children, in the age group of 3 to 5 years in the city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. To carry out this study, six private schools, two from each of the three electoral constituency, were selected using cluster sampling technique. A total of 500 students, studying in LKG and UKG and their respective mothers/caregivers were selected for the study as per the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Prevalence of different oral habits in children was calculated from the data obtained. Using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17.0 software, Chi-square test was applied to compare the differences present between boys and girls and their significant values (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The result of this study showed a high prevalence of oral habits (36%) among preschool children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Lip biting was found to be the most prevalent habit (13.4%), followed closely by thumb sucking (12.8%), bruxism (12.8%), and mouth breathing (11%). CONCLUSION: The study revealed a great dearth of a well-established dental education program for preschool children as well as their parents, caretakers, teachers, and pediatricians in order to provide an effective and timely care to the children.How to cite this article: Dhull KS, Verma T, Dutta B. Prevalence of Deleterious Oral Habits among 3- to 5-year-old Preschool Children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(3):210-213.

Incidence and Demographic Patterns of Orofacial Clefts in Mysuru, Karnataka, India: A Hospital-based Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to know the incidence and trends of orofacial clefts between 1st January 2011 and 31st August 2016 in Mysuru, Karnataka; and to describe the demographic patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, hospital-based study. Data were retrieved from multiple sources like Parturition books, Neonatal intensive care unit records, baby and mothers case records archived in medical records department of Cheluvamba Hospital, a Tertiary Care Government Hospital, attached to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, between 1 January 2011 and 31 August 2016. All subjects with CL ± P were included in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured proforma, designed based on the review of the literature. Prior to the study, approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee was obtained. Collected data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis using SPSS version 21 (SPSS Inc.). RESULTS: A total of 59 children with CL ± P were born between 1 January 2011 and 31 August 2016 among 77667 births (Male: 36,625; Females: 41042). Hence the incidence of orofacial clefts in this hospital was 0.76/1000 births/year. Incidence in boys was 0.71/1000 births and in girls it was 0.78/1000 births (p < 0.7). Distribution of CL ± P showed that cleft lip with palate were more prevalent, which was 64.4%. 54.2% of the female child had clefts. Pierre-Robin syndrome was the most common associated malformation. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that CL ± P are the most common types of orofacial clefts. Adequate ante-natal history in birth records is not been given critical importance, with lack of parental counseling. Public awareness regarding the early diagnosis of orofacial clefts, follow up, surgery and dental therapy is required.How to cite this article: Kumar PSP, Dhull KS, Lakshmikantha G, Singh N, Incidence and Demographic Patterns of Orofacial Clefts in Mysuru, Karnataka, India: A Hospital-based Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent, 2018;11(5):371-374.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Mothers towards Infant Oral Healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Among all the oral diseases, dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting the children. Early childhood caries is one of the most severe forms of dental caries affecting the children less than 3 years. Though dental caries is preventable, not much importance has been given to the preventive aspect of dental caries. This is because of the lack of oral health education. Vertical colonization occurs from caregiver usually mother to the child. Since mother play an important role in a child's life, their knowledge about child's oral health will have a significant impact on the child's oral health status. A proper knowledge for the mothers regarding infant's oral health care will be beneficial in reducing the burden of dental caries in children. Hence a study was conducted to evaluate the mother's knowledge, attitude and practice towards infant oral health care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenient sample of 185 first time mothers with a child aged 9 to 24 months of age visiting Department of Pediatrics and Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. Permission to carry out the study was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Board. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire used in this study was divided into two sections. The first section contained demographic details and the second section contained knowledge about primary teeth and practice of oral health care. All the participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled. The purpose of the study and the questionnaire were explained to each participant. The questionnaire was completed and returned before leaving the clinic. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. RESULTS: Total 52.5% of the mothers responded that first tooth erupt after 6 months. A total of 86.5% of the mothers were not aware of the first dental visit. 77.8% did not agree that caries causing bacteria is transferred from mother to the child; 53% mothers did not agree that night time bottle feeding causes dental caries and 78.4% disagreed that nocturnal breastfeeding can cause dental caries in children. A total of 65.4% mothers feel dental check-up is not necessary when the first tooth erupt, and 95.7% mother did not have any information on infant oral health care. 72.4% of mothers started using toothbrush and paste after all the primary teeth erupted and only 5.9% of the mother had the knowledge about proper dispensing of toothpaste for children. CONCLUSION: Overall knowledge and attitude of mothers towards oral health care of children is poor. Health care professionals like a gynecologist, pediatrician Anganwadi workers who contact first-time mothers need to be trained to disseminate appropriate infant oral health care information. The mother needs to be educated about oral health during their antenatal check upHow to cite this article: Dhull KS, Dutta B, Devraj IM, Samir PV. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Mothers towards Infant Oral Healthcare. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2018;11(5):435-439.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of various Intracanal Medicaments in Primary Teeth: An in vivo Study.

INTRODUCTION: Bacteria and their products play a primary etiological role in the initiation and perpetuation of pulpoperiapical pathosis. Intracanal medication is important for endodontic success as it eliminates microorganisms that persist after chemomechanical preparation. AIM: To compare antimicrobial efficacy of calcium hydroxide powder, triple antibiotic paste, calcium hydroxide with 2% chlorhexidine solution, and triple antibiotic paste with 2% chlorhexidine solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 nonvital primary teeth were included in this study. After access opening first microbiological sample (s1) was collected by using absorbent paper point introducing into canal. Second microbilogical sample (s2) was taken following chemomechanical preparation and the teeth were divided into four groups: Group I: calcium hydroxide (CH) powder with distilled water; group II: CH with 2% chlorhexidine solution; group III: triple antibiotic powder with distilled water; group IV: triple antibiotic paste with 2% chlorhexidine solution. Then the canals were filled with any one group of the medicament and cavity was temporarily sealed with zinc oxide eugenol. After 1 week, a postmedication sample (s3) was collected. Then the canal was filled with Metapex, restored with glass ionomer cement. CONCLUSION: From the experiments carried out in this study, with the limitations, an inference can be drawn that a combination of antimicrobial agent used as intracanal medicament is definitely better than single agent like Ca(OH)2. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Dutta B, Dhull KS, Das D, Samir PV, Verma RK, Singh N. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of various Intracanal Medicaments in Primary Teeth: An in vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(3):267-271.