Craniofacial and occlusal features of children with sickle cell disease compared to normal standards: a clinical and radiographic study of 50 paediatric patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate craniofacial and occlusal features of children with sickle cell disease and compare them with the normal healthy children. METHODS: A total of 50 children diagnosed with sickle cell disease (Group I) and 50 normal healthy children (Group II) between age 10 and 18 years were included in the study. Dental casts were obtained, occlusal traits were recorded and DAI and DHC-IOTN were calculated. Cephalometric parameters were measured. Obtained data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In children with sickle cell disease, 24% had definite malocclusion according to DAI and only 4% of them had normal occlusion as per the DHC-IOTN index. Also, children with sickle cell had significant retruded mandible and vertical growth pattern when compared with normal children. CONCLUSIONS: Children with sickle cell disease showed delayed eruption of teeth, a tendency towards Class II molar relationship, with increased crowding in the lower anterior region, increased overjet and open bite when compared to the normal children. Children with sickle cell disease had severe and handicapping malocclusion as per DAI and DHC-IOTN indices and a tendency towards skeletal Class II with a vertical growth pattern.

Antimicrobial efficacy of photodynamic therapy, diode laser, and sodium hypochlorite and their combinations on endodontic pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Sterilization of the root canal system is of prime importance for a successful root canal therapy. Lasers and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have become the latest choice to eradicate microorganisms in the root canal. OBJECTIVE(S): To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of diode laser, photodynamic therapy, and sodium hypochlorite along with their combinations on endodontic pathogens: Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans. METHODS: A total of 120 uniradicular teeth were stored in 5.2% NaOCl solution to remove organic residues and the crowns were sectioned at the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to obtain root canal length of 15 mm. Canals were shaped using step-back technique up to #40 K-file and were autoclaved. The selected teeth (specimen) were randomly divided into two equal groups with sixty teeth being inoculated with E. faecalis (Group E) and remaining sixty teeth with S. mutans (Group S). Further, the groups were subdivided according to the disinfection technique used. Ten teeth from each subgroup were disinfected with a diode laser, photo activated disinfection (PAD), sodium hypochlorite, a combination of sodium hypochlorite and diode laser, a combination of sodium hypochlorite and photo activated disinfection respectively. Ten teeth in each group served as control without any disinfection. The treated specimens were transferred to test tubes containing 5 ml sterile Luria Bertani broth, incubated and the bacterial count, optical density in each root specimen was calculated and compared. The pairwise comparison of colonies across the subgroups was done by the Kruskal-Wallis test and within the subgroups was carried out using the Mann-Whitney U test. The statistical implication was tested at 5% and the study was performed using SPSS 18.0 ver. (SPSS Inc.). RESULTS: A significant reduction (98%) in the E. faecalis count was observed when the NaOCl was used in combination with the diode laser or PAD. PAD along with 3% NaOCl presents the advantage of utilizing a lower wavelength laser beam. Hence, PAD in combination with NaOCl can be an alternative and better option for root canal disinfection for both the endodontic pathogens, E. faecalis and S. mutans.

Acquisition of Streptococcus mutans and dental caries experience in pediatric sickle cell anaemia patients under various prophylactic therapies.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the acquisition of Streptococcus mutans and dental caries experience in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) under various prophylactic therapies. METHODS: This study involved a total of 200 children who were divided into five groups comprising of 40 children each. Group SP included children who received prophylactic penicillin, Group SV who received pneumococcal vaccination, Group SPV who received both prophylactic penicillin and pneumococcal vaccination, Group SW who did not receive any prophylactic therapy and Group CC who were controls. Stimulated saliva samples from volunteers were collected and cultured in Mitis Salivarius Bacitracin (MSB) agar for estimation of Streptococcus mutans. Decayed, Missing, Filled (DMFT) index/decayed, exfoliated, and filled tooth (deft) index was used for assessment of dental caries. RESULTS: Group SP, Group SV, and Group SPV showed statistically significant difference in Streptococcus mutans count and dental caries experience in children when compared to Group SW and Group CC (p < 0.05) with the maximum reduction in Group SPV. No significant differences were observed in Group SW and Group CC. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in the Streptococcus mutans acquisition and dental caries experience was seen in children with SCA who received prophylactic therapy with the least acquisition in combination therapy (Group SPV).

Sequential determination of thorium and rare earths with EDTA and kojic acid.

Kojic acid can be used instead of acetylacetone to form a ternary complex with Th-EDTA that is more stable than the corresponding Xylenol Orange ternary complex, thus making it possible to titrate lanthanides with EDTA at pH 5.5 after titration of thorium at pH 2.