Evaluation of the efficacy of different intracanal medicaments against Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis - An In-Vitro study.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of certain intracanal medicaments against Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis. Methods: Freshly extracted 120 single rooted mandibular premolars were selected for the study. Teeth were decoronated and cleaning and shaping was done up to F3 universal protaper system and were divided mainly into two groups: Candida albicans (C. albicans) (n = 60) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) (n = 60). The medicaments include: G1: chlorhexidine + calcium hydroxide, G2: sodium hypochlorite + calcium hydroxide, G3: 2% chlorhexidine gel, G4: octenisept, G5: 0.1% octenisept solution + calcium hydroxide, and G6: physiologic saline (n = 5). Teeth were contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans which were cultured, respectively, in brain heart infusion and Sabouraud's dextrose agar for 21 days followed by intracanal medication and colony forming units were counted on the second and seventh day. Statistical analysis was done using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test. Results: Against C. albicans, CHX + CH, 2% CHX gel, 0.1% octenidine (OCT) gel and OCT + CH showed statistically significant differences on the 2nd and 7th day. But against Enterococcus faecalis, only 0.1% OCT gel and 2% CHX gel showed statistically significant differences on the 2nd and 7th day. Among all the groups, 0.1% OCT gel and 2% CHX gel showed predominant antimicrobial efficacy. Conclusion: From the limitations of the current study, all the medicaments showed antimicrobial effect against Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis on the 2nd and 7th day with higher microbial inhibition on the 7th day.

Evaluation of the Association of Oral Stereognosis with Malocclusion in Children.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between oral stereognosis with malocclusion in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stereognostic investigation was made with a set of seven different geometric configurations (circle, square, triangle, star, clover, diamond, and heart shapes) cut out from fresh, raw carrots using preformed iron molds. Any five of the seven geometric forms were randomly placed inside the mouth on the dorsum of the tongue by the investigator with the subject's eyes closed. A minimum of three shapes correctly identified out of the five offered to each child was considered as an indicator of the adequate stereognostic ability of that particular child. RESULTS: Among the children under Index of Orthodontic Treatment Needs (IOTN) grade I group, 82.4% of children came under the positive response group. Among IOTN grades II, III, and IV, the percentages of children with positive responses were 72.1%, 58.1%, and 18.8%, respectively. There is a statistically significant (p < 0.001) decrease in positive response with increasing IOTN grades. CONCLUSION: The observations from the present study show that there is altered oral sensory perception in children graded as with malocclusion according to the index used and belonging to the age group selected in the study. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sensory and motor components of the orofacial region, like any other part of the human body, are inseparable in their structure and function, the association between orofacial growth and development and sensory maturation cannot be overlooked. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Janardhanan R, Soman A, George S, et al. Evaluation of the Association of Oral Stereognosis with Malocclusion in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(S-1):S18-S21.