Long-term incompatibility of nutritional status and early childhood caries-A call to revamp perinatal and early childhood dietary care and follow-up.

Background and aim: Dietary pattern and diet quality can influence the incidence of dental caries and can be indicated by decay missing filled (Dmf) scores in the primary dentition. This study aims to find the relationship of nutritional status and oral hygiene practices on Dmf scores of preschool children. Materials and methods: Semi-structured and self-administered questionnaires, distributed among 60 preschoolers' parents, were used to assess the demographic and diet related data. Anthropometric measurements of the preschoolers were taken following universally accepted protocols. The relationship between dietary supplement consumption and the presence of dental caries was evaluated by chi-square test employing SPSS 22. Results: The anthropometric measurements among 4-year-old children were on par with the standard values and that of 5-year-olds were below the reference range. All the measurements except head to chest circumference were higher than normal range among 3-year-old subjects. Regular and periodic dental check-ups significantly influenced dental caries prevention (p = 0.030). Statistically, there was no significant association between Dmf scores and thumb-sucking habits (p = 0.568), brushing teeth and usage of tooth floss (p = 0.96), consumption of nutrient supplements (p = 0.744), and BMI (p = 0.564) of the subjects. Furthermore, the correlation between z scores and Dmf scores was found insignificant. Conclusion: Long-term as well as short-term malnutrition initiated 2 years after the start of the pre-schooling. With severity of undernutrition there was a trend to have high Dmf scores.

Evaluation of Radiation Exposure in Open Dental Clinics Using Thermoluminescence Dosimeters and Questionnaires.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation exposure in dental open clinics in King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) using thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) to check if it exceeds the annual assigned exposure limit and to assess students' practices regarding radiation protection measures and their knowledge regarding the application of digital remote-control settings and TLDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This pilot institutional-based observational study was conducted among the clinical year students and interns at KSAU-HS College of Dentistry open clinical areas using TLDs and questionnaires. Sixteen lithium fluoride TLDs (TLD-100) were distributed evenly in the clinical areas occupied by clinical year dental students and interns for 24 working days from September 15 to October 20, 2019. Each TLD was labeled with a serial number and fixed at the assigned clinic of each specialty. The TLDs were placed in a zigzag manner at the right corner of the selected clinic to prevent overlapping of the area coverage by each dosimeter. RESULTS: The mean monthly TLD readings were found to be 69.265 uSv with a higher mean value in the female clinical area (74.2975 uSv) than the male clinical area (64.234 uSv). Taking into account the 8 months of clinical exposure during the academic year, the expected annual radiation exposure would be 0.554 mSv which is significantly lower than the annual limit of radiation exposure recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, i.e., 1 mSv. CONCLUSION: TLD readings concluded that radiation exposure was within safe limits with an estimation of 0.544 mSv per year. However, students require further education regarding protective and safety measures and the utilization of radiation equipment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The lack of studies regarding the amount of radiation exposure from dental imaging and the safety of intraoral radiographic machines present in open clinics in any educational institute necessitates conducting this kind of study.

Effect of Brahmyadi Churna (Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, Jatamansi, Jyotishmati, Vacha, Ashwagandha) and tablet Shilajatu in essential hypertension: An observational study.

Hypertension (HTN) is one among the fiery health problems of the present era. Since it does not cause symptoms usually for many years until a vital organ is damaged. The present study was carried out on 40 patients of essential HTN with Brahmyadi Churna and tablet Shilajatu for a period of 1 month with milk as Anupana. Observation was done before the treatment, 3 mid test assessments on 7(th), 14(th), and 21(st) day, posttest assessment was done on 30(th) day. Intervention revealed that 19 had marked improvement, 14 had moderate improvement, 5 had mild improvement, and no improvement was noticed in 2 individuals. Reduction in blood pressure was observed markedly with P < 0.000.

Effectiveness of lidocaine Denti patch® system versus lidocaine gel as topical anesthetic agent in children.

BACKGROUND: New methods have been introduced to facilitate dental procedures, but the administration of local anesthesia is still necessary to perform pain control during several dental procedures. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of the lidocaine Denti-patch® system versus the lidocaine topical anesthetic gel in children concerning pain reaction during injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred 9-12-year-old cooperative children weighing more than 29 kg in need of bilateral dental treatment requiring maxillary and mandibular injection and not suffering from acute pain as a result of pulpits on the day of treatment were selected. The children were then divided into two groups: Group 1 comprising of 50 children in need of bilateral maxillary treatment and Group 2 compromising of 50 children requiring bilateral mandibular treatment. These groups were further subdivided into subgroups A and B; those receiving Denti-patch® on one side and lidocaine gel on the contralateral side, respectively. Pain or comfort was evaluated during injection using sound, eye, motor (SEM) scale (objective method) while, using faces pain rating scale (FPS) scale (subjective method) after injection by a trained assistant blinded to the procedure. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Comparison of the results was performed using Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test for SEM and FPS score. RESULT: There was a statistically significant difference between the patch and the gel group for maxilla (P < 0.0001), as well as mandible (P = 0.01) with respect to SEM score given by the children. Similarly, with FPS scale, there was a statistically significant difference between the patch and the gel groups in both maxilla and mandible (P < 0.0001). However, there was no statistical difference between the patch Groups 1A and IIA or the gel Groups 1B and II B. CONCLUSION: The Denti-patch® system can significantly reduce the needle injection pain more than the gel.

The magic of magic bugs in oral cavity: Probiotics.

The aim of this review is to present an update about the current status of probiotics in the field of dentistry. Oral infections are the most common forms of infections. It is necessary to understand the role of the ecology and microbiology of the oral cavity in better understanding of the pathogenesis of various oral diseases. The concept of bacteriotherapy has been an emerging field in dentistry. The use of health-beneficial micro-organisms to heal diseases or support immune function was first introduced in the beginning of the 20(th) century. Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts and it has been found to be beneficial to the host health. In medicine, probiotics are used mainly in support therapy for gastro-intestinal diseases. In recent years, probiotics have been used as a treatment to promote oral health. This approach has shown promising results in the oral cavity with respect to control of chronic diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, and recurring problems such as halitosis and candidal infections. Despite the immense potential of probiotics, data are still deficient on the probiotic action in the oral cavity, which further mandates randomized trials before any concrete clinical recommendations can be arrived.

Comparison of amlodipine with cilnidipine on antihypertensive efficacy and incidence of pedal edema in mild to moderate hypertensive individuals: A prospective study.

To compare amlodipine with cilnidipine on antihypertensive efficacy and incidence of pedal edema in hypertensive individuals. This was a three months prospective, observational study done at the tertiary care center of Karnataka, India. A total number of 60 (n = 60) newly diagnosed hypertensives (≥140/90) of either gender, attending outpatient department of medicine, were included in the study. Out of 60 patients, 30 patients who have been prescribed tablet amlodipine 5-10 mg/day and the other 30 who have been prescribed tablet cilnidipine 10-20 mg/day orally by the consulting physician, depending upon the severity of hypertension were followed every fortnight, screened for the presence of pedal edema and blood pressure control over a period of 3 months. Antihypertensive efficacy between two groups was compared by unpaired t-test and incidence of pedal edema was compared by Fisher's exact test. Of 30 patients in the amlodipine group, 19 patients presented with pedal edema (63.3%) and 2 patients (6.66%) in cilnidipine group presented with pedal edema during the study period. There was a significant difference in the incidence of pedal edema between amlodipine and cilnidipine group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in the antihypertensive efficacy of amlodipine and cilnidipine (P > 0.05). Both amlodipine and cilnidipine have shown equal efficacy in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. But cilnidipine being N-type and L-type calcium channel blocker, associated with lower incidence of pedal edema compared to only L-type channel blocked by amlodipine.

Evaluation of bacterial contamination in a clinical environment.

BACKGROUND: Although the contamination of the dental environment and personnel through aerosol contamination is a definite source of cross contamination; there is little data on the microbial involvement of the dental environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 samples were taken from various inanimate surfaces in the clinical dental setting were collected aseptically by rotating sterile swabs moistened with peptone water over the surfaces of the samples and then inoculated into brain heart infusion broth and incubated at 37°C aerobically overnight. Subcultures were made on 5% sheep blood agar and MacConkey agar plates and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Growth in the plates was observed. RESULTS: Out of the 100 samples screened in this study, a bacterial agent was observed in 38 samples, and 62 samples showed no growth. A higher percentage of contamination was seen on the dental chair light handles, suction tips and the pens used by the dental health care personnel's, followed by the instruments and the laboratory equipment. CONCLUSION: Establishing an effective preventive strategies for well-practiced infection control is essential to prevent nosocomial infections and promote a safe environment in the dental clinics.

Influence of mouth breathing on the dentofacial growth of children: a cephalometric study.

BACKGROUND: The involvement of mouth breathing, facial, and structural growth alterations, especially during childhood has been discussed in medical and dental literature. The relevance of airway obstruction and its assumed effect on facial growth continues to be debated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was aimed at assessing the dental and soft tissue abnormalities in mouth breathing children with and without adenoid hypertrophy. Fifty children aged between 6 and 12 years following otolaryngological examination were divided into three groups: Group I (MBA): Twenty mouth breathing children with enlarged adenoids and 60% of nasopharynx obstruction; Group II (MB): Twenty mouth breathing children without any nasal obstruction; Group III (nasal breathers [NB]): Ten nose breathing healthy individuals (control group). Digital lateral cephalograms were obtained and the dental and soft tissue parameters were assessed using the cephalometric software, Dolphin Imaging 11.5 version. Comparison was done using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in IMPA (P = 0.001 and 0.007 respectively), interlabial gap (P = 0.007 and 0.002 respectively) and facial convexity (P < 0.001 and 0.001 respectively) in both MBA and MB groups when compared to NB. The upper incisor proclination (P = 0.012) and facial convexity (P = 0.003) were significantly higher in mouthbreathers with adenoid hypertrophy. However, upper incisor proclination (P = 0.009) was statistically signifi cant only in group MB when compared to NB. CONCLUSION: All subjects with mouth-breathing habit exhibited a significant increase in lower incisor proclination, lip incompetency and convex facial profile. The presence of adenoids accentuated the facial convexity and mentolabial sulcus depth.