RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Restoring carious teeth is one of the major treatment needs of young children. Glass ionomer cement (GIC) systems had become the most important dental restorative and luting materials for use in preschoolers, children and teenagers. Several attempts in developing GIC with antibacterial effects by addition of bactericides, such as chlorhexidine, have been reported. AIM: AIM of the study was to evaluate and compare the color and fluoride ion release of conventional and resin-modified GICs in combination with 1.25 and 2.5% chlorhexidine diacetate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The control groups consisted of conventional GIC and resin-modified GIC. The experimental groups consisted of conventional and resin-modified GIC groups, consisting of 1.25 and 2.5% chlorhexidine. A total of six groups were included with each group being allotted 20 specimens for the evaluation of color stability and 10 specimens each were allotted for the evaluation of fluoride release. Color and fluoride release were recorded using spectrophoto-meter and fluoride selective electrode respectively at 24 hours 7 days and 1 month. RESULTS: Resin-modified GIC groups showed less color stability and better fluoride release at the end of the study compared to conventional GIC groups. CONCLUSION: There was no significant change in color and fluoride release between 1.25 and 2.5% conventional GIC and also between 1.25 and 2.5% resin-modified GIC combined with chlorhexidine diacetate at the end of the study. Conventional GIC showed better color stability and less fluoride release compared to resin-modified GIC. How to cite this article: Prabhakar AR, Pattanshetti K, Sugandhan S. A Comparative Study of Color Stability and Fluoride Release from Glass Ionomer Cements Combined with Chlorhexidine. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2013;6(1):26-29.
RESUMO
AIM: To evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of turmeric extract as an intracanal medicament against E. faecalis and its effect on the microhardness of root dentin in comparison with calcium hydroxide and 2% chlorhexidine gel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and fourty dentin blocks were prepared from 70 extracted human single-rooted teeth and standardized. For antibacterial assessment, 120 blocks were infected for 21 days with E. faecalis (n = 24/group). Dentin blocks were treated with group I (Ca(OH)2), group II (2% chlorhexidine gel), group III (turmeric extract), group IV (saline) and group V (negative control). Dentin shavings were obtained in TSB at depth of 400 µm and plated to count CFUs at 24 hours, 3 and 7 days (n = 8/day). For microhardness assessment, eight samples of 2 mm thickness were prepared form four dentin blocks (n = 8/group). Following treatment with medicaments, microhardness test was performed at 24 hours, 3 and 7 days using Vickers hardness indentation machine at 400 µm from canal lumen. RESULTS: Complete inhibition of E. faecalis was observed with group II, followed by 64% with group I and 54% with group III which was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). Highest effect on microhardness of root dentin was shown by group I, followed by group II and no effect was seen with group III which was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Turmeric extract has substantial antibacterial activity with no effect on microhardness of root dentine and hence has a potential to be used as intracanal medicament if its antibacterial activity could be enhanced. How to cite this article: Prabhakar AR, Swapnil T, Savita H, Sugandhan S. Comparison of Antibacterial Efficacy of Calcium Hydroxide Paste, 2% Chlorhexidine Gel and Turmeric Extract as an Intracanal Medicament and their Effect on Microhardness of Root Dentin: An in vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2013;6(2):171-177.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fluoride is being used for the prevention of dental caries since a long time. Incorporation of fluoride in pit and fissure sealants has been found to reduce initiation and progression of pit and fissure caries. Authors conducted this study to evaluate and compare the effect of fluoride releasing pit and fissure sealants on the inhibition of demineralization of adjacent enamel and to reduce wall lesion frequency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 caries-free human third molars were randomly assigned into three groups receiving conventional resin sealant without fluoride (Group A), fluoride releasing resin sealant (Group B), glass ionomer pit and fissure sealant (Group C). Fissure cavities of 5 × 2 × 1.5 mm were prepared on buccal surfaces of teeth using fissurotomy bur and sealants were applied onto the cavities. The teeth were then thermocycled and exposed to acidified gelatin gel for 6 weeks to induce caries like lesions. A 150 µ m section was taken from each tooth and observed under polarized light microscope to measure the depth of advancing front of outer enamel lesion. The outer lesion depths of all three groups were compared. RESULTS: Enamel demineralization was least in glass ionomer pit and fissure sealant while the demineralization exhibited by nonfluoridated resin and fluoridated resin were comparable. Wall lesion frequency was found to be 0% in all groups. Conclusion and interpretation: The glass ionomer pit and fissure sealant exhibited highest anticariogenic efficacy and hence can be advocated as a means of preventing dental caries. How to cite this article: Prabhakar AR, Dahake PT, Raju OS, Basappa N. Fluoride: Is It Worth to be added in Pit and Fissure Sealants?. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012;5(1):1-5.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries has been characterized as first affecting the primary maxillary anterior teeth, followed by the involvement of the primary molars. Other terms for dental caries in preschool children, which inappropriately may imply cause for the disease, includes baby bottle tooth decay, nursing caries, milk bottle syndrome, baby bottle caries, nursing bottle mouth and nursing mouth. AIM: To explore the relationships of feeding practices, age and number of teeth present with mutans streptococci colonization in infants. DESIGN AND SETTING: A comparative clinical study conducted on 160 children aged from 6 to 30 months in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital in collaboration with Child Health Institute and Research Center and Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline data collection included: (i) Parents of the infants were asked open ended questions about the baby feeding practices, (ii) The age of the subjects were obtained from the immunization register maintained at Child Health Institute and Research Center and were grouped into group I (6-11 months), group II (12-17 months), group III (18-23 months) and group IV (24-30 months), (iii) Clinical examination of children was done by using mouth mirror and explorer in flash light.(6) For each child number and location of erupted teeth was recorded, (iv) Microbial screening for mutans streptococci involved sampling of saliva from each child was performed by placing a sterile wooden tongue blade on the dorsum of the tongue and the number of colony forming units (CFU) were recorded. RESULTS: According to feeding practices, 34 children were in breastfed category, 39 were in baby bottle category and 87 children reported no bottle usage. Out of 160 children examined, a total 142 children were colonized with mutans streptococci. 18 children were found to be colonized with low colony forming units, 78 children were found to be colonized with moderate colony forming units and 64 children were colonized with high colony forming units. In baby bottle group, all of 39 subjects were reported to have sweetened milk, sugar in the bottle. CONCLUSION: Among different feeding practices, all the three subgroups viz breastfed children, children with nursing bottle usage and children with no bottle usage, all have shown mutans streptococci acquisition. But breastfed children have shown least number of high colony forming units, which is increased in the case of children using nursing bottle and is maximum in the children who were neither breastfed nor fed with nursing bottle. Percentage of children colonized with mutans streptococci increases with age and as the number of teeth increase, number of colony forming units were also found to be increasing. How to cite this article: Sharma R, Prabhakar AR, Gaur A. Mutans Streptococci Colonization in Relation to Feeding Practices, Age and the Number of Teeth in 6 to 30-Month-Old Children: An in vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012;5(2): 124-131.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the physicochemical properties of saliva such as flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, calcium level, total protein and total antioxidant levels in caries free and caries active children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included one hundred and twenty healthy children who were divided into two groups and subdivided according to gender. They were further divided into caries free and caries active children with 15 children in each group. Unstimulated saliva was collected by suction method and flow rates were determined. The samples were then analyzed for pH, buffering capacity, total protein, calcium and total antioxidant levels. The data was then statistically analyzed using student's 't' test {unpaired}. RESULTS: The results revealed that when all these parameters were compared among the caries free and caries active children, the flow rate, pH and buffering capacity were slightly reduced in caries active children, but the total protein and total antioxidant capacity of saliva increased significantly in caries active children and the total calcium decreased significantly in caries active children. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, we can conclude that, the physicochemical properties of saliva play a major role in the development of caries.
