Parents outlook on preventive dental modalities for their children in Udham Singh Nagar, India.

AIM: The aim is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents toward preventive dental treatment modalities. METHODOLOGY: A convenient sample of parents was selected randomly from four schools of Udham Singh Nagar, India. The data were collected through questionnaire on dental preventive modalities. The questionnaire includes questions pertaining to knowledge and practices toward pit and fissure sealants, fluoride application, and dental visits. Questions pertaining attitude toward the same were asked after the motivational program. RESULTS: The majority of the parents were unaware that dental caries could be prevented by preventive treatment modalities. None of their children had undergone preventive procedures. Even after visiting dentist, 70% of parents were not informed about the preventive treatments by their respective dentists. Even after our motivational program, around one-third of the parents were reluctant to accept preventive procedures for their children. CONCLUSION: Parent's knowledge about the preventive dental procedures for their children was insufficient. Dentists are not encouraging parents about the benefits of preventive treatment modalities. Based on our findings, promotional efforts encouraged 64% of parents to embrace preventive procedures for their children. The present study emphasizes the need to educate parents and their children.

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Cetylpyridinium Chloride Enriched Glass-Ionomer Restorative Cement: A Comparative Study Assessing Compressive Strength and Antibacterial Activity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the addition of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) on the compressive strength and antibacterial activity of conventional glass-ionomer cement (GIC). STUDY DESIGN: TiO2 nanoparticles enriched GIC was prepared by adding 3% TiO2 nanoparticles (w/w) into the powder component of conventional GIC. CPC containing GIC was developed by incorporating 1% CPC (w/w) into conventional GIC powder. Samples were segregated into three groups: GIC with 3% TiO2 nanoparticles, GIC with 1% CPC and unmodified conventional GIC. Compressive strength was assessed using the universal testing machine on cylindrical specimens made from each material. Antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring inhibition zones on Mitis Salivarius Bacitracin (MSB) agar inoculated with pure strain of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). RESULTS: GIC containing TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited significantly greater compressive strength as compared with CPC and conventional GIC groups (P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the compressive strengths of CPC and conventional GIC group (P >0.05). Antibacterial activity was significantly greater for TiO2 group than conventional GIC (P <0.05). CPC increased the antibacterial activity of conventional GIC, though not significantly. CONCLUSION: The addition of 3% TiO2 nanoparticles improves the compressive strength of GIC as well as its antibacterial activity against S. mutans.

Efficacy of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on glycaemic control in type II diabetic patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Diabetes and periodontal disease are two common diseases with high prevalence rates. Recent evidence has shown a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. METHODS: Sixty subjects aged 35-45 years with blood sugar controlled by oral hypoglycaemic agents were randomly divided equally among 3 groups: group A (scaling, mouthwash, and brushing), group B (mouthwash and brushing), and group C (brushing only). Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood sugar (FBS), probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and the relevant drug history were recorded at baseline and after 3 months of intervention. Comparison of the mean difference among the variables was performed by parametric and nonparametric tests, which were further evaluated using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean differences between the PPD, FBS, HbA1c, GI, and PI in groups A and B were found to be statistically significant (P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis in group A showed that out of all the independent variables, GI and frequency of drug administration independently (b=0.3761 and b=0.598) showed a significantly greater impact on HbA1c (R(2)=0.832, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical periodontal therapy can effectively decrease HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on medication.

In vivo dental plaque pH after consumption of dairy products.

This in vivo study assessed plaque pH in subjects following the consumption of different dairy products. After receiving parental consent to participate, subjects (12-15 years old) were asked to refrain from brushing their teeth for 48 hours prior to the study. At baseline, plaque pH was determined at 4 different sites. Each of the subjects was then assigned randomly to 1 of 4 subgroups and each subgroup was given either cheese, milk, yogurt, or paraffin (control). After baseline, all subjects were allowed to chew and/or swish their respective product for 3 minutes and pH was assessed subsequently at different time intervals. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t-test and 1-way ANOVA. The results showed a statistically significant change in mean plaque pH after consuming different dairy products, as the plaque pH after 30 minutes was higher in the cheese group than that of the milk and yogurt groups, both of which showed a pH toward baseline after 30 minutes. These results suggest that cheese has the highest anticariogenic property among the dairy products studied, and that milk and yogurt can be considered as noncariogenic.