Effectiveness of Aromatherapy and Music Distraction in Managing Pediatric Dental Anxiety: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Managing a child's anxiety is most critical for the success of treatment in the pediatric dental setup. Present trend advocates the use of non-aversive behavior management techniques. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To compare and evaluate the efficacy of aromatherapy using orange essential oil with that of music distraction in the management of anxious pediatric dental patients. DESIGN: One hundred and fifty children of the age 6-8 years were divided into three groups of 50 each and performed restorative treatment under aromatherapy, with music distraction, without aromatherapy, or music distraction, respectively. Venham's picture test and facial image scale (FIS), pulse rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded before and after the procedure. RESULTS: Compared with controls, both the aromatherapy group and music distraction group showed significant posttreatment change in anxiety levels with respect to Venham's picture test and FIS, along with the reduction in pulse rate and respiratory rate. When compared between music distraction and aromatherapy, it did not yield statistical significance, though music distraction showed better results compared to aromatherapy. CONCLUSION: Both music distraction and aromatherapy using orange essential oil are effective in anxiety management of which music distraction presents a comparatively better result. Either these non-invasive techniques alone or a combination of both may be employed in the dental setup of pediatric dentists for molding cooperative patients. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: James J, Retnakumari N, Vadakkepurayil K, e t a l. Effectiveness of Aromatherapy and Music Distraction in Managing Pediatric Dental Anxiety: A Comparative Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):249-253.

Exosomes in the Oral and Maxillofacial Region.

Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicles, released from different tissues in a living individual. By virtue of their ability to be released from both the normal and diseased individual, they play an inevitable role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic aspect of a disease. With this background, the untapped role of exosomes in the field of oral and maxillofacial region is unveiled.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Calcium Hydroxide along with Proton Pump Inhibitor against Enterococcus Faecalis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the efficacy of pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, alone, and in combination with calcium hydroxide against Enterococcus faecalis, a star survivor in endodontic pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Teeth were inoculated with E. faecalis strains MTCC 439 and were divided into groups. Group 1 used saline as the negative control, Group 2 used calcium hydroxide, Group 3 used pantoprazole alone, and Group 4 used calcium hydroxide along with pantoprazole. They were incubated and dentine harvesting was performed. Colonies were counted using a digital counting machine. Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Group 4 was found to be the most effective against the pathogen. DISCUSSION: This study indicates that the association of calcium hydroxide with the proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole can be successfully used as an intracanal medicament against E. faecalis.

Estimation of Serum Cortisol Levels in Oral Lichen Planus Patients with Electrochemiluminescence.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to compare the serum cortisol level in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients with normal healthy individuals and to compare the serum cortisol level in patients with erosive and nonerosive forms of OLP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study involving 60 patients within the age group of 20-50 years was carried out. Group A included 15 subjects with nonerosive lichen planus, without skin involvement; Group B included 15 subjects with erosive lichen planus, without skin; and Group C included 30 subjects with no apparent lesions of the oral mucosa and the skin. From the cases and controls, 7mL venous blood was taken from median cubital vein two times (between 8 and 10 AM, and 4 and 6 PM) by using a 10 mL syringe from which 5 mL was taken for estimation of serum cortisol. RESULTS: The serum cortisol levels of the erosive OLP patients were significantly higher than those of nonerosive OLP patients and controls. There was no significant difference in the serum cortisol levels between nonerosive OLP in comparison with controls.

Ultrastructural Changes of Collagen in Different Histopathological Grades of Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder and a crippling condition of oral mucosa. It is usually seen in adults with areca nut chewing habit, which is characterized by changes in the connective tissue fibers leading to stiffness of the mucosa and restricted mouth opening. Patients with severe cases have distinct difficulties in chewing, swallowing, and speaking. It predominantly occurs in Indians and other population of the Indian subcontinent with a prevalence of 0.2%-0.5%. The potentiality of malignant transformation associated with OSMF is much higher with a range of 4.5%-7.6%. This article is about the ultrastructural changes pertaining to collagen and with respect to the histopathological grades of OSMF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 biopsy samples from clinically diagnosed OSMF subjects and 5 healthy controls were collected. After obtaining the biopsy, the specimens were divided into two halves, of which one was studied under light microscope and the other half was observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Of the 20 subjects in the study group, most of the subjects were in the 20-29 years age group with an overall male predilection (19 subjects). Four subjects were in grade 1, nine were in grade 2, and seven were in grade 3. Collagen showed sparse to dense fibrosis and normal to thick collagen bundles, and some subjects showed encroachment of collagen into the blood vessels. CONCLUSION: This study showed definitive changes with respect to collagen in the OSMF samples compared to the controls. The changes were found to be increasing with the progression of the disease to the higher grades. The changes were pertaining to the collagen and were drawing toward an increased fibrosis of the connective tissue, which compresses the blood vessels. Hence, the state of hypoperfusion and subsequent epithelial atrophy can be considered in the progression of disease to the higher grades.

Platelet-rich Plasma and Incidence of Alveolar Osteitis in High-risk Patients Undergoing Extractions of Mandibular Molars: A Case-control Study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficiency of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the incidence of alveolar osteitis (AO) in patients with potential risk factors for the development of AO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in 150 patients visiting the outpatient department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Patients with potential risk factors for the development of AO which included smokers, alcoholics, postmenopausal women, patients on oral contraceptives, pericoronitis, and bruxism were included for the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 75 patients in which PRP was placed in the socket after extraction. Group B consisted of 75 patients in which sockets were left for normal healing without the placement of PRP. The patients were assessed for pain and dry socket on the 3rd and 5th postoperative day. RESULTS: All the local signs and symptoms of inflammation were mild to moderate and subsided in normal course of time. Pain was less in Group A where the extraction sockets were treated with PRP. Soft-tissue healing was also statistically significant on the PRP treated site when compared to the other group where PRP was not placed into the socket after extraction. The incidence of AO among the patients who have the potential risk factor for the development of the same was significantly reduced in Group A. CONCLUSION: The study showed that autologous PRP is a biocompatible material and has significantly improved the process of soft-tissue healing, reduced pain, and decreased the incidence of AO in the extraction socket when treated with PRP.