Estimation of dental age by Nolla’s method using orthopantomographs among rural free residential school children

Introduction: Teeth and dental restorations are resistant to destruction by fire and the elements are therefore useful in identification. This permits accurate identification of a missing child or remains. The Rural Residential free school at Suttur houses a large number of inmates and hence dental records are kept for their identification. Objective: Estimation of Age of children. Methods: Orthopantomographs were used to study for estimation of age of children, using a Nolla’s method of dental age estimation. Results: In this study Nolla’s method underestimated the chronological age of the individuals and underestimation of age increased as the chronological age of the individuals increased. Conclusion: Studies involving larger sample size and population specific data needs to be developed

The freezing tendency towards 4-coordinated amorphous networks causes an increase in the heat capacity of supercooled Stillinger–Weber silicon

Supercooled liquid silicon (Si), modeled by the Stillinger–Weber (SW) potential, has been shown to undergo transition to low density amorphous phases at 1060 K in previous studies. Furthermore, the constant pressure heat capacity Cp has been found to exhibit a large increase as the liquid is cooled to 1060 K. In this work, we examine the nature of the equilibrium and the relaxation process of supercooled SW Si in the temperature range of 1060 K to 1070 K at zero pressure. We find that the relaxation of the supercooled liquid leads to a sharp irreversible decrease in the fluctuation of the two body energy of the largest connected network of 4-coordinated particles. Such a process implies a tightening of the bonds (i.e. freezing or jamming) of the network, and is accompanied by a sharp increase in the fraction of the 4-coordinated particles in the system. We find that the jamming (or freezing) process shows a sudden acceleration across a dynamical instability point that occurs at a unique potential energy state of the network. Further, we find that the occurrence of the dynamical instability is associated with the appearance of a straight line region in the cumulative potential energy distributions with a configurational temperature close to 1060 K. We conclude that the supercooled liquid state must be regarded as a constrained equilibrium state, since the accessible microstates are constrained by the inherent tendency of the system to approach the dynamical instability point. Thus all properties of supercooled liquid SW-Si, including the rise in Cp at 1060 K, can be attributed to the freezing tendency of the 4-coordinated particle network

"Effect of nano-filled surface coating agent on fluoride release from conventional glass ionomer cement: An in vitro trial"

Context: To overcome the drawbacks of glass ionomer cement of sensitivity to initial desiccation and moisture contamination the use of surface coating agent is recommended. The search in this area led to invent of use of nanofillers in surface coating agent, but its effect on fluoride release is not clear. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the fluoride release from conventional glass ionomer cement with and without surface coating agent. Settings and Design: This in vitro study comprised of total 80 samples (40 samples of each with and without surface coating). Materials and Methods: Specimens were prepared, G coat plus was applied and light cured. Fluoride release of the sample was measured every 24 h for 7 days and weekly from 7th to 21 st day using Sension4 pH/ISE/MV Meter. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive Statistics, Repeated Measure ANOVA, Paired Sample t-test, Independent Sample t-test, Scheffe post hoc test. Results: Mean values clearly reveal a significant decrease in the fluoride release from day 1 to day 21 for both groups. Non-coated group released significantly more fluoride than surface coated group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: It can be concluded that nanofilled surface coating agent will reduce the amount of fluoride released into oral environment as compared to non-coated group and at the same time releasing fluoride into surrounding cavity walls to create zones of inhibition into the cavity floor to help internal remineralization

An indirect veneer technique for simple and esthetic treatment of anterior hypoplastic teeth

This study describes a technique for treating anterior hypoplastic teeth using indirect nanocomposite veneer restoration. The prime advantage of an indirect veneer technique is that it provides an esthetic and conservative result. One of the most frequent reasons that patients seek dental care is discolored anterior teeth. Although treatment options such as removal of surface stains, bleaching, microabrasion or macroabrasion, veneering, and placement of porcelain crowns are available, conservative approach such as veneer preserves the natural tooth as much as possible. Full veneers are recommended for the restoration of localized defects or areas of intrinsic discoloration, which are caused by deeper internal stains or enamel defects. Indirectly fabricated veneers are much less sensitive compared to a operator's technique and if multiple teeth are to be veneered, indirect veneers can be usually placed much more expeditiously. Indirect veneers last much longer than the direct veneers. Therefore, indirectly fabricated veneers are more advantageous than directly fabricated veneers in many cases

Effects of Asthma and Inhalation corticosteroids on the dental arch morphology in children

Background: Hereditary, environmental and developmental factors play an important role in dentofacial development, as well as the initiation of malocclusion disorder. Allergic phenomenon such as asthma that induces an alternative mode of breathing in patients is a contributing factor in development of the dental arch. Aim: Our aim in this study was to evaluate the dentoalveolar morphology in asthmatic children and to analyze the effects of asthmatic medications on the dental arch. Setting and Design : This study is centered on 44 asthmatic children aged between 6-12 years from J.S.S Hospital, Mysore. Selected variables from model analysis of the casts of the asthmatic group were subjected to comparison with those of the non-asthmatic group, which comprised of 44 non-asthmatic children. Selected parameters were arch width, arch length and palatal depth. Materials and Methods : Impressions of upper and lower arches were made with rubber based impression material. A sliding digital caliper was used to measure the casts for arch width and arch length. A palatal depth gauge was used to measure the palatal depth. Statistical Analysis : Differences in arch widths, arch lengths and palatal depths between asthmatics and non-asthmatics groups were evaluated by independent sample t-tests. Chi-square test was applied to assess the frequency of occurrence of malocclusion in the asthmatic children. Result: The results obtained revealed that the arch length and palatal depth of asthmatic group had higher values compared to that of non-asthmatic groups for both age groups (6 to 8-year-old males and females, 10 to 12-year-old males and females). Inter molar width showed a significant lower value in asthmatics in the maxillary arches of 10 to 12-year-old females. Fifty percent of the asthmatic children aged 10 to 12-years had open-bite. Children under regular medication showed significant deviation in the dentoalveolar morphology as compared to those under irregular medication. Conclusion: The present study proves a strong relation between asthma and dentoalveolar morphology

Restoring biological width in crown-root fracture: A periodontal concern

A 10-year-old male child reported to J.S.S. Dental College and Hospital presenting with a vertical crown-root fracture of maxillary central incisor with a history of fall 10 days back. A new treatment protocol was attempted in contrary to various schools of thoughts of coronal fragment removal wherein fractured fragments were approximated and internally reinforced with latest technologies in adhesive dentistry, the goal was to save the tooth, restore its function and esthetics. This case presents the above mentioned philosophy

Comparative evaluation of the effect of cavity disinfectants on the fracture resistance of primary molars restored with indirect composite inlays: An <i>in vitro</i> study

A study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effect of cavity disinfectants on the fracture resistance of primary molars restored with indirect composite inlays. Thirty-six non-carious primary second molars were selected and divided randomly into three groups (n = 12): control group (no disinfectant), chlorhexidine group (disinfected with 2&#x0025; chlorhexidine for 40 seconds) and sodium hypochlorite group crowns (disinfected with 2&#x0025; chlorhexidine for 40 seconds). The inlays were fabricated by indirect method using Ceram X nanocomposite on plaster die. All the groups were submitted to compression mechanic test in a Hounsfield universal testing machine at 1 mm/min cross-head speed and the results were calculated in Newtons. Descriptive statistics, independent t test, and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test revealed the mean fracture resistance of three groups, i.e., control group, chlorhexidine group and sodium hypochlorite group to be 2260.66, 1858.08 and 1310.66, respectively. When intragroup comparisons were made, a significant difference was observed in all the groups (P&lt;0.001). Scheffe&#x2032;s post hoc test revealed that control group had the highest fracture resistance, followed by chlorhexidine group, and sodium hypochlorite group had the least fracture resistance. Each value differed significantly from the other (P&lt;0.05). Cavity disinfectants used in the present study had detrimental effect on the fracture resistance of primary molars. Among the disinfectants employed in the present study, chlorhexidine showed a better resistance to fracture than sodium hypochlorite

Pain perception and procedural tolerance with computer controlled and conventional local anesthetic technique: An in vivo comparative study

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the Pain Perception and Procedural Tolerance (PPPT) by the pediatric patients, while experiencing ′Computer Controlled Local Anesthetic Technique′ (CCLAD, Wand) and ′Conventional local anesthetic technique′. Material and Methods: Fifteen subjects, of age 8-10 years requiring local anesthesia on both sides of the dental arch for the purpose of extraction were selected for this study. In this cross-over design study, randomization was done to allocate the type of local anesthetic technique to be used first, children who received CCLAD (Wand) during ′First Anesthetic Exposure′ (FAE) visit subsequently received ′Conventional anesthetic technique′ during ′Second Anesthetic Exposure′ (SAE) visit and vice versa. Behavior assessment using ′Frankel′s Behavior Rating Scale′ (FBRS) and anxiety assessment using ′Faces Version of Modified Child′s Dental Anxiety Scale′ (MCDAS f ) were done prior to the anesthetic exposure. ′Wong Baker′s Facial Pain Scale′ (WBFPS) was used to assess the child′s pain perception to each of the two techniques, immediately after the injection. Various physiological parameters like ′Heart Rate′(HR), ′Respiratory Rate′(RR), and ′Oxygen Saturation′ were measured during pre-operative phase, LA-phase, post LA-phase, Extraction phase and post Extraction phase, during FAE and SAE. Results: Paired t-test revealed a very highly significant (P = 0.001) difference between CCLAD (Wand) and conventional during SAE. Non-significant difference was observed when physiological parameters were compared at various intervals between the two anesthetic techniques. Conclusion: CCLAD (Wand) provides lesser pain perception as compared to conventional local anesthetic technique