Minimal invasive dentistry – An emerging trend in pediatric dentistry: A review

Modern dentistry has evolved into minimally invasive approach. Natural human enamel and dentin are still the best dental materials in existence and thus “minimally invasive procedures” that conserve a great part of the original, healthy tooth structure, are being focused on. The application of “minimally invasive restorative dentistry” can be justified on the grounds that no restorative material can adequately replace natural tooth structure for the long-term and hence its preservation is of paramount importance. Dentistry has witnessed an era of development of new techniques and instruments that make conservative dentistry in true sense - A practical possibility, and ultra conservative dentistry a realit

Determination of toral antioxidant capacity of saliva in sickle cell anemic patients – A cross-sectional study

Background: Sickle cell anemia is a congenital hemoglobinopathy characterized by deformed red blood cells. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell anaemia as it destroys free radicals, and thereby depleting the protective mechanisms such as antioxidants in serum. These antioxidants are essential to protect against harmful oxidation-reduction reactions preventing oxidative damage to the cells. Aim: To evaluate and compare the Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of serum and saliva in sickle cell anemia patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 children aged 4-12 yrs were selected and divided into two equal groups: Children suffering from sickle cell anemia and healthy controls. Blood and saliva samples were collected aseptically from both groups and were subjected to phosphomolybdenum method. Absorbance was read spectrophotometrically at 695 nm. The concentration of total antioxidants was obtained by plotting absorbance of the test against the standard graph. Results: TAC levels in serum (0.29±0.19) and saliva (0.29±0.14) of sickle cell anaemic patients was reduced when compared with serum (0.32+ 0.18) and saliva (0.33+ 0.16) of the healthy children. The correlation between levels of TAC in saliva and serum was found to be statistically significant in sickle cell anaemic patients. Conclusion: A significant correlation of the TAC was found in saliva and serum of the patients with SCA suggests that saliva could be used as a non invasive alternative for assessing the antioxidant status in patients with SCA

Surgical management of large radicular cyst associated with mandibular deciduous molar using platelet-rich fibrin augmentation: A rare case report

Radicular cysts arising from deciduous teeth are rare and usually cause a large bony defect. Autologous platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is an easily available healing biomaterial in oral surgical defect with the new perspective of accelerated healing of a large bony defect. The present case is of unusually large radicular associated with neglected carious mandibular deciduous second molar in 10-year-old girl and its surgical management with PRF augmentation as a healing biomaterial in the bony defect. One-year follow-up showed uneventful healing and eruption of succedaneous tooth. Healing was relatively faster and facilitated by PRF placement. Furthermore, the importance of anticipatory guidance about the treatment of diseased primary teeth and their preservation gets highlighted