Evaluation Of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Of Pediatricians Towards Long-Term Liquid Medicaments And Its Association With Dental Health

Background: A regular practice following child birth is interaction with the pediatrician for routine medical examination, who administers children with a variety of medicines. Heavily sweetened liquid pediatric medicines has been a well accepted risk factor for the development of dental caries and dental erosion. Aim: To evaluate pediatricians' knowledge, attitude and practice about the long term use of liquid pediatric medicines and their relationship with dental caries and dental erosion. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among the pediatricians in Chennai. Total subjects included in the survey were 55 pediatricians, through the method of convenience sampling. Data was collected by pre-tested, structured and self administered questionnaires handed out in hospitals, medical clinics and offices. The data on qualitative responses of the respondents was presented in percentage and statistical significance was tested using Chi-square test for independence of attributes. Results: No statistical difference was seen in the practice of advising dental checkup. Statistically significant difference was seen in awareness of PLM and association with caries, Prescription time for PLM, Practice on advising of rinsing mouth with water, brushing and chewing gum (P<0.001) Conclusion: Pediatricians in this study did not adequately perceive the relationship between the presence of fermentable carbohydrates in pediatric liquid medications and dental caries. But, they had moderate knowledge and lacked proper attitude and practice regarding the various preventive measures . Further studies with a larger sample are necessary

Assessment Of Preventive Dental Care Among Dental Students In India: A Knowledge, Attitude, And Education Study

Aim: Knowledge and oral health behavior of dental students plays an important role in oral health education of patients and community at large. It is therefore important that their own oral health behavior conforms to expectations of the population. Hence, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the oral health knowledge, attitude, and education among dental students. Materials and Methods: In the present study an online survey was distributed to 1500 dental students from eight dental colleges in India The participants were divided into two groups – final years and interns. Data collected was statistically analyzed Kruskal-Wallis test was used for intergroup comparison and Mann-Whitney test was used for intragroup comparison. Result: There was no statistical difference in knowledge between both groups, though a statistically significant difference was seen between the groups for attitude and practice Conclusion: The results of our study show that students who participated in the study have good knowledge about the preventive dental treatment. However they should be encouraged to practice what they have learnt and encouraged to do more preventive treatment along with curative treatment

Association Between Smoking and Oral Lichen Planus in Males - A Retrospective study

Oral lichen planus affects one to two percent of the general adult population and is the most common non‐infectious oral mucosal disease. Tobacco smoking increases the risk of OLP malignant transformation as cigarette smoke contains substances that induce chronic inflammation at mucosal surfaces. The aim of this study was to assess the association between smoking and oral lichen planus in males. A retrospective study was conducted using the case records of patients visiting a private dental college in Chennai from June 2019 - March 2020. The study population included case records of male patients with oral lichen planus, selected by non-probability purposive sampling. Data regarding their smoking habit were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done using SPSS software. Among the study population, 43.59% of patients were below 40 years and 56.41% were above 40 years of age. About 53.8% of male patients with oral lichen planus had a smoking habit. Erosive lichen planus was the most common variant followed by the reticular type.Within the limits of the study, there was a significant association between smoking and oral lichen planus in males, with an increased incidence of erosive lichen planus among smokers

Biological and Clinical Relevance of microRNAs in Mitochondrial Diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction arises from an inadequate number of mitochondria, an inability to provide necessary substrates to mitochondria, or a dysfunction in their electron transport and a denosine triphosphate synthesis machinery. Occurrences of mitochondrial dysfunction are due to genetic or environmental changes in the mitochondria or in the nuclear DNA that codes mitochondrial components. Currently, drug options are available, yet no treatment exists in sight of this disease and needs a new insight into molecular and signaling pathways for this disease. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous, and noncoding RNAs function as a master regulator of gene expression. The evolution of miRNAs in the past two decades emerged as a key regulator of gene expression that controls physiological pathological cellular differentiation processes, and metabolic homeostasis such as development and cancer. It has been known that miRNAs are a potential biomarker in both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. But, in the case of mitochondrial dysfunction in miRNAs, the number of studies and investigations are comparatively less than those on other diseases and dysfunctions. In this review, we have elaborated the roles of miRNAs in the mitochondrial diseases and dysfunctions

COMPARISON OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING DENTAL TREATMENT UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA WITH PROPOFOL AND SEVOFLURANE - A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

  Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of these drugs on the blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate during induction of anesthesia in children undergoing full mouth rehabilitation.Methods: Data were collected from the records maintained for the children &lt;6 years who underwent full mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia (GA). The drugs used for induction, the changes seen in the BP, pulse rate were recorded. Statistical analysis was done using Mann–Whitney test with p&lt;0.05, significant.Results: Of 64 children treated under GA, 31 children were induced with propofol and by sevoflurane in the remaining 33 children. The induction time with 2 mg/kg dosage of propofol was approximately 12 seconds while it was variable with 8% sevoflurane. The mean systolic and diastolic BP and pulse rate were found to be within the normal levels under both the drugs.Conclusion: In children, sevoflurane and propofol can be safely used for inducing anaesthesia

Microbial evaluation of plaque on 3M ESPE and kids stainless steel crown in primary molars

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the oral hygiene and microbial adhesion on the 3M stainless steel crown (SSC) and Kids crown in primary molars. Materials and Methods: Seven children aged 4-8 years were selected from the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry. Children included in the study had lower right or left both first and second primary molars that required SSC. The tooth was restored with 3M crown and Kids crown. The swabs were collected before and immediately after the cementation of crowns and after 1 week. Oral hygiene index (OHI) was also evaluated. The swabs were incubated in mitis salivarius bacitracin agar, and the total number of Streptococcus mutans was counted and expressed in colony forming units. Results: There was no statistically significant difference seen in the microbial count and OHI-simplified between the 3M and Kids crown and natural teeth. Conclusion: The microbial adhesion of plaque and S. mutans was seen higher on the Kids crown. However, there was no significant difference between 3M ESPE and Kids crown

Awareness and knowledge created by issuing dental avulsion pamphlets to parents of primary school children in Chennai

Background: Dental avulsion is defined as the complete displacement of tooth out of socket along with severed periodontal ligament with or without fracture of the alveolar bone. Reimplantation of the avulsed tooth is considered as a best treatment modality due to its biological and psychological advantages. Aim: The aims of this study were to evaluate knowledge level among parents regarding tooth avulsion and replantation and to evaluate a simple leaflet as an information tool to enhance this knowledge. Materials and Methods: One Hundred and fifty parents in Chennai city participated in the study. Half of the parents received a leaflet with basic first aid message regarding what to do in case of tooth avulsion. One week after reading the leaflet, the parents who had received the leaflet were evaluated by using a questionnaire. The other half of the parents who had not seen the leaflet served as control. The level of knowledge was measured in the following categories: General knowledge of tooth avulsion, knowledge of replantation and knowledge of storage methods and storage media. By scoring the knowledge, the level of knowledge was calculated. Results: The results showed that knowledge level was low among Chennai parents. Improvement was seen in all categories of knowledge as a result of reading the leaflet. Conclusion: A simple leaflet can be a valuable tool to convey important basic information and enhance knowledge of tooth avulsion and how parents should act in such a situation, although there are limitations in conveying the message for a complete understanding. Measuring the knowledge by scoring can give valuable feedback in developing various educational tools

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of two anesthetic gels (2% lignocaine and 20% benzocaine) in reducing pain during administration of local anesthesia – A randomized controlled trial

Background and Aims: Topical anesthetic agents are widely used in the field of pediatric dentistry to reduce pain and apprehension during administration of local anesthesia. Various topical anesthetic agents are available, among which the most commonly used ones are lignocaine and benzocaine. Hence we planned this study to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of topical anesthesia on needle insertion pain during administration of inferior alveolar nerve block. Material and Methods: This double blind clinical study included 30 children of 4–8 years of age who were divided equally into two groups: Group A-2% lignocaine hydrochloride gel (Lox 2%) and Group B-20% benzocaine gel (ProGel-B). The intervention involved assessment of pain perception by the child during administration of inferior alveolar nerve block. The child's pain assessment was done using modified Wong–Baker pain rating scale. The ratings were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: In Group A, 6.7% (N = 1) showed slight pain, 66.7% (N = 10) showed moderate pain, and 26.7% (N = 4) showed severe pain. In Group B, 46.7% (N = 7) showed no pain, 46% (N = 7) showed slight pain, and 6.7% (N = 1) showed moderate pain on needle insertion. (P value –0.000). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there is a highly significant difference between the topical anesthetic effectiveness of 2% lignocaine and 20% benzocaine on needle insertion pain in inferior alveolar nerve block. Twenty percent benzocaine showed better results than 2% lignocaine in reducing the needle insertion pain

Behavior assessment of children after placing colored restorative material: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Children tend to have a unfound fear and anxiety. Placing coloured restoration can motivate and reduce the anxiety in the child. Aim: To assess the behaviour of the child after placement of coloured restorative material. Materials and Methods: 48 Children of 3-7 years who visited department of pedodontics and preventive dentistry with a occlusal lesion in primary molar teeth were included in the study. The child's behaviour was assessed before and after the treatment. The outcome was based on the cooperation on the child on further appointments. Results: The children who were given coloured restoration had better improvement in the behaviour when compared to that of the regular restoration which was statistical significant. Conclusion: The coloured restoration are effective motivational tool for the children and reduces anxiety which ultimately benefits better cooperation and improvement in oral hygiene maintanence

Dental neglect among children in Chennai

Background: Child dental neglect is the failure of a parent or guardian to meet the child′s basic oral health needs such that the child enjoys adequate function and freedom from pain and infection, where reasonable resources are available to family or caregiver. Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the phenomenon of dental neglect among children in Chennai and to associate dental neglect with oral health status of children aged 3-12 years. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 478 pairs of parents and children. Dental neglect scale and a questionnaire were used to assess the dental neglect score among parents of the children involved in the study. Oral health status of children was clinically assessed using oral hygiene index, decayed, extracted, filled teeth (def(t)), pulp, ulcers, fistula, abscess (pufa), decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT), PUFA as per the World Health Organization criteria and pufa/PUFA index. Student′s t-test and one-way ANOVA were used appropriately for statistical analysis using SPSS software version 20.0. Results: A significant higher dental neglect score was reported among the parents who reside in the suburban location (P 3 years (P = 0.001). A significant higher DMFT (P = 0.003), deft (P = 0 < 0.001), pufa (P = 0.011), and debris index (P = 0.002) scores were seen in the higher dental neglect group. Conclusion: Child dental neglect is seen among the parents whose educational qualification was secondary, who reside in the suburban location, and who have not utilized the dental services for more than 3 years in Chennai. This dental neglect results in poorer oral health of children