Fixed Functional Distal Shoe Appliance for Bilateral Loss of Deciduous Molars

Pediatric dentistry aims at preserving the deciduous teeth till its normal time of exfoliation as it maintains the integrity of the dental arches. Premature loss of deciduous teeth might lead to a wide range of implications such as the mesial migration of the erupting permanent first molars as well as the supra eruptionof the opposing dentition. In such cases the intra alveolar type of space maintainer is given however such an appliance may not fulfill all the needs. So, modification of these conventional designs will be required. This paper describes a new design for distal shoe appliance in cases of bilateral loss of primary first and second molars prior to the eruption of the permanent mandibular first molars

Effects of mineral trioxide aggregate and formocresol on vital pulp after pulpotomy of primary molars: An in vivo study

Background: Preservation of pulp vitality is of utmost importance to the normal physiological functioning of tooth in situ and physiological process of exfoliation in a tooth affected by disease or trauma. Pulpotomy serves such a purpose using various medicaments applied directly on vital pulp. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically and radiographically the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol (FC) as a pulp dressing after coronal pulp amputation (pulpotomy) in primary molars prospectively over a period of 1 year. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three healthy children, aged between 5 and 8 years, requiring pulp therapy were selected after clinical and radiographic assessment. A total of 50 maxillary and mandibular primary molars were treated by the conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were divided into two equal groups. In Group A, FC was used as the pulp dressing agent, and in Group B, MTA was used before restoration with stainless steel crowns. The research employed was a prospective study. The teeth treated were assessed postoperatively after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. The observations were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results: Clinically, both the groups showed 100% success at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. At 3 months, the radiographic success rates of FC and MTA were 92% and 96%, respectively, and at 6 and 12 months, the radiographic success rates of FC and MTA were 88% and 96%, respectively. Conclusion: MTA showed a higher success rate than FC and may be a favorable material for pulpotomy in primary molars whose pulps have been compromised by a carious or mechanical pulp exposur

Mapping oral health: Unveiling disease patterns and environmental influences through geographic information systems

Geographic information systems (GIS) technology in dentistry or general health has proven to be of great benefit. In epidemiological studies, the prevalence and the incidence of oral diseases and their geographic influence can be well integrated for a better understanding. It aids in the precise targeted healthcare delivery to the geographically identified location. Pictographically represented data can aid the policy-making system in implementation and progress assessment

A case of embedded staple pin in the root canal: Management and microbiological analysis

The presence of foreign object in the root canal is one of the challenging occurrences in endodontic therapy. The possibility of these foreign objects getting impacted into the tooth is more when pulp chamber is open either due to trauma or due to large carious lesion. We herewith report a case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with staple pin lodged in the root canal of maxillary right permanent central incisor. We also describe the management of the case and microbiological analysis of the foreign body