Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess dental fluorosis and to compare fluorosis in incisor teeth among 13- to 15-year-old school children of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study was conducted. A total of 1000 school children aged 13 to 15 years were selected by stratified cluster sampling from 4 different areas with different levels of naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water. Fluorosis was recorded using TF index (TFI). Results: Prevalence of fluorosis (TFI score, ≥1) was 100% at all the 4 different fluoride levels. The prevalence and severity increased with increased fluoride levels in drinking water. Prevalence and severity of fluorosis did not show any significant variation between maxillary and mandibular incisor teeth. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of mild-to-moderate fluorosis in Nalgonda district, even in areas with optimal fluoride levels in water.

Background: In recent decades, there has been a tremendous surge of interest in issues related to child health. The present study was carried out to reveal the DMFT/deft status of children in the age group of 1-12 years, residing in orphanages from Pune, India. Aims and Objectives: To explore the DMFT/deft status in various orphanages from Pune (India). To find out differences, if any, between the DMFT/deft status in orphanages from Pune, India, and the general population of children below 12 years of age in Maharashtra state, India as well as all over India. Results: DMFT/deft of the orphanages was found to be 2.58 in the age group 1-5 years and 2.5 in the age group 6-12 years with caries prevalence in 70.27% of the children. An incidental finding of Molluscum contagiosum was observed in a significant percentage of children. The total percentage of children afflicted by Molluscum contagiosum was found to be 24.32%. Conclusion: The higher incidence of Molluscum contagiosum in children residing in orphanages as compared to the normal population of the same age group was reflected in the higher incidence of DMFT/deft in orphanages as compared to the normal population.

With regard to the vertical problem of skeletal open-bite malocclusion, this study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of upper posterior bite-plane on the dentoskeletal changes of skeletal open-bite malocclusion. The material consisted of 23 patients, with skeletal open-bite in mixed dentition period. The patients were treated by upper removable posterior bite plane appliance. Before and after treatment lateral cephalogram were obtained. Certain angular and linear variables were measured. The pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements were compared using paired t-test to evaluate the significance of the results. There were significant changes in vertical incisor overlap following treatment with upper posterior bite plane. Increase of PFH, Jaraback index, UAFH/LAFH ratio were significant .There was significant decrease in SN-MP angle. The dentoalveolar heights of the upper and lower anterior segment were increased as well as the distance of the lower molars to mandibular plan. Only the maxillary first molar height did not change.

Background: Investigations have suggested that poor compliance could be an indicator of poor relationship with family and could be related to the person's personality traits. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of parents attitude, the anxiety during treatment and self-confidence/self-care of the patient on cooperation during orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: The study material consisted of questionnaires completed by 82 adolescent patients and their parents. The patients were divided into two groups of 42 compliant and 40 non-compliant patients. The above-mentioned questionnaries were State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-STAI, Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale and The Exercise of Self-Care Agency for the patients and Mc Master Family Assessment Device and Parental Attitude Research Instrument-PARI for the parents. Results: The problem solving and caring attitude of the father and his determinative role in the family had a positive infulence on the compliance of the child. The patients who showed better compliance also had a lower state of anxiety, which could also be explained by the positive effect of the attitude of the father in the family. Conclusion: It would be useful to overcome the increased state of anxiety of the child in the orthodontic clinic by using educational and relaxation techniques. Besides, it would be wise to ask the father to be present at the first appointment during part of the education of the child.

Background: Malocclusion has large impact on individual and society in term of discomfort, Quality of Life [QoL] Aims and Objectives: To assess prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment needs among middle and high school children of Davangere city, India by using Dental Aesthetic Index [DAI]. Materials and Methods: A Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 1000, in the age group 12 to 15 year old school children studying in middle and high schools of Davangere city, India. 10 schools were selected by simple random sampling procedure and 100 study subjects were selected proportionately for males and females by using systematic random sampling procedures in each school. Data recorded using proforma consisted DAI components. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical Analysis: The Chi-square test [x ² ] was used for comparison of severity of malocclusion. Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] test was used for comparison of mean DAI scores between the age groups and in DAI scores. 'Z' test was used for comparing the mean DAI scores between sex group. Results: Of the 1000 children examined, 518[ 51.8%] were males and 482[ 48.2%] were females. 80.1% school children had ≤ 25 DAI scores with no or minor malocclusion requiring no or little treatment, 15.7% had 26-30 DAI scores with definite malocclusion requiring elective treatment, 3.7% had 31-35 DAI scores with severe malocclusion requiring highly desirable treatment and 0.5% had ≥ 36 DAI scores with handicapping malocclusion requiring mandatory treatment. Conclusions: 80.1% school children had no or minor malocclusion which required no or slight treatment, 19.9% had definite/handicapping malocclusion requiring definite/mandatory orthodontic treatment.

Space maintainers make good oral hygiene difficult, modify the oral environment, and increase the chances of enamel demineralization. Demineralization can be prevented or reduced by improving patient oral hygiene or by using topical fluorides. However these methods depend on patient compliance and, therefore, are not very reliable. Thus, caries prevention in banding might be enhanced by using fluoride-releasing cements. The aim of the study was to comparatively evaluate the carioprotective potential of various luting media used for band cementation in permanent as well as deciduous molars. In this study, 100 molars were taken, which were banded and stored in artificial saliva for 1 month after which the teeth were debanded. An area of 2 x 2 mm was spared and the teeth were coated with nail varnish. The coated teeth were dipped in artificial caries solution in one month followed by 1-day immersion in methylene blue dye, after which the samples were sectioned through the window. The depth of dye penetration was measured and the results were statistically analyzed. Minimum dye penetration was observed with glass ionomer, which could be due to the fluoride release from the cement, whereas the control group showed the maximum, probably due to direct contact with the artificial caries solution.

Dental caries is a rapidly emerging oral health problem amongst the children of India. Its incidence in different states varies between 31 and 89%. This study was undertaken with a twin objective of assessing the prevalence of dental caries in parts of Uttaranchal state and designing the interventional strategies with a view to attend the oral health care needs of children. A total of 722 school children in the age range of 7-12 years of Nainital district were examined using WHO (1997) criteria. An overall caries prevalence of 77.7% was recorded, which is 67.26% in the age group of 7-9 years and 80.86% in 10-12 years with DMFT+deft of 1.97 and 2.61, respectively. It was observed that there were greater treatment needs in older age group. Another significant finding of the study was that the 59.96% required restorative treatment out of the various dental treatment needs evaluated.

Aim: This study was conducted to compare the in vivo effectiveness of DIAGNOdent with other conventional methods (visual, tactile and bitewing radiographs) for the detection of occlusal caries in primary molars. Another objective of the study was to calculate new cut-off limits for the detection of caries by DIAGNOdent in primary teeth. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four primary molars in 52 children (aged 8-12 years), which were indicated for extraction, were selected and evaluated for dental caries using DIAGNOdent, visual and tactile examination and bitewing radiographs. Histological examination of the sections, prepared subsequent to extraction of the teeth, served as the gold standard for comparison of the above-mentioned methods. Results: When considering enamel caries, values obtained for sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 48.15, 100 and 49.40% for visual examination, 48.15, 100.00 and 49.40% for tactile examination, 49.38, 50.00 and 49.40% for bitewing radiographs, 85.19, 50.00 and 84.34% for DIAGNOdent scores interpreted according to manufacturer's cut-off limits and 81.48, 100.00 and 81.93% for DIAGNOdent scores interpreted according to newly formulated cut-off limits, respectively. At dentin caries cut-off levels, the values of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for visual examination were 52.78, 89.36 and 73.49%; 50.00, 91.49 and 73.49% for tactile examination; 30.56, 82.98 and 60.24% for bitewing radiographs; 72.22, 76.60 and 74.70% for DIAGNOdent scores when interpreted according to manufacturer's cut-off limits and 77.48, 74.47 and 75.90%, respectively, for the DIAGNOdent scores when interpreted according to the newly formulated cut-off limits. Conclusions: DIAGNOdent showed higher sensitivity and accuracy as compared with other conventional methods for detection of enamel caries, whereas for detection of dentinal caries, even though the sensitivity was high, accuracy of the DIAGNOdent device was similar to other conventional caries diagnostic methods.

Background and Objectives: Nucleolar organizer Regions (NORs) are situated within the nucleolus of a cell. The proteins are selectively stained by the silver colloid technique that is known as the AgNOR technique. AgNOR stain can be visualized as a black dot under the optical microscope. The present study aimed to evaluate the cases for quantitative estimation of AgNORs in the epithelial cells in various grades of gingival overgrowth to that of normal gingival tissues. Materials and Methods: Only preadolescent and adolescent groups aged up to 14 years were selected. Twenty normal and 31 disease cases of gingival overgrowth were selected. The tissue sections were stained by the hematoxylin and eosin (HandE) technique for the routine histological evaluation, while the AgNOR counts were performed through the improved one-step method of Ploton et al. Results: HandE staining revealed five different types of gingival overgrowth. The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and AgNOR count were not significantly (P >0.05) higher than that of control cases in pyogenic granuloma, puberty gingivitis, and in drug-induced gingival overgrowth cases. In gingival fibromatosis cases, for comparison of different indices t-tests were done. The PI when compared with AgNOR count was found significant at 5% level and 0.1% level for mixed and permanent dentition, respectively. The GI when compared with AgNOR count was found significant at 1% level and 0.1% level in mixed and permanent dentitions, respectively.

The purpose of this study was to assess, by means of a self administered structured questionnaire, the level of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of physical education teachers in Bangalore city with regards to emergency management of dental injuries. The questionnaire surveyed the physical education teacher's background, knowledge of management of tooth fracture, avulsion, luxation injuries, it also investigated physical education teacher's attitude and the way they handle the injuries. The sample consisted 580 teachers from 700 selected schools in Bangalore city. Chi-square test was applied to test the significance between trained and untrained teachers. Among the population 70% were males physical education teachers 30% were females. 95% of the teachers had physical education training and 5% did not have the training. 95% of the population had first aid component and 5% did not have. Only 25% of trained physical education teachers had correct knowledge about tooth identification and 17% among untrained teachers. 81% of trained teachers answered correctly regarding management of fractured anterior teeth against 27.5% of untrained teachers (P<0.0002). The present report indicates that there is lack of knowledge and practice among physical education teachers in Bangalore city regarding emergency management of dental trauma. Educational programs to improve the knowledge and awareness among the teachers have to be implemented.

A 10-year-old girl presented with a chief complaint of many unerupted teeth. Complete clinical and radiological examination of this patient confirmed the diagnosis of cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). Her father also presented similar features with a lesser clinical severity. CCD is an autosomal-dominant heritable skeletal disease caused by heterozygous mutations in the osteoblast-specific transcription factor RUNX2 gene. Failure of tooth eruption is probably mainly due to this mutated gene in CCD patients. Interdisciplinary treatment approach is obligatory for rehabilitation of these patients. In confirmed cases, genetic counseling for family planning should certainly be advised.

Bruxism is the non-functional clenching or grinding of the teeth that may occur during sleep or, less commonly in the daytime in 5-20% of adults and about 30% of 56 year old children. Although research on bruxism is extensive, its etiology remains debatable. There is some literature to suggest that bruxism is correlated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and malocclusion. The aim of this article is to present the course of this condition in a case of bruxism coupled with TMD with special emphasis on the importance of accurate diagnosis of maxillofacial pain. We also report an association between supernumerary teeth and TMDs that has not been reported earlier in the literature.

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EVC) is a chondro-ectodermal dysplasia characterized by short ribs, polydactyly, growth retardation and ectodermal and heart defects. It is a rare disease complex and very few cases have been reported in dental literature. This condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait with variable expression. The present case report describes EVC in a 7-year-old girl, with all the tetrad of cardinal features. We found a rare dental aberration in form; appearance of single conical roots in primary molars. The management of children with EVC is multidisciplinary, with consideration for the high incidence of cardiac defects in these patients.

Digit sucking, a form of non-nutritive sucking, is a habit of concern to specialist in various fields such as psychiatrist, psychologist, pediatricians, pediatric dentists, orthodontist, speech pathologist and plastic surgeon. The habits have harmful unbalanced pressures to be born by the immature highly malleable alveolar ridges. Sucking behaviors have long been recognized to affect occlusion and dental arch characteristics. As early as 1870s, Campbell and Chandler recognized that prolonged finger or thumb sucking habits had deleterious effects on certain occlusal traits including anterior open bite, increased over jet and class II canine and molar relationships. However, little is known about digit sucking habit and its effect in a cleft lip and palate child as there is no literature till now reported on the digit sucking in a cleft lip patient.