Effect of chewing paneer and cheese on salivary acidogenicity: a comparative study.

AIM: The aim was to evaluate the salivary pH reversal phenomenon by chewing paneer and processed cheese after a chocolate challenge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty caries-free children were randomly selected and divided into 2 groups: Control group was given processed cheese (Amul) and the experimental group was given paneer (Amul) after a chocolate challenge. After determining the resting salivary pH using GC pH strips, the subjects were asked to eat the test foods and salivary pH was measured at time intervals of 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes to record the time taken for the salivary pH to return to baseline values after an acidogenic challenge. RESULTS: The data was analyzed and intergroup comparison was done using paired student's t-test. The test meals increased salivary pH after chocolate challenge significantly from baseline values and neutralized the fall in pH after a chocolate challenge. The protective effect was evident after 5 minutes of consuming chocolate and was highest up to 30 minutes after which the salivary pH gradually fell but had not returned to baseline values even at 60 minutes. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that chewing of paneer like cheese abolishes the fall in salivary pH caused by sugar consumption and maybe recommended as a protective food in pediatric diet counseling. How to cite this article: Tayab T, Rai K, Kumari V, Thomas E. Effect of Chewing Paneer and Cheese on Salivary Acidogenicity: A Comparative Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012;5(1):20-24.

Oral health of children with congenital heart disease following preventive treatment.

Congenital heart disease (CHD), abnormalities in the structural development of the heart, occurs in approximately 8:1000 live births. The causative microorganism for infective endocarditis in more than 60% of the patients with positive hemoculture of viridans streptococci (s.mutans, s.mitior) thus making it mandatory for these children to maintain their oral health. The present study assessed the oral health of children with congenital heart disease following preventive treatment. A total of 74 children with congenital heart disease were selected for the study with 30 healthy controls between the ages 5-16. The oral health was assessed by measuring the microbial counts, the OHI-S and the gingival indices. The data thus obtained were subjected to paired and unpaired t-test. Poor oral health was prevalent among these children of the study group as compared to the controls indicating a lack of sound knowledge of the maintenance of oral hygiene. Following preventive treatment the oral health improved considerably.

Sedation in uncooperative children undergoing dental procedures: a comparative evaluation of midazolam, propofol and ketamine.

Dentists usually face a common problem dealing with pediatric patients due to their high levels of anxiety and fear, associated with dental procedures. Such children are usually managed by various pharmacological methods. The efficacy and safety of conscious sedation, using intravenous short acting group of drugs (midazolam, propofol and ketamine) in uncooperative children, requiring oral rehabilitation was thus evaluated in this study. A total of 30 uncooperative children, aged 3-6 years, belonging to ASA I, II category formed the study group. The efficacy of the three group of drugs was evaluated on the basis of the onset of sedation, duration of action, side effects encountered, and the overall cooperative behavior of the child throughout the course of the procedure, after obtaining parental consent. Results showed that propofol was highly effective in terms of onset of sedation, although increased body movements and crying, pain on injection and intermittent cough was observed as the main side effects of the drug. Midazolam showed the longest duration of action, but was not very effective in terms of treatment completion due to increased movements and crying. Maximum cooperation during the procedure was obtained with ketamine and no adverse effects were encountered. We preferred ketamine from the results of our study and recommended future evaluation of ketamine in combination with other sedatives.

Tuberous sclerosis: a case report.

A case of tuberous sclerosis (TS) with classic triad of seizures, mental deficiency and angiofibromas is presented. The child also presented with self-mutilating behavior, which resulted in the fracture of her anterior teeth. A comprehensive treatment was rendered to the patient under general anesthesia and a mouth guard was given to prevent further trauma to the teeth.