Caries assessment and salivary microbial analysis in patients diagnosed with mucopolysaccharidosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is a group of lysosomal storage disorders that cause the deposition of polysaccharides in cells. This causes systemic and oral manifestations, which can be observed clinically and radiographically. The present study aimed to assess dental caries, the effect of salivary pH, and the change of microflora on teeth in patients diagnosed with MPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included children affected with mucopolysaccharidosis (n = 50) and healthy children (n = 50) in the control group between 3 and 15 years of age. The pH of saliva and decayed, missing, and filled teeth/decayed extracted and filled teeth index were noted and recorded. For the microbial analysis, saliva was inoculated into blood agar, MacConkey agar, Candida CHROMagar, and Mitis Salivarius agar, then inspected for colony-forming units, which were counted and recorded based on the colony characteristics and gram staining. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Intergroup comparison of the test parameters was done using the Mann-Whitney test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The results showed significantly higher total microbial load (P = 0.00008), streptococcus viridans species (P = 0.00001), and Candida species (P = 0.0038) in the study group. The caries incidence was also higher in the study group for both primary (P = 0.0096) and permanent dentition (P = 0.0251), and salivary pH was more acidic (P = 0.00001) in the patients diagnosed with MPS. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed with MPS have a higher microbial load, more acidic saliva, and subsequently, a higher caries incidence than normal healthy children. Hence, regular dental evaluation, prevention, and treatment must be integrated into their health-care regimen.

Vitamin D deficiency as an etiological factor in delayed eruption of primary teeth: A cross-sectional study.

CONTEXT: Delayed tooth eruption might be the primary or sole manifestation of local or systemic pathology. Aims: The aim of the study was to correlate Vitamin D level and eruption status of primary teeth. The objectives also included the assessment of the association between Vitamin D levels and socioeconomic status, infant's sun exposure, maternal sun exposure during pregnancy and religion. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional, observational study conducted on 96 infants aged 12-15 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six infants, aged 12-15 months were selected after obtaining parental consent. Blood samples were assessed for Vitamin D3 levels using the Vitamin D ELISA Kit. The eruption status of the teeth was recorded in all the 96 infants. The obtained data were subjected to the statistical analysis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The obtained data were subjected to relevant statistical analysis such as Analysis of Variance, unpaired t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square Test, Tukey HSD, and Fisher's exact Test. Results: A significant correlation was found in the Vitamin D levels and the eruption timing (P < 0.001). The difference in mean Vitamin D levels among the three socio economic groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.088). A significant association was found between the infant's sun exposure and mother's sun exposure during pregnancy and religion on the Vitamin D levels (P = 0.002, P = 0.042, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency can be considered as an etiological factor for delayed eruption. A strong association exists between the socioeconomic status, infant's sun exposure, maternal sun exposure during pregnancy, and religion with Vitamin D levels.

Manuka Honey: A Potent Cariostatic Agent- An in vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to test the antibacterial activity of manuka honey and compare its efficacy with another commercially available honey (Dabur honey) on the cariogenic bacteria on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in vitro study was carried out on 40 agar specimens; the samples were divided into two groups of 20 samples consisting of S. mutans and Lactobacil-lus respectively. The 20 samples in each group were further subdivided into four groups of five each, which were tested with 25% manuka honey, 100% manuka honey, 25% Dabur honey, and 100% Dabur honey for both Lactobacillus and S. mutans groups. The antibacterial activity was tested using the agar well diffusion method against S. mutans and Lacto-bacillus. Antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring the diameter of inhibition of zones surrounding the wells. The results obtained were statistically analyzed (one-way analysis of variance test, p-value). RESULTS: The results showed that 25% of manuka honey has statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) antibacterial effect than 25% of Dabur honey on both Streptococcus and Lactobacillus species, and manuka honey with 100% concentration showed a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) antibacterial effect than 100% Dabur honey on the same species of bacteria. 100% of both the honeys showed statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) antibacterial effect than 25% concentrations of the same on S. mutans and Lactobacillus. CONCLUSION: Manuka honey had more antibacterial activity than Dabur honey on S. mutans and Lactobacillus bacteria in the in vitro study. This effect was dependent on the concentration of honey used.How to cite this article: Beena JP, Sahoo P, Konde S, Raj SN, Kumar NC, Agarwal M. Manuka Honey: A Potent Cariostatic Agent-An in vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(2):105-109.

Prevalence of nasal carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among dental students: An in vivo study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of nasal carriage of coagulase positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among dental students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred dental students, divided into two groups - undergraduates (200) and postgraduates (200), were screened using sterile cotton swabs for carriage of MRSA in anterior nares. The samples were inoculated on HiCrome MeReSa Agar Base-with cefoxitin supplement. Further confirmatory tests were done by Gram-staining, Tube coagulase and Cefoxitin disc diffusion test on Mueller-Hinton agar. RESULTS: MRSA was positive among 25 (12.50%) undergraduates and 49 (24.50%) postgraduates students. Further confirmatory test also showed the same results. MRSA colonization was significantly more in postgraduate students, who are exposed to more number of patients and have put in more clinical hours as compared to undergraduate students who have just entered clinics and have limited clinical exposure. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that rate of MRSA colonization was 18.5% in the dental school population. The colonization rate was significantly (P = 0.002%) higher in postgraduate students as compared to undergraduate students emphasizing the need to follow infection control protocols stringently. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Awareness about MRSA among dental doctors is mandatory so as to prevent transmission of MRSA in dental settings.

Dermatoglyphics: a genetic marker of early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: It is an accepted fact that genetics plays an important role in determination of palmar dermatoglyphic patterns. Since caries is a multifactorial disease with the influence of genetic pattern, this study was undertaken to explore the possibility of dermatoglyphics as a noninvasive and early predictor of dental caries in children, so as to initiate preventive oral health measures at an early age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised of 200 children aged between 4 and 5 years. The dmfs score was evaluated. The experimental group (Group 1), comprised of 100 children with early childhood caries (ECC) with dmfs >5. The control group (Group 2) comprised of 100 children with dmfs score of 0. RESULTS: An increased frequency of ulnar loops in caries-free children and whorls in children with ECC was observed. Low mean atd angle and low mean. Total ridge count was observed in the ECC group. CONCLUSION: There is definite variation in dermatoglyphics between the ECC and caries-free group, indicating that dermatoglyphic patterns can be used as a predictive tool for children with ECC.