A scoping review of early childhood caries, poverty and the first sustainable development goal.

BACKGROUND: Poverty is a well-known risk factor for poor health. This scoping review (ScR) mapped research linking early childhood caries (ECC) and poverty using the targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG1). METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus in December 2023 using search terms derived from SDG1. Studies were included if they addressed clinically assessed or reported ECC, used indicators of monetary or multidimensional poverty or both, and were published in English with no date restriction. We excluded books and studies where data of children under 6 years of age could not be extracted. We charted the publication year, study location (categorized into income levels and continents), children age, sample size, study design, measures of ECC, types and levels of poverty indicators and adjusted analysis. The publications were also classified based on how the relation between poverty and ECC was conceptualized. RESULTS: In total, 193 publications were included with 3.4 million children. The studies were published from 1989 to 2023. Europe and North America produced the highest number of publications, predominantly from the UK and the US, respectively. Age-wise, 3-5-year-olds were the most studied (62.2%). Primary studies (83.9%) were the majority, primarily of cross-sectional design (69.8%). Non-primary studies (16.1%) included reviews and systematic reviews. ECC was mainly measured using the dmf indices (79.3%), while poverty indicators varied, with the most common used indicator being income (46.1%). Most studies measured poverty at family (48.7%) and individual (30.1%) levels. The greatest percentage of publications addressed poverty as an exposure or confounder (53.4%), with some studies using poverty to describe groups (11.9%) or report policies or programs addressing ECC in disadvantaged communities (11.4%). In addition, 24.1% of studies requiring adjusted analysis lacked it. Only 13% of publications aligned with SDG1 indicators and targets. CONCLUSION: The ScR highlight the need for studies to use indicators that provide a comprehensive understanding of poverty and thoroughly examine the social, political, and economic determinants and impact of ECC. More studies in low and middle-income countries and country-level studies may help design interventions that are setting- and economic context-relevant.

Temporal variation in the oral microbiome and the prediction of early childhood caries in different ethnicities.

Globally, early childhood caries (ECC) is a significant public health concern, necessitating effective prediction and prevention strategies. This study aimed to explore variations in the oral microbiome of saliva from pre-school Han and Uyghur children during ECC development and establish a predictive model based on temporal oral microbiome changes. Saliva samples were collected from a single kindergarten every three months over six months. Forty-four pre-school children provided 132 samples, categorized into six groups: (1) HEF (healthy pre-school Han children), (2) HEO (Han children with caries), (3) HEP (Han children with progressive caries), (4) WEF (healthy pre-school Uyghur children), (5) WEO (Uyghur children with caries), and (6) WEP (Uyghur children with progressive caries). Illumina Miseq sequencing identified oral microbiome differences between groups and time points. The Random Forest (RF) algorithm established ECC prediction models. The T1HEO group exhibited significantly higher Chaol index, observed species index, PD whole tree index, and Shannon index than the T2HEO group (p < 0.01). Similarly, the T1WEO group had significantly higher Chaol index, observed species index, and PD whole tree index than the T2WEO group (p < 0.05). The AUROC value for the ECC prediction model based on temporal oral flora changes was 0.517 (95% CI: 0.275-0.759) for pre-school Han children and 0.896 (95% CI: 0.78-1.00) for pre-school Uyghur children. In the onset of caries in pre-school Han children, bacterial species richness and community diversity in saliva declined, paralleled by a decrease in bacterial species richness in pre-school Uyghur children's oral saliva. The ECC prediction model grounded on temporal oral microflora changes exhibited robust predictive power, particularly for pre-school Uyghur children, potentially leading to more effective ECC prevention measures.

Evaluation of DIAGNOdent pen for initial occlusal caries diagnosis in permanent teeth.

BACKGROUND: To verify the validity of diagnosing initial caries on occlusal surface of permanent posterior teeth by laser fluorescence instrument DIAGNOdent pen. METHODS: Patients from School of Stomatology in Wuhan University were selected and their posterior teeth were examined using DIAGNOdent pen and the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) by an experienced dentist. After teeth extraction, histological criteria were used to determine the severity of the lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, the area under the curve (AUC), and correlation of DIAGNOdent pen and ICDAS II were analyzed compared with histological criteria. Examiners' agreement was measured. RESULTS: The sensitivity range was 0.440-1 while that of specificity was 0.750-0.994. The accuracy and AUC were above 80% and 0.7 respectively. Consistency of examiners' kappa values of ICDAS II, DIAGNOdent pen, and histological criteria were ranged from 0.629 to 0.840. CONCLUSIONS: ICDAS II and DIAGNOdent pen can be effectively used in tandem or independently for the assessment of initial caries.

Straight from the horse's mouth: The effect of different feedstuffs on oral pH in horses and ponies.

Feedstuffs, especially ensiled forage, may be detrimental to equid oral health by exposing the oral cavity to low pH. This study aimed to identify if salivary pH was altered by 1) a range of different feedstuffs and (2) specifically by feeding haylages with differing nutrient profiles. Two studies were conducted. The first measured oral pH following five feedstuffs, (hay, haylage, unmolassed sugarbeet pulp, unmolassed alfalfa chaff and rolled oats), tested individually over five days. Saliva (≥1 ml) was collected in triplicate, prior to feeding, directly after ingesting 500 g of each feedstuff, then 15 min and 30 min post-prandially. Oral pH was determined (pH meter) within 10 min of collection. In study two, eight ponies, were fed as their total diet, four different haylages over four 15-day periods. Saliva was collected, prior to feeding and immediately after ingesting 500 g of forage on day 1, day 6, and day 12 of each period. Samples were collected and analysed as per study one. All data were analysed by repeated measures ANOVA, and in study two linear regression was used to attempt to predict nutrients that influenced oral pH. All statistics were conducted in Genstat 20 th Ed. Only feeding unmolassed sugarbeet caused a reduction (p<0.001) in oral pH. There were differences in oral pH depending on the type of haylage fed in study two but at all times oral pH post-feeding was the same or greater than basal pH. These studies suggest any feed associated modulation of oral pH in horses may only be short-lived and quickly buffered by saliva. However, these studies only reflect oral pH within the oral cavity around the feeding occasion and may not reflect gingival pH or the effects of different feeds over longer time periods.

Salivary flow rate, subjective oral dryness and dental caries 5 years after haematopoietic cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe salivary flow rate, subjective oral dryness and dental caries 5 years post haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). METHODS: HCT survivors of a previous longitudinal observational cohort study in the Netherlands (the H-OME study) were invited to participate in this additional follow-up after 5 years (the HOME2 study). During the additional follow-up appointment, stimulated (SWS) and unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) was collected, participants rated subjective oral dryness on a 0 - 10 scale, and caries lesions were assessed. Furthermore, dental records, including treatments and radiographs, were requested for the 5 years preceding and the 5 years following transplantation. Paired t-tests were performed to determine changes in UWS and SWS flow rates and subjective oral dryness from pre-HCT, and to compare the number of caries-related dental treatments (restorations, endodontic treatments or extractions) before and after HCT. Hyposalivation of UWS (< 0.2 mL/min) and SWS (< 0.7 mL/min) at 3 and 12 months, was used to explore the predictive potential of hyposalivation on a high dental treatment need (> 3 treatments) over the 5 years post-HCT. RESULTS: Five years post-HCT, 39 HCT survivors were included. The mean UWS flow rate was 0.36 mL/min (SD 0.26) and the mean SWS flow rate 1.02 (SD 0.57); survivors were diagnosed with a median of 0 dentine lesions (range 0 - 12) and 73% reported a subjective oral dryness score ≥ 1. Survivors underwent a median of 3 (range 0 - 20) dental treatments during the 5 years following transplantation. The mean difference in UWS 5 years post-HCT compared to pre-HCT was 0.03 (95% CI: -0.07 - 10.12), the mean difference for SWS was -0.18 (95% CI: -0.45 - 0.08) and for subjective oral dryness 1.2 (95% CI: 0.2 - 2.1). In the 5 years post-HCT, non-significantly more treatments were performed compared to the 5 years pre-HCT (mean difference: 0.5, 95%CI: -1.2 - 2.2). Seventy eight percent of patients with hyposalivation of SWS at 12 months had a high dental treatment need, compared with 38% with no hyposalivation. CONCLUSIONS: Five years post-HCT, mean UWS and SWS flow rates were not significantly different from pre-HCT levels but subjective oral dryness scores were elevated.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and their active principles in dental care: A comprehensive review.

Since the human population realized how important it was to maintain overall health and the weight of disease, they have been looking for therapeutic qualities in natural environments. The use of plants having medicinal qualities for the treatment and prevention of illnesses that may have an impact on general health is known as herbal medicine. There has been a noticeable increase in interest lately in the combination of synthetic contemporary medications and traditional herbal remedies. About 80 % of people rely on it for healthcare, particularly in developing nations. One important aspect of overall health is said to be oral healthcare. The World Health Organization views oral health as a crucial component of overall health and well-being. Because they are more readily available, less expensive, and have fewer adverse effects than pharmaceutical treatments, using natural medicines to treat pathologic oro-dental disorders can make sense. The current evaluation of the literature sought to investigate the range and scope of the use of herbal products and their secondary metabolites in maintaining oral health, encompassing several oral healthcare domains such as halitosis, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other oral disorders. Therefore, there are many herbs discussed in this work and their mechanism in the treatment and improvement of many oral ailments. Besides, compounds that are useful in oral treatment with their natural sources and the cases where they can be used. To prevent any possible side effects or drug interactions, a doctor's consultation is necessary before using dental medicine. Although herbal therapy is safe and with minimum side effects, it is also strongly advised to do a more thorough preclinical and clinical evaluation before using herbal medicines officially.

Oral Candida-biome and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Candida is a common fungal pathogen in the oral cavity, with Candida albicans being the most prevalent species. Some studies report a correlation between Candida prevalence and dental caries experience in preschoolers, while others report no such association. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association of Candida-biome with Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in preschool children. METHODS: Seven databases were searched for studies evaluating the correlation between Candida and ECC in healthy preschool children under 71 months of age. Dual independent screening, data extraction, bias risk assessment, meta-analysis, and quality evaluation of evidence were conducted. RESULTS: The review included 20 studies with 12 reporting a positive association between Candida prevalence and ECC. The prevalence of Candida albicans in ECC ranged from 60%-84% across sample sites. Certain specific species, including C. dubliniensis and atypical non-albicans Candida (NAC), were also associated with caries severity in preschoolers. The pooled odds ratio (OR) estimate was 7.98 (95%CI; 3.84-16.58) for Candida-biome in plaque samples (I² = 84%), and 9.42 (95%CI: 4.15- 21.40) for Candida-biome in saliva sample (I² = 50%). These results suggest that children with Candida-biome in plaque and saliva have higher odds of having ECC than caries-free children. CONCLUSIONS: Children with Candida-biome in plaque and saliva samples have a higher risk of Early Childhood Caries, predominantly associated with Candida albicans. Standardised methodologies for evaluating and comparing data on Candida species and ECC are recommended for future studies.

Effects of a Novel Magnetic Nanomaterial on Oral Biofilms.

Dental caries is one of the most common oral chronic infectious diseases, and novel antibacterial materials must be developed to control plaque and inhibit formation of dental caries. Combining magnetic nanomaterials with antibacterial agents to decrease the formation of bacterial biofilm has been a hot topic in the biomedical field. The present study developed a novel magnetic nanomaterial chemically combined with dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate (DMADDM) and initially investigated its inhibiting effects on biofilms by using traditional caries-related bacteria and saliva flora models. The novel magnetic nanomaterials successfully loaded DMADDM according to thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy results. Further, the novel nanoparticle Fe3O4@SiO2@DMADDM with concentration of 8 mg/mL could effectively reduce Streptococcus mutans biofilm and decrease the production of lactic acid. The 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that Fe3O4@SiO2@DMADDM could depress the proportion of caries-related bacteria in saliva-derived biofilm, such as Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Neisseria. Therefore, Fe3O4@SiO2@DMADDM is a novel effective antibacterial magnetic nanomaterial and has clinical potential in plaque control and dental caries prevention.

Impact of public health and patient-centered prevention strategies on periodontitis and caries as causes of tooth loss in high-income countries.

In high-income countries, the oral health of the population is influenced by public health interventions, widespread use of oral care products, dental practice measures, and the cost of dental treatment. We compiled information on changes of the prevalence of proximal and upstream determinants of periodontitis, caries, and tooth loss over the last three decades to outline their potential effects on changes of oral health during this period. Information was retrieved from repeated cross-sectional studies and from published literature. While both the prevalence of edentulism and the number of missing teeth (from the DMF-T index) decreased, the number of sound teeth as well as the total number of teeth increased. The prevalence of severe periodontitis was unchanged, whereas the prevalence of periodontal health and moderate periodontitis may have increased to a minor extent. Concerning oral health risk factors, the proportion of individuals with tertiary education increased, while smoking prevalence declined. More and more people used oral care products. Whether one reimbursement system worked better than another one in terms of tooth retention could not be elucidated. In tooth retention, population-wide use of fluoridated toothpastes had the greatest impact. To some extent, the higher number of teeth present may be related to the more frequent use of interdental cleaning aids and powered toothbrushes. Since there was no decrease in severe periodontitis in most cohorts, periodontal interventions probably contributed little to improved tooth retention.

Outcomes of vital pulp treatment in permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure with signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes and factors influencing the success of vital pulp treatment (VPT) in permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure and signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis (IP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental records from 2016 to 2023 of patients who received VPT for carious pulp-exposed permanent teeth with IP symptoms were reviewed. Outcomes were assessed using clinical and radiographic criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors affecting treatment success. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to compare survival probabilities. RESULTS: The overall success and survival rates were 88.24% and 97.06%, respectively. Success rates for direct pulp capping, partial pulpotomy, and full pulpotomy were 87.7%, 92.0%, and 87.7%, respectively. Key factors influencing outcomes included the presence of periapical radiographic lesions, type of pulp dressing material, and quality of the final restoration. Full pulpotomy demonstrated the highest survival time, followed by partial pulpotomy and direct pulp capping. CONCLUSION: VPT in permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure and IP symptoms shows high success rates. Crucial factors include periapical radiographic findings, type of pulp dressing material, and quality of the final restoration. Full pulpotomy exhibited the longest survival time. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: VPT in teeth with IP symptoms shows promising outcomes, highlighting the importance of certain clinical factors in treatment success.

Multilocus sequence typing and phenotypic properties of Streptococcus mutans from Thai children with different caries statuses.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus mutans is studied for its acidogenic and aciduric characteristics, notably its biofilm formation in the presence of sucrose, toward its role in the caries process. Variations in both genotype and phenotype have been reported among clinical isolates of S. mutans. This study aimed to examine genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of S. mutans obtained from Thai children with varying caries statuses. METHODS: We determined the presence of S. mutans and caries status in 395 children aged 3-4 years. From 325 children carrying S. mutans, we selected 90 with different caries statuses-caries-free (CF; n = 30), low severity of caries (LC; n = 30), or high severity of caries (HC; n = 30). Three isolates of S. mutans were taken from each child, thus, a total of 270 isolates were obtained. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to genotype the isolates and assess their clonal relationships. The properties, including biofilm formation, collagen binding, and acid production and tolerance were also evaluated. RESULTS: Children with carious lesions showed a higher detection rate and number of S. mutans in saliva than those without caries. S. mutans from individuals with HC status showed the lowest biofilm formation ability, while this group had the highest detection rate of collagen-binding isolates. There was no difference in acid production or tolerance by caries status. Genotyping by MLST did not reveal any clone of S. mutans specific to CF status. This result remained even when we included MLST data from the open-access PubMLST database. MLST did identify clones containing only strains from caries-affected hosts, but tests of their phenotypic properties did not reveal any differences between S. mutans from these clones and clones that were from both caries-free and caries-affected children. CONCLUSIONS: The clonal relationships of S. mutans indicated by MLST were not associated with the status of dental caries in the host.

From Decay to Delight: A Case Report on Esthetic Rehabilitation in Early Childhood Caries.

Early childhood caries (ECC) continues to be a major global dental health concern for young children. This case report examines a young patient's transformation from decay to delight via comprehensive esthetic treatment. ECC in a four-year-old child resulted in significant dental caries and poor esthetics. In addition to space maintenance and orthodontic examination, essential treatments included dental extractions, stainless steel crowns, and composite restorations. The result showed that the child's smile and self-esteem had been successfully restored, as well as their oral health and function. This case emphasizes the value of early intervention, multidisciplinary teamwork, and individualized treatment plans in the management of early childhood caries and the restoration of pediatric patients' oral health.

Evaluating the Success of Preformed Resin Bonded Composite Strip Crowns for the Primary Central Incisor in Restoring Carious Primary Canine Teeth: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background Restoration of primary canine teeth in pediatric dentistry requires a balance of functional, biological, and esthetic factors. Stainless steel crowns, while effective for posterior restorations, often have patient acceptance issues due to esthetic limitations. Resin-bonded composite strip crowns have gained traction for anterior restorations due to their superior esthetic qualities and repairability. However, their long-term performance in primary canines characterized by unique morphological and functional demands has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study investigates the efficacy of resin-bonded incisor strip crowns in primary canines over three years, assessing their functional durability, biological integrity, and esthetic performance to provide a comprehensive evaluation of their long-term success in this application. Methods This retrospective observational study, conducted from September 2023 to December 2023 at the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, received ethical approval from the Institutional Human Ethical Committee (IHEC/SDC/PEDO-2103/23/131). Dental records from January 2020 to December 2020 were reviewed by two investigators to identify children aged six years or younger who had undergone pulpectomy in primary canine teeth and were restored with resin-bonded incisor strip crowns. Exclusions included records with missing contact details or post-treatment radiographs. The purpose was to ensure a three-year review period when contacting patients in 2023. Eligible parents were contacted by phone, informed about the study, and invited for a review. Informed consent was obtained in person. Children with exfoliated primary canines and those whose parents did not sign the consent form were excluded. The restored crowns were evaluated using World Dental Federation (FDI) criteria across functional, biological, and esthetic domains by two calibrated examiners. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24 (Released 2016; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), with categorical variables expressed as n (%), inter-examiner reliability assessed by Cohen's kappa, and chi-square test used for goodness of fit, setting significance at 95%. Results Of the 92 primary canines restored with resin-bonded incisor strip crowns, 60 children were evaluated. The retention rate at the three-year follow-up was 50 (83.3%). Functional evaluation revealed that 48 (80%) of crowns maintained surface texture, 42 (70%) preserved form and contour, and 52 (86.6%) demonstrated acceptable occlusion and wear. Biologically, 55 (91.7%) of the crowns had no secondary caries, and 56 (93.4%) had no dental hard tissue defects at the margin. Esthetically, 48 (80%) of crowns retained surface texture, 46 (76.6%) had a satisfactory color match, and 45 (71.6%) exhibited minimal marginal staining. Statistical analysis confirmed significant results for all functional and esthetic parameters (p < 0.05). Conclusion The technique of placing incisor strip crowns in the place of primary canines can be recommended considering its maintenance of functional, biological, and esthetic properties.

The prevalence of dental caries and its associated factors among preschool children in Huizhou, China: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Dental caries among preschool children were prevalent worldwide and had a significant impact on children and their families. Understanding its prevalence and risk factors helps to optimize the delivery of oral health care to the target population and promote their oral health ultimately. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence of dental caries and its associated factors among 3- to 5-year-old children in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China. Method: We recruited children from 21 kindergartens adopting multistage sampling method. Two examiners performed oral examination. They assessed children's dental caries experience following the World Health Organization criteria. Children's dental caries activity, malocclusion, tonsil size and pH value of saliva were evaluated. Parental questionnaires collected child's sociodemographic background and oral-health-related behaviors. Data were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression using SPSS. Results: This study invited 1,485 children and recruited 1,348 (53.2% boys) (response rate: 90.8%). Dental caries prevalence rate was 58.2% for 3-, 70.7% for 4-, 80.5% for 5-year-old and 72.9% for all recruited children. The mean dmft score (±SD) was 3.38 (±4.26) for 3-, 4.75 (±4.96) for 4-, 5.81 (±5.71) for 5-year-old and 4.99 (±5.02) for all children. Age, family status (singleton or not), monthly family income, mother and father's education level, tonsil grading score, spacing in dentition, Cariostat score (reflecting the caries activity), dental plaque index, duration of breastfeeding, dental visit experience, tooth brushing habits and sugary snacking before sleeping were statistically related to the prevalence of dental caries (p < 0.050) in univariate analysis. These factors were further analyzed in the regression model. The results of the final model indicated dental caries were associated with age (p < 0.001), Cariostat score (p < 0.001), spacing (p < 0.001), tonsil grading score (p = 0.013), singleton or not (p = 0.002), sugary snacking habit before bed (p < 0.001) and breast-feeding duration (p = 0.050). Conclusion: Dental caries was prevalent among 3-to 5-year-old preschool children in Huizhou, China. Children's age, caries activity, tonsil size, malocclusion, family background, sugary snacking habit and breast-feeding habit were related to the prevalence of dental caries. More emphasis should be placed on prevention targeting the risk factors from early life.

Deep margin elevation with one-year follow-up: A case report.

Deep margin elevation (DME) is a conservative treatment of a tooth with extensive subgingival caries. It is an alternative approach to more invasive restorative procedures. The DME enables successful tooth isolation to do root canal treatments and enables performing indirect restorations, improving dental function and patient comfort without complications.

Effects of microabrasion and bleaching on color and shear bond strength of simulated stained-remineralized caries lesions.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of bleaching and microabrasion on the color and shear bond strength (SBS) of stained-remineralized caries-like lesions (s-RCLs). Methods: Human enamel specimens were demineralized, stained (coffee/tea), then remineralized (2% NaF and artificial saliva [AS]) to create s-RCLs. Specimens were randomly divided into five groups (n = 18): G1, demineralized/AS; G2, s-RCLs/AS; G3, s-RCLs/at-home bleaching (15% carbamide peroxide [CP)], 6 h/d×7)/AS; G4, s-RCLs/microabrasion (6.6% hydrochloric acid, [1min/3cycles]/AS; and G5, s-RCLs/microabrasion and at-home bleaching/AS. Color was spectrophotometrically measured at baseline, after demineralization, after staining, and after treatment. After two weeks, the SBS was tested using a universal testing machine. Outcomes were analyzed using ANOVA models followed by Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Results: The mean colors (ΔE) for demineralization and staining were significant (ΔE ≤ 5.9 and ≤14.4, respectively). G3 (ΔE 23.9) and G5 (ΔE 25.2) were significantly improved compared to G4 (ΔE 12.3). The SBS in G5 had the highest significant value (25.2 MPa), followed by G4 and G3 (21.5-20.6 MPa), which were significantly higher than G2 (16.8 MPa). G2, in turn, was more significant than G1 (10.9 MPa). Conclusion: At-home bleaching (15% CP) for seven days eliminated and improved organic stains on RCLs. Faster results were achieved when combined with microabrasion. All surface treatments resulted in high SBS.

Retained Primary Teeth and Their Complication and Treatment: A Case Report.

In dentistry, over-retained deciduous teeth pose a distinct issue due to their endurance during the expected exfoliation period. This case study describes a clinical situation with a male patient who is seven years old and complaining of painful swelling over the maxillary anterior region of the jaw and clinically showing dark red-colored, firm, non-tender, purulent swelling extending from alveolar mucosa of the upper anterior to the gingival margin of the 51, 52, 53 region. The treatment plan includes the extraction of the primary teeth. This case report also highlights the importance of minimal surgical intervention for treating peri-radicular cysts to minimize healing time and damage to the underlying developing permanent tooth.

Effects of community water fluoridation on child dental caries in remote Northern Territory, Australia: a difference-in-difference analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Community water fluoridation (CWF) is a cost-effective intervention to reduce dental caries at population level. This Australian study used a difference-in-difference (DiD) analysis to measure dental caries in children exposed to CWF in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. METHODS: Oral health data obtained from the NT Department of Health contained 64 399 person-year observations from 2008 to 2020, totalling 24 546 children aged 1-17 years. Drinking water quality data for fluoride levels, held by the Power and Water Corporation, were obtained for 50 remote communities and linked to the oral health dataset. The DiD analysis used a treatment group and two control groups to compare the effects of CWF on dental caries outcomes in children, measured using the decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) index. The treatment group consisted of records from children residing in five remote NT communities that implemented CWF in 2014.The control 1 group included records of children residing in communities with naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water supplies at levels at or above the Department of Health policy threshold of 0.5 mg/L. The control 2 group included records of children residing in communities with naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water supplies below the level recommended by the Department of Health policy (<0.5 mg/L). The data were grouped into time periods prior to the inception of CWF in five remote communities in 2014 (pre-intervention) and after 2014 (post-intervention). RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that dental caries was significantly decreased for children in the treatment group following the implementation of CWF at a greater magnitude than both control groups for the same time period. Overall, children assigned to the treatment group exhibited a decline in the number of teeth affected by caries by an average of 0.28 (p=0.001). Notably, children of ages 7-10 years and 11-17 years experienced significantly greater post-intervention declines in average dmft/DMFT, by 0.32 (p=0.051) and 0.40 (p=0.012) fewer affected teeth respectively. CONCLUSION: While dental caries disproportionately impacts Aboriginal children in remote and very remote NT, it is clear that CWF produces population-level reductions in overall dental caries for these populations. Additionally, our study demonstrates the application of the DiD method in a public health policy evaluation. Our findings suggest that the longstanding policy position of the NT Department of Health on CWF has supported improvements in oral health among child populations that experience high levels of dental caries in remote NT communities.

Assessment of Chronic Malnutrition and Its Correlation With Oral Health Status in Children Aged Three to Six Years in Jabalpur District, India: An Epidemiological Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the correlation of chronic malnutrition with the oral health status of children aged three to six years. METHODS: A total of 400 children were selected and divided into four groups based on z-scores. For evaluation of oral health status, teeth were examined for dental caries using the decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) scores. Salivary samples were collected to measure salivary flow rate (SFR), pH, and salivary buffering capacity (SBC). Teeth were also visualized to detect the presence or absence of enamel hypoplasia. The data obtained was statistically analyzed (p<0.05). RESULTS: A total of 400 children participated and were also categorized into mild, moderate, and severe obesity according to the z-scores. The mean DMFT scores among adequately nourished children were 2.4086; with severely malnourished and severely obese children, the mean values were found to be 1.0652 and 1.4286, respectively. The mean SFR among children with adequate nutrition was 1.0366, and the mean flow rate among children with severe malnutrition and obesity was 0.5348 and 0.4036, respectively. The mean salivary pH among children with adequate nutrition was 7.1295, and the mean values for participants with severe malnutrition and severe obesity were found to be 6.4772 and 7.6521, respectively. The mean SBC among children with adequate nutrition was found to be 4.4861; for severely malnourished children and those with severe obesity, the values were 3.2472 and 2.8332, respectively. There was an absence of enamel hypoplasia in children with adequate nutrition, whereas a total of five participants with severe malnutrition and three children with severe obesity were found to have hypoplastic lesions, respectively. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition exerts a negative impact on the overall oral health of children. It is critical to diagnose the effects of malnutrition on children's oral environments in order to provide appropriate treatment and enhance their quality of life.