A Comparative Clinical Study to Assess the Role of Antibiotics in Periodontal Flap Surgery.

Introduction: Periodontitis is a multifaceted disease that results from the intricate interplay of infectious pathogens and host factors. Periodontal surgical techniques may be required in moderate to severe cases of chronic periodontitis. As a result of the potential for postoperative infection to have a substantial impact on the surgical outcome, an attempt will be made in the study to assess the role of antibiotics in periodontal flap procedures in minimizing postoperative infections. Methodology: From the Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, 30 patients (male and female) with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were chosen. Amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day for 5 days following surgery was given in the therapeutic group (15 patients). Antibiotics were not provided to the control group (15 patients) after surgery. Both groups were administered analgesics and antiseptic mouthwash. On the seventh day after suture removal, patients were assessed for pain (measured on a visual analogue scale [VAS]), modified gingival index, wound healing index, swelling, fever, ulceration, and delayed wound healing. Results: The VAS reported in the control group was 2.67, while the VAS recorded in the therapeutic group was 2.20. The mean modified gingival index score in the control group was 0.94, while it was 0.67 in the therapeutic group. The mean Wound Healing Index score in the control group was 3.80, whereas it was 3.97 in the therapeutic group. When antibiotics were administered to patients, they reported less pain and faster wound healing. Following flap surgery with or without antibiotics, however, there were no statistically significant variations in all clinical measures. Conclusion: The findings of our study imply that antibiotics for the sole goal of avoiding postsurgical infections may not be beneficial.

Factors affecting awareness and practice of primary health care professionals towards interaction of various medications used in systemic conditions, and its effect on periodontal health.

BACKGROUND: Interaction of various drugs and its effects on gingival and periodontal health is the area of concern; hence the aim of the present study was to explore factors affecting the awareness and practice of primary health care professionals towards the interaction of various medications used for systemic diseases on periodontal health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive, questionnaire study conducted among 203 primary health care professionals which include 94 medical officers and 109 nurses working in primary health centers in rural areas of Udaipur district. The study was conducted in December 2019. Sampling techniques was stratified random sampling technique. A close-ended questionnaire was prepared to conduct an interview schedule. RESULTS: The majority of health professionals had poor awareness (157 [77.33%]) and poor practice (168 [82.75%]) regarding the interaction of various medications used in systemic conditions and periodontal health. Factors that significantly affect awareness and practice of study participants were age (0.01*), degree (0.05*), and number of patients with oral problems seen in a week (0.05*), gender (0.05*), designation (0.05*). CONCLUSION: From above it was concluded that awareness and practice of primary care health professionals were poor. The factors that affect significantly affect awareness and knowledge of study participants was age, degree and number of patients with oral problems seen in a week, gender, designation, no. of patient attended in a day.

Behavioral changes in preschoolers treated with/without rotary instruments.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral dentistry is an interdisciplinary science which needs to be learned, practiced, and reinforced in order to provide quality dental care in children. AIM: To assess the anxiety experienced during dental treatment in preschool children with/without rotary instruments using behavioral scale. STUDY AND DESIGN: Sixty pediatric patients of preschool age with bilateral occlusal carious lesions extending into dentin were selected for the study. Carious lesions were removed using conventional rotary instruments on one side and Papacarie - chemomechanical caries removal of approach on contra lateral side. Both cavities were restored with glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX). Anxiety scores were determined using 'Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale' (Wong et al, 1998) during the various clinical stages of the treatment course. RESULTS: Children experienced relaxed behavior when subjected to Papacarie method of caries removal compared to conventional method using rotary instruments. CONCLUSION: This study helped us to provide behavioral measures and introduce children to dentistry in a nonthreatening setting.

In search of a better option: dexamethasone versus methylprednisolone in third molar impaction surgery.

BACKGROUND: Post-surgical complications like pain, swelling, impaired function cause transient morbidity for the patients leading to refrainment of the treatment. Various preemptive drugs are prescribed to prevent patients from such unpleasant situations. Both dexamethasone and methyl prednisolone can be used for this purpose in surgery of third molar impactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a split-mouth study consisting 25 patients having Pell and Gregory's Class II position B bilateral impactions. About 8 mg dexamethasone and 40 mg methyl prednisolone were prescribed randomly 1 hour prior to the surgery. Pain, swelling and trismus were noted on 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd) and 7(th) day following surgery. Wilcoxon test was used to assess the significance between the parameters. RESULTS: Reduction in swelling and trismus was found to be significantly more with dexamethasone than methyl prednisolone. However, no statistical significant difference was found in post-operative pain. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone can be used as a potent preemptive drug for controlling post-operative complications in the removal of third molar impactions.

Assessment of intelligence quotient among schoolchildren of fishermen community of Kutch, Gujarat, India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the intelligence quotient of fishermen school children of Kutch, Gujarat, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 8 to 10 years old school children living in Kutch District, Gujarat, India, from January to February 2013. Seguin Form Board Test was used to assess the intelligence quotient (IQ) level of children. Means of groups were compared by independent student t-test. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors for IQ. RESULTS: The mean average timing taken by fishermen school children to complete the test was 30.64 ± 4.97. Males had significantly lower mean timing scores than females (p < 0.05). Participants with severe dental fluorosis, low socio-economic status (SES), lower education level of both mother and father and those who were overweight had significantly higher mean timing scores for average category. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested a low IQ among fishermen school children community of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The major factors which influenced their IQ were dental fluorosis, low SES, low education level of parents and high body mass index.

Treatment of inflammatory internal root resorption with biodentine: a case report

Internal root resorption has been described as a resorptive defect of the internal aspect of the root following necrosis of odontoblasts as a result of chronic inflammation and bacterial invasion of the pulp tissue. Successful treatment outcome depends on early diagnosis, removal of the cause, proper treatment of the resorbed root. The present case report demonstrates the use of biodentine for the management of internal resorption.he aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different lengths of time of passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) in removing calcium hydroxide (CH) paste from root canal, using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS).