Salivary Proteinase 3 as a Biomarker for Caries Severity in Children: A Cross-sectional Study.

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the relation between salivary proteinase 3 (PR3) concentration and caries severity in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-to-eight-year age group children, from the Outpatient Department of Pediatric and Preventive dentistry at PMS Dental College were selected for the study. From these children, three groups each consisting of 28 children were selected according to the dental caries severity. Three groups were: (1) No Dental Caries group, (2) Low Dental Caries group with DMFT/DEFT score of 1-4, and (3) High Dental Caries group with DMFT/DEFT score of 5-15. Thus, a total of 84 children who satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected. The concentration of PR3 in saliva of the donors were analyzed using an ELISA kit. One way ANOVA was used for finding the relation of salivary PR3 concentration with caries severity. Pairwise comparison of PR3 concentration and caries severity were analyzed using post hoc Tukey test. RESULTS: Severity of caries and concentration of salivary PR3 showed an inverse relation. As the caries severity increases there was a decrease in PR3 concentration and vice versa. CONCLUSION: The children with high caries severity showed lower concentration of PR3 in their saliva compared with those with lower caries severity which indicates that PR3 can be used as a biomarker for assessing caries severity and also paves way to use PR3 as a caries vaccine in future. Nowadays, interest toward noninvasive and personalized dentistry has been increased. Molecular assays using salivary biomarkers can be an effective tool in detecting the caries in earlier stages and assessing a patient's caries risk. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Salivary PR3 can be used as prognostic biomarker for assessing caries severity and after treatment the value of PR3 can be used as a assessment tool to confirm its relation with caries. How to cite this article: Karthika S, George S, Soman A, et al. Salivary Proteinase 3 as a Biomarker for Caries Severity in Children: A Cross-sectional Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(3):236-240.

Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacies of 0.2% Chlorhexidine and 4% Tulsi Extract in the Decontamination of Child Toothbrushes: An Observational Analytical Study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 0.2% chlorhexidine and 4% tulsi extract as toothbrush decontaminants. Materials and Methods: Of 100 children, who attended the outpatient unit of Department of Pediatric dentistry, 81 children, who satisfied all the inclusion criteria were subjected to systematic sampling, after arranging them in the alphabetical order and were grouped into three. The first child came under Group I, second under Group II, third under Group III, fourth one again under Group I, and so on till the 81st child. In the baseline phase, the children were provided precoded toothbrushes and toothpastes and instructed to place those brushes to be put after use, in single-use glasses. After obtaining the baseline value of Streptococcus mutans colony count, the participants of Group I was given 0.2% chlorhexidine, Group II was given 4% tulsi extract, and distilled water for Group III, to be used as toothbrush decontaminants for 5 days. The toothbrushes were then collected back, and were subjected to microbial analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by using Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Mann-Whitney U test with P < 0.05. Results: All test solutions, 0.2% chlorhexidine and 4% tulsi extract, except for distilled water, showed a statistically significant reduction of S. mutans count. There was no statistical difference between the efficacies of 4% tulsi extract and 0.2% chlorhexidine, although the latter showed a better reduction. Conclusion: Tulsi extract may well be a perfect replacement to chlorhexidine for reducing the S. mutans count in the child toothbrushes.

Evaluation of the Association of Oral Stereognosis with Malocclusion in Children.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between oral stereognosis with malocclusion in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stereognostic investigation was made with a set of seven different geometric configurations (circle, square, triangle, star, clover, diamond, and heart shapes) cut out from fresh, raw carrots using preformed iron molds. Any five of the seven geometric forms were randomly placed inside the mouth on the dorsum of the tongue by the investigator with the subject's eyes closed. A minimum of three shapes correctly identified out of the five offered to each child was considered as an indicator of the adequate stereognostic ability of that particular child. RESULTS: Among the children under Index of Orthodontic Treatment Needs (IOTN) grade I group, 82.4% of children came under the positive response group. Among IOTN grades II, III, and IV, the percentages of children with positive responses were 72.1%, 58.1%, and 18.8%, respectively. There is a statistically significant (p < 0.001) decrease in positive response with increasing IOTN grades. CONCLUSION: The observations from the present study show that there is altered oral sensory perception in children graded as with malocclusion according to the index used and belonging to the age group selected in the study. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sensory and motor components of the orofacial region, like any other part of the human body, are inseparable in their structure and function, the association between orofacial growth and development and sensory maturation cannot be overlooked. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Janardhanan R, Soman A, George S, et al. Evaluation of the Association of Oral Stereognosis with Malocclusion in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(S-1):S18-S21.