Stress distribution of endodontically treated mandibular molars with varying amounts of tooth structure restored with direct composite resin with or without cuspal coverage: A 3D finite element analysis.

Background: Decision-making regarding whether cuspal coverage is required or not for the restoration of root canal-treated posterior teeth is still a matter of challenge for the dentist. Methodology: Four models of endodontically treated mandibular molars with mesio-occlusal (MO) cavity were designed and simulated with direct composite resin restorations. Group 1A - cavity width <½ the intercuspal distance restored without cuspal coverage, Group 1B - same as Group 1A but with cuspal coverage, Group 2A - MO cavity width >½ but <2/3rd the intercuspal distance restored without cuspal coverage, and Group 2B - same as Group 2A but with cuspal coverage. The models received occlusal load to simulate a mastication load. Static finite element analysis (FEA) was adopted for predicting the stress distribution generated in the restored tooth by the loading condition. Results: FEA of the models have shown that the variations in stress values were significant in bulk-fill material compared to enamel and other structures. Comparing the maximum and minimum principal stress values in the overall region demonstrated that 2A was safer, whereas 2B was found to be the worst case. Conclusions: The results indicate that restoration of endodontically treated mandibular molar with loss of one marginal ridge with composite resin without cuspal coverage revealed minimal internal stress values and showed the best performance overall.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Undergraduate Dental Students on Information and Communication Technology and Computer-assisted Learning.

Introduction: The use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education and clinical purposes is growing immensely. The usage skill, attitude of dental students, and difficulties faced by students are important concerns to be addressed. Objective: The study was designed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and skills of ICT of undergraduate dental students via assessing the ease of computer and internet use among students, the level of computer skills and training of the students, and usage pattern of computer activities. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among students of three dental colleges in Haryana using a self-designed questionnaire having sections related to demographics, devices, softwares and search engine usage, ICT skills, ICT attitude, and educational and social use. Results: The response rate was 81.96%. A total of 99.1% of the individuals responded affirmatively to the usage of mobile phones, 48.4 and 13.1% for laptops and tablets, respectively. The average duration of use of smartphones per day was 4.2121 ± 2.834 hours. Google was opted as the most popular search engine used and PubMed the least popular. Only 12.9% of participants showed a negative attitude toward the use of ICT in studies. More social use than academic use was observed. Attitude scores showed a significant correlation with the educational use of ICT (r = 0.89, p = 0.003). Conclusion: Most of the participants were well acquainted with the usage and had a positive attitude toward ICT for educational purposes. Sensitization and training in scientific literature search and basics of ICT and their practical utilization in dental education, research, and practice should be included in the curriculum. How to cite this article: Sikka N, Arya L, Bala S, et al. Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Undergraduate Dental Students on Information and Communication Technology and Computer-assisted Learning. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(5):711-715.

Plexiform neurofibroma with nevus of ota-rare presentation.

Plexiform neurofibroma (PNF) is a rare form of neurofibromatosis type 1 which is rarely seen isolated. This generally spreads along the peripheral nerve and may affect some nervous rami. This is a poorly circumscribed and locally invasive tumor. About 21% of patients with NF-I are affected with PNFs. The nevus of Ota also called oculodermal melanocytosis is a macular discoloration of the face. It is most commonly found in the Japanese and very rare in the Indian subcontinent. It is unilateral oculodermal melanosis along the first two branches of the trigeminal nerve. We hereby present a very rare case of occurrence of isolated PNF (not associated with neurofibromatosis type 1) along with nevus of ota of the left side of the face in a 28-year-old female with thorough radiographic work up.

Behavioral changes after motivational interviewing versus traditional dental health education in parents of children with high caries risk: Results of a 1-year study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the behavioral change in parents of children at high risk for caries following two dental education interventions - motivational interviewing (MI) and traditional dental health education. METHODS: A total of 100 6- to 10-year-old children, along with their parents, were divided into two groups of 50 each, and a single calibrated examiner gave traditional dental health education to the first group and MI session to the second group. Caries assessment was performed using the International Caries Detection and Assessment system (ICDAS), and 5% sodium fluoride varnish was applied. Behavior of parents was assessed using Prochaskas stages of change model. Change in behavior was checked at 3, 6, and 9 months' intervals till 1 year. RESULTS: Overall 60% of the parents of the control group reached the final maintenance stage compared to 96% in the experimental group. The mean values obtained for the two groups were 2.26, 3.08, 3.30, 3.84, and 4.28 and 2.30, 3.14, 3.50, 4.44, and 4.96 at the first and subsequent visits, respectively. The ICDAS scores of the two groups were in accordance with these results. The experimental group showed no new caries and arrested initial caries. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that a single MI intervention changed the reported oral health behaviors better than the traditional approach.

Comparison of Vitamin D Level of Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries and Children with No Caries.

AIM: To compare the levels of vitamin D in children with severe early childhood caries (SECC) and children without caries and to determine the association of vitamin D deficiency and SECC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 children each from case (with caries) and control group (without caries) of age between 3 and 6 years were selected from the Department of Pedo-dontics and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram. Caries status of the children was recorded using decayed, extracted, and filled teeth (deft) index. Blood samples for serum 25(OH) vitamin D were taken from each child. All the data collected were compiled and subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. RESULTS: Case group has mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D level of 12.19 ng/mL [4.37 standard deviation (SD), 95% confidence interval of 10.5-13.8] and control group has mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D level of 20.11 ng/mL (4.12 SD, 95% confidence interval of 18.56-21.65). When the mean levels of serum 25(OH) vitamin D were compared between case and control groups, there was a statistically significant difference (p-value <0.0001). Simple linear regression in case group shows statistically significant inverse correlation between vitamin D levels and SECC (p-value<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that vitamin D deficiency is risk factor both for incidence of dental caries and for its severity in children. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Vitamin D deficiency is an important modifiable risk factor for dental caries in children. Hence, by supplementing vitamin D in children and preventing the deficiency of vitamin D, dental caries can be prevented.How to cite this article: Chhonkar A, Gupta A, Arya V. Comparison of Vitamin D Level of Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries and Children with No Caries. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(3):199-204.

Anticariogenic Activity of Black Tea - An Invivo Study.

INTRODUCTION: Teas is known for its anticariogenic properties and various mechanisms have been invoked to explain this effect. One such proposed mechanism is inhibition of salivary alpha amylase activity by endogenous tannins present in tea. AIM: The objective of the present study was to determine whether or not the ingestion of black tea decoction inhibits the enzyme salivary amylase and thus interferes with the release of maltose from intraoral entrapped particles of food. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 children in the age group of 12 - 15 years were selected for the study. After two hours of fasting subjects consumed two salted crackers for 60 second following which they rinsed with water (control solution) and then with 1.5% black tea decoction (test solution) next day. Retained food particles were recovered from buccal aspect of left mandibular premolar and salivary amylase activity was noted via chromatography. Paired t-test was applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Maltose to Sucrose ratio was used to evaluate the result. The average ratio was 3.27 for control solution and 1.82 for test solution. The results were statistically highly significant (p <0.005). CONCLUSION: Tea inhibited the activity of salivary amylase and this inhibition assumes a special significance when it is considered that the effect of tea could be manifested over a prolonged period of time, as in a real life situation.

Inhibition of salivary amylase by black tea in high-caries and low-caries index children: A comparative in vivo study.

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is a universal disease. Dietary modification is important in reducing the occurrence of dental caries. Tea which is so frequently consumed with cariogenic starch rich food is proposed to have anticariogenic potential. The various mechanism has been proposed for same and one being inhibition of salivary amylase activity. AIM: To determine the effect of 1.5% black tea decoction on salivary amylase activity in children with high caries and no caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 children in the age group of 12-15 years were selected for the study. They were further grouped based on their decayed missing filled surface (DMFS) score into high-caries group (DMFS above 10) and no-caries group (DMFS = 0). After 2 h of fasting, subjects consumed two salted crackers for 60 s following which they rinsed with water and then with black tea decoction (1.5%) the very next day. Retained food particles were recovered salivary amylase activity was noted as maltose to sucrose ratio via chromatography. RESULTS: The average ratio of maltose to sucrose ratio percentage reduction in high-caries group was 43.63% and 41.17% in no caries group which was highly significant (P < 0.005) while the intergroup comparison was found statistically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Tea decoction has inhibitory effect on salivary amylase activity thus dental caries. The effect was statistically insignificant in children with high- and no-caries index.