Pediatric dentist attire and relationship with anxiety in children and parents during Covid-19 pandemic

Aim The study aimed to evaluate children's and parent's preferences of dentist's attire during Covid-19 pandemic and their relationship with dental anxiety. Methods A total of 139 Children(71 boys, 68 girls) aged 6-12 years were shown videos of a pediatric dentist working with different attire such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and pedoscrub, and they were asked to express the way they preferred their dentist to be dressed. Children's anxiety levels with different attire of paediatric dentists were assessed in different age groups and for boys and girls separately and recorded it using the Facial image scale. A questionnaire regarding dental anxiety was created online and completed by 139 parents (76 females, 63 males) of various ages and different educational backgrounds who were asked to choose between two outfits. Results were tabulated and statistically analysed using Chi-square test. Results Children aged 10-12 years preferred PPE by 50.6%, whereas 48.1% of children aged 6-9 years least preferred PPE (<0.05). About 46 (33%) were scored as anxious children and they had a preference for pedoscrub. Also, nonanxious children 43(31%) preferred PPE. All educated parents (100%) selected PPE over pedoscrub and the result were shown to be statistically significant. (<0.05). Conclusion Ultimately, the majority of the anxious children chosen pedoscrub, whereas non - anxious children have chosen PPE. Furthermore, the data reveals that both educated parents and older children preferred PPE as their attire for paediatric dentists.

Antibacterial efficacy of Carica papaya leaf extract, probiotics, kidodent, and placebo mouthwashes in reduction of salivary Streptococcus mutans A double-blinded parallel designed randomized controlled trial

Aim: To compare the antibacterial efficacy of Kidodent, Probiotics, and Carica papaya Leaf extract mouthwashes in reducing Streptococcus mutans count in 8–12 years' old school children. Methodology: Sixty children of age group of 8–12 years were nominated and grouped as Group A (Kidodent mouthwash), Group B (probiotics mouthwash) Group C (C. papaya leaf extract mouthwash), and Group D (distilled water placebo). Probiotics sachets (Prebact) of about 1 g were diluted in 10 ml of water and given as mouthwash. C. papaya leaf extract was obtained by Soxhlet extraction using ethanol as a solvent. Participants were asked to rinse with mouthwashes for 30 s once daily for up to 15 days. Saliva samples were collected and inoculated using Salivarius Mitis and Agar Agar Type I at 38°C for 24 h and incubated, later colony-forming units per milliliter were determined by serial dilution and calculated using colony counter manually. Statistical Analysis: Data were statistically analyzed using the one-way ANOVA and t-test using the SPSS V.20 software. Results: Probiotics and C. papaya leaf extract mouthwashes were equally effective as Kidodent in reducing S. mutans count in saliva. Conclusion: Probiotics and C. papaya leaf extract mouthwashes manifested potential efficacy in reduction of S. mutans.