Technological Advancement in Space Management-Prefabricated Space Maintainers: A Case Series.

Premature loss of primary teeth in children may lead to space loss in the arch, which leads to the collapse of vertical and horizontal occlusal relationships in primary and permanent dentitions. The ideal method to preserve the space in the arch in such a scenario is to use a space maintainer appliance. Conventionally, band and loop space maintainers are the most commonly used space maintainers. However, these are associated with certain drawbacks, such as multiple appointments and extended time for fabrication. A novel invention in the form of prefabricated bands and loops has been made to offset these disadvantages. Placement of prefabricated bands and loops decreases the chairside time and omits multiple visits, hence aiding in better behavior management for the child. The present case series discusses five cases of prefabricated band and loop placement in pediatric patients. How to cite this article: Goswami M, Johar S, Khokhar A, et al. Technological Advancement in Space Management-Prefabricated Space Maintainers: A Case Series. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(2):191-197.

Unveiling the Enigma of Multiple Odontomas in Pediatric Dentistry: A Rare Clinical Presentation.

Odontomas are the most common tooth-like hamartomatous odontogenic tumours, which are usually asymptomatic and found on routine radiographs. Odontomas are commonly classified into two types: complex and compound odontomas. The most common consequences of odontoma are tooth impaction and/or delayed tooth eruption. The present report describes a unique case of multiple complex odontoma in the anterior maxillary region in a 12-year-old young patient, which is a rare occurrence. The uniqueness of this case report is in the location, number, and complexity of the complex tumours. Early diagnosis, proper treatment planning, appropriate management, and regular follow-ups of these odontomas helped in complete removal and prevented recurrence even after 12 months of follow-up.

Comparative Evaluation of Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION:  Oral health care is essential yet challenging in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to their impaired emotional and behavioral stability, lack of communication skills, and inability to perform daily home hygiene routines properly. The present study was planned with the aim of assessing the Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of children with ASD in comparison with children without any systemic disease. METHODS: A total of 160 children, in the age group of 5-14 years, divided equally into two groups, i.e., Group A (children with ASD) and Group B (children without any systemic disease), were assessed for Dental caries, Oral Hygiene Status, and Treatment Needs. The behavior of children in each group, during oral examination, was also assessed and recorded. Student t test and Chi square test were used for quantitative and qualitative analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The mean age of participating children was 7.96±2.43 years with a male predominance (male to female ratio - 1.58:1). Children with ASD displayed more negative behavior with 15% showing definitely negative behavior, 21.2% negative behavior on Frankl's Behavior Rating scale; the statistically lower prevalence of dental caries (Group A - mean decayed, missing and filled primary teeth (dmft): 1.7±3.2, mean decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT): 0.19±0.71; Group B - mean DMFT: 5.44±4.88, mean DMFT: 1.01±1.51; p=0.0001), better oral hygiene (Group A - 18.8% showed good Simplified Oral Hygiene Index Score (OHI-S), 56.2% showed fair OHI-S; Group B - 6.2% showed good OHI-S and 46.3% showed fair OHI-S) and lower treatment needs compared to children without any systemic disease. CONCLUSION:  Children with ASD showed better oral health and lower treatment needs. This suggests that introducing oral hygiene care and diet modifications in daily routine can significantly improve the Oral Health Status in children with ASD.

Malignancy around implants in patients with a history of a potentially malignant or malignant lesion: a systematic review.

The majority of problematic conditions resulting from dental implant treatment are inflammatory in character, but certain isolated occurrences of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have been discovered in the area of implants. The goal of this study was to examine whether there is a link between dental implants and the development of OSCC in patients who have a history of a potentially malignant lesion (PML) or malignancy. Using the keywords "carcinoma" AND "dental implants," a search was conducted in the MEDLINE (PubMed), National Center for Biotechnology Information, and Google Scholar databases for case reports and case series in which OSCC was discovered as a primary cancer in the region of dental implants. An initial search identified 260 articles, 247 of which were excluded based on study inclusion or exclusion criteria, leaving 13 articles chosen for inclusion and a total of 30 patients who developed primary oral cancer surrounding osseointegrated titanium-based dental implants. In the studies included in the present review, 22 (73%) of 30 patients with peri-implant cancer had a history of PML or carcinoma. There is no statistical evidence of a direct association between dental implants and OSCC in patients with a history of a PML or malignant lesion. There have been some case reports of OSCC in the region of dental implants in patients with a history of a PML or malignant lesion, but further studies are needed to prove a definitive relationship.

Dealing with "Coronavirus Pandemic": A Dental Outlook.

An emergent pneumonia outbreak, denoted as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO) originated in Wuhan City, in late December 2019 and spread at an alarming rate to become a pandemic affecting more than 200 countries. The COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which is highly contagious and is associated with a high mortality rate. The current COVID-19 outbreak has created a major havoc among every strata of the society with a detrimental impact on healthcare professionals, including dentists limiting their capabilities at large. The transmission of virus through aerosols produced by high- and low-speed handpieces, ultrasonic scalers, air/water syringes, or an infected patient coughing, and even when taking intraoral radiographs has made it difficult for dental personnel to provide even the most basic services to the needful. The virus survives on environmental surfaces for extended periods of time, including metal and plastic surfaces commonly found in dental offices making it utmost necessary to follow the precautions and recommendations issued by various organizations in order to contain its spread. This article aims to provide the latest knowledge encompassing the various aspects of COVID-19 to pediatric dentists in India. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Goswami M, Sharma S, Kumar G, et al. Dealing with "Coronavirus Pandemic": A Dental Outlook. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(3):269-278.