Oral Health Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Schools.

BACKGROUND: Sensory over-responsivity is an important factor influencing the ability of children with an autism spectrum disorder to receive proper oral care. Dental care remains the most prevalent, unmet health care need for children with special health care needs. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the oral health of children with autism in special schools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to record the oral health problems of 142 autistic children attending special schools across the suburbs of Mumbai city in India. Clinical examination was carried out for the presence of dental plaque, gingivitis, caries, restorations, traumatic injuries, and self-injurious habits. The participants were divided into three groups based on their age. RESULTS: Children with primary and mixed dentition had a higher incidence of dental caries when compared with the permanent dentition group. Good oral hygiene was observed in the study population with a mean OHI-S score of 0.88 ± 0.79. Traumatic dental injuries, bruxism, drooling of saliva from the corner of the mouth, and self-injurious habits were also recorded. CONCLUSION: Due to the nature of their neurological deficit and difficulty in providing dental treatment, it is recommended that preventive dental care be enforced on these children. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Santosh A, Kakade A, Mali S, et al. Oral Health Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Schools. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(4):548-553.

Ultrasonography as a diagnostic aid for a neonate with gingival swelling in a COVID-19 neonatal intensive care unit.

COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all the aspects of life and has emerged as the biggest challenge to the health-care sector. Dental fraternity has also taken its significant impact since the transmission of disease is primarily through aerosol droplets. Management of infants with orofacial anomalies such as natal and neonatal teeth born to COVID-19-positive mothers is another challenge due to unavailability of dental facilities in the isolation wards. In such unforeseen circumstances, out-of-routine approaches such as extraoral mandibular ultrasonography were performed for the management of a congenital intraoral swelling in an infant and are being described in this case report.

Tamponade effect of resorbable biological barrier in quality of obturation in primary molar.

AIM: Physical properties of obturating materials have a direct effect on the quality of obturation; less viscous material will tend to extrude beyond the apex. We hypothesize that the use of absorbable gelatin sponge (AGS) can prevent the extrusion of these materials. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of obturation in root canals filled with iodoform-calcium hydroxide (Metapex) premixed paste and Metapex with AGS (MAGS) in primary molars. METHODS: This in vivo study comprised 60 primary mandibular molars which after instrumentation were divided into 2 groups according to the obturation material used, Metapex and MAGS, followed by radiographic evaluation to assess the quality of the obturation. The χ2 -test was applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between Metapex and MAGS groups in achieving optimum obturation (P < .001). Metapex and MAGS exhibited 86.65% and 38.88% optimum obturation respectively. The overfilling of root canals effectively reduced from 38.88% to 4.44%. CONCLUSION: The addition of AGS to Metapex causes a "tamponade effect", which reduces the tendency of Metapex to extrude beyond the root apex. Root canal obturation using a modified filling paste like MAGS is effective in obtaining optimum obturation in primary teeth.

Scanning electron microscopic observation of primary tooth dentin following final irrigation with 95% ethanol: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of irrigants during endodontic treatment are well known; however, it may have some deleterious effects on the internal root canal wall, thereby altering its physical properties. AIM: The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of 95% ethanol on morphological characteristics of primary root dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biomechanical preparation was done in twenty extracted single-rooted primary anterior teeth using Rotary ProTaper Universal System. Samples were divided into two groups based on the final irrigation protocol: nonalcohol group (NAG) and alcohol group (AG). 3% sodium hypochlorite and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were used for irrigation in both the groups, whereas 95% ethanol was used as a final irrigant in AG. After the treatment, these teeth were longitudinally sectioned and studied under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS: SEM observation of NAG showed scattered debris with unaffected morphology of dentinal tubules (DT). In AG, DT showed severe erosion with the loss of peritubular and intertubular dentin. CONCLUSION: A final rinse with 95% ethanol can change the morphology of the internal root surface and aid in smear layer removal in primary teeth.