An in vitro evaluation of ice apple water, Aloe vera, and propolis as a storage medium to preserve viability of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

Background: A number of media that create the best possible conditions to maintain periodontal ligament (PDL) cell viability after dental avulsion have been reported. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate ice apple water (IAW), Aloe vera, and propolis as a storage medium to preserve the viability of human PDL fibroblasts. Methods: An in vitro comparative type of study was performed on a PDL cell culture model. PDL fibroblasts obtained from the roots of healthy premolars were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and treated with ice apple water (IAW), 7% propolis extract (PE), 30% Aloe vera extract (AVE), positive control DMEM supplemented with fetal bovine serum, negative control (NC) without any agent, and incubated at 37°C for 1 h, 3 h, and 24 h. Cell viability was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay after every test period. Optical density was measured at a wavelength of 490 nm. Statistical Analysis Used: The effects of the test storage media were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance test, followed by post hoc Tukey's multiple comparison test (P < 0.05). Results: Seven percent PE demonstrated the highest capacity of maintaining PDL cell viability at 1 h and 24 h. IAW showed a statistically significantly lower percentage of viable cells at all three test periods as compared to 7% PE. After 3 h, 30% AVE demonstrated maximum viable cells. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, propolis at a concentration of 7% was the most effective medium for maintaining PDL cell viability.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of grassroot health workers about early childhood caries.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the knowledge levels pertaining to early childhood caries (ECC) among grassroot workers of rural India. DESIGN: A questionnaire study assessing the awareness levels of various ECC aspects was carried out among 88 auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), 140 Anganwadi workers (AWWs), and 210 Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in a district of Southern India. A 24-item pretested, structured, and close-ended, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the knowledge of early childhood oral health-related factors. Descriptive statistics and multivariate ANOVA were used to summarize the results. RESULTS: Overall, only 59% of ANMs, 49% of AWWs, and 47% of ASHA workers were found to have adequate knowledge about ECC. CONCLUSION: The current study clearly highlighted the discrepancy in the awareness levels among grassroot health care workers. A deficit was found to exist in the knowledge of the tested health care workers regarding infant oral care and ECC transmissibility.

Interceptive management of ectopically erupting central incisor - A case report.

Radicular cysts are considered to be rare in the primary dentition comprising 0.5%-3.3% of the total number of radicular cysts in both primary and permanent dentition. Ectopic eruption is an eruption disturbance with the prevalence of 5.6% with majority being permanent central incisors. Etiology for eruption disturbance commonly includes odontoma, cysts, supernumerary teeth, and crown-root malformation. Ectopic eruption of permanent incisor due to radicular cyst associated with traumatized primary incisor is a very rare clinical entity that requires timely interception. The present case illustrates the clinical feature and multi-disciplinary management of ectopic eruption of permanent central incisor in a 9-year-old girl child.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Pediatricians Regarding Pediatric Liquid Medicaments on Long-Term Oral Health: A Cross-sectional Study in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

BACKGROUND: A pediatrician is supposed to be one of the first clinician who sees a child from infancy through adolescence. This study was carried for pediatricians serving in medical colleges and tertiary hospitals in Bhubaneswar City, Odisha, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed among 30 pediatricians serving in various medical colleges and tertiary hospitals in Bhubaneswar City area. It consisted of questions regarding knowledge of pediatricians on the awareness of detrimental effects of long-term liquid medicaments use on oral cavity, including delivery of oral hygiene instructions and regular dental checkup. The data as obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 17.0, for Microsoft Windows (Chicago, Illinois). RESULTS: The results showed that there is a good amount of awareness among the pediatricians working in medical colleges in Bhubaneswar regarding pediatric liquid medication and their ill effects on teeth. Most pediatricians considered age and body weight of the child (87%). Sixty five percent of pediatricians were aware that pediatric liquid medication (PLM) can cause dental caries. Ninety five percent of them were aware of PLMs with sugar substitutes are available in market. CONCLUSION: The overall awareness among the pediatricians regarding the ill effects of pediatric liquid medications on teeth is satisfactory.

Fiber technology in space maintainer: a clinical follow-up study.

Various space maintainers are used in pediatric dentistry. However, their construction requires time consuming laboratory procedures. Recently fiber-reinforced composite resin (FRCR) has been introduced for various application in dentistry. Polyethylene fibers appear to have the best properties in elasticity, translucency, adaptability, tenaciousness, resistance to traction and to impact. The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate the long-term effect of FRCR space maintainer made with Ribbond(®) bondable reinforcement ribbon in children over a period of 18 months. A total of thirty FRCR space maintainers were applied to 30 children between the age group of 6 to 9 years old, follow-up visits were done at 1, 6, 12 and 18 months. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. Maxillary appliances survived more than mandibular appliances. Mean survival time of space maintainer were found to be 12 months (minimum 1 and maximum 18 months). The present study suggested that FRCR space maintainers (Ribbond(®)), which was observed for up to 18 months, can be accepted as a successful alternative to conventional band-loop space maintainer only for short periods.