Determination of Prevalence of Dental Erosion in 12 - 14 Years School Children and Its Relationship with Dietary Habits.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of dental erosion in 12-14 years school children and its association with dietary habits. STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, from January to June 2010. METHODOLOGY: School children aged between 12 - 14 years were included in this study. Dental erosion was detected by visual examination. Aself-developed questionnaire was used to assess the dietary habits of children. Acidic diet was considered a diet that has an acidic pH. The amount of consumption of acidic drinks and food per week was categorized into low consumption (1 - 7 times / week) and medium consumption (8 - 21 times / week). Chi-square test was applied to see any statistical difference between diet and tooth erosion at 95% CI. RESULTS: The results showed a high frequency of (46%) dental erosion in children, which was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in children with more acidic diet. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the impact of dietary habits on the prevalence of dental erosion in children. Acidic diets need to be controlled in frequency to prevent dental erosion.

Extrinsic stain removal with a toothpowder: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of a commercially available toothpowder was compared with toothpaste in removing extrinsic dental stains. METHODS: In this single-blind, randomized controlled trial, 77 volunteers were included from a residential professional college. All study subjects (control toothpaste users and test toothpowder users) plaque control measures. All study subjects were instructed to rinse with 5 ml 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash for 1 minute, twice and one cup of double tea bag solution three times daily for three weeks. Subjects were randomized into test (n=36) and control (n=36) groups. Toothpaste (control) and toothpowder (test) was used for two weeks to see the effects on removing stains on the labial surfaces of 12 anterior teeth. For measuring dental extrinsic stains Lobene Stain Index (SI) was used. RESULTS: The amount of stain following the use of toothpaste and toothpowder was more controlled with the experimental toothpowder. For all sites combined, there was evidence that the experimental toothpowder was significantly superior to toothpaste in reducing stain area (p<.001), stain intensity (p<.001) and composite/product (area × intensity) (p<.001). CONCLUSION: Stain removing efficacy of toothpowder was significantly higher as compared with toothpaste. A toothpowder may be expected to be of benefit in controlling and removing extrinsic dental staining.

Comparison of the plaque-removing efficacy of toothpaste and toothpowder.

BACKGROUND: Removing dental plaque may play a key role in maintaining oral health. Methods for oral hygiene vary from country to country and from culture to culture. Chewing sticks (miswak) and toothpowders are popular oral hygiene tools in Pakistan. OBJECTIVE: To compare the plaque-removing efficacy of toothpaste and toothpowder with and without manual toothbrushes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as an examiner-blind crossover study. The Silness and Löe plaque index was used to evaluate the plaque distribution. Thirty-six volunteer dental students were recruited for the experiment. After scoring, the subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was asked to brush with toothpaste or toothpowder according to a split mouth protocol. The second group was asked to follow the same protocol except they were asked to use their finger instead of the brush. The remaining plaque was scored again. RESULTS: Plaque-removing efficacy of the toothpowder was higher whether it was used with brush or with finger. There was a significant difference between paste and powder users (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that toothpowder is an effective means to remove plaque with a brush.

Efficacy of chemo-mechanical caries removal with Carisolv.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of chemo-mechanical caries removal using Carisolv and compare it to the conventional method of caries removal. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Department of Operative Dentistry, Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital, Karachi, from October 2003 to March 2004. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with contralateral cariously involved mandibular molars participated in the study. Patients were selected using convenience sampling. One side of each patient was randomly selected for treatment with either Carisolv or the conventional method. In the study group, carious lesion was removed with Carisolv instruments, whereas in control group excavators and round steel burs were used. Single observer assessed all the treated lesions. Time required to remove caries and completeness of caries removal was observed for both techniques. Data was compared using 'Fisher's exact test' and 'Independent samples t-test'. RESULTS: Time taken to remove caries using Carisolv was 12.19 (SD 3.7) minutes, whereas time taken to remove caries by conventional method was 7.4 (SD 3.21) minutes. The difference was statistically significant (p-value<0.005). Caries could not be removed in 3 teeth in the study group with Carisolv. Complete caries removal was, however, achieved in the control group. The difference was statistically insignificant (p-value>0.005). CONCLUSION: Chemo-mechanical caries removal with Carisolv is as effective as conventional methods in removing dental caries, however, it is significantly more time-consuming.

Success rate of resin bonded restorative dentistry bridges.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the success rate of resin bonded bridges. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital, Karachi between August 1998 and August 2002. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy resin bonded bridges fitted in 60 patients were clinically assessed for debonding. The inclusion criteria included minimal reduction of teeth with minimal occlusal contacts. Patients were excluded if teeth had a large discrepancy of space and heavy occlusion. The retainers were designed self retentive and covered the maximum tooth surface lingually and proximally. Impressions were taken and resin bonded bridges were fabricated and bonded. Information regarding the patient's data, bonding and debonding was collected on a proforma and was analysed using SPSS version 10.0. RESULTS: Seventy resin-bonded bridges had been in place for an average of 33 months. The results showed a 94.3% success rate. Statistically significant results were found between anterior bridges and posterior bridges for bonding status (p< 0.05). Results were not significant where maxillary versus mandibular bridges were compared for bonding status. (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Resin bonded bridges achieved a high level of clinical success in the study.