Presence Of Caries Research Articles

Efficacy of 30% silver diamine fluoride compared to atraumatic restorative treatment in arresting dentin caries lesions in preschoolers: a randomized clinical trial.

To compare the efficacy of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) in arresting caries lesions. Variables such as treatment time, adverse effects/parental aesthetic perception, anxiety and patients' behavior were also evaluated. Children (3.53 ± 1.03 years) with dentin caries lesions on the occlusal surface of primary molars were randomized into test (SDF) and control (ART) groups. To determine the presence of caries, dmf-t and ICDAS indexes were used. Caries lesions were also classified according to activity (active or inactive). The time required to perform treatments was recorded and the children's anxiety was assessed by a Facial Image Scale. The adverse events/aesthetic perception were registered by the operator and caregivers. The Frankl Behavioral Scale assessed patients' behavior. The chi-square/Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney tests were used for comparisons between the groups. Of the 118 participants who received treatment (SDF, n = 59; ART, n = 59), after 12-month follow-up, 91.5% (43/47) of caries lesions in the SDF and 90.2% (46/51) in the ART group were arrested (p = 1.000). After 24 months, 72% (18/25) were arrested in the SDF group and 95.2% (20/21) in the ART. The treatment times were 6.08 ± 1.72 and 13.58 ± 4.83, for SDF and ART, respectively (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference of adverse effects, aesthetic perception, anxiety, and patients' behavior were found between the groups. SDF was similar to ART in arresting caries lesion but required less time for treatment. The anxiety, adverse effects/aesthetic perception and patients' behavior were also similar between the groups. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of SDF may be a faster and less invasive alternative for the treatment of caries lesions. Clinical trial registration number and date of registration: NCT03063307. September 2016.

Efficacy of chemo-mechanical caries removal: a 24-month randomized trial.

Chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) offers an alternative to conventional drilling for carious dentin removal, but limited evidence exists on its long-term effects on treating caries in primary teeth. The primary aims of this study were to compare CMCR to drilling in terms of restoration status and the presence of secondary caries after 24 months. A randomized, parallel-group, single-blinded, controlled trial was conducted in Thailand. Participants were children aged 7-8 years with occlusal caries in second primary molars, randomly assigned to CMCR with Papacarie® (n = 242) or drilling (n = 246). All cavities were restored using glass ionomer cement. Completeness of caries removal was evaluated clinically by two blinded dentists, and patients' discomfort was measured using a facial visual analogue scale. Restoration status and development of secondary caries were assessed every six months clinically and every 12 months radiographically over a 2-year period. Both groups achieved complete caries removal, but the CMCR took significantly longer than the drilling method (9 vs. 2.3 min, p < 0.001). Children in the CMCR group reported significantly lower discomfort during treatment (p < 0.001). At 24 months, ten (4.6%) restorations in the CMCR group failed, compared to three (1.2%) in the drilling group. Clinically, four restorations (CMCR = 2, control = 2) exhibited secondary caries at the margin, while nine restorations (CMCR = 8, control = 1) showed radiographic evidence of secondary caries beneath the restoration. However, neither clinical nor radiographic evaluations revealed statistically significant differences in treatment outcomes at the two-year mark. CMCR demonstrated comparable efficacy to conventional drilling for complete caries removal and restoration success at 24 months in primary teeth. Despite a longer chair time, it resulted in less discomfort during treatment. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01641861, identifier: NCT01641861.

Relationship of Caries between Primary Molars and the Permanent First Molar.

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that affects large segment of population worldwide. To evaluate the detailed relationship between carious status of primary molars and permanent first molars among 8.5-10 years old children. Two-hundred and seven children were included in this cross-sectional study. The permanent incisors were fully erupted, the primary canines had no caries experience, and premolars were not erupted. The dentition status of the primary molars and permanent first molars was examined according to the World Health Organization criteria. Pearson correlation, independent sample t-test, and linear and logistic regression analysis were used. The significance level was set at 0.05. The mean (standard deviation) of decay, missing and filled teeth/surface for primary molars and permanent first molar (dmfs&dmft/DMFS&DMFT) were 4.12 (2.53), 8.40 (7.43), 0.77 (1.16) and 1.01 (1.81), respectively. Weak and medium correlations were found between d-component and D-component (r < 0.5), though statistically significant (P value < 0.001). Moreover, there was a relationship between the number of primary molars caries and the presence of caries on the permanent first molar located in the same side and jaw of these primary molars and those located in the opposite side and jaw of the primary molars. Nearly one-fifth of the caries on the permanent molars might be attributed to caries on the primary molars among 8.5-10 years-old children. The odds ratio of developing caries on the permanent first molars was 1.5 for children with primary molars caries in comparison to children with no primary caries.

Dental caries in anterior teeth of babies can predict the occurrence of severe dental caries in posterior teeth: a 3-year cohort study.

To evaluate whether the presence of dental caries in the primary anterior teeth of 1- and 2-year-old babies can predict the occurrence of severe dental caries in the primary posterior teeth of these children after a 3-year follow-up. This cohort study was carried out with 99 children and their guardians who were assessed at the beginning of the study and reassessed after 3years. Severe caries in posterior tooth at the 3-year follow-up is the dependent variable. Caries in anterior tooth at baseline is the main independent variable. Other independent variables are family income, mother's education, oral hygiene, night oral hygiene, sucrose consumption, and history of toothache. Descriptive analysis, chi-square test, and Poisson regression were performed. The incidence of severe caries in posterior tooth was 3.33 times higher in children with caries in anterior tooth at baseline (95% CI 2.06-5.37). Children who belonged to lower-income families both at baseline and at follow-up (RR: 2.75; 95% CI 1.40-5.39), who did not perform night-time oral hygiene at baseline (RR: 1.76; 95% CI 1.10-2.80) and who had a frequency of sucrose consumption equal to or greater than twice a day, both at baseline and at follow-up (RR: 4.07; 95% CI 2.03-8.19) had a higher risk of developing severe dental caries in posterior deciduous teeth. Children with dental caries in primary anterior teeth when they were babies have a higher incidence of severe caries in posterior teeth.

Incidence of caries and pathological findings in different positions of impacted third molars: A retrospective analysis

ObjectivesImpacted third molars(3 M), commonly known as wisdom teeth, are prone to caries and pathological formations depending on their position in the jaw. This study aimed to determine and compare the incidence of caries, pathological formations, and the superposition of the roots of the mandibular impacted third molar over the mandibular canal in different positions of impacted 3Ms. Meterials and MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted on orthopantomographs of patients who presented with 3 M complaints at the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department between 2019 and 2023. The 3 M were classified according to their position by two researchers independently and were evaluated for caries, pathology, and nerve superposition. The position of the 3Ms classified using Pell and Gregory and Winter's classifications. The primary outcome variable was the presence of caries in the 3 M The secondary outcome variable was the presence of pathological formations around the 3 M The tertiary outcome variable was the superposition of the roots of the mandibular 3 M over the mandibular canal. ResultsA total of 7,038 patients were included in the study, with 53.74 % being female. The mean age was 32.15±7.2 years. The highest incidence of caries was associated with the vertical position in both maxillary and mandibular 3Ms (right maxillary: 9.98 %, P < 0.001; left maxillary: 12.74 %, P < 0.001; left mandibular: 11.66 %, p = 0.003; right mandibular: 11.69 %, p = 0.031). Pathological formations were most commonly observed in the vertical position, but the highest incidence was found in the horizontal or mesioangular positions (right maxillary: 36.84 %, p < 0.001; left maxillary: 40 %, p < 0.001; left mandibular: 62.04 %, p < 0.001; right mandibular: 62.25 %, p < 0.001). Nerve superposition was most common in the vertical position but was highest in the distoangular position (left mandibular: 74.69 %, p < 0.001; right mandibular: 76.66 %, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The position of 3Ms plays a critical role in the development of complications such as caries and pathological formations. Prophylactic extraction may be considered more seriously in cases where the position of the tooth poses a higher risk of complications.

Socio-behavioural associates of Early Childhood Caries among preschool children aged three to four years in Gampaha district, Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study

BackgroundEarly Childhood Caries (ECC) is a highly prevalent disease among preschoolers in Sri Lanka, with stagnated prevalence over the decades. Therefore, it is important to determine the socio-behavioural associations of ECC among preschoolers to reduce the country’s ECC burden.MethodsA cross-sectional study with a multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select 3 to 4 year-old preschoolers/mothers dyads in Gampaha district in 2019. Preschoolers who completed third birthday and had not completed fifth birthday on the day of data collection were selected. The dependent variable was the presence (dmft ≥ 1) or absence (dmft = 0) of ECC. Independent variables were sex, monthly family income, mother’s educational and occupational status, child’s birth order, family type, frequency of consumption of sweets and sweetened drinks, time of sweet consumption during the last 24 h, toothbrushing frequency, supervision of toothbrushing, dental visit, and maternal dental caries. A pre-tested validated questionnaire was used. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used.ResultsTotal of 1038 preschoolers were selected. There were 529 females (51.0%) and 509 males (49.0%). The prevalence of ECC was 56.3% (95% CI: 53.1–59.3). Consuming sweets between meals had a higher odds ratio than consuming sweets after main meals (OR = 1.72, 95% CI:1.25–2.35), consumption of sweets every day had a higher odds ratio than consumption of sweets several times a week or less (OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 2.02–4.13), consumption of sweetened drinks every day had a higher odds ratio than consumption of sweetened drinks several times a week or less (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.07–2.79), and the presence of maternal caries had a higher odds ratio than the absence of maternal caries (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.12–2.69). The use of adult fluoridated toothpaste than not using adult fluoridated toothpaste (OR = 0.64, 95% CI:0.48–0.85), tooth brushing twice per day than not brushing twice per day (OR = 0.67, 95% CI:0.51–0.89), and supervised toothbrushing than unsupervised toothbrushing (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41–0.93) was negatively associated with ECC.ConclusionsECC is highly associated with sweet consumption and oral hygiene behaviours among preschoolers in Gampaha District. Interventions should focus on the oral health behaviours of preschoolers to reduce ECC burden.

Mucosal leishmaniasis of the lips and cheeks: a first concomitant presentation of visceral and mucosal leishmaniasis in a patient living with HIV/AIDS in Monastir, Tunisia

BackgroundVisceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe and fatal disease if left untreated. In people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), VL is considered an emerging opportunistic infection. The aim of this manuscript was to report a first case in Tunisia of a concomitant presentation of visceral and oral leishmaniasis in a patient LHA. A systematic review of the literature was performed according to PRISMA guidelines, as well.Case presentationThe patient, a 43-year-old heterosexual man, treated for HIV/AIDS was referred for macrocheilitis of the upper and lower lips. A noticeable nodular and painless swelling extending to the cheeks’ mucosa was noted. The patient's poor oral hygiene was evident due to the presence of multiple dental caries. Histological analysis of the biopsied lower lip sample revealed the presence of numerous Leishmania amastigotes. The diagnosis of VL was clinically confirmed by the presence of a mild splenomegaly and pancytopenia and biologically by the identification of the parasite using PCR Lei and the species L. infantum involved using RFLP-PCR and culture. The treatment consisted of an intravenous administration of liposomal Amphotericin B (Ambisome®, 40 mg/kg/weight) for a period of 6 weeks. A favorable outcome was noted after one year with the resolution of clinical symptoms and a negative Leishmania blood PCR test. After 2 years, the patient remained asymptomatic but showed a positive Leishmania blood PCR test. Dolutegravir® was introduced in the patient’s ART regimen.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report in Tunisia of atypical VL diagnosed through an uncommon oral location in an HIV/AIDS co-infected patient . Since VL is a severe and potentially fatal disease, it is essential for dentists to perform a thorough clinical examination and adopt a multidisciplinary approach in order to ensure an early diagnosis and an effective treatment outcome.

Oral Health Status Among Deaf Children in Cuttack City: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim The aim was to assess the oral health status of hard-of-hearing children using the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form for Children 2013 and to evaluate their dietary and oral hygiene practices using the Oral Health Questionnaire given by the same. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 90 hard-of-hearing children aged five to 19 yearsin Cuttack city. The World Health Organization oral health assessment form 2013 for children was used for data collection. Type-III clinical examination were carried out usinga mouth mirror, explorerand WHO periodontal probe. The resulting data were entered into Excel sheets (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) and transferred to SPSS version 25 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used. Results Forty-nine children were aged between 13-16 years of age. Most of them had profound level of hearing loss (68%). The prevalence of dental caries was found to be 76.9% and 82.4% suffered from gingival bleeding. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between the level of hearing loss and dental caries presence (p = 0.027), suggesting that children with higher levels of hearing loss may be more prone to dental caries. However, age (p = 0.882) and gender (p = 0.859) did not exhibit significant associations with dental caries presence. The age group has a significant association with gingival bleeding (p = 0.001), while gender shows a borderline significance (p = 0.090). However, the level of hearing loss does not appear to be significantly associated with gingival bleeding (p = 0.556). Conclusion In this study, the oral health status of these children was found to be considerably poor. There is a considerable need for treatment and prevention of oral disease among this population.

Evaluation of oral and dental health parameters in children with special care needs

AIM. The aim of this study is to evaluate and raise awareness of the oral and dental health parameters in children aged 6 to 16 years with special care needs who are enrolled in special education institutions located in the central districts of Diyarbakir in Turkey. Specifically, the study examines the presence of caries, plaque, malocclusions, and molar-incisor hypomineralization.METHODS. A total of 368 children with special care needs participated in the study, with ages ranging from 6 to 16 years and an average age of 9.61 years. Of the participants, 196 have intellectual disabilities, 51 have Down syndrome, and 121 have autism spectrum disorder. The clinical findings of our study include the DMFT/dmft index, plaque index, occlusal relationships, and the presence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS v21 software package.RESULTS. The mean DMFT/dmft value was found to be 5.64, and the mean plaque index value was 1.37. The occlusal relationships of the participants were as followed: 78.26% had Class I, 11.14% had Class II, and 10.6% had Class III. Additionally, 98.64% of the participants did not have molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH), while 1.36% did have MIH.CONCLUSION. In our study, it was found that children with special care needs generally have poor oral hygiene, their parents/caregivers lack sufficient awareness, and the prevalence of caries and plaque index is high in the examined population.

Microbial diversity in primary endodontic infections: demographics and radiographic characteristics.

To analyze if the microbiome community composition in primary endodontic infections is associated with clinical or radiographic factors. Seventy-one patients with primary endodontic infections were evaluated for percussion tenderness, presence of a sinus tract, presence of caries, sex, probing depth > 4mm, and age. Samples from the root canals were obtained and the microbiome was subsequently characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. For the radiographic analysis, a subset of 12 samples with a periapical index (PAI) ≤ 2 were compared with 19 samples with PAI of 5. The Shannon and Chao1 indices were used to measure alpha diversity. Differences in abundances of genera were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni's correction. Differences in community composition were evaluated using analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) with Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices. No significant differences in microbiome composition relative to clinical factors were found using ANOSIM. Teeth within the two categories of periapical index showed a similar number of species richness, and alpha diversity values P > 0.05. Community composition was significantly affected by the periapical index (ANOSIM P = 0.039, R = 0.10). Larger radiographic lesions demonstrated significant increase in Prevotellaceae, Olsenella, and the motile bacteria Oribacterium, Selenomonadaceae spp., and Treponema. Clinical factors associated with apical periodontitis have a limited impact on the root canal microbiome composition. Community composition appears to be affected in teeth with large apical lesions.

Social Vulnerability Index and Dental Caries in Children: An Exploratory Study.

This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated the association between caries outcomes in a pediatric population visiting a dental clinic and the social vulnerability index, an area-based measure capturing 4 main social determinants of health: socioeconomic status, household composition/disability, minority status/language, and housing/transportation. The Centers for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and electronic dental record data of children (0 to 18 y) reporting a caries diagnosis at the Children's Hospital Colorado in 2020 were extracted for 9,201 children. Logistic regressions were used to test the association between SVI and the presence or absence of dental caries, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and race. Children with a caries diagnosis had a greater mean overall SVI percentile (62.0, standard deviation [SD] = 29.1) compared with patients without a caries diagnosis (59.1, SD = 29.8; P < 0.001). With each 10-point increase in the overall SVI percentile, having a caries diagnosis visit was 2.7% more likely compared with having a visit without a caries diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 1.027, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.012, 1.042; P = 0.0004). Those with an overall SVI percentile between 51 and 75 were 23% more likely to have a caries diagnosis compared with those with a percentile ≤25 (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07, 1.42; P = 0.003), and those with a percentile >75 were 23.6% more likely to have a caries diagnosis compared with those with a percentile ≤25 (OR 1.236, 95% CI 1.09, 1.40; P = 0.001). Children (0 to 18 y) living in socially vulnerable environments or areas were more likely to have a caries diagnosis at their dental exam. This study showed an association between social determinants of health demonstrating social vulnerability and dental caries in children. Ultimately, understanding upstream factors for children living in socially vulnerable areas could support policymakers in creating more effective policies to support socially vulnerable populations.

Oral Health Epidemiological Investigation in an Urban Homeless Population.

The purpose of this clinical epidemiological investigation was to examine the oral health conditions of homeless people in the city of Rome, Italy. A total of 157 homeless subjects were subjected to a first dental visit, during which anamnestic information was recorded in a digital medical record. A diagnosis of dental disorders was performed by assessing oral hygiene conditions, periodontal health, the presence of caries and/or root residues, and the presence of partial and/or total edentulousness. Caries and missing teeth were evaluated by the DMFT index. The first major criticality was represented by poor or absent oral hygiene. The examined sample showed a major percentage of high DMFT (63.0%); the most common clinical condition was the presence of numerous root residues. Regarding periodontal health, 73.2% of patients had gingivitis, 21.6% periodontitis, while 11 patients had periodontal pathologies with tooth mobility (7%). Finally, 8.9% of patients had one or two missing elements, 22.9% had partial edentulousness, and 8.9% of the sample had total edentulism. This analysis provides an important basis for strengthening health promotion and the importance of accessible and effective care for this population. It will therefore be necessary to continue to adopt a patient-centered approach geared towards addressing the demands that this population faces in maintaining their oral health.

The relationships between unmet social needs, oral health measures, and dental service utilization in a pediatric population.

Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) have been linked to health, including oral health and oral health behaviors. Objectives of this retrospective records review were to evaluate the relationships between self-reported unmet social needs and (1) oral health measures and (2) dental service utilization in a pediatric population at a hospital-based dental clinic. Children 2-5 years of age whose families had completed a SDoH survey and who had an encounter with one United States (U.S.) urban children's hospital dental clinic within 6 months (± 3 months) of the survey date were included. A chart review was performed, and information was collected about the child's (1) oral health (e.g., plaque level, presence of caries) and (2) dental service utilization (e.g., no-show rates, number of dental surgeries). The data of patients with one or more parental/caretaker-reported unmet social needs were compared with that of patients with no unmet social needs. Inclusion criteria were met by 2646 children. Those with unmet social needs had significantly higher no-show rates at scheduled appointments than those without unmet social needs (p-value <0.001). Patients who identified as African/Black were more likely to report unmet social needs. There was no statistically significant difference in oral health measures of patients with or without unmet social needs. Children in this population demonstrated varying associations between unmet social needs, health measures, and health behaviors, suggesting a likely complicated association between unmet social needs and health.

Sweetened Areca Nut, A Risk in Dental Caries among Adolescents in Pune, Maharashtra? A Case-Control Study

Abstract Introduction: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) causes dental caries and so does chewing of areca nut (sweetened supari) due to the presence of sugar. Since conflicting views exist about whether areca nut causes dental caries or not, and since studies are undertaken in adults and data on adolescents are not available, this study was carried out. Since those were cross-sectional or longitudinal studies, this case-control study was undertaken to understand if flavored/sweetened areca nut is a risk factor for dental caries. Material and Method: This unmatched case-control study was conducted among the male students of 8th to 10th standard in the age group of 12–16 of four Madhyamik Vidyalaya’s (MVs) in Pimpri–Chinchwad (urban area), Pune. A directed acyclic graph (DAG) was drawn to determine the independent variables to be selected for the study and minimal variables to be adjusted during data analysis. Selection of cases was based on diagnostic and eligibility criteria. The data on the use of sweetened areca nuts and the presence of caries were collected through oral examination and a semistructured questionnaire administered by the principal investigator on a one-to-one basis between August 2022 and October 2022. Data were analyzed using epiinfoTM 7.2.5.0. Results: This study of 146 males in the age group of 13 to 16 years had 61 students as cases and 85 as controls. No significant difference was observed between the group with (cases) and without (controls) dental caries for areca nut use (pack years) whether consumed daily or less frequently for 1 year or more. While the exposure rate to areca nut among cases was 44.26%, for the control group it was 36.47%. The odds ratio of sweetened areca nut as being the risk factor for dental caries was 1.38 at 95% CI (0.70–2.71) with P = 0.44. Conclusion: This study revealed that the adolescent users of sweetened areca nuts studying in government schools had a higher exposure odds ratio for dental caries. However, it was not significant statistically. Information bias including recall may have influenced the outcome.

Patterns of mandibular third molar impaction and its relationship with distal caries in the adjacent mandibular second molars: A retrospective study

BackgroundImpacted third molars can cause significant challenges for dental health. While many of these impacted teeth remain asymptomatic, they can lead to dental caries. ObjectiveTo investigate the patterns of mandibular third molar impaction and its relationship with the occurrence of caries in the adjacent mandibular second molars. Materials and MethodsThis study assessed the dental panoramic radiographs of 1591 participants who visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Dental Teaching Hospital at Umm Al-Qura University between 2022 and 2024. The presence of distal caries in the adjacent mandibular second molars was assessed and compared across the different impaction patterns, considering both age and gender. ResultsThe results showed that 29.22 % of the patients had impacted mandibular third molars. The most common patterns of impacted mandibular third molar angulation were mesioangular in the females and horizontal in the males. The majority of these impacted third molars were level A and class I (as per the Pell and Gregory classification).One hundred and eighty-three (39.35 %) of the impacted mandibular third molars had associated carious lesions, with 89 showing distal caries in the adjacent mandibular second molar and 18 showing caries in the third molar itself. The carious lesions were most commonly found in cases of mesioangular, level A, and class I impaction patterns (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe findings of this study shed light to the high prevalence of carious lesions associated with impacted mandibular third molar, especially in cases of mesioangular, level A, and class I impaction patterns. These findings highlight the importance of careful monitoring of impacted third molars to prevent the development of caries in the adjacent teeth.

Correlation of Personality, Temperament, and Behavior of Children in the Dental Environment.

A child's temperament, influenced by inborn traits and emotional regulation, can impact their dental behavior and caries risk. Parenting styles, such as authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, or neglectful, also play a significant role. Authoritative parenting tends to yield more favorable dental outcomes, while permissive parenting can lead to a higher prevalence of caries. Studying these interactions can help tailor dental interventions and address potential risks associated with caries development. Thus, the study aims to correlate parental personality, the child's temperament to dental caries, and child's behavior in a dental setting. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 children in the age-group of 6-9 years. The children were selected based on the selection criteria. The children were asked to fill out the parental perception questionnaire (PPQ), and the parents were asked to fill out the emotionality, activity, sociability (EAS) questionnaire to assess the parenting style and child's temperamental status. Later, the child's behavior pattern was assessed using the Frankl behavior rating scale. The children were intraorally examined for the presence of caries using the decayed, extracted, filled teeth (deft) and decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index. All the data were tabulated and statistically analyzed. In this study, a total of 160 children were assessed, including 84 boys (52.3%) and 76 girls (47.5%), with an average age of 7.8 years. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Scheffe's post hoc test was performed to compare the temperamental status and parenting style with the behavior of the child in the dental office. The results were statistically significant with a p-value of 0.001. Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed a significant positive correlation between Temperament E scores and def scores in children with positive behavior (p-value = 0.004). This study's findings suggest that a child's behavior in a dental office is influenced by the parent's personality, the child's temperament, and the dentist. A child's capacity to handle dental visits and their overall oral health can be notably affected by the child's temperament and parenting style. Thamilvanan S, Srinivasan D, Benedict CH, et al. Correlation of Personality, Temperament, and Behavior of Children in the Dental Environment. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):907-912.

Assessment of Risk Factors and Prognostic Predictors for Endo-Perio Lesions in Indian Cohorts: An Observational Study.

Endodontic and periodontal tissues exhibit a significant interrelationship, whereby pathologies affecting one tissue can precipitate the involvement of the other. The primary objective of this study was to assess the risk factors associated with endo-perio lesions (EPLs). The secondary objective was to assess the prognostic predictors for such lesions and the prevalence rate of EPLs involving both pulpal and periodontal tissues in Indian cohorts. A prospective observational study was conducted on 2170 teeth with EPLs in Indian adults aged > 18 years. A detailed history of smoking, tobacco chewing, and the development of EPLs was obtained from all patients. Detailed periodontal and endodontic examinations were conducted by two calibrated examiners. Intraoral periapical radiographs (IOPAs) were obtained to diagnose EPLs. The chi-square test of association was used to analyze the association between independent and dependent variables, and the strength of association was presented by Pearsoncontingency coefficient (r). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify reliable factors for diagnosing EPLs. A statistical significance threshold of 0.05 was established. The prevalence of EPLs involving pulpal and periodontal tissues was 29.49%. Type 1 lesions (EPLs involving only pulpal tissue) were most commonly seen at 41-45 years of age, type 2 lesions (EPLs involving primary pulpal and secondary periodontal tissue), and type 3 lesions (EPLs involving only periodontal tissue) at 26-30 years of age, and type 4 lesions (EPLs involving primary periodontal and secondary pulpal tissue) at 31-35 years of age. The pulp was found to be non-vital in all cases of type 3 lesions, and faulty restoration or improper root canal treatment (RCT) was the main risk factor for such lesions. Occupational trauma was found to be the most common risk factor for type 3 and type 4 lesions. Smoking, age, tooth type, occlusal trauma, faulty restorations and RCT, presence of caries, periapical pathology, periodontitis, bone loss, and pulp vitality were significantly associated with EPLs. Pulp vitality and bone loss were two prognostic predictors of EPLs.

"Association between caries in anterior teeth and bullying victimization in Brazilian schoolchildren aged 6 to 10years.: a cross sectional study".

To investigate the association between presence of caries in anterior teeth and bullying victimization in schoolchildren. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Brazil with a sample of 387 schoolchildren aged 6 to 10years. The presence of moderate/extensive dental caries was assessed using the International System for the Evaluation and Detection of Dental Caries (ICDAS-II). The children answered the "Olweus Bullying" (QBO). Descriptive analyses were performed, and the associations between bullying victimization and independent variables collected were determined by univariate and multivariate Poisson regression. The prevalence of bullying victimization was 66.4%. Bullying victimization was higher among children who had moderate/extensive caries in some anterior teeth (p = 0.010). 8-year-old (p = 0.048), 9-year-old (p = 0.001), and 10-year-old (p = 0.002) children reported greater bullying victimization when compared to 6-year-olds. The presence of moderate/extensive dental caries in anterior teeth is associated with bullying victimization in schoolchildren.

Comparative Assessment of Compomers and Ormocers as Pit and Fissure Sealants in Permanent Molars among Children Aged 7-9 Years.

In recent years, the dental profession's focus has shifted from the therapeutic to the preventive aspect of dental caries. Pit and fissure sealants, optimal fluoridation, healthy dietary habits, and good oral hygiene have been recommended for caries prevention. Many sealant materials are available on the market. Compomers are hybrid dental materials that are modified composite resins with polyacids. The esthetic properties of traditional composite systems are combined with the fluoride-releasing and adhesive properties of glass ionomer cement (GIC). Organically modified ceramic (Ormocer) material has high abrasion resistance and better aesthetics, similar to natural teeth. To compare the sealing ability of compomer and ormocer as pit and fissure sealants in permanent mandibular first molars of 7-9-year-old children. A cross-sectional study with a split-mouth design was conducted on 88 children aged 7-9 years who attended the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry. Children were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. By tossing a coin, the placement of sealant material was selected for the right permanent first molar. Rubber dam isolation was done. The tooth surface was etched and washed. The respective sealants were applied. Sealants were cured with visible light, and occlusion was checked with articulating paper. Subsequently, the second sealant was placed in the next appointment, following the same clinical procedure in the opposite quadrant. Clinical evaluation was done at 3, 6, and 9 months for retention, marginal integrity, color match, wear, and presence of caries. The criteria were graded and rated as alpha, beta, and charlie based on modified Ryge United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. All the data were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software 20.0. The retention rate of ormocer at the 9-month review interval was 88.3%. There was a statistically significant difference in retention rates between compomer and ormocer (p = 0.003). The marginal integrity and wear of ormocer at the 9-month review interval were 84.4% compared with compomer, which was statistically significant with p = 0.010 and p = 0.035, respectively. Children with the fewest caries belonged to the ormocer group (p = 0.010) compared to the compomer group. Children with ormocer as a pit and fissure sealant showed good retention, remarkable marginal integrity, absence of wear, and fewer dental caries compared to compomer sealants. Hence, ormocer-based sealants can be used in pediatric dental practice to protect children's oral hygiene and promote a healthy lifestyle. Saravanan SM, Srinivasan D, AR SE, et al. Comparative Assessment of Compomers and Ormocers as Pit and Fissure Sealants in Permanent Molars among Children Aged 7-9 Years. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(7):742-747.

Association of Salivary Vitamin D and Vitamin C Levels with Dental Caries in Children: A Cross-sectional Study.

Dental caries is a prevalent chronic disease affecting children worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the association between dental caries and salivary levels of vitamin D and vitamin C in children. This cross-sectional research was conducted at RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, in children between the ages of 4 and 12 years, with a sample of 60 children divided into study and control groups based on the presence or absence of dental caries. Saliva samples were collected, and levels of vitamin D and vitamin C were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. The results showed that children without dental caries had higher salivary vitamin D and vitamin C levels compared to those with caries. These findings highlight the potential role of these vitamins in preventing dental caries in children and support the need for public health initiatives promoting optimal oral health through appropriate dietary habits and sun exposure. The clinical significance of the study lies in its potential to inform preventive strategies and improve oral health outcomes in children. By recognizing the association between salivary vitamin levels and dental caries, healthcare professionals can take proactive steps to promote better oral health and overall well-being in children worldwide. Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Goud M, et al. Association of Salivary Vitamin D and Vitamin C Levels with Dental Caries in Children: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(7):773-776.