Role of odanacatib in reducing bone loss due to endodontic disease: An overview

Aims and Objectives:

Through a comprehensive literature review, this article provides an overview of the potential role of odanacatib (ODN) in reducing bone loss due to endodontic disease.

Materials and Methods:

A literature review was performed in PubMed Central, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO databases. The articles identified included those published between 2002 and 2016. Based on the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, out of 237 articles found, 50 were selected for this review.

Results:

Cathepsin K (CstK), which is indispensible to the immune system, also plays an important role in osteoclastic bone resorption. ODN, which is an orally active, selective, and effective inhibitor of CstK, decreases bone resorption by selectively inhibiting proteolysis of matrix proteins by CstK, without affecting other osteoclastic activity or osteoblast viability.

Conclusion:

The goal of endodontic treatment is to achieve a clinically asymptomatic state along with formation of reparative bone. This process could take 6 months or longer, hence, an earlier reversal of the resorption process could lead to faster healing and resolution of the periapical lesion. Use of ODN can be of help in achieving this goal.

Influence of Television Advertising on Behavior of Children across Socioeconomic Backgrounds

INTRODUCTION

This research analyzed the influence of television on the behavior of children belonging to urban and rural socioeconomic backgrounds of Bhopal city and its vicinity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

About 400 parents with children between 1 and 18 years of age were subjected to a self-designed questionnaire, which sought information regarding the television viewing habits of children. Differences in responses were noted between the subjects of urban and rural areas. Obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis using Pearson's chi-square test to determine the level of significance.

RESULTS

The urban class showed a dominating pattern in the positive aspects of television viewing, such as significantly better awareness of oral health, more emphasis shown toward oral care adverts, and a higher knowledge of the cause of dental caries. However, the urban class also possessed a poor attitude; the appearance of a dentist on television did not remind them about oral needs, products with gifts pleased their children to a greater extent, they had more demanding children, parents fulfilled their children's demand more, and they relied on the self for selection of toothpaste. Overall, in all aspects, the rural class lacked significantly.

CONCLUSION

Television exerts a positive as well as negative influence on children's behavior among urban and rural communities, with the influence being more obvious in the urban class.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The results of this study can be utilized in bringing about better and effective advertising oriented toward attaining optimum oral health of children; overall general health through adverts that discourage obesogenic diet and promote a diet rich in protein and fiber can also be focused on.

Effectiveness and Comparison of Various Audio Distraction Aids in Management of Anxious Dental Paediatric Patients

BACKGROUND

Dental anxiety is a widespread phenomenon and a concern for paediatric dentistry. The inability of children to deal with threatening dental stimuli often manifests as behaviour management problems. Nowadays, the use of non-aversive behaviour management techniques is more advocated, which are more acceptable to parents, patients and practitioners. Therefore, this present study was conducted to find out which audio aid was the most effective in the managing anxious children.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of audio-distraction aids in reducing the anxiety of paediatric patients while undergoing various stressful and invasive dental procedures. The objectives were to ascertain whether audio distraction is an effective means of anxiety management and which type of audio aid is the most effective.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total number of 150 children, aged between 6 to 12 years, randomly selected amongst the patients who came for their first dental check-up, were placed in five groups of 30 each. These groups were the control group, the instrumental music group, the musical nursery rhymes group, the movie songs group and the audio stories group. The control group was treated under normal set-up & audio group listened to various audio presentations during treatment. Each child had four visits. In each visit, after the procedures was completed, the anxiety levels of the children were measured by the Venham's Picture Test (VPT), Venham's Clinical Rating Scale (VCRS) and pulse rate measurement with the help of pulse oximeter.

RESULTS

A significant difference was seen between all the groups for the mean pulse rate, with an increase in subsequent visit. However, no significant difference was seen in the VPT & VCRS scores between all the groups. Audio aids in general reduced anxiety in comparison to the control group, and the most significant reduction in anxiety level was observed in the audio stories group.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion derived from the present study was that audio distraction was effective in reducing anxiety and audio-stories were the most effective.

Relationship Between Dental Fluorosis and Intelligence Quotient of School Going Children In and Around Lucknow District: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Fluoridation of drinking water, despite being regarded as one of the top ten public health achievements of the twentieth century, has remained a much debated concept. Various studies on animals and aborted human fetuses have confirmed that excessive fluoride intake during infancy and early childhood, causes a number of irreversible structural and functional changes in the CNS leading to memory, learning and intellectual deficits.

AIM

To compare the IQ levels of school children of two different locations, having different fluoride levels in water, and to establish a relationship between fluoride levels, prevalence of fluorosis and its effect on IQ levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 429 children aged 6 - 12 years, selected by stratified random sampling from two different areas with different levels of fluoride in drinking water in and around Lucknow district. Dental fluorosis was measured using Dean's Fluorosis Index. Intelligence Quotient was measured using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (1998 edition).

RESULTS

Majority of the fluorosis free children (76.3%) had an IQ grade 2 (definitely above the average). Majority of the children suffering from very mild and mild dental fluorosis were found to have IQ grade 3 (Intellectually average). Children with moderate cases of dental fluorosis were found to have IQ grade 4 (Definitely below average). Only 5 children with severe fluorosis were included in the study and they all were found to have an IQ grade 5. Hence, a trend of increase in the IQ grade (decrease in intellectual capacity) was observed indicating a strong correlation between fluorosis grade and IQ grade.

CONCLUSION

Findings of this study suggest that the overall IQ of the children exposed to high fluoride levels in drinking water and hence suffering from dental fluorosis were significantly lower than those of the low fluoride area.

The Mystery of Handprints: Assesment and Correlation of Dermatoglyphics with Early Childhood Caries A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

It has been acknowledged that genetics play a significant role in determination of dermatoglyphic patterns. Since caries is a multifactorial disease with the influence of genetic pattern, this study was undertaken to assess dermatoglyphic patterns and correlate them with early childhood caries.

AIM

The aim of the study was to determine the association and correlation of dermatoglyphic patterns with early childhood caries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study sample consisted of 100 children aged between 3 and 6 years, divided into two groups of 50 children each. The deft score was evaluated to select the experimental group and control group. Finger and palm prints were recorded using the ink method described by Cummins and Midlo. The handprints obtained were checked for their clarity with a magnifying glass (×2) and coded. The presence of core and the triradii of the dermatoglyphic pattern were checked thoroughly to include the handprint in the study. A total of 1000 digital prints and 200 palmar prints were obtained.

RESULTS

The presence of whorls in the index finger of the right hand predicts significantly lower risk of caries in children (male and female; combined). Presence of whorls in the ring finger of the right hand predicts significantly lower risk of caries in female children. Statistically no correlation between atd angle and early childhood caries was obtained from the present data.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained from the present study creates a notion on the validity of the results of the previous studies and point them to be chance findings. Due to increasing acceptability of dermatoglyphics as a diagnostic tool for congenital diseases, further large scale extensive research should be undertaken to evaluate the role of the same in children with Early Childhood Caries (ECC).

Role of matrix metalloproteinases in dental caries, pulp and periapical inflammation: An overview

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of more than 25 secreted and membrane bound enzymes that represent class of enzymes responsible for degradation of pericellular substrates. They have been isolated from dentine, odontoblasts, pulp and periapical tissue. They play an important role in dentine matrix formation, modulating caries progression and secondary dentine formation. Earlier microbial proteolytic enzymes were believed to be responsible for degradation of dentine organic matrix, but lately the accumulated body of evidence suggests that MMPs have an important role in the process. During normal tissue modelling, differentiation during development, in modulating the cell behaviour, maintaining homeostasis and in numerous extracellular pathologic conditions, MMPs tends to be an equally important participant. Odontoblasts secrete some of the essential MMPs for both physiologic and pathologic conditions. MMPs also appear to be a participant in the process of reversible and irreversible pulpitis. Although they tend to have low expression and activity in adult tissues but at the onset of any destructive pathologic process, their production shoots up. They appear to have a significant presence during times of inflammation in the periapical region as well. We take a look at the various factors and evidence pointing towards the role of MMPs in the progression of caries, pulpal and periapical inflammation.

Influence of feeding practices on dental caries. A case-control study

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of feeding practices with dental caries in a group of respondents of 1-18 years of age of Lucknow city, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-control study was carried out in the outpatient department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dental Clinic, Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow (UP), India. A total sample of 800 subjects in the 1- 18 years age group was equally divided among cases (DMFT/deft>0) and controls (DMFT/deft = 0). Cases matched with controls for age, sex and religion. Clinical examination (DMFT /deft index) was performed in accordance with the WHO criteria for epidemiological studies. Respondents were interviewed in depth and retrospectively by means of a self- administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

Prolonged breast feeding beyond 6 months, bottle feeding, nocturnal bottle feeding containing sweet drink and milk and higher frequency of consumption of sweets emerged as significant risk factors for dental caries.

CONCLUSION

Based on the differences between the caries and non-caries age groups, an educational and preventive programme should be initiated addressing the associated risk factors of specific age groups accordingly. In our present study nocturnal bottle feeding emerged as the most significant risk factor for dental caries in the 1-6 years age group. Hence health professionals should recognise the benefits of breastfeeding up to six months of life and should educate mothers about the importance of implementing beneficial dental habits to ensure that a child reaches oral health.

Root canal morphology of mandibular first premolar in a gujarati population - an in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Knowledge about root canal morphology and its frequent variations can exert considerable influence on the success of endodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to survey the root canal morphology of mandibular first premolar teeth in a Gujarati population by decalcification and clearing technique.

METHODS

One hundred thirty eight extracted mandibular first premolar teeth were collected from a Gujarati population. After decalcifying and clearing, the teeth were examined for tooth length, number of cusps and roots, number and shape of canal orifices and canal types.

RESULTS

The average length of mandibular first premolar teeth was 21.2 mm. All the teeth had 2 cusps. One hundred thirty four teeth (97.1%) had one root, and just 4 teeth (2.89%) had two roots. Mesial invagination of root was found in 21 teeth (15.21%). One canal orifice was found in 122 teeth (88.4%) and two canal orifices in 16 teeth (11.59%). Shape of orifices was found to be round in 46 teeth (33.33%), oval in 72 teeth (52.17%) and flattened ribbion in 20 teeth (14.49%). According to Vertucci's classification, Type I canal system was found in 93 teeth (67.39%), Types II,III,IV,V,and VI in 11 teeth (7.97%), 5 teeth (3.62%), 4 teeth (2.89%), 24 teeth (17.39%), and 1 tooth (0.72%) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Mandibular first premolar teeth were mostly found to have one root and Type I canal system.