Alexithymia in Children with Traumatic Dental Injuries- A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Alexithymia is a personality trait that affects the emotional regulation. It has been found associated especially with pain disorders. It is a personality construct which is characterised by inability to experience and describe feelings, making an alexithymia patient suffer from mental clouding. Therefore, it is important to diagnose patients with alexithymia in dental clinics since it may adversely affect the doctor patient relationship and treatment outcome. Aim: To find the prevalence of alexithymia and to find any difference in alexithymia traits between children with Traumatic Dental Injury (TDI) and those without it. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 10-19 years old adolescents reporting to K.M. Shah Dental College and Hospital, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Vadodara, Gujarat, India, from February 2018 to September 2018. A total of 420 participants were enrolled with 210 in each group (with TDI and without TDI). Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to identify alexithymia. Andreasen’s classification for TDI was used to classify the TDI. Chi-square was used to compare the non parametric data between the groups. Unpaired t-test was performed for the comparison of scores between groups for total TAS-20 score and as well as for the nine dimensions. Results: The prevalence of alexithymia was found to be 86.1% in children with TDI compared to 30.9% in children without TDI. The difference in prevalence of alexithymia between children with TDI and those without was statistically significant (p-value=0.0001). Children with TDI reported with significantly higher total TAS scores. However, difference with respect to gender was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of alexithymia was found significantly higher in children with TDI. Also, the TAS-20 score and the individual domain scores were higher in children with TDI. Hence, alexithymia may be associated with TDI.

Comparative Clinical Evaluation of Composite Overcast Gold Post and Core Buildups in Endodontically Treated Teeth

BACKGROUND

The management of non-vital teeth includes endodontic treatment and restoration followed by post and core restoration in selected cases. The present study was conducted to compare the indirect cast post, and core buildup with direct composite post build up in patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted on 128 teeth of 82 patients. The success rate over 3 years was evaluated clinically and radiographically by observing caries, tooth mobility, probing depth, periapical pathology, and root fractures.

RESULTS

Group I consisted of 16 incisors, 20 canines, 22 premolars, and six molars while group II had 17 incisors, 14 canines, 25 premolars, and eight molars. The difference was statistical non-significant (p-0.1). Forty-four teeth in group I and 42 teeth in group II utilized composite cement, whereas 18 teeth in group I and 16 teeth in group II used GIC and zinc phosphate was used in two teeth in group I and six teeth in group II. The difference was statistical ly significant (p< 0.05). Four teeth in group I and 8 in group II were lost. One tooth in group I and two teeth in group II showed root fracture and three teeth in group I and six teeth in group II showed periapical pathology. The difference was statistically significant (p-0.01). Most common type of complication was probing depth > 4 mm, caries, tooth mobility, and root fracture. The difference was non- significant (p-0.31).

CONCLUSION

Both composite post buildup and cast gold post and core build-up exhibited similar properties.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Both composite post buildup and cast gold post and core build-up exhibited similar properties hence either of the methods can be used in post core build up.

Risk Assessment in Long-term Survival Rates of Dental Implants: A Prospective Clinical Study

AIM

The present study was done to analyze the risk factors associated with dental implants in its survival rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted on 208 patients with 425 dental implants placed. Patients were divided into four groups: group I (diabetes), group II (periodontitis), group III (smoking), and group IV (bruxism). All patients were followed for 8 to 10 years for the survival rates.

RESULTS

Out of 425 dental implants, 145 were inserted in 72 males and 280 in 136 females. The difference was significant (p = 0.01). Group I had 16 males and 36 females, group II had 20 males and 32 females, group III had 28 males and 24 females, and group IV had 8 males and 44 females. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Out of 425 implants, 90 (21.17%) had failures: 24 dental implants (29%) in group I, 22 dental implants (15.2%) group II, 34 dental implants (27%) in group III, and 10 dental implants (13%) in group IV showed failure. The difference was significant (p < 0.05). Success rate was 70.7% in group I, 83.3% in group II, 80.9% in group III, and 86.3% in group IV. The difference was nonsignificant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Diabetes, periodontitis, bruxism, and smoking are among various causative factors which affect the survival rate of dental implants. These are risk factors leading to implant failures.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Diabetes, periodontitis, bruxism, and smoking are among various causative factors which affect the survival rate of dental implants.

Crestal Bone Loss around Dental Implants: Platform Switching vs Platform Matching-A Retrospective Study

AIM

The objective of this study was to determine the vertical and horizontal marginal bone levels in platform-switched and platform-matched dental implants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, 50 dental implants were placed in 50 patients over a 1-year period. Measurement was performed from the implant shoulder to the most apical and horizontal marginal defect by periapical radiographs to examine the changes of peri-implant alveolar bone before and 12 months after prosthodontic restoration delivery.

RESULTS

These marginal bone measurements showed a bone gain of 0.53 ± 0.98 mm in the vertical gap and 0.52 ± 0.93 mm in the horizontal gap of the platform matching, while in the platform switching, a bone gain of 1.33 ± 1 mm in the vertical gap (p < 0.05) and 1.60 ± 0.56 mm in the horizontal gap was found. Statistically significant difference was found for bone regeneration in the vertical gap between the two groups (p < 0.05) using t-test with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical test version 17.

CONCLUSION

The crestal bone around the implants can be preserved with platform-switching concept and it can be applied in clinical condition.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The crestal bone around the implants can be preserved with platform-switching concept.