Skeletal open-bite treatment with zygomatic anchorage for a child with mental retardation: A new modality

Anterior open bite (AOB) is one of the most difficult malocclusions to treat and maintain in orthodontics. Malocclusion occurs more frequently in children with disabilities than in healthy children. Surgical correction of severe AOB often requires maxillary impaction to reduce the anterior facial height. The zygomatic buttress area could be a valuable anchorage site to achieve intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth. A 16-year-old boy with mental retardation showing signs of persistence of infantile behavior, decreased cognitive functioning, and psychomotor skill deficits (no identified syndrome) with an AOB was treated by intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth using I-shaped multipurpose titanium miniplate (SK Surgicals, India). A 7 mm AOB was corrected after 6 months of intrusion. The benefits of this treatment as an alternative to conventional orthodontic appliances are significant in subjects who lack the understanding or with manual dexterity to use an orthopedic appliance.

Use of different oral hygiene strategies in children with cerebral palsy: A comparative study

Background:

Cerebral palsy (CP) is described as a group of conditions usually occurring in childhood, where children have motor dysfunction and are unable to adequately master the necessary techniques of plaque control, which ultimately leads to dental caries and periodontal problems.

Aims:

The objective of this study was to educate the parents/caretakers/institution staff and children with CP about the different preventive home care measures and to evaluate the oral hygiene and gingival health status of these children before and after the institution of different preventive home care measures.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 64 individuals with CP, aged between 6 and 18 years, were examined for their oral hygiene and gingival health status, after which the parents/caretakers received a health education program. The children were then randomly divided into four groups. Each group was administered a specific preventive home care measure (mechanical and chemotherapeutic) to be followed for a period of 6 weeks, and the oral hygiene and the gingival health status were recorded at the end of 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks. The data were then subjected to statistical analysis.

Results:

In the sample of 64 children diagnosed with CP, the mean OHI(S) score among the groups of children who were given different preventive home care measures was compared at baseline, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks. Group 4 showed a marked reduction in the OHI(S) score measured from baseline to 6 weeks, when compared to the other three groups which wa statistically very highly significant (P < 0.001) The mean MGI score was compared at baseline, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks home, Group 4 showed a marked reduction in the MGI score measured from baseline to 6 weeks, when compared to the other three groups. When the mean MGI score was compared from baseline to 6 weeks, there was a gradual decrease in the MGI score, which was statistically highly significant between baseline and 1 week (P < 0.05) and statistically very highly significant between 1 and 2 weeks (P < 0.001). However, this improvement was not statistically significant between 2 and 6 weeks (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

A combined mechanical and chemotherapeutic measure is highly recommended to maintain the oral hygiene and gingival health of these special children because of their difficulties and their limited abilities to control dental plaque.

Oral rehabilitation of a case of amelogenesis imperfecta with multiple periapical cysts

Amelogenesis Imperfecta is a hereditary anomaly that affects the enamel of human teeth and is not associated with any systemic disorder of affected patients. The affected teeth are disturbed in coloration, thickness and resistance. The rehabilitation of amelogenesis imperfecta in a child must take into account the development of the child's teeth, the health of the periodontal tissues and the maxillary and mandibular growth. This article reports the endodontic and occlusal rehabilitation of a 14-year-old girl affected with autosomal recessive hypocalcified type of amelogenesis imperfecta with multiple periapical cysts.

Do our children play safe?

Sports participation is a frequent cause of injury in general to children and adolescents. 719 athletically active school children belonging to the age group of 11-14 years were selected from the four urban localities in south India (i.e, Bangalore Chennai, Cochin & Hyderabad). Data was collected by a well structured questionnaire. The results revealed that the south Indian urban school children had inadequate levels of awareness regarding orofacial injuries and their emergency care. The knowledge regarding protective devices was found to be minimal. Majority of the children were aware of mouthguards but their usage was nil.

Dental health status in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemic (ALL) children were selected to evaluate the dental health status from Regional Cancer Centre, Kerala. A 12 item questionnaire was distributed to all selected 104 children's parents who were present in the hospital and the children's oral cavity was examined. The results revealed moderate gingival inflammation in most of the samples irrespective of treatment. Tenderness on temporo mandibular joint, oral mucositis, high DMFT values were observed in children who were under treatment. History of halitosis before diagnosis of ALL was a predominant feature in a statistically significant number of children.