Background & objectives:Dental caries is an infectious, transmissible disease. Maternal transfer of mutans streptococci (MS) has been a subject of research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transmission of MS from mother to children through genetic analysis.Methods:Thirty mother–child pairs were included and divided into three groups according to the age of the children. Saliva samples were collected and MS colonies from each mother-child pair were isolated. After inoculation and incubation, MS colonies were submitted to amplification technique by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identification and arbitrarily primed PCRs (AP-PCRs) to determine various MS genotypes.Results:From birth to six months of age, 30 per cent of children exhibited MS colonization, and by the age of 30 months, 100 per cent harboured the bacteria (P < 0.001). Factors associated with MS colonization were eruption of teeth (P < 0.001), feeding habits with mean colony count being significantly lower in breast-fed as compared to bottle-fed children (P < 0.001) and a significant association between mean MS count of child and mother's practice of sharing spoon with child (P < 0.001). The AP-PCR fingerprinting profile analysis showed 17 MS groups (clusters) containing identical or highly related isolates in mother-child pairs with a high level of similarity (77.27 %).Interpretation & conclusions:The presence of matching MS genotypes suggested vertical transmission from mothers to children. Feeding habits, gum cleaning and number of erupted teeth in children had significant effect on MS colonization. There is a need to develop strategies to present MS colonization in children.

Background:To evaluate and compare the efficacy of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and traditionally used calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in inducing root end formation of immature roots of traumatized young permanent anterior teeth.Materials and Methods:The study was carried out on 22 nonvital, immature permanent maxillary incisors. Samples were allotted into two groups - Group I MTA and Group II Ca(OH)2 Success rate was determined based upon the time duration required for apical barrier formation. The canals were obturated using gutta-percha points in MTA group, after 24 h, whereas in Ca(OH)2 group, obturation was carried out after radiographic confirmation of the apical barrier. The clinical and radiographic evaluation was carried out at a follow-up periods of 3, 6, and 9 months and statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS version 15.0 statistical analysis software (Chi-square test and fisher exact test).Results:In MTA Group, barrier formation was observed in 90.90% of the patients after 9 months whereas in Ca(OH)2 Group, the same was observed in 81.81%. The mean time required for barrier formation in MTA group was 4.90 months and 5.33 months in Ca(OH)2 group.Conclusion:MTA and Ca(OH)2, as medicaments for apexification, were comparable in terms of the evaluation parameters. However, MTA was beneficial in terms of immediate obturation of immature roots with wide open apices.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of Mineral Tri-oxide Aggregate (MTA) and Calcium Hydroxide in apexification of traumatized young permanent incisors. Methods: Thirty permanent incisors with necrotic pulps and open apices were evenly divided into two groups –Group I (MTA group) & Group II (Calcium Hydroxide group) and treated by apexification. The time taken for apical barrier formation was analyzed. In MTA group, obturation using gutta-percha points was done after 24 hours, whereas in Calcium Hydroxide group obturation was carried out after radiographic confirmation of an apical barrier. Follow up evaluation (clinical and radiographic) was carried out at- 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Results: The mean time taken for barrier in Group I was 4.50 ± 1.56 months whereas for Group II was 7.93 ± 2.53 months (p value- 0.0002). Radiographic evidence of mean time taken for completion of lamina dura in Group I was 4.07 ± 1.49 months whereas the time period for Group II was 6.43 ± 2.59 months (p value- 0.0067). Conclusion: MTA demonstrated good success and an effective option for apexification with the advantage of reduced treatment time, good sealing ability, biocompatible and provides barrier for immediate obturation.

Purpose:To assess knowledge, awareness and attitude of high school children involved in various sports activities regarding avulsion, reimplantation and mouthguard use.Materials and Methods:An interview-based study was conducted among high school children in the age group of 8–16 years (n = 1105). A questionnaire was given to children and parents which included questions based on knowledge of children regarding avulsion, reimplantation, consequences of losing teeth, mouthgards and their usage and preferred media for tooth transportation. The research proposal was submitted to the ethics committee and the study design was approved. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.Results:Only 37.6% of the children knew that their teeth can be completely knocked out with injury and 20.1% knew that a knocked-out tooth can be replanted. The preferred media for tooth transportation were gauze/cotton (27.2%), handkerchief (17.5%), paper (14%), water (13.8%) and cellophane (1.3%), i.e. 81.3% of the children preferred dry transport media. Among the children playing contact sport, 53.8% did not know about mouthguards and the rest 46.2% knew about it, but most of them never used it.Conclusion:Considering the lack of awareness among children, as well as the people around them, there appears to be a crucial need for education of public and to determine dental manpower and dentists to increase awareness.

Background: Saliva is one of the most important factor in regulating oral health, with flow rate and composition changing throughout development and during disease. Saliva can affect incidence of dental caries in four general ways, firstly as a mechanical cleansing, secondly by reducing enamel solubility by means of calcium, phosphate and fluoride, thirdly by buffering and neutralizing the acids produced by cariogenic organisms and finally by anti-bacterial activity. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the levels of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), proteins, calcium, inorganic phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase levels in caries free and caries active children. Material and methods: Forty school children in the age group of 12-15 years with full complement of permanent dentition except third molars were included by stratified random sampling method. They were divided into two groups of 20 each based on DMFS score, Group I-Caries free (DMFS score=0) and Group II-Caries active (DMFS score ≥ 10). Unstimulated midmorning saliva samples were collected and analyzed colorimetrically and by radial immunodiffusion method for constituents of saliva under study. Results: The mean salivary IgA levels in children in Group-I (caries free children) was 10.63±2.85 mg/dl which was statistically higher as compared to caries active children in Group-II (8.50 ± 1.43 mg/dl). The mean salivary protein level in children of Group-II was statistically higher at 3.28 ± 0.12 mg/dl as compared to Group-I (2.89 ± 0.11 mg/dl). Conclusion: An inverse relationship was noticed between the salivary IgA levels and dental caries experience and higher salivary protein levels were associated with high caries experience whereas no significant difference was observed in levels of calcium, inorganic phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase and IgG in saliva samples of children with and without dental caries.