Context:The use of nickel-containing alloys in dentistry has been questioned because of the biological liabilities of nickel and the release of nickel ions from dental appliances into the oral cavity. The potential health hazards of nickel and chromium and their compounds have been the focus of attention for more than 100 years. It has established that these metals could cause hypersensitivity.Aims:To assess the nickel release from various dental appliances used in pediatric dentistry.Settings and Design:It is a in vitro study.Materials and Methods:The study was undertaken to analyze in vitro biodegradation of space maintainers and stainless steel crowns made out of stainless steel materials from different manufacturers. The leaching effect simulating the use of clinical practice was studied by keeping the respective number of Stainless Steel Crowns and space maintainers in the artificial saliva incubating at 37°C and analyzing for nickel release after 1,7,14,21 and 28 days using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Statistical Analysis:The results were statistically analyzed by using One way ANOVA and repeated measures of ANOVA was applied at different time intervals i.e. 1,7,14,21,28 days. The critical value for statistical significance was set at P = 0.05.Results:Results showed that there was measurable release of nickel which reached maximum level at the end of 7 days which was statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusions:The release of nickel and chromium very much below when compared with the average dietary intake of nickel (200-300 ppm/day) which were not capable of causing any toxic effects.

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Context:The use of liquid medicinal syrups in childhood is high owing to the reasons that children suffer from illness quite often. The acidic component in the formulations may cause erosion to the dental tissues.Aims:The aim of this study is to evaluate the erosive potential of pediatric liquid medicinal syrups on the deciduous teeth.Subjects and Methods:A total of sixty extracted/exfoliated noncarious deciduous molars were used. Four medical syrups were used (viz., 1 – artificial saliva [control], 2 – Ferium XT, 3 – Crocin syrup, 4 – Ambrolite-D) and the teeth were equally divided into the four groups (n = 15) for the immersion cycle, following which the teeth were examined for surface microhardness at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days.Statistical Analysis Used:ANOVA and post hoc analysis were applied.Results:The time and immersion media interaction demonstrated that antitussives produced a significant and gradual loss of surface microhardness on all days (viz., 7, 14, 21, and 28 days), but a statistically significant difference was seen only between 7th and 28th day (P < 0.05).Conclusions:The knowledge of the erosive potential of commonly used syrups is mandatory as erosion in children teeth may be associated with dental hypersensitivity, loss of the occlusal vertical dimension, eating difficulties, poor esthetics, pulp exposure, and abscesses. Mouth rinsing with water after taking the medication; addition of calcium, fluoride, or phosphate to formulations; and consumption of the medication at meal times have been recommended to avoid tooth damage that is caused by the regular use of medication.

Several forms of hypertrichosis have been described with and without gingival hyperplasia; some of them are recognized as genetic disorder and associated with syndromes. In all reported cases the most striking differences from other are the craniofacial features. We present a case of a 6-year-old boy with hypertrichosis associated with gingival hyperplasia and a characteristic, coarse face and we consider this case to be a distinctive entity.

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