The prevalence of physiological spaces in maxillary and mandibular arches was 50.9% and 46.7%, respectively, whereas primate spaces were found in 61.7% of the children in the maxillary arch and 27.9% in the mandibular arch. The prevalence of unilateral anterior and posterior cross-bite was 0.1% and 0.8%, respectively, in the present study. The prevalence of hypodontia in the primary dentition was found to be 0.4% and the prevalence of fusion and gemination in the present study was 0.5%. Double teeth (fusion and gemination) and hypodontia were the most common dental anomalies found in the primary dentition in the present study.

Background Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) have usually been reported to have poorer levels of oral hygiene and higher prevalence of dental caries than their compeers. The present study was conducted to assess the status of dental caries and oral hygiene in different categories of institutionalised children with ID (syndromic and non-syndromic) registered in various special schools of Delhi (National Capital Region, India). Methods The present cross sectional study was conducted on 269 children [52 with cerebral palsy (CP), 35 with Down syndrome (DS), 30 with autism and 152 with non-syndromic intellectual disability] attending nine special schools who were examined for dental caries [Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth index for permanent teeth (DMFT); decayed, missing/indicated for extraction, filled index for primary teeth (dmft) and prevalence of caries] and oral hygiene status [Oral Hygiene Index-simplified (OHI-S)]. The levels of disability were classified according to Stanford Binet scale as severe (IQ ≤ 35), moderate (IQ = 36-51) and mild (IQ = 52-67). Statistical analysis was performed using one way analysis of variance and post hoc test to compare the levels between groups at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results Mean DMFT, dmft and OHI-S indices scores for all the children irrespective of the category and the level of ID were 2.12 ± 1.95, 0.97 ± 1.60 and 2.05 ± 1.07, respectively. As the level of ID increased among these children, the mean DMFT index and OHI-S index increased with no significant effect on dmft. However, children with severe ID had higher OHI-S and DMFT scores than children with mild or moderate ID. The dental caries prevalence was 86.53%, 68.57%, 76% and 86.18% in children with CP, DS, autism and nonsyndromic intellectual disability, respectively. Conclusions The level of caries in permanent teeth and oral hygiene deteriorated with the increasing severity of ID as indicated by DMFT and OHI-S scores (severe > mild, moderate). However, the level of caries (dmft) was not affected by the level of ID in primary dentition. The prevalence of dental caries was highest among children with CP and least among children with DS.

Introduction: Aloe vera is known from centuries as a medicinal plant. It's a wonder plant with a lot of health benefits and hence often been called the 'natural healer'. It is a tropical plant that flourishes in warm and dry climate and looks like a cactus with fleshy thorny leaves. There are around 400 species of Aloe, but it is the Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera or "true aloe") plant which has been used most (found mainly in Asia, Africa and other tropical areas) because of its medicinal uses like moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Medicinal Uses: Aloe vera has its uses in various systemic conditions like skin disorders (e.g. psoriasis), arthritis, asthma, digestive and bowel disorders, diabetes and lowering lipid levels in hyper-lipidemic patients. It has also be used as a detoxifying agent, for topical application of first and second degree burns, as a immune enhancer, in Alzheimer's disease and in various cosmetic, medical and dental products. Dental Uses: This wonder plant has also been used in dentistry for its beneficial properties in various conditions like lichen planus, apthous stomatitis, oral submucous fibrosis, pulpotomy of primary teeth, prevention of dry sockets, obturation of primary teeth, disinfection of irrigation units, bleeding and painful gums, disinfection of gutta percha cones, burning mouth syndrome and in radiated head and neck cancer patients. The Mini-review Article

Background Propolis (also called bee glue) is a resinous substance derived from bees. It has long been used in medicine for its beneficial properties, including antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, antidiabetic and local anaesthetic effects. In dentistry, propolis has been used for the prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases, as an interim transport medium for avulsed teeth, and in endodontics, orthodontics and periodontics. Objective To highlight the role of propolis in dentistry. Methods A PubMed search was made using the keywords propolis, beeglue, antimicrobial, dental and herbs without any limits on the date of publication. No specific inclusion or exclusion criteria were applied as the purpose of the review was to make it as comprehensive as possible. Discussion The role of propolis is discussed in various branches of dentistry, including: preventive dentistry, dental traumatology, endodontics, periodontology, orthodontics and oral oncology. Conclusion Although most research published in the dental literature on propolis is based on in‐vitro studies or animal studies, extrapolating the results of these present studies to clinical practice may be too early as these results may not be necessarily replicated in human trials. In future, propolis may find a definitive role in one or more applications in dentistry; however, clinical trials are necessary to isolate the individual components responsible for its beneficial effects and to study them.

Background:The present ex vivo study explores the role of Indian medicaments in endodontic irrigation in an attempt to search for a safe alternative to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCL).Aim:To evaluate the efficacy of commercial preparations of Morinda citrifolia juice (MCJ) and Triphala juice against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted on 84 permanent extracted human teeth. After decoronation and biomechanical preparation, inoculated (with E. faecalis and C. albicans) root sections were divided randomly into four experimental (MCJ, Triphala juice, 1% NaOCl, and 2% chlorhexidine [CHX]) and two control groups (preservative control and distilled water). Colony-forming units (CFUs) obtained for each group were counted at baseline (S0) and after irrigation at 1 and 3 days (S1and S2, respectively). Mean of Log CFU at S0, S1, and S2was compared for each irrigant using Friedman's two-way ANOVA.Results:There was a significant decrease in microbial counts of both microbes in all groups at S1, but only CHX could demonstrate further decrease in the microbial counts of both microorganisms at S2.Conclusion:The overall antimicrobial effects of different irrigants were maximum for CHX, whereas MCJ and Triphala juice also showed significant reductions. The herbal irrigants hold the promise of becoming efficient irrigants and warrant further research.