The evidence suggests that cow's milk and human milk are less cariogenic than sucrose, with cow's milk being the least cariogenic. The cariogenic potential of infant formulas varied across the studies, with some being as cariogenic as sucrose.

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) remains a global issue despite numerous advancements in research and interventional approaches. Nearly, 530 million children suffer from untreated dental caries of primary teeth. The consequences of such untreated dental caries not only limit the child's chewing and eating abilities but also, significantly impact the child's overall growth. Research has demonstrated that ECC is associated with nearly 123 risk factors. ECC has also been associated with local pain, infections, abscesses, and sleep pattern. Furthermore, it can affect the child's emotional status and decrease their ability to learn or perform their usual activities. In high-income countries, dental care continues to endorse a “current treatment-based approach” that involves high-technology, interventionist, and specialized approaches. While such approaches provide immediate benefit at an individual level, it fails to intercept the underlying causes of the disease at large. In low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), the “current treatment approach” often remains limited, unaffordable, and unsuitable for the majority of the population. Rather, dentistry needs to focus on “sustainable goals” and integrate dental care with the mainstream healthcare system and primary care services. Dental care systems should promote “early first dental visits,” when the child is 1 year of age or when the first tooth arrives. The serious shortages of appropriately trained oral healthcare personnel in certain regions of the world, lack of appropriate technologies and isolation of oral health services from the health system, and limited adoption of prevention and oral health promotion can pose as critical barriers. The oral health care systems must focus on three major keystones to combat the burden of ECC−1. Essential oral health services are integrated into healthcare in every country ensuring the availability of appropriate healthcare accessible and available globally, 2. Integrating oral and general healthcare to effectively prevent and manage oral disease and improve oral health, 3. Collaborating with a wide range of health workers to deliver sustainable oral health care tailored to cater to the oral health care needs of local communities.

Identification of the association between Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) will aid pediatricians and pediatric dentists to enhance health promotion measures to reduce the related morbidity in children. This systematic review aims to determine an evidence based association between ECC and IDA. A systematic search was carried out from MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Cochrane Oral Health Group’s Specialised Register, CINAHL via EBSCO, Web of Science and Scopus up to May 2020. Hand searching and grey literature screening were also conducted. Cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies in English language which assessed the association was included. Two reviewers independently assessed the study quality and extracted the outcome data. A total of 1434 studies were identified. Fourteen studies qualified for qualitative review and seven of them for a meta-analysis. In comparison with children not affected by ECC, those affected had an increased likelihood of IDA (OR = 6.07 (3.61, 10.21). The meta- analysis showed no statistical difference when comparing blood parameters (Hb, MCV and Serum ferritin) in children with and without ECC. This systematic review demonstrates an association between ECC and increased odds of IDA rather than it being the cause for IDA. Further longitudinal studies with robust methodology are required to determine an evidence based association.

Background: A new classification called OXIS was proposed for categorising the interproximal contacts of primary molars, and its prevalence was established. The aim of this study was to establish the variations in interproximal contacts of primary canines and thereby modify the OXIS classification of primary molars to primary canines. Additionally, we aimed to estimate the applicability of modifications to primary anterior teeth. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with sectional die models obtained from a previous study of 1,090 caries-free children. Two calibrated examiners evaluated a total of 4,674 contacts from the occlusal aspect. The contacts were scored according to the former OXIS classification, with two modifications incorporated to encompass the morphological differences and rotations of primary canines and other primary anterior teeth. Results: The most prevalent contact was O (62.1%), followed by X (19.6%), I (12.6%), S type I (4.1%), and S type II (1.6%). Inter-arch comparison by means of the Chi-square test revealed significant differences for all types of contacts (P < .001). Conclusions: The interproximal contacts of canines were categorised as O, X, I, S I, and S II. The OXIS classification of primary molars was modified to befit the variations in primary canines. This study showed the presence of different types of contacts in primary canines. Identification of these contacts and their complexity has warranted a need for this to be studied as an inherent risk factor for caries risk assessment.

Background and Aims:Dexmedetomidine (DMT), as intrathecal adjuvant has been shown to successfully prolong duration of analgesia but delay the motor recovery. Hence, this study was designed to find out the dose of DMT which can provide satisfactory analgesia without prolonging motor block.Methods:A total of 50 patients scheduled for elective perianal surgeries were randomly allocated to Groups C or D (n = 25). Group D received hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% 4 mg + DMT 5 μg and Group C received hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% 4 mg + DMT 3 μg intrathecally. Onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade, duration of analgesia, time for ambulation and first urination were recorded. Adverse effects if any were noted.Results:Demographic characters, duration of surgery were comparable. The onset of sensory block to S1 was 9.61 ± 5.53 min in Group C compared to 7.69 ± 4.80 min in Group D (P = 0.35). Duration of sensory (145.28 ± 83.17 min – C, 167.85 ± 93.75 min – D, P = 0.5) and motor block (170.53 ± 73.44 min – C, 196.14 ± 84.28 min, P = 0.39) were comparable. Duration of analgesia (337.86 ± 105.11 min – C, 340.78 ± 101.81 min – D, P = 0.9) and time for ambulation (252.46 ± 93.72 min – C, 253.64 ± 88.04 min – D, P = 0.97) were also comparable. One patient in each group had urinary retention requiring catheterization. No other side effects were observed.Conclusion:Intrathecal DMT 3 μg dose does not produce faster ambulation compared to intrathecal DMT 5 μg though it produces comparable duration of analgesia for perianal surgeries.