Objective: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial effects of 0.1% chlorine dioxide and 0.1% chlorhexidine mouthrinses on the bacterial viability of Actinomyces sp. as an agent of black stain.Methods: The authors conducted a clinical trial involving 16 children ages 6–11 with at least 8 black-stained teeth. Subjects were randomized into 2 groups and instructed to rinse with chlorine dioxide or chlorhexidine mouthrinse twice daily. At baseline and after 7 days, samples of black stain plaque were collected, and Actinomyces sp. was cultured. Its bacterial viability was evaluated using an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay.Results: After 7 days, Actinomyces sp. viability was remarkably reduced in both groups, and there was a significantly higher reduction in viability in the 0.1% chlorine dioxide group than there was in the 0.1% chlorhexidine group.Conclusion: Mouthrinse containing 0.1% chlorine dioxide has a greater antibacterial effect against Actinomyces sp. than mouthrinse containing 0.1% chlorhexidine.

Objective: To determine the frequency distribution of gingivitis and oral hygiene in individuals with Down syndrome. Material and Methods: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive method and the subjects were 174 individuals with Down syndrome aged ≥14 years attending type C (intellectual disability) special needs schools in Jakarta. Gingivitis was measured using the gingival index, and oral hygiene was measured using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). The measurement of the two components of plaque and calculus was completed on six teeth on different surfaces, including the facial side of three maxillary teeth, the lingual side of the two posterior mandibular teeth, and the labial side of one anterior mandibular tooth. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the absolute and relative frequencies. Results: 3.4% had no gingivitis, 47.2% had mild gingivitis, 40.8% had moderate gingivitis, and 8.6% had severe gingivitis. Regarding oral hygiene, 28.2% had good hygiene, 49.4% had fair, and 22.4% had poor hygiene. Conclusion: Individuals with Down syndrome had a frequency distribution of gingivitis mainly in the mild and moderate categories, and a majority of subjects had fair OHI-S.

Objectives:One of the most common ways to communicate to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is by using pictures. This study was conducted to identify the easiest perception of dental visit by children with ASD when using pictures as printed photographs.Materials and Methods:Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from a school for children with special needs in south Jakarta. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 autistic children aged 13–17 years, 2 parents, and 2 teachers. Open-ended questions were asked to participants regarding pictures of dental clinic personnel and activity. Conversations were noted, tape recorded, and then categorized to extract a theme. The data were analyzed using Dedoose mixed methods software.Results:Most respondents showed a positive perception of the dental visit pictures. Many of the pictures were easily recognized by children with ASD, but some failed to be understood. Caretakers not only gave their perception but also recommendations for improvement of the pictures.Conclusions:Dental visit pictures could be used as useful communication tools for children with ASD. Based on the results, the pictures related to dental visit were generally easy to understand, however, some needed correction to be comprehensible.

Background: Providing dental treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a challenge for dentists. In the dental care of such children, the treatment plans implemented are usually determined by several factors, including: the type of autism spectrum disorder, the degree of patient cooperation, dentist/patient communication, the required treatment, self-care skills and parental/dentist support. Purpose: The purpose of this case report was to report the dental care delivered in the cases of two pediatric patients with ASD. Case 1: A 10.7 year-old boy with a nonverbal form of ASD who was experiencing recurrent pain in his lower left posterior tooth and also presented a blackened tooth. Case 2: A 9.6 year-old boy with a nonverbal form of ASD suffering from numerous painful cavities. Case management 1: On the day of the first visit, the boy was the subject of several behavioral observations. During the day of the second visit, he underwent a brief intraoral examination at a dental unit in order to arrive at a temporary diagnosis before appropriate was decided upon treatment in consultation with his parents. The implemented treatment plans comprised dental extraction and preventive restoration under general anesthesia. Case management 2: On the first visit, the boy underwent behavioral observations followed by early intraoral examination involving physical restraint approach. During the second visit, several treatment plans such as: general anesthesia, tooth extraction, restoration, and pulp-capping treatment were formulated. Conclusion: It can be concluded that general anesthesia was considered an appropriate dental treatment plan since the two patients in question were extremely co-operative during the necessary procedures. In other words, pediatric dental care treatment plans in cases of ASD should be determined by clearly-defined criteria, specifically the benefits and risks of the treatment plans for the safety of both patient and dental care team.

Phosphoric acid etching has been widely used to achieve a strong and long lasting mechanical bonding between composite resin restoration and tooth structure. The bond strength between the composite resin restoration and the enamel of permanent teeth can be measured by the shear bond strength of the composite resin restoration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength between the enamel of permanent teeth and the composite resin restoration by measuring the shear bond strength after different durations of etching. In total 27 premolar teeth were divided into 3 groups where the enamel of the buccal surface was etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 5″, 15″, and 25″ before placing the composite resin restoration. After keeping the teeth inside an incubator for 24 hours, the shear bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine Shimazu AG-5000 at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis of the results, with p<0.05 assumed to imply significance. The mean shear bond strength after etching for 5″, 15″, and 25″ was 16.1 MPa, 17.3 MPa and 19.0 MPa, respectively. The results of ANOVA showed significant difference between the 3 groups. However, subsequent Tukey test showed significant difference between 5″ and 25″ of etching (p<0.05), but no significant difference between between the 5″ and 15″ groups nor between the 15″ and 25″ groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Shear bond strength of the composite resin on the permanent teeth enamel increased with increasing etching time. Significant difference was showed between 5″ and 25″ of etching time.