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Background: The recommendation of toothbrushing which is twice daily for 2 min is well known, but for most parents, getting their children to brush is a stressful task. The barriers are numerous. In this study, we focused on imparting knowledge and motivation to toothbrushing while making it into a playful activity for the child as well as their parents. Aim: The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the learning outcome of toothbrushing by a novel cartoon-based education aid with conventional toothbrushing model education technique in preschoolers. Materials and Methods: The study included 43 children aged between 3 and 5 years randomly allocated into two groups: Group A received toothbrushing instruction through play with a novel cartoon-based education aid and Group B received instructions through an acrylic brushing model. Both the groups were recalled on the 8th day, and the glass index was used to assess for plaque estimation. The intergroup comparison was done by unpaired t-test and the intragroup analysis by paired t-test. Results: The comparison of the mean plaque scores in both the groups at the 8th day was not significant statistically (P = 0.965). The intragroup analysis, from baseline to the 8th day, in Group A, with mean difference (0.277 ± 0.751), was not statistically significant (P = 0.135), whereas in Group B, the mean difference (0.400 ± 0.598) was statistically significant (P = 0.008). Conclusions: The reduced mean of plaque scores proves that both the techniques had a positive impact on reducing the plaque scores; however, the comparison between the two groups was not statistically significant.

Background: A change in food preferences is difficult to bring about, thus there is a need of an innovative tool which would cater to the developing cognition of the child but at the same time be fun and engaging. Aim: To assess and compare playing “My tooth the happiest” an educational game with standard dietary counseling in preschool children for preference for noncariogenic food items. Settings and Design: Randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods: The parents of 51 children aged between 4 and 6 years, answered a preintervention questionnaire on the daily food preferences of their children and were scored as per the scale which depicted the frequency status of dietary preferences. In Group A, 25 children played the educational game “My tooth the Happiest” and Group B of 26 children were given verbal dietary counseling. A postintervention questionnaire was answered by the parents on the 8th, 16th, and 30th days and were scored as per the scale. Statistical Analysis: The intergroup comparison of Group A and Group B was done by Mann–Whitney test and the intra-group analysis by Friedman's test. Results: The inter-group analysis showed a highly significant (P < 0.01) result at the 8th, 16th, and 30th day with lower mean scores in Group A than Group B. The intragroup analysis within both the groups showed a highly significant change (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Playing an inexpensive, fun, educational game could be a “Game changer” for dietary counseling in pediatric dentistry for preschoolers.

Background: Mouth rinses are solutions or liquids used to rinse the mouth to have a therapeutic effect by relieving infection or preventing dental caries due to their antimicrobial properties. Aims: This study was carried out to compare the effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinse and 0.5% green tea extract mouth rinse on the colony-forming units (CFUs) of Streptococcus mutans in plaque in children. Materials and Methods: The sample for the study consisted of fifty schoolchildren aged 8–12 years with four or more (decay component) of decayed, missing, and filled teeth index. Children were divided randomly into two groups and were asked to rinse with the prescribed mouth rinse twice daily for 2 weeks under supervision. The plaque samples were collected at baseline (prerinsing) and postrinsing and tested for the CFUs of S. mutans. Results: The results of the study indicate that there was a statistically significant reduction (pre- and postrinsing) in S. mutans colony count in both the study groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the reduction of S. mutans colony count between 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinse group and 0.5% green tea mouth rinse group. Conclusion: Green tea mouth rinse is effective against S. mutans – one of the major dental plaque microorganisms.

Background: Growth and development of dentocraniofacial complex occurs during various stage of development of dentition with TMJ as one of its centres of growth. The condition of temporomandibular joint can be visible from its condylar head form; therefore, it is crucial to recognize the normal morphology of condylar head during different stages of development of dentition. Aims: The aim of the study is to view the morphological appearance of condylar head during primary dentition, mixed dentition and permenant dentition. Subject and Methods: 400 panoramic images of 194 boys and 296 girls were collected and were divided into three groups bases on the stage of dentition. Shape of the condylar head were determined by tracing the print out of the panoramic image on an X ray viewer. Results: The study showed that during primary dentition stage shape of the conylar head was dominated by round shape and as growth and development occurs the condylar head shape changes to convex. Conclusion: The study describes the normal morphology of mandibular condyles in a child population attending The dentition status as well as growth of craniofacial has a significant role in determining condylar morphology.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic debilitating irreversible oral potentially malignant disorder affecting any part of the oral cavity. It is usually seen in adults but rarely noticed in children and adolescents. Since the paucity of the cases, there exists a gap of knowledge in the causative habits, root reasons of habit initiation, age of habit initiation, and the common clinical representation of this disorder. The current article aims to bridge this gap by presenting unusual 36 cases of children and adolescents reported at the tertiary care hospital of Vadodara, Gujarat, India, with specific areca nut chewing habit and distinct features of OSMF. Furthermore, the present case series is the first of its kind in the scientific literature with a high number of OSMF cases in children and adolescents.