Ten children from each group of nursing caries, rampant caries, 3-5 dmft/DMFT and caries free children were selected and plaque samples from carious lesion, early carious lesion, sound tooth surface as well as salivary sample were collected. The levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were estimated at all the sample sites. The result further supported the role of mutans streptococci in the initiation and of lactobacilli in the progression of the dental caries.

Dental treatment of very young children (toddlers) as well as children with highly negative behaviour is known to be difficult. Management of these children requires special skill and at times the support of pharmacological means. A study was planned and carried out to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of Propofol and Midazolam as Intravenous sedative agents in the management of uncooperative children belonging to age group 2-5 years, ASA I Category and Frankl's behaviour rating 1 and 2. The results showed both agents to be effective sedative agents, for short pedodontic procedures with minimal side effects.

Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome (PLS) is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder presenting with Palmar plantar Keratoderma and Juvenile Periodontitis leading to early loss of both the dentitions. Two cases of PLS in a family with a history of consanguineous descent are presented.

The present study was carried out on 2005 school going children between 11-15 years of age, studying at Belgaum city. The sample was selected by stratified random sampling method. The examination was done under natural light and caries was diagnosed according to WHO criteria (1987). The prevalence of dental caries in the present population was 45.12%. The mean DMFT was 1.18. Males and low socio-economic groups showed a higher prevalence, though the difference was not significant. Intraoral distribution of caries pattern has also been discussed. The treatment needs showed that 57.94% of affected teeth required single surface restorations. The needs for other treatment modalities have been discussed in relation to the dental caries prevalence. The results of this study call for more emphasis on restorative care for these children at primary level.

The peroperative management of a 4 1/2 yr old child having bilateral recurrent temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is presented here. From the anaesthesiologist's point of view, the patient demands special considerations as regards difficulty in intubation, high sensitivity to all central depressant drugs, awake extubation, and post-operative maintenance of a clear airway. It is to be concluded that these conditions call for strict adherence to the basic principles of airway management and close observation extending into the post-operative period.

Supernumerary teeth occur frequently in the permanent dentition, but they are rare in the primary dentition. Mesiodens is a supernumerary tooth with a cone shaped crown and a short root. The supernumerary tooth which bears resemblance to the tooth with which it is associated is called a supplemental tooth. The etiology of supernumerary teeth is still unknown and not well understood. Radiographic examination of pre-school children is essential for their diagnosis. Early removal of these teeth is required so that complications such as delay in eruption of permanent teeth, crowding, diastema, rotations and certain pathologic conditions can be averted.

Different psychosocial variables, such as socioeconomic status, family type and sibling position may be considered to be of great significance as it may influence child behaviour pattern in a dental treatment situation. 143 children in the age group of 3-14 years were selected randomly from the out patient department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Wing, S. C. B. Medical College, Cuttack with an aim of assessing relationship, if any, between the magnitude of behaviour and the above mentioned psychosocial variables. Behaviour rating was done using Frankl behaviour rating scale. The results of the study reveals no significant relationship between socio economic status, family type and sibling position with child behaviour pattern, but a trend has been observed that children of high socio economic back ground behave more positively, children of a nuclear family exhibit more negative attitude and middle siblings show less negative behaviour than youngest and eldest.

The efficacy of Argon laser in comparison with Visible light was assessed by the extent of marginal leakage of three commercially available pit and fissure sealants at enamel sealant interface. Enameloplasty and penetration by Rhodamine dye revealed higher degree of microleakage in Argon laser cured samples. Concise Sealant (3M) showed lesser amount of microleakage in both the curing techniques.

Hereditary ectodermal dysplasia is an inherited disorder involving skin, hair, nails and teeth. Two main clinical forms have been described--hypohidrotic type and hidrotic type. A case of ectodermal dysplasia with absence of hypohidrosis and defective nails has been reported. The importance of early prosthetic management has been discussed.