Bottled water use has become widespread in recent years. Many Iranian cities are located in regions with a hot and semi-hot climate, and the quality of drinking water is low in most of these areas. Nitrate and fluoride are chemical constituents of drinking water with significant health concerns since they can be harmful in concentrations higher than drinking water standards. This study aims to determine nitrate and fluoride concentrations in different bottled water brands in the study region; evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risks posed by nitrate and fluoride exposure via the ingestion of bottled water; and compare the measured nitrate and fluoride concentrations with the amounts reported on the bottle labels. Twenty bottled water brands were sampled, and their nitrate and fluoride amounts were determined using the spectrophotometry method. The results revealed that 100% of nitrate and 70% of fluoride in samples had concentrations greater than the levels reported on bottle labels. Minimum, maximum, and mean concentrations for nitrate were, respectively, 1.1, 28, and 8.37 mg/L, and for fluoride were 0.014, 2.36, and 0.63 mg/L. The hazard quotient (HQ) values due to nitrate intake were > 1 in 10% of the samples (n = 2) for both infants and children, indicating potential adverse non-carcinogenic health effects upon consumption. For fluoride intake, the potential adverse health effects (HQ > 1) for infants, children, teenagers, and adults were respectively high in 30, 20, 10, and 10% of the samples. For nitrate, the 95th centile for infants was 1.547, and for fluoride, it was 2.62, 2.19, 1.15, and 1 for infants, children, teenagers, and adults, respectively.

Health risk assessment of nitrate and fluoride in bottled water: a case study of Iran

Background: Understanding the association between morphological aspects in the primary dentition and its transition to the permanent dentition provides the possibility of predicting the final permanent occlusion. Study on the occlusal characteristics in deciduous dentition in Nepalese population is limited. This study was aimed to assess the occlusal characteristics and spacing in primary dentition in preschool children.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 432 preschool children around Kathmandu valley after getting permission from Institutional Review Committee of Kath­mandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital. Each child fulfilling the inclusion criteria was enrolled on the study only after their assent and their parent’s consent. The primary molar relation, canine relation, overjet, overbite was assessed using Foster and Hamilton criteria with the teeth in centric occlusion. Primate and physiological spaces were assessed. Data was collected and analysis was done in SPSS version 16.
Results: Among the participants, (51.9%) were male and (48.1%) female. Primate spaces was seen to be absent on157 (36.3%) children. Physiological space was seen among 190 (44%) children. Flush terminal plane molar relationship was more prevalent among 294 (68%) chil­dren. Class I canine relationship was found in 257(59.5%) children. Ideal overjet was seen in 333 (77.1%) children and ideal overbite was seen among 337(78%) children.
Conclusions: Favorable characteristics traits were seen in the studied population yet longi­tudinal studies are recommended to predict the possible outcome in permanent dentition.

/pdf/occlusal-characteristics-including-spacing-among-preschool-3xwth5d5ju.pdf

Occlusal characteristics including spacing among preschool children: a cross-sectional study

: As a dentist, it is very important to know the occlusal relationship of primary dentition so that any malocclusion in permanent dentition can be predicted at early stages and corrected accordingly by orthodontic treatments. The ideal occlusion and spacing in primary dentition acts as a mirror for the prevalence of malocclusion in the permanent dentition. : The aim of the study was to assess the occlusal relationships between the primary canines and the primary molars and spacings in primary dentition among a group of 3-6-year-old children.: A total of 120 children, comprising of 60 boys and 60 girls aged between 3-6 years irrespective of the race and socioeconomic status were randomly selected. The examination was done using pen light and mouth mirror. The occlusal assessment will be done only on children who are healthy and free from extensive caries that would affect the mesiodistal or occluso-gingival dimension of a tooth and, therefore, influence the occlusal characteristics. The primary molar relationship and the canine relationship will be assessed using Foster and Hamilton criteria with the teeth in centric occlusion. Primate space will be measured between primary lateral incisor and canine in the upper and primary canine and deciduous first molar on the lower on both the arches using a digital caliper [0-4 mm]. The obtained data was entered into Microsoft excel and chi-square test will be used for statistical analysis. : The study showed that, on left side, mesial step molar relationship was found in 53.3% boys and 55% girls, whereas on right side, 55% of boys and 51.6% of girls showed mesial step molar relationship. On left side, 77% of boys and 70% of girls showed class I canine relationship. On right side, 73% of boys and 67% of girls showed class I canine relationship. Primate spacings were found in 77% of children in maxilla and 84.7% of mandible.: The in vivo study concluded that, 1. Mesial step molar relationship was the most common Occlusal relationship of primary molars. 2. Class I canine relationship was the most common canine relationship in primary dentition. 3. Maxillary arch showed more percentage of primate spacings than mandibular arch. The early identification of molar and canine relationships and spacing present will help in prediction of future permanent molar relationship and probable future malocclusion.

Primary canine and molar relationships in centric occlusion in 3–6-year-old children in Davanagere population: A cross-sectional survey

ABSTRACT Introduction: Fluoride is essential for the growth and development of teeth and bone. Excess or less fluoride consumption can have harmful effects on our bodies. Fluoride level of 0.5-1.5 mg/l is said to be optimized according to the World Health Organization. The level of fluoride varies among the different geographical regions and water sources. It is essential to find out the fluoride content of various water sources used for drinking purposes. The aim of this study was to find the mean concentration of fluoride in drinking water sources of a municipality. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a Municipality. The study was conducted from 1 December 2021 to 30 December 2021 after receiving ethical approval from the Ethical Review Board (Reference number: 1134). Water samples were collected and the fluoride content was estimated using 2-parasulfophenylazo-1,8-dihydroxy-3,6-napthalene-disulfonate colorimetric method. The data collected from the laboratory were calculated and presented in the form of a table. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: The mean value of fluoride content in 160 collected water samples was 0.369±0.275 mg/l (0.33-0.41, 95% Confidence Interval). Among the different wards, the fluoride content was 0.708±0.27 mg/l in ward number 12 followed by a fluoride content of 0.57±0.19 mg/l in ward number 5. Conclusions: In this study, the mean fluoride levels were lower when compared with similar studies conducted in similar settings. The levels were lower than that recommended by the World Health Organization. The various controlled methods of fluoridation have to be quickly initiated. Other means of fluoride consumption, like the use of fluoridated toothpaste, has to be recommended.

/pdf/mean-fluoride-concentration-in-drinking-water-sources-of-a-2966125o.pdf

Mean Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water Sources of a Municipality: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Fluoride has a preventive effect on dental caries. However, excessive/insufficient ingestion of fluoride can lead to the development of dental fluorosis/increased risk for dental caries respectively. The objective of this study was to estimate fluoride concentration in drinking water of Kathmandu valley. It was a community based cross-sectional study in which drinking water samples were collected from municipal water supply and bottled water. Municipal water supply was collected according to eight water schemes in Kathmandu valley and as for bottled water, 35 samples were randomly collected according to different brand names available in the commercial market. The samples were analyzed for fluoride content by SPADNS colorimetric method as per standard procedure set by American Public Health Association (APHA 2012).The results revealed that the fluoride content in drinking water samples was below the permissible limit (<0.5 ppm) as per Nepal’s drinking water quality standards and WHO guidelines. Hence, implementation of water fluoridation program can be initiated for municipal water supply and bottled water for prevention of dental caries to optimize the oral health of people. Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital, Attarkhel, Gokarneshwor-8, Kathmandu, Nepal Corresponding author Dr. Priyanka Shah Lecturer, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Nepal Medical College, Attarkhel, Gokarneshwor-8, Kathmandu, Nepal. Email: picu.shah@gmail.com Orcid ID: 0000-0003-3167-0595 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/nmcj.v22i1-2.30031

Estimation of Fluoride concentration in drinking water of Kathmandu Valley

 Occlusion in deciduous dentition varies among children of different populations and races. Paucity of information in Nepalese literature provided the motive for this study. The objective of this study was to examine the occlusal traits of Primary Dentition among children aged 2-6 year old. A cross-sectional study comprising total of 307 children all having deciduous teeth were included in the study. The dentition was examined using a mouth mirror and explorer under illuminated light in Department of Pedodontics and the data was recorded. All the children were screened for molar and canine relationship, overjet, overbite, spaced and non-spaced dentition. Out of the total, Mesial step terminal plane (62%-left; 58%-right), Flush terminal (33%-left; 36% -right) and Distal step (5%-left; 6%-right) were seen. Most of the children had class I canine relation (83%-left; 84%-right), ideal overjet (68.4%), overbite (63.1%) and spaced dentition. Statistical significant difference was found among the gender with respect to overjet. Presence of spacing was more in maxilla than in mandible which was statistically significant. These findings suggested desirable occlusal characteristics and spacing in primary dentition. However, future longitudinal studies are required to examine whether the transition of these occlusal characteristics will lead to favorable outcome in permanent dentition.

/pdf/occlusal-traits-of-primary-dentition-among-children-visiting-v10y3jxnb0.pdf

Priyanka Shah

Papers

Estimation of Fluoride concentration in drinking water of Kathmandu Valley

Occlusal Traits of Primary Dentition among Children Visiting a Dental Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal