White spot lesions in fixed orthodontic treatment: Etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and future research perspectives.

White spot lesions (WSLs) refer to localized areas of hypo-mineralization limited to the enamel of the teeth surface, which is noticeable clinically to the naked eye on drying of the teeth. During fixed orthodontic treatment, it is very hard for the patient to maintain excellent oral hygiene as the brackets, bands, wires, elastics, and other appliances and attachments worn intra-orally provide a platform for food retention, plaque formation, and then colonization by acidogenic bacteria like and . This review aims to elaborate and focus on etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment aspect, and future scope for research about the WSLs occurring due to fixed orthodontic treatment.

Herbal extracts in oral health care - A review of the current scenario and its future needs.

Background: Oral diseases are among the major public health problems and the commonest of chronic diseases that affect mankind. The application of natural products for the control of oral diseases is considered as an interesting alternative to synthetic antimicrobials due to their lower negative impact, and for the effort to overcome primary or secondary resistance to the drug during therapy.

Objective: To review the current evidence on the antimicrobial efficacy of 10 plant extracts on dental caries and plaque microorganisms.

Oral health promotion among rural school children through teachers: an interventional study.

Background: The lack of national oral health policy and organized school dental health programs in the country call for affordable, accessible, and sustainable strategies.

Objectives: The objective was to compare the oral hygiene, plaque, gingival, and dental caries status among rural children receiving dental health education by qualified dentists and school teachers with and without supply of oral hygiene aids.

Materials And Methods: This interventional study was conducted among 15-year-old children selected randomly from four schools in Nalgonda district between September 2009 and February 2010.

Malocclusion status among 15 years old adolescents in relation to fluoride concentration and area of residence.

Objectives: To compare the overall dental aesthetic index scores between rural and urban areas, males and females, and to correlate dental aesthetic index score with fluoride concentration in drinking water.

Settings And Design: The study was cross sectional and conducted among 15 year old adolescents in the rural and urban areas of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India (an endemic fluoride belt).

Materials And Methods: Six out of 59 mandals in Nalgonda district were first selected by simple random sampling technique.

The use of school teachers to promote oral hygiene in some secondary school students at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India: A short term prospective pilot study.

Study Design: It was a short term prospective pilot study on a group of 116 secondary school students.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of using the services of school teachers to promote oral hygiene in secondary school students and compare the effectiveness of dental health education (DHE) offered by school teachers on a fortnightly basis with what is offered by dental professionals at three- monthly intervals.

Materials And Methods: Six secondary schools were randomly selected.