Jayakumar Jayaraman

Introduction: The flipped classroom (FC) is a contemporary teaching strategy that has gained considerable attention in recent years. This model relies on technology‐based resources, including videos and handouts, to deliver illustrative content and core subject material to learners. Given the current emphasis on enhancing both undergraduate and postgraduate education, it is imperative to evaluate the usefulness of FC in the field of paediatric dentistry. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of the FC with the didactic classroom in paediatric dentistry education. Methodology: This systematic review and meta‐analysis adhered to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and EBSCOhost databases. Titles and abstracts were screened, and relevant data were extracted using a standardised form. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2.0) was applied. A fixed‐effects meta‐analysis using standardised mean difference (Hedges' g) was performed for studies comparing flipped and traditional teaching methods. Results: Among 101 identified studies, four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) fulfilled eligibility criteria. The overall risk of bias was moderate due to limitations in randomisation and blinding. Quantitative synthesis of post‐intervention knowledge assessment scores demonstrated that the FC significantly improved learning outcomes compared to traditional teaching (Hedges' g = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.22–0.87, p = 0.001), with no evidence of heterogeneity ( I ² = 0%). Conclusions: FC strategies, incorporating interactive and discussion‐based learning, demonstrated a moderate improvement in knowledge acquisition compared to traditional teaching methods. However, further high‐quality RCTs need to be conducted using different techniques under FC education.

Research into tricalcium silicate-based materials and their bond strength to self-adhering glass ionomer cements highlights variations in bonding efficiency (5). These findings contribute to material selection strategies, ensuring durable restorations that withstand masticatory forces in pediatric patients.A study on the prevalence and contributing factors of malocclusion in children aged 7-8 years in Zhuang, southern China identifies genetic predisposition, oral habits including thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and socioeconomic factors as significant influences on malocclusion development ( 6). The study underscores the need for early orthodontic interventions to prevent complex treatment needs in later years. Similarly, an evaluation of anterior and overall tooth ratios in the Saudi population compared to Bolton's standards reveals discrepancies that may necessitate region-specific orthodontic assessments (7). These findings highlight the importance of considering ethnic and population-based differences when planning orthodontic treatments.Oral health outcomes in children are significantly influenced by psychosocial determinants, as demonstrated in a study on the role of parental education, socioeconomic status, and family dynamics in shaping children's oral hygiene practices and caries prevalence (8). The research highlights the need for community-based interventions that address disparities in oral health knowledge and access to care. Another study examines the association between parental factors and children's behaviors during moderate sedation in pediatric dental care (9). Findings indicate that parental anxiety, past dental experiences, and education levels directly impact a child's response to sedation. These results emphasize the importance of parental counseling and preparatory strategies to improve sedation outcomes. A study from northern Vietnam evaluates parental knowledge and practices in childhood caries prevention, revealing gaps in awareness and inconsistent adherence to preventive measures (10). These findings call for intensified educational initiatives aimed at equipping parents with accurate information on dietary habits, fluoride use, and the importance of regular dental visits.The case report on dental management of a child with congenital ichthyosis under general anesthesia highlights the complexities of treating pediatric patients with systemic conditions (11). The report details modifications in treatment planning, emphasizing the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration for safe and effective dental care. The "Lift the Lip" screening guide, designed for dental professionals, aims to enhance early detection of oral health issues (12). This initiative advocates for routine lip-lifting examinations to identify early signs of caries, and underlying systemic conditions, ultimately contributing to improved early intervention strategies. In addition, this study emphasizes the importance of evaluating soft tissue abnormalities, particularly frenum. Despite the growing acceptance of frenectomy, controversies remain regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Several surgical techniques are available for frenectomy, with traditional and laser-assisted methods being the most commonly used. The laser technology has revolutionized frenectomy procedures and its advantages includes reduced bleeding due to hemostatic effects, minimal postoperative discomfort, no need for sutures in most cases resulting in faster healing with reduced scar formation (Figure 1). Alternatively, surgical incision may require suturing to optimize healing and minimize scarring (Figure 2). Some experts argue that a functional assessment should guide treatment decisions rather than anatomic classification alone (13). Standardized diagnostic criteria and long-term outcome studies are needed to refine clinical guidelines and future research should focus on providing evidence-based recommendations.The article "Allocating Intricacies: Pediatric Oral Health Spotlight in the Union Health and Well-Being Budget of India" critically examines the allocation of financial and policy resources dedicated to pediatric oral health ( 14). The study highlights disparities in access to care and advocates for increased funding, improved infrastructure, and policy reforms to strengthen pediatric dental services in India.The collective findings from these studies underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in pediatric dentistry. Advances in diagnostic imaging, endodontic techniques, and material sciences are enhancing clinical efficiency and treatment outcomes. Concurrently, research on psychosocial influences and public health initiatives emphasizes the role of education and policy in bridging gaps in pediatric oral healthcare. Moving forward, integrating these insights into clinical practice and policy frameworks will be pivotal in ensuring comprehensive and equitable oral healthcare for children worldwide.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fdmed.2024.1434417.].

Aim: The first comprehensive chart on dental development was published 75 years ago based on Caucasian children and this has been used as a standard dental chart to date. Few population specific charts have been developed recently and updated dental charts on modern subjects can provide more information on dental development patterns. This study aims to construct a comprehensive dental atlas for modern Chinese children and young adults to assist in clinical, forensic, and public health applications.Methods: The study sample comprised of 2,306 subjects, age ranging from 2 to 24 years belonging to Chinese ethnicity. Dental formation and eruption of permanent teeth and resorption of primary teeth were analyzed separately for females and males. For each age range, the number of teeth (n), and the stage of development was calculated for first (Q1), second (Q2) and third quartiles (Q3). Similar analysis was performed for the position of permanent teeth and the resorption of primary teeth. To determine the variations between the sex, Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted by comparing the median (Q2) stages.Results: Variations in dental formation and eruption of permanent teeth and resorption of primary teeth were observed between maxillary and mandibular dentitions and between the sex, however the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.535 to p = 1.000). The dental atlas was presented separately for Chinese females and males.Conclusion: This atlas on modern Chinese population serves as a practical tool to assist in clinical diagnosis and treatment planning, in forensic investigations as well as indicators of developments in public health.

Background: The concept of comparing “chronological age” vs. that of “dental age” has been well documented. Considering ethnic variations in dental development, the use of population-specific standards for age estimation has been emphasized. Mandibular maturity markers have been successfully employed to estimate the age of a person at the 18-year threshold. No such data are available for the Chinese population, which represents around one-fifth of the global human population. Aim: The aim of this research project was to analyze and grade mandibular third molars using maturity markers in the Chinese population. Materials and Methods: In total, 882 panoramic radiographs (424 females and 458 males) of 16- to 24-year-old Chinese children and young adults were obtained from patient archives. All patients were graded by a trained and calibrated examiner using stages A-D for mandibular maturity markers including Periodontal Ligament Visibility (PLV) and Root Pulp Volume (RPV). Results: The average Age at Assessment (AaA) ranged from 18.79 years for females in Stage A of PLV to 21.59 years for females in Stage D of PLV. The AaA was not statistically significant between females and males across all the stages, for both PLV and RPV. For PLV, the percentage of females below 18 years was 57.14% in Stage A and 17.14% in Stage D. For males, it was 48.84% in Stage A and 14.93% in Stage D. For RPV, the percentage of females below 18 years was 54.72% in Stage A and 12.73% in Stage D. For males, it was 49.09% in Stage A and 14.81% in Stage D. On average, for PLV, 85.30% of subjects were over 18 years of age in Stages C and D, and for RPV, 82.50% subjects were over 18 years of age in Stages C and D. Conclusions: Both RPV and PLV are considered as reliable maturity markers to estimate the age of Chinese subjects in the 18-year threshold. No difference was observed in the average Age at Assessment of mandibular maturity stages between the sexes.

Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) is an approach to increase parental compliance to follow up and recall of their children. It has proven to be successful in motivating parents to adopt and maintain preventive child oral health behaviors.Aim: To assess the effectiveness of motivational interviewing on prevention strategies for parents of children who have received full‐mouth dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia (GA).Design: This is a parallel‐arm randomized controlled trial. Parents in the treatment arm were randomized and received a combination of motivational interviewing, individualized goal setting, visual aids, and verbal education post‐GA. Those in the control arm received the same information by verbal and written education. Both groups were evaluated at 2‐week follow‐up and 3‐month recall. Differences in attendance, oral health knowledge, readiness to change, and parental self‐efficacy (PSE) were compared between groups and at return visits.Results: Of 74 parents of children randomly allocated in this study, 22 (61%) and 13 (38%) from the intervention group, and 21 (55%) and 16 (46%) from the control group attended the 2‐week, and 3‐month follow‐up, respectively. The average PSE for participants in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group at the follow‐up visit (p = .0050).Conclusion: Readiness to change dietary habits and average PSE for parents in the intervention group were significantly higher than that of the control group after receiving the modified preventive strategy.

Objectives The purpose of this study is to systematically appraise the reporting quality of abstracts for randomized controlled trials (RCT) published in pediatric dentistry using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for abstracts and to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of the RCT to the quality of abstracts. Materials and Methods RCTs published in Pediatric Dentistry were retrieved from the PubMed database from 2016 to 2021. The quality of abstracts was appraised using CONSORT for abstracts checklist by two independent reviewers. Statistical Analysis In descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage analysis were used for categorical variables, whereas mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables. To find the significant difference between the bivariate samples in independent groups, Mann–Whitney U test was employed. Multivariate analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U tests. Probability value of p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Two hundred abstracts were included in the study. All the abstracts adequately reported the “objective” item, whereas only 2 and 4% of abstracts adequately addressed “randomization” and “harms” items, respectively. A significant relationship was observed between the continent of first author/corresponding author, number of authors, impact factor, adherence to CONSORT guidelines, word count, focus of study, and a priori protocol registration to the quality of abstracts (p < 0.05). Conclusion The abstracts of the RCT included in the study did not adequately follow the CONSORT for abstract guidelines. Adherence to the reporting guidelines would improve the overall reporting quality of abstracts of RCT published in Pediatric Dentistry. The overall mean score of the abstracts was 6.80 out of 15 indicating that the abstracts did not adequately follow the CONSORT for abstract reporting guidelines.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and training of pediatric dental residents and faculty on the management of patients who belong to the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community. Methods: This cross-sectional survey included a 16-item questionnaire to assess the attitudes and training regarding the LGBTQ population, separately for pediatric dental residents and faculty across the United States. Statistical significance was set at the level of five percent, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and Fisher's exact tests. Results: In total, 132 residents and 40 faculty members completed the survey (response rates equal 14.4 percent and 16.9 percent, respectively). Residents were significantly more likely to respond that requiring LGBTQ training should be in the curriculum and that they have acquired skills to provide equal service to both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ patients and families (faculty equals 35 percent, residents equals 57.6 percent; P<0.001). Residents were significantly more likely than faculty to respond that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry should publish an exclusive policy statement regarding LGBTQ oral health disparities (faculty equals 40 percent, residents equal 62.1 percent; P=0.01). Conclusions: The resident and faculty of pediatric dentistry programs in the United States have adequate awareness of managing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients in the dental office and are willing to treat these patients, and most respondents have an interest in further education.