Dhirendra Kumar Singh

Oral Health of Pre-School Aged Children in Dhanbad District, Jharkhand, India- A Peek into their Mother's Attitude

INTRODUCTION Mothers are directly responsible for the dental health of their children and play a major role in shaping the dental health behaviors of their children. They also play an important role in preventing oral diseases in them. OBJECTIVE To assess the level of attitude of mothers in relation to their pre-school aged children, which in turn can influence the level of oral health. METHOD A cross-sectional study was carried out among 312 mothers, selected randomly from eight blocks of Dhanbad district, Jharkhand, India. They were administered with a structured questionnaire on attitude, by an interviewer. RESULTS The overall data indicated that the attitude of mothers about oral health in their pre-school children increased as their age increased which was not statistically significant (p>.066). Mothers who had less than higher secondary school education and belonged to socio-economically lower groups had poor knowledge of oral health which was statistically significant (p<.001). CONCLUSION Mothers should be motivated so that their attitude about their childs oral health is enhanced which in turn would improve their oral health related quality of life.

Use of platelet rich plasma in the management of periodontal intra-osseous defects: A clinical study

Background: Periodontal disease is characterized by the presence of gingival inflammation, periodontal pocket formation, loss of connective tissue attachment, and alveolar bone around the affected tooth. Alveolar bone support and attachment apparatus regeneration has been achieved through various processes and have given elusive results. An expedient and cost-effective approach to obtain autologous platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP is obtained by sequestrating and concentrating platelets by gradient density centrifugation. Aims: The current study was aimed at evaluating the regenerative potential of platelet-rich plasma in comparison with open flap debridement. Settings and Designs: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, KIDS, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Materials and Methods: Twenty periodontal infrabony defects in 10 patients; 6 males and 4 females of age between 25-45 years were included in this study and were followed up for a period of 6 months. Statistical Analysis: Both the groups showed a mean plaque index of 2.10 and 2.50 at baseline, 1.75 and 2.05 at 3 months, and 1.28 and 1.53 at the end of 6 months. The mean reduction of 0.35 and 0.45 at three months and 0.82 and 0.97 at six months was achieved, which was statistically significant. (P < 0.001). When comparison was done between the two groups it was not found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). In each of the group there was definitive reduction in plaque score over a period of time. Results and Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in the treatment outcome between open flap debridement and PRP alone. Platelet-rich plasma application holds promise and needs further exploration.

Comparative evaluation of antiplaque efficacy between essential oils with alcohol-based and chlorhexidine with nonalcohol-based mouthrinses

Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the antiplaque efficacy of alcohol-based mouthwash with essential oils and nonalcohol-based chlorhexidine mouthrinse in 4 days plaque re-formation study. Materials and Methods: The current research paper is double-blinded, parallel designed clinical trial that was conducted in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar. This included ninety dental students of Bachelor of Dental Surgery curriculum (in the age range from 20 to 24 years) Professional cleaning with scaling and polishing was carried out to acquire a zero plaque and gingival index (GI) for all ninety patients at baseline. Ninety patients were randomly divided into three groups with thirty patients in each group named as Group A, B, and C, respectively. Two commercially available mouthrinses, one containing alcohol (labeled as Solution (A) and one without alcohol (labeled as Solution (B) were placed in identical bottles and distributed to Group A and Group B patients. Whereas, the Group C patientswere instructed to use warm saline mouth rinse. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (Version 18). Results: Essential oils with an alcohol-based and chlorhexidine (CHX) alcohol-free mouthrinse (0.2%) groups compared to normal saline showed significant reductions in GI and PI scores.(P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The antiplaque efficacy of both alcohol-based mouthwash with essential oils and nonalcohol based CHX mouthwash were found to be equally effective in 4 days of plaque re-formation.

Awareness about biomedical waste management and knowledge of effective recycling of dental materials among dental students

Aims and Objectives: Biomedical waste management has become a concern with increasing number of dental practitioners in India. Being health care professionals, dentists should be aware regarding safe disposal of biomedical waste and recycling of dental materials to minimize biohazards to the environment. The aim of the present study was to assess awareness regarding biomedical waste management as well as knowledge of effective recycling and reuse of dental materials among dental students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students belonging from all dental colleges of Bhubaneswar, Odisha (India) from February 2016 to April 2016. A total of 500 students (208 males and 292 females) participated in the study, which was conducted in two phases. A questionnaire was distributed to assess the awareness of biomedical waste management and knowledge of effective recycling of dental materials, and collected data was examined on a 5-point unipolar scale in percentages to assess the relative awareness regarding these two different categorizes. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyzed collected data. Results: Forty-four percent of the dental students were not at all aware about the management of biomedical waste, 22% were moderately aware, 21% slightly aware, 7% very aware, and 5% fell in extremely aware category. Similarly, a higher percentage of participants (61%) were completely unaware regarding recycling and reusing of biomedical waste. Conclusion: There is lack of sufficient knowledge among dental students regarding management of biomedical waste and recycling or reusing of dental materials. Considering its impact on the environment, biomedical waste management requires immediate academic assessment to increase the awareness during training courses.

Comparison of efficacy of manual and powered toothbrushes in plaque control and gingival inflammation: A clinical study among the population of East Indian region

Aim and Objective: To figure out, analyze and assess the effectiveness of powered toothbrush (Braun/Oral-B two-dimensional) and manual toothbrush (Oral-B40 Regular Advantage Plus) on supragingival plaque and gingival health. Materials and Methods: The efficacy of powered toothbrush to that of manual one was compared by using a randomized clinical trial over a 4 weeks period in controlling plaque and gingivitis using gingival index, plaque index (PI), and oral hygiene index. A total of 45 patients with age group from 19 to 23 years were included in the study. Collected data were analyzed, and different subgroups were compared using Students t-test, Levenes test, and Chi-square test. Results: In both groups whether using powered or manual toothbrush, there was marked decrease in PI scores and gingival health improvement. However, there was better reduction in PI scores and improvement in gingival health in powered toothbrush group. Conclusion: All individuals with both groups showed reduction in PI and hygiene index, but when it was assessed on the 4th week, individuals using powered toothbrush showed better results when compared to the individuals using manual toothbrush.

Epidemiology: Redefining the Study among People

According to the World Health Organization, epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events (including disease), and the application of this study to the control of diseases and other health problems. Various methods can be used to carry out epidemiological investigations: Surveillance and descriptive studies can be used to study distribution; analytical studies are used to study determinants, which is aimed to describe the distribution and magnitude of health and disease related problems in human populations, with an ultimate goal to eliminate or reduce the health problem or its consequences and promote the health and well-being of society as a whole. The current review will be to redefine the epidemiological tools which are used to do the studies among people.

Bilateral buccal exostosis evaluated by cone-beam computed tomography: A rare accidental finding

Buccal exostoses are broad-based, non-malignant surface growth occurring on the outer or facial surface of the maxilla and/or mandible, found usually in the premolar and molar region. Etiology is still not established, but it has been suggested that the bony overgrowth can be because of abnormally increased masticatory forces to the teeth. Compensatory response to periodontal disease has been proposed to explain some cases of exostoses; they tend to appear in early adolescence and may very slowly increase in size with time. They are painless, self-limiting and may increase patient concern about poor esthetics, inability to perform oral hygiene procedures, and compromised periodontal health by causing food lodgment. The following article presents a very rare case of bilateral buccal-sided maxillary and mandibular exostoses in the anterior region which was an accidental finding in a chronic generalized periodontitis patient.

Trauma from occlusion: The overstrain of the supporting structures of the teeth

Any occlusal force which goes beyond the adaptive capacity of our periodontium causes injury to periodontal structures, and the resultant trauma is called as trauma from occlusion (TFO), several schools of thoughts are there that whether TFO is an etiological factor or cofactor for the occurrence of periodontal diseases. Present review paper is an effort to clear the actual concept of TFO along with its historical background, etiological factors, relevant terminologies, signs and symptoms, and advanced diagnostic methods.