Lakshya Kumar

Assessment of the quality of life in maxillectomy patients: A longitudinal study

PURPOSE To longitudinally assess the quality of life in maxillectomy patients rehabilitated with obturator prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six subjects were enrolled in the span of 16 months, out of which six were dropouts. Subjects (age group 20-60 years) with maxillary defects, irrespective of the cause, planned for definite obturator prosthesis, were recruited. The Hindi version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Head and Neck version 1 of Quality of Life Questionnaire was used before surgical intervention and one month after definitive obturator. Questionnaire includes 35 questions related to the patients physical health, well being, psychological status, social relation and environmental conditions. The data were processed with statistical package for social science (SPSS). Probability level of P<.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The quality of life after rehabilitation with obturator prosthesis was 81.48% (±13.64) on average. On item-level, maximum mean scores were obtained for items problem with teeth (1.87 ± 0.94), pain in mouth (1.80 ± 0.92), trouble in eating (1.70 ± 0.88), trouble in talking to other people (1.60 ± 1.22), problems in swallowing solid food (1.57 ± 1.22) and bothering appearance (1.53 ± 1.04); while minimum scores were obtained for the items coughing (1.17 ± 0.38), hoarseness of voice (1.17 ± 0.53), painful throat (1.13 ± 0.43), trouble in having social contacts with friends (1.10 ± 0.40) and trouble having physical contacts with family or friends (1.10 ± 0.31). CONCLUSION Obturator prosthesis is a highly positive and non-invasive approach to improve the quality of life of patients with maxillectomy defects.

Current biomedical waste management practices and cross-infection control procedures of dentists in India

OBJECTIVES To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of dentists working in dental clinics and dental hospitals regarding biomedical waste management and cross-infection control. METHODS A national survey was conducted. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to 800 dentists across India. RESULTS A total of 494 dentists responded, giving a response rate of 61.8%. Of these, 228 of 323 (70.6%) general dentists reported using boiling water as a sterilising medium and 339 (68.6%) dentists reported disposing of hazardous waste such as syringes, blades and ampoules in dustbins and emptying these into municipal corporation bins. CONCLUSIONS Dentists should undergo continuing education programmes on biomedical waste management and infection control guidelines. Greater cooperation between dental clinics and hospitals and pollution control boards is needed to ensure the proper handling and disposal of biomedical waste.

Trends in management of myofacial pain

We systematically reviewed the myofascial pain publications in the literature. The aim of this article is to review the methods of management and their outcome and factors associated with prognosis. The topics of interest in the diagnostic process are myofascial trigger points electromyography, jaw tracking, joint sound recorder, sonography, and vibratography, exclusion of other orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders. Management modalities are occlusal therapy, physiotherapy, multidimensional rehabilitation antinociceptive therapy, anti-inflammatory and analgesics, muscle relaxants, stretch, and spray technique, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, and in severe cases botulinum toxin may be tried. The disease required interdisciplinary interaction in terms of occlusal therapy, antinociceptive therapy and physiotherapy because management of the disease may be influenced by the specialist primarily treating the patients.

Fabrication of a functional palatal saliva reservoir by using a resilient liner during processing of a complete denture

One of the major problems associated with xerostomic patients is the poor tolerance and retention of removable dental prostheses because of thin dry atrophic mucosa and lack of a saliva film. The use of salivary substitutes can improve lubrication, provide irrigation for dry mucosa, provide significant relief from symptoms, and also improve the retention of removable prostheses. These substitutes can be delivered over prolonged periods by using saliva reservoirs in the prosthesis itself. This report describes a novel technique for the fabrication of a functional palatal saliva reservoir in edentulous xerostomic patients. The technique uses a resilient liner in the floor of the reservoir. The tongue presses against the liner during swallowing, resulting in flow of saliva substitute through a hole in the anterior part of the floor of the reservoir.

Effect of mandibular advancement device on sleep bruxism score and sleep quality.

Statement of problem. The use of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) in the treatment of sleep bruxism is gaining widespread importance. However, the effects of MADs on sleep bruxism scores, sleep quality, and occlusal force are not clear. Purpose. The purpose of this clinical study was to analyze the effect of MADs on sleep bruxism scores, sleep quality, and occlusal force. Material and methods. This uncontrolled before and after study enrolled 30 participants with sleep bruxism. Outcomes assessed were sleep quality, sleep bruxism scores (sleep bruxism bursts and sleep bruxism episodes/hour), and occlusal force before and after 15 and 30 days of using a MAD. Sleep bruxism scores were assessed by ambulatory polysomnography and sleep quality by using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Occlusal force was recorded by using a digital gnathodynamometer in the first molar region on both sides. Statistical analysis was done by 1‐factor repeated measures ANOVA (&agr;=.05). Results. Statistically significant reductions in sleep bruxism bursts/h, sleep bruxism episodes/h, and PSQI scores were found after 15 and 30 days of using a MAD (P<.001). Statistically significant reduction in occlusal force on both sides was found only after 15 days (P<.001) but not after 30 days of using a MAD (P=.292 on left side, and P=.575 on the right side). Conclusions. The study showed a short‐term improvement in sleep bruxism scores, sleep quality, and reduction in occlusal force in sleep bruxism participants after using MADs.

Impact of Different Prosthodontic Treatment Modalities on Nutritional Parameters of Elderly Patients

PURPOSE To assess dietary and nutritional changes among the elderly following pros-thodontic rehabilitation. Another objective was to study the relationship, if any, between diet and nutrition, with extent of edentulism and different types of prosthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and thirty-five patients who satisfied the inclu-sion and exclusion criteria and agreed to be a part of the study after informed consent were recruited to this longitudinal study. Following selection, they were investigated on four aspects: dental examination, dietary assessment, anthropometric assessment, and serum biochemical assessment. All measurements were collected twice, first at baseline and then 6 months following prosthodontic rehabilitation. Treatment modalities included were complete denture (CD), removable partial denture (RPD), and fixed partial denture (FPD). The RPD group was of two types: distal extension prosthesis (RPDD) and tooth-supported prosthesis (RPDT). Change (post-pre) in outcome measures was compared by one-way ANOVA, and significance of mean difference between the groups was done by Tukeys honestly significance difference post hoc test. RESULTS The improvement in diet was found to be: CD > RPDD > RPDT > FPD. Significant improvement in weight (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), protein (p < 0.001), carbohydrate (p = 0.021), calorie (p < 0.001), iron (p = 0.002), and vitamin B (p < 0.001) in group CD as compared to partially edentulous patients (group RPDD + RPDT + FPD) was noted. The protein and calorie intake increased significantly in group RPD as compared to group FPD in partially edentulous patients. CONCLUSION Prosthetic rehabilitation becomes increasingly important as the level of edentulism increases to improve dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters.

Estimation of serum zinc, copper, and iron in the patients of oral submucous fibrosis.

Introduction: The role of trace elements in various diseases has been a matter of controversy with various authors reporting on conflicting data. They are receiving much attention in the detection of oral cancer and precancer as they are found to be significantly altered and have an important role in carcinogenesis. Trace elements have been extensively studied in the recent years to assess whether they have any modifying effect in the etiology of oral malignant conditions. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted on fifty subjects with clinically diagnosed oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and fifty controls with no apparent lesions of the oral mucosa and without any areca nut-related oral habit. Results: The level of serum zinc was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower among cases (73.48 ± 24.21) compared with controls (119.48 ± 52.78). However, the serum copper level was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher among cases (155.50 ± 40.13) than controls (100.40 ± 24.52). The level of serum iron was observed to be lower among the cases (66.57 ± 27.76) as compared to controls (94.19 ± 35.70), and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that serum zinc, copper, and iron levels could be used as a potential prognostic and diagnostic markers in OSMF patients.

Modified functionally generated path technique for single complete denture against non-modified natural dentition

BACKGROUND A clinical report of a patient complaining of frequent fractures of her maxillary complete denture opposing dentulous mandibular arch is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS The patient was rehabilitated with a maxillary complete denture using modified functionally generated path technique to achieve harmonious occlusion between the complete denture and the natural dentition. DISCUSSION Using the patients own denture to record the functionally generated path made the technique much easier and also saved valuable chair-side time. Occlusal balancing in the trial denture bases gave us the flexibility to move the teeth slightly, or grind them in order to balance the occlusion. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION Our modification of the functionally generated path technique resulted in successful rehabilitation of the patient without any fracture of the prosthesis in the 2-year follow-up, and has saved valuable chair-side time and laboratory effort.

Immediate dental implant placement with immediate loading following extraction of natural teeth

The loss of tooth in the esthetic area is often a traumatic experience for the patient. Patients may suffer real or perceived detrimental effects following the loss of one or more teeth. Dental implant offers the most cost-effective and long-term solution for replacement of missing teeth with high average life expectancy, providing the patient with the best sense of security and well-being. Recently, immediate implant placement after extraction of tooth with early loading has become more common. The advantages of this procedure include fewer surgical interventions, reduction in overall treatment time, reduced soft and hard tissue loss, and psychological satisfaction to the patient. This case report describes the procedure for immediate implant placement with immediate loading of implants by provisional restorations.

Removable partial denture with molar uprighting spring: an innovative hybrid appliance.

PATIENT A 45-year-old female patient with need of fixed replacement of her missing teeth which were lost long time before. Posterior teeth were severally tipped bilaterally in the edentulous space. Hybrid removable partial denture with molar uprighting spring was fabricated for molar uprighting on both side tilted molars. After 3 month and 15 days of treatment with hybrid appliance the molar abutment were uprighted for fabrication of fixed partial dentures. DISCUSSION The objective in molar uprighting is ideal positioning of the molar which will eventually become an abutment tooth for a fixed prosthesis. The ideal position will provide an optimal periodontal environment for the molar. The prosthodontic advantages of molar uprighting via distal tipping include an improved line-of-draw if a FPD is being constructed. Concept of designing of appliances was based on our basic knowledge of forces for uprighting the tooth along with maintaining the function during the treatment period. Another advantage of this appliance was that it prevented supra eruption of opposing teeth during the period when the molar was being uprighted. CONCLUSION Uprighting of tilted molar is extremely beneficial for long term success of fixed denture prosthesis by using hybrid appliances in very short period of treatment without hampering the function of the patient during the treatment period which is very economical as well.