Peter S. Sequeira

Effectiveness of a school dental education program in improving oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practices and status of 12- to 13-year-old school children.

BACKGROUND Children with poor oral health are 12 times more likely to have restricted-activity days. Dental health education [DHE], with the objective of improving the oral hygiene of the participants, would have obvious merits. OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of school DHE, conducted at repeated and differing intervals, in improving oral health knowledge, practices, oral hygiene status, and the gingival health of schoolchildren belonging to two socioeconomic classes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This 36-week duration study assessed the effectiveness of school DHE conducted every three weeks against every six weeks on oral health knowledge, practices, oral hygiene status and gingival health of 415, 12- to 13-year-old schoolchildren belonging to social classes I and V. Of the three selected schools of each social class, one each was subjected to the intervention of either three or six weeks or was a control, respectively. Oral health knowledge and practices were evaluated using a questionnaire. Oral hygiene and gingival health were assessed using plaque and gingival indices. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Friedmans test was used for the longitudinal analysis of data. ANOVA and Students t test were used for continuous data. RESULTS Plaque and Gingival score reductions were highly significant in intervention schools, and were not influenced by the socioeconomic status. When oral health knowledge was evaluated, highly significant changes were seen in intervention schools; more significantly in schools receiving more frequent interventions. The socioeconomic status influenced the oral hygiene aids used and the frequency of change of toothbrush. Controls showed no significant changes throughout. CONCLUSIONS The DHE program conducted at three-week intervals was more effective than that conducted at six-week intervals in improving oral health knowledge, practices, oral hygiene status, and gingival health of schoolchildren.

Oral health status of 5-year-old Aborigine children compared with similar aged marginalised group in south western India.

OBJECTIVE   To compare and assess oral health status of 5-year-old Aborigine children with similar aged, marginalised children in coastal region of south western India. MATERIALS AND METHODS   A total of 418 Aborigine children were invited to participate in the study and a total of 428, 5-year-olds were selected randomly for comparison from other government schools to form the other marginalised group. The WHO (1997) proforma was used for clinical examinations. Chi Square test was used to compare between categorical variables. Mann-Whitney U-test was used for comparison between the two groups for quantitative variables. Logistic and linear regression analysis was performed to determine the importance of the factors associated with caries status. Odds ratio was calculated for all variables with 95% confidence intervals. P≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS   Dental fluorosis was present in 50 (11.9%) Aborigine children, whereas in the other marginalised group 7 (1.6%) children had dental fluorosis (P≤0.001). Untreated dental caries was 76.3% for the Aborigine children and 70.3% in the comparison group. Mean dmft values in the two groups were 4.13±3.90 and 3.58±3.60, respectively (P>0.01). High frequency of between-meal sugar consumption was related to dental caries (OR =1.20; P=0.001). Utilisation of dental care and dental fluorosis were inversely related to dental caries (OR=1.16; P=0.001 and OR=1.91; P=0.001). CONCLUSION   The study revealed poor oral health status among both the marginalised groups. Significant differences were noted between the two groups with respect to oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, and dental utilisation pattern. Schools for tribal children, male gender, low frequency of cleaning teeth and higher in between-meal sugar consumption were significantly related to dental caries.

Assessment of the relationship among the oral health status, oral hygiene practices, and habits of school teachers in Mangalore city

Background: In India, teachers play an important role in providing long-term health education and changes in behavior. Aim: To assess the relationship among the oral health status, oral hygiene practices, and habits of primary and middle school teachers in Mangalore city. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was carried out for 1½ months on 241 primary and middle school teachers in Mangalore city. Oral hygiene practices and habits were assessed using a questionnaire. The oral health status of the teachers was examined using simplified oral hygiene index, gingival index, and caries experience was scored using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth index. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square were done. P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: A total of 241 school teachers were included in the study. The majority of the males and females were in the age group of 30-39 years and 40-49 years, respectively. The increase in the gingival score in subjects was not statistically significant with the use of indigenous methods along with the brush. With respect to caries experience and oral hygiene practices, as the frequency of brushing increase, there was a decrease in the number of decayed and missing teeth and increase in the number of filled teeth (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the importance of proper oral hygiene habits and its relationship of oral health status and recommend the continuous implementation of school-based programs to promote the oral health.

Ethnic variation of selected dental traits in Coorg

Purpose: In a country like India, in addition to the great innate diversity, there are distinct migrant populations with unique dental traits. Aim: To assess the distribution and degree of expression of cusp of Carabelli of maxillary first permanent molars and shoveling trait of maxillary central incisors, between three ethnic groups of Coorg, namely Kodavas, Tibetans, and Malayalees. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, indirect, anthropometric, study was carried out among 15- to 30-year-old subjects belonging to three different ethnic origins. A random sample consisting of 91 subjects were recruited for the study. The shovel trait of incisors and the Carabelli trait of molars were recorded according to the classification given by Hrdliƈka and Sousa et al., respectively. Statistical Analysis: The Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to determine the difference in three populations for shoveling and Carabelli traits. Mann-Whitney Test was used for pair-wise comparisons of three populations. Result: Of the total 91 subjects, 31 were Kodavas, 30 Malayalees and 30 Tibetans. There was a statistically significant difference in shoveling trait among the three ethnic groups. For Carabelli traits, there was no statistically significant difference among three ethnic groups. Conclusion: The present study findings showed that Tibetans have a higher degree of shoveling trait than the selected South Indian ethnic groups.

Awareness of emergency drugs uses among students and teaching faculty in a dental college in Coorg, Karnataka

Introduction: Effective management of an emergency situation in the dental office is ultimately the dentists responsibility. The lack of training and inability to cope with medical emergencies can lead to tragic consequences and sometimes legal action. It is logical to provide training on emergency care during undergraduate years ensuring basic competence in all graduating healthcare students. Previous surveys of medical and dental schools have highlighted deficiencies in such training. This survey sought to assess awareness of emergency drug use among students and teaching faculty in a dental college in Coorg, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out among a convenience sample of 250 dental students (III rd BDS, IV th BDS, Interns, and post graduates) and teaching faculty at the Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, Coorg, Karnataka. The Closed - ended questionnaire containing selected basic multiple choice questions was used to assess the awareness. Results: About 60% of the responders scored < 50% marks, 15.6% of the responders scored between 50% and 59% marks, 14% of the responders scored 60-69% marks, 4.8% scored marks between 70% and 79% marks, only 5.6% of the responders scored between 80% and 89% marks. Conclusion: Awareness of emergency drug use among dental students and teaching faculty needs to be improved and updated.

Dental neglect among college going adolescents in Virajpet, India

Introduction: Dental neglect (DN) has been defined as behavior and attitudes which are likely to have detrimental consequences for the individuals oral health, or more specifically as failure to take precautions to maintain oral health, failure to obtain needed dental care, and physical neglect of the oral cavity. Aim: The aim was to assess the association of DN with dental caries and oral hygiene among adolescents in Virajpet, India. Materials and Methods: A total of six hundred adolescents aged 15-18 years were selected. DN was recorded using self-administered questionnaire. Oral health status was clinically assessed using simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and dental caries through dentition status as per WHO criteria. Results: The mean DN score for this population was 10.18. Sociodemographic variables and Dental Attendance pattern were significantly associated with DN. Mean decayed missing filled value and OHI-S values were also significantly associated with DN. Conclusion: The present study revealed that variations in DN exist in relation to sociodemographic characteristics and pattern of dental attendance. In addition, oral health status was significantly associated with DN among adolescents.

Consumer Protection Act-Awareness?

Background : With the inclusion of health care services under Consumer Protection Act, a spurt in litigations arising out of breach in medical/dental profession is seen. Thus, it becomes imperative for health professionals today to be aware of such laws. Objective : To assess and compare the awareness about Consumer Protection Act among dentists (dentists in teaching institutions and dentists in private practice.) Material and Methods : A questionnaire survey was carried out on a total of 224 dentists [112 dentists in teaching institutions (DTI)] from Manipal and Mangalore and 112 dentists in private practice (DPP) from Udupi and Mangalore, Karnataka, India]. Statistical Analysis was done using SPSS version 10. Chi- square test was used to compare between the categorical variables (P≤0.05). Results : A total of 69.6% of DTI and 76.8% of DPP reported to be aware of Consumer Protection Act but subsequent analysis of responses did not reveal the same. Awareness (> 75%) about rules and regulations of Consumer Protection Act was found to be low in both the dentist group. No difference was seen in awareness based on gender, degree and type of practice (P>0.05). Significantly higher percentage of DPP as compared to DTI (90.7% Vs 69.2% ; P ≤ 0.05) were observed to rely upon regular consent. Conclusion : There is a need to raise the awareness of health professionals about such laws so that their increased professional concern and practice conforms to welfare of patients.

Comparison of the efficacy of three disinfectants to decontaminate used gloved hands.

Objective: to compare the efficacy of gamophen (triclosan containing), microshield (chlorhexidine based) and wokadine (povidone – iodine) with tap water (control) to decontaminate used gloved hands. Methods: A randomized controlled blind study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of three disinfectant solutions – gamophen (triclosan containing), microshield (chlorhexidine based) and wokadine (povidone-iodine) and tap water as control to decontaminate used gloved hands. Each group comprised of 10 pairs of used gloved hands. Microbial load was compared before and after washing of used gloved hands. Results: Showed that there was no statistically significant difference in any of the groups, however microshield (chlorhexidine based) showed the highest efficacy by reducing the microbial count to 98.31%.