Oral Candidal Load and Oral Health Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients: A Case-Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the candidal load of the patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and evaluate the oral health status of subjects with COPD. Material and Methods. N = 112 COPD subjects and N = 100 control subjects were included in the study. The selection of COPD cases was confirmed based on the set criteria from the American College of Physicians. The oral health status was assessed as per WHO criteria to determine the score of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), significant caries index (SiC), community periodontal index and treatment needs (CPITN), and oral hygiene index-simplified (OHI-S). Gram staining was performed to identify Candida using the whole saliva. Quantitative evaluation of the candidal load was carried out using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Chrome agar was used to differentiate between the commensal carriages. A statistical analysis paired t-test and 95% confidence interval (CI) for proportions was carried out using STATA software. RESULTS: Candidal growth was found in 21.42% (n = 24) of COPD cases and 1.1% (n = 11) of control cases (p < 0.05) (95% CI 0.45, 0.59). The DMFT score was 8.26 in COPD subjects and 4.6 in controls, the SiC score was 16.42 in COPD subjects and 10.25 in controls, and the CPITN score for both COPD and control cases was score 2. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there was a higher candidal load among subjects suffering from COPD. Theophylline medication can be a risk factor for increased candidal load in COPD patients.

Radionuclide activity concentration in soil, granites and water in a fluorosis endemic area of India: An oral health perspective.

BACKGROUND: The idea that hilly areas have a high background radiation which in turn is linked to dental fluorosis is widely held by many in India. There is little evidence to confirm this. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the level of environmental radionuclide in order to determine any interrelationship between radionuclide and dental fluorosis in Pavagada, a fluorosis endemic area of Karnataka, India. METHODS: Gamma radionuclides (Th232, Ra226 and K40) were determined by high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer (Bq Kg-1) using a 50% relative efficiency p-type broad energy HPGe detector. Fluoride was estimated using fluoride Ion-selective electrode (ISE). Fluorosis was assessed using WHO diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The average mean +_SD activity concentration in soil for K40 was detected between 416.6 ± 9.3 and 769.1 ± 15.0. Th232 was estimated between 13.6 ± 0.6 and 57.6 ± 1.3; and Ra226 was found between 6.4 ± 0.4 and 21.6 ± 0.7. Similarly, the mean activity concentration detected (Bq kg-1) in granite for K40 ranged between 259.8 ± 6.9 and 1608.5 ± 26.9. The activity concentration of Th232 ranged between 26.4 ± 0.8 and 57.6 ± 1.3: and that of Ra226 was between 6.6 ± 0.3 and 21.6 ± 07. Drinking water contains 2.98 ppm of fluoride. Dental fluorosis was diagnosed as mild to moderate. CONCLUSION: The radionuclide activity in water, soil and granites were below the detection limit. Hence, the study revealed no association of fluorosis and radionuclide level in Pavagada, Karnataka, India. This helps resolve an ambiguity.

Dental anxiety in first- and final-year Indian dental students.

OBJECTIVES: The study aims to investigate dental anxiety in first- and final-year undergraduate dental students in India. DESIGN: Questionnaire Study Setting: BDS Students in four University dental colleges in India carried-out during 2013 and 2014. SUBJECTS MATERIALS AND METHODS: The students (n = 614) were assessed using a pre-tested questionnaire. We estimated the level of dental anxiety by using the Modified-Dental-Anxiety-Scale (MDAS). ANCOVA and Mann-Whitney U, and Chi-squared contingency tests were employed to analyze the extensive dataset acquired. Univariate clustering analysis and principal component regression were also applied. Students had similar demographic and lifestyle patterns. INTERVENTIONS: Assessments of the level of dental anxiety amongst undergraduate dental students. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean ± SD MDAS scores for first- and final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students were 12.96 ± 4.00 and 10.54 ± 3.41, respectively. RESULTS: Six hundred and fourteen (n = 614) students from four dental colleges were included in this study. In total 77% were female (n = 478) and 23% were male (n = 136). The mean age of the first- and final-year students were 18.31 and 21.54 years, respectively. First-year BDS students had dental anxiety score (Mean ± SD 12.96 ± 4.00) compared to that of the final year (10.54 ± 3.41), a difference which was very highly statistically significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Dental anxiety was moderately higher amongst first year BDS students over that of final-year students but it is lesser than the dental phobic threshold level.