Prevalence of Periodontitis among Thermal Power Station Workers in South India.

The occupational stressors has an effect on overall health and dental health. Oral health is a vital aspect of general health. The current study was performed to assess the periodontitis among thermal power station workers in South India. Pilot study was done for 52 mine workers and based on the periodontal disease prevalence among them, the sample size was calculated as 603 subjects. The data collection was done using WHO 1997 proforma. Among the total study population, about 92 (30%) thermal power station 1 workers and 83 (28.1%) thermal power station 2 workers had pocket 4-5 mm, one (0.2%) thermal power station, 2 worker had pocket 6 mm or more thermal power station I workers, and 23 (7.8%) thermal power station 2 workers had 6 - 8 mm attachment loss. Only 1 (0.3%) thermal power station I worker had 9 - 11 mm attachment loss. In the current study, nearly 70% mine workers had calculus, nearly 30% had pocket 4-5 mm, and only 0.2% Mine II workers had pocket measuring 6 mm or more.

Evaluation of Dentist Perception of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for Accelerated Tooth Movement - Cross Sectional Survey.

The current survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, awareness and perception of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on accelerated tooth movement among dentist present in the state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu dentists were the subjects of the cross-sectional questionnaire survey. 500 participants completed self-administered questionnaires about their knowledge, awareness, and perception of PRP's effect on accelerated tooth movement. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (V 22.0) was used to do the statistical analysis. It computed the frequency distribution.The result showed that 466 (93.2%) had prior knowledge of PRP, whereas 34 (6.4%) had no previous experience with it. A total of 156 (31.2%) dentists were aware that PRP procedures are used for teeth rotation and canine retraction.15.2% of participants stated that PRP facilitates accelerated tooth movement.Therefore, results of the study show that the dentists were a little aware of PRP as an additional therapeutic strategy for accelerating tooth movement.More awareness required among the dentist regarding application and its benefits of PRP in accelerated tooth movement.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Herbal and 0.2% Chlorhexidine Mouth Rinse Against Oral Pathogens - An In vitro Study.

Background: Nature has given us an enormous number of medicines for every disease that affects people. Aim: To compare the antimicrobial efficacy of an herbal and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial effectiveness (zone of inhibition) of a herbal mouthrinse and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinse were determined by agar well-diffusion method. Results: At 50% concentration, the experimental mouthrinse inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Conclusion: Against the three strains, chlorhexidine mouthrinse (0.2%) performs better in terms of antimicrobial effectiveness.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception of Dental Stem Cell: A Questionnaire-based Cross-sectional Study.

The purest and unrestricted source of stem cells is the enamel of the teeth. Dental stem cells (DSCs), which are simple to get, quick to use, and reasonably priced, have the potential to be used in a variety of promising therapeutic applications. Due to their capacity for self-renewal, they are employed to treat significant flaws brought about by diseases, injuries, or surgical procedures. However, they are constrained by moral and ethical issues, as well as challenges with isolation, culturing, and implantation. DSCs are used in the rebuilding of orofacial structures because they retain the ability to differentiate into neurogenic, adipogenic, and odontogenic components. Before stem cell implantation, scaffolding that has been treated with growth hormones and bone morphogenic proteins is crucial. A self-administered questionnaire was used for a cross-sectional study (n = 200) that collected data on demographics, knowledge of stem cells, and attitude statements. Statistical Package for Social Software version 20.0 was used to analyze the data. This study seeks to learn more about professional groups' perceptions of stem cell research in Tamil Nadu and their knowledge and awareness of DSCs.

Knowledge, Attitude and Perception Regarding Myofunctional Appliance among Children-Prospective Study of Parents' View.

Aim: The current purpose of the survey is to completely evaluate parents' attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of myofunctional appliances. Materials and Methods: Parents in Chennai participated in this cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey. Pilot study was carried out to determine the sample size, and 500 individuals were the final sample size. The 10 organized, predesigned, and validated questions are on awareness of myofunctional appliance. Results: The result of the survey showed that in 500 subjects, 79.8% were aware of skeletal problems. The proportion of parents willing to recommend the use of such treatments is about 70%, while 69% believe that myofunctional appliances are important in correcting skeletal problems. Conclusion: The present study has established that most parents know about the functional appliance and have an understanding of how to distinguish between skeletal problems. In order to diagnose skeletal issues in an appropriate age range for the individual, more awareness about appliances is necessary and needs to be developed.

Prevalence of Dental Caries among Thermal Power Station Workers in South India.

Introduction: An increase in the trend of rapid industrialization has resulted in the mushrooming of industries in various sectors throughout the world. This study tries to document caries prevalence among thermal power station workers in South India. Materials and Methods: A pilot study was conducted among 53 thermal power station workers, and based on the same, the sample size was calculated. Results: The caries prevalence was 62.5% in thermal power station I workers and 61.5% in thermal power station II workers. The mean DMFT was 2.96 among thermal power station I workers and 2.87 among thermal power station II workers. Conclusion: The caries prevalence was 79.2% in the 35- to 44-year-old age group, according to the National Oral Health Survey and Fluoride Mapping.

Risk Factors of Early Childhood Caries among Preschool Children in Madipakkam, Chennai: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a major oral health problem, mainly in socially disadvantaged populations. ECC affects infants and preschool children worldwide. Aim: A survey to identify the factors influencing the ECC among preschool children in Madipakkam, Chennai. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3-5-year-old preschool children in Madipakkam, Chennai. Three schoolchildren participated in the study. In total, 313 children aged three to five years took part in the study. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect general information to assess their feeding habits and oral hygiene practices. Results: Dental caries experience (dmft and deft) was high among children who were bottle-fed compared to children who were breastfed. The children who were breastfed for less than six months had more caries than other children who were breastfed for more than six months. Conclusion: Factors such as age and BMI did not show any association with ECC. Other factors such as feeding habits, snacking, oral health behavior, parental assistance in brushing, and regular dental visits are found to be associated with the ECC. Most of the risk factors studied in this study are modifiable. Therefore parents and children should be educated about the risk factors of ECC and mechanisms to control it.

Assessment of Role of PPE in Preventing the Spread of Infection among the Dental Surgeons: A Prospective Study.

Although there is easy accessibility of infection control measures and recommendation regarding the PPE, most of the dentists failed to practice appropriate infection control measures. The aim of the current survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, perception, and attitude regarding the role of PPE among the dental care professionals in COVID-19. This is cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey conducted among dental care professionals in Tamil Nadu. The self-administered questions related to the PPE infection control measures were collected from 500 subjects. The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS (V 22.0). The frequency distribution was computed. This survey revealed that all the 500 (100%) respondents had awareness about the role of PPE in COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 500 study subjects, 93.2% had well-known knowledge about PPE, 60.4% of dentist strictly adheres to the use of PPE in routine dental practice, 80.2% of dentist mentioned PPE is safe and effective against spread of infection, and 93.4% of dentist had awareness about donning and doffing. Conclusion: From the beginning of this COVID-19, information provided by the health organization like CDC and WHO regarding the role of PPE had positive impact among the dental care professionals.

Comparison of Oral Mucosal Biopsies Done Using Scalpel and Diode Lasers: A Vivo Study.

Background: As dental lasers are becoming more popular in the branch of oral medicine for its various advantages and applications, this study was carried out to evaluate better mode of obtaining oral biopsies which is a common and inevitable procedure for providing final diagnosis in majority of conditions. Methodology: In this study, a total of 60 patients who required biopsy for final diagnosis of oral mucosal lesions as part of diagnosis in department of Oral Medicine were selected, out of which 30 were subjected to scalpel biopsies and 30 patients were subjected to diode laser biopsies. A 980 nm Zolar plus diode laser was used for the study. Out of 30 patients who were subjected to laser biopsies, 3W continuous mode settings were used for 15 patients and 3W pulsed mode was used for 15 patients. The specimens were sent to Department of Oral Pathology for histopathological evaluation to provide the final diagnosis. The time taken for each patient, volume of local anesthesia, during operative, postoperative pain scale, and co-relation of provisional and final diagnosis was noted for comparison purpose and the pathologist comments, peripheral tissue damage and artifact's for each slide were noted. Results: The study results showed the postoperative pain was comparatively less in diodlaser than scalpel, the lasers were patient friendly as the heammorage was negligible when compared to scalpel and suturing was not required. The pulsed mode in diode laser was advantageous over continuous mode when amount of thermal damage and postoperative pain score was compared. Conclusion: The results showed that oral biopsies can be made better using diode lasers, by having thorough knowledge on the device.

An In vitro Study to Determine the Antibacterial Activity of Chlorhexidine and Herbal Mouthrinses against Enterococcus faecalis.

Background: Oral diseases have a strong history of treating by natural remedies. Chemical plaque reduction techniques, including dental mouthwashes, are intriguing because they can help patients who are unable to maintain appropriate mechanical plaque management. They are a less technically difficult alternative to mechanical control. Aim: This study aimed to compare the antibacterial efficacy of an herbal and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse against Enterococcus faecalis. Methodology: The antimicrobial effectiveness (zone of inhibition) of an herbal mouthrinse and chlorhexidine mouthrinse was determined by agar well diffusion method. Results: The zone of inhibition for control mouthrinse was 19 mm, and there was no zone of inhibition observed for the experimental mouthrinse. Conclusion: The result of this investigation suggests 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate has a better antimicrobial activity than herbal mouthrinse.

Prevalence and Pattern of Tobacco Use among Thermal Power Station Workers in South India: An Observational Study.

Introduction: Health of individuals and community. Occupation, being a significant determinant of health, plays a vital role in the outcome of health. Mining being an occupation has it's own characteristics and occupational hazards. One such factor, being tobacco consumption has been sparsely reported among thermal power station workers. Aims and Objectives: To assess the prevalence of tobacco consumption among thermal power station workers in south India. Materials and Methods: Simple random sampling was used to collect data from the study in the subjects working in thermal power station. Pretested questionnaire was used to collect demographic and prevalence data pertaining to tobacco consumption. Descriptive statistical analysis was done for the data to express the same in frequencies. Results: Among the 401 study subjects, 121 of them consumed tobacco. Among them 59%(n=72) of them used smoking form of tobacco and about 23%(n=28) of them used smokeless form of tobacco. Vast majority73%(n=52) of the smokers used cigarette and 14%(n=19) used bidi. Conclusion: A significant number of workers in thermal power station were found to use tobacco. Further studies are required to be conducted on a larger scale followed by analytical studies to establish the strength of association between the occupation related variables and tobacco consumption.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Herbal and Chlorhexidine Mouthrinse against Staphylococcus aureus - An in vitro Microbiological Study.

Background: Microorganisms in the oral cavity are still considered serious public health problems and position a costly burden on health-care services worldwide and elsewhere. Mouthrinses have been used in the oral cavity for decades with the intention of reducing the amount of microorganisms. Mouthrinses are used as additives to oral mechanical hygiene. Therapeutic mouthwashes are also prescribed as an alternative to mechanical plaque control for plaque accumulation prevention and for gingival and peri-implant health maintenance. Mechanical control alone has been questioned to eliminate recalcitrant biofilms in the oral cavity because it is known to be very time-consuming and, most significantly, inadequate for good oral hygiene. The aim of this study was to assess the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and antimicrobial efficacy of herbal and chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthrinse against Staphylococcus aureus. Materials and Methods: For MIC (macrobroth dilution method), MBC and antimicrobial effectiveness (zone of inhibition) of an herbal mouthrinse and 0.2% CHX mouthrinse were determined by the agar well diffusion method. Results: The zone of inhibition of S. aureus was 24 mm for the CHX mouthrinse. The arowash liquid mouthrinse shows that S. aureus does not produce a zone of inhibition. Conclusion: CHX mouthrinse (0.2%) has a better antimicrobial efficacy against the S. mutans when compared to herbal mouthrinse (arowash liquid).

Assessment of Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception of Platelet-Rich Plasma among Oral Surgeons.

Aim: The current survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) among oral surgeons in the state of Tamil Nadu. Methodology: The cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among oral surgeons in the state of Tamil Nadu. The self-administered questions related to knowledge and awareness of PRP were collected from 500 participants. The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS (V 22.0). The frequency distribution was computed. Results: This survey exposed that 454 (90.4%) respondents had knowledge and awareness about the role of PRP. Forty (7.0%) were knowledgeable regarding the PRP treatment. Four hundred and fifty-four (90.6%) had aware about the usage of PRP procedures in oral surgery. Conclusion: The current study's findings indicate that the oral surgeons were aware of PRP as an auxiliary therapeutic technique for wound healing and maturation.

Spectrophotometric Analysis of Fluoride Concentration in Dentifrices for Children in India.

Background: There is a need to monitor the fluoride content of dentifrices used for children in a country like India, where there is prevalence of endemic fluorosis. Aim: To evaluate the fluoride content of dentifrices for children available in India. Settings and Design: In vitro study in a laboratory setting. Methods: About 27 major supermarkets/departmental stores in Chennai city were approached by the investigator. All dentifrices indicated for children, available in these stores were included in the present study. A total of four different dentifrice brands were procured from these outlets. For each brand of dentifrice, three samples were randomly chosen and used for fluoride analysis. The fluoride content was assessed in triplet by using spectrophotometric analysis, by a single blinded examiner. The test sample was compared to a standard solution, in a calibration curve to determine the fluoride concentration. Results: The mean fluoride content of dentifrices, indicated for children was 449.5 ± 26.1 ppm. Conclusions: All brands of commercially available dentifrices indicated for children had optimum amount of fluoride.

The Pandemic Impact of COVID 19 on Orthodontic Practice: A Cross Sectional Study.

AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the problem encountered by an orthodontist due to suspended treatment during and after lockdown COVID 19 and to assess the pandemic impact on orthodontic practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey conducted among orthodontist in India. The pilot study was conducted to estimate the sample size and final sample size is 263 participants. The predesigned and validated, self-administered, structured 10 questions related to the impact of an orthodontist and their orthodontic practices during and after COVID 19 are used. The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS (V 22.0) the frequency distribution was computed. RESULTS: The result showed that 81% orthodontist were reported that routine orthodontic treatment was disturbed due to this COVID 19 lockdown, about 79.1% reported hospital/clinic was closed due to lockdown with a duration of more than 1 month. Still, 64.6% orthodontist handling their orthodontic emergencies through telecommunication and 47.9% of orthodontist received a complaint about fixed appliance among all other appliances. Due to the current situation, 41.4% orthodontist suggested 3-6 months' period required to normalize the current situation and 66.9% agreed that there will be decline in orthodontic treatment need after COVID 19. CONCLUSION: Owing to the high virulence activity, elective procedures have been postponed and can manage a patient through virtual teleconsultation. Reassurance of the patient is needed regarding prolonged treatment duration due to this COVID 19 pandemic.

Are oral health education for carers effective in the oral hygiene management of elderly with dementia? A systematic review.

Elderly with dementia or cognitive impairment are at increased risk of poor oral health. Oral health education programs targeting carers may be an effective strategy to improve oral hygiene. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of oral health education programs for carers on the oral hygiene of elderly with dementia. A literature search was performed to identify studies published in five electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO), without time and language restrictions. Two independent coders extracted data and assessed the risk of bias for each included study. Of the 243 studies, only four studies met the inclusion criteria. All four studies reported a significant improvement for some oral health measures in dementia elderly following a carer oral health education program. The included studies did not report any other relevant outcomes of interest for this review. This review identifies limited evidence for a carer oral health education as an efficient means to improve oral health in dementia elderly. The review also clearly highlights the need for well-designed, high-quality studies with more relevant outcome measures to better address this knowledge gap.

Socio-economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - An Indian outlook.

It took only days to a few months, for the coronavirus to spread across the globe from it's place of origin, Wuhan city, China. Though, India is not among the worst affected countries of coronavirus, it is still a major Public Health emergency which pose a serious threat of crippling the nation's economy. A densely populated country like India, cannot afford getting it's population infected with coronavirus, as that will have an enormous strain in existing healthcare facilities. Although the government of India has implemented complete lockdown, there are many economic concerns to be addressed. Even though, relief fund was announced, the nation's huge population could use additional financial support, to take care of their essential needs like groceries, provisions and medicines. The livelihood, employment and income of many citizens remains questionable. This article attempts to give a socio-economic perspective of the coronavirus pandemic in India.

Effectiveness of Theobromine on Enamel Remineralization: A Comparative In-vitro Study.

Background Remineralizing agents demonstrate potential to reverse early carious lesions. Theobromine containing dentifrices claim to remineralize enamel lesions effectively. The aim of this in-vitro study was to evaluate and compare the remineralization potential of dentifrices containing theobromine, 0.21% sodium fluoride (NaF) with functionalized tricalcium phosphate (f-TCP) and amine fluoride on artificial enamel caries. Materials and methods Sound extracted human premolars were demineralized to produce deep artificial carious lesions. The teeth were sectioned longitudinally and allocated to three treatment groups with nine specimens in each group: Group A (NaF + f-TCP), Group B (amine fluoride), and Group C (theobromine). The specimens were then subjected to pH cycling for seven days. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was utilized to record the patterns of demineralization and remineralization. One-way ANOVA and paired t-test were used to analyze changes in lesion depth. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results All three dentifrices effectively remineralized artificial carious lesions (paired t-test, p<0.001). Of the groups, Group A (54.97%) reported the highest percentage change in lesion depth values followed closely by Group B (51.51%) and Group C (31.71%), respectively. Conclusion Within this in-vitro study, theobromine containing dentifrice was effective in remineralizing lesions of enamel. However, theobromine demonstrated less remineralization potential in comparison to dentifrices containing NaF + f-(TCP) and amine fluoride.

Remineralization potential of dentifrice containing nanohydroxyapatite on artificial carious lesions of enamel: A comparative in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: A carious lesion is the accumulation of numerous episodes of demineralization and remineralization, rather than a unidirectional demineralization process. Tooth destruction can be arrested or reversed by the frequent delivery of fluoride or calcium/phosphorous ions to the tooth surface. Nanohydroxyapatite particle-containing dentifrices are the newer generation of products which claim to remineralize enamel lesions effectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the remineralization ability of dentifrices containing nanohydroxyapatite, NovaMin, and amine fluoride on artificial enamel caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vitro study, extracted sound premolars were placed in a demineralizing solution to produce deep artificial carious lesions. The teeth were then sectioned longitudinally and divided into three groups (n = 16 in each group): Group A (nanohydroxyapatite), Group B (NovaMin), and Group C (fluoride). The sections were then subjected to pH cycling for 7 days. Polarized light microscopy was utilized to record the depth of the lesions before and after treatment with the selected dentifrices. Changes in the mean lesion depth were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and t-test. The level of significance was assessed at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The lesion depth decreased significantly by 10.56% in Group A, 6.73% in Group B, and 9.58% in Group C (paired t-test, P < 0.001). When comparisons were made across the groups, no statistical significance was found between the Groups A, B, and C (ANOVA test, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: All three dentifrices were found to be effective in remineralizing artificial carious lesions. Nanohydroxyapatite dentifrice produced significantly better results compared to fluoride- and NovaMin-containing dentifrices, instigating for its use in the management of early carious lesions.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Dental Caries Status in Children With Orofacial Cleft: An Indian Outlook.

AIM: To assess the dental caries status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) among children with orofacial cleft reporting to a hospital in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1 cleft children (n = 80) and group 2 noncleft children (n = 80). Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) Index, deft Index, and Children Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire were recorded. RESULTS: The mean DMFT was high in noncleft (3.51 ± 2.45) children than in cleft children (2.75 ± 2.68). The mean deft was high in noncleft (1.11 ± 0.96) children than in cleft children (0.86 ± 3.07). CONCLUSION: Cleft children have negative impact on OHRQOL than noncleft children.