Assessing knowledge of dental house officers regarding dosage calculation and complications of local anaesthesia, in three tertiary care dental hospitals of DUHS, Karachi.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge and awareness of dental house officers regarding calculation of local anaesthesia dosage, and to evaluate differences in practices at various tertiary care facilities. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at three dental hospitals affiliated with Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi from July to December 2022, and comprised house officers of either gender currently enrolled at the participating centres. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire to assess knowledge and awareness of local anaesthesia dosage calculation, administration methods, and common complications. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. RESULTS: Of the 200 subjects approached, 136(68%) responded, and 89(65.4%) of them were females. Knowledge regarding the meaning of 2% lidocaine solution was low 45(33%), and 68(50%) subjects were knowledgeable about the maximum dosage of lidocaine with epinephrine. In terms of practice, lidocaine was the most commonly administered local anaesthetic 115(85%), followed by bupivacaine 15(11%). The majority of subjects administered local anaesthesia with vasoconstrictor 127(94%), but only 36(27%) performed aspiration during administration. Syncope 71(52%) was the most commonly reported complication, followed by lip/cheek/tongue biting by 35(26%). CONCLUSIONS: House officers' knowledge level of local anaesthesia administration indicated the need for adequate training.

Investigating the prevalence of halitosis and its associated factors amongst the general population of Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of halitosis among the general population of Karachi, and to identify factors contributing to its occurrence. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2022 in Karachi after approval from the ethics review board of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, and comprised the adult population of Karachi. Data was collected online using a questionnaire that was piloted before its link was distributed through social media platforms. The questionnaire evaluated the association of demographic features with self-perceived halitosis on the basis of which factors predictive of halitosis were determined. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. RESULTS: Of a total of 342 subjects, 182(53%) were females and 160(47%) were males. There were 141(41$) subjects aged 18-25 years, and 166(48%) were graduates. Overall, 240(70%) subjects reported to have self-perceived halitosis. Age, monthly household income, niswar and tea consumption, irregular use of dental floss and tongue cleaning were associated with higher incidence of halitosis (p<0.05). Carrying water bottle while outside was associated with decreased halitosis (p=0.007). Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, sinusitis, asthma, diabetes, hypertension and mental stress were associated with halitosis (p<0.05). Higher monthly household income and daily use of dental floss predicted lower odds of halitosis (p<0.05). Conclusion: Maintaining good oral hygiene and hydration reduced, while comorbid conditions increased the probability of halitosis.