Indian patients' attitudes towards chairside screening in a dental setting for medical conditions.

BACKGROUND: India has a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and hepatitis B. United States-based studies indicate provider and patient support for medical screening in the dental setting. We assessed patient attitudes towards, and willingness to participate in, medical screening in the dental setting in India. METHOD: A 5-point Likert scale survey (with scores ranging from 1=very important/willing to 5=very unimportant/unwilling) was given to a convenience sample of adult patients visiting five university-based dental clinics (clinic group) and one private-practice setting (private group). The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare mean response scores between patient groups. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with a favourable outcome. RESULTS: Both patient groups felt it important for dentists to identify increased risk for medical conditions (89.3% vs. 94.9%, respectively; P=0.02). The majority of patients were willing to have a dentist screen for the specified conditions: CVD (80.6% clinic and 84.5% private); DM (84.5% clinic and 77.5% private); TB (76.7% clinic and 73.2% private); hepatitis (73.3% clinic and 67.5% private); and HIV/AIDS (71.0% clinic and 70.5% private). The majority of patients were willing to participate in chairside screening that yielded immediate results (84.6% clinic and 86.1% private), discuss results immediately (85.8% clinic and 87.2% private) and pay 150 Indian rupees (55.9% clinic and 91.7% private). Younger patients (<40 years of age) were significantly less likely to respond favourably to: importance of medical screening in dental settings [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.26-0.84] and be available for screening that yielded immediate results (adjusted OR=0.63; 95% CI: 0.40-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Indian dental patients were in favour of chairside medical screening.

The assessment of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and oxidized glutathione in patients with periodontitis-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The present systematic review explored the involvement of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants in periodontitis, drawing from established literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research approach encompassed an extensive electronic search from 2000 to 2023 across databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library and cross-referencing using specific keywords. RESULTS: The initial literature exploration generated a total of 766 articles. After thoroughly examining the abstracts, 693 articles were excluded from consideration due to duplication and lack of relevance to the central research inquiry. Following that, 73 articles were left for in-depth evaluation. Following a qualitative assessment, 35 studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria were chosen, while 38 were removed for not meeting the necessary standards. Within this selection, a meta-analysis was conducted on 11 articles that provided consistent data for quantitative synthesis. Specifically, the analysis of glutathione (GSH) levels in serum samples revealed a standardized mean difference (SMD) of -5.552 µg/mL (CI 95%: -9.078 to -2.026; P-0.002). In contrast, the analysis of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples displayed an overall SMD of 2.918 ng/µL (CI 95%: 0.372-5.465; P-0.025), while salivary samples exhibited an overall SMD value of 0.709 U/l (95% CI: -1.907-3.325; P-0.596) which is of insignificant. CONCLUSION: The systematic review findings suggest a notable decrease in antioxidant enzymes across various systemic biological samples among patients with periodontitis, contrasting with the results from gingival tissue samples meta-analysis of GPx enzyme.

A Meta-Analysis in Assessing Oxidative Stress Using Malondialdehyde in Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress (OS) marker Malondialdehyde (MDA) in oral submucous fibrosis with available literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a literature search electronically in PubMed (MeSH), Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar using specific keywords. RESULTS: A systematic search in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar identified 334 articles. Of these, four were duplicate reports, and three were animal studies. After reading the abstracts of the collected articles, 288 articles were excluded for the following reasons: low quality, not relevant to the research question, or did not meet the inclusion criteria. The remaining 46 articles were chosen for full-text assessment. Finally, the present qualitative synthesis included 23 articles for evaluation. The selected studies in MDA analysis in a random-effects model showed higher heterogeneity (Q = 477.636, p < 0.001, I2 = 95.394%). The standard difference in mean MDA concentration between oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and healthy subjects was estimated as 2.73 nmol/mL (95% confidence interval: 2.08-3.38). CONCLUSION: The selected studies showed significantly higher MDA levels in various biological samples of patients with OSMF. Therefore, further studies are needed to estimate oxidative stress levels by using different biomarkers in OSMF to direct future therapy.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of dental practitioners, interns and post-graduate trainees about COVID-19 pandemic in Chennai.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-2019 COVID-19) pandemic has been sweeping around the globe and the cases have been reported in India since the second week of March, with Chennai being one of the most affected cities. Healthcare professionals, particularly the dental personnel have a higher risk of infection due to close face-to-face contact and the risk of inhalation of aerosolised particles. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice about COVID-19 among interns, post-graduate trainees and dental practitioners. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using Google forms among three groups: interns, post-graduate trainees and dental practitioners. Data obtained was analysed by Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc test using SPSS IBM software. RESULTS: Of total score of 9 for knowledge-based questions, the score obtained by interns, post-graduate trainees and practitioners were 7.2, 7.2 and 7.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference among the groups (P = 0.24). Of total score of 4 for attitude-based questions, the score obtained by interns, post-graduate trainees and practitioners were 1.6, 2.0, and 1.9, respectively, with statistically significant difference among the groups (0.009). Of total score of 7 for practice-based questions, the score obtained by interns, post-graduate trainees and practitioners were 3.2, 3.3, and 3.1, respectively, with no statistically significant difference among them (P = 0.63). CONCLUSION: Though the knowledge about COVID-19 appeared adequate, the attitude and practice component needs improvement. Continuing dental education programs and webinars can be conducted to update the dental professionals about the protocols to be followed during COVID-19 pandemic.

Benign lymphoepithelial lesion of the minor salivary gland - A rare presentation as a palatal swelling.

Benign lymphoepithelial lesion (BLEL) is characterized by extensive lymphocytic infiltration of the major salivary glands and may be associated with Sjogren's syndrome or HIV infection. The involvement of the palatal minor salivary glands is extremely rare. We report an isolated case of BLEL affecting the palatal minor salivary glands, presenting as a palatal swelling in a 37-year-old female patient. Serological tests ruled out potential comorbid conditions. Cone-beam computed tomography showed a palatal soft-tissue mass with thinning of the adjacent cortical plates. A histopathological examination revealed salivary gland tissue with significant acinar destruction, dense lymphocytic infiltration and focal myoepithelial islands. Therefore, BLEL may be considered as a rare differential diagnostic possibility of a palatal soft-tissue mass lesion.

Review of Metallic Biomaterials in Dental Applications.

Titanium and its alloys are mainly used in manufacturing dental implants. The fact that titanium implants are immunologically very effective, new methods are being experimented to achieve utmost success rate as a biomaterial. One fundamental indicator for clinical achievement of implant is the decision of composition decided for the implant with the objective to improve osseointegration. The main objective of this study was to explore literature on dental materials used for implants, contrast them with titanium dental implants, with the aim to improve osseointegration and mechanical quality using Ti-Ga-Si dental implant.

Osteopetrosis-associated osteomyelitis of the jaws: a report of 4 cases.

Osteopetrosis represents a heterogeneous group of rare, hereditary bone disorders with variable clinical features and an increase in bone density. The common clinical findings that usually lead to the detection of the disease are fractures and osteomyelitis of the mandible. We report 4 cases of osteopetrosis, complicated by osteomyelitis of the jaws. Maxillary bone was involved in 3 of the cases and mandible in 1 of the cases. Osteomyelitis of the maxilla is extremely rare. When it occurs, there is invariably an underlying predisposing condition. All the 4 patients presented with osteomyelitis after dental extraction. Skeletal survey revealed multiple healed fractures of the long bones in all the cases. Two patients presented with myelophthisic anemia and evidence of extraosseous hematopoiesis and 1 patient with osteopetrotic stenosis of optic and auditory nerve exit foramina. All 4 cases were treated with intravenous antibiotic therapy and debridement of necrotic bone.