Tobacco Users among the Patients who Visited Dental Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Smoked and smokeless forms of tobacco is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality with inevitable effects on the oral cavity as well. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of tobacco users among the patients who visited dental outpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 255 patients visiting the dental outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital over the duration of six months. Data collection was done through personal interviews and clinical examinations. History of tobacco use was taken and patients were divided into current users, never users and ever users. Clinical examination was done using Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index, community periodontal index modified and loss of attachment. Point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: Among 255 patients, 91 (35.69%) (95% Confidence Interval = 29.81-41.57) patients used tobacco. Among them, 72 (28.2%) were current users, who had taken tobacco at least once during the past 30 days and 19 (7.5%) were ever users who had taken tobacco but not during the past 30 days. Conclusions: The prevalence of tobacco use among our study participants is similar in comparison to that of the general population. Our study shows greater prevalence of the use of a smokeless form of tobacco than the smoked form of tobacco.

Prevalence of Self-medication Practices for Oral Health Problems among Dental Patients in a dental college: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Self-medication means the use of medications for the treatment of any disease on their own, without consulting any healthcare professional. At times self-medication can be useful if practiced correctly by saving time and money, whereas disadvantages often occur due to lack of evaluation by trained medical professionals and delay ineffective treatment and can result in unnecessary expenses and drug dependence. This study was conducted to find out the self-medication behavior and its associated factors among patients visiting a dental hospital in Kathmandu. METHODS: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 patients in Kantipur Dental College from December 2019 to January 2020 among the patients attending the dental Out Patient Department. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of Kantipur Dental College. A convenience sampling technique was used. Proformas were prepared in English, translated to Nepali and re-translated to English by the back-translation method. Data entry was done in Microsoft Excel and analysis in SPSS 20. Descriptive statistics was done. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-medication practice was found to be 166 (62.6%). Out of total participants, 99 (59.6%) consumed medicines for few days only and the most common triggering factor was found to be toothache in 101 (60.8%) participants. The most common reason for selfmedication was found to be a previous experience of treating similar illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of self-medication was found to be low as compared to the study done in similar settings. Self-medication practice is a sensitive issue that hasn't been given the required consideration.

Relationship of Body Mass Index with Dental Caries among Children attending Pediatric Dental Department in an Institute.

INTRODUCTION: Oral health, the mirror of general well being, is altered by many mediators like infection, chronic inflammation, and genetic predisposition. Apart from these mediators, nutrition has been postulated as an alternative mediator. The present dietary pattern among children is contributing to childhood overweight as well as increasing the risk for developing dental caries. The food habits contributing to dental caries as well as obesity are similar. Undernutrition has also shown to be associated with the dental caries. The study was conducted to investigate the relationship of body mass index to dental caries. METHODS: A cross sectional clinical study was conducted on 7 to 12 year old children, studying in public schools, visiting the Department of Pediatric Dentistry for a routine dental check up. The study evaluated the nutritional status by calculating the body mass index using the formula BMI= Weight (kg)/Height2 (m2). Then their Body Mass Index was correlated with the Dental caries status using WHO criteria for decayed, missing and filled teeth index. Data analysis was done by SPSS 20 software program. RESULTS: Total of 251 children between 7 to 12 years were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 9.12 years. No statistically significant result was found on comparing the nutritional status to dental caries (P=0.43). A statistically significant difference though was found on comparing dental caries status among gender (P=0.021) as well different age groups (P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed the presence of more normal and underweight children but there was no statistically significant association between body mass index and decayed, missing and filled teeth index.