Prevalence of Periodontal Disease among Obese Young Adult Population in Saudi Arabia-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence of periodontal disease among obese young adults in Saudi Arabia and to analyze the association between different body mass indexes and the severity of periodontal disease. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study consisted of 307 obese patients aged 18-39 years, with body mass index (BMI) ≥30. Demographic variables for periodontal disease, anthropometric parameters such as BMI along with clinical parameters such as oral hygiene index-simplified, community periodontal index (CPI) score and loss of attachment (LOA), were assessed. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictors for chronic periodontitis in obese young adults between 18-40 years of age. Results: The majority of the participants (71.3%) had periodontal disease. Obese and extremely obese patients together showed a statistically significant difference in the age group of 21-30 years in terms of CPI score for inflammation (p < 0.05) and LOA (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed age (OR: 3.180; 95%CL: 1.337-7.561; p <.001), occasional dental visit (OR: 5.965; 95%CL: 3.130-11.368; p < 0.001), smoking >10 cigarettes (OR: 11.868; 95%CL: 3.588-39.254; p < 0.001) and poor oral hygiene status (OR: 17.250; 95%CL: 6.958-42.764; p < 0.001) were associated with a significantly higher risk of having periodontal disease. Conclusions: This study showed a high prevalence of periodontal disease in obese patients among the Saudi Arabian population.

The Role of Faculty Development in Improving the Quality of Multiple-Choice Questions in Dental Education.

Valid and reliable assessment of students' knowledge and skills is integral to dental education. However, most faculty members receive no formal training on student assessment techniques. The aim of this study was to quantify the value of a professional development program designed to improve the test item-writing skills of dental faculty members. A quasi-experimental (pretest, intervention, posttest) study was conducted with faculty members in the dental school of Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia. Data assessed were 450 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from final exams in 15 courses in 2017 (prior to the intervention; pretest) and the same number in 2018 (after the intervention; posttest). The intervention was a faculty development program implemented in 2018 to improve the writing of MCQs. This training highlighted construct-irrelevant variance-the abnormal increase or decrease in test scores due to factors extraneous to constructs of interest-and provided expert advice to rectify flaws. Item analysis of pre- and post-intervention MCQs determined the difficulty index, discrimination index, and proportion of non-functional distractors for each question. MCQs on 2017 and 2018 exams were compared on each of these parameters. The results showed statistically significant improvements in MCQs from 2017 to 2018 on all parameters. MCQs with low discrimination decreased, those with high discrimination increased, and the proportion of questions with more than two non-functional distractors were reduced. These results provide evidence of improved test item quality following implementation of a long-term faculty development program. Additionally, the findings underscore the need for an active dental education department and demonstrate its value for dental schools.

Denture identification using individual national identification number of Saudi Arabia: An innovative inclusion method of casted metal.

CONTEXT: Forensic odontology is one of the branches of dentistry, which played a very important role in identification of individuals in accident, natural and mass disaster, and civil unrest and in genocide crimes. In the absence of natural teeth, marking or labeling of denture plays a vital role in the personal identification. BACKGROUND: Various types of marking or labeling methods are reported. However, many are not according to the criteria put forth by American Dental Association or other professional association. Majority of these techniques may be time consuming and expansive, may not be standardized, long lasting and do not permit the incorporation of a large amount of information. AIM: The aim of this study is to find out a denture identification technique that should be easy, less expensive, long lasting, and standardized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article illustrates an inclusion denture casted metal technique of the individual national identification number printed in the patient's residence number or iquama or national identity card issued by the ministry of interior, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is used as a denture marker in the lingual surface of mandibular denture. RESULTS: The label in this method is durable and can withstand high temperature, less chances of deterioration, visible radiographically, and provide all important information about individual that is standardized, reliable, and also accessible from any remote location. CONCLUSION: Hence, the proposed technique is an easy, less expensive, long lasting, radiographically visible, and standardized method of identification.

Oculodermal melanocytosis--Nevus of Ota (with palatal pigmentation).

Nevus of Ota is a benign dermal melanocytosis, that involves facial skin as a macular discoloration, appearing as blotchy blue to blue gray. It involves the upper portion of the face, especially over the periorbital area. It also involves ocular structures such as episclera, sclera, conjunctiva, cornea, retina, uveal tract and also nasopharynx, auricular mucosa, tymphanic membrane and dura. Glaucoma and malignant melanoma are the two known ocular complications in patients with Nevus of Ota. 12-18% of these patients exhibits palatal pigmentation. Here we are reporting two cases of Oculodermal melanocytosis, one of which exhibited palatal pigmentation.

Dens in dente (dens invaginatus). Report of two unilateral and one bilateral case.

Dens invaginatus is a deep surface invagination of the crown or root that is lined by enamel. It is one of the developmental anomalies affecting the teeth. It commonly affects maxillary lateral incisor, followed by central incisor, premolar, canine and molar tooth. Maxillary teeth are more commonly involved than mandibular teeth. It usually occurs unilaterally although 43% occur bilaterally. The invagination within the tooth can be single, double and even triple has been reported. The affected tooth usually is thick, barrel shaped with a small round palatal opening to the invagination. It usually traps plaque, food debris and is prone for dental caries, which may lead to pulpal and periapical pathology. So if detected early the dens invaginatus should be prophylatically restored. Two unilateral and one bilateral case of dens invaginatus are reported here.