Andersen health care utilization model: A survey on factors affecting the utilization of dental health services among school children.

BACKGROUND: Children's quality of life, academic performance, and future achievement can all be negatively affected by poor dental health. The present study aimed to assess the need for dental health services and the factors influencing their utilization using the Andersen health care utilization model among school children. METHODS: The current cross-sectional study was conducted among schoolchildren aged 13 to 15 in Bangalore, India (n = 1100). A questionnaire was developed using the concepts of the Andersen healthcare usage model. The parents of the children filled out the questionnaire. The factors were investigated using bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: About 78.1% of the children did not utilize dental health services. Regarding the reasons for not visiting a dentist, 65.8% said they did not have a dental problem, and 22.2% said they could not afford it. Bivariate analysis showed that age, gender, education level, occupation of the family's head of household, monthly family income, socioeconomic status, perceived oral health problems, accessibility of dental health facilities, and parental attitudes toward their children's oral health were significantly associated with using dental health services (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed dental health service utilization was directly related to age (OR = 2.206), education, family size (OR = 1.33), and brushing frequency twice a day (OR = 1.575) with no significant relationship between distance to reach the dental facility, the number of dental visits, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: Dental health service utilization was low in the past year. The age, number of family members, parent's education level, travel time to the dental facility, the child's oral health behaviors, and positive parental attitude all play a role in a children's utilization of dental health service.

Evaluation of the Impact of Acidic Drink on the Microhardness of Different Esthetic Restorative Materials: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of acidic drink on the microhardness of different esthetic restorative materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty samples (20 samples of each group) were prepared. group I: nanohybrid ormocer-based composite, group II: glasiosite compomer, and group III: nanoceramic composite. A cylindrical aluminum mold of 5 mm depth and 10 mm internal diameter was used to prepare the samples. All the esthetic restorative samples were submerged in 25 mL of acidic drink (Coca-Cola) for 10 minutes each day up to 15 days. The microhardness of each sample was measured using a Vickers diamond intender. These values were matched with baseline, 7th day, and 15th day for final microhardness values. RESULTS: The mean surface microhardness of 61.13 ± 0.82 was shown by group I, which was slightly more than that in group II (59.65 ± 1.16) and group III (59.22 ± 1.30). Analysis of covariance did not show any statistically significant difference between the groups. The samples in group III showed the highest reduction in surface microhardness value after immersion into acidic drink, followed by group II and group I on 7th day and 15th day. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was found on 7th day. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that the esthetic restorative material-nanohybrid ormocer-based composite-showed the finest behavior both before and after being dipped in the acidic drink followed next by glasiosite compomer and nanoceramic composite. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The various esthetic restorative materials with different physical characteristics and colors are marketed in numerous ways. Nevertheless, all dental restorative materials show surface degradation under acidic conditions over a period of time. So, it helps to know the surface microhardness changes of various esthetic restorative materials upon repeated exposure to acidic beverages.

Assessment of the Efficacy of Periodontal Tissue Regeneration using Non-resorbable and Bioabsorbable GTR Membrane-A Clinical Comparative Study.

AIM: The present study aims to assess the efficacy of non-resorbable and bioabsorbable guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane periodontal tissue regenerative methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty teeth taken from 20 patients (8 males and 12 females) within the age range of 20-55 years having chronic periodontitis were enrolled in this trial. All the enrolled patients underwent phase I therapy which included scaling and root planing performed in two sittings by a single practitioner. Patients who fulfilled the selection criteria entered the study and were randomly allocated to the three groups. Group I: control group, group II: patients who received a non-resorbable GTR membrane, and group III: patients who received a bioabsorbable GTR membrane. The clinical parameters that were documented at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively were the gingival index, plaque index, and probing depth (vertical and horizontal) for all the three groups. RESULTS: The mean gingival index score was 1.64 ± 0.32 in group III at baseline, which decreased to 1.20 ± 0.10 at 6 months postoperatively. The plaque index reduced from 1.36 ± 0.46 at baseline to 1.04 ± 0.01 at 6 months postoperatively. The vertical and horizontal probing depths demonstrated a statistically significant difference between all the three groups. CONCLUSION: The present study established that both membranes resulted in clinically and statistically significant improvements in the treatment of grade II furcation defects.