Oral health knowledge and practices among primary healthcare workers in Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, India.

CONTEXT: Primary healthcare workers being grassroot workers in rural areas can be effective in oral health promotion in these areas. AIM: To assess oral health knowledge and practices among primary healthcare workers in Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh. SETTING AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess oral health knowledge and practices of primary healthcare workers in Shimla using a self-administered questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using SPSS package version 16. The tests used were t-test and Fisher's exact test. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of 130 subjects, there were 60 (46.2%) males and 70 (53.8%) females. The mean age of the population was 48.4 ± 5.9 with a range of 25-57. The mean knowledge score percent of the population was 51.9 ± 18.2. It was higher for males (52.3 ± 15.0) when compared with females (51.5 ± 20.7). The mean knowledge score percent was positively associated with education and negatively associated with age. Tooth brush was used by 97.7% and tooth paste by 121 (93.1%). The frequency of brushing twice was reported by 79 (60.8%). CONCLUSION: Though the overall knowledge about oral health is good among primary healthcare workers, the understanding about various aspects is lacking. Therefore, it is recommended that health workers should be given education to enhance knowledge and practices toward oral healthcare and to increase their screening capacity for common dental problem which will serve the community in long way.

Combined Periodontal-Orthodontic Treatment of Pathologic Tooth Migration: A Case Study with 10-Year Follow-Up.

Pathologic tooth migration is a change in tooth position resulting from disruption of the forces that maintain teeth in a normal position in relation to their arch. The disruption of the equilibrium in tooth position may be caused by various etiologic factors. Loss of attachment apparatus along with a non periodontal related condition such as excess occlusal force, a progressive migration of tooth may take place. Mostly this migration can be associated with aesthetic damage of the smile line. To solve these issues, a combination of periodontal and orthodontic treatment is often needed. In this presentation a 23-year-old, systemically healthy, non-smoking female presented with the complaint of bleeding gums, mobility and increased space between upper and lower front teeth causing un-aesthetic appearance and low self esteem. She was treated with interdisciplinary approach of orthodontic and periodontal intervention. Improvement of facial esthetics contributed to the self-confidence of an adult periodontal patient with pathologic tooth migration. Follow up at 10 years post treatment confirmed the good choice of treatment planning and the tendency to improve the results over time. Periodontally compromised orthodontic patients can be satisfactorily treated, achieving correction of the malocclusion and a marked improvement in esthetics when an interdisciplinary approach is used.

Microbiological analysis after complete or partial removal of carious dentin using two different techniques in primary teeth: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The management of deep carious lesions can be done by various techniques but residual caries dilemma still persists and bacterial reduction in cavities treated by either partial or complete caries removal techniques is debatable. So the objective of the present randomized clinical trial was to compare microbial counts in cavities submitted to complete caries removal and partial caries removal using either hand instruments or burs before and after 3 weeks of restoration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary molars with acute carious lesions in inner half of dentine and vital pulp were randomly divided into three groups of 14 each: Group A: Partial caries removal using hand instruments atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) only; Group B: Partial caries removal using bur; Group C: Complete caries removal using bur and caries detector dye. Dentine sample obtained after caries removal and 3 weeks after restoration, were subjected to microbial culture and counting (colony-forming units [CFU]/mg of dentine) for total viable bacterial count, Streptococcus spp., mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus spp. RESULTS: Three techniques of caries removal showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in all microorganisms studied after 3 weeks of evaluation, but there was no statistically significant difference in percentage reduction of microbial count among three groups. CONCLUSION: Results suggest the use of partial caries removal in a single session as compared to complete caries removal as a part of treatment of deep lesions in deciduous teeth in order to reduce the risk of pulp exposure. Partial caries removal using ART can be preferred for community settings as public health procedure for caries management.

Comparison of endoflas and zinc oxide eugenol as root canal filling materials in primary dentition.

BACKGROUND: Zinc oxide eugenol has long been the material of choice of pediatric dentists worldwide, although it fails to meet the ideal requirements of root canal filling material for primary teeth. Endoflas, a mixture of zinc oxide eugenol, calcium hydroxide, and iodoform, can be considered to be an effective root canal filling material in primary teeth as compared with zinc oxide eugenol. This study was carried out to compare zinc oxide eugenol with endoflas for pulpectomy in primary dentition. AIM: The objective of the study was to compare clinically and radiographically success rates of zinc oxide eugenol with endoflas for the root canal filling of primary teeth at 3, 6, and 9 months. DESIGN: Fifty primary molars were included in the study with 26 teeth in Group I (Endoflas) and 24 in Group II (zinc oxide eugenol). A single visit pulpectomy was carried out. RESULTS: The overall success rate of zinc oxide eugenol was 83% whereas 100% success was found in the case of endoflas. The obtained results were compiled and subjected to statistical analysis using the chi-square test. The difference in the success rate between the two was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Endoflas has shown to have better results than zinc oxide eugenol. It should therefore be the material of choice for root canal treatment in deciduous dentition.