Oral hygiene practice and periodontal status among two tribal population of Telangana state, India- an epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: The tribes of India have poor periodontal health status due to their isolation, awareness and less accessibility to dental resources. They follow traditional methods of oral hygiene practice, which are found to be inadequate and inaccurate to maintain their good oral health. This study aims to assess the oral hygiene practice, oral hygiene and periodontal status of two tribes residing in Bhadrachalam, Telangana, India. METHODS: Based on accessibility the two tribes Koya and Lambada were included in the study. The total study population consisted of 1000 subjects, with 500 subjects in each group. Using a preformed proforma the oral hygiene practices were recorded for two groups and oral examination was done using Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) index and Community Periodontal Index (CPI). RESULTS: The OHI-S ranged between 2.5-3.0 in both the groups. The CPI index scores showed that sextants with calculus, shallow pockets, deep pockets and loss of attachment of 4-5 mm were significantly present in both groups. CONCLUSION: To conclude, though practice of poor oral hygiene and compromised periodontal status was seen among both groups. However, it was more prevalent in Koya. Under these circumstances, implementation of a basic awareness of oral health care programme for these tribes should be a high priority.

Utility of Dermatoglyphic Pattern in Prediction of Caries in Children of Telangana Region, India.

INTRODUCTION: Dermatoglyphics is an extremely useful tool as a preliminary investigation method for diagnosing suspected genetic disorders. Caries being a multifactorial disease with the influence of genetic pattern, early identification of caries risk children with dermatoglyphics can help in using effective and efficient caries preventive measures. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study was undertaken to record and know the frequency of occurrence of fingerprint patterns among children with caries and in children without caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 400 schoolchildren in the age group of 5 to 12 years were selected from a private school, Warangal, Telangana, India. Of 400 schoolchildren, 200 children were with caries group and 200 children were in caries-free group. Children with dental caries in five or more teeth based on the decayed, missing, filled teeth index performed were considered as study group, and the control group was normal healthy children without any dental caries. The fingerprints of each child were recorded using stamp pad method, and type of dermatoglyphic pattern of each digit was recorded based on Cummins and Midlo method. Data obtained were put for statistical analysis; p < 0.001 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Although the frequency of whorl pattern was more prevalent in caries group, it was statistically significant on the left hand third digit of females and on the right hand third digit and the left hand fourth digit of males. Fingerprints of female caries-free group showed maximum of ulnar loop and males showed maximum of arches. There was a decrease in total ridge count in caries group, especially in males. CONCLUSION: Dermatoglyphics could be an appropriate method to explore the possibility of a noninvasive and an early predictor for dental caries. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dermatoglyphics has a future role in identifying people with or at increased risk for dental caries so that risk reduction measures or earlier therapy may be instituted.