ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Oral health is often viewed as a significant component for an indication of good general health or for good well-being together with a decent quality of life. Health literacy is considered a crucial factor in improvising a good life or excellent health. Oral health literacy (OHL) is the ability necessary for people to identify the factors that lead to poor oral health, learn and put into practice the essentials of effective oral self-care behaviors, and communicate with oral healthcare professionals in order to schedule appointments, put their names on waiting lists for dental care, and locate the dentist's office. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate students' oral health, their OHL, to determine the relationship between their oral health status and OHL, and finally to suggest preventive measures for the benefit of public health. MATERIALS AND METHOD: At Teerthanker Mahaveer University, a cross-sectional study involving 1500 participants, ages 18 to 25, was conducted on students studying nursing, physiotherapy, paramedicine, engineering, and law. Their informed consent was obtained. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD-99) was used to gauge OHL levels, and the WHO's 1997 Oral Health Survey was used for their clinical evaluation. RESULTS: The mean REALD score was significantly higher in nursing students (88.32±6.46), followed by physiotherapy college (82.46±9.11), paramedical college (70.54±10.95), law college (46.52±7.74), and least in engineering college (38.80±10.65). The difference in the REALD score based on college was statistically significant. Along with this, the REALD score showed a correlation with gender and location too. Except for fluorosis, all the clinical parameters of dental caries, gingival bleeding, and pockets, loss of attachment, dental fluorosis, and dental enamel were associated with OHL. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study showed a relationship between educational attainment, clinical parameters examined, and OHL, leading to the conclusion that higher OHL is related to better oral health. So, we can conclude that maintaining good oral health requires OHL.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Acrylic denture base tends to fracture frequently during their service due to poor strength. The surface roughness of denture base is a critical property because denture base with rough surface will cause accumulation of food particles ,thereby leading plaque retention . Microbes such as candida albicans are seen inhabitating the surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional heat cure denture base reins(DPI) and heat cure denture base resin with incorporation of 15wt% aluminium oxide was studied in two groups with 20 samples each. A mold of size 65 mm × 10 mm × 3 mm (ISO Standard) was obtained by investing brass rectangles. About forty specimens were prepared. Specimens were divided into two groups (n = 20) coded A and B. Group A was the control group (n = 20) without addition of aluminum oxide. Group B was the experimental group (n = 20) with addition of 15 wt % aluminum oxide. All the specimens were stored in distilled water for 14 days. The flexural strength was measured using a three-point bending test in a universal testing machine, and the surface roughness was measured using contact-type profilometer. RESULTS: Incorporation of 15wt% aluminum oxide leads to a significant increase in flexural strength and surface roughness of conventional heat-cure denture base resin.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare radiographically the amount of crestal bone resorption during healing and loading period in single implant versus two implant-retained mandibular overdentures in totally edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 edentulous patients (12 male and 8 female) with age range of 58.6 years were included in this clinical trial which was completed in four phases (clinical and radiographic diagnosis, surgical phase, implant loading phase, and bone level measurement phase). The eligible patients were randomly allocated in two equivalent groups of 10 participants each per group. The allocation was in 1:1 ratio via randomized chit method. Group I included the case group, that is, single implant, and Group II included the control group, that is, two implants located in mandible. A total of 30 implants were placed in Group I and 20 implants in Group II. Digital intraoral peri-apical radiographs (RVG 5100) were used for measuring the bone level immediately after implant surgery, 1 month, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months. RESULT: This study showed that there was a mean crestal bone loss of 0.7 mm between the tip of the implant and alveolar crest at the end of 6 months after implant placement in single implant Group I while 0.67 mm in case of Group II two-implant-retained mandibular overdentures. The percentage of crestal bone loss after 6 months follow-up was 6.45% in Group I which was statistically insignificant compared with Group II where 6.25% of bone loss was recorded. CONCLUSION: Single implant-retained mandibular overdentures could be used as another alternative treatment option for completely edentulous elderly patients with severely resorbed ridges and financially and systemically compromised conditions.
ABSTRACT
AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the pattern, prevalence, etiology, site of fractures, and their management in patients with maxillofacial injury in Delhi-NCR region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1278 maxillofacial trauma patients visiting different registered hospitals from Delhi-NCR region from January 2012 to December 2017, treated by open reduction and internal fixation under general anesthesia (GA)/local anesthesia (LA) or closed reduction/conservatively, were taken into the study. The parameters considered in the study were age and sex distribution, etiological factors and incidence of maxillofacial trauma, pattern and site distribution of maxillofacial fractures, and management. RESULTS: From a total of 2250 trauma patients, 1278 patients (1053 males and 225 females) had maxillofacial injury. The average prevalence rate was 56.8%. Yearly incidence rate was 20.4%. Road traffic accident (RTA) was the most common cause of trauma in 1029 (80.5%) patients, followed by physical assault [158 (12.3%)] with significant male predominance in different age groups. Isolated mandibular fractures were the most common [48.6% (parasymphysis 31.6%, condyle 28.2%)], followed by midface with maxilla fracture [27.6% (zygomatic bone and arch 50.2% and Lefort II fractures 18%)]. Treatment modalities were conservative management, closed reduction, and open reduction with internal fixation under GA/LA. CONCLUSION: RTA followed by physical assault is still the leading cause of maxillofacial trauma in young males in Delhi-NCR region. Mini plate osteosynthesis is the main treatment procedure for maxillofacial trauma. We need to enforce strict traffic rules, road safety law, and preventive measures along with improvement in education and socioeconomic status in the population to avoid maxillofacial injuries.