Students' preparedness and perception toward online learning in dental education - A cross-sectional study.

Background: Amid the health risk posed by coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, all the educational institutions in India have adopted online teaching as a method of imparting education. Thus, the current study was executed to evaluate the perception and preparedness of dental students toward online learning in dental education. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 286 dental undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students employing a pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on technological access, computer and online skills, and motivational skills to use e-learning for educational purpose. The response scale for each domain was classified into low readiness level (mean value = 1-<3), acceptable/moderate readiness level (mean value = 3-<4), and high readiness level (mean value = 4-5). Results: The results showed a high level of computer (4.02 ± 0.73) and online skills (4.05 ± 0.70) and acceptable levels of technology access (3.62 ± 0.73) and motivational level (3.61 ± 0.82). There was a significant difference in computer (P = 0.017) and online skills (P = 0.044) among UG and PG students, with PG students reporting better soft skills. Majority of the students reported participating in online workshops (68.2%) and examinations (76.6%). Around 55.2% of the students reported a positive impact and 8% reported a very positive impact of online methods on their learning. Conclusion: Students showed a high level of readiness toward e-learning methods along with some difficulties faced during e-learning.

Evaluation of Influence of Incisal Guidance on the Force Exerted at the Maximum Possible Intercuspal Position and in Protrusion - An In vivo Study.

Aim: Incisal guidance (IG) varies with maxillary and mandibular teeth wear. It in turn governs the forces on adhesive restorations. The present study evaluates the variation in forces because of changes in IG. Materials and Methods: IG was recorded on 46 subjects along with the distance from centric contact to incisal edge. Biteforce was recorded in the maximum possible intercuspal position (MIP) and in protrusion in the anterior region. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 21 at a confidence level ≤0.05. Pearson correlation test was applied to determine r value. Results: The association between forces on anterior teeth in MIP and forces on teeth in contact in protrusion is statistically significant (P value 0.001). There is definitive correlation between forces exerted in MIP and the distance travelled from centric contact to incisal edge (r = 0.059). There is a weak correlation between forces on anterior teeth in MIP and protrusive IG (r value 0.172). Conclusion: The force on anterior teeth in MIP with steeper IG is higher. Hence, the restoration margin should be kept away from the centric contact point.

Assessment of the factors influencing dental students to choose dentistry as a career: A cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: Career choice, one of the most important process in a student's life, has an influence on his/her future life. Hence, it is important to understand student's motives behind choosing a specific career. Hence, the study was designed with an aim to evaluate the factors influencing dental students to choose dentistry as career. METHODS: The present cross-sectional survey was conducted on 401 dental students from a dental institute. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of 13 reasons that possibly influenced students' decision to study dentistry. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS 20 software. RESULTS: Majority of the students participating were female (77.1%). Top four reasons to choose dentistry as a profession were to help poor people (95.5%), to earn prestige and respect (95.0%) followed by self-interest (94.7%) and study of human parts especially teeth (92.8%). Making money was the reason reported by 77.8% of the students. Other reasons reported were inspiration from other dentists (63.3%), did not get admission to medicine (MBBS) course (52.1%), and no doctor in family (51.9%). Family members in medical/dental profession was the least reported reason (36.9%). There were no significant differences among males and females for reported reasons except for one reason, that is, did not get admitted to medicine (MBBS) course (60.9% male and 48.9% female; P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Students were mostly influenced by own interest and altruistic nature to opt for dental profession.

Encephalotrigeminal Angiomatosis with Facial Lobular Capillary Hemangioma: An Unusual Case Report.

Encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, also called Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), is a syndrome of etiology which is not yet clear. It is a nonhereditary condition. The clinical features include pigmentation over the facial skin known as port-wine stain, abnormalities of ocular region, and central nervous system involvement as leptomeningeal angioma. In this manuscript, we present a rare case report with an unusual combination of SWS with facial lobular capillary hemangioma.

Garlic: Review of literature.

Garlic is one of the components, which have effects on reducing the risk of cancer. Including garlic in the diet helps for the betterment of the health. Medicinal effects of the garlic were known since 5,000 years. Recently, studies were carried out to known its effect on the cancer cell lines. Many studies have shown its effects not only on carcinomas, but also on the cardiovascular system and immune system. Functions of the each component of the garlic were studied to know exactly, which component has got beneficial effect. So this review has been carried out to know about the component, functions of each component, mode of action, and beneficial effects of the garlic.

Incidence of cystic changes in impacted lower third molar.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of cystic changes in the impacted lower third molar (ILTM) in which the pericoronal (follicular) space is less than 2.5 mm as measured from the radiograph. The relationship between the cystic changes and patient's age, sex, and angular position and contact of ILTM with adjacent tooth was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Follicular space less than 2.5 mm as measured from the panoramic radiograph was included in the study. A total of 73 tissue samples collected during the extraction ILTM were examined histopathologically. Then the data were analyzed for associations with age, sex, angular position, and contact of the ILTM with an adjacent tooth. RESULTS: There were 37 male and 36 female patients, age ranging from 17 to 35 years (mean 23.95 years). Out of 73 specimens, 17 (23.3%) showed cystic changes; among them 16 (22.1%) showed dentigerous cysts and 1 (1.2%) showed odontogenic keratocysts. Most of the cystic changes occurred in the 26-30 year age range. The cystic changes showed male predominance but could not gain statistical significance. The relationship between cystic changes and angular position was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Higher probability was found in distoangular positioned ILTM. The relationship between cystic changes and communication of ILTM with the second molar was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Incidence of cystic changes in ILTM justifies extraction of the impacted tooth associated with symptoms. The decision to extract or not to extract impacted third molar should be individualized, rather than generalized.

Dentigerous cyst associated with an impacted anterior maxillary supernumerary tooth.

Most typical dentigerous cysts are commonly seen in association with third molars and maxillary canines. Only 5-6% of dentigerous cysts are associated with supernumerary teeth. We report a rare case of dentigerous cyst associated with an impacted anterior maxillary supernumerary tooth. The patient was treated surgically by enucleation of the cyst.

Acoustic analysis and speech intelligibility in patients wearing conventional dentures and rugae incorporated dentures.

Phonetics is an important function of oral cavity. It has been overlooked quite frequently while fabricating the complete dentures. In this study modification of anterior palatal surface of denture is done and assessed for its impact on phonetics. Purpose is to assess acoustic and speech intelligibility analysis in edentulous patients and also to evaluate the influence of conventional dentures, arbitrary rugae and customized rugae dentures on speech in complete denture wearers. Ten healthy edentulous patients 55-70 years of age were selected for the study. Dentures were fabricated in conventional way for these patients. Recordings were done for intelligibility and acoustic analysis of the speech. Recordings were done without denture, with conventional denture, with arbitrary rugae denture, with customized rugae denture. Each recording was done at an interval of 10 days period. All four recordings were analyzed and comparison was done using paired 't' test. There was significant improvement in frequency peak noise energy for 's', antiformant frequency for 'n' in rugae incorporated dentures. There was relative improvement in frequency peak noise energy for 'sh', frequency proximity burst, voice onset time for 'd', with rugae incorporated dentures. Findings of intelligibility analysis have shown substitution errors with conventional dentures. There was relative improvement of speech with rugae incorporated dentures. Among these, customized rugae dentures showed better results than arbitrary rugae dentures.

Oral cancer in India: an epidemiologic and clinical review.

Oral cancer is one of the most fatal health problems faced by the mankind today. In India, because of cultural, ethnic, geographic factors and the popularity of addictive habits, the frequency of oral cancer is high. It ranks number one in terms of incidence among men and third among women. Several factors like tobacco and tobacco related products, alcohol, genetic predisposition and hormonal factors are suspected as possible causative factors. Hence the study was designed to determine the prevalence of Oral Cancer in patients who attended the outpatient department, at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College Sangli India during a period of 24 months in 2009-2010. Further various modes of tobacco and alcohol consuming habit were assessed along with the site of occurrence of oral cancer. About 35,122 subjects belonging to a semi-urban district of Sangli in Western Maharashtra (India) were screened. Tobacco and alcohol consumption was the common habit among the study population. Out of these about 112 cases showed Oral Cancer. The prevalence of Oral Cancer was 1.12%. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS software 11. The findings in the present study reveal a high prevalence of Oral Cancer and a rampant misuse of variety of addictive substances in the community. Close follow up and systematic evaluation is required in this population. Education about ill effects of tobacco and alcohol consumption is necessary at a broader scale. There is an urgent need for awareness programs involving the community health workers, dentists and allied medical professionals.