Variations in adult BMI among Indian men: a quantile regression analysis.

India has not only maintained its top position among countries with the largest number of underweight adults but has also jumped to a higher position among countries with largest increase in the proportion of overweight people in the last three decades. More studies focus on double burden of malnutrition among women than on men. This study uses the quantile regression model to analyse the covariates associated with low and high body mass index (BMI) primarily among men aged 20-54 years during 2015-2016 in India. Occupations that involve more manual work help in maintaining a normal BMI along with better education, dietary diversity, and less sedentary lifestyle. A gendered comparison of men and their spouses highlights the differences in the association of covariates with BMI for men and women. The results from this study will provide insights for behavioural change at an individual level and inputs for public health intervention for addressing ill health concerns arising from underweight, overweight, or obesity.

Tobacco Turmoil in Teens and Preparedness of Pediatric Dentists: A Global Survey.

Background: Tobacco use amongst adolescents causes significant health problems affecting almost all organs and has a significant effect on normal growth and development. Smoker adolescents are also more prone to oral health problems than nonsmokers. Pediatric dentists can play a significant role in providing tobacco cessation counseling to adolescents. Aim: To assess the knowledge (K), perceptions (PR), training, and practices (PE) of pediatric dentists related to the provision of tobacco cessation interventions. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional online survey with convenience sampling was planned to assess the K, PR, training, and PE of pediatric dentists across the globe in dealing with tobacco menace amongst adolescents. The survey was done through a self-administered questionnaire in the form of an online Google Form. The study population consisted of pediatric dentists attending the International Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (IAPD) virtual conference 2021. Results: A total of 1,564 participants were targeted and 235 answered the survey with a response rate of 15.02%. Attending tobacco cessation intervention (p ≤ 0.001) and training in postgraduation on tobacco cessation (p ≤ 0.002) showed significant association with favorable practice scores. However, in the PR domain age in years (p ≤ 0.043), country of residence (continent, p ≤ 0.001) was found to be significantly associated with attending tobacco cessation intervention (p < 0.001) and training in postgraduation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study emphasize the need for recommendations for educating pediatric dentists by the inclusion of tobacco cessation interventions in the core curriculum, continuing dental education programs, and promoting professional responsibility to help achieve tobacco-free youth all across the globe. How to cite this article: Virk I, Agnihotri A, Sood P, et al. Tobacco Turmoil in Teens and Preparedness of Pediatric Dentists: A Global Survey. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(3):483-488.

Age estimation by dentin translucency measurement using digital method: An institutional study.

AIMS: The aims of the present study were to measure translucency on sectioned teeth using available computer hardware and software, to correlate dimensions of root dentin translucency with age, and to assess whether translucency is reliable for age estimation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pilot study was done on 62 freshly extracted single-rooted permanent teeth from 62 different individuals (35 males and 27 females) and their 250 µm thick sections were prepared by micromotor, carborundum disks, and Arkansas stone. Each tooth section was scanned and the images were opened in the Adobe Photoshop software. Measurement of root dentin translucency (TD length) was done on the scanned image by placing two guides (A and B) along the x-axis of ABFO NO. 2 scale. Unpaired t-test, regression analysis, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used as statistical tools. RESULTS: A linear relationship was observed between TD length and age in the regression analysis. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was positive correlation (r = 0.52, P = 0.0001) between TD length and age. However, no significant (P > 0.05) difference was observed in the TD length between male (8.44 ± 2.92 mm) and female (7.80 ± 2.79 mm) samples. CONCLUSION: Translucency of the root dentin increases with age and it can be used as a reliable parameter for the age estimation. The method used here to digitally select and measure translucent root dentin is more refined, better correlated to age, and produce superior age estimation.

Contemporary practice in forensic odontology.

Forensic odontology plays a major role in the identification of those individuals who cannot be identified visually or by other means. The unique nature of dental anatomy and placement of custom restorations ensure accuracy when the techniques are correctly employed. It is evident that identification of victims in accidents and natural calamities is of utmost importance and is a challenging task. The teeth may also be used as weapons and under certain circumstances; they may provide information regarding the identity of the biter. Dental professionals play a major role in keeping accurate dental records and providing all necessary information so that legal authorities may recognize malpractices, negligence, fraud child abuse and also, identify an individual. In this article, we will discuss such evolvement of the subject.

Determination of sex by radiographic analysis of mental foramen in North Indian population.

AIM: Identification and determination of sex of unknown human skeletal remains has been one of the most challenging tasks for forensic dentistry. The purpose of this study was to determine the gender from the analysis of mental foramen on panoramic radiographs in a north Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred radiographs were selected for the analysis of mental foramen. Tangents were drawn to the superior and inferior borders of the foramen and perpendiculars were drawn from the tangents to the lower border of the mandible (S-L and I-L). The data obtained were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: The average values of S-L and I-L were significantly higher in males than in females, while the distances for the right and left sides of an individual were almost similar in both the male and the females group, and the results were non-significant. CONCLUSION: The distances from the mental foramen to the lower border of the mandible exhibit sexual dimorphism in the north Indian population.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas in age distinct population: a comparison of p53 immunoexpression.

AIMS: The study aimed to assess the diffused expression of p53 protein in patients with OSCC and its association with age at diagnosis (using 50 years as a cut point). STUDY DESIGN: Ten normal oral mucosa and sixty OSCC lesions from age-distinct patient populations were immunohistochemically analyzed for the expression of p53 protein. RESULTS: In OSCC cases, 31 out of total 60 cases (51.67%) showed positive expression for p53 protein and it was more common in older study group (56.67%) than in younger study group (46.67%) but the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, there was also no significant difference in the p53 indices (percentage of p53 positive cells) between the two study groups (P = 0.827). CONCLUSION: The alteration rates were found to be slightly higher in older patients although not statistically significant.

Non-syndromic multiple impacted supernumerary teeth with peripheral giant cell granuloma.

Peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) is a relatively frequent benign reactive lesion of the gingiva, originating from the periosteum or periodontal membrane following local irritation or chronic trauma. PGCG manifests as a red-purple nodule located in the region of the gingiva or edentulous alveolar margins. The lesion can develop at any age, although it is more common between the second and third decades of life, and shows a slight female predilection. PGCG is a soft tissue lesion that very rarely affects the underlying bone, although the latter may suffer superficial erosion. A supernumerary tooth is one that is additional to the normal series and can be found in almost any region of the dental arch. These teeth may be single, multiple, erupted or unerupted and may or may not be associated with syndrome. Usually, they cause one or the other problem in eruption or alignment of teeth, but may also present without disturbing the normal occlusion or eruption pattern. Management of these teeth depends on the symptoms. Presented here is a case of PGCG in relation to the lower left permanent first molar with three supernumerary teeth in the mandibular arch but no associated syndrome.