RESUMEN
AIM: This study was intended to evaluate the knowledge and apprehension of dental health professionals pertaining to COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey, a self-administered questionnaire survey was used to validate the dental health professional's knowledge and apprehension pertaining to COVID-19. In this regard, a preliminary study with a convenience sample of 124 dentists working in various clinics in southern India was conducted so as to evaluate the knowledge and apprehension of dentists related to COVID-19 in India. This study, while limited in sample size, benefits the general practitioners as target readers to assess the awareness pertaining to COVID-19. RESULTS: The results of this study reveal that there exists a good knowledge among dental health professionals pertaining to the COVID-19 virus and its oral manifestations in addition to the precautions to be taken for the prevention of COVID-19 in a clinical setup. However, there exists an apprehension as well as lack of awareness pertaining to the laboratory test to be carried out in a patient suspected with COVID-19 infections as well as the role of a mouthwash and the management of contaminated air in the dental clinic. CONCLUSION: The results elicited that there is a dearth of knowledge and relatively a fair apprehension among dental health professionals pertaining to COVID-19.
RESUMEN
AIM: The present study is designed to evaluate and compare the ability of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone to control edema following the surgical removal of mandibular third molar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two drugs, dexamethasone and serratiopeptidase, were compared for its efficacy in reducing the postoperative swelling. A total of 100 patients requiring the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar were randomly divided into two groups, consisting of 50 patients each. One group was administered 1 mg dexamethasone, one-half h preoperatively and every 8th hourly for 3 days postoperatively. The other group was given 10 mg serratiopeptidase every 8th hourly for 3 days postoperatively. The swelling was measured on 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th postoperative days. The results of this study showed that serratiopeptidase was effective in reducing swelling from 2nd to 5th postoperative day, and dexamethasone was effective in reducing swelling from 1st to 2nd postoperative day, further, it also reduced the swelling from 2nd to 5th postoperative day. RESULTS: There was highly significant difference in the facial measurement between serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone group on postoperative day 2 (the mean difference was 62.5 with P < 0.001) and statistically significant difference on postoperative day 1, day 5, and day 7 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that serratiopeptidase, a proteolytic enzyme and dexamethasone, a long-acting corticosteroid was effective in reducing the swelling, but dexamethasone was more effective than serratiopeptidase in reducing the swelling.