Oral Health Consequences of Use of Smokeless Tobacco in North India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effects of commonly used smokeless tobacco forms on oral health at habitual placement sites of smokeless tobacco compared to non-placement sites among the North Indian population. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 542 individuals using smokeless tobacco recruited from the outpatient wing of the Dental College. Subjects completed a questionnaire and received an oral examination. Periodontal pocket depth, gingival index, plaque index, gingival recession, and oral mucosal changes were assessed. Kendal's Tau test, paired t-test, and chi-square test were carried out to compare different variables among placement and non-placement sites. Results: Most of the subjects were male, reporting an average of 11.26 years of SLT use. Clinical inflammation of gingiva was significantly greater (p=0.01) at placement-sites (1.64 ± 0.53) of SLT in comparison to non-placement-sites (1.40 ± 0.41). The difference in the GR and PPD at placement and non-placement-sites was also statistically significant with p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively. Clinically, the majority of subjects had mucosal changes at the placement sites, and a statistically significant association (p=0.034) was observed between the duration of the use of smokeless tobacco and the mucosal changes. Conclusion: Smokeless tobacco use predisposes to increased risk of periodontal diseases and oral mucosal changes at the placement sites in an individual due to the local irritant effect.

Comparison of Detection Rate of Root Canal Orifices of Maxillary First Molar Using Various Techniques: An in-vivo Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the detection rate of root canal orifices of maxillary first molar by various techniques in the Indian population. Material and Methods: A total of 50 maxillary 1st molar cases were selected and sequentially divided into four groups: Group I: Naked eye; Group II: Surgical loupe; Group III: Surgical operating microscope; and Group IV: Fluorescein sodium dye. After access opening, the number of root canal orifices was detected in all cases with these methods. Results: By naked eye and surgical loupe, a total of 171 root canal orifices were detected, by a surgical operating microscope, 176, and by fluorescein sodium dye, 177 root canal orifices were detected. The detection rate of root canal orifices is as follows: Group I (96.61%) = Group II (96.61%) < Group III (99.44%) < Group IV (100%) and detection rate of MB-2 canal orifices Group I (40%) = Group II (40%) < Group III (50%) < Group IV (52%). No significant difference in the number of canal orifices detected could be seen for any of the comparisons. No significant difference was observed between the naked eye and surgical loupe techniques. Although the surgical operating microscope detected more root canal orifices, it did not have a significantly higher detection than the other two techniques. Conclusion: No significant difference was seen among various methods. However, the use of a surgical operating microscope and fluorescein sodium dye increased the detection rate of root canal orifices.