Psychometric Properties of the Oral Health Values Scale and Cultural Adaptation in the Indian Population.

AIM: The Oral Health Values Scale is a multidimensional instrument that identifies and measures a person's values related to oral health. This scale has been validated in American respondents. This study aims to evaluate the adaptability and validity of the Oral Health Values Scale in the Hindi language (H-OHVS). METHODOLOGY: A total of 240 adults participated in the study that was carried out from July to November 2022. An offline one-to-one survey was carried out to collect data by an investigator blinded to the study protocol. The translation and testing of the OHVS were carried out based on the cross-cultural adaptation guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Evidence-Based Medicine Committee. The content validity was assessed by an expert panel. Construct validity was analyzed through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), utilizing principal component analysis with varimax rotation. The internal consistency of the Hindi version of OHVS was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS:  The results showed that H-OHVS had an Item-level Construct Validity Index (I-CVI) ranging from 0.82 to 1.00. Two components, compliance and hesitance, were formed on H-OHVS accounting for 63.91% of the cumulative variance. The resulting model fit indices on confirmatory factor analysis presented an adequate fit to the data. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient for H-OHVS (α = 0.868) presents excellent internal consistency. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings provide a certain degree of evidence in favor of this scale and establish the Oral Health Values Scale (OHVS) as a psychometrically sound measure.

Comparative Evaluation of Microleakage With Total-Etch, Universal (Self-Etch Mode), and Nano Adhesive Systems in Class V Composite Restorations: An In-Vitro Study.

OBJECTIVES: The adhesion of bonding agents and their longevity are of interest to dentistry. Microleakage remains the major cause of composite restoration failures, which in turn depends on bonding between the restorative material and tooth substrate. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the microleakage with total-etch, universal, and nano adhesive systems in Class V composite restorations, utilizing a dye penetration method. METHODS: Forty-five extracted premolars were included in the present study, and a Class V cavity on the facial surface of each tooth was prepared. The samples were divided into three groups of 15 teeth each depending on the bonding agents used, following which composite restoration was done. Specimens were thermocycled, and nail varnish was applied except around the restorations. Specimens were then immersed in 2% methylene blue for 24 hours and rinsed; sectioning was done and viewed under a stereomicroscope with 10X magnification. RESULTS: The mean microleakage score was reported to be significantly higher in the universal adhesive system in the self-etch mode (3.60 ± 0.55) when compared with the total-etch adhesive system (2.40 ± 0.55) and least in the nano adhesive system (1.20+.45) (p value <.05). CONCLUSION: The study findings revealed that nano adhesives showed lesser microleakage as compared to total-etch and universal adhesive systems. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study strengthens the findings that the nano adhesives have reduced microleakage, resulting in better marginal integrity and increased longevity of restoration. This study signifies that an eighth-generation bonding agent is reported to be better than the other bonding agents used in this study.

Effectiveness of a Training Program in School Teachers on the Role of Sugars in Oral and General Health.

BACKGROUND: Schools have a powerful influence on children's development and well-being, and school teachers are considered role models to transmit life values and instill health-related behaviors. The effectiveness of a training program for school teachers in understanding the role of sugars and their impact on oral and overall health has not been previously reported. AIM: The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a training program for school teachers on the role of sugars in oral and general health. METHODS: An interventional study was carried out on 308 Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan school teachers to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program in improving school teachers' knowledge of the role of sugars in oral and overall health. The training program was carried out using a training module, and a validated questionnaire was utilized to assess school teachers' knowledge before and after the training program. RESULTS: The overall evaluation of mean knowledge change scores revealed significantly higher scores after the training program (8.12 ±1.58) when compared with the pre-training scores (6.84±1.66) Conclusion: A training program on the role of sugars in oral and general health effectively improved school teachers' knowledge.

Effectiveness of an oral health training program for school teachers in India: An interventional study.

INTRODUCTION: Schools are a valuable platform for promoting oral health through oral health education as the children spend most of their active time in schools. Training school teachers on oral health promotion will help to inculcate healthy oral habits in children during their formative years of life. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, approach, and action change of school teachers toward oral health and the impact of this training intervention in improving their knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An interventional study was conducted among 50 primary school teachers across the country selected by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. A self-administered, 28-item questionnaire in Google document format was developed to evaluate the knowledge and practice of teachers toward oral hygiene before and after the teachers' training program. The training was done using a validated training manual on oral health promotion for school teachers developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Needs assessment for training was conducted 1 week before this training program. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mc Nemar tests were used to assess the difference between the scores before and after oral health education. RESULTS: The needs assessment revealed that majority of the teachers felt the need to participate in oral health promotion training. A significant increase (P < 0.001) in mean knowledge scores of school teachers was seen after a 1-day training program. CONCLUSION: The training improved the knowledge of school teachers on oral health which indicates that the adopted method of oral health education was well received by the participants from all over the country.

Oral health status and treatment needs among the Juang tribe-a particularly vulnerable tribal group residing in Northern Odisha, India: A cross-sectional study.

The study was aimed to assess the oral health status and treatment needs of Juang tribe residing in Bansapal taluk of Northern Odisha. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1,412 Juangs using a cluster random sampling procedure. Bansapal taluk is subdivided into six Gram Panchayat's (GP) with each GP considered as a cluster. From each of the six GP's, equal number of villages was chosen randomly using lottery method in order to get uniform representation. A total of 16 villages were chosen using this method. From each selected village, every alternate household on each side of the street was included and all the people in that household were surveyed through a door-to-door survey. Data were collected using the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form, 1997. All the examinations were carried out by a single examiner assisted by a trained recording assistant who was sitting close enough to the examiner so that instructions and codes could be easily heard. The periodontal health status as recorded by Community Periodontal Index indicated that majority of the subjects (75.6%) had calculus. Assessment of loss of attachment showed that majority of the subjects (64.5%) had an attachment loss of 0-3 mm. Caries experience in primary dentition was 34.2% and in permanent dentition was 83.4%. The study population was characterised by high prevalence of periodontal disease, dental caries and high treatment needs. The results from this study could be used as a baseline information for health authorities and dental professionals for planning strategies for oral health promotion, prevention and treatment among the Juang population.