Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Dental Students Regarding Treatment of Patients with HIV or AIDS in Nepal.

Background There have been discrepancies in providing treatment to HIV positive patients across healthcare fields, due to lack of knowledge. Currently, there is an increasing awareness of discrepancies in the provision of dental care for HIV positive patients and a potential relationship to health care professional knowledge and attitudes towards these individuals. Objective To analyze dental students' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding treatment of HIV patients in Nepal. Method An online survey was sent to all dental students via blue-eval. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to predict a likelihood of the dental treatments between HIV negative and HIV Positive patients. Logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of dental treatments for HIV patients based on the knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus. Result Two hundred six students (65%) responded to the survey from dental colleges in Nepal. All students had worked with at least one HIV positive patient. Overall, students felt uncomfortable providing dental treatments to HIV positive patients, with only 29% likely to perform a prophylaxis and filling, 18% orthodontic treatment, 16% endodontic treatment, 12% periodontal scaling, and only 10% extractions. Conclusion Currently dental students in Nepal are uncomfortable in providing treatment to HIV/ AIDS patients.

Effect of smile index and incisal edge position on perception of attractiveness in different age groups.

Changes in occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) and age have been found to affect Smile Index (SI, width/height of smile). Limited information is available regarding the aesthetic effects of these changes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attractiveness of digitally manipulated smile images with differences in SI and incisal edge position (IEP) judged by respondents in different age groups. A total of 12 smile images were generated with varying SI (3·5, 5·3, 7·2, 9·0) and IEP (High, Medium, Low). Fifty respondents each in four age groups (15-24, 25-39, 40-54, 55+) evaluated the attractiveness of the 12 images using a 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS, 10 being most attractive). A repeated-measures three-factorial mixed model assessed differences. SI, IEP and age of respondents were found to significantly influence attractiveness score (P < 0·01 for all). With all age groups combined, SI = 7·2/IEP = Medium was most attractive (VAS = 7·22), followed by SI = 9·0/IEP = Medium, and SI = 5·3/IEP = Medium (VAS = 6·53 and 6·48, respectively). SI = 3·5/IEP = High and SI = 3·5/IEP = Low were least attractive (VAS = 1·99 and VAS = 2·58, respectively). Age group significantly influenced aesthetic perception, with younger respondents more critical in differences in SI and IEP. SI and IEP significantly influenced attractiveness of the smile in all respondent age groups. Low SI (i.e. 3·5) combined with high or low IEP was unattractive. Medium SI to high SI (i.e. 5·3-9·0) combined with medium IEP were considered attractive.