Mean Distance of Mental Foramen from Inferior Border of Mandible among Patients Visiting the Outpatient Dental Department in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Among many anatomical landmarks in the human skull, the mental foramen is a stable landmark on the mandible. The diverse morphology of the mandible indicates the specific characteristics of such anatomical structures in each individual. The aim of this study was to find out the mean distance of mental foramen from the inferior border of the mandible visiting the Outpatient Dental Department in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients undergoing orthopantomogram in the Outpatient Dental Department of a tertiary care centre from 3 February 2022 to 31 July 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee. The patients with complete denture in the region of measurements were included in the study. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 207 patients, the mean distance from the inferior border of the mandible to the lower border of the mental foramen was 11.83±1.83 mm (11.58-12.07, 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: The mean distance of mental foramen from the inferior border of the mandible was found to be similar to other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: gender; mandible; mental foramen.

Digital Radiographic Study of Gonial angle in Forensic Odontology in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Gonial angle measurements serve as an important parameter of the craniofacial complex and are usually studied on lateral cephalograms, but recently panoramic radiographs have also been used. The aim of this study is to measure the gonial angle using orthopantomogram and lateral cephalogram based on age, gender, ethnicity, and skeletal malocclusion in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study comprising 350 selected radiographs of apparently healthy individuals collected for a period of one year, from the Department of Oral Radiology of a tertiary care centre of Nepal. Gonial angle measurements were recorded from digital panoramic radiograph (both right and left side) and lateral cephalogram. Data was collected in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and skeletal malocclusion and then statistically analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20. RESULTS: The mean gonial angle for panoramic right, left and lateral cephalogram was 122.490±7.570, 123.620±7.060, and 124.150±6.910, respectively. There was a decrease in the mean values of the gonial angle observed as age advances seen in all the radiographs. The gonial angle measured in Class III malocclusion was higher in all the radiographs, followed by Class II and Class I. Gonial angles obtained in females were higher than the males in all the radiographs. Finally, the Aryan population showed a higher gonial angle compared to the Mongolian population in all the radiographs. CONCLUSIONS: Panoramic radiograph (left side), could be considered as a reliable tool to measure the gonial angle.

Awareness of aerosol-related transmission of COVID-19 among the dentists of Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: To access the awareness of dental practitioners of Nepal towards COVID-19 transmission through aerosols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 384 dentists from all over Nepal and was conducted for a period of 3 months. A self-reported online questionnaire was developed using Google forms and the link was shared. It emphasized the awareness related to the aerosol and ventilation system in their daily practices was prepared. The data were analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 software. RESULTS: The majority of participants were female 52.9% (n = 203) and within the age groups of <30 years 57% (n = 219). Participants from Bagmati Province were 60.4% (n = 232), with least from Sudurpaschim Province 0.5% (n = 2). 60% of participants provided only emergency services during the COVID-19 pandemic and few (7%) provided consultations via telephone. The current ventilation system used was a well-ventilated room with open windows 65.4% (n = 251). However, 52.8% (n = 203) preferred specialized operatory incorporating high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and ultraviolet (UV) light. More than 60% of respondents were unaware of the particle size of the aerosol. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results signify the need for the proper ventilation system with appropriate air filtration systems in dental clinical setups.

Dental Floss Prescription Pattern among the Dental Interns of Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Periodontal disease is regarded as one of the preventable diseases. It can be prevented through effective plaque control measures that require mechanical instrumentation with various surgical or non-surgical periodontal therapies as well as daily oral hygiene measures. Dental professionals must be competent enough to promote good oral health by educating patients with daily oral hygiene practice measures. In this regard, the study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice behaviour for using as well as prescribing dental floss among the dental interns of Nepal. METHODS: An online questionnaire consisting of two sections; the first comprised of the socio- demographic and professional aspects and the second consisted of questions related to knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the use of dental floss, and its prescription was prepared using Google forms and the link was shared. The data were analysed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software. RESULTS: In this study, the participants were familiar with the dental floss, but many lacked awareness regarding its proper use. Ninety-nine (64.3%) of the participants personally used dental floss. Only six (3.9%) never prescribed it to their patients. Among those who prescribed, only 37 (25%) always demonstrated the techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that many participants used dental floss, however, educating and recommending the patient about it was comparatively low. This emphasizes the need to increase the awareness and use of interdental aids among dental interns to provide good oral self-care practices for the patient.