Body mass index, oral health status and OHRQoL among special health care needs children and parenting stress: a case-control study in Southern Saudi Arabia.

The appropriateness for determining Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of special children by their caregivers must be thoroughly assessed. The present study was conducted to assess the Oral health related quality of life of children with disability and the stress levels of their parents. Moreover, the study also evaluated the plaque, DMFT (Decayed, missing, filled teeth) and BMI (Body Mass Index) of disabled children (cases) and healthy children (controls). The present case-control study was carried out on 150 parents of disabled children and 30 parents of healthy children (control group) at King Khalid University, Abha, KSA. The Arabic version of the 36-item parenting stress index-short format (PSI-SF) instrument was used for the assessment of parental stress, and the WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version) Arabic version questionnaire was used for the assessment of quality of life of children. The parents or the caregivers who would be mainly occupied in assisting and rendering care to their children with different disabilities (certified by a pediatrician, aged between 4-14 years), were included in the study. Data were analyzed using statistical software. The total mean value score of the PSI scale of parents of cases was statistically found to be significantly higher compared to the mean scores among parents of controls (p = 0.004). The correlation between BMI and plaque & BMI and DMFT+df of cases indicated no statistically significant correlation while a statistically significant correlation between plaque and DMFT+df values in cases was observed. The mean score of the social relationship domain was statistically significantly different across the four levels of parents' educational status. The severity of dental caries, plaque accumulation and education-level of caregivers had a significant impact on the OHRQoL, however, BMI did not show a significant relation with DMFT and plaque scores. The parenting stress was found to be statistically higher among the parents of cases compared to the parents of controls.

Correlation between head circumference and mesio-distal width of the maxillary central incisor: a cross sectional study among three different population groups.

The size and shape of a tooth vary between individuals of different ethnic groups and genders because of the influence of different genetic factors. The information regarding the different anatomical factors using maxillary anterior teeth is very scanty. Thus to give more clarity, a study was planned to assess the correlation between head circumference and tooth-mesiodistal width among children of different ethnic origins.The study was carried out on 210 children aged 7 to 12 years in schools at Abha, Saudi Arabia.The mesiodistal (MD) width of the central incisor was measured using a digital vernier caliper. A Meter tape ruler was used to measure the Head/Cephalic dimensions. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using IBM SPSS 20.0, and the results were analyzed. It was found that mean MD tooth width and head circumference were maximum in Saudi children, followed by South Asian and Arab/African, with an insignificant statistical difference (p-value > 0.05). Correlation between MD dimensions of maxillary central incisor with head circumference was statistically significant (p-value < 0.05) among Saudi and South Asian populations, whereas statistically insignificant (p-value > 0.05) difference between Saudi and Arab/African populations. It was concluded that there exist the ethnic differences between tooth-mesiodistal width and head circumference dimensions of children. A positive correlation between head circumference and mesiodistal width of the central incisor was determined.

Stumbling block for inferior alveolar nerve block in predoctoral students: An analytical observational study and review of literature of mandibular nerve block techniques.

INTRODUCTION: Dentists earnestly try to practice painless treatment. Conventional inferior alveolar nerve block technique is preferred by most of the dentists despite its various modifications.However its failure rate as per literature is quite high. Inexperienced dentists face difficulty in obtaining effective anesthesia. This may be due to limited access to inferior alveolar nerve,greater density of alveolar bone,bulky soft tissues,damage to nerve or due to risk of intravascular injection. AIM: The aim of this study is to review and clinically assess the factors causing difficulty or failure of inferior alveolar nerve block in predoctoral students and to review the mandibular nervve blocks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dental interns of riyadh elm university were monitored during administration of inferior alveolar nerve block for difficulty factors influencing inferior alveolar nerve block. Onset of anesthesia, efficacy anesthesia of inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve and long buccal nerve were ascertained. Difficulty index was used to assess the "item difficulty" with a score of 0.0 which indicates that none of the dental interns anesthetised correctly to 1.0 suggesting all the dental interns anesthetised correctly. RESULTS: Complete failure of inferior alveolar nerve block was noticed in 2.4% of predoctoral students. The most common cause for inferior alveolar nerve block failure was attributed to the difficulty in palpating the landmarks (77%), 22% of the patients refused multiple needle penetrations,and 19% of inferior alveolar nerve block failure was due to the fear of potential complications by the predoctoral students. CONCLUSION: Clinical skill of predoctoral students need adequate training in nerve blocks. Revising the current literature on alternative inferior alveolar nerve block techniques or use of evidence based dentistry to update and practice alternative nerve block techniques would aid in improving the clinical skills and treatment outcome which would therefore enable to remove the stumbling blocks in successful anesthesia.

Dental erosion among 12-15-year-old school boys in southern Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of dental erosion in 12-15-year-old schoolchildren and to compare prevalence between public and private school boys. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 1000, 12-15-year-old school boys in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Dental erosion index proposed by O‘Sullivan was used for the four maxillary incisors. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, location, distribution, and extension of affected area and severity of dental erosion. The prevalence of dental erosion was 25.60% with no significant difference between private and public school students. Matt appearance of the enamel was the most prevalent type of dental erosion (63.63%). In most of the involved cases, more than half of their surfaces were diagnosed as affected by erosion (78.49%). Labial surfaces were the most affected (80.90%), while incisal surfaces were least affected (0.22%). Thus it can be concluded that dental erosion among Saudi school boys is becoming a significant problem, hence it is essential to provide adequate preventive care, and healthier dietary habits campaign for Saudi children.