Comparative Evaluation of Effect of TENS on Controlling Pain Associated with Orthodontic Separator Placement-A Clinical Study.

Aim: To assess and contrast the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy and topical anesthetic gel in reducing the level of pain associated with the placement of orthodontic separators. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 40 individuals, aged between 16 and 20 years, who were in need of fixed orthodontic treatment, was chosen for the study. Elastomeric separators were positioned bilaterally adjacent to the first molars in all participants, who were subsequently separated into two distinct cohorts. Those in group I received topical anesthetic gel, while those in group II underwent TENS therapy. After the placement of separators, the assessment of pain was conducted using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at specific intervals: Immediately after placement, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. Result: TENS group showed a significantly lower VAS score compared to the local anesthetic gel group at immediate, 6 hours, and 12 hours. Conclusion: Following the placement of elastomeric separators, it was found that TENS was more successful at reducing pain.

An institution-based study to assess the prevalence of Nomophobia and its related impact among medical students in Southern Haryana, India.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate usage of mobile phones is very hazardous for school and college students as it results in poor academic performance due to the poor concentration during classes or lectures over use of mobile phones, accidents due to reduced concentration while driving, and poor social relations due to preference for mobile usage and avoiding nearby people. AIM: Considering the above facts, the present study was conducted with an aim to estimate the prevalence of nomophobia among students and interns of medical college and its negative impacts on their sleep quality, and academic performance. METHODS: The present study was conducted at SHKM GMC, Nalhar, Nuh from November to December 2018 among 600 MBBS students and interns who were using mobile phones using a pretested, predesigned, and standardized questionnaire. Test results with P value less than 0.05 only were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Nearly two fifth of the study subjects (40.1%) were found to have nomophobic, with scores more than twenty-four. The Pearson's chi square analysis reflected that most of the academic performance variables such as decline in study habits and grades, reduced concentration, and coming late for classes have a statistically significant (P = 0.000) association with nomophobe score. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, a significant burden of mobile phone addiction and a tendency for impaired control that compromises the health and wellness were prevalent in medical students. Measures need to be taken to address this challenge in view of the current era of growing information technology.

A cephalometric evaluation of the effect of glenoid fossa location on craniofacial morphology.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of glenoid fossa location in various skeletal malocclusions on craniofacial morphology. METHODS: Cephalometric data of 84 subjects were analyzed for four linear and two angular variables for assessing glenoid fossa location in cranial base and eight linear and eight angular variables for evaluating the corresponding effect on craniofacial morphology using statistical software STATA 12 for windows. Regression analysis was done to see the effect of glenoid fossa location on the parameters measuring craniofacial morphology. RESULTS: Significant association between glenoid fossa location and craniofacial morphology was demonstrated in skeletal class I, class II, and class III malocclusion subjects by the regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Glenoid fossa location varies significantly among skeletal malocclusions and glenoid fossa location has a profound effect on craniofacial morphology of skeletal class I, class II, and class III malocclusions.

The effect of central incisor's root proximity to the cortical plate and apical root resorption in extraction and non-extraction treatment.

AIMS: The present study was conducted to investigate the relevance of cortical plate proximity of maxillary central incisor root, maxillary alveolar bone width, and the apical root resorption in extraction and non-extraction orthodontically treated cases. Further, the correlation between the apical root resorption and the various parameters was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 lateral head cephalographs, 40 pre-treatment and 40 post-treatment, of orthodontic subjects with a mean age of 15 years treated with fixed standard edgewise appliance were obtained. All subjects were divided into two groups as extraction and non-extraction cases. Twelve linear and three angular parameters were measured and evaluated. The paired "t"-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the stepwise regression analysis were done to test the relationship between the apical root resorption and the various parameters. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed slightly greater amount of apical root resorption in extraction subjects as compared to non-extraction subjects. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment modalities. In extraction subjects, the apical root resorption was directly proportional to the pre-treatment length of maxillary central incisor and inversely proportional to the root width in apical one-third region, though there was a weak correlation. In non-extraction subjects, the pre-treatment anteroposterior position of the root apex of maxillary central incisor in the alveolar bone, in combination with its root width in the apical one-third region formed the predictive factors for the variance in the amount of the apical root resorption, though there was a weak correlation. Furthermore, the changes in the alveolar widths at the root apex and mid-root region were considered as predictive factors for the amount of apical root resorption during extraction and non-extraction treatment, respectively.