Effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate on postoperative pain in non-surgical endodontic treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative endodontic pain can negatively influence the quality of life of the patients. Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) has gained attention as a potential medicament in various endodontic procedures. MTA has been shown to have desirable properties such as biocompatibility, marginal adaptation, and sealing ability compared to other materials. Limited evidence is available about the effectiveness of MTA on the reduction of postoperative pain following endodontic treatment. This article aimed to compare the non-surgical post-endodontic pain-relieving effect of MTA compared with other materials. METHODS: Indexed databases (PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, OVID, Scopus, and Cochrane) were independently searched for relevant manuscripts published up to and until June 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a focus on teeth with pulp pathologies, with or without radiolucency, requiring primary endodontic treatment were included. Risk of bias across individual studies was performed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for interventions. RESULTS: Out of the initial 169 articles searched, 9 RCTs met the selection criteria. The protocols were like all the studies, but the pain rating scales, filling material, and restoration materials varied. Out of the 9 included studies, in 4 studies MTA significantly reduced postoperative pain levels, 5 studies showed no difference between MTA and other materials, whereas 1 study reported an adverse effect of grey discoloration after MTA. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present review indicate that MTA may reduce postoperative pain following non-surgical endodontic treatment. However, future standardized studies should be conducted to validate the results.

Artificial intelligence-integrated optical coherence tomography for screening and early detection of oral cancer.

Early detection of oral cancer is essential for improving patient survival rates and leads to higher chances of successful treatment, reduced cost of complex treatments, and improved quality of life of patients. Oral cancer often arises from oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), among which leukoplakia is the most common. Numerous chairside diagnostic aids and imaging modalities have been reviewed for screening detection of OPMDs and oral cancer, but these techniques have limitations. Novel optical diagnostic modalities work on the assumption that neoplastic and dysplastic tissues have different absorbance and reflectance properties when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is a promising new technology in the field of oral oncology. The ability of OCT to provide real-time, nondestructive, high-resolution, radiation-free images makes it an ideal modality for screening and detection of neoplastic changes in the oral mucosa, but interpretation of OCT images requires training and expertise. To overcome this limitation, artificial intelligence-based diagnostic algorithms are being combined with OCT imaging to assist professionals in achieving high-accuracy interpretation of OCT images. This review highlights the applications and scope of artificial intelligence in OCT imaging for the screening and detection of early-stage oral cancer.

Instruments to Measure Betel Quid Dependency among Young and Adult Chewers - A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.

Background: Betel quid (BQ) consumption is prevalent globally, majorly consumed in South-Asia and South-East Asian countries. Among the other country studies done on BQ, the focus has been on its consumption prevalence, its physiological and psychological effects, and aids to discontinue this habit. Systematic literature research on suitability of different instruments (metric or scale) to measure BQ dependency is scarce, hence pointing to the need of more evidence-based studies in this domain. Aim: The aim of the article was to identify the instruments used in the published literature to measure BQ dependency among young and adult chewers and draw a comparison. Methodology: The electronic retrieval systems and databases PubMed (Medline), Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched independently by two authors from January 2011 to September 2022 for the collection of desired data. Results: Among 1271 articles, 337 were duplicates and removed, 866 did not meet selection criteria. Out of 68 articles, 57 were excluded due to the lack of relevant data. Finally, only 11 articles were included for the analysis in this systematic review. Conclusion: Due to a scarcity of researches in this direction, no scale can be assigned as the best Dependence Scale, thus necessitating more such systematic reviews and meta-analysis for better comprehension and usage of present dependence scales.

Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the management of symptomatic oral lichen planus -A systematic review.

Background: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology characterized by T cell mediated autoimmune response which trigger apoptosis of basal cells of an oral epithelium. Corticosteroids are the primary therapeutic option for symptomatic OLP however treatment of lesions unresponsive to corticosteroids that tend to recur are becoming challenging for the clinicians. Currently photodynamic therapy (PDT) is being explored as a new curative option for reduction of pain and/or burning sensation associated with OLP lesions. Aims and objective: The aim of this systematic review was to analyse studies from literature on the therapeutic effectiveness of PDT in management of symptomatic OLP unresponsive to corticosteroid therapy. Methods: The electronic retrieval systems and databases PUBMED [MEDLINE], EMBASE, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, and SCIENCE DIRECT were searched independently by two authors for relevant articles from January 2015 till July 2021. Primary studies focussed on the role of PDT in treatment of symptomatic OLP and published in English were included. Results: Out of the 370 articles, only ten studies met the selection criteria. Included studies demonstrated PDT as an effective alternative modality to treat symptomatic OLP with no drop outs. In all studies, with PDT reduction in lesion size and VAS score was observed during each follow up sessions and after treatment (approx. 12 weeks) when compared to pre-treatment level (p < 0.001). Four studies noted PDT to be more effective than topical corticosteroids in reduction of signs and symptoms of OLP (p = 0.001). Conclusion: In the future, long-term studies on larger population should be conducted to establish the clinical effectiveness in PDT in symptomatic OLP. Studies should take into consideration different sources of light and photosensitizers to determine the ideal parameters of PDT treatment for OLP. Wavelength is the most important factor in all types of photo therapies, so the most appropriate wavelength should be selected to obtain better outcome.

Effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for Sjogren syndrome - A systematic review.

Background: Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) is characterized by xeropthalmia and/or xerostomia. Treating the associated salivary gland hypofunction has been challenging to the clinicians. A variety of topical and systemic therapies have been tried to restore/stimulate the gland function or replace saliva reducing the symptoms of xerostomia and to avoid the problems of diminished salivary flow. Material and Methods: Four search engines (PUBMED/Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar and The Cochrane) were used in conducting a systematic review using the terms "Sjogren's syndrome" with the combination of other terms. To define these study acceptability criteria, we used PICO model (Population, Intervention, Control and Outcome) and study design technique. Results: Out of 47 articles initially screened, 28 studies met our selection criteria. Included studies showed positive results with interventions such as pilocarpine, rituximab, and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) for enhancing salivary flow and lacrimal secretion in SS condition. One study showed promising results for combination of prednisone and hydroxychloroquine in SS, however dose of prednisone is recommended to be tapered. Another study demonstrated comparable effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and the placebo in alleviation of dry mouth symptoms (p=0.006). Therapeutic effects have been reported with LASER therapy. Conclusions: Pilocarpine was found to be highly beneficial whereas, rituximab and IFN-α were moderately effective in the reduction of hyposalivation in SS patient. Adverse events were common. Use of any alternative modalities for the management cannot be supported based on the current evidence; this demands more studies in future to be conducted staking into account adverse effects which might occur particularly with the pharmacological therapies. Key words:Sjogren's Syndrome, Xerostomia, Hyposalivation, Pilocarpine, Rituximab, Sialagogue.

Sialography: a pictorial review.

Non-tumour inflammatory and obstructive salivary gland pathologies such as sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, sialadenosis, ductal strictures, etc. require precise radiological evaluation and mapping of salivary gland ductal system for better treatment outcome. Conventional sialography is considered as a useful and reliable technique in evaluation of salivary glands especially intrinsic and acquired abnormalities involving the ductal system and is useful for detection of non-radiopaque sialoliths which are invisible on routine plain radiographs. Primarily sialography is used as a diagnostic tool, additionally it plays an important therapeutic role as salivary gland lavage in cases of recurrent salivary gland infections and in obstructive salivary gland disorders by helping in clearance of mucous plugs or small sialoliths within the ducts. Recently, diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) sialography is being explored and has been reported to have high sensitivity in detection of small sialoliths and allows differentiation of sialoliths from other calcifications in glandular ductal system. Multiplanar three dimensional (3D) reconstructed CT images have been reported to play a key role in determination of anatomical location or extent of salivary gland disease without superimposition or distortion of structures. This review aims to discuss the disease specific applications of sialography and CT Sialography in particular for visualization of salivary gland disorders.

Evaluation of Alveolar Bone Microstructure around Impacted Maxillary Canines Using Fractal Analysis in Dravidian Population: A Retrospective CBCT Study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess alveolar bone microstructure around impacted maxillary canines derived from fractal analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a retrospective cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) study. In total, 61 scans (25 males, 36 females; age range - 12-28 years) were analyzed. About 64 × 64-pixel regions of interest (ROI) in the maxillary alveolar process containing trabecular bone between the premolars were selected. ImageJ software was utilized to process images and bone density was assessed by determining bone surface area (BSA) and bone marrow surface area (BMSA) for the impacted and nonimpacted sides separately. Selected fractals were plotted in a histogram using box-counting method and the results were tabulated. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant differences between the groups and gender differences. RESULTS: For both buccally and palatally impacted maxillary canines, BSA was increased, BMSA decreased in the region of the impacted canine and the difference was statistically significant (p <0.05) in both genders. Bone fractal dimension (FD) values were greater in the region of the impacted canine for both buccally (1.47 > 1.21) and palatally (1.53 > 1.43) displaced canines, while bone marrow FD values were greater in the region of the nonimpacted canine for both buccally (1.37 > 1.28) and palatally displaced canines (1.41 > 1.33). Females had significantly higher BMSA than males around impacted canines (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Denser bone microstructure was noted around impacted canines when compared with fully erupted canines. No gender-related differences were noted for BSA, whereas BMSA was higher in females implying lower bone density when compared with males. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Retrospective evaluation of bone microstructure surrounding unerupted/impacted canines can provide analytical information about treatment prognosis and anchorage considerations. With FD analysis of CBCT images, BSA and BMSA can be measured and bone density estimated in a reliable manner.

Correlation between gray values of cone-beam computed tomograms and Hounsfield units of computed tomograms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this review was to systematically analyze the available literature on the correlation between the gray values (GVs) of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the Hounsfield units (HUs) of computed tomography (CT) for assessing bone mineral density. Materials and Methods: A literature search was carried out in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus, and LILACS for studies published through September 2021. In vitro, in vivo, and animal studies that analyzed the correlations GVs of CBCT and HUs of CT were included in this review. The review was prepared according to the PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. A quantitative analysis was performed using a fixed-effects model. Results: The literature search identified a total of 5,955 studies, of which 14 studies were included for the qualitative analysis and 2 studies for the quantitative analysis. A positive correlation was observed between the GVs of CBCT and HUs of CT. Out of the 14 studies, 100% had low risks of bias for the domains of patient selection, index test, and reference standards, while 95% of studies had a low risk of bias for the domain of flow and timing. The fixed-effects meta-analysis performed for Pearson correlation coefficients between CBCT and CT showed a moderate positive correlation (r=0.669; 95% CI, 0.388 to 0.836; P<0.05). Conclusion: The available evidence showed a positive correlation between the GVs of CBCT and HUs of CT.

Toolkit for delivering the 3Es and 6As tobacco interventions in dental care.

Tobacco use is one of the major public health problems in India and also the single most important remediable public health problem. Tobacco cessation is the need of the hour. The dentists have a unique opportunity and professional obligation to be a positive influence in reducing the economic and social burden inflicted by tobacco use on dental and general health. However, dentists, in general, have not widely embraced tobacco cessation in practice. In this article, an evidence-based model (an adaptation of the World Health Organization "5As" tobacco cessation model) is presented for the dentist to help patients avoid tobacco initiation, to encourage and assist patients in tobacco cessation.

The Effect of Photodynamic Therapy on Oral-Premalignant Lesions: A Systematic Review.

Background: Dentists now have access to a wide range of unique treatment methods as a result of substantial scientific and technological breakthroughs in the field of dentistry. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive treatment procedure that use photosensitizers, a specific wavelength of light, and the production of singlet oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill undesired eukaryotic cells (such as oral tumors) and harmful microbes. In several disciplines of dentistry, it is seen as a valid therapeutic option. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and side effects of PDT in the treatment of oral premalignant lesions. Material and Methods: Three search engines (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) were used to conduct a systematic review using the phrases photodynamic therapy and PDT in combination with other terms. To define our study eligibility criteria, we used the Population, Intervention and Comparison, Outcomes, and Study design technique. Results: Initial results were 33. Definitely, 18 studies met our selection criteria. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests ALA- PDT as a promising therapeutic modality for OEL lesions which should be treated first with the topical ALA-PDT using either the LED or laser light for successful clinical outcome for OEL lesions. Key words:Photodynamic Therapy, Photosensitizer, Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA), Methylene Blue (MB), Toludine Blue, Oral Leukoplakia, Oral Erythroplakia, Oral Verrucous hyperplasia, Oral Lichen Planus.

Behavioral and Psychosocial Risk Factors that Lead Individuals to Initiate and/or Maintain Betel Quid Chewing in Developed and Developing Countries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Betel quid (BQ) is the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance and its use is highly prevalent among southeast Asian countries due to the influence of psychosocial, behavioral, and environmental factors. As a result, even young children and women are becoming addicted and find it difficult to achieve long-term abstinence. Systematic research addressing the influence of behavioral and psychosocial factors on BQ chewing is scarce, hence pointing to the need for understanding the interplay of these factors to develop tailored intervention strategies for BQ cessation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to assess various behavioral and psychosocial risk factors from pre-existing literature that lead individuals to initiate and/or maintain BQ chewing in developed and developing countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electronic retrieval systems and databases PUBMED [MEDLINE], EMBASE, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, and SCIENCE DIRECT were searched independently by two authors for relevant articles from January 2011 to July 2021 using combinations of keywords. Primary studies published in English focusing on the behavioral and psychosocial risk factors for BQ chewing were included. RESULTS: Out of the initial 264 articles searched, 12 articles met the selection criteria. Included studies addressed the influence of behavioral and psychosocial factors toward the initiation and/or maintenance of BQ chewing. Included studies reported that dependent BQ was not able to quit BQ chewing due to habituation, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms. Few social BQ chewers in Southeast Asian countries were not willing to initiate quitting as they considered AN as an important social and cultural identifier and claimed that they could not resist chewing in a peer group, and it has become part of their social life. CONCLUSION: In the future, studies should take into consideration behavioral and psychosocial risk factors, which are major barriers toward successful quitting. These factors should be integrated into areca nut cessation guidelines, and there is a need to develop more comprehensive culture-specific intervention approaches to achieve long-term abstinence.

Intramuscular Hemangioma of Masseter Muscle: Case Report of Rare Clinical Entity.

RATIONALE: Intramuscular hemangiomas are unique benign vascular tumours of skeletal muscles; involving masseter and trapezius muscles in the majority of cases. The rationale was to emphasize that the diagnosis of asymptomatic swelling in the masseteric region is important as due to their deep anatomic location and unfamiliar presentation, they are often misdiagnosed as a parotid swelling or other muscular pathologies. PATIENT CONCERN: This report describes a rare case of a 25-year-old healthy male patient who presented with an asymptomatic swelling in the right masseteric region. The patient had cosmetic concerns due to the large size. DIAGNOSIS: Colour Doppler ultrasonography was done to assess the vascularity within the lesion. TREATMENT: Complete excision was successfully achieved using combined Risdon's and preauricular approach. OUTCOME: No signs of recurrence were observed after 6 months. TAKE-AWAY LESSONS: Appropriate selection of diagnostic modalities enables the clinician in making an accurate preoperative diagnosis of progressive swelling in the masseteric region.

Three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographic sialography in the diagnosis and management of primary Sjögren syndrome: Report of 3 cases.

Sjögren syndrome is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, predominantly the parotid and lacrimal glands, thereby resulting in oral and ocular dryness. It has been reported to occur most frequently in women between 40 and 50 years of age. Sjögren syndrome has an insidious onset, is slowly progressive, and presents a wide range of clinical manifestations, leading to delays or challenges in the diagnosis. Early diagnosis of this condition is essential to prevent the associated complications that affect patients' quality of life. This report presents 3 cases of Sjögren syndrome in female patients aged between 40 and 75 years who presented with complaints of persistent dry mouth and burning sensation. The cases highlight the diagnostic value of 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographic sialography in the detection of salivary gland pathologies at an early stage.

Chemical plaque control - A brief review.

Dental plaque is a complex microbial population of bacterial and salivary polymers present on the tooth surface. It is understood that human diseases must be avoided and a high social concern for the population as a whole. The argument for the implementation of successful prevention measures is strong for life-threatening diseases or those with serious morbidity. However, regardless of seriousness, the case for avoiding any disease may be based on the belief that it is easier to be healthy than dead or sick. Thus plaque prevention is an efficient way to both treat and avoid periodontal diseases, it is an important component of gingival and periodontal diseases' primary management.

Therapeutic effects of green tea as an antioxidant on oral health- A review.

Green tea has protective effects against various diseases such as malignancies, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Green tea has been suggested to promote periodontal health by reducing inflammation, preventing the resorption of bones and restricting the growth of certain periodontal-related bacteria. Green tea has antioxidant, carcinogenic, antimicrobial and non-inflammatory properties. This traditional drink is also used to treat systemic chronic diseases, including carcinoma. Recent studies have shown that host immuno-inflammatory reactions, in addition to microbial activity, are more likely to destroy oral tissues. In such cases, green tea is considered to be a natural preventive and curative agent. The potential benefits of green tea and its polyphenols in oral health is capturing the interest of the researchers; hence, this review discusses the therapeutic effects of green tea in the prevention of periodontal and oral diseases.

Multiple fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws: A report of a rare case with a literature review.

Fibro-osseous lesions are a poorly defined category of conditions affecting the jaws and craniofacial bones, and include developmental lesions, reactive or dysplastic lesions, and neoplasms. Fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma are the 2 main types of fibro-osseous lesions affecting the jaw, and ossifying fibroma is a true benign neoplasm of the bone-forming tissues with several well-recognized variants ranging from innocuous to extensively aggressive lesions. However, multiple simultaneous fibro-osseous lesions of the jaw bones involving all quadrants are exceedingly rare. One such case diagnosed by conventional radiography and computed tomography is discussed here.

Identification of candida albicans and nonalbicans candida resistant species in tobacco users and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients: Comparison of HiCrome agar and automated VITEK 2 system.

Introduction: Candida is most common fungal pathogen in the immunocompromised and medically ill patients. Higher prevalence of Candida albicans has been reported in tobacco users and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients which may be due to immunosuppression. Recently, emergence of nonalbicans candida (NAC) species resistant to conventional antifungal treatment has been observed that requires accurate identification of organisms at species level for reduction of progression of suspicious oral lesions toward malignancy. Aims and Objectives: To detect and compare the prevalence of C. albicans and NAC species smokeless tobacco chewers, histopathologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and the normal individuals. Effectiveness of automated Vitek 2 system in comparison to HiCrome agar color media in the identification of the candida species was also evaluated. Methodology: One hundred and fifty patients (90 males, 60 females) aged between 20 and 76 years were divided into three groups: Group I individuals with habit of chewing Gutka, and betel quid/pan masala with or without tobacco, Group II individuals with clinically and histopathologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma and Group III comprised of controls. Salivary samples were cultured on HiCrome agar color media and results were compared with those of Vitek 2 system in the accurate identification of candida species. Data were statistically analyzed and Chi-square test was used to estimate the effectiveness of color and Vitek method in the identification of candida species in all the three groups. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: HiCrome agar color method identified six candida isolates C. albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei and Candida glabrata isolates in all the three groups, with 0.00 unidentified organisms (P = 0.00001) whereas VITEK 2 system identified five isolates of candida; C. albicans, Candida famat, Candida ciferri, Candida gulleri, C. tropicalis, unidentified organisms were observed in 26% of subjects. Further confirmation by supplemental tests indicated the presence of two or three organisms of different species/or subspecies with low reactivity biopattern. Higher incidence of opportunistic infections was seen in Group II OSCC patients (P = 0.00001). Conclusion: The results suggested that there is shift toward NAC species, with higher species diversity in OSCC patients followed by gutka, betel quid/pan masala with or without tobacco users. Conventional agar media culture methods of species identification should be used in conjunction with automated Vitek 2 method for better control of candida-associated oral cancer.

Molecular targeted therapy: novel therapeutic approach for head and neck cancer.

Cancer is a major public health burden worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. One of the major hallmarks of cancer is rapid growth and progression by evasion of host immune responses. Tumor resistance to conventional anticancer drugs by several mechanisms, such as drug inactivation, efflux pumps and enhanced toxicity to normal cells decreases their clinical efficacy. These limitations resulted in the development of new targeted agents, such as monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors that have high tumor specificity. This paper discusses the therapeutic applications of novel molecular targeted agents and immunotherapy as an alternative treatment option for head and neck cancers, as well as provides insight into future therapeutic approaches for advanced head and neck cancers.

Clinical applications and performance of intelligent systems in dental and maxillofacial radiology: A review.

Intelligent systems (i.e., artificial intelligence), particularly deep learning, are machines able to mimic the cognitive functions of humans to perform tasks of problem-solving and learning. This field deals with computational models that can think and act intelligently, like the human brain, and construct algorithms that can learn from data to make predictions. Artificial intelligence is becoming important in radiology due to its ability to detect abnormalities in radiographic images that are unnoticed by the naked human eye. These systems have reduced radiologists' workload by rapidly recording and presenting data, and thereby monitoring the treatment response with a reduced risk of cognitive bias. Intelligent systems have an important role to play and could be used by dentists as an adjunct to other imaging modalities in making appropriate diagnoses and treatment plans. In the field of maxillofacial radiology, these systems have shown promise for the interpretation of complex images, accurate localization of landmarks, characterization of bone architecture, estimation of oral cancer risk, and the assessment of metastatic lymph nodes, periapical pathologies, and maxillary sinus pathologies. This review discusses the clinical applications and scope of intelligent systems such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and deep learning programs in maxillofacial imaging.

Assessment of knowledge and anxiety levels due to COVID-19 pandemic among health care professionals and general population in Indore City: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: COVID 19 pandemic has led to economic downturn worldwide, and it has negatively affected mental health of the health workers as well as the general population. The pandemic has created psychological impact in the minds of people that even after recovery from critical illness assessment of anxiety symptoms is necessary. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and anxiety levels among health care workers and non-medico/ general population of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. METHODS: A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted among 247 participants comprising of medical and dental professionals , paramedical staff and non medico/ general population of Indore city, India. The questionnaire was divided into three sections, the first section comprised questions pertaining to socio demographic characteristics, second section comprised ten questions pertaining to awareness and attitude towards preventive measures whereas the third section assessed anxiety levels by use of 21 item Depression, Anxiety , Stress Scale ( DASS-21). RESULTS: Participants of medical profession (50.2%) outnumbered other participants; significant difference (p=0.001) was reported among dental professionals on answering minimum physical distance to be maintained. Anxiety scores were found to be low (92.7%) and statistically significant association was seen between age of participants and anxiety levels (p=0.021). CONCLUSION: Participants in the present study reported good knowledge regarding COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety scores among the participants were found to be low.