Effects of dental aesthetics on psycho-social wellbeing among students of health sciences.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of dental aesthetics and socio-demographics on psychosocial well-being among students of health sciences. Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at a private tertiary care health centre in Karachi from March to August 2018, and comprised medical, dental and pharmacy students. Data was collected using a structured adapted questionnaire comprising Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire and Aesthetic Component of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need which was graded from group 1 to group 5. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 385 subjects, 122(31.7%) were males and 263(68.3%) were females. The overall mean age was 20.6±1.70 years. There were 177(46%) medial students, 125(32.5%) dental and 83(21.6%) pharmacy undergraduates. Dental aesthetics concern and social impact factors were significantly different between the genders (p<0.05). The two factors were also significantly different with respect to years of study (p<0.05). Significant difference was observed between aesthetic concern and age (p<0.05). Dental self-confidence the highest in group 1 with a mean of 2.6±1.02, and the lowest in group 5 with a mean of 2.0±1.16 of Aesthetic Component of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. CONCLUSIONS: The psycho-social life was affected by poor dental aesthetics, indicating that dental therapy and cosmetic treatments had an influence over psychological well-being of individuals.

High risk of malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis in Pakistani females: A potential national disaster.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of age, gender and other associated risk factors linked with malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis into oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: This cross-sectional, multi-centre study was conducted at both public and private tertiary care hospitals and clinics of Karachi, Pakistan, from 2004 to 2012, and comprised patients with oral submucous fibrosis and/or oral squamous cell carcinoma. Out of the total sample, malignant transformations of oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma were included. Cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma without clinical evidence of pre-existing oral submucous fibrosis were excluded. Sample selection was based on non-probability convenience sampling. SPSS 18 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 1774 cases, 765(43.12%) were of oral submucous fibrosis alone, 472(26.60%) were reported as malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis into oral squamous cell carcinoma and 537(30.27%) were of oral squamous cell carcinoma without clinically visible oral submucous fibrosis. Of the malignant transformation cases,370(78.4%) involved women and 102(21.6%)men.Besides,5(1.1%)patients were aged below 25 years, 266(56.4%)were 26-50 years and 201(42.6%)were aged 51 years or above, with the mean age of 21.80±3.1, 34.02±2.1 and 40.28±13.1 years, respectively (p=0.001).Moreover, 228(48.3%)patients used betel quid with tobacco, 108(22.9%) consumed areca nut only, 55(11.7%) chewed betel quid without tobacco, 36(7.6%)used naswar, while 45(9.5%)had no chewing habits (p=0.001).. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing oral squamous cell carcinoma was high, especially women.

Socio-Economic Implications Of A Younger Aged Female Predilection In Malignant Transformation Of Oral Sub Mucous Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the age, gender and pattern of associated chewing habits among cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) presenting with, (OSMFCa) and without, (Ca-OSMF) pre-existing clinical oral submucous fibrosis in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: A cross sectional, multi centric study of (n=1009) cases with histologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma seen at both public, private tertiary care hospitals and clinics over a period of eight years. A non-probability convenience sampling was used for selection of cases. Of these n=472 cases were reported as malignant transformation of clinical OSMF into OSCC: (OSMFCa) and n=537 were of OSCC without clinical evidence of OSMF: (Ca-OSMF). Qualitative analysis for gender and chewing patterns as well as chi square was performed for association. Age comparison between the OSMFCa and Ca-OSMF groups were performed by independent t test.. RESULTS: A total of n=1009 cases presenting with OSCC were examined. Of these 46.78% (n=472) cases were reported as OSMFCa and 53.22% (n=537) as Ca-OSMF. The comparison of age differences at presentation of OSMFCa and Ca- OSMF cases by independent t test was statistically significant (p<0.049). Both gender and chewing habits showed significant association with OSMFCa and Ca-OSMF. CONCLUSIONS: Common to both affected groups was consumption of betel quid, chewing tobacco and variants with males tending to move on to more complex combinations. An overall male trend was noted in OSCC, particularly in Ca- OSMF. However, proportion of females with OSMFCa was significantly higher than males. A significantly younger female affectation in this group has significant potential socio-economic consequences.

Association Between Grading of Oral Submucous Fibrosis With Frequency and Consumption of Areca Nut and Its Derivatives in a Wide Age Group: A Multi-centric Cross Sectional Study From Karachi, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, premalignant condition of the oral mucosa and one of the commonest potentially malignant disorders amongst the Asian population. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of etiologic factors with: age, frequency, duration of consumption of areca nut and its derivatives, and the severity of clinical manifestations. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multi centric study was conducted over 8 years on clinically diagnosed OSMF cases (n = 765) from both public and private tertiary care centers. Sample size was determined by World Health Organization sample size calculator. Consumption of areca nut in different forms, frequency of daily usage, years of chewing, degree of mouth opening and duration of the condition were recorded. Level of significance was kept at P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 765 patients of OSMF were examined, of whom 396 (51.8%) were male and 369 (48.2%) female with a mean age of 29.17 years. Mild OSMF was seen in 61 cases (8.0%), moderate OSMF in 353 (46.1%) and severe OSMF in 417 (54.5%) subjects. Areca nut and other derivatives were most frequently consumed and showed significant risk in the severity of OSMF (P ≤ 0.0001). Age of the sample and duration of chewing years were also significant (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The relative risk of OSMF increased with duration and frequency of areca nut consumption especially from an early age of onset.