An assessment of dentists oral health

The aim of the study was to access the oral health maintenance behavior patterns among dentists. Questionnaire based cross sectional study. The study was conducted in the community dentistry department of Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad from March2013 to August 2013. A total of 65 dentists from Islamabad were included in this study. The dentists were sampled conveniently from Islamabad. Descriptive data was described for the reported frequencies of dentists' attitudes and practices related to oral health. Out of 65,61 dentists had shown positive attitude in responding close-ended questionnaires. Most of the dentists reported brushing their teeth twice a day [n= 40,65.5%].A total of 34 [55.7%] dentists reported carrying out brushing for about 2-4minutes. The self-reported Decayed Missing Filled Teeth [DMFT] score for 21 [34%] dentists was zero. The majority of dentists [n=48,78.7%] did not consider themselves to be having any dental problems, while 42 [68.9%] dentists perceived their oral health as being very good. Although most of the dentists reported as having good oral health, a large number of the participants did not maintain their oral health adequately. Dentists follow ROSC [Recommended oral self-care] recommendations to improve their oral health status

An insight into the antibiotic prescription practices of post-graduate dentists, discerned through a clinical dental audit

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reported practice of antibiotics prescribed by Post Graduate trainees, working in the Operative Department of Islamic International Dental Hospital [IIDH], Islamabad. A clinical audit study. The study was conducted in the department of operative dentistry at Islamic International Medical College, Islamabad from April 2014 to July 2014. A clinical audit evaluating the antibiotics prescription practice of Post Graduate trainees at IIDH was performed. All of the eight trainees working in the Operative department were included in the study. The prescribed antibiotic; its dosage, frequency and duration, as well as the clinical conditions and reasons for which the prescription had been given was investigated using questionnaires in eighty patients [ten patients per dentist]. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS] software version 17.0, [SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL]. Frequencies and percentages were described for the antibiotic prescriptions. Amoxicillin n=42 [53.5%] and Metronidazole n=37 [46.3%] were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. Other prescribed antibiotics included Erythromycin n=l [1.3%], Penicillin n= 1 [1.3%], Clindamycin n=l [1.3%], Cefalexin n=l [1.3%] and others n=2 [2.5%]. Tetracycline was also prescribed n= 14 [17.5%]. This study identified gap between the antibiotics prescription practice of postgraduate trainees and recommended clinical guidelines. The findings suggest need for a re-assessment of the antibiotics prescription practice in accordance with evidence based guidelines

An assessment of dentists' knowledge of evidence based terms

The study was conducted to assess dentists' understanding of terms used in evidence based healthcare. Cross-sectional questionnaire based study. This study was conducted in the department of community dentistry at Islamic International Dental Hospital Islamabad from April 2013 to August 2013. A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted among faculty members of the Faculty of Dentistry, Riphah International University. A sample of 38 faculty members [n=38] was selected. The sample was stratified into senior [n=17] and junior [n=21] faculty members. A self-administered questionnaire, including 10 questions, was distributed by hand among the faculty members. The participants were asked about their knowledge about the methodological terms used in evidence based literature. Majority [82%] of the respondents had basic knowledge of the terms used in questionnaire and many of them who did not know showed desire to know. Eight percent [3] of the respondents said that they knew dummy term and could explain it to others where as 21.1% [8] had some knowledge of the term. Evidence based practice should be encouraged among young dentists by senior members and it should be part of curriculum for the dental students. Senior faculty members are more knowledgeable compared to juniors. Although majority [82%] of the respondents have basic knowledge but not all of them can explain it to others, indicating their poor understanding

An assessment of association between carbonated drink consumption and dental caries prevalence: a cross-sectional study

To assess the association between dental caries experience and carbonated drinks consumption in a population of adolescents [12-19 years] from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in the department of Community Medicine atlslamic International Dental Hospital [IIDH] lslamabad from April 2014 to August 2014. A sample of 50 participants was selected through convenience sampling. Only those participants were included who belonged to the selected age group of 12-19 years. The sample was examined by dental students at IIDH and a validated, dietary questionnaire was completed through face-to-face interview with each participant. Caries severity was measured via the DMFT [no. of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth] Index. Results were analyzed for the sample under study through SPSS Version 17. The mean DMFT for males [38%] was 1.31 +/- 1.60 and for females [62%] was 1.77 +/- 1.76. Caries prevalence in relation to carbonated drink consumption was found to be 62% with more than 7% of the participants having a DMFT score of 4 and above. A decrease in DMFT score was observed with the increase in frequency of tooth brushing. On comparison of mean DMFT scores with frequency of carbonated drink consumption, no distinctive pattern could be seen. Conclusive results establishing a strong association between carbonated drinks and dental caries could not be derived. Further research work is required for more valid results. While consuming carbonated drinks, safety guidelines for drinkingshould be followed

Oral health and general health in children having intellectual disabilities: a cross sectional study

This study aimed to assess the correlation between oral health and general health in children having intellectual disabilities. Cross-sectional, questionnaire based study. This study was conducted at Step to Learn School, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, fromMay to June 2014. A sample of 88 children were selected from two branches of 'Step to Learn, a special school for children with intellectual disabilities. Body Mass Index [BMI] was used to assess general health, while oral health was measure by the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth [DMFT] index. Dental surgeons and dental students conducted the examination. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to compare the correlation between BMI and DMFT. The data was analyzed using the software SPSS [v 17.0]. Out of 88 children, data of 85 [96.59%] was recorded. No significant correlation was found between oral health and general health [r = -0.06]. The general health of children with intellectual disabilities does not impact their oral health. Subsequent oral and general health educational initiatives should be conducted separately

Appropriatenesss of Relying on Tooth Brushing as a Caries Prevention Method

For a long time, the practice of tooth brushing has been advocated as a highly effective method of maintaining oral hygiene and preventing dental caries, so much so that the efficacy of this practice has never really been questioned. However in the recent literature the greater role in the decline of dental caries has been attributed to the use of fluoridated tooth pastes. Is tooth brushing an effective technique modality for preventing dental caries by itself? Is tooth brushing without any usage of fluoridated tooth pastes effective in achieving a caries free dentition or is the role of the fluoridated toothpaste integral to achieve this? This article assesses the dental literature available to determine whether it is appropriate to rely on tooth brushing as caries preventive method. Tooth brushing cannot be completely disregarded as an oral hygiene measure. Following an efficient Tooth-brushing technique with appropriate frequency and Fluoridated Tooth paste can prevent tooth decay

Antihyperlipidemic effect of Adonis vernalis

To study the effect of Adonis vernalis on triton-induced hyperlipidemic rabbits. Hyperlipidemia has become a major risk factor for a large variety of diseases including coronary artery disease and thus increasing mortality ratio globally. A. vernalis [AV] commonly called as Pheasant's eye is a Homoeopathic remedy and considered as cardiotonic due to presence of cardiac gylcosides with strong diuretic action. The present study investigates the hyperlipidemic effects of Adonis vernalis in chemically [triton; 400 mg/kg intraperitoneally] induced hyperlipidemic rabbits. Its effects on lipid profile, glucose, total protein, serum uric acid and liver specific enzyme alanine aminotransferase [ALT] were determined by administering alcoholic extract of A. vernalis [5 mg/kg] orally and compared against respective control groups. AV [5 mg/kg] had shown a significant decrease in serum cholesterol and triglycerides when compared with control, triton-induced hyperlipidemic control [TIC] and triton-induced positive control [TIPC] [p<0.05]. It slightly increased HDL, clear decrease in LDL and total protein while no effect was found on ALT, uric acid and glucose. According to the experimental findings the alcoholic extract of A. vernalis found to be a potent antihyperlipidemic agent and also showed hepatoprotective property