Periodontal conditions in pregnant and non - pregnant women in Karachi

The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of clinical plaque treatment removal in pregnant and non-pregnant females in Karachi, Pakistan. A quasi experimental study was designed with a sample size of 108 women, both pregnant and non-pregnant. Three antenatal clinics from different areas of Karachi were selected. Total duration of study was two and a half years. A total of 86 pregnant females were selected along with 22 non-pregnant females by random sampling. Pregnant females in the first trimester were placed in group-A while from second trimester in group-B. A control group of non-pregnant females were placed in group-C. Groups A and B were given half mouth treatment for the first month. They were retreated with complete mouth therapy in the second month. Groups C were given a full mouth treatment. CPI [Community Periodontal Index] and PU [Plaque Index] were recorded. All subjects were put on a maintenance regimen of Triclosan containing tooth paste. Significant changes in Plaque Index [PLD and Community Periodontal Index [CPI] were recorded after plaque removal. Half mouth plaque removal resulted in a better outcome regarding gingival health and plaque severity in Group A and B as compared to Group C [p<0.05]. Intervention [in terms of plaque removal and triclosan dentifrice] resulted in a significant reduction in PLI and CPI scores in all groups. The intervention by plaque removal at early stage of pregnancy along with maintenance with triclosan had resulted in a more favorable outcome regarding gingival diseases and plaque

Dental caries amongst preschool children in Manghopir, Karachi, Pakistan

To determine prevalence, severity, and pattern of dental caries in preschool children of Manghopir, Karachi, Pakistan. From the area of Manghopir, Karachi a total of 789 randomly selected preschool children, 379 [48%] male and 410 [52%] female, with mean age of 4.7 [SD 0.8] years were examined for dental caries using World Health Organization [WHO] diagnostic criteria. The overall caries prevalence among the sample was 62.1%. The mean decayed, missing, and filled [dmft] score was 3.2 [SD 1.9] with a decay component of 2.4, a missing component of 0.3, and a filled component of 0.5. There was no significant difference [p>.05] in caries prevalence and severity in relation to gender of the children. However, the caries prevalence and severity were significantly higher [p<.05] among children from government preschools as compared to those from private preschools. Among the posterior teeth, mandibular second molars [54.3%], and among anterior teeth, maxillary central incisors [27.9%] had the highest caries prevalence. Among the molars, caries prevalence was generally high in lower molars while among the anterior teeth, upper teeth generally had a higher caries prevalence. The majority of the children [58.4%] had posterior tooth caries only, 34.2% had both posterior and anterior tooth caries, while very few [7.3%] children had only anterior tooth caries. Caries prevalence and severity were high in the study population, and most children had posterior tooth caries

Prevalence of carious lesions in early and late mixed dentition orthdontic patients

To investigate the commonly affected carious teeth in the early and late mixed dentition period of male and female orthodontic patients. A total of 224 [Male: Female ratio 118: 106] patients were diagnosed in the early mixed and late mixed dentition in 3 age subgroups; 6-7 years, 8-10 years and 11-13 years at the patients were investigated regarding carious lesions in the maxillary and mandibular dentition, carious lesions in male and female subjects, carious lesions in primary and permanent teeth. Intra-oral examination and radiographs [orthopantogram and peri-apical] were done for each patient to confirm the carious lesions. The mandibular dentition was affected 3 times more than the maxillary dentition [mean values for total mandibular dentition 62.3 and total mean value for maxillary dentition 28.6]. Males [total mean value 75.7] were affected 3 times greater as compared to the female patients [total mean value 21.9]. 8-10 years age group has the highest carious prevalence [total mean value 54.6] followed by the 11-13 years age group [total mean value 24.6] and the 6-7 years age group [total mean value 18-7]. Both primary and permanent mandibular molars had more carious lesions as compared with the maxillary molars. Mandibular 2nd primary and 1st primary molars and permanent lower 1st permanent molars had the highest carious lesions. 8-9 years age group had the highest carious lesions for both primary and permanent teeth. Males had more [ratio 3:1] carious lesions as compared to the females