Assessment of psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics and self perceived orthodontic treatment need in young adults

The aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics using the 'Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire' [PIDAQ] and self-rated Aesthetic Component [AC] of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need [IOTN], and individual attitude to own teeth and general appearance. The cross sectional study was conducted among the students of Margalla Institute of Health Sciences [MIHS], Rawalpindi with age ranging from 18-25 years. Students were asked to complete a 'Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetic Questionnaire' [PIDAQ]. Total of five variables 'Dental self-confidence, Social impact, psychosocial impact, Aesthetic concern and Patients Beliefs were evaluated by series of questions, and Dental Aesthetics was assessed by using of IOTN Aesthetic Component. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to determine differences between the mean scores for all the subject groups [1 to 4+]. Chi square test was performed for patient beliefs. All the five variables showed significant correlation with perceived severity of malocclusion with p-value of less than 0.01. The association between self-rated IOTN-AC grading and psychosocial well-being was established, signifying that the self-perceived aesthetics may be a significant factor in defining treatment need as the degree of malocclusion itself

Assessment of oral cavity lesions by the patients through self-examination

There is a significant lack in the awareness of oral cancer and its risk factors among the community. The objective of this study was to determine whether those at risk of developing oral cancer are able to correctly detect oral cancers through mouth self-examination [MSE], if given adequate oral health education. 100 Participants received an oral mucosal examination by the dentist to check the presence or absence of potentially malignant oral lesions, then patients performed MSE after education through a self-read leaflet. Following MSE, participants were requested to complete a brief questionnaire. The prevalence of disease was found to be 34%.The sensitivity of MSE was 70%, and the specificity was 93%. MSE had positive predictive value [PPV] of 77% and a negative predictive value [NPV] was 91%. Mouth self-examination can be used as an effective tool to improve the awareness of oral cancer and for the early detection of lesions

Oral health status and malocclusion in flood affected and internally displaced children in Pakistan

The objective of the present study was to assess the Oral Health status and evaluate DMFT [Decayed/Missing/Filled Teeth] scores and Malocclusion in children of flood affected internally displaced persons [IDPs] in Pakistan and to provide them information about dental health. It was a Cross sectional study and was conducted at Camp Schools of Northern Bypass Gattap Town and IDPs Labour Square Camp Gulshan-e-Maymar Karachi. Sample consisted of 424 children, ages ranging from 12-16 years. Participants were interviewed about their dental health behavior and brushing habits. Clinical examination was performed for DMFT scores, gingival inflammation bleeding and malocclusion. Oral hygiene status was evaluated visually by assessing the presence of plaque and calculus. Associations were assessed using chi-square test and a p-value of<0.001 was considered significant. Mean DMFT was 1.29 and tooth brush users had least DMFT. Gingival bleeding was found in 52.6%, 33.3% had gingival inflammation, and 65.8% showed plaque and calculus and 56.8% had halitosis. 46% used tooth brush for cleaning and only 27% brushed daily. 73.6% of the total sample had malocclusion and most common type was Angle's Class I [48.6%], 23.6% had Class II and 1.4% showed Class III. No clear gender differences were noted, except for Plaque and Calculus [most frequent in boys, P<.018]. It was concluded that the study subjects needed oral hygiene instructions to reduce the incidence of oral diseases and malocclusions

Oral hygiene habits among patients attending tertiary care dental unit

The aim of the study was to find out the oral hygiene habits of students, professionals and domestic staff at Bahria University Karachi Campus and to compare the association between the oral hygiene practices, oral health status, gender, age, educational status and occupation of the study group. Oral mucosal examination was carried out in 872 walk in patients. Oral hygiene Habits were determined by asking type of tooth cleaning devices used for cleaning teeth, frequency of tooth brushing and timings of toot brushing. Caries were detected by the criteria given in 'WHO Oral Health Survey 1981'. Out of 872 patients in out patient department of Bahria Dental Hospital, there were 551 males [63%] and 321 females [37%] with average age of 26 years. 833 [95.5%] used tooth brush, 799 [91.6%] participants brushed once daily or occasionally. Mean DMFT [Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth] of the study group was 1.36. Those who were not cleaning their teeth at all had DMFT 1.87. DMFT increased with increasing age, with p-value of 0.00 which is statistically significant

Periodontal status of first molars during orthodontic treatment

The most important aetiological factor of periodontal disease is plaque deposition around gingival margin. The aim of the study was to investigate the negative changes in periodontal health [increase in pocket depth] of first molars in fixed orthodontic treatment and to discuss the available options to avoid it. Group A [6 month of treatment] comprised of 45 patients, compared to Group B [12 month of treatment] comprised of 45 patients. Initial pocket depth of first molars checked before placement of molar bands in both groups of patients, then for Group A patients pocket depth evaluated after 6 month of treatment and for Group B patients pocket depth evaluated after 12 month of treatment period. In patients with 6 months of treatment the pocket depth of molars mostly falls between 1.5 and 2.0 mm. In some severe cases it exceeded 3 mm. In patients at 12 months of treatment pocket depth was greater than 6 month group and it mostly fell in the range of 2.0-2.5 mm. Increase in pocket depth showed that plaque deposition leads to periodontal destruction around molar bands. Patient motivation to maintain oral hygiene and regular scaling will minimise hazardous effects

Prevalence of impacted and ectopic teeth in patients seen in a tertiary care centre

The objective of the study was to calculate the prevalence of most frequent impacted and, ectopic teeth in patients reporting to Orthodontic OPD at Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry [AFID] Rawalpindi. Duration of the study was one year from 7 December 04 to 6 December 05. The sample consisted of 388 females and 162 males. Complete record of the patient was taken. 500 patients of both sexes of age 8-25 years were fully analyzed, 124 patients had impacted teeth and 102 patients had ectopic teeth. Most frequently impacted teeth were third molars especially lower right ones. Most frequent ectopic teeth were canines especially upper left canines. Comparing the two jaws, impaction was more common in the mandible 52 [10.4%] than in maxilla 30 [6%], while 42 [8.4%] patients had impacted teeth in both jaws simultaneously. Only one patient had 5 teeth impacted. Most commonly ectopic teeth were maxillary canines which were 102 [60.5%]. Ectopic teeth were more common in females than in males and were more in the upper jaw than in the lower

Association between cigaratte smoking and periodontitis in Pakistani population

The study was done to identify the association between cigarette smoking and periodontitis in patients reporting to tertiary care dental centre. It is a comparative cross sectional study which was conducted in the Department of Operative Dentistry at Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi. The study was completed in 6 months from Mar 2007 to Sep 2007. 200 patients including 100 smokers and 100 non smokers were selected. Patients were clinically evaluated by measuring the probing depth, clinical attachment level [CAL], tooth mobility and furcation involvement between the two groups. There was a significant association between cigarette smoking and periodontitis. Mean probing depth in smokers was 3.56 and 3.09 in non smokers, mean CAL in smokers was 2.53 and 1.96 in non smokers, mean furcation involvement in smokers was 0.36 and 0.14 in non smokers and mean tooth mobility in smokers was 0.32 and 0.17 in non smokers. There was a marked association between cigarette smoking and periodontitis. The results of this study suggest that cigarette smoking significantly worsen periodontal health and greater probing depth, clinical attachment level, tooth mobility and furcation defects have been found in smokers than in non smokers

Risk indicators for tooth loss due to periodontal disease in Pakistani adults

The objective of this study was to identify risk indicators for periodontitis using cross sectional data from a group of Pakistani adults. The study group consisted of 426 individuals, aged between 18-75 years old. All extractions were performed in two dental hospitals over a 30 day period. Documented information included patient age and gender, medical history findings, dental care visit history, tooth brushing frequency, types and number of extracted teeth, history of menopause and the reasons for the extraction. Reasons were divided into periodontal disease versus other reasons in multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 426 patients had 486 teeth extracted. More teeth per patient were lost due to periodontal disease than for other reasons [1.32 +/- 0.6 versus 1.05 +/- 0.2, P <0.001]. Factors significantly associated with tooth loss due to periodontal reasons in logistic regression analysis were age >35 years [OR 6.36; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-1.72], smokers [OR 1.09; 95% CI 1. 78 to 1.85], anterior tooth type [OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.82 to 1.89], and the presence of either of the following medical conditions: diabetes mellitus [OR 2.65; 95% C11.85 to 1.91], hypertension [OR 10.32; 95% CI 1.88 to 1.93], cardiovascular disease[OR 14.7 ;95%1.94 tol.98] or rheumatoid arthritis [OR 10.22; 95% CI 1.96 to 1.99] and Menopause [OR 5.2 P <0.001]. Our data suggests that tooth loss due to periodontal disease is associated with the risk indicators of age, smoking, dental care visits, frequency of tooth brushing, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause and anterior tooth type, in this study group