ABSTRACT
Background: Clinical photography has become a part of modern-day dental practice. It has been used for dento-legal documentation, diagnosis, clinical assessment, treatment planning, patient motivation, communication with the patient and laboratory, academic purposes and also for marketing. The aim of the study was to assess and determine the knowledge and the extent of the use of photography by dental practitioners of Srinagar city.Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving a questionnaire consisting of 10 questions was distributed among 88 randomly selected dental practitioners of Srinagar city, out of which 72 dental practitioners responded positively and returned the questionnaire. The data collected were computerized and analyzed statistically. The average values of the responses received by groups of questions were analyzed.Results: According to the survey conducted, 52(72.22%) dentists used photography for dental practice. Out of all the dentists surveyed, 63(87.5%) of the dentists knew about the importance of dental photography. It was observed that 40(55.55%) fresher dentists (<5 years’ experience) showed more positive attitude towards the application of photography in their dental practice. It was also revealed that the application of clinical photography among male dentists, dentists with <5 years’ experience and dentists who work with an assistant were significantly higher as compared to other dentists (p<0.05).Conclusions: Hence, from this study, majority of respondents (87.5%) were aware of the importance of dental photography. The reasons which prevented the dentist from using clinical photography were lack of time, expensive instruments, lack of interest and cross infection. Male practitioners were more likely than female practitioners to use clinical photography. Photographic training should hence be inculcated in the curriculum of dentistry. Also dental practitioners should actively participate in CDE programs on Clinical photography to improve the quality of dental practice.
ABSTRACT
Background: Chewing sticks were used throughout the Greek and Roman empires and by many communities till date. Many people do not use modern oral hygiene aids such as toothbrushes due to reasons like cost, customs and religious reasons and accessibility. The miswak, obtained from the twigs of the Salvadora persica tree, may be beneficial due to its mechanical cleaning. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the oral hygiene status and gingival conditions following the use of conventional tooth brushing and miswak in socially disadvantaged subjects over a period 100 days. Methods: The study was conducted in an orphanage in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Out of the total 354 subjects, 180 subjects who were within this selected age group were followed and examined After acquiring the permission and the information to the subjects a total of 148 subjects, were voluntarily willing to participate in the study. Out of these subjects 72 subjects were using miswak (Group I), 46 subjects were using tooth brush and tooth paste (Group II) while 30 subjects (Group III) accepted that they were using both miswak as well as tooth paste and tooth brush as an oral hygiene aid. All of these subjects were evaluated for Gingival and Plaque status on 50th and 100th day following oral prophylaxis. The Mean, Standard Deviation, One way ANOVA test and Scheffe test were performed to reveal the statistical significance. Results: Both Group II and Group III showed a significant difference (p≤0.05), at 50th and 100th day in their mean plaque scores. The mean gingival scores recorded for subjects using only miswak and those subjects using both miswak as well as tooth brush and tooth paste increased from 50th day to 100th day and showed a statistical difference between the two means. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that miswak can be used as an effective adjunct for oral hygiene maintenance along with toothbrush and tooth paste as it is readily available and inexpensive.
ABSTRACT
Background: The beneficial uses of magnetized water in medical sciences has been tried but its application in the field of dentistry is still at its infancy. Magnetized water can be a cheaper alternative to adjuncts used for chemical plaque control. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of conventionally prepared magnetized water and 0.2% Chlorhexidine on gingival and plaque status among children attending a Government Dental College. Methods: The present double blinded randomized control clinical study was carried out in Department of Pedodontics, Govt. Dental College, Srinagar. A total of 75 children between 12-15 years were randomly allocated into 3 groups A, B and C, each comprising of 25 subjects who were asked to rinse with Mint Water (Control Group), Magnetized water and 0.2% Chlorhexidine respectively. Examination was carried on day 0 (Baseline), 14 days (2 weeks) and 21 days (3 weeks) whose Turesky- Gilmore Modification of Quigley Hein Plaque Index and Gingival Index were assessed. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean PI and GI scores of magnetized water and Chlorhexidine groups when compared with that of Control group, both at 14 days (2 weeks) and at 21 days (3 weeks). Conclusion: It was concluded that both Magnetized water and 0.2% Chlorhexidine showed less plaque accumulations as well as improvement in the gingival status as compared to the control group.
ABSTRACT
Ahlstrom's syndrome is an autosomal recessive, single gene disorder with multisystem involvement with cone-rod retinal dystrophy leading to juvenile blindness, sensorineural hearing loss, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes mellitus. The other less common involvements may severely affect the prognosis and survival and include endocrine abnormalities, dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) , pulmonary fibrosis and restrictive lung disease, progressive hepatic and renal failure.Apart from its typical, well known clinical features, hepatic & biliary involvement should be kept in mind. Though not known in literature, the biliary tract abnormalities might not be so uncommon. A routine MRCP in a child of AS with typical or atypical biliary tract involvement is thus advisable.