ABSTRACT
Dental anxiety is a fear of visiting a dental health care provider for preventive or therapeutic care that leads to deterioration in oral health. The aim of this study was to measure the dental anxiety levels of patients presenting to the Operative dentistry department of Dental Section Dow International Medical College. It was a cross sectional study conducted between December 2014 and February 2015. Norman Corah's dental anxiety scale was used to measure the anxiety levels of patients.1 A questionnaire was developed based on this scale and a valid record of 383 forms was obtained. Amongst 383 patients, 125 were male patients [32%] while 258[67%] were female. Descriptive analysis was performed. Frequencies and cross tab calculations were carried out using SPSS version 20. Among other stressors, dental handpiece stood out as the most frightening. 12% of the respondents replied that they would get extremely anxious, making them feel physically sick while anticipating the use of a dental drill. Result showed that most of the patients [49%] had moderate dental anxiety that could be managed by simple non pharmacological means and counselling. While only 5% and 8% of the patients had high and severe [phobia] dental anxiety respectively. The mean dental anxiety level was 9.35 with Standard Deviation of +/- 3.06. More females had severe dental anxiety as compared to males [9% as compared to 5%]
ABSTRACT
Rubber dam isolates operating field and makes treatment less invasive and safer for the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of using rubber dam among different strata of dental fraternity. This cross sectional survey was conducted at Dental section, Dow International Medical College; DUHS from November 2014 till may 2015. Four hundred questionnaires were distributed amongst dental students, house officers and postgraduate trainee. General practitioners and retired dentist were excluded from the study. Three hundred and seventy four questionnaires were returned with over all response rate of 93.5%. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Statistically there was a significant association between knowledge and designation [p=0.031]. Dentist showed positive attitude towards rubber dam application [p=0.00]. It is concluded that dentists have significant knowledge about rubber dam use, but general reluctance towards it require change in the attitude by improvising regular practice
ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to compare the post instrumentation pain in teeth undergoing root canal treatment with or without occlusal tooth reduction. This randomized control trial was conducted at Outpatient Department of Operative Dentistry at Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine from September 2011 to March 2014. A total of 402 patients with irreversible pulpitis and normal periapical radiographic appearance of posterior teeth were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups i.e occlusal tooth reduction [OTR] group and no occlusal tooth reduction [NOTR] group. After root canal instrumentation, patients were instructed to complete a Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] to score their pain at 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, and 6 days. The final outcome that is mean post instrumentation pain score was measured at 6 days of post instrumentation. This randomized control trial was conducted at Outpatient Department of Operative Dentistry at Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine from September 2011 to March 2014. A total of 402 patients with irreversible pulpitis and normal periapical radiographic appearance of posterior teeth were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups i.e occlusal tooth reduction [OTR] group and no occlusal tooth reduction [NOTR] group. After root canal instrumentation, patients were instructed to complete a Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] to score their pain at 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, and 6 days. The final outcome that is mean post instrumentation pain score was measured at 6 days of post instrumentation. Mean post instrumentation pain score at 6 days was significantly low in OTR group than NOTR groups [2.44 +/- 0.86 vs. 3.24 +/- 0.89; p=0.0005]. Thus, it is concluded that occlusal reduction help in the prevention of post instrumentation pain in teeth with irreversible pulpitis, sensitivity to purcussion, pre- treatment pain and absence of periradicular radiolucency. Whereas the presence of all four conditions are the strong predictors, the presence of any one or more of the conditions is enough to indicate a need for occlusal reduction
ABSTRACT
The scope of the study was to determine the ratio between maxillary anterior teeth widths to width of facial proportions in a dental college in Karachi, Pakistan. The widths of facial proportions were determined using a Vernier Caliper. The widths of maxillary anterior teeth were measured intraorally using Boley's gauge on a sample of 116 human subjects visiting the Diagnosis Department in Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, [DIKIOHS], Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. All readings were measured in millimeters. Pearson's correlation test was applied and it showed no significant relation between width of central incisor and bizygomatic width [0.11]. But a significant relationship was found between intercanine width and width of mouth [0.03], width of philtrum and mean width of central incisors [p=0.05], interalar width and intercanine width [p=0.00]. Facial proportions solely do not provide a secure prototype in selecting maxillary anterior teeth and could result in selecting larger teeth in size
ABSTRACT
The debonding of acrylic resin teeth with the denture base resin has been related to several different factors of which contamination of the bonding surfaces with wax has been suggested as the major cause. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficient method of wax removal from denture teeth using hot water at different temperatures ranges. Acrylic rods were used as tooth analogues and Raman spectroscopy was used to detect the presence of wax on the surfaces of the specimens. It was found that none of the techniques studied was able to remove all of the wax. Abraded ridge-lap surface showed least wax contamination when dewaxed at 100 degree C as compared to dewaxed at 85 degreeC and 65 degree C respectively. The spectrum for each specimen demonstrated peaks at different wavelengths and varying intensities, the spectra demonstrated traces of wax on abraded surfaces showed least wax when dewaxed at 100 degreeC as compared abraded surfaces dewaxed at 65 degree C and 85 degree C temperatures respectively