Effects of surgery duration on post-extraction sequelae following impacted third molar surgery by using two different bone cutting methods; a double blind randomized trial

The objective of this research was to analyze the impact of duration of surgery on post-operative pain and swelling after surgical removal ofmandibular third molars

This study was planned as double blind randomized clinical trial that comprised of 60 patients experiencing unilateral mandibular third molar extraction who were recruited into two groups before surgery on the basis of bone cutting method. The study duration was three months, executed at Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dow International Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. Post-operative complications [pain and swelling] were assessed pre operatively and then on 3rd and 7th day post operatively using visual analogue scale and objective scale for swelling measurement using five anatomical points on face. Surgery duration was divided into two groups, 10-20 minutes group and 20 minutes onwards

Mann Whitney test was used to assess the impact of duration on pain and swelling in both groups. In 10-20 minutes group, mean difference for pain on day one, day 3 and day 7 was calculated with p-value of 0.15, 0.641 and 0.081 respectively while in group having surgery duration of 20 minutes and more, the computed p-value were 0.002, 0.0168 and 0.02 respectively. Mean difference for swelling was calculated in both bone cutting groups with p-value of 0.0916 in 10- 20 minute group and 0.004 in 20 minute onward group

Increasing time duration was associated with more pain and swelling irrespective of the method used for bone cutting. Conventional slow speed hand piece used for bone cutting was associated with less post-operative complications

Socioeconomic status and oral health care attitudes: a snapshot of Karachi based teaching hospital

The objective of the study was to analyze oral hygiene practices amongst population of Karachi based on frequency of dental visits, brushing, flossing, pan chewing, smoking, miswak and its relation with socio-economic background. A questionnaire based study was designed to collect information regarding above mentioned variables in 994 patients at OPD providing dental care in a teaching hospital. Subjects were categorized as: Blue collared, white collared and the small business holders. The study found the statistcally significant relationship between the frequency of dental visits, miswak usage and the pan chewing with the socioeconomic class. The trend of visiting a dentist without complaint was not common as 34% patients in all were visiting a dentist for the first time, 62% visited when needed, 4%visited once a year for general dental checkup without complaint. Tooth brushing was common tooth cleaning method 69% used tooth brush once daily,13% brushed twice daily while 18%never used a toothbrush at all. The use of miswak alone or in addition to brushing in our study was frequently seen, as 43% subjects used miswak daily and 384 subjects were habitual pan chewers who mainly belonged to the blue collared class [P < 0.01]. We conclude that there is remarkable difference in current oral hygiene habits among, socio-economic levels. The low literacy rate in the low socioeconomic class is also a barrier for the development of the health seeking behavior and attitude among the population. This could be improved by the availability of Primary dental health program as part of general health policy

Knowledge, attitude and practice concerning infection control measures among dental health care providers of Dow university of health sciences

A cross sectional study was conducted among dental students of Dow International Dental College [DUHS] to find out their level of knowledge, attitude, and practice about infection control measures. If any significant linear correlation was present between the knowledge, attitudes and practice, their scores were observed. Statistical analyses for knowledge, attitude and practice descriptive statistics were computed using the SPSS software for Windows version 17. ANOVA was used to calculate p-value of knowledge, attitudes, and practice values. Pearson's test was used to compute the correlation among knowledge, attitudes, and practice scores. A p value of

perspective on mentoring dental students of Dow international dental college [Dow university of health sciences]: a cross-sectional study

The objective was to determine the perception and the effects on mentors regarding mentoring dental students at Dow International Dental College, Karachi; Pakistan. There was a qualitative research study consisting of 16 mentors, in which data collection was done by questionnaire designing. Study of the close-ended questions showed that the majority of the mentors had 6-10 numbers of mentees [81%], but unluckily they did not have any communication with mentees' parents. However, 50% of the mentors gave chief preference to their mentees. They helped their mentees in communicating with people which they did not find easy to approach [69%].Most of the mentors met their mentees once a week [62%]. All the mentors shared their private phone numbers with their mentees [100%].Majority of the mentors were aware about their mentees' hobbies [69%]. All the mentors guided their mentees in professional advancement [100%]. If mentees showed misconduct or misbehaved with their mentors in any aspect then most of the mentors counseled them [87.5%].Unfortunately half of the mentors believed that by so much of effort on mentoring and supervision, their mentees did not show any enhancement in academics. It was concluded that mentoring program was acknowledged by the mentors to be a prosperous and pleasing approach for educating young dental students

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

Retention of dental sealants -five years' post application lower socioeconomic class of Karachi

The current study was aimed towards evaluating retention of the sealants on the first permanent molars of low socioeconomic class children 5 years post application. Also presence and absence of dental caries was determined. It is a follow up study to evaluate the retention of sealants placed during a randomized control trial conducted in children of low socioeconomic class school of Karachi in January 2006. In 2011, after five years, the retention*of fissure sealants among study group was assessed. Using visual examination with the aid of a dental explorer and an intra oral mirror, sealants were evaluated on occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars and divided into three categories; retained, partially retained and lost. These molars were also checked for the presence or absence of dental caries. Data were entered in SPSS version 17.0. Frequency distribution was established. Two hundred molars were sealed out of which 41.5% were completely retained, 44.5% were retained partially and 14% were lost over the period of 5 years post application. Sealants are effective method of preventing dental decay in pits and fissures if they are retained

Role of fissure sealants in the reduction of cariogenic bacteria in 6-8 year old children

Dental caries is a multifactorial bacterial disease affecting the teeth of children and young adults. Fissure sealants are used to prevent bacterial ingress into fissures to minimize decay in children. The aim of this study was to find out role of fissure sealents in reduction of cariogenic bacteria in 6-8 years old children. One hundred [6-8 year old] children/volunteers from Jinnah Foundation Trust School Korangi, Karachi were randomly selected. The oral hygiene and dietary patterns of these volunteers were recorded. The volunteer children were divided into two groups [trial/test and control]. The trial group's fissures were sealed with fissure sealants while control group's fissures were not sealed. The first permanent molar was chosen for sealing as this is the first indicator of caries activity in permanent teeth. All first permanent molars were ensured to be caries-free as fissure sealants are preventive dental materials and are not restorative. The saliva samples of all 100 students were collected in sterilized wide mouth vials. It was then spread on TYCSB and on MRS agar plates for the isolation of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli respectively. The plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C and then CFU/ml was recorded for each sample. The trial group received fissure sealants while the control group did not. Saliva sampling and isolation procedures were repeated after 4 and 12 weeks of fissure sealant application. The isolated organisms were identified by gram staining, growth characteristics [at different temperature ranges], hemolytic patterns, sugar fermentation, arginine and esculin hydrolysis. The results indicated reduction in the count of cariogenic bacteria in the trial group after the application of fissure sealants on first permanent molars whereas the count remained more or less similar in the control group of all three successive saliva samples. The study was to evaluate the role of fissure sealants in reducing bacterial count of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in the saliva of 6-8 year old children which was found to be significant by the statistical means