ABSTRACT
Introduction:Endemic fluorosis remains a challenging and extensively studied national health problem in India. It not only affects the body of a person but also renders them socially, economically and culturally crippled.Objectives:The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness, knowledge and perception regarding water quality, socioeconomic and clinical aspect of Dental and skeletal fluorosis among families residing in endemic areas for Fluorosis in North Gujarat after receiving Dharoi water supply as mitigation measure to curb fluorosis. Methods:Apopulation based survey was done in hundred families of the ten villages of North Gujarat which were selected through Random Sampling techniqueResults:Around 100 families including 473 members were surveyed. Only 8 families have awareness about Fluorosis and 53% of families strongly agree that the water causes ugly teeth and joint pain. Nearly 89% and about 80% of families had agreed that skeletal Fluorosis severely reduced the capacity for work and earning income and Dental Fluorosis reduces self-confidence, especially in girls respectively. Around 70% of families responded that, there is no relief in joint and back pain at all after using Dharoi water supply. Conclusion:It can be concluded that Fluorosis is a major Public Health problem in these ten villages of North Gujarat affecting people physically, socially and economically, even after the introduction of Dharoi water supply. It can be attributed to irregular and insufficient utilization of Dharoi water supply along with various myths and ostentations attached to usage of this water.
ABSTRACT
Context: Anxiety is a subjective state of feelings. Dental anxiety is often reported as a cause of irregular dental attendance, delay in seeking dental care or even avoidance of dental care, resulting in poor oral health related quality of life. Aim: To assess the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of dental anxiety among a group of adult patients attending a dental institution in Vadodara, Gujarat. Patients and Methods: A total of 150 adult patients waiting in the out-patient Department of Oral Diagnosis of K.M. Shah Dental College and Hospital were included in the study. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling. Dental anxiety was assessed by using Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and self-designed, semi-structured questionnaire incorporating various demographic variables, type and nature of dental treatment. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16. Descriptive analysis, unpaired t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and multiple logistic regression were applied for statistical analysis. Results: 46% of the participants were dentally anxious. Females were found to be significantly more anxious than males. Subjects residing in villages had significantly more score than those residing in city. Relative influence of age, education, type of dental treatment, and previous dental visit were not significantly associated with dental anxiety. However, those subjects who had past negative dental experience were found to be significantly more anxious. Conclusions: The study shows that dental anxiety was high among study subjects. It is recommended that this issue should be given due importance and addressed in a practical and meaningful manner.