RESUMEN
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the periodontal status of miswak and toothbrush users of Karachi
Study Design: Observational / Descriptive / cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the OPD Department, Jinnah Medical and Dental College Karachi from 02.05.2015 to 30.09.2015
Materials and Methods: Participants of the study include the students of Madrasah Islamia and patients presenting to OPD of Jinnah Medical and Dental College Karachi for routine dental checkups. We chose purposive sampling for the study. Subjects were selected on the basis of their use of miswak [Group A], use of toothbrush [Group B] and use of Miswak and Toothbrush [Group C]. Each subject was examined using CPITN probe to evaluate gingival bleeding, dental calculus and probing pocket depths of the selected surfaces. Selected surfaces were lingual surface of mandibular anterior teeth and buccal surface of maxillary posterior teeth
Subjects who did not consent to participate in the study were excluded from the study. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis
Results: In group A 40% participants had calculus, 50% had less than 3mm pockets and 20% had more than 3mm pockets. 30% had no gingival pocketing. In group B [brushing only] 4% subjects had calculus and 96% had less than 3mm pockets. In group C [miswak plus toothbrush] 40% had calculus and less than 3mm pockets and 10% of subjects had more than 3mm pocket depth. 50% had no pockets at all. Gingival Bleeding was demonstrated in all groups with Miswak users being 30% and tooth brush users and tooth brush plus miswak users being 10 % each
Conclusion: The periodontai status of all 3 groups was found to be satisfactory but examination revealed that the users of toothbrush only [group B] possess healthier periodontal tissues