Effectiveness of two psychological intervention techniques for de-addiction among patients with addiction to tobacco and alcohol – A double-blind randomized control trial

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of two psychological intervention techniques (reading – writing therapy vs. games – narrative therapy) using motivational intervention alone as a control among tobacco addicts. Materials and Method: This randomized control trial was conducted over a period of 6 months from April to September 2013 at a de-addiction center in Madhya Pradesh, India. Patients with moderate-to-high levels of dependence as determined by Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) admitted for treatment in a de-addiction center were recruited. A cluster randomization technique was used for allocation of participants to three different groups. Group allocation was concealed from investigator and done by coordinator. Three interventions were group A – motivational intervention alone, group B – games and story therapy along with motivational intervention, and group C – reading and writing therapy along with motivational intervention. Interventions were applied for 1 month. Two postintervention follow-ups (one at the time of discharge and one after 1 month following discharge) were done to assess level of dependence using FTND besides undertaking urine cotinine analysis among three randomly selected participants in each group. Results: A total of 82 participants (28 in group A, 27 each in groups B and C) completed the study. Eighty-one (98.8%) participants had complete abstinence at the end of 1 month with no significant difference in the success rate between different categories (P = 0.357). At the end of 1 month following discharge from center, only 7 participants (8.5%) had complete abstinence and 51 participants (62.2%) had partial reduction and remaining 24 participants (29.3%) were considered failures with no difference between three groups (P = 0.768). Conclusion: Although overall abstinence was low (8.5%), all intervention techniques were equally effective in at least reducing level of dependence with no significant difference in their efficacy.

The effect of air abrasion on the retention of metallic brackets bonded to fluorosed enamel surface.

Background: Bonding brackets to fluorosed enamel remains a clinical challenge and bracket failure at the compromised enamel interface is common. Objective: To check the effect of air abrasion on the retention of metallic brackets bonded to fluorosed enamel surface. Materials and Methods: Sixty freshly extracted human premolar teeth having moderate to severe dental fluorosis as per Dean's criteria were collected and divided into three groups of 20 each. The groups were treated as follows: In group I, acid etching was followed by bonding with Transbond XT® ; in group II, sandblasting and acid etching was followed by bonding with Transbond XT® ; and in group III, sandblasting and acid etching was followed by bonding with Enlight LC® . An Instron™ universal testing machine was used for determining the debonding force, and from this the shear bond strength was computed. The sample with highest shear bond strength from each group was selected for the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study. The prepared specimens were examined under a JSM-840A scanning electron microscope (JEOL Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) operated at 20 kV. Photographs were taken at progressively higher magnifications of ×50, ×100, ×500, and ×1000 to view the enamel surface and the adhesive remaining on the enamel surface after debonding. The shear bond strengths of the groups were compared using the one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) and Tukey post hoc test. The distribution of adhesive remnant index (ARI) score was compared using the Chi-square test. Results: The mean shear bond strength in group I was 10.36 MPa, with a standard deviation of 0.225. The corresponding values in group II and group III were 11.41±0.237 MPa and 11.39±0.201 Mpa, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the three groups in the mean shear bond strength values. Conclusion: Sandblasting followed by acid etching provides significantly higher bond strength values compared to acid etching alone, irrespective of the bonding material employed.

Oral health status in relation to socioeconomic factors among the municipal employees of Mysore city.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal diseases, oral pre-malignant and malignant lesions in relation to socioeconomic factors among the municipal employees of Mysore city. Settings and Design: The study was cross sectional in nature. Materials and Methods: All the available employees (1187) during the study period were considered. World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Assessment form (1997) and a preformed questionnaire were used to collect the required data. Modified Kuppuswamy scale with readjustment of the per capita income to suit the present levels was used for classifying the individuals into different socioeconomic status (SES) categories. Data were collected by a single, trained and calibrated examiner (dentist) using mouth mirror and community periodontal index (CPI) probe under natural daylight. Data analysis was done using SPSS windows version 10. Quantitative data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's post hoc test and qualitative data were analyzed using chi-square or contingency coefficient. Results: The age range of the study population was 19-57 years (mean 40.74 years, standard deviation 9.17). The prevalence of dental caries in the upper SES category was lesser (43.3%) compared to that in lower SES category (78.6%). 16.4% of the subjects in the upper category had a CPI score of 0 (healthy periodontium) and none of the subjects in the lower middle, upper lower and lower SES category had this score. The prevalence of oral pre-malignant and malignant lesions was higher in lower SES category (17.9%) than in upper class (0%). Conclusion: There was an inverse relationship between oral health status and SES. The overall treatment need was more in the lower class people than in the upper class.

Comparative effect of calcium mupirocin and fluticasone on experimentally induced burn wound healing in rats.

Topical antibiotic like Calcium mupirocin and its combination with steroid Fluticasone are commonly used to treat burn wounds. But whether they influence healing of wounds is not known. Aim: To compare the effect of Calcium mupirocin and Fluticasone of Apex Laboratories Chennai, on experimentally induced burn wound healing in Wistar rats and compare with available market preparation Mupirocin and Fluticasone -mupirocin combination. Method: Partial thickness burn wound was inflicted, on Wistar rats under ketamine (50mg/kg/i.p) by pouring hot molten wax at 80◦ C into a metal cylinder of 300 mm2 circular opening placed on shaven back of the rat. Animals with partial thickness burn wounds were divided into 7 groups (n=10). Group I did not receive any drug and served as control group. Group II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII received Calcium mupirocin A, Calcium mupirocin B, Mupirocin, Fluticasone+Calcium mupirocin A combination. Fluticasone +Calcium mupirocin B combination and Fluticasone -mupirocin combination creams respectively, twice a day for 21 days or till complete healing whichever was earlier. Results: Calcium mupirocin significantly decreased the duration of epithelialization and increased % of wound contraction in comparison to the control group. This was confirmed by Histopathology studies. Conclusion: Calcium mupirocin of apex possess significant wound healing properties.

Role of dentist in person identification.

To reinforce awareness among dentists about their role in person identification and the importance of maintaining dental records of all their patients. The article reviews basic procedures of dental identification and some cases where dental identification played a key role in eventual identification of the person. Forensic odontology is an integral part of forensic sciences. Forensic dental identifications, especially in times of mass disasters, depend mainly on the availability of ante mortem dental records. It is the social responsibility of each and every dentist to maintain dental records of their patients for the noble cause of identification in the event of mass disaster.