Tooth Loss and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Adult Dental Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Oral diseases seriously impair the quality of life (QoL) in a large number of individuals and they may affect various aspects of life. Aim: To determine the relationship between tooth loss and oral health?related quality of life (OHRQoL) among adult dental patients. Study Setting and Design: A cross?sectional study was carried out among 296 adult dental patients aged 35–44 years attending Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology of Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Hyderabad, India. Materials and Methods: Oral Health Impact Profile?14 (OHIP?14) was used to assess OHRQoL. Dentition status and periodontal status according to WHO criteria 2013 and position, number of teeth lost by Batista et al. (2014) tooth loss classification were assessed. Statistical Analysis: Mann–Whitney U test and analysis of variance were used to find prevalence and severity of OHIP?14 with tooth loss and logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between OHIP?14 prevalence and severity based on variables. Results: Except for the subjects with history of previous dental visit, variables such as gender and reason for dental visit showed significant difference (P ? 0.05) with tooth loss. Males subjects, who visited dentist with a history of pain, presence of periodontal disease and tooth loss up to 12 teeth (score 3) emerged as significant predictors for OHIP?14 prevalence (OR = 6.7, OR = 1.13, OR = 3.31). Conclusion: The study strongly evidenced that number and position of tooth loss had negative impacts on OHRQoL

Effect of motivation on oral hygiene and caries status among young adults in Hyderabad City

Background: Motivation is a theoretical construct used to explain behavior, it gives the reasons for people's action, desires, and needs, and it drives an individual to a certain action and determines human behavior. Aim: To determine the effect of motivation on oral hygiene and caries status among young adults in Hyderabad city. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 18–20-year-old engineering college students of Nagole Institute of Technology and Sciences. Materials and Methods: Intrinsic motivation was evaluated using a self-reported 12-item dental intrinsic motivation scale (DIM-S). The oral examination included simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and decayed, missing, filled teeth index (DMFT index). Statistical Analysis Used: Mann–Whitney U-test and ANOVA test were used for comparison among the variables included in the study. Spearman's correlation was used to correlate DIM-S with oral parameters. Results: A total of 393 students participated in the study with majority of them being male (61.8%). It was observed that 69% of the students were extrinsically motivated and only 31% of them were intrinsically motivated. However, intrinsically motivated females had a higher significant score for calculus index–simplified and OHI-S scores. All oral parameters showed a negative correlation, except decayed component and the overall DMFT. However, no statistical significance was noticed among the variables. Conclusion: The present study revealed that to motivate people successfully, one not only has to give them information but also has to pay attention to the individual reasons which restrict their behavior.

Oral health status and treatment need among institutionalized elderly in India.

Aim: To assess the oral health status and treatment needs among elderly people aged 60 years and above residing as inmates in the old age homes of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Settings and Design: A cross‑sectional study was performed to determine the oral health status and treatment needs among elderly people. Materials and Methods: In order to assess the oral health status and treatment needs, the clinical assessment of oral mucosa, community periodontal index, loss of attachment, dentition status and treatment need, prosthetic status and prosthetic need was recorded based on a modified World Health Organization 1997 proforma. Statistical Analysis Used: Multi‑group analysis was done using analysis of variance. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 812 inmates, 431 (64.0%) of the study participants had oral mucosal lesions. In terms of periodontal status, all sextants were excluded (Code “X”) in 324 (39.9%) subjects. Out of dentate population, a majority of the inmates (219; 27.0%) presented with deep pockets (Code “4”) followed by shallow pockets (Code “3” ‑ 183; 22.5%). The majority of the subjects had no prosthesis in the upper arch (85.0%) and lower arch (86.6%). Conclusion: The study demonstrated poor oral health among institutionalized elderly inmates. Oral mucosal lesions were found to be higher and periodontal status was also poor amongst the study population.

Quality of life among dentists in teaching hospitals in South Canara, India.

Objectives : This paper reports on the quality of life among dentists using World Health Organization Abbreviated Instrument for Quality of Life Assessment, comprising 26 items which measure the following broad domains: Physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. Materials and Methods : The instrument was self-administered among dentists in four teaching dental institutions. A total of 191 questionnaires were given out. Of those, 187 were consented and answered, making up a response rate of 97.9%. The internal consistency of the questionnaire, measured by Cronbach's alpha was estimated at 0.75. Results : Highest mean score was seen for Domain 3 (Social relationships) (16.15 + 2.38) and the least score was for Domain 4 (Environment) (14.72 + 2.12). Higher proportions of respondents rated their quality of life as good (65.1 percent), and also majority of dentists (63.5 percent) were satisfied with their health. Conclusion : Quality of life recognizes the value of an individual's health in the broader psychologic and social aspects of his/her life. In this study, the overall rating of quality of life among dentists in teaching hospitals is good.