Social and Behavioural Factors Associated with Dental Caries Experience among Adolescent School Children in Bengaluru City, India.

Aim: To assess the influence of social and behavioural factors on dental caries experience among adolescent school children in Bengaluru city, India. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Primary schools of Bengaluru City, between November 2012 and March 2013. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted on 11 year old 814 adolescents attending upper primary schools of Bengaluru city and their parents. Separate interview for adolescent students and parents was conducted on behavioural and social factors respectively. Dental caries was recorded according to WHO criteria using mouth mirrors and CPI probes under natural light. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis using chi-square tests and t-tests. Later the variables were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Results: Dental caries experience of the children studied was associated with social factors such as occupation of the mother (OR=1.9; 95% CI=1.3-2.3), presence of social support for mother during adulthood (OR=2.1; 95% CI=1.4-2.0), possession of television (TV)/computer at home (OR= 1.6; 95%=0.9-3.0); and behavioral factors such as adolescents who consume at least one serving of dairy/legumes/eggs/meat or poultry per day (OR=1.8; 95% CI=0.14-1.32), those who consume sweet snacks >1times in a day (OR=1.42; 95% CI=0.82-1.83). Influence of parents and TV on snacking, tooth brushing frequency and fluoridated dentifrice were also shown to be significantly associated with dental caries experience. Conclusion: Social factors such as occupation of the mother and social support play an important role in shaping the more proximal behavioural habits such as snacking among 11 year old children. These interactions ultimately influenced dental caries experience in this age group.

Assessment of noise levels of the equipments used in the dental teaching institution, Bangalore.

Context: In dental practical classes, the acoustic environment is characterized by high noise levels in relation to other teaching areas, due to the exaggerated noise produced by some of these devices and use of dental equipment by many users at the same time. Aims: To measure, analyze and compare noise levels of equipments among dental learning areas under different working conditions and also to measure and compare noise levels between used and brand new handpieces under different working conditions. Materials and Methods: Noise levels were measured and analyzed in different dental learning areas that included clinical, pre-clinical areas and laboratories selected as representatives of a variety of learning-teaching activities. The noise levels were determined using a precision noise level meter (CENTER® 325 IEC 651 TYPE II) with a microphone. The mean of the maxima was determined. The data were collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed using t tests. Results: The noise levels measured varied between 64 and 97 dB(A).The differences in sound levels when the equipment was merely turned on and during cutting operations and also between used and brand new equipments were recorded. The laboratory engines had the highest noise levels, whereas the noise levels in high-speed turbine handpieces and the low-speed contra angle handpieces were decreased. Conclusion: The noise levels detected in this study are considered to be close to the limit of risk of hearing loss.