Oral health status, health behaviour and treatment needs of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery

Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the oral health status and treatment needs of cardiovascular surgery patients. Second, the awareness of cardiovascular surgery patients regarding the association between oral health and heart disease was considered. Methods: Assessment of oral health status, oral hygiene practices and treatment needs of 106 hospitalized patients in preparation for cardiovascular surgery. Patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire designed for this study and oral examination was carried out by a dentist. Results: The oral hygiene practices of the study cohort were not up to the standard. Patients' awareness of infective endocarditis was poor. Approximately 68% patients experienced dental caries as decayed teeth or missing teeth due to caries and filled teeth. The mean plaque index in the study group was 1.25. In this study cohort, the mean probing depth of periodontal pockets was 5.7±1.3, whereas the mean number of teeth with periodontal pockets > 6 mm was 0.5±0.9. A total of 84 (74.2%) of the patients required dental treatment. Conclusion: The principal finding in this study was that patients with heart disease had poor oral health. This study also highlights the importance of better interaction among all healthcare professionals to integrate oral health as part of comprehensive inpatient healthcare.

Stress Related Oral Disorders: An Update

Oral changes with psychosomatic etiology are still an insufficiently confirmed and investigated subgroup of psychosomatic diseases which have long been known in medicine. In their daily practice dentists frequently come across patients showing signs of stress and their oral manifestations in form of recurrent oral stomatitis, oral lichen planus and temporomandibular disorders. Recognition of such psychological or emotional disturbance benefits both the patient and clinician. Hence psychological management should be taken into consideration when treating patients with these psychosomatic disorders.

Pyogenic Granuloma Of Upper Lip: A Case Report

Pyogenic granuloma is a common tumor-like growth of the oral cavity that is supposed to be non-neoplastic in nature. It is a reactional response to minor trauma or chronic irritation and due to hormonal changes. Clinically oral pyogenic granuloma is a smooth or lobulated exophytic lesion on a pedunculated or sessile base, which is mostly haemorrhagic. Although pyogenic granuloma is a non-neoplastic growth in the oral cavity, proper diagnosis, prevention, management and treatment is very important. This case report draws attention towards the uncommon location of the pyogenic granuloma on the upper lip. Surgical excision was done because of the cosmetic disfigurement and discomfort to the patient.

Probing into the prevalence and factors of gallstones formation in Jharkhand Region in India.

Gallstone is one of the major gastrointestinal problems. There are many factors which leads to gallstone formation, like age, sex, obesity etc. Many factors are still under study. In our study we have tried to analyse our data of gallstone patients with the factors which have already been studied in past elsewhere but not in Jharkhand. In a data survey in Jharkhand region of India, we have tried to study different risk factors of gallstone formation. It was analysed that cholesterol rich diet especially nonvegetarian consumption (68% of patients were nonvegetarian) and age are the major influencing factors. Gallstones are found more frequently in women than men. The ratio of male to female gallstone patients is about 1: 3. It was seen that 72.6% of the cases were in the age of 21-50. This means that with growing age incidence of gallstone increases. In our study we found out that genetics, diabetes and smoking are not much related to gallstone formation.