Percentage of inflammatory cells in recurrent aphthous stomatitis in dental out patient department, Sheikh Zayed federal postgraduate medical Institute, Lahore

The objective of the study was to investigate the stages of recurrent aphthous stomatitis through cytological examination of the lesion which helps in diagnosis and treatment strategies. The study was carried out in Sheikh Zayed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. It was a Cross sectional Study and was completed within six months. Sixty patients of RAS and 60 controls were recruited to the study. There were 4 subjects having 75% of neutrophils in their smears, while 38 subjects of RAS had 40% of neutrophils and 18 were those who had 50% of these cells in their smear. Forty persent monocytes were present in 46 subjects; remaining 16 subjects had 50% of monocytes in the lesion. Lymphocytes were seen in 40% [53] subjects having the lesions of RAS while only 7 subjects showed the presence of 50% in their lesions. Through cytological examination of the smears of RAS it was concluded that there was increased number of neutrophil cells accumulation in the early [pre-monitory and pre-ulcerative] stages of RAS population

Prevalence of dental caries among 12-year old school children in Quetta, Balochistan

To assess the prevalence of dental caries among 12 years-old school children. Cross sectional study. Quetta tehsil and study was conducted in March 2003. A total of 153 children name were randomly selected from 4 large public schools in both urban and rural areas and children who were absent at the day of clinical examination were excluded. Caries status was assessed by using WHO criteria [1997]. The results of this study showed that a total of 153 schoolchildren in tehsil [sub district] Quetta, Balochistan were examined. Of those children, 78 [51.0%] were boys and 75[49.0%] were girls. The results of this study showed that dental caries in this age group is very high in this area [81.0% with the mean DMFT=1.38]. More than half of them [52.9%] had one carious tooth and about 2.7% has more than four carious teeth. This study showed that boys had 1 .206[95%CI=1.030. 1.413] times more likely to experience dental caries than girls and the lower first molars were mostly affected by caries. High prevalence of caries and the dental prevention covers school children is still inadequate. Fissure sealant program should be launched to prevent caries in this age group. Further information needed for evaluating dental prevention measures and the success with which they have been targeted at high-risk groups in public school dental service in Quetta, Pakistan