Cross infection in the high-touch areas of dental radiology clinics.

Disinfection and sterilization have received considerable attention due to the spread of AIDS and HIV. Several infections hazards to the patient and personnel of dental surgery have been identified from blood, saliva and water of dental unit. The high touch areas of dental x-ray equipment is a potential source of infection. The present study was undertaken to determine the extent of cross-infection present in the dental radiology clinics with and without the use of surface disinfectants. Swabs taken from high touch areas of the x-ray equipment in 15 different sessions with in one month were cultured in three different media. The study revealed, almost all high touch areas in dental radiology clinic had bacterial contamination in the absence of surface disinfection. "Webcol" and "Superficid" disinfectants showed minimum or no contamination. To remove risk of cross-infection, disinfection of high-touch areas of dental x-ray equipment is mandatory.

Classification of cervical burnout and its distribution in the dentition.

A retrospective analysis of 25 full mouth intra oral radiographs, including bitewing films was carried out from the hospital records of King Saud University College of Dentistry in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, A new classification of cervical burnout (CB) based on shape was attempted. Analysis of the data revealed greater frequency of CB in maxillary teeth (67.5%) than in the mandibular teeth (32.5%). The highest frequency among maxillary teeth was in incisors (75%), while the least was in the molars (30%). In mandible, the corresponding findings was in the canines (40%) and in the molars (15.3%). Seventy per cent of CB disappeared in bitewing view in maxillary and mandibular premolars while remaining teeth showed this phenomenon in less than 50% cases. It was concluded that the frequency of CB was greater in maxillary teeth than mandibular teeth. Maxillary incisors and mandibular canines are more likely to show CB. In molars and premolars, CB present in periapical radiographs may disappear in a bitewing view.

Internship program in King Saud University College of Dentistry. Attitudes of interns.

The objective of the present survey was to look into the attitudes of the interns towards their training program in King Saud University College of Dentistry. A self administered questionnaire was designed for this purpose. One hundred and twenty four interns participated in the survey. The branch of dentistry in which they liked to work most was restorative dentistry (20.3%) followed by prosthodontics (18.9%) and, oral surgery (16.2%) and endodontics (16.2%). The greatest faculty assistance was required in orthodontics (46.3%) followed by oral surgery (20.9%) and diagnosis (17.9%). 80.5% of the interns were interested in further studies. The most favorite subject for further studies was oral surgery (37.9%) followed by restorative dentistry (18.9%) and prosthetics (17.9%). A considerable majority of the interns had a very positive attitude towards dentistry as a profession.

Relationship between caries, water fluoride level and socioeconomic class in 15-year-old Indian school children.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between caries experience, water fluoride level and socioeconomic class among the 15-year-old school children of Tamilnadu. The study children were stratified on the basis of water fluoride level and socioeconomic (SE) class. The children were divided into low, medium and high SE classes. There was a highly significant (P < .001) difference in the carious experience of 15-year-old children from low fluoride (LF) areas in relation to the SE class, the low SE class having the highest caries experience. There was almost no difference between the caries experience of low SE class 15-year-old children from the LF area and high fluoride (HF) area (Z < 1.96 and P > 0.05). The difference between caries experience of 15-year-old children from LF and HF areas was not statistically significant (Z < 1.96 and P > 0.05). The present study has indicated towards the need of provision of more vigorous preventive efforts in lower SE class children in both the urban and rural population.