Oral health status of the elderly in Lahore district of Pakistan

Poor oral health among old aged people is an important public health issue and a growing burden to countries worldwide. In Pakistan, there is paucity of data available regarding the oral health status of the elderly. This study was aimed to describe oral health status of the elderly in Lahore district, by assessing the dental disease prevalence in the 60+ age group. The current study was conducted in Lahore district. The results of the study are based on 470 valid examination proformas. The mean age of the total sample was 66.71+6.39 falling in the range of 60-91 years. Extra and intra oral examination were carried out. All clinical findings were recorded on the standard World Health Organization [WHO] oral health assessment form. Prevalence of periodontal disease as observed by Community Periodontal Index [CPI] was almost 70% in the study population. Calculus, most frequent findings, was observed in 28% subjects, shallow pocketing in 23.25% whereas deep pocketing was reported in 18.75%. Mean Decayed Missing Filled [DMF] score for the sample was 16.3 with females scoring higher than males. Missing component constituted 86.5% of the DMF score. 80% of the subjects did not wear any prosthesis, while almost 11.85% wore either a bridge or a partial denture or both; and another 8.5% wore a complete denture. Temporomandibular joint [TMJ] symptoms were reported by 11.25% of the subjects whereas TMJ clicking was the most common sign observed in 38%. TMJ tenderness and reduced jaw mobility was observed in 11.1% and 1.4% of the subjects respectively. Results of the current study clearly indicate poor oral health status of the elderly in the study population of Lahore. The level of unmet needs is very high hence; more attention needs to be given towards is improving and maintaining the oral health status of the elderly

Improving quality of life of diabetic patients through non-surgical periodontal treatment

Improving the periodontal health leads to better glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients. [6,7] The study included known type II diabetic patients registered with the Diabetic Out Patient Department of Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore and Oral examinations were carried out in the Department of Oral Health Sciences of Shaikh Zayed Medical Institute. 61 subjects, 31 treatment group 30 control group. All the patients were non smokers with at least 14 teeth and showed wild to severe level of periodontal disease. Age ranged from 45-65 years. HbA1c values varied from 5-8%. No history of systemic antibiotic administration in the past 3 months. Subjects with any change in oral glycemic drug or its dose altered renal medication or any antibiotics were not included in the study. Treatment group showed a statistically and clinical significant improvement of 16.25% in HbA1c values. The periodontal therapy improves quality of life of diabetic person by improving glycemic control and decreasing the patients' dosage of oral glycemic drugs. In review of this advantage periodontal therapy should be made an integral part of the regime to improve glycemic control

Oral health attitudes, knowledge, and behavior amongst high and low socioeconomic school going children in Lahore, Pakistan

This study was carried out to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and behavior of low and high socioeconomic school going children and the type of food available and consumed at school premises, as well as the dental health care facilities available at schools. It was a multi-centric study which analysed school going children [n=281] from grade 1 to grade 10 who attended private schools of both high and low income groups in Lahore, Pakistan. A questionnaire adapted from Peterson and Stenberg et al designed to assess children's behavior, knowledge and perception of their oral health and dental treatment along with the availability of healthy food in the school was used. Results showed that 54% of HSES students bought food from cafeteria as compared to only 11% of LSES School. 41% LSES children's parents did not observe their child while brushing. 54% of LSES and 41% of HSES visited the dentist only in pain. 39% of HSES but only 12%of LSES went for regular checkups. Reason for not visiting the dentist among HSES students was fear of drilling [40.3%] and 9.3% in LSES. It was concluded that there was a dire need of health education programs especially for low socio economic school children. This study provides baseline information about children's knowledge, their attitudes and behavior towards eating habits, maintaining oral hygiene, seeking dental treatment of low socio economic and high socio economic school children in Lahore

Is oral health status of children with beta-Thalassemia worse than that of their normal counterparts?

To determine the association, if any, of patients suffering from beta-Thalassema with dental caries, gingival condition and oral health status and compare it to their normal counterparts. A. total of 90 children suffering from beta-Thalassemia and 60 healthy controls [age range 6-15 years] were selected from similar socio-economic and parental education background. Oral hygiene status and gingival condition were examined using Oral hygiene Index-Simplified and Modified Gingival Index respectively. Dental caries was recorded using DMFT /dmft Index according to the criteria described by the World health Organisation. Dental caries status in both primary and permanent dentition was found similar in both the groups of children [p>0.5]. GI score of thalassemic children was 0.73 +/- 1.08 and of the healthy subjects was 0.85 +/- 0.95 [p>0.5], however oral health status of the two groups was found to be different [p<0.005] with a larger number of healthy group having [good] oral hygiene as compared to their thalassemic counterparts. There was no significant difference in the dental caries status and gingival condition of children with beta-Thalassemia as compared to their normal counterparts; however, oral hygiene status of the healthy children was significantly better than children suffering from beta-Thalassemia

Oral health related quality of life individuals with down syndrome

Down syndrome [DS] is the most common cause of mental and physical retardation in the world. Individuals with Ds have skeletal, dental and soft tissue anomalies which along with their mental retardation lead to poor level of oral health as compared to normal population. This in turn has a negative impact on their quality of life. Despite all the problems oral health is reported to be the greatest unattended need of the disabled. The present review highlights the dental and oral problems that are faced by individual with DS so that a strategy can be devised to handle these conditions in the dental office