Amalgam use and waste management by Pakistani dentists: an environmental perspective

To assess amalgam use and waste management protocols practised by Pakistani dentists, a crosssectional study was made of 239 dentists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, recruited by convenience and cluster sampling. Amalgam was the most frequently used restorative material, with the choice dictated by patients' financial constraints. While 90.4% of dentists perceived amalgam as a health risk, only 46.4% considered it an environmental hazard. The majority disposed of amalgam waste in the trash, down the sink or as hospital waste. Very few [5.9%] had an amalgam separator installed in their dental office. Amalgam waste management protocols and mercury recycling should be introduced in Pakistan

comparative evaluation of oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of dental and pharmacy students of Riphah international university

Oral health promotion by healthcare professionals is a vital aspect of preventive dentistry. However, their personal oral hygiene behaviors play an integral role in such promotions. The aim of this study was to compare the oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of dental and pharmacy students of Riphah International University [RIU]. Using a self-administered structured questionnaire for a cross-sectional survey, a study population of 157 dental students [DS] and 303 pharmacy students [PS] were recruited by convenience sampling from the Islamabad campus of the university. DMFT index for each subject also was recorded. Comparisons between the two study groups were made using independent sample t-test. Results were grouped into four categories of caries prevalence, oral hygiene behaviors, oral health attitudes and knowledge. The mean DMFT index of dental students was 1.67 +/- 2.39 and PS 1.47 +/- 1.71 [p=0.36]. Most DS [72.6%] and half of PS [55.4%] brushed their teeth twice or more times a day [p=0.43], while only 19.3% of the study population flossed their teeth daily. Attitudes towards oral health were shown by 45.2% DS and 45.9% PS visiting the dentist only when driven by pain while 26.1% DS and 30% PS had never been to a dentist. Oral health knowledge was judged by only 33% DS and 34% PS [p=0.40] ever having noticed a sticky white layer on their tooth surfaces while only 17.5% DS and 2.9% PS [p=0.03] used a soft-bristled toothbrush. The DS did not exhibit any particularly exemplary oral hygiene preventive behaviors which generally fell below the recommended standards. Greater emphasis during their dental training could improve their oral self-care behaviors