Frequency of hypodontia in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi

To compare frequency of missing teeth in samples of population from Karachi. Cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in Department of Orthodontics, Karachi Medical and Dental College from October 2011 to October 2012. During the study period, 465 panoramic radiographs were evaluated and according to exclusion and inclusion criteria 309 panoramic radiographs were selected, out of which 109 [35.27%] were males and 200 [64.73%] were females. The patients were 12-25 years old. Data were collected and entered into the SPSS software [version 18; Chicago] to calculate frequencies, percentages and mean +/- SD. 02 males were found with hypodontia [1.83%] while 10 females were found with hypodontia [5%]. Few teeth like maxillary central incisors, 1[st] premolar and 1[st] molar in both arches show no congenital absence. A total of 17 teeth, [males = 3, females = 14] in 12 patients were congenitally missing. The most common congenitally missing teeth were maxillary left 2 incisor 23.52% followed by mandible left 2 pre-molar 17.64%. By early detection of missing teeth, alternative treatment modalities can be planned and minimize the complications of CMT. In this study it has been observed that among the population of Karachi threshold for agenesis of maxillary left 2nd incisors is the most commonly missing, followed by mandibular 2[nd] premolars

Prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis and use of tobacco and related products amongst school going males

This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of oral sub-mucous fibrosis among male school going children in a low socio-economic class and to analyze the relationship between oral submucous fibrosis and the use of various form of tobacco and areca nut. It was conducted on 54 male school going children aged between 10-19 years studying in classes VI to X of a public school in the catchment area of Hamdard University Dental Hospital Block-L North Nazimabad, Karachi. Results of the study showed that 50% of the study subjects used tobacco and its related products and amongst them 7.4% of Oral Submucous Fibrosis cases were identified. Tobacco and its related products have flooded the Pakistani market being cheap and convenient and have become popular in school age groups. They have been identified as a high risk for occurrence of the precancerous lesion [oral submucous fibrosis]. Screening system in all schools must be introduced to identify precancerous lesion at an early stage

Periodontal conditions in pregnant and non - pregnant women in Karachi

The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of clinical plaque treatment removal in pregnant and non-pregnant females in Karachi, Pakistan. A quasi experimental study was designed with a sample size of 108 women, both pregnant and non-pregnant. Three antenatal clinics from different areas of Karachi were selected. Total duration of study was two and a half years. A total of 86 pregnant females were selected along with 22 non-pregnant females by random sampling. Pregnant females in the first trimester were placed in group-A while from second trimester in group-B. A control group of non-pregnant females were placed in group-C. Groups A and B were given half mouth treatment for the first month. They were retreated with complete mouth therapy in the second month. Groups C were given a full mouth treatment. CPI [Community Periodontal Index] and PU [Plaque Index] were recorded. All subjects were put on a maintenance regimen of Triclosan containing tooth paste. Significant changes in Plaque Index [PLD and Community Periodontal Index [CPI] were recorded after plaque removal. Half mouth plaque removal resulted in a better outcome regarding gingival health and plaque severity in Group A and B as compared to Group C [p<0.05]. Intervention [in terms of plaque removal and triclosan dentifrice] resulted in a significant reduction in PLI and CPI scores in all groups. The intervention by plaque removal at early stage of pregnancy along with maintenance with triclosan had resulted in a more favorable outcome regarding gingival diseases and plaque

Dental caries amongst preschool children in Manghopir, Karachi, Pakistan

To determine prevalence, severity, and pattern of dental caries in preschool children of Manghopir, Karachi, Pakistan. From the area of Manghopir, Karachi a total of 789 randomly selected preschool children, 379 [48%] male and 410 [52%] female, with mean age of 4.7 [SD 0.8] years were examined for dental caries using World Health Organization [WHO] diagnostic criteria. The overall caries prevalence among the sample was 62.1%. The mean decayed, missing, and filled [dmft] score was 3.2 [SD 1.9] with a decay component of 2.4, a missing component of 0.3, and a filled component of 0.5. There was no significant difference [p>.05] in caries prevalence and severity in relation to gender of the children. However, the caries prevalence and severity were significantly higher [p<.05] among children from government preschools as compared to those from private preschools. Among the posterior teeth, mandibular second molars [54.3%], and among anterior teeth, maxillary central incisors [27.9%] had the highest caries prevalence. Among the molars, caries prevalence was generally high in lower molars while among the anterior teeth, upper teeth generally had a higher caries prevalence. The majority of the children [58.4%] had posterior tooth caries only, 34.2% had both posterior and anterior tooth caries, while very few [7.3%] children had only anterior tooth caries. Caries prevalence and severity were high in the study population, and most children had posterior tooth caries

Status of amalgam restorations at a teaching institute

The present study was undertaken to investigate the various causes of amalgam restoration failures. This is a Cross-sectional study. Class Amalgam II fillings with post restoration complaints were clinically examined in randomly selected 200 patients of both genders, at the out patient department of Operative Dentistry. Our study revealed that 61% cases reported with restoration fractures, followed by recurrent carries with 21% failures. Over hang fillings with 12% and food entrapment due to poor proximal contact in 6% cases were the third and fourth most common complaints

Association of mandibular third molar impaction with mandibular second molar root resorption

A two year retrospective study was conducted to find the association of mandibular third molar im-paction with the root resorption of mandibular second molar tooth at Oral Surgery Department of Baqai Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi from July 2003 to July 2005. The impactions were diagnosed on the basis of radiograph Orthopantomogram [OPG]. The status of the third molar impaction was classified according to Pell Gregory as A,B,C and 1,2,3. Root resorption of second molar was assessed on the basis of discontinuity and irregularity of the root surface and loss of tooth substance at the cervical region, lateral side, or apex. Age and gender distribution was evaluated by using chi-square test. The sample size was 125 [n]. Mean Age was 28.2. Male to Female ratio was 2:3.The incidence of radiographic superimposition of the second molar on the third molar was 75/125 [60%]. Root formation of impacted third molar was found to be significantly associated with root resorption of adjacent second molars with p-value < 0.05 at 95% Cl and likelihood ratio of 44.17. Ramus relationship of impacted third molar showed a significant association with root resorption of adjacentsecond molar with p-value < 0.05 at 95% Cl and likelihood ration of 14.9. Early detection of resorption and early removal of third molar can save future complications

Coronary artery disease: a review of risk factors

An attempt is made to review the relationship between coronary artery disease [CAD] and its risk factors. The major risk factor for CAD is endothelial dysfunction, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, increased insulin resistance, and hyperhomocysteinemia. The other factors such as genetic, constitutional, environmental, gender, ethnicity, social support, increased fat and caloric intake, decreased physical activity and associated changes [increased inflammatory markers, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress] are also associated with increased risk for CAD in elderly. Special emphasis is given to the factors such as, psychosocial, life style, environmental, genetic, immunological, free radical species, gender, menopause, anemia, comorhidity, hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, renal disease, pulmonary disease, side effects of therapeutic drugs and radiation

Study of dental diseases in 12-year old children in Karachi

To report the prevalence of dental diseases among the 12-year-old students in a Peri-urban area of Karachi, Pakistan. This crossectional study was carried out on a sample comprising of 83 subjects, 67 males and 21 females using the WHO prescribed form and diagnostic criteria. It was found that the dental fluorosis was 32%, which is comparably higher than a similar study, conducted in the USA. The oral hygiene of the subjects was poor whereas most of the subjects were caries free. This study highlights the importance of public health awareness of oral diseases, as this will reduce the burden of curative dental services in a country like Pakistan with financial limitations