Periodontal status associated with dual habits of smoking and smokeless tobacco use: A cross-sectional study in young adults.

Background: Tobacco smoke is an established risk factor for periodontitis. However, few studies have evaluated the periodontal status of smokeless tobacco (SLT) users, while that of individuals with dual habits has largely been unexplored. Therefore, the current study aimed to find if the periodontal status in individuals with dual habits of smoking and SLT use is different from those with any single habit. Methods: Four groups (A: exclusive smokers, B: exclusive tobacco chewers, C: individuals with dual habits, and D: non-users of tobacco), each comprising 75 males in the age group of 20 to 35 years, were selected. Along with the history of tobacco use, a modified oral hygiene index (OHI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and the number of teeth with gingival recession (GR) were recorded. The data were assessed using the Chi-squared test, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results: Group C exhibited the highest mean OHI scores, with 94.66% of participants having poor oral hygiene (OHI>3.0). The prevalence of severe gingivitis (GI>2.0) was significantly lower among exclusive smokers (group A) and those with dual habits (group C) compared to the other two groups. As much as 60% of group C participants had average PD in the range of 4-6 mm, while deeper average PD (>6 mm) was most common among smokers. The highest risk of having a tooth with GR was also associated with the dual habit (OR = 4.33, 95% CI = 3.24 - 5.76) compared with the non-users. Conclusion: While both forms of tobacco were associated with poor periodontal status, the additive effect of smoking and SLT use was evident in almost all the parameters, more so with poor oral hygiene and the prevalence of gingival recession. These findings emphasize that individuals with dual habits have an additional risk for periodontal destruction.

Behaviors and Management of the Dental Problems by the Residents of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Dental problems are commonly encountered in our lives. Some of the common problems are toothache, bleeding gums and halitosis. OBJECTIVES: How the dental problems were handled, and reasons of not seeking dental treatment by the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational analytical cross-sectional study on adult's age above 14 years from Madinah. RESULTS: A total of 400 adults were included; 208 (52%) were males and 192 (48%) were females. Resident encountered toothache surprisingly only 49% sought dental treatment, while (41%) settled for taking medications. Among bleeding gum patients most of them (45%) went to the dentist, while (41%) settled for using the home care. And dealing with halitosis only (17%) went to the dentist. The most common reasons for not seeking dental treatment were fear and long appointments. And mostly they had fear because of dental drill and dental needle. CONCLUSION: The most common problems for seeking treatment were toothache followed by bleeding gums and the least was halitosis. Number of people who sought treatment was still a low number. The most common reason that stopped patients from going to the dentist was fear and long appointments. There should be increase of dental clinics and patients should be given dental education.

Prevalence and Attitude of Cigarette Smoking Among Indian Expatriates Living in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to determine the prevalence and attitudes of smoking among expatriate Indian workers living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was done. All the data were collected using a questionnaire-based interview. RESULTS: A total of 421 people were interviewed. Almost half (42%) of the participants were between 31 and 40 years old and 7% were over 51 years. The majority of participants (63%) reported to be non-smokers. The maximum number of smokers was between 41 and 50 years old (42%) and most of them were regular smokers. Almost a third of the subjects (30%) had a higher secondary level of education, and 7% were illiterate. There was a significant association between the prevalence of smoking and the level of education (P < 0.001). Among smokers, half of them smoked more than 21 cigarettes/day. More than half, 238 (57%) of participants agreed that the tobacco was harmful to their health, and 50% agreed that tobacco sales should be banned. Among all, 92% were concerned about their health and 98% accepted that the tobacco causes diseases. The majority of smokers cited stress, loneliness financial responsibilities and a lack of socializing as reasons for their smoking habit. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence was relatively high, the majority was aware of the harmful effects of smoking and was keen to have the sale of tobacco banned. Due to their possible loneliness and stress, many felt that smoking helped ease their stress and tension.

Oral Health Knowledge and Attitude among Primary School Teachers of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Effect of oral health knowledge and attitude has direct effect on school children so aim of this study is to know the oral health knowledge and attitude among primary school teachers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire based survey done in 2014. Four males and three females schools were selected using a convenience sampling method. Among them, three were private and the rest was government schools. Approval was obtained from the selected schools. One hundred twenty self-administered questionnaires in Arabic language were distributed among the primary school teachers. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned with a response rate of 95%. Among the teachers, 57% were males and rests were females. The mean age was 36.1 years (SD ± 6.9). Sixty-eight percent were between 31 and 40 years old and among them female showed high score for oral health knowledge (80%) p < 0.001 whereas male showed high score of attitude (82%) p < 0.05. Thirty-three percent had 5 and 10 years of teaching experience. Ninety-eight percent were graduate or above. Eighty-nine percent had used toothbrush. There was no significant relation between the teaching experience and the oral health knowledge (p = 0.14) but there was a significant relation between teaching experience and attitude (p = 0.001). In this sample, irrespective of their frequency of tooth brushing, a significant number had good knowledge (p < 0.001) and highly acceptable attitudes (p = 0.001) toward oral health. CONCLUSION: Primary school teachers had acceptable knowledge and attitudes regarding their oral health. Further studies are needed to evaluate and compare their oral health status to their knowledge and attitudes and to determine whether they offer oral health education to the school children.

Prevalence and attitude of cigarette smoking among Indian expatriates living in jeddah, kingdom of saudi arabia.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to determine the prevalence and attitudes of smoking among expatriate Indian workers living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was done. All the data were collected using a questionnaire-based interview. RESULTS: A total of 421 people were interviewed. Almost half (42%) of the participants were between 31 and 40 years old and 7% were over 51 years. The majority of participants (63%) reported to be non-smokers. The maximum number of smokers was between 41 and 50 years old (42%) and most of them were regular smokers. Almost a third of the subjects (30%) had a higher secondary level of education, and 7% were illiterate. There was a significant association between the prevalence of smoking and the level of education (P < 0.001). Among smokers, half of them smoked more than 21 cigarettes/day. More than half, 238 (57%) of participants agreed that the tobacco was harmful to their health, and 50% agreed that tobacco sales should be banned. Among all, 92% were concerned about their health and 98% accepted that the tobacco causes diseases. The majority of smokers cited stress, loneliness financial responsibilities and a lack of socializing as reasons for their smoking habit. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence was relatively high, the majority was aware of the harmful effects of smoking and was keen to have the sale of tobacco banned. Due to their possible loneliness and stress, many felt that smoking helped ease their stress and tension.

Assessment of knowledge of dental staff at a saudi arabian university regarding the prophylaxis for infective endocarditis.

UNLABELLED: The use of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of infective endocarditis following dental procedures has long been debated and there is still confusion regarding its efficacy. As a result, the prophylactic treatment varies considerably amongst different countries across the world and amongst different dental practitioners. AIM: To evaluate the knowledge of dental staff regarding the guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis. METHODS: This was a cross sectional analytical study which included all staff members. A self administered questionnaire was used and responses were "graded" according to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. RESULTS: The response rate was 87% (N=39) and 97% reported to use the AHA guidelines; 66% reported their knowledge was based on previous training and scientific journals. Of those cardiac conditions and dental procedures which required prophylaxis; 47% and 65% chose the correct option, respectively. Penicillin was prescribed as the drug of choice by the majority of respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Although almost all staff reported the use of the AHA guidelines, many were not following them. The study emphasizes the need for continuous education and evaluation of this critical aspect of dentistry.

Correlating dental caries with oral bacteria and the buffering capacity of saliva in children in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Caries is associated with high counts of mutans streptococci (MS), lactobacillus (LB), and a low saliva buffering capacity (BC). No study using odds ratios (OR) has correlated caries and these factors and no similar study has been done in Saudi Arabia before. OBJECTIVES: To determine: The prevalence of caries, the number of colony forming units (CFUs) of MS and LB, the saliva buffering capacity (BC) and the relationship between these factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an analytical cross sectional study on children from Madinah. Caries was recorded using dmft/DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth). The scores for MS and LB and the BC of saliva was calculated using the Caries Risk Test (CRT)(®). RESULTS: A total of 316 students were examined; two-thirds (62%) were female and 25% were caries free. Saliva was collected from 235 participants and the majority had high MS and LB scores (66 and 71%, respectively) while 25% had a low saliva BC. The odds for those who had high LB and MS CFUs, were 9 and 4 times more at risk to developing dental caries and those with a low BC had significantly more caries (P = 0.03). The likelihood for those having severe caries and high counts of LB and MS was 25 (P < 0.01) and 6 (P = 0.042) times greater, respectively, compared to those with no or mild caries. Those with multiple risk factors were more likely to have caries compared to those with single or no risk factors present. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of caries was relatively high and many respondents had greater than 10(5) CFUs/ml of MS and LB. Almost all with a low BC had severe caries. There was a strong correlation between high MS, high LB, and low BC and the high prevalence of caries; hence the combination of these factors could be confidently used to predict caries in this population.

Prevalence of first permanent molar caries in and its relationship to the dental knowledge of 9-12-year olds from jeddah, kingdom of saudi arabia.

The carious status of the first permanent molar (FPM) was studied in 432 school children (aged 9-12 years) from a randomly selected primary schools from Sharfia area of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 108 children from each age group of 9, 10, 11, and 12 years old. In total, 24.5% had all of their FPMs sound and 6% had all FPMs carious. The prevalence of four sound FPMs varied according to age with the highest (33%) amongst the nine-year olds and the lowest (16.5%) in the oldest children (12 years). Almost one-third (32.5%) of the children, who knew the age of eruption of the FPMs, had all of their molars sound. The children who had received advice regarding oral hygiene from a dentist or parent had more sound FPMs compared to the children who did not receive any advice. The number of carious FPMs increased with age. The prevalence of caries of the FPM was high and increased with increasing age. The level of knowledge had a positive correlation with the caries levels amongst this cohort of scholars.