Mothers' sense of coherence and oral health-related quality of life in cleft lip and palate children visiting a private dental college: A Survey.

BACKGROUND: In addition to an adjusting physical appearance, children with cleft lip and palate also deal with psychological and psychosocial limitation. Mothers' sense of coherence (SOC) could be a psychosocial determinant of oral health quality of life (OH-QoL) of cleft lip and palate patients. Hence, the present study was done to assess the relationship of mothers' SOC on OH-QoL in cleft lip and palate patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted on mothers of cleft lip and palate children. The first part consisted of demographic details. The second part of scale was the early childhood and oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) which had a total 13 questions with responses on a 4-point Likert scale. The third part was to assess mothers' SOC using a short version of SOC-13 consists of 13 items on a 7-point Likert scale. Chi-square test was applied to assess the association between mothers' SOC, sociodemographic characteristic, and children's OHRQoL. In the analysis, P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Out of 69% of low SOC population, 21.73% were rural, 20.39% were from peri-urban, and 57.97% population was from urban areas. Out of 150 participants, 2.40% in high ECOHIS were illiterate/primary school, "31.32% were high school/intermediate/diploma had high ECOHIS while 66.26% were high school/intermediate/diploma" had low ECOHIS, and 25.37% were graduate/postgraduate. Mothers' education and locality were statistically significant P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Action to enhance mothers' SOC might form part of oral health promotion and help to improve the oral health quality of life of cleft lip and palate patients.

Impact of Oral Health Education on Oral Health Knowledge of Private School Children in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the early effect of oral health education on oral health knowledge of primary and intermediate school students of private schools by utilizing pre/post questionnaires data from oral health educational projects in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Second, to examine topic-specific knowledge differences between genders, nationalities, and educational levels of the students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional oral health educational data of private school students (n = 1279) in primary and intermediate levels were extracted from the King Salman Centre for Children's Health (KSCCH) projects undertaken by Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy. Student's pre- and post-test data were analyzed for changes in oral health knowledge. Overall knowledge score and topic-specific knowledge scores were calculated and the differences between gender, nationality, and educational level were examined using Mann-Whitney U-test. Pre/post change in the oral health knowledge was evaluated by Wilcoxon's sign rank test. RESULTS: Immediately, after oral health educational session high knowledge score category showed an increase of 25.6%, medium and low knowledge score categories showed -3.2% and -22.3% decrease, and this change was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Comparison of correct responses between pre- and post-test showed statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase in all the questions except for the timing of tooth brushing. Females, non-Saudi nationals and students in primary level of education showed significantly high mean knowledge (P < 0.001) at posttest assessment. CONCLUSION: Primary and intermediate private school student's overall, and topic-specific oral health knowledge improved immediately after educational intervention provided by KSCCH. High knowledge gain was observed among female non-Saudi primary school students.

Periodontal health awareness among gynecologists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge of periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes among the gynecologists practicing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 200 randomly chosen gynecologists from Riyadh was carried out by using a structured, self-administered, closed-ended questionnaire. Knowledge of periodontal disease and possible ways of prevention; knowledge of periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes; and oral self-care attitudes among gynecologists were assessed. RESULTS: One-quarter of the gynecologists knew the meaning of dental plaque. Almost 57.5% believed that the frequency of toothbrushing should be increased during pregnancy. Eighty percent of gynecologists were aware of the serious effects of smoking on the pregnant woman and her child. Less than half (44.5%) believed that there is a relationship between gum disease and premature labor. Gynecologists working in the government sector were significantly more aware about the causes of inflamed gum in pregnancy, gum disease and its prevention, and negative effects of smoking on pregnancy. A significantly higher percentage of male and senior gynecologists aged between 50 and 54 years answered that gum disease would lead to the delivery of a preterm or low-birth-weight infant. CONCLUSION: Gynecologists considered in the present study showed an acceptable level of knowledge and awareness toward periodontal health and the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Periodontal disease awareness among pregnant women in the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and awareness regarding periodontal disease and its effects on pregnancy among pregnant women in the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey, self-administered, structured questionnaires were distributed to 300 pregnant women who were chosen randomly from attendees of maternity health care centers in the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia. The questions were developed from literature reviews of articles. The questionnaire addressed personal and sociodemographic variables, periodontal health awareness, and knowledge of pregnant women. The questionnaire was translated into Arabic and was pretested during the pilot study on a random sample of 50 pregnant women. Data were analyzed by χ(2) -tests, with the level of significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: An overall response rate of 81% was obtained. Approximately 53% had a higher level of education, but only 21% knew how to define dental plaque and 30% knew its harmful effects. Almost 73% stated that gum disease could be prevented through toothbrushing and flossing. Approximately 97% of the respondents knew the negative effect of smoking, while only 12% knew there was a possible relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSION: The results of this cross-sectional study found that there is limited knowledge and awareness about periodontal disease and its possible effects on pregnancy among pregnant women attending maternal health care centers in the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia.

Interdental alveolar bone density in bruxers, mild bruxers, and non-bruxers affected by orthodontia and impaction as influencing factors / Densidad ósea alveolar interdental en bruxómanos, bruxómanos leves y no bruxómanos influenciada por ortodoncia e impactación dentaria

Abstract: aim: to assess the interdental alveolar bone density within specific regions of interest in the mandible of bruxers, mild bruxers and non-bruxers in absence or presence of influencing factors, such as orthodontia and impaction. Materials and methods: The study consisted of 104 subjects (64 bruxers and 40 controls) from the female students in the Faculty of Dentistry. Students were classified into bruxers, non-bruxers, and mild bruxers. The presence of modifying factors, such as impacted mandibular third molars and/or current or recent orthodontic treatment were identified. Panoramic radiographs were obtained, and the mean bone density values of interdental alveolar bone were measured using ImageJ software. Results: Nonbruxers had the highest mean bone density in all measured regions. The mesial aspect of the second premolar was an area of higher mean bone density in bruxers and in mild bruxers, compared to non bruxers. In the presence of orthodontic treatment, the mean bone density in non-bruxers surpassed that of bruxers and mild bruxers. Conclusion: Bruxism, whether mild or severe decreased the interdental mean bone density in the studied regions of interest. The presence of influencing factors affected the interdental mean bone density.

Resumen: evaluar la densidad ósea alveolar interdental en áreas de interés de la mandíbula de bruxómanos, bruxómanos leves y no bruxómanos en ausencia o presencia de factores como ortodoncia e impactación dentaria. Material y métodos: El estudio consistió de 104 (64 bruxómanos y 40 controles) estudiantes de odontología. Los estudiantes fueron clasificados en bruxómanos, bruxómanos leves y no bruxómanos. Se identificó la presencia de factores modificadores: terceros molares mandibulares y/o tratamiento de ortodoncia actual o reciente. Se obtuvieron radiografías panorámicas, y los valores medios de densidad ósea del hueso alveolar interdental se midieron utilizando el software ImageJ. Resultados: Los no bruxómanos tuvieron la mayor densidad ósea media en todas las áreas de interés. La cara mesial del segundo premolar fue un área de mayor densidad ósea media en bruxómanos y en bruxómanos leves, en comparación con los no bruxómanos. En presencia de un tratamiento de ortodoncia, la densidad ósea media en los no bruxómanos superó a la de bruxómanos y bruxómanos leves. Conclusión: El bruxismo, ya sea leve o grave, disminuye la densidad ósea interdental promedio en las regiones de interés estudiadas. La presencia ortodoncia e impactación dentaria influye en la densidad ósea interdental promedio.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of gynecologists regarding the prevention of oral diseases in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.

AIM: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of gynecologists regarding the prevention of oral diseases in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A structured, self administered, close-ended questionnaire was distributed among the randomly chosen sample of 200 gynecologists and their responses were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Nearly half of the respondents knew all the main risk factors of dental caries, gingivitis and malocclusion. An overall mean scores of 16.49 ± 5.63, 6.62 ± 1.59 and 7.13 ± 2.82, were observed for knowledge of risk factors, attitude and practices towards prevention of oral diseases respectively. Gynecologists working in the private hospitals showed signifi cantly higher mean attitude and practice scores towards prevention of oral diseases. A linear positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r=0.11, p=0.11), knowledge and practice (r=0.07, p=0.26), instead a negative correlation between attitude and practice (r=-0.04, p=0.53) was found by a Spearman's test. CONCLUSION: Gynecologists considered in the present study showed inadequate oral health knowledge, attitude and practices towards prevention of oral diseases. However, gynecologists expressed their need for further information regarding the prevention of oral diseases.

Infection control practices in dental school: A patient perspective from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Routine use of gloves, masks and spectacles are important in infection control. Aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of infection control measures among the patients attending clinics of Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy (RCsDP) in Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study of a convenient sample of dental patients attending dental clinics of RCsDP. A structured, close ended, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 350 patients and a response rate of 86% was obtained. Questionnaireconsisted of series of queries related to knowledge and attitudes of patients towards infection control measures. Data analysis included frequency distribution tables, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Level of significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Final study sample included 301 patients (147 males and 154 females). Almost 99%, 93.7% and 82.7% of the patients agreed that dentist should wear gloves, face mask and spectacles while providing treatment. However, 60.1%, 30% of the patients said that HIV and hepatitis-B infections can spread in dental clinics. Half of the patients felt that they were likely to contract AIDS and 77.7% refused to attend clinics if they knew that AIDS and Hepatitis-B patients treated there. Only 25.2% said that autoclave is the best method of sterilization. A significantly higher knowledge of infection control was observed among the previous dental visitors compared to the first time visitors to the dental clinics (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients revealed adequate knowledge towards the use of gloves, face mask and spectacles by dentist. However, their knowledge regarding the spread of Hepatitis-B, HIV infection and use of autoclave was poor. Previous visitor of dental clinics showed higher knowledge of infection control as compared to the first time visitors. Many patients expressed their negative attitudes towards dental care due to AIDS and Hepatitis-B concerns.

Evaluation of oral health behavior of female dental hygiene students and interns of Saudi Arabia by using Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI).

AIM: To evaluate and compare oral health behavior of female dental hygiene students/interns (stu/int) studying in private and government universities of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: An English version of Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) was self-administered by 85 dental hygiene stu/int of government and private university colleges and responses were collected. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, logistic regression models and independent t tests were performed. RESULTS: A significantly higher mean HU-DBI score was observed among the clinical dental hygiene stu/int (7.50 ± 1.55) and students of government universities (7.59 ± 1.72) as compared to the preclinical students (6.61 ± 2.03) stu/int studying in private university (6.69 ± 1.46). CONCLUSION: Considerable differences in oral health behaviours were observed between dental hygiene stu/int of government and private universities and preclinical and clinical level of dental hygiene education.