Perception of Oral Health and Practices among Children Residing in Orphanages in Bengaluru.

Background: Children residing in orphanages often have accumulated oral health needs as they are unaware of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. Due to financial constraints, the provision of oral health care is often neglected. Aims and Objectives: This study attempts to assess the perception of oral health and practices among children residing in orphanages in Bengaluru. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 269 inmates, which assessed their perception and practices concerning oral health. Results: The self-assessment and practices of the study participants varied significantly. The proportion of substance abuse was very low, and the oral hygiene practices of the majority of participants were good. Conclusion: Interventions need to be undertaken to improve and reinforce oral health awareness among the study participants.

Effect of Dental Anxiety on Oral Health among the First-Time Dental Visitors: A Hospital-based Study.

Objective: The objective was to assess dental anxiety and to find its association with oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among 20-40-year-old patients visiting Vokkaligara Sangha Dental College and Hospital. Materials and Methods: A single-center, hospital-based cross-sectional study was done among first-time dental visitors in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vokkaligara Sangha Dental College and Hospital over a period of 8 months (July 14-February 18). The sample size was determined to be 700. Participants in the age group of 20-40 years were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using Corah's Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and clinical examination was done using the WHO oral health assessment form and OHI-S. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and t-test. The associations found through bivariate analysis were entered as predictor variables into linear and binomial logistic regression models with high dental anxiety as the outcome variable. Results: The results of the study suggested that 56% of the study participants were having dental anxiety. Local anesthetic injection (80%) and fear of tooth drilling (60%) were the most anxiety-provoking stimulus. Analysis of OHIP-14 suggested that respondents perceiving oral health as affecting their life quality (very often/fairly often) in the past year were observed for items such as tension, difficulty to relax, irritability, difficulty in doing usual jobs, and totally unable to function because of oral problems. Dental anxiety was significantly associated with gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.32), education (OR = 1.43), occupation (OR = 2.07), poor oral hygiene status (OR = 3.15), presence of dental caries (OR = 2.67), bleeding on probing (OR = 1.57), presence of periodontal pockets (OR = 2.64), clinical attachment loss (OR = 1.63), and OHRQoL (OR = 1.76). Stepwise linear regression model of independent variables (<0.05 variables included) explained dental caries as highest predictor (39%), followed by debris (22%), calculus (38%), mean OHIS (27%), mean OHIP-14 (29%), deep pocket (14%), and the least predictor was shallow pocket (9%). Conclusion: Dental anxiety was associated with poor oral health status seeking further attention to modify patients' behavior regarding improvement in oral health status.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Different Fluoride-releasing Bonding Agents on Prevention of Enamel Demineralization around Orthodontic Bracket: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of the current research was to evaluate the efficacy of different fluoride-releasing bonding products in preventing enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was performed using 80 healthy human premolar teeth that were extracted in course of orthodontic therapy. Until use, the sample premolars were subjected to storage in 0.1% thymol. Each premolar was thereafter cleansed with pumice for 10 seconds. Stainless steel brackets for premolars were employed. The 80 samples were allocated at random to one of the four groups (20 in each) as follows: Group I, control; group II, Transbond Plus color change adhesive; group III, GC Fuji Ortho LC; and group IV, Vitremer. An hour following bonding, all samples were subjected to pH cycling at a temperature of 37°C for a 14-day period. The premolar teeth were assessed below SEM. Analysis was performed with the one-way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was set at a p-value less than 0.05. RESULTS: The extreme area of demineralization was abridged by the use of Transbond™ Plus color change adhesive (108.19 ± 0.68), trailed by GC Fuji Ortho LC (119.24 ± 0.37) use, Vitremer (121.56 ± 0.92) as well as the control group (141.88 ± 1.09) in that order. And there was a statistically significant difference found between the groups (p <0.001). Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) was employed in an overall comparison of mean areas of enamel demineralization, which depicted that differences were significant statistically with the exception of group III and group IV. CONCLUSION: The current research came to a conclusion that the Transbond Plus color change adhesive group was more potent in significant inhibition of demineralization areas in comparison to GC Fuji Ortho LC group and Vitremer group. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In course of fixed orthodontic therapy, demineralization of enamel is an inherent occurrence. Multiple approaches are being continually developed to avoid the formation of white spot lesions (WSLs) that compromise esthetics and cause deprived remineralization that enhances the menace of dental caries. Bonding agents that can release fluorides are thus considered highly efficacious.

Dental pain among 10-15 year old children attending oral health promoting schools: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Dental pain is a major public health problem and one of the consequences of oral diseases which requires significant adjustments in life management leading to decreased quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To assess prevalence of dental pain and its impact on daily life and to explore its relationship with oral health behavior and clinical oral status among 10-15 year old school children attending oral health promoting schools. METHOD: This cross sectional study was conducted in 6 schools serving low -middle socio economic strata in Bangalore, India. A total of 1237 children were surveyed for history of dental pain during past 3 month. Participants who reported dental pain completed self-reported oral health behaviour and Child dental pain questionnaire. Clinical oral examination included assessment of dental caries, periodontal status. Data was analyzed using t - test, Chi-square test, ANOVA and Regression Analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence of dental pain was 15.6% (n = 194). Among children with pain, 17%, 43% and 40% reported mild, moderate and severe pain. Impact on daily activities was reported by 66%. Mean DMFT and DMFS was 1.80 and 2.11 Mean deft and defs was 2.47 and 3.41. Multiple logistic regression revealed that severity and impact of dental pain was associated with gender, frequency of tooth brushing, consumption of sweets and deciduous dental caries experience. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of Dental pain is associated with brushing behavior, consumption of sweets and deciduous dental caries experience, showing need for further attention to these conditions and a need to strengthen preventive and therapeutic dental services.