Digital Literacy: A Counteractive Measure to Thwart the Fallacies of Infodemic.

Education and literacy provided through the recent media have been abundantly flowing information on the digital platforms. However, the so-called digital channels have been a source of misinformation, myths, misconceptions, creating chaos, and panic in the world. The same platforms can be utilised to counter the effects of infodemic through the multiple strategies like stagnating and filtrating the misinformation, eliminating the stigmatic beliefs of the people through the use of social media and education. Scientific research and psychological help can be the strategies to cope with mental pressure and help in mentoring the traumatised individuals through the digital education.   Key Words: Infodemic, Digital literacy, Education.

Hazards Associated With Nanotechnology in Clinical Dentistry.

Nanotechnology has transformed the field of dentistry with immense potential to provide comprehensive oral health care using nanomaterials, advanced clinical tools, and devices. New materials with superior properties can be developed using nanotechnology by making use of their atomic or molecular properties. Although there are numerous ways in which nanomaterials impact our health, the primary cause is that they comprise chemicals that may have an inadvertent reaction in the body. Moreover, they are used on a daily basis, increasing human contact with them. It is observed to be smaller in size than the physiological barrier in our bodies, making it much simpler for them to pass through and enter the body and they are being used more frequently. It is observed to be smaller in size than the physiological barrier in our bodies, making it much simpler for them to pass through and enter the body and being used more frequently. Although there are numerous ways in which nanomaterials impact our health, the primary cause is they comprise chemicals that may have an inadvertent reaction in the body. The review discusses various types of toxicity, including the cytotoxicity of composites, carbon nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles (SNPs), and quantum dots. It also covers genotoxicity, the effect of nanoparticles on salivary secretion, oral and gastrointestinal mucosa passage of nanoparticles, the tooth surface microenvironment, and interactions with engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). It is concluded that there is scarce information regarding the presence of chemicals that are released from nanoparticles used in dental materials. Nanotechnology is at an infant stage, although it has progressed by leaps and bounds, hailing a new age that provides better treatment modalities in various branches of dentistry. Although the development and application of nanodentistry are of considerable interest, knowledge regarding the possible toxicity of such materials must be meticulously evaluated, and potential benefits must be weighed against the risks to identify potential gaps in the safety assessment. Further research is needed on workplace exposure to nanoparticles in dentistry.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on dentists.

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have an incessant out-turn on the people in every field in some or the other way. It has been reported that maximum number of deaths in the countries during this pandemic are caused due to a term called death anxiety or phobia. There are certain parameters such as anxiety, apprehension, depression which if influence a person can alter one's well-being. Objective: The steadfast intent of this review article is to narrate the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists. The eloquence and emergence of this topic will alarm all the medicos and paramedics to have a check on this scenario. Methods: The article consists of detailed study from several articles from PubMed publications. Articles written only in English language were referred. Various keywords such as "Covid-19 pandemic" or "Psychological Impact" were used. Results: The Covid-19 Pandemic has adversely affected all of us physically as well as psychologically. This article signifies the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists. Conclusion: The current studies that are carried out till date show an extensive impact on the psychology of the dental professionals. The following review article elaborates the importance of the same.

Psychological impact of Covid-19 pandemic on dentists.

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have an incessant out-turn on the people in every field in some or the other way. It has been reported that maximum number of deaths in the countries during this pandemic are caused due to a term called death anxiety or phobia. There are certain parameters such as anxiety, apprehension, depression which if influence a person can alter one's well-being. Objective: The steadfast intent of this review article is to narrate the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists. The eloquence and emergence of this topic will alarm all the medicos and paramedics to have a check on this scenario. Methods: The article consists of detailed study from several articles from PubMed publications. Articles written only in English language were referred. Various keywords such as "Covid-19 pandemic" or "Psychological Impact" were used. Results: The Covid-19 Pandemic has adversely affected all of us physically as well as psychologically. This article signifies the psychological impact of this pandemic on dentists. Conclusion: The current studies that are carried out till date show an extensive impact on the psychology of the dental professionals. The following review article elaborates the importance of the same.

Electronic cigarettes: ambiguity and controversies of usage.

Electronic cigarettes (EC), a proxy to conventional cigarettes, gained popularity on the basis of its own advocacy, marketing and large scale publicity. Sometimes marketed as an adjunct to quitting or a substitute for cigarettes, its popularity rose. However, its sale in the global markets was subjected to prejudice. Reasons cited by the regulatory bodies for its ouster were the toxic contents it contained. Some countries preferred to ban them while some have legalised them. However, the manufacturers have claimed that it does have the potential to help smokers quit or at least replace the conventional cigarettes which cause millions of death globally. Research is hence needed to prove the efficacy and utility of this device for welfare of people who are looking for better options than puffing cigarettes.

Comparison of palatal rugae patterns in Kodava and Malayalee populations of South India.

INTRODUCTION: The palatal rugae pattern is unique to humans and may be specific to ethnic groups hence useful in population identification in forensic dentistry. The present study has been carried out to analyze the rugae pattern in two populations in and around Coorg, with objectives to analyze the palatal rugae pattern among Kodavas and Malayalees and to analyze the rugae pattern between sexes within each group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised two population groups in Coorg namely Kodavas and Malayalees, (n = 30) from each group, age-range of 18-30 years, equally distributed between the sexes. The rugae pattern were categorized as 'straight,' 'wavy,' 'curved' 'circular', and 'unification'. Pairwise comparison for two populations was done using non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Mann-Whitney two-tailed test was used to test the difference between sexes. RESULTS: Wavy pattern (100%) was highest among Kodavas. There was a significant difference between Malayalees and Kodavas for wavy (Mean = 5.867 and 8.400) and unification patterns (Mean = 2.267and 1.000). Significant difference between sexes for straight rugae pattern (Mean, males = 2.267, females = 1.200) among Malayalees was seen. CONCLUSION: The differences in rugae shape between the two populations (wavy and unification patterns) may be attributed to genetic factors and recent shared ancestry has probably rendered their differences to moderate levels.

Effectiveness of individual and group counseling for cessation of tobacco habit amongst industrial workers in pimpri, pune--an interventional study.

BACKGROUND: In India, tobacco consumption is responsible for one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world, the annual oral cancer incidence is steadily increasing among young tobacco users. Studies have documented efforts taken by physicians, doctors and even dentists, in the form of individual or group counseling to curb tobacco use in smoke or smokeless form. However, which one is more effective, still remains an unanswered question. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of individual and group counseling for cessation of the tobacco habit amongst industrial workers in Pune and to compare quit rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An interventional study design was selected for 150 industrial workers which were stratified randomly into three groups (control, individual and group counseling groups) and interventions were provided to individual and group counseling groups over a period of six months, which were then compared with the control group that received brief intervention at the start of the study. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the quit rates of the participants in the individual counseling group (ICG) and group counseling group (GCG) when compared at 6 months with the control counseling group (CCG). In the individual counseling group was 6% while in group counseling group it was 7.5% after six months of counseling. CONCLUSIONS: No conclusion could be drawn whether individual or group counseling were better interms of quit rates. Individual and group counseling groups were definitely better than the control group when compared at 3 and 6 months, respectively.