A cross-sectional virtual survey to evaluate the outcome of online dental education system among undergraduate dental students across India amid COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: A questionnaire-based study was conducted to understand the pros and cons of online education among undergraduate dental students across India. The study was also proposed to assess the mental and physical well-being of the students amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. METHODS: A total of 533 undergraduate dental students across India participated in a cross-sectional study by means of virtual survey. A self-designed questionnaire was created using google forms. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions and was divided into two parts, first, regarding the academic outcome of online dental education and second, psychological and physical well-being of the students in reference to online dental education. A descriptive statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS statistics software. RESULTS: In the present study, 91.6% students reported that the format of dental education was shifted to online lectures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 86.4% students suggested that they preferred offline lectures rather than online lectures. Psychological and physical well-being were affected in both male and female students; however, male students were affected more significantly than females. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the education of dental students was adversely affected as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. The physical and psychological well-being of the students has also been affected, with males being affected in a higher proportion. The study concluded that the quality of online education should be enhanced and must be student centred to meet their education requirements. Also, there is a need of regular counselling and other measures to alleviate the students from the psychological stresses.

Rehabilitation of unilateral loss of eye with customized ocular prosthesis: Case series.

A patient who is suffering from complete loss of one eye or one phthisical eye due to injury, inflammation, or tumor experiences lot of physical and psychological trauma. Ocular prostheses are used in the management of a wide variety of acquired and congenital anopthalmia. Several techniques have been used in fitting and fabricating artificial eyes. These eyes can be prefabricated or custom made, but a prosthesis that is lifelike in appearance provides a sense of psychological security to the patient, which is better achieved with custom ocular prosthesis. This article discusses series of cases made by utilizing one of the latest techniques of iris duplication (digital imaging) and also aims at enhanced awareness of the cosmetic benefits of custom designed ocular prosthesis when compared with stock eye.

Comparative clinical efficacy evaluation of three gingival displacement systems.

AIM: We compared the clinical efficacy of three gingival displacement systems to accurately record intra-crevicular margins of tooth preparation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One mechanical (magic foam cord) and two chemico-mechanical (expasyl paste and retraction cord impregnated with 15% aluminum chloride) gingival displacement systems were used. This study was conducted on the maxillary central incisors of 20 patients (20-60 years old) requiring full coverage restoration. All the three gingival displacement systems were tested in three sessions at an interval of 14 days in same order. The casts were sectioned and viewed under an optical microscope, followed by quantitative measurements of the width of the pre and postretracted sulci. RESULTS: All the three displacement systems produced highly significant horizontal gingival displacement. Retraction cord soaked in 15% aluminum chloride produced maximum displacement (0.74 mm), followed by expasyl paste (0.48 mm) whereas magic foam cord produced the least displacement (0.41 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Gingival displacement shown by each displacement system was found to be more than the accepted value necessary for elastomeric impression accuracy (0.2 mm) to record intra-crevicular margins of tooth preparation.

Prosthetic rehabilitation of large mid-facial defect with magnet-retained silicone prosthesis.

Rehabilitation of maxillofacial defect patients is a challenging task. The most common prosthetic treatment problem with such patients is, getting adequate retention, stability, and support. In cases of large maxillofacial defect, movement of the prosthesis is inevitable. The primary objectives in rehabilitating the maxillofacial defect patients are to restore the function of mastication, deglutition, speech, and to achieve normal orofacial appearance. This clinical report describes maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation of large midfacial defect including orbit along with its contents, zygoma and soft tissues including half of the nose, cheeks, upper lip of left side, accompanying postsurgical microstomia and orofacial communication, which resulted from severe fungal infection mucormycosis. The defect in this case was restored with magnet retained two piece maxillofacial prosthesis having hollow acrylic resin framework and an overlying silicone facial prosthesis. The retention of prosthesis was further enhanced with the use of spectacles. This type of combination prosthesis enhanced the cosmesis and functional acceptability of prosthesis.

Custom-made ocular prosthesis for a pediatric patient with unilateral anopthalmia: a case report.

Congenitally missing eye, often called as anopthalmia, is a rare condition. This causes disfigurement of the face, which poses psychological effect on children, making them emotionally weak and conscious which, in turn, causes anxiety, stress, and depression at an early age in life. The custom-made ocular prostheses should thus be provided as soon as possible to help children improve their social acceptance. We present a case of 9-year-old boy who reported with congenital anopthalmia of right eye, which was then restored with custom-made ocular prosthesis.

Training the trainees in radiation oncology with telemedicine as a tool in a developing country: a two-year audit.

Purpose. The estimated new cancer patient load in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is 0.1-0.12 million per year. Approximately two thirds of these require treatment by a radiation oncologist. Radiation oncologists: cancer patient ratio in this state is 1 : 2000 as compared to the recommended 1 : 250. This problem is compounded by the poor infrastructure of radiation oncology departments in the state which is suboptimal for teaching, training of resident doctors, and treatment in most barring a few departments. To bridge some gap in the sociodemographics stated above and enhancement of training of residents, we submitted a project for establishment of a telemedicine facility in our department to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. We present the design, implementation, and a two-year audit of our tele-education activities. Materials and Methods. After the sanction of the project, we established telemedicine linkage with another medical institute in the city located 25 kms away in 2007. After implementation of the project, academic sessions designed for trainee residents in our department were shared with the remote end. A record of these activities and a feedback of the activities were audited at the end of 2 years of implementation of this project. Results. Regular videoconferencing sessions comprising of lectures on clinical oncology, medical physics, and radiobiology were held. Feedback from the users revealed satisfaction with the content of the academic sessions for the purpose of MD training. Conclusions. Distance education in radiation oncology is an important tool for training of the trainee residents.