Traumatic Dental Injuries and their Association with Demographics and Other Predisposing Risk Factors in School Children Aged between 8-13 Years: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Traumatic dental injuries are most commonly seen in school age children. This not only affects physical, but, also, the psychological and social well-being of a child. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in school children aged between 8 and 13 years and their association with the demographics and other predisposing risk factors. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted as a cross-sectional study design on 1500 school children aged between 8 and 13 years. Apart from clinical examination, all the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire related to the injuries sustained. Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 (IBM, Chicago). Pearson's Chi-square (Χ²) test was used for categorical data analysis and distribution to determine the association between categorical variables, while P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in the present study was calculated at 9.7%. Also, the occurrence of such injuries was found to be higher in the age group of 8-11 years with 10 years being the peak age of incidence for sustaining such injuries. Again, crown fracture involving enamel was found to be the most common type of injury sustained, while proclination observed in relation to upper anterior teeth, and incompetent lips were found to be the independent, significant risk predictors associated with the frequency and severity of such injuries. Conclusions: The results obtained in the present study suggested a high prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in school children aged between 8 and 13 years highlighting the need for conducting educational programs, for increasing knowledge and awareness of parents, school children and school faculty in this regard to save the affected child patients from the more dreaded sequelae including complete loss of tooth structure, and social and emotional trauma.

Efficacy of Various Herbal Preparations Against Oral Candida: A Lab-Based Study.

Aim: This research was done to analyze the effectiveness related to herbal chemicals in tackling candidiasis. Materials and Methods: Grounded and ethanol-extracted residues of plants like Avicennia marina, Fagonia indica, Portulaca oleracea, Lawsania inermis, Ziziphus spina, Asphodelus tenuifolius, and Salvadora persica were used in the study. The extract was used against candida species, after which the antibacterial as well as cytotoxicity toward the former were evaluated. Results: L. inermis and P. oleracea with minimal inhibitory concentration of approx. 10 cenmL had an increased activity against candida species. The preparations of these plants acted against Candida albicans during its stages related to pathogenesis during biofilm production. Superadded infections like in case of bacterial infections along with candida can be difficult to cure. On human RBCs, these plant preparations had no toxicity at their minimum inhibitory concentration level. Conclusion: We concluded that, as far as being anti-candida and acting against MDR bacterial infections, preparations of plants were effective as an alternative to allopathic drugs.

Perception of dental students regarding possible career challenges and associated factors towards working in rural areas: A questionnaire based survey.

OBJECTIVE: The shortage of health care professionals in rural areas contributes toward discriminatory health care delivery. The present study was planned with a similar intent and aimed to evaluate the perception of dental students regarding their future in rural areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was designed as a cross-sectional study comprising of a 30-item questionnaire survey instrument distributed among a total of 550 dental students while the results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Independent student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for comparison among the variables while the Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the attitude based on gender (P = 0.43), although, a statistically significant difference was observed in the attitude of students based on the year of their education with a positive attitude toward rural dental practice generally noted in the first year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students which significantly declined with the increasing level of education (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Dental students were more influenced by the negative aspects of rural dental practice though they had, in their mind, a positive approach for the same at the beginning of their education, but this significantly declined with the increasing level of their education.

Knowledge of care providers regarding the oral health of visually impaired children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the awareness of care providers of visually impaired children regarding their oral hygiene. METHOD: A simple pre-structured questionnaire was given to the care providers and the awareness regarding their oral health was assessed. RESULTS: There was a general lack of awareness among the care providers of these children regarding dental diseases and its prevention. Furthermore, the importance of oral hygiene was found to be very low. CONCLUSION: The results obtained showed that most of the caretakers were unaware of the difficulties faced by these children in the maintenance of their oral health.

Oral health status of the visually impaired children--a south Indian study.

UNLABELLED: Oral health is an important aspect of health for all children, and is all the more important for children with special health needs. The oral health of children who are visually impaired can be disadvantaged, since they are often unable to adequately apply the techniques necessary to control plaque. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the oral health status of visually impaired children. METHOD: A modified WHO oral health assessment form was used to assess oral conditions, oral hygiene status, caries experience and gingival status. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The children exhibited suboptimal levels of oral health with majority of the children showing a high caries prevalence as well as moderate to severe gingivitis.