Has National Medical Commission Short-Changed the Subject of Community Medicine in Its Latest Minimum Requirements for Indian Medical Graduates? A Systems Review.

System analysis is examination of various elements of a system with a view to ascertain whether the proposed solution to a problem will fit the system and in turn effect an overall improvement in the system. The National Medical Commission (NMC) which was constituted by the act of the Parliament, has brought out minimum requirements for annual MBBS admissions regulations, 2020, which replace minimum requirements published by erstwhile Medical Council of India. The NMC also published new competency-based medical education syllabus for MBBS students with an aim to focus on practical skills. This study brings out the scope of the community medicine (CM) in the present context and as envisaged by the NMC. It also analyzes the infrastructure and workforce required in the department of CM and gives recommendations to improve the system.

Erosive potential of commonly used beverages, medicated syrup, and their effects on dental enamel with and without restoration: An in vitro study.

AIM: This study evaluates erosive potential of commonly used beverages, medicated syrup, and their effects on dental enamel with and without restoration in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Test medias used in this study included carbonated beverage, noncarbonated beverage, high-energy sports drink medicated cough syrup, distilled water as the control. A total of 110 previously extracted human premolar teeth were selected for the study. Teeth were randomly divided into two groups. Test specimens were randomly distributed to five beverages groups and comprised 12 specimens per group. Surface roughness (profilometer) readings were performed at baseline and again, following immersion for 14 days (24 h/day). Microleakage was evaluated. The results obtained were analyzed for statistical significance using SPSS-PC package using the multiple factor ANOVA at a significance level of P < 0.05. Paired t-test, Friedman test ranks, and Wilcoxon signed ranks test. RESULTS: For surface roughness high-energy sports drink and noncarbonated beverage showed the highly significant difference with P values of 0.000 and 0.000, respectively compared to other test media. For microleakage high-energy sports drink had significant difference in comparison to noncarbonated beverage (P = 0.002), medicated syrup (P = 0.000), and distilled water (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: High-energy sports drink showed highest surface roughness value and microleakage score among all test media and thus greater erosive potential to enamel while medicated syrup showed least surface roughness value and microleakage among all test media.

Efficacy of silver diamine fluoride as an antibacterial as well as antiplaque agent compared to fluoride varnish and acidulated phosphate fluoride gel: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is already proven as an antibacterial agent in vitro. Present study was formulated to compare the efficacy of SDF as an antibacterial as well as antiplaque agent in vivo with fluoride varnish and acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel. STUDY DESIGN: Total 123 children (male = 82, female = 41) were included in the study for a period of 18 months. Children were divided into three different groups-Group 1: SDF; Group 2: fluoride varnish; and Group 3: APF gel. All subjects were evaluated via plaque score at 6 th, 12 th, and 18 th months as well as Streptococcus mutans counts in saliva at 72 h, 6 th, 12 th, and 18 th months of follow-up. RESULTS: Significant reduction was found in plaque score as well as S. mutans counts irrespective of group division. On intergroup comparison, no statistically significant difference was found in plaque score, but significant reduction in S. mutans counts was found in Group 1 as compared with Groups 2 and 3, while no significant difference was found between Groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: In vivo application of SDF on enamel significantly decreases S. mutans counts as compared to fluoride varnish and APF gel.

Applicability of regression equation using widths of mandibular permanent first molars and incisors as a predictor of widths of mandibular canines and premolars in contemporary Indian population.

BACKGROUND: Predicting the size of unerupted teeth during the mixed dentition period is a critical factor in managing the developing occlusion. Different studies found that the combined width of only the four mandibular permanent incisors is not a good predictor of the sum of unerupted mandibular permanent canines and premolars (SPCP). In 2007, Melgaço et al. developed a new method for SPCP by measuring the sum of the mandibular first permanent molars and four mandibular permanent incisors (SMI). AIM: It was aimed to evaluate the accuracy of this new method in comparison with Moyers' mixed dentition analysis table in contemporary Indian population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Sixty boys and 60 girls from Gandhinagar district (age ranged from 12 to 14 years) were included. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mesiodistal crown widths of all fully erupted teeth were measured with digital vernier callipers and the odontometric values obtained were then subjected to statistical and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Student's unpaired t-test gave statistically significant difference between the original values of teeth and the values obtained by Melgaço's prediction equation as well as Moyers' mixed dentition analysis table (P < 0.001). High values of correlation (r = 0.77) and determination coefficients (r2 = 0.59) were found while considering Melgaço's method. Also, no statistically significant difference was found between the tooth sizes of males and females. CONCLUSION: From this study, it can be evaluated that Melgaço's method gives better prediction and a simplified equation Y = 0.925X can be suggested for the present population.