Choosing Periodontology for Specialty Specialization: Perspective of Dental Undergraduate Students.

BACKGROUND: The attitudes of dental students to study a particular specialty of dentistry in post-graduation are of great importance as these facilitate workforce planning in the dental sector. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the attitude of dental students towards choosing periodontology as their future career and to explore demographic variables that affect their choice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire was conducted, including students of the third and fourth years and interns of the dental college. Twenty-seven questions, graded on a Likert scale (5-point) were included in the questionnaire, and the responses were categorised via three attitudes: negative (score 0-21), neutral (score 22-44) and positive (score 45-64). The Chi-square test for proportions was used to examine the differences between groups. RESULTS: Among 114 participants, 53 (46.5%) were males and 61 (53.5%) were females. One-third of the respondents had a positive attitude towards selecting periodontology as their future career, and the majority had a neutral perspective, with a few students having a negative attitude (20.2%). Out of the total, 34.2% of respondents had a positive attitude, and 45.6% showed a neutral attitude or perspective. CONCLUSION: Efforts should be intensified, and undergraduate (UG) students should be motivated by broadening the scope of the field in the UG curriculum by the dental council so that the students show considerable interest in pursuing the field as their future career.

Multifaceted assessment of dentine hypersensitivity, evaluation of demographic prevalence along with associated factors: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a relatively common problem which may affect the adult population. The etiology remains multi-factorial with interactions between stimulus and pre-disposing factors causing its aggravation. AIM: To study the prevalence of DH and associated factors and also to find the association between various factors and DH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out and a total of 5091 patients, both male and females, were evaluated through questionnaire. Out of the total only 1400 patients were included in the study and were further evaluated clinically. A complete demographic data was obtained and the DH was confirmed by the use of air -water jet of the dental chair and scratching the suspected tooth with a dental probe. The pain response of the subject was recorded using the visual analog scale (VAS) and verbal rating scale (VRS). The data obtained was statistically evaluated and Chi-square test was applied for comparison of different demographic factors with DH. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DH was 27.4%. Various demographic factors were found to affect DH such as age, gender, education, and diet. The most common stimulus was found to be cold (21.4%) and common predisposing factor was gingival recession and attrition (28.6%). Clinical examination yielded a statistically significant association between VAS and VRS scores for DH and demographic factors. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DH in present study was 27.4% which is attributed to gingival recession as predisposing factor and cold stimuli as the precipitating factor.

Accuracy of cone-beam computerized tomography in determining the thickness of palatal masticatory mucosa.

BACKGROUND: The palatal masticatory mucosa is the main donor area of soft tissue and connective tissue grafts used for increasing the keratinized mucosa around teeth and implants, covering exposed roots and increasing localized alveolar ridge thickness. The aim of this study was to compare the thickness of the palatal masticatory mucosa as determined on a cone-beam computerized tomography scan versus thickness determined via bone-sounding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients requiring palatal surgery participated. Thickness of the palatal tissue was measured at various points radiographically and clinically. The two techniques were compared to determine the agreement of the two measurement modalities. RESULTS: Statistical analysis determined that there was no significant difference between the two methods. Moreover, the tissue thickness was shown to increase as the distance from the gingival margin increased, and the tissue over the premolars was thicker than the other teeth. CONCLUSION: Cone-beam computerized tomography can be used as a noninvasive method to accurately and consistently determine the soft tissue thickness of the palatal masticatory mucosa with minimal bias at different locations on the palate.

Gingival enlargement in von Willebrand disease: A case report.

von Willebrand disease (vWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder affecting both the sexes with a prevalence of approximately 1% in general population. The cause for bleeding in this disorder can be attributed to the primary deficiency or defect in von Willebrand factor (vWF) that results in the platelet adhesion abnormalities. It is characterized by bleeding episodes that may be severe and life threatening, menorrhagia in females, epistaxis, and gingival bleeding and enlargement. A case of 29-year-old female having all the characteristic features of vWD is presented. The family history revealed consanguineous marriage of the parents. The patient was initially on oral contraceptives, but later she underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy with endometrial ablation with roller ball to treat menorrhagia.