Cryotherapy for oral potentially malignant disorders.

Four surgical treatment modalities namely cryosurgery, scalpel and blade surgery, diode LASER surgery and CO2 LASER surgery in the management of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) in terms of healing outcomes post operatively and recurrence is evaluated. The study included sixty outpatients whose biopsies revealed OPMDs (oral lichen planus, homogeneous leukoplakia, non-homogenous leukoplakia and erythroplakia). There is decrease in post-operative pain and oedema in all four treatment categories at one week follow up and two week follow up. It was observed that pain was low in cryosurgery treatment category at day of surgery as well as at one week of follow up as compared to diode LASER and CO2 LASER. Observations from the study highlights that all four surgical modalities used in this study were effective for treatment of OPMDs, and the overall summation of the results of the study showed that cryotherapy seems to offer better clinically significant results than laser therapy.

Parents outlook on preventive dental modalities for their children in Udham Singh Nagar, India.

AIM: The aim is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents toward preventive dental treatment modalities. METHODOLOGY: A convenient sample of parents was selected randomly from four schools of Udham Singh Nagar, India. The data were collected through questionnaire on dental preventive modalities. The questionnaire includes questions pertaining to knowledge and practices toward pit and fissure sealants, fluoride application, and dental visits. Questions pertaining attitude toward the same were asked after the motivational program. RESULTS: The majority of the parents were unaware that dental caries could be prevented by preventive treatment modalities. None of their children had undergone preventive procedures. Even after visiting dentist, 70% of parents were not informed about the preventive treatments by their respective dentists. Even after our motivational program, around one-third of the parents were reluctant to accept preventive procedures for their children. CONCLUSION: Parent's knowledge about the preventive dental procedures for their children was insufficient. Dentists are not encouraging parents about the benefits of preventive treatment modalities. Based on our findings, promotional efforts encouraged 64% of parents to embrace preventive procedures for their children. The present study emphasizes the need to educate parents and their children.