Ethical Conventions: A Study on Dental Practitioner's Knowledge and Practice of Ethics in their Line of Work in Bangalore, India.

INTRODUCTION: Dentistry, being one of the healing professions, has an obligation to society that its members will stick on to high ethical standards of conduct. In India, studies done to assess whether the dental practitioners adhere to ethics in their line of work are very meager. AIM: The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice of ethics in their line of work among practicing dentists from various dental colleges in Bangalore, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 258 practicing dentists attached to various dental colleges in Bangalore city of Karnataka, India. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the knowledge and practice scores according to gender and qualification. One way ANOVA was used to compare knowledge and practice score according to practice type and practice period. RESULTS: Mean knowledge score among males is 8.9 as compared to 9.43 among females and mean practice scores among males was 8.25 as compared to 8.29 in females. Statistically significant differences were found in the mean knowledge and practice scores among graduate dentists and specialists. Mean knowledge score among graduate dentists was 8.44 as compared to 9.36 among specialists and mean practice scores among graduate dentists was 7.7 as compared to 8.53 in specialists. CONCLUSION: A significant association between the knowledge and practice scores was observed, implying that with an increase in knowledge, there was also an increase in the practices of ethics among study population.

Association of erosion with dietary factors among 5-year-old children in India.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the association of dental erosion with dietary factors and oral hygiene practices among 5-year-old schoolchildren in Belgaum, Karnataka, India. METHODS: A random sample of 1,002 5-year-old children was drawn from Belgaum schools. Erosion was assessed using the modified Smith and Knight index. A self-designed questionnaire was used to probe into the details of the children's dietary practices. RESULTS: Frequency of consumption of beverages, canned juices, tamarind, and honey, a mixed diet, and frequency of teeth cleaning were significant predictors of dental erosion. Oral hygiene practices like timing of cleaning teeth and materials used did not show significant association with dental erosion. CONCLUSION: Certain dietary factors like canned juice, raw mango, gooseberry, tamarind, honey, buttermilk, and beverages showed significant correlation with dental erosion. Dietary counseling must take this into consideration.

Distribution and severity of erosion among 5-year-old children in a city in India.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of dental erosion among 5-year-old schoolchildren in Belgaum, North Karnataka, India. METHODS: A random sample of 1,100 5-year-old schoolchildren who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study, of whom 1,002 actively participated. The questionnaire given to parents pertained to sociodemographic factors, and the parents were instructed to maintain their child's 3-day diary to assess his/her existing dietary habits. Later, the questionnaire was collected and a clinical examination for dental erosion was performed. A modified Smith and Knight index was used to assess the extent of dental erosion. The child's socioeconomic status was assessed using Kuppuswamy's classification. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient tests and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental erosion was approximately 29% (with a higher prevalence observed in females). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant association was found between diet type, type and time of exposure to acidic diet and dental erosion.