Assessment of dental satisfaction among school teachers in a metropolitan city.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dental satisfaction is a multi-dimensional concept, reflecting the total experience of health care and a major driving force of treatment seeking behaviour. At community level, school teachers, being the role model, also play a major role in public health. The aim of this study is to assess the dental satisfaction among school teachers in Hyderabad. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 515 private school teachers in Hyderabad. The survey tool used was Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSQ) developed by Davies and Ware (1982). Data was analysed with SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 22. RESULTS: The study comprised of 123 (23.9%) males and 392 (76.1%) females. Based on age, significant relation was found only for subscales 'access', 'quality' and 'general satisfaction' (P = 0.01, P = 0.04, P = 0.03 respectively). Though female subjects had higher mean scores for all subscales, significant difference was found only for subscales 'cost', 'quality', 'access total', 'general satisfaction', and 'overall Dental Satisfaction Index' (DSI) (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.008, P < 0.001, P = 0.001 respectively). Subjects who had visited a dentist had higher mean scores and significant relation was found for subscales 'access' and 'general satisfaction' (P = 0.04, P = 0.04 respectively). Furthermore, subjects who visited a private practitioner had higher mean scores for most of the subscales. CONCLUSION: Female subjects, subjects who had dental visit and those who had visited a private practitioner had higher dental satisfaction. Moreover, age and recent dental visit did not show any effect on dental satisfaction.

Determinants of oral hygiene behaviour among patients with moderate and severe chronic periodontitis based on the theory of planned behaviour.

OBJECTIVES: Health interventions based on cognitive theories effectively bring about behaviour change. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the determinants of oral hygiene behaviour (OHB) based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) among patients with moderate and severe periodontitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a 47-item self-report questionnaire to evaluate oral health knowledge (OHK), expected social outcomes (ESO) and OHB based on the variables of TPB [attitude (ATT), social norms (SN) and perceived behavioural control (PBC)] of patients with moderate and severe periodontitis. Analysis of variance was used for comparison between the parameters. Regression analyses identified the significant determinants of OHB. RESULTS: A total of 543 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included. ESO (B = 0.04) and OHK (B = 0.14) significantly predicted intention to perform OHB. None of the TPB variables significantly predicted OHB. Apart from ESO and OHK, which were significant predictors for both genders, ATT (ß = 0.22) additionally predicted OHB among men. Also, for university graduates, ESO (ß = 0.13) and OHK (ß = 0.17) significantly predicted OHB. Lastly, OHB showed a significant and positive correlation with all the parameters (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study concludes that the TPB model facilitates the evaluation of psychosocial determinants of OHB among patients with periodontitis. Also, a significant relationship between gender, OHB and variables of TPB further highlights the importance of patient-focused preventive oral health care education.

Determination and Comparison of Dermatoglyphic Patterns and Salivary Streptococcus mutans Counts and Its Correlation with Dental Caries among 3- to 6-year-old Children.

PURPOSE: To determine and compare the dermatoglyphic patterns and salivary Streptococcus mutans counts, as well as its correlation with dental caries among 3- to 6-year-old children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children 3 to 6 years old who had decayed/extracted/filled teeth (def) ≥ 5 were selected as the study group (n = 50) and those who had def = 0 were selected as controls (n = 50). Dermatoglyphics was recorded using the ink stamp-pad method. Salivary S. mutans levels were estimated by microbial culture of the collected salivary samples; for further confirmation, optochin and bacitracin antibiotic sensitivity tests were done. The chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test, independent Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA were used for comparison among the variables. Correlation was analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). RESULTS: The study group showed a significantly higher mean number for whorls and S. mutans count, and the control group showed significantly higher ulnar loops and total ridge count. A positive and significant correlation was observed between mean def and S. mutans. Whorls showed a significant and positive correlation with caries and S. mutans, whereas ulnar loops and total ridge count showed a negative correlation. CONCLUSION: There was a strong correlation between dermatoglyphic patterns (especially ulnar loops, whorls and total ridge count), dental caries and S. mutans level.

Influence of health education on knowledge, attitude, and practices toward organ donation among dental students.

OBJECTIVES: Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors are essential factors in fostering an environment that positively influences organ donation rates. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the impact of intervention (classroom education) on knowledge, attitude, and practices on organ donation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire-based interventional study was conducted among 112 dental house surgeon students, Hyderabad. A 27-item self-administered questionnaire was distributed to students as a pretest and collected back after completion. Then, a session on organ donation was delivered in a lecture hall setting instilling the basic facts about organ donation. Posttests using the same questionnaire were filled after the intervention and 2 weeks later. RESULTS: Responses on knowledge obtained from the subjects showed significant changes in several key areas from baseline to postintervention and at follow-up. More than 50% of study subjects had a positive attitude regarding organ donation. There was a significant increase in the number of subjects who pledged/signed to donate an organ (before - 14.3%, postintervention - 50%, and at follow-up - 60.7%; P < 0.05). Pairwise comparison revealed a significant increase in the mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores at postintervention and at follow-up of 2 weeks in comparison to the baseline scores. Female subjects and subjects following Hindu religion had good knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice. CONCLUSION: The one brief educational intervention had significantly increased perceived knowledge of organ donation and positively influenced attitude and practices to organ donation among dental students.

Self perceived psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics among young adults: a cross sectional questionnaire study.

Background Oral health is not merely the absence of oral disease and dysfunction, but also influences the subject's social life and dento-facial self confidence. Objective To assess and correlate self perceived psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics among young adults based on gender. Subjects A convenience sample of Young adults of degree college in the age group of 18-23 years of Hyderabad city, India. Method Self perceived psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics was assessed using the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics questionnaire (PIDAQ). The dental aesthetic index (DAI) was used to evaluate dental aesthetics among participants which includes 10 parameters of dento-facial anomalies related to both clinical and aesthetic aspects of the anterior teeth. Results The majority of the study population were 18 years of age (96; 31.4%) with a mean age of 19.2 ± 1.1 years. When the mean total score and individual domain scores of PIDAQ was compared based on gender, females showed higher statistical mean (p ≤ 0.05) for all except the psychology impact domain (p = 0.12). Based on DAI grading and gender, among both males [70 (32.9%)] and females [31 (33.3%)] the majority of them had a DAI score of ≤25 (grade1; normal/minor dental malocclusion). A significant negative correlation was observed between DAI, with PIDAQ and its domains (p ≤ 0.05) except for the dental self confidence (p = 0.72). Conclusion This study had examined the relationship between self-perceived psychosocial impact and dental aesthetics. So, early preventive or interceptive procedures should be carried out to prevent further psychosocial impacts on human life.

Self reported behavioral and emotional difficulties in relation to dentition status among school going children of Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, India.

BACKGROUND: Oral health has strong biological, psychological, and social projections, which influence the quality of life. Thus, developing a common vision and a comprehensive approach to address children's social, emotional, and behavioral health needs is an integral part of the child and adolescent's overall health. AIM: To assess and compare the behavior and emotional difficulties among 15-year-olds and to correlate it with their dentition status based on gender. Study Settings and Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire study among 15-year-old schoolgoing children in six private schools in Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The behavior and emotional difficulties were assessed using self-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The dentition status was recorded by the criteria given by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Basic Oral Health Survey Assessment Form (1997). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Independent Student's t-test was used for comparison among the variables. Correlation between scales of SDQ and dentition status was done using Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient method. RESULTS: Girls reported more emotional problems and good prosocial behavior and males had more conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and total difficulty problems. Total decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) and decayed component were significantly and positively correlated with total difficulty, emotional symptom, and conduct problems scale while missing component was correlated with the hyperactivity scale and filled component with prosocial behavior. CONCLUSION: DMFT and its components showed an association with all scales of SDQ except for peer problem scale. Thus, the oral health of children was significantly influenced by behavioral and emotional difficulties; so, changes in the mental health status will affect the oral health of children.

Correlation of sense of coherence with oral health behaviors, socioeconomic status, and periodontal status.

INTRODUCTION: The sense of coherence (SOC) has been suggested to be highly applicable concept in the public health area because a strong SOC is stated to decrease the likelihood of perceiving the social environment as stressful. This reduces the susceptibility to the health-damaging effect of chronic stress by lowering the likelihood of repeated negative emotions to stress perception. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The demographic data and general information of subjects' oral health behaviors such as frequency of cleaning teeth, aids used to clean teeth, and dental attendance were recorded in the self-administered questionnaire. The SOC-related data were obtained using the short version of Antonovsky's SOC scale. The periodontal status was recorded based on the modified World Health Organization 1997 pro forma. RESULTS: The total of 780 respondents comprising 269 (34.5%) males and 511 (65.5%) females participated in the study. A significant difference was noted among the subjects for socioeconomic status based on gender (P = 0.000). The healthy periodontal status (community periodontal index [CPI] code 0) was observed for 67 (24.9%) males and 118 (23.1%) females. The overall SOC showed statistically negative correlation with socioeconomic status scale (r = -0.287). The CPI and loss of attachment (periodontal status) were significantly and negatively correlated with SOC. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that a high level of SOC was associated with good oral health behaviors, periodontal status, and socioeconomic status.