Implementation of Game-based Oral Health Education vs Conventional Oral Health Education on Children's Oral Health-related Knowledge and Oral Hygiene Status.

INTRODUCTION: For the prevention of oral health problems, health education of schoolchildren has a vital role. The oral health status of the children can be improved if health promotion in schools is conducted in a comprehensive and interesting manner. OBJECTIVE: Effectivity of game-based oral health education over conventional on the oral health-related knowledge and oral hygiene status among 8- to 12-year-old schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 150 children aged 8 to 12 years were divided into two groups. A pretest evaluation of their knowledge regarding oral health and the estimation of plaque index was carried out. Children in group I were given oral health education through PowerPoint presentation once daily for 7 days. Children in group II were educated through the play method (i.e., crosswords and quiz with PowerPoint presentation). The evaluations regarding oral health-related knowledge and plaque scores were recorded on postintervention 1 and 3 months. RESULTS: In group II, high knowledge scores of 10.32 and 9.98 were obtained by the on postintervention 1 and 3 months respectively. In both the groups, there was a significant increase in good oral hygiene scores and a significant decrease in plaque scores on postintervention 1 and 3 months follow-up, but much better scores were seen in group II compared to group I at both the follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Implementation of crossword game-based oral health education program is an easy and effective aid for teaching oral health instructions and preventing oral diseases in children as the knowledge scores of children increased considerably when the game-based teaching intervention was used. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Malik A, Sabharwal S, Kumar A, Samant PS, Singh A, Pandey VK. Implementation of Game-based Oral Health Education vs Conventional Oral Health Education on Children's Oral Health-related Knowledge and Oral Hygiene Status. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(3):257-260.

Attitude among dental practioners towards use of rotary instruments and hand instruments for root canal treatment: a comparative study

Aim: The purpose of present study is to assess the attitude of general dental practioners towards use rotary instruments and hand instruments for root canal treatment. Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted in the private clinics in Lucknow city, Uttar Pradesh. A total of 400 clinics were visited and face to face interview schedule was conducted. Questionnaire consists of demographic details of dental professionals. Information regarding the years of experience, OPD details and number of root canal treatment done per week by dental professionals was obtained. Use of rotary and hand instruments by dental professionals was inquired. Years of experience with Rotary instruments, procedural problems with rotary instruments faced by dental professionals and reasons for not using the rotary instruments if any was also recorded. Results: 102 (33%) of the total study samples were using rotary instruments for root canal treatment and 100 (32%) using both rotary and hand instruments for root canal treatment. Dentists who are using rotary instruments are facing the procedural problem of file breakage {70 (36%)}. And those dental professionals using hand instruments are facing the problem of ledge formation {82(40%)}. Conclusions: The main procedural failure of the rotary instruments in root canal treatment, faced by dental professionals was file breakage and with hand instrument is ledge formation. Lack of expertise is the main reason which restricts dental professionals from using rotary instruments.