Abstract

Aims:

This study aimed to compare the frequency of ProTaper rotary instrument fracture with rotary (conventional) and hybrid (rotary and hand files) canal preparation techniques. Secondary objectives were to determine whether there was an association of ProTaper file fracture with the canal curvature and to compare the mean time required for canal preparation in the two techniques.

Methods:

An in vitro experiment was conducted on 216 buccal canals of extracted maxillary and mandibular first molars. After creating an access cavity and a glide path for each canal, a periapical radiograph was taken and the canal curvature was measured with Schneider's technique. The canals were then randomly divided into Group A (rotary technique) and Group B (hybrid technique). The length of ProTaper files were measured before and after each canal preparation. Time taken for each canal preparation was recorded.

Results:

A total of seven ProTaper files fractured in Group A (P=0.014) in canals with a curvature >25 degrees (P<0.001). The mean time taken for preparation of the root canals was 104.04 sec (±55.7 sec) in Group A versus 122.88 sec (±41.67 sec) in Group B (P=0.007).

Conclusion:

In the teeth studied, the hybrid technique of root canal preparation with ProTaper rotary files, although time consuming, was safer in canals having a curvature greater than 25 degrees.

Abstract

Aim:

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the oral health status and the treatment needs of the institutionalised hearing-impaired and blind children and young adults in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 498 institutionalised hearing-impaired and blind people, aged 4 to 23 years, in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan. The World Health Organization oral health assessment basic methods and form (1997) were used for data collection. Clinical examinations were carried out in the institute's medical room or classroom by single examiner with the aid of a mouth mirror, explorer and Community Periodontal Index (CPI) probe under adequate natural light (Type III examination). The resulting data were entered into statistical software and analysed by applying the chi-square test, ANOVA, t-test and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis.

Results:

The total mean DMFT (decayed-missing-filled teeth) and mean dft scores were 1.77 and 0.27 respectively. The largest component of DMFT was the D, with a mean of 1.49. The F component of 0.08 was very low. Mean DMFT/dft was greater among hearing-impaired than among blind subjects. Overall, 159 (32%) were periodontally healthy (CPI=0), 162 (32%) had shallow pockets (CPI=3) and 36 (7%) had deeper pockets (CPI=4). A higher percentage of the blind (87; 43%) than the hearing-impaired (72; 24%) subjects were periodontally healthy (CPI score=0). One-surface fillings were the most commonly provided form of past treatment.

Conclusion:

The findings in this study highlight the lack of dental treatment for this group. Overall oral health status was poorer in the hearing-impaired than in the blind subjects.

Abstract

Aims:

The study aimed to determine the following among the workforce of the Jaipur Dental College, India: their awareness regarding biomedical (BM) waste management policy and practices, their attitude towards biomedical waste management, and their awareness regarding needle-stick injury and its prevalence among different categories of health care providers.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire with closed-ended questions. It was distributed to 144 dentists, nurses, laboratory technicians and Class IV employees (cleaners and maintenance personnel) at Jaipur Dental College. The questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge of biomedical medical waste disposal. The resulting answers were graded and the percentage of correct and incorrect answers for each question from all the participants was obtained.

Results:

Of the 144 questionnaires, 140 were returned and the answers graded. The results showed that there was a poor level of knowledge and awareness of biomedical waste generation hazards, legislation and management among health care personnel. It was surprising that 36% of the nurses had an extremely poor knowledge of biomedical waste generation and legislation and just 15% of the Class IV employees had an excellent awareness of biomedical waste management practice.

Conclusions:

It can be concluded from the present study that there are poor levels of knowledge and awareness about BM waste generation hazards, legislation and management among health care personnel in Jaipur Dental College. Regular monitoring and training are required at all levels.

Abstract

Aims:

This in vivo study aimed to assess and compare the relative clinical and radiographic success of formocresol, glutaraldehyde and ferric sulphate as medicaments following pulpotomies in primary molars at three-monthly intervals over one year.

Methods:

The study was carried out on 90 primary molars in 54 children aged from 3 to 9 years. Selected teeth were equally distributed and randomly assigned to formocresol, glutaraldehyde and ferric sulphate pulpotomy medicament groups (30 in each group). The teeth were then evaluated clinically and radiographically at three-monthly intervals over one year. The resulting data were tabulated and statistically analysed using the chi-square test.

Results:

After one year, the clinical success rate was 100% with glutaraldehyde, 96.7% with ferric sulphate, and 86.7% with formocresol. The radiological success rate gradually decreased over the year in all pulpotomy medicament groups. Radiological success rates in formocresol, glutaraldehyde, and ferric sulphate groups were 56.7%, 83.3%, and 63.3%, respectively.

Conclusion:

Two per cent glutaraldehyde may be recommended as a more effective alternative to formocresol and ferric sulphate as a pulpotomy medicament.

Abstract

Aims:

The aims of the study were: to assess the prevalence of traumatic injuries to the teeth of 4- to 6-year-old children living in Gulbarga City, India, to determine prevalence of such dental traumatic injuries at the ages of 4, 5, and 6 years and to compare the prevalence of these injuries between male and female children.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was performed. It consisted of a clinical examination of upper and lower deciduous anterior teeth by one examiner and an interview using a questionnaire with a sample of 1500 children aged 4 to 6 years who attended kindergarten and primary schools in Gulbarga city. Garcia-Godoy's (1981) classification was used to classify the traumatic injuries. Intra-examiner consistency was assessed by kappa values on tooth-by-tooth basis. The chisquare test was used to analyse any gender and age differences.

Results:

The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries was 76.13%, of which crown fracture with enamel involvement of teeth was the most prevalent, followed by crown fracture with both enamel and dentine involvement. Significant and highly significant differences were found between boys and girls for discoloration of teeth (P<0.05), crown fracture involving enamel (P<0.001) and crown fracture involving both enamel and dentine (P<0.001). The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in the 5-year-old children was higher than that in the 4- and 6-year-olds. The commonest cause of injury was due to a fall (60%) and in 40% of cases of traumatic injury, they occurred in a field/playground.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of traumatic injuries to the anterior teeth of the 4- to 6-year-olds who took part in this study was very high. There is a need to run educational programmes to increase parents' awareness of the risks of dental trauma. Abstract

Aims:

The aims of the study were: to assess the prevalence of traumatic injuries to the teeth of 4- to 6-year-old children living in Gulbarga City, India, to determine prevalence of such dental traumatic injuries at the ages of 4, 5, and 6 years and to compare the prevalence of these injuries between male and female children.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was performed. It consisted of a clinical examination of upper and lower deciduous anterior teeth by one examiner and an interview using a questionnaire with a sample of 1500 children aged 4 to 6 years who attended kindergarten and primary schools in Gulbarga city. Garcia-Godoy's (1981) classification was used to classify the traumatic injuries. Intra-examiner consistency was assessed by kappa values on tooth-by-tooth basis. The chisquare test was used to analyse any gender and age differences.

Results:

The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries was 76.13%, of which crown fracture with enamel involvement of teeth was the most prevalent, followed by crown fracture with both enamel and dentine involvement. Significant and highly significant differences were found between boys and girls for discoloration of teeth (P<0.05), crown fracture involving enamel (P<0.001) and crown fracture involving both enamel and dentine (P<0.001). The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in the 5-year-old children was higher than that in the 4- and 6-year-olds. The commonest cause of injury was due to a fall (60%) and in 40% of cases of traumatic injury, they occurred in a field/playground.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of traumatic injuries to the anterior teeth of the 4- to 6-year-olds who took part in this study was very high. There is a need to run educational programmes to increase parents' awareness of the risks of dental trauma.

Summary Systematic reviews are essential in summarising evidence and providing an indication of its strength and direction. This is why they often inform clinical decision making. Although the quantity of reviews published is increasing, concerns about their quality may sometimes be questioned. This paper highlights the aspects of systematic review methodology that influence a review's overall quality. The authors explain the recently developed tool "Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews" (AMSTAR) to demonstrate how this can be used efficiently, allowing a busy clinician to evaluate quality and decide whether or not a particular review should be used to inform their clinical practice. Systematic reviews may allow clinicians to incorporate the best available evidence into clinical practice. The ability to evaluate the quality and reliability of systematic reviews is imperative in this process. The authors have used items detailed in AMSTAR to demonstrate the aspects of systematic review methodology that influence the overall quality of a review.

Abstract This paper describes the health care system in Cyprus and the funding arrangements for oral health care. Some epidemiological data and costs are also presented. Although almost 83% of the population is entitled to free of charge oral health care within the public sector, only 10% make use of it. Most patients prefer to use the private sector, where they pay out of pocket on a fee-for-service basis. Additionally, issues regarding the dental workforce in Cyprus are discussed, including the fact that there is no dental school in Cyprus. Abstract This paper describes the health care system in Cyprus and the funding arrangements for oral health care. Some epidemiological data and costs are also presented. Although almost 83% of the population is entitled to free of charge oral health care within the public sector, only 10% make use of it. Most patients prefer to use the private sector, where they pay out of pocket on a fee-for-service basis. Additionally, issues regarding the dental workforce in Cyprus are discussed, including the fact that there is no dental school in Cyprus.

To assess self-perceived oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in 12-year-olds living in two areas in the Barents region: North-West Russia (Arkhangelsk) and Northern Norway (Tromsø).Sampling was performed according to a stratified cluster design and consisted of 590 Russian and 264 Norwegian 12-year-olds and their parents. After written consent from their parents, 514 Russian (87% attendance) and 124 Norwegian (47% attendance) children entered the study. The study included clinical examination (children) and questionnaires (children and parents). Dental caries and the aesthetic dental appearance were recorded under field conditions. Self-reports on background variables and oral health-related quality of life questions (CPQ11-14) were completed in classroom settings by children and at home by parents.OHRQoL was found to vary depending on country of origin, with higher scores of CPQ11-14 domains among 12-year-olds from Russia. OHRQoL was found to be associated with dental caries, with higher scores among 12-year olds with caries. Inferior emotional and social well-being were established as having the strongest association with quality of life. Dental caries showed an independent effect on OHRQoL scores, but this effect disappeared when controlling for background variables, with country of origin, family economy, parental education and aesthetic appearance as the most influential (R²=0.14).Norwegian 12-year-olds had better oral health and OHRQoL than their Russian counterparts. The impact of dental caries on OHRQoL was weak and aesthetic dental appearance and socio-economic determinants were found to be more important, probably reflecting the great differences in the standards of living between Northern Norway and North-West Russia.

The relationship between the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and oral lichen planus (OLP) remains a controversial subject for clinicians. Many studies aimed at studying the association between HCV and OLP have been conducted over the years. Geographical variations have been shown to be a major factor influencing this association. This study aimed at determining whether such an epidemiological relationship exists in an Indian population.One hundred and thirty clinically and histopathologically confirmed OLP patients (46 males and 84 females, mean age 43.47±10.48 years) and 130 age- and gender matched controls were examined for serological evidence of chronic hepatic disease, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and anti-HCV seropositivity. The blood samples were collected from both the groups and subjected to biochemical analysis for total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase enzymes using a semi-automated biochemistry analyser. HBsAg and antibody to HCV were tested by ELISA. Statistical analysis was calculated using Levene's test and the independent t-test.No significant difference between serum levels of total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase was observed between both groups. All patients with OLP had normal liver function. None of the patients with OLP or the control subjects had antigens for HBsAg and HCV.Patients with OLP did not have any evidence of chronic liver disease or HBV or HCV infection. The exact mechanism that exists between the association of HCV and OLP still remains unclear and this study rejects the hypothesis that established a co-relation between OLP and HCV infection.

This study aimed to describe the current situation with regard to dental care provided under social insurance in Iran in qualitative terms and to assess it critically with regard to equity and efficiency.After a thorough review of the relevant literature, a template of topics, which included population coverage, range of treatment provided, contracting mechanisms, fees, level of co-payments and dental share of total health expenditures, was developed by a panel of Iranian health finance experts. It was used during interviews with informed persons from the different Iranian social funds. These interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions were checked for accuracy by those who had been interviewed and were then analysed.It was found that, currently, four major social funds are involved in health (including dental) insurance in Iran, under the supervision of The Supreme Council of Health Insurance, located at the newly integrated Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour & Social Welfare. Around 90% of Iranians are covered for health insurance within a Bismarckian system to which the employed, the employers, and the Government contribute. The system has developed piecemeal over the years and is characterised by a complexity of revenue-collection schemes, fragmented insurance pools, and passive purchasing of dental services.The dental sector of Iranian social insurance should establish a strategic purchasing plan for dental care with the aim of improving performance and access to care. Within the plan, there should be a basic benefit package of dental services based on the relative cost-effectiveness of interventions, educating an adequate number of allied dental professionals to provide simple services, and introducing mixed payment methods.