Dental Caries Experience among Industrial Workers in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, India

Background: Dental caries, the oral disease with multifactorial causes is a major public health problem leading go medically significant morbidity and impacting the general health of a population directly or indirectly. Dental caries is known to affect people from every population. Objective: To assess dental caries experience in permanent dentition among industrial workers in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1024 industrial workers of Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, in the age group of 16-55 years. Dental caries experience was assessed using WHO dentition status proforma (2013). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21.0. Results: Out of 1024 study subjects, 572 were males and 452 were females. Caries prevalence was found to be 47.46%. Mean decay-missing-filled teeth score of the population was 0.95 ± 0.45 and was found to be higher among females (1.06 ± 0.42) as compared to males (0.93 ± 0.38). Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries in industrial workers is noteworthy. Essential requisites to bring this under control include awareness regarding good dental health, education on prevention of dental caries and implication of necessary measures for the provision of adequate dental care

Trace Elements in Dentistry: A Review

As human body needs in and around two thirds of all the elements so as to maintain the health and our human body contains elements which are well known as abundant elements as well as trace elements. Due to biological and chemical reactions, trace elements, being part of a few enzymesare very important. They work not in collaboration with proteins but definitely with other co-enzymes. At earlier stage dental profession was involved with the field of trace elements and their association with dental disease. So, understanding of these trace elements is essential and significant for disease control as well as for optimal health

ALSA and PISA Quantifiable Tool for Diabetic Patients: A Clinical Study

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a well known risk factor for Periodontitis and the severity of the periodontal disease is often represented as non-continuous variables that quantify the amount of affected periodontal tissue in partial manner. So, Attachment Loss Surface Area (ALSA) and the Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) Index have been introduced in order to find out diseased condition in true sense.AIM: To find out comparison between diabetic and non diabetic patients by using the Attachment Loss Surface Area (ALSA) and the Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) Index.MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study was done in department of Periodontology and Implantology among 60 diabetic and 40 non diabetic patients who attended the OPD of general hospital. Clinical examination with ALISA, PISA and Plaque Index was recorded and collected data was subject to statistical analysis.RESULTS: It was found that no statistical difference exists between both of the groups. (p <0.05)CONCLUSION: It was concluded through this study that though as such no difference was found but ALISA and PISA both the parameters can be used to find out the progress of periodontal condition

Comparison of Scalpel and Diode Laser in Management of Gingival Enlargement: A Case Report

Inflammatory gingival enlargement is an excessive growth of gingival tissue due to inflammation in response to plaque accumulation. Enlargement of gingiva hampers the efficiency of daily oral hygiene practices which in turn accumulates more plaque, thus causing inflammation. Phase I therapy, consisting of scaling and root planning only reduces the inflammatory component of the enlarged gingival tissues but the fibrotic gingival enlargement remaining thereafter is then removed surgically by gingivectomy. Apart from the conventional scalpel gingivectomy, many other treatment modalities such as gingivectomy by lasers and electrocautery are now being widely used in the field of surgical periodontal therapy. This case report describes the management of gingival enlargement in relation with gingivae of maxillary teeth by administering separate treatment modalities i.e. diode laser and conventional scalpel gingivectomy

Self-Reported Obesity Status of School Teachers Teaching In Various Schools of District Panchkula, Haryana, India

INTRODUCTION: Being overweight and obese are a major concern across the globe, as it impact one’s quality of life.AIM: To assess the self-reported Obesity status of private school teachers teaching in various schools of district Panchkula, Haryana, IndiaMATERIALS AND METHOD: A Descriptive, cross sectional study, questionnaire based study was conducted among school teachers of Panchkula District, Haryana, India using self-reported 10 item-questionnaire. The data was duly entered into Microsoft excel wherein descriptive statistics were applied and then, regression analysis to find differences if any, was applied using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk NY)RESULTS: Of a 500 questionnaires distributed, 417 were fit for data entry (response rate 83.4%) with a majority of the study subjects being females (220,52.7%), and 97.1% of the teachers taught in private schools. The overall prevalence of obesity 15.1% was reported based on self-reported BMI. A non-significant p value of .006.(Regression analysis) between males and females with respect to their self-reported BMI was observed.CONCLUSION: Efforts are required to be directed to prevent obesity among schoolteachers, who act as role-models for their students

World No Tobacco Day 2023: Short Commentary

World No Tobacco Day 2023: Short Commentary by Dr. Abhinav Bhasker, Senior Lecturer, Department of Perioontology and Implantology, Himachal Dental College, Sundernaga