Assessment of oral health status and tobacco-related habits among the employees of North-West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), Belagavi City - A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Transport workers have a very haphazard and incongruent schedule which makes it difficult for them to follow proper oral hygiene practices. The prevalence of tobacco habits is also found to be high due to their long periods of work and constant stress. This study aimed to assess the oral health status and tobacco habits of the government bus drivers and conductors of NWKRTC, Belagavi City, Karnataka.  Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 451 Government Bus drivers and other employees of NWKRTC who gave consent for the study. WHO Oral Health Assessment Form 2013 was used to record the oral health status and a self-designed, validated questionnaire was employed for recording the oral hygiene practices and tobacco-related habits. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square was used for statistical analysis.    Results: The mean age of the employees of NWKRTC is 43.55 years and there are 414 males as compared to only 37 females. The mean DMFT score was 5.55±3.08. 228 of them had some kind of tobacco habit with guthka (25.9 percent) being the most prevalent one. 57 employees had manifestations of leukoplakia and OSMF. There was an association between tobacco habits and oral mucosal lesions as well as the DMFT score. Conclusion: The Oral Health Status of the Government employees of NWKRTC is poor. It is further compounded by the high prevalence of tobacco habits and associated lesions and it is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately

Risk of periodontitis & dental caries among 35 to 44 year old diabetic individuals: A case control study

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the age group of 35–44 years for surveillance of oral health conditions in adults. There is a growing incidence of early onset of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) worldwide. Objective: This study was conducted to find the strength of association between dental caries and periodontitis in patients with T2DM. Materials and Methods: This was a case–control study conducted among 35–44-year-old patients with T2DM (n = 185) reporting to various hospitals of Belagavi city and controls (n = 185), who met the inclusion criteria. Group matching was done for age and gender. The study participants were interviewed for their sociodemographic details, relevant medical history, oral health behaviors, and dietary behaviors using a self-designed questionnaire. Dental caries and periodontal status were recorded using the WHO criteria, 2013. Results: The mean decayed missing filled teeth was significantly higher among controls than cases (P = 0.006). A significantly higher number of cases had periodontal pockets (crude odds ratio: 6.6) as compared to controls. Regression analysis showed that loss of attachment was significantly associated with T2DM (adjusted odds ratio: 5.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.81–6.89). Conclusion: Periodontitis was found to be associated with T2DM. However, no such association was found between dental caries and T2DM

Soxhlet versus cold maceration: Which method gives better antimicrobial activity to licorice extract against Streptococcus mutans?

Purpose: Licorice is called “grandfather of herbs” and is being used for wide various ailments since time immemorial. However, its use in dentistry has been recently. Soxhlet and Cold maceration are the two commonly employed methods for extraction of drug from raw products. But which of two is gives better antibacterial property to licorice root remains unanswered. Hence, the present study has been planned with an aim to compare antibacterial activity of licorice root extracts obtained from two methods (Soxhlet and cold maceration) against Streptococcus mutans. It is an in vitro study. Methodology: Licorice roots were authenticated from recognized taxonomist. They were washed, dried completely, and coarsely powdered. The weighed powder was mixed with ethanol (100 mg in 500 ml). Two such mixtures were made. One was used for cold maceration procedure and the other was used for Soxhlet method. Extracts so obtained were assessed for their minimum inhibitory concentration against S. mutans ATCC 25175 in triplicates using broth dilution and disc diffusion method. Extracts were also compared for their phytochemical components. Descriptive analysis and unpaired t-test were performed. Results: Cold maceration extract at concentration of 1.95 mg/ml and Soxhlet method at 3.906 mg/ml showed inhibition of S. mutans. Both of them possessed the same phytochemical components. Conclusion: Licorice root extract obtained through cold maceration had significantly better antimicrobial activity against S. mutans than licorice extract obtained through Soxhlet method. Cold maceration method is relatively simple and does not involve complex instruments and yet yields better extract

Knowledge, attitude, and practices toward tobacco control among rural community health care workers of primary subcenters in Belagavi district, Karnataka

Context: Tobacco is the common cause to a number of illnesses affecting millions of individuals all over the world. Primary care physicians are the initial point of contact for tobacco users, yet reaching everyone is impossible. Therefore, it is important to understand community health workers attitude to render community services in tobacco cessation counseling. Aim: To assess knowledge, attitude, practices, and occupational barriers toward tobacco control among community health care workers in Belagavi district, Karnataka. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in various subcenters of Belagavi district, Karnataka. Methods and Material: Simple random sampling technique was employed and 220 participants were interviewed using an interviewer administered questionnaire comprising of 22 close ended questions. Reliability of the questionnaire assessed with Cronbach's α value of 0.85, face validity 84%, and content validity ratio 0.78. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, chi square analysis, correlation, and regression. Results: The mean knowledge score among Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers was 4.77 ± 2.11 and it was lower in Anganwadi workers 2.93 ± 2.55. There was a statistically significant difference in the attitude scores (P < 0.05) between the community health workers. The majority of the ASHA workers would spread awareness, on the other hand, Anganwadi workers did not take any specific step which showed statistically significant difference with a P value of 0.018. Conclusion: ASHA workers had been superior to Anganwadi workers with regard to knowledge and attitude toward tobacco control. However, knowledge regarding tobacco and its ill effects was below optimal level among community health workers which desires to thoroughly educate in the aspects of oral health and disorders as part of their training

Impact of dental caries and periodontal disease on oral health‐related quality of life among the Karnataka State Reserve Police Personnel in Belagavi, India: Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among reserve police personnel

Introduction: The Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) is a state-level police force in India. Good Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) among them is quintessential for the welfare of the society. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of dental caries and periodontal disease on the OHRQoL among the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) stationed in Belagavi, India. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with a total sample size of 720. The personnel were recruited by simple random sampling. The Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP 14) was used to assess OHRQoL in 7 domains. The intra-examiner reliability for World Health Organisation (WHO) oral assessment form 2013 was assessed using Kappa statistics and was found to be 0.86. Dentition and periodontal status were recorded using the same. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's coefficient of correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Physical pain and psychological discomfort had the highest mean scores among the seven domains of OHIP-14. Constables had higher mean OHIP-14 scores among the study population. A significant positive correlation was found between oral health parameters with the domains of OHIP-14. The highest dependence on the socio-demographic and oral health predictors were found in the domains of physical pain (44.2%), psychological discomfort (38.3%), and physical disability (30.5%). Conclusions: The study revealed that dental caries and periodontal disease had a significant impact on OHRQoL among reserve police personnel and the OHRQoL was poor particularly among the lower ranked personnel. &nbsp

Evaluation of a “Picture Assisted Illustration Reinforcement” (PAIR) System for Oral Hygiene in Children with Autism: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

This study evaluated the potential of a novel pre-validated “Picture Assisted Illustration Reinforcement” (PAIR) communication system and conventional verbal techniques for Oral Health Education (OHE) in terms of dentition status, gingival health, oral hygiene status, and practices in 7- to 18-year-old children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A double-blind randomized controlled trial was undertaken in a school for children with autism from July to September 2022. A total of 60 children were randomly assigned into two groups: a PAIR group (n = 30) and a Conventional group (n = 30). Cognition and pre-evaluation of all the children were assessed by standardized scaling measures. A pre-validated closed-ended questionnaire was administered to caregivers of both groups. At a 12-week post-intervention, a clinical examination was performed using the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Assessment form 2013, gingival and Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S). The gingival scores in the PAIR group (0.35 ± 0.12) exhibited a statistically significant decline in scores as compared to Conventional group (0.83 ± 0.37), p = 0.043. Meanwhile, the oral hygiene scores in the PAIR group and Conventional group were 1.22 ± 0.14 and 1.94 ± 0.15, respectively (p < 0.05). A significant improvement in oral hygiene practices was observed in the PAIR group. Incorporating the PAIR technique resulted in significant progress in child cognitive ability and adaptive behavior, which reduced gingival scores and improved oral hygiene scores, consequently improving oral hygiene practices among children with ASD

Impact of the Visual Performance Reinforcement Technique on Oral Hygiene Knowledge and Practices, Gingival Health, and Plaque Control in Hearing- and Speech-Impaired Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of oral health education (OHE), incorporating a novel pre-validated visual performance reinforcement (VPR) technique and sign language, on gingival health, plaque control, and oral hygiene knowledge and practices in 12 to 15-year-old hearing- and speech-impaired adolescents. A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in a government school for deaf children in Belagavi, Karnataka, India. A total of 80 adolescents, aged 12&ndash;15 years, were randomly assigned, using a computer-generated table of random numbers, into two groups: Group A receiving the VPR technique (n = 40), and Group B receiving sign language (n = 40). A specially designed pre-validated closed-ended questionnaire was administered to both groups, followed by clinical examination to obtain the gingival and plaque index, before intervention and at a 16-week follow-up period. Group A showed a significant increase in the knowledge gained when compared to Group B. Similarly, a significant improvement in oral hygiene practices was also observed in Group A. However, at the 16-week follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences in gingival and plaque scores between the groups. OHE using the VPR technique can be as effective and satisfactory as sign language in the reduction of gingival and plaque scores and in the improvement of knowledge and its application in oral hygiene maintenance among hearing- and speech-impaired adolescents

Effectiveness of a Visual Interactive Game on Oral Hygiene Knowledge, Practices, and Clinical Parameters among Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a novel interactive game-based visual performance technique (IGVP) and conventional oral health educational (OHE) talk on plaque control, gingival health, and oral hygiene knowledge and practices in 12&ndash;15-year-old schoolchildren. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was undertaken in a private primary school in Belagavi, Karnataka, India. A total of 100 children aged 12&ndash;15 years were randomly assigned to either a conventional OHE talk (control group, n = 50) or the IGVP technique (test group, n = 50), using a computer-generated table of random numbers. A self-designed, pre-validated closed-ended questionnaire was collected from both groups, followed by clinical examination carried out using gingival and plaque index, pre- and post-intervention, at three months follow-up. There was a significant reduction in the mean gingival score and plaque score in the test group after intervention, indicating a 58.7% and 63.4% reduction, when compared to the control group, which had a 2.8% and 0.7% reduction, respectively (p &lt; 0.001). The test group showed a significant increase in the percentage of knowledge gained (22.4%), compared to control group (7.8%). The IGVP technique proved to be more effective than a conventional OHE talk in the reduction of the plaque score, gingival score, and in the improvement of the knowledge of oral hygiene maintenance and its application