Assessment of the Status of National Oral Health Policy in India

Background National oral health policy was conscripted by the Indian Dental Association (IDA) in 1986 and was accepted as an integral part of National Health Policy (NHP) by the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare in one of its conferences in the year 1995. Objectives of this paper were to find out the efforts made or going on towards its execution, its current status and recent oral health-related affairs or programs, if any. Methods Literature search was done using the institutional library, web-based search engines like ‘Google’ and ‘PubMed’ and also by cross referencing. It yielded 108 articles, of which 50 were excluded as they were not pertinent to the topic. Twenty-four were of global perspective rather than Indian and hence were not taken into account and finally 34 articles were considered for analyses. Documents related to central and state governments of India were also considered. Results All the articles considered for analysis were published within the past 10 years with gradual increase in number which depicts the researchers’ increasing focus towards oral health policy. Criticisms, suggestions and recommendations regarding national oral health programs, dental manpower issues, geriatric dentistry, public health dentistry, dental insurance, oral health inequality, and public-private partnerships have taken major occupancies in the articles. Proposals like “model for infant and child oral health promotion” and “oral health policy phase 1 for Karnataka” were among the initiatives towards national oral health policy. Conclusion The need for implementation of the drafted oral health policy with modification that suits the rapidly changing oral health system of this country is inevitable

Assessment of periodontal health among jail inmates of Guntur city Andhra Pradesh: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Oral health is an integral part of general health. Various factors are responsible for maintenance of good oral health. Socioeconomic status, occupation, education are playing major role in the maintenance of good oral health. Prisoners are psychologically, socially, morally and economically affected group, which makes them to neglect their general, as well as oral health. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was designed and undertaken at district prison in Guntur city to assess the periodontal health status and loss of attachment (LOA) in accordance with their years of imprisonment. Results: The total prison population of the district prison was 180 (145 males, 35 females) with the age group of 18-65 years. Calculus was observed among 38.8% of total inmates, and it was observed more 25 (35.7%) who were imprisoned for 4-6 years. Pockets measuring 4-5 mm was observed among 15.5% of total inmates and it was observed 10 (35.7%) who were imprisoned for 2-4 years. Pockets measuring >6 mm were observed among 5%of total inmates and it was observed more 4 (40%) who were imprisoned for >6 years. There was highly statistically significant differences in LOA scores between the inmates imprisoned for a different period of imprisonment (P = 0.005). Conclusion: This study conducted in central jail has clearly indicated that their periodontal health status is poor because of lack of knowledge on oral health care measures and accessibility to aids used in oral hygiene practices. Preventive measures to improve dental care and provision of dental health education are very much necessary to ensure optimum oral health among the inmates

Assessment of the Status of National Oral Health Policy in India

Background: National oral health policy was conscripted by the Indian Dental Association (IDA) in 1986 and was accepted as an integral part of National Health Policy (NHP) by the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare in one of its conferences in the year 1995. Objectives of this paper were to find out the efforts made or going on towards its execution, its current status and recent oral health-related affairs or programs, if any. Methods: Literature search was done using the institutional library, web-based search engines like ‘Google’ and ‘PubMed’ and also by cross referencing. It yielded 108 articles, of which 50 were excluded as they were not pertinent to the topic. Twenty-four were of global perspective rather than Indian and hence were not taken into account and finally 34 articles were considered for analyses. Documents related to central and state governments of India were also considered. Results: All the articles considered for analysis were published within the past 10 years with gradual increase in number which depicts the researchers’ increasing focus towards oral health policy. Criticisms, suggestions and recommendations regarding national oral health programs, dental manpower issues, geriatric dentistry, public health dentistry, dental insurance, oral health inequality, and public-private partnerships have taken major occupancies in the articles. Proposals like “model for infant and child oral health promotion” and “oral health policy phase 1 for Karnataka” were among the initiatives towards national oral health policy. Conclusion: The need for implementation of the drafted oral health policy with modification that suits the rapidly changing oral health system of this country is inevitable

Bacterial diversity and bioprospecting for cold-active enzymes from culturable bacteria associated with sediment from a melt water stream of Midtre Lo<SUB>v<SUP>·</SUP></SUB>enbreen glacier, an Arctic glacier

Culturable bacterial diversity of Midtre Loenbreen glacier, an Arctic glacier, was studied using 12 sediment samples collected from different points, along a transect, from the snout of Midtre Lov·enbreen glacier up to the convergence point of the melt water stream with the sea. Bacterial abundance appeared to be closer to the convergence point of the glacial melt water stream with the sea than at the snout of the glacier. A total of 117 bacterial strains were isolated from the sediment samples. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, the isolates (n = 117) could be categorised in to 32 groups, with each group representing a different taxa belonging to 4 phyla (Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Flavobacteria and Proteobacteria). Representatives of the 32 groups varied in their growth temperature range (4-37 °C), in their tolerance to NaCl (0.1-1 M NaCl) and in the growth pH range (2-13). Only 14 of 32 representative strains exhibited amylase, lipase and (or) protease activity and only one isolate (AsdM4-6) showed all three enzyme activities at 5 and 20 °C respectively. More than half of the isolates were pigmented. Fatty acid profile studies indicated that short-chain fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, branched fatty acids, cyclic and cis fatty acids are predominant in the psychrophilic bacteria