Screening for Oral Cancer: A Review

Oral cancer is a common disease which affects individuals of mainly the older age group. If diagnosed at later stages, the prognosis is poor. In this review, the various techniques for diagnosis of oral cancer such as screening of the patient by conventional oral examination, supravital staining, visual adjunctive aids, biopsy etc. have been discussed. The traditional treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Newer modalities include gene therapy, immunotherapy, etc. have proven to be successful to some extent. Thorough knowledge of the disease and timely diagnosis by the dental professional can prevent metastasis

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

Teledentistry: A New Evolution in Dentistry

Teledentistry is a new field that combines telecommunication to advanced dental care. Most of the dentists are not aware about the goals, advantages of teledentistry and how it can be used to improve the delivery of oral healthcare and lower its costs. It also has the potential to eliminate the disparities in oral health care between rural and urban communities. In dentistry, it can be used by specialists in various branches and can serve the general dentist too. Some barriers still exist for teledentistry practice, which includes legal, educational and insurance issues. In spite of these barriers, telemedicine and teledentistry have showed tremendous growth in recent years . This article places emphasis on how teledentistry can be a cost effective answer to the dentists and their patients

Paget’s Disease of Maxilla: A Case Report

Paget disease of bone (PDB) is an idiopathic, chronic progressive disease of the bone, characterized by disordered pattern of bone resorption and formation. It has been observed to manifest itself as both monostotic and polyostotic disease. The scientific literature does not report a lot of cases on the incidence of this disease involving the jaws. In India, however a few cases have been reported in the recent times. Paget’s disease manifests itself as an asymptomatic disorder until it progresses onto the advanced stage where it becomes painful. Thus, its diagnosis on radiographs in the early stage is of paramount importance in order to deter its complications which may not only end up in disability but also can be fatal to life

Sports Dentistry and Dental Traumatology- A Review

Dental traumatology is a major connecting link between sports and dentistry. Sporting activities have become a huge integral part for those people who want to get involved in recreational activities. Dentistry plays a key role in handling oral and maxillofacial injuries which arise due to any sports activity. Sports dentistry is actually associated with prevention of injuries of oral and maxillofacial region and specific oral diseases in this particular area and its manifestations. Over the years, various preventive measures have become a significant part of sports dentistry which includes the use of mouthguard and dietary counselling. A sports team dentist, who plays a huge part in the diagnosis, management and prevention of injuries and diseases in sports-persons is also a great need in schools and colleges. In this review, we discuss the relationship of sports and dental diseases and how the parents and teachers are becoming an important factor in prevention of sports related injuries

Determinants of preventive oral health behavior among senior dental students of Greater Noida, India

Introduction: Oral self-care practice is an effective preventive measure for maintaining good oral health. The health beliefs and attitudes of health professionals will not only affect their oral self-care habits, but will have a profound influence on their ability to motivate patients to learn and practice preventive oral health measures. Aim: The aim was to determine the preventive oral health behavior of senior dental students in relation to demography, knowledge of preventive care, and attitudes towards preventive dentistry. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a dental institution by distributing pretested questionnaire to 102 final year dental students. The overall response rate was 94%. Data were computed and tabulated. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test using SPSS. Results: More than half of the respondents (56.25%) agreed that the frequency of sugar consumption has a greater role in producing caries. It was observed that 93.75% of students found preventive dentistry practice to be useful. Significant gender differences were observed in the use of recommended oral self-care, knowledge of using sealant as a caries preventive measure and fluoridation of drinking water as an effective way of preventing caries. Conclusion: There was an appreciably high level of good knowledge of preventive dental care among the dental students with a positive attitude towards preventive dentistry practice

Sociodemographic profile and future expectations of newly entered students in a dental institute in Greater Noida, India

Introduction: Dentistry is one of the most reputed professions all over the world and is becoming a fastest growing career choice for students. Thus, it is necessary to know reasons for choosing dentistry as a career and their future expectations. Aim: The aim was to obtain information about sociodemographic profile, influencing and motivating factors for a career choice and to know future expectations of 1 st year students enrolled in a private dental institute in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing pretested structured questionnaire to 100 1 st year students enrolled in the Institute. The overall response rate was 93%. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 and Chi-square test was applied. Results: Parents were most influencing factors for both male and female students to choose dentistry and students rated reputation and lifestyle (96.7%) as most motivating factor. About 80% of students wanted to pursue specialization after B.D.S where maximum preference was given to oral surgery (29%), endodontics (12%), and orthodontics (9%). Statistically significant association was found between gender and interest to do specialization in dentistry (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Dentistry upholds a reputable position among the students, and most students′ want to pursue specialization after completion, of course; however, it′s disheartening that very few students are inclined toward nonclinical branches

Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis Among Adolescents in Schools of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Introduction: Drinking water is one of the major sources of fluoride. India is one of those 24 countries where fluorosis is an important public health problem. When excess fluoride is ingested during the years of tooth calcification, it results in fluorosis. Aim: To assess the prevalence of dental fluorosis among adolescents in schools of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A total of 1318 students were examined for dental fluorosis through a stratified sampling technique from four blocks of Greater Noida. Dean’s Fluorosis Index was used to record dental fluorosis and information regarding the source of water till the age of 8 years, usage of fluoridated toothpaste before 2 years of age and other affected family members, which was obtained from their parents. Results: The overall prevalence of dental fluorosis in Greater Noida was found to be 21.0%. A very mild form of dental fluorosis was seen in 27.6% of the adolescents. The source of water consumed by the adolescent till the age of 8 years was found to be significantly associated with dental fluorosis (P = 0.001). Adolescents who consumed water from the hand pump were more likely to develop dental fluorosis. The reporting of an affected family member was seen to vary significantly with the relative score of dental fluorosis observed for that adolescent. The value of Community Fluorosis Index (CFI) was found to be 1.7. Conclusion: Dental fluorosis seemed to be a problem of medium public health significance in Greater Noida as suggested by the observed CFI, which was 1.7. The consumption of water from the handpump by majority of the population was associated with fluorosis

The Catalytic Machinery of Chondroitinase ABC I Utilizes a Calcium Coordination

The chondroitinases are bacterial lyases that specifically cleave chondroitin sulfate and/or dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycans. One of these enzymes, chondroitinase ABC I from Proteus Vulgaris, has the broadest substrate specificity and has been widely used to depolymerize these glycosaminoglycans

Chondroitinase ABC I from Proteus vulgaris: cloning, recombinant expression and active site identification

GalAGs (galactosaminoglycans) are one subset of the GAG (glycosaminoglycan) family of chemically heterogeneous polysaccharides that are involved in a wide range of biological processes. These complex biomacromolecules are believed to be responsible for the inhibition of nerve regeneration following injury to the central nervous system. The enzymic degradation of GAG chains in damaged nervous tissue by cABC I (chondroitinase ABC I), a broad-specificity lyase that degrades GalAGs, promotes neural recovery. In the present paper, we report the subcloning of cABC I from Proteus vulgaris, and discuss a simple methodology for the recombinant expression and purification of this enzyme. The originally expressed cABC I clone resulted in an enzyme with negligible activity against a variety of GalAG substrates. Sequencing of the cABC I clone revealed four point mutations at issue with the electron-density data of the cABC I crystal structure. Site-directed mutagenesis produced a clone with restored GalAG-degrading function. We have characterized this enzyme biochemically, including an analysis of its substrate specificity. By coupling structural inspections of cABC I and an evaluation of sequence homology against other GAG-degrading lyases, a set of amino acids was chosen for further study. Mutagenesis studies of these residues resulted in the first experimental evidence of cABC I's active site. This work will facilitate the structure–function characterization of biomedically relevant GalAGs and further the development of therapeutics for nerve regeneration