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   2012| January-June  | Volume 2 | Issue 1  
    Online since July 17, 2013

 
 
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REVIEW ARTICLES
Medical and dental emergencies and complications in dental practice and its management
Krishna D Prasad, Chethan Hegde, Harshitha Alva, Manoj Shetty
January-June 2012, 2(1):13-19
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115144  
Any dental professional can encounter an emergency during the course of their treatment. Every Dental specialist should have the knowledge to identify and manage a potentially life-threatening situation. Prompt recognition and efficient management of an emergency by the specialist results in a satisfactory outcome. Though rare, emergencies do occur in a dental clinic. The ultimate goal in the management of all emergencies is the preservation of life. The prime requisite in managing an emergency is maintenance of proper Position (P), Airway (A), Breathing (B), Circulation (C), and Definitive treatment (D). The purpose of this article is to provide a vision to the commonly occurring medical and dental emergencies and complications in dental practice and their management. Data for the study was collected from PubMed data base search.
  86,387 5,701 -
Cross contamination in dentistry: A comprehensive overview
Sagar Abichandani, Ramesh Nadiger
January-June 2012, 2(1):3-9
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115139  
Cross contamination and cross infection can occur by direct contact with microorganisms, indirect contact with contaminated objects, droplet transmission, and inhalation of airborne pathogens. In dentistry, operatory surfaces can routinely become contaminated with patient saliva, blood, and other fluids during treatment. This review is aimed to identify cross contamination and spread of infection by various means and the appropriate preventive measures to be implemented. This review will also highlight the various aspects that are neglected in various dental schools/dental practice or any dental set up that potentiate cross contamination ultimately affecting the dentist, dental team, and the patients. A review of the dental literature concerning cross contamination was performed. Material appearing in the literature before 1996 was reviewed as exhaustively as possible and materials after 1996 were reviewed electronically. In Medline, key words like cross contamination, sterilization, asepsis, infection, infection control, prevention are used in various combinations to obtain a potential reference for review. A total of 2245 English Language titles were found, many were repeated due to recurring searches. The headings were shortlisted and reviewed for detailed examination. A comprehensive review to evaluate the methods of preventing cross contamination in dentistry involving various aspects and challenges encountered in a dental set up was constructed which was missing in the references of the review. Awareness and the necessary precautions play a pivotal role in preventing the occurrence of cross contamination. It is the responsibility of the entire dental team to work in unison to prevent the menace of cross contamination and spread of infection.
  12,173 1,070 -
Go green dentistry
Sidhi Passi, Sumati Bhalla
January-June 2012, 2(1):10-12
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115142  
For many people, dentistry is not the first word that springs to mind when one hears the word "eco-friendly." Dentistry has an impact on the environment, and there are moves toward "eco-friendly dentistry." Eco-friendly dentistry uses a sustainable approach to encourage dentists to implement new strategies to try and reduce the energy being consumed and the large amount of wastes being produced by the industry. However, with eco-consciousness becoming a new trend, everyone is looking for ways to create and market "green" products. Green dentistry is a high-tech approach that reduces the environmental impact of dental practices and encompasses a service model for dentistry that supports and maintains wellness. Together, green dental practices, green dental patients, and companies offering green dental products are transforming the dental industry through adoption of the EDA's (Eco-Friendly Dental Association) green dentistry model.
  10,505 1,422 -
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Teaching methodologies in pharmacology: A survey of students' perceptions and experiences
Kavita Sekhri
January-June 2012, 2(1):40-44
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115150  
Objectives: In order to ensure a successful and sustainable curriculum development, regular feedback from students about their views of learning experience is a must. The purpose of this study was to assess whether learning aids are actually supporting the curriculum goals and what reforms can be implemented for betterment of teaching in pharmacology for dental students. Materials and Methods: A detailed structured questionnaire having both open and closed-ended questions was given to 120 students of 2 nd year in a teaching dental hospital. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of data. Frequency was expressed as percentage. Pearson Chi square test was used to compare the responses to various questions. Results: A total response rate of 83.33% was observed. Majority of the students, i.e., 85% were females. Mean age of the students was 19.6 ± 0.87 years. Teaching by lectures with bilateral communication was rated highest (47%) among the teaching methods. Most students wanted teachers to use liquid crystal display (LCD) projection during lectures. 42% students preferred textbooks and class notes for studying pharmacology. A whopping 76% of the students favored tutorial sessions of small groups. As part of pharmacology practicals, a combination of pharmacy practicals and clinically oriented exercises was preferred. While preparing for the annual university examination, class tests were rated as most useful (43%) followed by tutorials (24%), send-up (20%), and midterm examination (13%). Conclusion: Lectures with bilateral communication are the preferred mode of learning in this setting. There is a need to incorporate more clinically oriented exercises like proper usage of syringes and needles or observing aseptic precautions to better equip the students toward clinical training.
  6,451 654 -
Bullying perceptions among post-graduate dental students of Andhra Pradesh, India
ASR Lahari, Nusrath Fareed, M Shanthi, KM Sudhir, RVS Krishna Kumar
January-June 2012, 2(1):20-24
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115143  
Introduction: of bullying are common in field of medicine. However, the extent of this problem remains unknown. Bullying among students and professionals has been studied in developed countries, but has received limited, practically, no attention in India. This study was thus planned with an aim to know the prevalence and the perceptions of bullying by the post-graduate dental college students of Andhra Pradesh, India. Objectives: This study aimed to find out bullying practices experienced by the students and the sources of bullying. To assess the extent of reporting of bullying faced at the workplace. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among post-graduate students of five randomly selected dental colleges of A.P. The students, belonging to 2, 3 years of the course were approached to fill in a self-administered questionnaire to record details regarding bullying practices, sources of bullying and the extent of reporting to the respective authorities. Results: A total of 156 post-graduates participated in the study. Bullying was experienced by 79% of them during their training. Pressure to overwork (69.9%) and threat to professional status (60.3%) were the most prevalent forms of bullying. Main source for bullying was the department staff (89.1%) followed by administrative staff (16%). Only 34% of prevalent bullying was being reported to authorities and no anti bullying policies and measures are in vogue at present in the dental colleges. Conclusions: The prevalence of bullying is high and it acts as a chief stress or among the post-graduate dental students.
  5,863 497 -
JOURNAL REVIEWS
Ethical dilemmas in dentistry
S Arvind, SK Indu Bharkavi
January-June 2012, 2(1):45-48
  5,349 609 -
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Perceived competency towards dental practice among interns of various dental colleges in India
S Prabhu, Joseph John, S Saravanan
January-June 2012, 2(1):33-39
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115154  
Background: Quality of dental education has seen a major improvement in India, most of the dental graduates opt for practice after their internship in India, and there are no prior studies to assess the preparedness of the interns towards dental practice. Hence, the aim of this study was to describe the level of self-perceived competency towards dental practice among Interns of various dental colleges in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted using a standardized and valid measure of self-perceived competencies in dentistry (49 items). Results: The overall response rate to the study was 71.5% (143/200). 83.9% respondents felt well prepared towards dental practice, most of the respondents felt well prepared about "bread and butter" aspects of dentistry: General patient management and conservative dentistry. However, in certain areas the interns felt poorly prepared towards dental practice, over 60% of the interns felt that they are poorly prepared in management of complications of oral surgery, extraction of impacted third molars and in management of trauma to dento-facial complex, replacement of missing teeth with conventional bridges and implants, and in performing periodontal surgical procedures. Conclusion: In general, Interns felt well prepared towards dental practice; however, there exists a lacuna in certain areas of training the interns towards dental practice and this lacunae has to be fulfilled by making necessary changes in the undergraduate dental education program and also by conducting continuing dental education program for the dental professionals.
  5,346 513 -
Relating dental caries experience with body mass index among Nigerian primary school children: A cross-sectional survey
NM Chukwumah, CC Azodo, HA Adeghe, JE Enabulele
January-June 2012, 2(1):28-32
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115151  
Objective: To determine the dental caries experience and body mass index (BMI) of primary school children from both public and private schools in Ugbowo, Benin City. Materials and Methods: Primary school children from conveniently selected private and public schools were examined for dental caries and also underwent height and weight measurement for their BMI calculation during the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Benin Teaching Hospital School Health program in December 2010, using the WHO criteria. Results: Of the participants, 3.8% and 5.2% of them were overweight and obese respectively. A total of 33 (15.7%) of the children had dental caries with a mean decayed, missing filled, and teeth (DMFT) of 0.25 ΁ 0.04. The prevalence of untreated caries (decayed teeth [DT]), DMFT were 30 (14.3%), 1 (0.5%), and 2 (1.0%) respectively. DT contributed 90.9% (30/33) of DMFT that for the mean DMFT in underweight children was 0.21 that for the normal weight children were 0.26 that for the overweight children was 0.50 and for the obese children was 0.18. The prevalence of dental caries was the highest among obese participants followed by normal weight, underweight and overweight participants. There was no significant association between BMI, DMFT and caries experience. Conclusion: Dental caries experience among primary school children in Ugbowo is comparable to that reported in other Nigerian Pediatric populations and an increasing trend in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. However, non-significant association between the BMI and caries experience was noted. Success-oriented oral health promotion should take cognizance of differential prevalence of dental caries in terms of gender and type of school recorded in this study.
  5,084 548 -
A cross sectional study of the patient's awareness and understanding toward legal nature of informed consent in a dental hospital in rural Haryana
Abhishek Singh, Anu Bhardwaj, Rajnish Jindal, Prassana Mithra, Adiba Siddique, DR Rajesh
January-June 2012, 2(1):25-27
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115147  
Aims: The objective of this study is to define the patient's awareness of legal issues, attitude toward consent process. An additional objective of this study is to find out whether or not the patients actually understand what has been explained to them. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out during January 2011 to July 2011 at a tertiary care dental hospital. In this study, a structured interview schedule was developed and handed out to 582 patients in the various outpatient departments of the hospital. SPSS version 11.5 was used for analysis. Results: Of the 582 patients approached, 58 patients refused to participate and interviewed 524 patients. Most (88.0%) of the patients under study thought that they had no right to change their minds after signing the consent. A total of 75% patients falsely believed that it was a legal requirement. Overall the level of understanding was poor in 17%, unsatisfactory in 33%, satisfactory in 32%, and good in 18% of the patients. The level of understanding was significantly associated with educational level (P < 0.01). Conclusion: There exists a vast discrepancy between the informed consents perceived by patients. Limited knowledge of the legal implications of signing or not signing consent form indicates that consent process should be reassessed in order to achieve patient autonomy.
  4,818 496 -
GUEST EDITORIAL
Editorial on education in India, special reference to medical and dental education
Umadevi K Rao
January-June 2012, 2(1):1-2
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.115137  
  3,466 295 -
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