Dental knowledge and awareness among grandparents

AIM: To investigate grandparent's knowledge and awareness about the oral health of their grandchildren. METHODS: Grandparents accompanying patients aged 4-8 years, who were living with their grandchildren and caring for them for a major part of the day, when both their parents were at work were included in the study. A 20-item questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, dietary and oral hygiene practices was distributed to them. The sample comprised of 200 grandparents(59 males, 141 females). χ2 analysis and Gamma test of symmetrical measures were applied to assess responses across respondent gender and level of education.RESULTS: Oral health related awareness was found to be low among grandparents. In most questions asked, grandparents with a higher level of education exhibited a better knowledge about children's oral health. Level of awareness was not related to their gender. CONCLUSION: Oral hygiene and dietary habits are established during childhood. There is a great need for dental education of grandparents as they serve as role models for young children.

Effect of westernization on oral health among college students of Udaipur City,India

Background:There is overwhelming evidence that periodontal disease and dental caries affect the majority of populations and that western culture and lifestyle may have a profound influence on oral health,especially in adults.The present study was performed to determine the effect of westernization on the oral health of college students of Udaipur City,Rajasthan.Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students attending various professional and non-professional bachelor's degree colleges of Udaipur City,Rajasthan,India,from March 2013 to May 2013.Eight hundred students were selected based on a two-stage random sampling procedure.Westernization was assessed by a self-administered structured questionnaire.Periodontal status,dental caries status and malocclusion were assessed according to World Health Organization(WHO) criteria(1997).Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square and Multivariate logistic regression.The confidence level and level of significance were set at 95% and 5%,respectively.Results:The present study suggested that adverse habits,listening to English music and preferring English food had a significant association with dental caries and periodontal diseases.Malocclusion also showed a significant relationship with consuming English food for snacks and desserts.Multivariate analysis revealed a significantly greater odds ratio(OR) for periodontal disease and dental caries among those who preferred English food for lunch.Conclusion:Based on the results of the present study,there is an association between westernization and oral health.

Advances in Zika virus vaccines and therapeutics:A systematic review

Zika virus(ZIKV)is the causative agent of a viral infection that causes neurological complications in newborns and adults worldwide.Its wide transmission route and alarming spread rates are of great concern to the scientific community.Numerous trials have been conducted to develop treatment options for ZIKV infection.This review highlights the latest developments in the fields of vaccinology and pharmaceuticals developments for ZIKV infection.A systematic and comprehensive approach was used to gather relevant and up-to-date data so that inferences could be made about the gaps in therapeutic development.The results indicate that several therapeutic interventions are being tested against ZIKV infection,such as DNA vaccines,subunit vaccines,live-attenuated vaccines,virus-vector-based vaccines,inactivated vaccines,virus-like particles,and mRNA-based vaccines.In addition,approved anti-ZIKV drugs that can reduce the global burden are discussed.Although many vaccine candidates for ZIKV are at different stages of development,none of them have received Food and Drug Authority approval for use up to now.The issue of side effects associated with these drugs in vulnerable newborns and pregnant women is a major obstacle in the therapeutic pathway.

Squamous Papilloma:Case Report and Review of Literature

Squamous papillomas are common lesions of the oral mucosa with a predilection for the mucosa of the hard and soft palate. As an oral lesion,it raises concern because of its clinical appearance,which may mimic exophytic carcinoma,verrucous carcinoma or condyloma acuminatum. Its pathogenesis is related to human papilloma virus but there is controversy regarding its viral origin. We present a case of squamous papilloma presenting as oral lesion along with a review of the literature.

Quality of life and oral potentially malignant disorders: Critical appraisal and prospects

Quality of life(QoL) is a vital and often required health outcome measure that is relevant to patient care. A healthy oral cavity enables person to perform daily activities without any limitations. However, any disturbance may result in impaired QoL. The oral health-remains an essential element of people's health and well-being. In recent years, the tradition of clinical practice and research has been changed by incorporating QoL assessment, as it helps in assessment of patients' needs and monitoring treatment responses. Oral potentially malignant disorders(OPMDs) are a group of chronic disorders including oral leukoplakia(OL), oral lichen planus and oral submucous fibrosis(OSF). It is evident that patients with OPMDs experience significant health-related symptoms, functional limitations and psycho-social impairment, compromising their Qo L. Moreover, the worsening of Qo L has been associated with advanced stages of OPMDs. Despite of increasing number of OPMD cases in recent decades, limited literature is available regarding QoL in this population. Although, there is higher prevalence of habit-related OPMDs, particularly OSF and OL in Southern Asian countries, only a few studies have been performed in these populations. Moreover, these studies administered generic Qo L instruments, which offer less sensitivity to clinical changes. However, condition-specific instruments are more sensitive and allows better measurement of QoL. As the impacts of different conditions on OHRQoL may vary, the development and validation of a QoL instrument specific to each clinical entity of OPMDs is currently needed.

COVID-19 and oral cancer:Critical viewpoint

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) has marked the beginning of a new pandemic named coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19). The World Health Organization has announced it as a health emergency that is of international concern. The disease has been reported to cause respiratory illness, pneumonia and even hinder the immunity of an individual. Individuals with disturbed immune responses have been found to be quite susceptible to this viral infection. Oral cancer patients are also at high risk in this pandemic situation and might encounter severe detrimental outcomes. Angiotensin receptors, documented in studies as the path of entry of this virus, are highly expressed in the epithelial cells of oral mucosa, making the group of individuals with oral cancers even more vulnerable. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer is another potential target for SARS-CoV-2. An exhaustion of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 cell receptors leads to protumoral effects, whereas a downregulation of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer leads to antitumoral effects. Thus, it causes a variation of the biological behavior of the tumor. This article focusses on the molecular mechanisms, effects and pathophysiology of COVID-19 in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. The different molecular changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma in the background of COVID-19 will modify various environmental factors for this pathology and have an effect on the carcinogenesis process. Understanding the behavior of the tumor will help plan advanced treatment strategies for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in the background of COVID-19.

Prevalence of precancerous lesions and conditions in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Smoking and chewing tobacco are associated with numerous oral mucosal lesions and conditions,often leading to cancer progression.AIM To investigate the prevalence of precancerous lesions and conditions among the Indian population.METHODS Systematic search was conducted for population or community-based observational epidemiological studies in PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,IndMED,Google Scholar,reports of the WHO South-East Asia Region,MOHFW India reports,Science Citation Index,WHO Index Medicus of the South-East Asian Region,Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/)and Open Grey from the earliest available up to 31st January 2022.The effect size was calculated for the prevalence of precancerous lesions and conditions.RESULTS One hundred sixty-two estimates from 130 studies yielded 52 high,71 moderate,and seven low-quality studies from 823845.Point estimate based on crosssectional studies for leukoplakia was 4.3%(95%CI:4.0-4.6),oral submucous fibrosis was 2.7%(95%CI:2.5-3.0),palatal lesions in reverse smokers and nicotine palatine were 5.8%(95%CI:4.4-7.2),and Erythroplakia was 1.2%(95%CI:0.7-1.7),and lichen planus was 1.1%(95%CI:0.9-1.2).Amongst hospital-based studies,the pooled prevalence for Leukoplakia was 6.7%(95%CI:6.0-7.3),oral submucous fibrosis was 4.5%(95%CI:4.2-4.9),lichen planus was 7.5%(95%CI:5.3-9.6),and erythroplakia was 2.5%(95%CI:0.4-4.5),and palatal lesions in reverse smokers and nicotine palatini were 11.5%(95%CI:8.0-15.0).CONCLUSION Precancerous lesions and conditions are prevailing problems among the Indian population.It is mainly due to tobacco use,the smokeless form of tobacco.The meta-analysis indicates that hospital-based studies have a higher effect size of 6.7%than community-based studies.Patients who have already developed this condition may be advised to reduce their exposure to the risk factor to prevent the condition from progressing further.

Stem cell secretome restore the adipo-osteo differentiation imbalance in diabetic dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Background:Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)from type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)individuals exhibit increased adipogenesis and decreased osteogenesis.We investigated the potential of adipose tissue-derived MSCs(ADMSCs)secretome obtained from healthy individuals in restoring the tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)mediated imbalance in the adipo/osteogenic differentiation in the dental pulp-derived MSCs obtained from T2DM individuals(dDPMSCs).Methods:dDPMSCs were differentiated into adipocytes and osteocytes using a standard cocktail in the presence of(a)induction cocktail,(b)induction cocktail+TNF-α,and(c)induction cocktail+TNF-α+ADMSCs-secretome(50%)for 15 and 21 days resp.Differentiated adipocytes and osteocytes were stained by oil red O and alizarin red and analyzed by using ImageJ software.Molecular expression of the key genes involved was analyzed by using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results:Treatment of TNF-αaugmented the adipogenesis(9571±765 vs.19,815±1585 pixel,p<0.01)and decreased the osteogenesis(15,603±1248 vs.11,894±951 pixel,p<0.05)of dDPMSCs as evidenced by the oil red O and alizarin red staining respectively.Interestingly,dDPMSCs differentiated along with TNF-αand 50%ADMSCs secretome exhibited enhanced osteogenesis(11,894±951 vs.41,808±3344 pixel,p<0.01)and decreased adipogenesis(19,815±1585 vs.4480±358 pixel,p<0.01).Additionally,dDPMSCs differentiated along with ADMSCs secretome exhibited decreased expression of PPARg(p<0.01),C/EBPa(p<0.05),and FAS(p<0.01)whereas mRNA expression of Runx2(p<0.05),Osterix(p<0.01),and OCN(p<0.05)was upregulated as revealed by the RT-PCR analysis.Conclusion:ADMSCs secretome from healthy individuals restore the TNF-αinfluenced differentiation fate of dDPMSCs and therefore can be explored for T2DM clinical management in the future.

Impact of dental and orofacial trauma on oral health-related quality of life in adults:A systematic review

Purpose:Dental and orofacial trauma among the adult population constitutes a major public health problem.The impact is not just physical but also psychological.To analyse the impacts of dental and orofacial trauma on oral health-related quality of life(OHRQoL)in adults and determine whether the 2 variables are closely interlinked.Methods:This is a systematic review.The terms“dental trauma”,“orofacial trauma”,“oral health”,“oral health related impact life”,“OHRQoL”,“positive and negative affect scale”,“quality of life”,“facial injuries”,“adults”,and“young adults”were researched in the databases of PubMed,ScienceDirect,Scopus and Google Scholar for associated studies up to December 30,2022.A comprehensive search was designed and the articles were independently screened for eligibility by 2 reviewers.The included studies’author,year of publication,the country where the study was conducted,population demographics(number and age),an instrument used for assessing OHRQoL and the relevant result were recorded and compared.The quality of the evidence was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for observational studies.Results:Out of 482 unique records,3 articles were included for data extraction.Observational studies were included.Two studies did not mention confounding factors.Different scales were used for dental and orofacial trauma and OHRQoL.OHRQoL has a directly proportional relationship with orofacial trauma.Adolescents with orofacial trauma have a significant impact on this value with a prevalence of 88.4%.Conclusion:The highest impact on OHRQoL was seen immediately after the diagnosis of an orofacial trauma.The impact increases with the severity of the trauma.Therefore,to promote overall dental and general health,health education initiatives should include information on the causes,prevention,and requirement for prompt responses by the populace in seeking dental intervention.

Effective techniques and emerging alternatives in orthodontic tooth movement:A systematic review

Orthodontic procedures can be inconvenient in nature.To overcome this problem,accelerated orthodontics play a very important role to reduce existing trouble and discomfort.The most common inconvenience caused during orthodontic treatment procedures is that they are very time consuming which can result in several drawbacks,including an increased risk of tooth decay,gingival recession,and root resorption.Various methods can be employed to expedite orthodontic treatment by accelerating tooth movement,including surgical-assisted procedures,biological interventions,and the utilization of devices.These approaches effectively reduce the overall period of treatment.The purpose of this review is to study the effective techniques for orthodontic tooth movement as well as highlight various orthodontic accelerating methods in the respective approaches.Some nonsurgical studies indicated that drug-induced methods can have a therapeutic effect on tooth movement.One of the approaches involves the local administration of Vitamin 1.25D,which has been found to expedite tooth movement.Vibrational orthodontic devices are a painless and cost-effective option that is considered the least invasive approach for accelerating tooth movement.Meanwhile,surgical approach is also a successful method,wherein great results and strong PDL tissue response were observed,but they cause a lot of pain and discomfort to the patient.Therefore,due to the strengths and limitations of each procedure covered in the study,more research should be done to identify the fastest way to speed up tooth mobility。

Outbreak of an emerging zoonotic Nipah virus:An emerging concern

The Nipah virus(NiV)infection is one of the newly emerging deadly zoonotic diseases which carries a significant weightage of mortality among its victims.Due to the relatively recent history of its emergence and only a few known outbreaks,we cannot predict but foresee its potential to create havoc,which can be far more dreadful than the current ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Here we have tried to depict the fatal potential of the virus and the increased propensity with which it can spread to rest of the world.

Ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip/palate syndrome:a rare entity

Ectrodactyly-ectodermic dysplasia-cleft lip/palate(EEC)syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly of inherited origin and varying clinical features.This syndrome has three main symptoms,which display variable expression and penetrance.The management of this syndrome is challenging,with few reports in the medical literature.We present a case of a 22-year-old boy with EEC syndrome and offer insight into current knowledge about this syndrome.