Studies have demonstrated that dental stu-dents / dentists are among the most vulnerable to blood-borne exposures.

The objective of this study was to assess the awareness and prevalence of accidental blood-borne exposures among undergraduate and postgraduate dental students.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 281 students at Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery-Vikarabad, in which a structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was given to all clinical dental students and the responses were subjected to statistical analysis.

The response rate in present study was 87%. The mean age of the subjects was 22.9 years and awareness on blood borne exposures was found to be 88.9%. 76% of the students reported having undergone accidental exposures with 24% of them being Per-cutaneous injuries. In 49% of respondents syringe needle was the most common instrument causing accidental injury.

Accidental exposures and non-reporting of accidental exposures were prevalent in these students.

The accuracy of three electronic apex locators (EALs) to locate the apical limit in teeth with simulated horizontal oblique root fractures was investigated.

A horizontal oblique incomplete root fracture was simulated on 30 freshly extracted maxillary anterior teeth by means of a notch made on the vestibular root plane 8 mm from the anatomic apex. The EALs investigated were the ProPex II (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), the Mini Apex Locator (Sybron Endo, Orange CA), and the Dentaport ZX (J. Morita Corp, Kyoto, Japan). The electronic measurements were compared with the real “working length.”

The accuracy obtained was Dentaport ZX in 66.66% (n=20), the Mini Apex Locator in 63.33% (n=4) and the Propex II in 53.34% (n=4). The analysis of variance and chi-square test showed no statistical significant differences between Propex and Dentaport ZX EALs (Elecronic Apex Locators) at 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm tolerance levels. These results suggest that electronic apex locators can effectively and reproducibly detect oblique root fractures.

Although Propex II apex locator was not able to determine the working length accurately, but Dentaport ZX and Mini Apex Locator were able to determine the working length within acceptable range.

The activity was undertaken with the objective to assess the utility of a Mobile Dental Clinic to provide oral health services to the rural population.

Baseline data collection of subjects was conducted according to the knowledge, attitude, practices and satisfaction proformas at Brahmavara and Byndoor community health centre catchment areas. Oral Health Education through models, video presentation and audio conversations were given to all subjects. Basic treatment was provided to all the subjects recruited for the study. The use and services of mobile dental clinics for oral health care services definitely showed lot of enthusiasm amongst the rural people. They were motivated to listen to oral health education lessons and avail the various oral treatments.

There 3 month evaluation scores showed better satisfaction and also showed improved knowledge, attitude and practices. These differences were statistically supported by analysis.

To conclude, the mobile dental clinic proved to be an effective adjunct to the oral health service providers like dental colleges and private practitioners. They act as the first form of exposure to educate the rural people and alleviate their apprehensions towards oral health care.

Little data is available on the initiative shown by the Muslim parents for dental health care of their children. This study was conducted to evaluate the awareness among Muslim parents of preschool children in Udaipur city of Rajasthan India, regarding the importance of primary teeth.

A total of hundred Muslim parents of preschool children were included in the study with equal ratio of males and females. Self-administered questionnaire were given to the parents to be completed by holding interactive meetings with the help of respective community heads. Chi-square test was applied and significance level was calculated.

The results showed that a high proportion of parents were unaware of their children's dental needs. It was surprising to note that the male parents (67.7%) were more aware as compared to the female parents (58.2%).

Parents lack adequate knowledge on importance of the primary teeth; hence, there is an increasing need to increase the knowledge of parents through effective strategies. Educational background appeared to influence the level of awareness of the importance of primary dentition.

To assess the factors influencing utilization of oral primary preventive services among the patients attending a private dental hospital in Dharwad city, India.

Present study was conducted among 200 adult patients attending out-patient department of a private dental hospital in Dharwad city, India. Convenience sampling method and questionnaire design was employed for assessment of utilization of oral primary preventive services for common oral diseases with information on socio-demographic factors.

The proportion of subjects who utilized primary preventive services for dental caries was 24.6%, malocclusion 57.5%, gum diseases 65% and oral cancer 70% respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender and educational level were significant factors affecting the utilization of oral preventive services, with females using preventive services significantly more than men and those having higher education compared to those having low education.

Utilization of oral primary preventive services is low among the study subjects. Female gender and education were found to be positive factors influencing utilization of oral primary preventive services. Other factors like age, income, family size and marital status had no influence on utilization of primary preventive services.

To evaluate the effect of hard and soft water on softness of three commercially available soft liners.

8 specimens of 3mm height and 41mm diameter were fabricated from each soft liner on acrylic resin base of 3mm height and 44mm diameter. The specimens were stored in artificial saliva (Wet mouth, ICPA product) for14 hours in a day, at 37°C in an incubator and the rest of the time 4 specimens from each group were stored in hard water and 4 in soft water. Softness of each specimen was recorded using Shore-A durometer at the end of 1^st, 7^th, 15^th, and 30^th day.

When compared between hard and soft water, the autopolymerized acrylic and autopolymerized silicone soft liners had significant reduction in softness on 7^th day in hard water. The autopolymerized acrylic soft liner had least softness in both hard and soft water. The heat polymerized acrylic soft-liner showed maximum softness in both hard and soft Water.

Heat polymerized acrylic soft liner was proven to be softer than the other two materials followed by autopolymerized silicone and autopolymerized acrylic soft liners.

As oral health and general health are interrelated, a preventive approach consisting of daily oral hygiene procedures and regular check-ups can stabilize progressive lesions. Aim of this study was to assess oral health status, treatment needs and attitude to oral care among nursing students and nursing staff in Chennai.

A cross sectional study was carried out. Based on prevalence obtained for dental caries, it was decided to take sample size of 400 each for nursing students (final year) and nursing staff. Cluster sampling methodology was used to select samples. Each nursing college and hospital formed a cluster. Subjects were clinically examined according to WHO 1997 assessment form.

Among nursing students, 17% and among nursing staff 10.3% had healthy periodontal tissue (code 0). Majority of nursing students and nursing staff showed high prevalence for bleeding (code 1) 45.5% among nursing students and 40.1% among nursing staff. Prevalence of shallow pockets (code 3) and deep pockets (code 4) were seen among 0.3% and 0% of nursing students and among nursing staff it was seen that about 8.8% and 0.8%, had shallow and deep pockets. Mean number of sextants with code 1 or higher and code 3 or higher was more in nursing staff compared to nursing students and the difference was statistically significant. Among nursing students and nursing staff prevalence of loss of attachment was not of significance. Mean DMFT was 1.69±1.65 among nursing students and it was higher compared to nursing staff being 1.29±1.59 and difference was found to be statistically highly significant. Among nursing students one surface, two surfaces filling were required by 23.5% and 11.5% of subjects, respectively. Among nursing staff one surface restoration and two surface restorations were required by 9.3% and 3.0% of study subjects, respectively.

Present study provided data on oral health status and treatment needs of nursing students and nursing staff in Chennai. In conclusion, results of study show that periodontal disease and dental caries are not major public health problems which need immediate attention among nursing students and nursing staffs.

The aim of this study was to determine the TMJ disc position in asymptomatic, normal TMJs and in joints with TMD (Temporomandibular disorders) using MRI.

The study was performed on forty TMJs of 20 symptomatic patients and twenty TMJs of 10 asymptomatic volunteers. Intermediate Zone (IZ) Criterion is used to interpret disc position. The readers of MRI images were blinded to each other's MRI analysis and clinical diagnosis. Data analyses included Kappa statistics for inter observer reliability correlation.

Scan results of 20 asymptomatic joints revealed ADDWR in one joint. Out of 26 joints clinically diagnosed as internal derangement (ID), 4 joints showed ADDWOR and 8 joints confirmed ADDWR. One joint showed ADDWR in patient with MPDS and two joints of fibrous ankylosis demonstrated ADDWOR.

From our study, we could conclude that in most of the asymptomatic normal TMJs, disc will be in normal position with few exceptions. Joint tenderness was the most common clinical symptom and among displaced discs, ADDWR is the most frequent MRI diagnosis in patients with ID.

The goal of any prosthetic procedure must include the establishment of a functional occlusion. It is known that natural teeth have periodontal ligament receptors that protect the teeth from excessive occlusal forces, which can cause trauma to supporting tissues and bone. Although many factors are involved in the neuro-muscular reex actions in natural teeth, there are no specic defense mechanisms against occlusal forces in implant-supported prosthesis. Complications (prosthetic or bony support) reported in follow-up studies underline occlusion as one of the determining factors for success or failure of implants.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition of supporting tissues of teeth, for which several risk and susceptibility factors are proposed. Periodontal disease results when balance between host factors and etiologic agents is disrupted. Bacteria have a primary role in the initiation of periodontal disease, and a range of host related factors influence the clinical presentation and rate of progression of disease. Genetic variations that modify immunological reactions identify the disease susceptibility in various individuals. Many studies have proved the effect of various single or composite nucleotide polymorphisms to susceptibility, progression or severity of periodontal diseases. Despite these studies, association between periodontal disease and candidate genes is still not clear. The reports of familial nature of chronic periodontitis are less frequent as compared to aggressive periodontitis. The striking familial aggregation of trait in aggressive periodontitis is consistent with significant genetic etiology. In this paper, an attempt has been made to summarize recent views on various genes involved in the pathogenesis and progression of aggressive periodontal disease. Data were identified by searches of the Medline, and Pubmed. Articles published in English were selected, and most up-to-date or relevant references were chosen.

Supernumerary tooth is one that is additional to the normal series and can be found in almost any region of the dental arch. Mesiodens is the most common type of supernumerary tooth found in the premaxilla between two central incisors. Talon cusp is a supernumerary structure projecting from the dento-enamel junction to a variable distance towards the incisal edge of an anterior tooth and mostly on the palatal aspect. Only few have been reported on the facial aspect of the teeth. Here we present a case of a ten year old male child with supplemental mesiodens associated with facial talons cusp.

A waiting period of two weeks after osteotomy increases the surrounding tissue activity to its maximum level as collagen formation and neo-angiogenesis represents a relaxed and acceptable implant bed configuration. In this case delayed implant placement protocol and conventional implant placement was followed with immediate function of esthetics, phonetics and comfort with implant restoration in the esthetic zone with minimal invasive approach. Early osteotomy with delayed implant placement showed lesser bone resorption and higher success rates than conventional implant placement.