Comparative evaluation of natural enamel wear against polished yitrium tetragonal zirconia and polished lithium disilicate - An in vivo study

Aim:

The aim of this study is to compare wear of the natural teeth against polished yttrium tetragonal zirconia and polished lithium disilicate crowns.

Study Setting and Design:

Experimental type of study.

Materials and Methods:

Polished yttrium tetragonal zirconia and polished lithium disilicate crowns were fabricated and given to 15 patients each (n=15). Crowns were fabricated opposing natural tooth. Patients were recalled after 1year and impression were recorded with opposing arch and baseline and final cast were scanned and superimposed using 3 D scanner.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Data collected by experiments were computerized and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. The normality of the data was checked using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The data were normally distributed. Statistical analysis was done by using tools of descriptive statistics such as Mean, and Standard Deviation for representing quantitative data (enamel wear measured in μm) Parametric tests: Student t-test for intergroup comparison was done.

Results:

No statistical difference were found between wear of opposing enamel for polished yttrium tetragonal and polished lithium disiliacte crowns [p=0.446].

Conclusion:

Within the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that polished lithium disilicate showed better clinical outcome than polished yttrium tetragonal zirconia, though the evaluated data was statistically non significant.

Assessment of Oral Health Related Quality of Life Among Completely Edentulous Patients in Western India by Using GOHAI

BACKGROUND

Quality of life in elderly is a very sensitive issue. It is important to know if the dental problems, general health and dental treatment have an impact on the quality of life in elderly. The elderly population has a typical set of mind regarding their oral health. This study examines the trends in patients' behavioral patterns due to tooth loss, suggestive of some change in quality of life.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to identify and acknowledge the problems of completely edentulous patients and their relationship to the Quality of Life (QOL). Also, the study was aimed at exploring the changes in global self-rated general health between the pre and post-treatment scores.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

This is a randomized controlled clinical trial study which is done to evaluate the problems in the elderly and quality of life as long as their oral health is concerned. It is conducted on a group of people representing the elderly population with complete edentulism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty three patients with mean age 69.41 who needed dentures were investigated before and after 6 months of their treatment by administration of GOHAI (Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index) scale. Comparison between Pre & Post-treatment values of various scores were done with McNemar-Bowker Test. Quantitative data was represented using Mean ± SD and Median, IQR (Interquartile range). Analysis of Pre & Post-treatment quantitative data was done using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.

RESULTS

The results of the present study showed GOHAI scores increased from 28.90 + 7.28 to 42.19 + 7.60 (p=highly significant). There was a significant change in the quality of life in elderly after their prosthodontic rehabilitation, though the self rated general health did not show any significant improvement.

CONCLUSION

It is the responsibility of the entire dental fraternity to understand the needs of elderly associated to their oral health. It is important to evaluate and assess the psychological effects of tooth loss on their quality of life. A thorough investigation is necessary before and after the dental/prosthodontic care.

Student apathy for classroom learning and need of repositioning in present andragogy in Indian dental schools

BACKGROUND

In the world of technology, when today's student is approaching the on-line /distance learning in the open universities and doing on-line self-assessment, the classroom learning is vanishing slowly. Globally, teachers are taking efforts to improve the pedagogy by implementing effective methods to retain the classroom teaching and student attendance. The present study aims at shedding some light on the need of changing the adult education strategies (andragogy), which can effectively improve the student attendance for lectures.

METHODS

It is an observational study, and the conceptual framework of it is based on beliefs, opinions and personal experiences of the respondents. Triangulation method is used for collecting the data. The data is achieved from three groups of concerned population who could provide valid results to support the study. It is collected by interviewing 10 senior faculty members who are/were the 'education experts' in the universities, while the main concerned groups of present educational stream, i.e. 'institution-teachers' and the 'students', were given questionnaires. 570 teacher respondents and 200 student respondents are the main participants of this study.

RESULTS

As per data, it has been observed that senior faculty (90%) and students (93.25%) feel need of student motivation more than the institutional teachers (52.44%). P-values were obtained using Chi-Square test for testing the significance of difference between agreement and disagreement for a specific question.

CONCLUSIONS

In India, Universities have already sensed the need of 'teacher development programmes'. But teachers in dental colleges, demand more efforts to be taken by universities and managements in this regard and expect better educational policies to give them accessibility to prove themselves.

Is advertising ethical for dentists? An insight into the Indian scenario

BACKGROUND

The question of whether Indian dentists should advertise their services is an important issue with significant ethical and professional implications. Individual dentists may feel the need to advertise in order to establish or grow a dental practice, but what effect does this have on the standing of the profession as a whole? As health care professionals are bound by a code of ethics, should dentists be allowed to advertise?

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes of Indian dentists to the issue of advertising. It also aims to explore whether advertising could have positive benefits (to increase the community's awareness of dental health care, encourage better quality dental services, decrease unemployment in the industry, and help consumers choose a dentist), or, on the contrary, whether advertising could have a negative impact by undermining the reputation of the industry, in particular the definition of dentistry as a medical profession.

METHODS

Of 1500 eligible participants, 423 dentists (28.2%) participated in the study. The questionnaire, comprising 14 questions, was provided to the respondents. The data was collected and analyzed by applying the "Chi-squared test" of association and the "Z test" of difference between two proportions at 5% and 1% levels of significance (ie, P = 0.05 and P = 0.01).

RESULTS

A majority of 56.02% of the respondents were in favor of dentists advertising their services. The majority of dentists in favor of advertising were in the youngest age group (22-30 years, 75.86%). The older age groups were more likely to agree and comply with the government ban on advertising by dentists.

CONCLUSION

While Indian culture and law does not regard advertising as ethical, in recent years there has been a change in the attitudes of dental professionals to the issue of advertising.