The World Health Organization (WHO) operational frame work implemented in a Family Health Center (FHC) in Kerala

The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced an operational framework to combat climate variability and change. This commentary address the World Health Organization (WHO) operational framework implemented in a Family Health Center (FHC) in Kerala. The fundamental constituents which are essential to implement this framework are leadership and governance, health workforce, vulnerability, capacity and adaptation assessment, integrated risk monitoring and early warning, health, and climate research, climate resilient and sustainable technologies and infrastructure, management of environmental determinants of health, climate-informed health programs, emergency preparedness, and management and climate and health financing. This model may be replicated in other states in India.

Positive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on dental education

This letter describes some positive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on dental education in India. The apex body of dental education, the Dental Council of India (DCI) has formulated some universal guidelines based on those of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about the use of personal protection and following sterilisation protocols adapted for use in dental clinics, hospitals and academic institutions of dental education in India(1). All individual dental clinics, hospitals and academic institutions have to follow stringent and mandatory sterilisation protocols, hence with the Covid-19 outbreak, some unethical practices of the dental profession such as inadequate sterilisation and improper waste management may be reversed (1,2). Emergency dental procedures also have to follow stringent sterilisation guidelines, to avoid aerosol-generating procedures (1). Dental professionals have been utilising teledentistry facilities during the pandemic which focus on emergency relief of dental pain and infection, and elective planning and scheduling of dental treatment (3).

Positive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on dental education

This letter describes some positive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on dental education in India. The apex body of dental education, the Dental Council of India (DCI) has formulated some universal guidelines based on those of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about the use of personal protection and following sterilisation protocols adapted for use in dental clinics, hospitals and academic institutions of dental education in India(1). All individual dental clinics, hospitals and academic institutions have to follow stringent and mandatory sterilisation protocols, hence with the Covid-19 outbreak, some unethical practices of the dental profession such as inadequate sterilisation and improper waste management may be reversed (1,2). Emergency dental procedures also have to follow stringent sterilisation guidelines, to avoid aerosol-generating procedures (1). Dental professionals have been utilising teledentistry facilities during the pandemic which focus on emergency relief of dental pain and infection, and elective planning and scheduling of dental treatment (3).

Peer-assisted Learning (PAL) as an Instructional Tool in Dental Interns in Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Scenario

Null.

My experience as an educator, motivational, and collaborative dental professional in India

The oral health delivery strategies are taking back seat in the universal health coverage scheme in India. This paper highlights the personal experience of a dental professional from India as an educator, motivator, and collaborator to nullify or minimize social policy challenges faced by medical health providers in the administrative cadre to strengthen the oral care delivery model in the health services department in Kerala state. The author has nevertheless persisted with positive educational, motivational, and collaborative approaches with medical health providers in the administrative cadre, general cadre, and specialty cadre in the health services department in Kerala state to change the current climate.

Awareness about oral pathology specialty among medical professionals in hospitals under Kerala Health Services Department in Malappuram district in Kerala, India

Background and Aim:

There is a paucity of information about awareness about oral pathology speciality among medical professionals. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first study to be reported in literature. This study aimed to assess and create awareness of oral pathology specialty among medical professionals in hospitals under Kerala Health Services Department in Malappuram district in Kerala.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted between January 2018 and April 2018. The printed and validated questionnaire regarding oral pathology specialty was supplied to medical professionals in hospitals under Kerala Health Service Department in Malappuram district. The questionnaire comprised of the demographic data of the participants, including age, gender, position, and years of experience, and basic facts about oral pathology speciality.

Results:

Most participants surveyed (91.7%) were aware of the oral pathology specialty. In total, 77.8% of medical professionals refer oral pathology cases to general pathologists for histopathology report. However, 41.7% of medical professionals know about the new terminology potentially malignant oral disorders and their histopathological interpretation. Approximately, 33.33% of medical doctors were aware about common oral cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) grading.

Conclusion:

Medical professionals are aware of oral pathology specialty. The stance of referring and consulting oral pathologists for oral pathology cases for histopathology report is poor.

Data regarding clinical evaluation of collagen membrane in oral mucosal defects due to oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia

This data depicts the clinical evaluation of collagen membrane in oral mucosal defects due to oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia. This data comprised of 10 patients in the age group of 20-60 (3 male and 2 female patients with grade III and grade IV oral submucous fibrosis and 5 male patients with oral leukoplakia with a size of 3-5 cm in diameter). The parameters such as pain, swelling, allergy, biodegradability of collagen membrane, degree of re-epithelisation, degree of contracture, mouth opening and wound size were assessed after the placement of collagen membrane in oral mucosal defects. There is less data regarding the usage of collagen membrane as a biological dressing material to cover mucosal defects (Rastogi et al., 2009) [1].

Bibliometric analysis of oral and maxillofacial cytology-related articles published in a cytology journal from India

Background

There is a paucity of information about the oral and maxillofacial cytology-related articles published in a cytology journal. Journal of Cytology (JOC) is the official publication of Indian Academy of Cytologists.

Objective

This study aimed to audit the oral and maxillofacial cytology-related articles published in JOC from 2007 to 2015 over a 9-year period.

Materials and Methods

Bibliometric analysis of issues of JOC from 2007 to 2015 was performed using web-based search. The articles published were analyzed for type of article and individual topic of oral and maxillofacial cytology. The articles published were also checked for authorship trends.

Results

Of the total 93 published articles related to oral and maxillofacial cytology, original articles (43) and case reports (33) contribute the major share. The highest number of oral and maxillofacial cytology-related articles was published in 2014 with 17 articles and the least published year was 2010 with three articles. Among the oral and maxillofacial cytology-related articles published in JOC, diseases of salivary gland (26) followed by oral exfoliated cells (17), soft tissue tumors (7), round cell tumors (6) and spindle cell neoplasms (5) form the major attraction of the contributors. The largest numbers of published articles related to oral and maxillofacial cytology were received from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (5), and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh (5).

Conclusion

This paper may be considered as a baseline study for the bibliometric information regarding oral and maxillofacial cytology-related articles published in India.

Data regarding articles retracted from PubMed indexed dental journals from India

This data aimed to audit the articles retracted from PubMed indexed dental journals from India. The PubMed indexed journals considered are Indian Journal of Dental research, Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, Contemporary Clinical Dentistry, Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society for type of article, name of dental specialty, topic of individual dental specialties, causes for retraction of article and authorship trend of retracted articles using web-based search. Among PubMed indexed Indian dental journals,the number of retracted articles were as follows: Indian Journal of Dental research (4) followed by Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology (3), Contemporary Clinical Dentistry (3), Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (2), Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (2) and Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society (1). Out of 15 retracted articles from PubMed indexed Indian dental journals, case reports (7) form a major share followed by original articles(6) and review articles (2). Among the dental specialties of retracted articles, oral pathology and microbiology (5) constitute the major share followed by periodontics (4), pedodontics (4), oral medicine and radiology (1) and prosthodontics (1). Duplicate publication (7), plagiarism (5) and authorship dispute (3) are the causes for the retraction of article.

Dental sciences related articles data published in a Basic Medical Sciences Journal from Iran

This data aimed to audit the dental sciences related articles published in Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences (IJBMS) from 2007 to 2015 over a 9 year period performed using web-based search. The data were analyzed for topic of dental sciences, type of article, international collaborations, source of funding, number of authors and authorship trends. Out of the total 18 data related to dental sciences, original articles (12), review articles (4) and short communications (2) contribute the major share. Regarding the relationship with dental sciences, the maximum number of data were related to oral pathology and microbiology (16) followed by oral medicine and radiology (7) and periodontics (7). Among the data related to dental sciences, oral cancer (3) and gingival and periodontal diseases (3) followed by dental plaque and caries (2) and orthodontic tooth movement (2) form the major attraction of the contributors. The largest numbers of data related to dental sciences were received from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad (4) and Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran (2).The present data were compared with previous bibliometric studies done related to dental sciences (Shamim et al., 2017a, 2017b).

Oral Pathology in Forensic Investigation

Forensic odontology is the subdiscipline of dentistry which analyses dental evidence in the interest of justice. Oral pathology is the subdiscipline of dentistry that deals with the pathology affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. This subdiscipline is utilized for identification through oral and maxillofacial pathologies with associated syndromes, enamel rod patterns, sex determination using exfoliative cytology, identification from occlusal morphology of teeth, and deoxyribonucleic acid profiling from teeth. This subdiscipline is also utilized for age estimation studies which include Gustafson's method, incremental lines of Retzius, perikymata, natal line formation in teeth, neonatal line, racemization of collagen in dentin, cemental incremental lines, thickness of the cementum, and translucency of dentin. Even though the expertise of an oral pathologist is not taken in forensic investigations, this paper aims to discuss the role of oral pathology in forensic investigation.

Forensic pediatric dentistry

Forensic dentistry is the legal field of dentistry which analyses dental evidence in the interest of justice. Pediatric dentistry is that dental specialty concerned with the treatment of dental diseases in children. This specialty is utilized for identification of individuals through visual, clinical, and radiographic interpretation of sound and caries involved teeth, eruption sequence of teeth, shedding sequence of teeth, tooth calcification and maturation, fracture of teeth, root canal therapy, type of restorations and dental crowns and bridges, pit and fissure sealants, appliances, oral and maxillofacial pathologies and associated syndromes and injuries of teeth and tooth mark examination. This specialty is also utilized for age estimation studies which include eruption sequence, Schour and Massler chart, Demirjian's method using dental maturation chart, and Nolla's stages of calcification. This specialty also plays an important role in recognizing child abuse. This paper aims to discuss the forensic aspect of pediatric dentistry from the Indian context.