Aim: The aim was to correlate the habit index (HI), clinical grading with anorexia, and fatigue in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Settings and Design: Hospital-based study including a total of 60 individuals, out of which 30 patients were with OSMF, (27 males and 3 females). A group of 30 individuals, with areca chewing habit but without any oral lesions were selected as a control group. Subjects and Methods: Detailed case history was recorded. Height and weight measurements were made to assess body mass index (BMI). Fatigue and anorexia scores were calculated using structured questionnaires. Clinical staging of OSMF was done according to Khanna JN and Andrade NN (1995) classification. The information related to the type of habit, site of placement of areca nut, and duration was recorded using HI. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done using Pearson's correlation and Student's t-test. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between anorexia in both the groups (P = 0.01) and a highly significant difference was seen in HI (P = 0.001). However, the comparison between other parameters was found to be statistically not significant. The correlation of HI, anorexia, and fatigue score in Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, and Grade IV OSMF within each group was not significant statistically. However, in Grade IV a strong correlation was found between BMI and anorexia score (P = 0.0188). Conclusion: The merits of this study include a positive correlation between anorexia and fatigue with disease progression and a congruent relation of HI with the grades of OSMF.

Introduction: Dentistry is considered as a stressful field in the medical profession. The study was conducted to determine the different problems faced by dental students, and the effect of these stressors on their lives. Materials and Methods: A modified dental environmental stress (D.E.S) questionnaire was administered to students of 1^st year B.D.S to final year B.D.S and Interns. The questionnaire had 35 questions divided into five categories: Demographic data, living/accommodation stressors, personal stressors, academic stressors, and clinical stressors. Statistical significance between the mean D.E.S scores of gender and years of study was compared using t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 292 students completed and returned the questionnaire with a response rate of 74.8%. The overall mean D.E.S score of females was higher (2.37 ± 0.44) when compared to males (2.23 ± 0.45). The overall D.E.S scores differed among the students of different academic years with the 2^nd year students being more stressed (2.45 ± 0.52) as compared to the students of other academic years. Discussion: Understanding the various causes of stress in students is very much necessary to set up a curriculum that is student - friendly and at the same time, effective enough. Conclusion: Clinical and academic work causing increased amount of stress can be brought down by the student, if he/she simplifies their schedule, practices breathing exercises, performs yoga, etc.

Context: A search in the endodontic literature showed the absence of any reports regarding the use of a mixture of tetracycline, acid, and detergent (MTAD) to remove smear layer at shortened irrigation time. Aims: To determine the efficacy of MTAD with shortened irrigation time on smear layer removal after Pro Taper rotary canal instrumentation. Methods: Twenty single-rooted lower premolar teeth were randomly divided into two experimental groups. After decoronation of all the samples, working length was determined and all the teeth were instrumented to master apical size # 30 (F3), using Pro Taper rotary files. Teeth were irrigated with 3% NaOCl during instrumentation. Experimental groups one and two were irrigated with a 5 ml final rinse using MTAD for 5 min and 2.5 min, respectively. After irrigation, all root canals were dried with absorbent paper points. The teeth were then sectioned longitudinally and prepared for a scanning electron microscopic examination. The scanning electron microscope photographs were evaluated using a standard scoring system developed by Rome et al. Statistical Analysis Used: Results were statistically analyzed using Mann–Whitney U-test. Results: When intercomparison was made between Group 1 and 2 at the coronal and middle third, statistically significant difference was observed, with Group 1 having significantly less smear layer than Group 2. In apical third, no statistically significant difference was observed between Group 1 and 2, even though smear layer removal was more in Group 1 than Group 2. Conclusion: Effective smear layer removal was not possible with shortened irrigation time using MTAD.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of finishing/polishing methods and staining solutions using different immersion periods on the color stability of a microhybrid composite resin. Materials and Methods: Ninety specimens were fabricated using a stainless steel mold and polyester strips. The samples were randomly divided into five groups according to the finishing and polishing performed: Control group (no surface treatment was performed), Diamond Pro group, Diamond burs group, Enhance group, and SiC paper group. After finishing and polishing, six samples from each group were immersed in coffee, red wine, or water for 30 days. The color measurements were obtained using digital photography before immersion and after 7, 15, and 30 days of immersion. The red, green, and blue values provided by the Adobe Photoshop software were converted into CIELab values. A three-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis (P ≤ 0.05). Results: The finishing and polishing methods, staining solutions, immersion times, and their interaction had statistically significant effects on the color change (P = 0.00). Coffee and red wine caused intense staining. Among the polishing methods, the highest color change value was observed in the control group (P < 0.05) and the Diamond Pro disks provided the most stain-resistant surfaces (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The finishing and polishing method, staining solution, and immersion time influences the color stability. Finishing and polishing should be applied to obtain a more stain-resistant surface.

Introduction: Dentists prescribe antibiotics routinely to manage oral and dental infections. Unscrupulous antibiotic prescriptions can be associated with unfavorable side effects and the development of resistance. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge regarding antibiotic prescription use among dentists in Jaipur City, Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 300 dentists in Jaipur city. A validated, self-designed, 21-item, closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge regarding antibiotic prescription. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: A total of 300 dental practitioners were included in the study. The majority of the respondents seem to prescribe antibiotics that are broad spectrum or the ones that are commonly used. A considerable percentage of the respondents were not aware of the pregnancy drug risk categories by Food and Drug Administration. The most of the respondents said that they prescribe antibiotics on the basis of the diagnosis, whereas more than two-thirds of the respondents said that they never advise culture sensitivity test before prescribing the antibiotics. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the knowledge of dentists regarding antibiotic prescription is inadequate and more focus should be given to the ongoing training regarding the pharmacological aspects, pertinent medical conditions, and prophylactic use of antibiotics in dentistry.

Background: The extent of the needle phobia and its effect on the patients in the community is the topic which still remains largely unexplored. The presence of needle phobia may influence the future dental treatment by the patient. Thus, the present study was planned to check the nature and prevalence of needle phobia among dental college patients. Materials and Methods: The study was carried with the help of 16 questionnaires specially formulated for the present study. The study included 343 patients came to the outpatient department of the dental college, and the observation was recorded and analyzed. Results: Most of the male and female participants had the experience of the needle phobia due to the experience shared by parents, friends, or relatives in their previous life. Due to needle phobia the most of the patient becomes somewhat anxious, and needle phobia had little impact on the life of the patients. According to our study, 13.3% of male participants and 14.6% of the female participants had avoided dental treatment due to fear of needles. Conclusion: The procedure of needle injection is a routine procedure in the dental clinics and hospitals for giving anesthesia to the patient. Therefore, these types of studies calculating the prevalence of needle phobia help to know about the view of the patient and ultimately the community toward the needle phobia. Hence that necessary steps can be taken.

A case of peg-shaped lateral with dens invaginatus (DI) and midline diastema affecting maxillary incisors in a 32-year old female patient is discussed. This clinical report describes the endodontic management of DI in tooth #12, esthetic correction of peg laterals and diastema with all ceramic restorations. Satisfactory results were achieved esthetically following treatment and gave the patient a new confident smile.

Airline industry has gained popularity in recent years and not much known about the dental problems associated with the high altitude. It is most common in frequent flyers, crew members, pilots etc. Due to the closed chamber pressure gets accumulated in these organs causing pain, discomfort, and organ dysfunction. The presence of dental abscesses, periodontitis, deep carious lesions and deep unlined restorations in oral cavity can stimulate severe pain due to the extreme altitude changes. With proper diagnosis, the various complications can be avoided. Thus, dentist needs to be well versed with these facts and should provide a comprehensive treatment.

Developing countries like India face severe and acute shortage of electricity due to constant urbanization, growing demand and use of electrical appliances. Many areas face acute shortage which forces the individuals to use alternative power sources that run on fossil fuels or inverters running on batteries which in turn worsen the scarcity of electricity. “Vampire appliances” are those appliances which use electricity even when they are “off” contributing to significant amount of wastage of scarce and valuable power. Hence, we would like to educate the readers about occult power consuming appliances which could be prevalent in dental clinics along with few recommendations to overcome the same.

American Heart Association (AHA) - a professional organization dealing with appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke, portrays the necessity of continuous evaluated evidence-based medicine. Thus, AHA formally introduces every 5 years their guidelines for the Emergency Cardiovascular Care on the basis of a thorough evidence search to make provision of the best possible treatment for patients with cardiac emergencies. Since, new 2015 AHA guidelines are established very recently, awareness of our fellow dentists with its major changes at least with respect to basic life support (BLS) seems important. Hence, this communication is scripted to throw light on the significant changes in 2015 AHA guidelines has brought in BLS protocols.