Indian Dental Research Articles

Personal Protective Equipment used for Infection Control in Dental Practices

ABSTRACT The potential size of India's dental market is vast and is expected to become one of the largest single country markets for overseas dental products and materials. The total market for the dental equipment and materials is estimated to be around US$ 90 million annually. There are more than 1, 80,000 dental professionals in India, 297 dental institutes and over 5,000 dental laboratories. Thus, there is a huge potential for the market of personal protective equipment (PPE) used for infection control in dentistry. India's market for dental products is extremely dynamic, with a current estimated growth rate of between 25 and 30%. Overall, the dental market is expected to grow by 20%.1 The personal protective equipment used in the practice of dentistry in India. Since dentistry is predominantly a surgical discipline, it leads to exposure to the pathogenic microorganisms harbored in blood, body fluids and other potentially infectious material. Thus, the use of adequate and good quality PPE is imperative for infection control in dental practice. With the growing potential of India's dental market, the growth of the market for PPE is inevitable. But, it is equally important to raise the awareness among dental community about good quality products adhering to required standards to prevent the usage of low-cost, uncertified and sub-standard products that decrease the safety levels of personnel. The present study is conducted with a view to observe the personal protective equipment used for infection control in dental practices. How to cite this article Pandit AP, Bhagatkar N, Ramachandran M. Personal Protective Equipment used for Infection Control in Dental Practices. Int J Res Foundation Hosp Healthc Adm 2015;3(1):10-12.

Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dentists and Application of DMAIC Technique to Improve the Ergonomics at Dental Clinics and Meta-Analysis of Literature.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) result in discomfort, pain and illness that can result in disruption or impairment of dental practice. A cross-sectional study consisting of 60 dentists was carried out to determine musculoskeletal work related pain in major cities of Northern India. The study was planned in two phases. In the first phase, the subjects were given questionnaire related to the musculoskeletal pain happened over the last twelve months. In the second phase of study, improvement was carried out by recommending the subjects to implement ergonomics at their workplace. After three months subjects were again approached and given questionnaire about the musculoskeletal disorders. DMAIC (define, measure, analyse, improve and control) methodology of six sigma strategy was used to access the MSDs. Chi-square test was used for the analysis and a p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of musculoskeletal problems in the present study was found to be 68.3%. After three months only 23 respondents applied ergonomics at their work place, prevalence of pain was reduced in neck from 47.8% to 21.7% out of total 23 respondents, shoulder pain 39.1% to 17.3%, pain in elbows from 26% to 21.7%, as well as in other locomotor organs. The p-value was significant with p <0.05. MSD represents a major occupational health issue for dentists in India as well as worldwide and result revealed necessitates the need of workshops to create awareness of ergonomics as effective measures for reducing MSD among dentists.

Knowledge, Awareness and Practice Regarding Needle Stick Injuries in Dental Profession in India.

DEAR EDITOR, Needle stick injuries (NSIs) has always been one of the most important risk factor for health care workers (HCWs) for transmission of various infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus.[1] Variety of procedures like needle recapping, injuries sustained in the operating room, blood collection or intravenous line administration, suturing, checking blood sugar etc., can lead to accidental NSIs [Table 1].[2,3] Although modern dentistry has been cited as the least hazardous of the all the occupations, risks like NSI still challenge the status of this occupation.[4] Compared with many other health care settings, dental professionals are at higher risk of acquiring infections due to the fact that dentists work in a limited-access and restricted-visibility field and frequently use sharp devices.[5] Table 1 Various determinants of NSIs Every year about 16 billion injections are administered in developing and transitional nations and approximately three million individuals are injured annually due to needle stick and sharp injuries.[6] These types of blood-borne exposures can be career and life-ending. There is gross under reporting of NSI and therefore the incidence of NSI is higher than the current estimates.[7] In developing countries such as Ghana, Indonesia and Uganda, 80–90% of patients who visited a health center received one or more injections per visit.[8] Another study reported a high incidence of needle stick and sharp injuries among HCWs in Jordan.[9] In a country like India, in spite of large number of awareness programs, it is not possible to estimate the annual incidence of NSI in different occupations because of scarcity of data.[1] Very few studies that have been conducted among dental HCWs reporting their knowledge, awareness and practice regarding NSI. Findings of a study conducted on dental students reported that on an average 89.23% of the students had correct knowledge about NSI and 89% of them were aware of taking postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) after an accidental NSI.[10] According to some other study reports, 11% of the students were not aware that the virus could be transmitted through infected needles and found that 44% of the students would destroy the needle using needle destroyer and 15% would destroy in puncture-resistant container with disinfectant.[11] Only 39.8% of the health care students could correctly define sharp instrument injury in some other study reports and 75.4% of the students experienced sharp instrument injuries during the last 1-year and 52.3% of the sharp instrument injuries occurred during administration of local anesthetic injection.[12] Reports of another study revealed that 88% of the dental students were aware of the occupational blood-borne diseases, and 75% of them reported exposures majority of who were postgraduate students.[13] It can be concluded that knowledge, awareness and practices of the dental students in among different studies is adequate though there is considerable variation in practice and management of NSI. Not every NSI can be preventable, but according to research 83% of injuries from hollow-bore needles can be prevented.[14] The present article also concludes that for prevention of NSI, knowledge and awareness amongst dental HCWs should be increased. More studies should be conducted involving dentists and other dental professionals as there is scarcity of literature on knowledge and awareness levels of dentists in India. Various health and safety measures can be adopted to decrease the incidence of NSI. Workers should be properly trained Personal protective equipment and clothing should be provided An effective occupational health and safety program should be established that includes immunization, PEP, medical and dental surveillance.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Tobacco Cessation Among Indian Dentists.

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding tobacco cessation among dentists in Hyderabad city, India. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 264 dentists registered in the local Indian Dental Association branch, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The questionnaire comprised of 35 items and used a five-point Likert scale to assess tobacco use prevention and cessation counseling. The majority of the study participants were females (55.7%) with a mean age of 29.9 ± 7.5 years. No significant gender difference was observed for any of the mean domain scores. A statistically significant difference was noted between age groups in the 'Knowledge' domain, 'professional role and identity' item (P = 0.03) vs the 'Practice' domain, 'social influences' item (P = 0.05) with 40+ years having a higher mean score (6.5 ± 1.5). In terms of the education, those possessing Bachelor's of Dental Science had a significantly higher mean score (10.8 ± 2.2) for the 'Attitude' question 'belief about consequences' (P = 0.05) than did those with a Master's degree. The reported barriers were insufficient reimbursement (48.1%), lack of tobacco-related self-help material/pamphlets for patients (46.5%) and lack of patient motivation to receive tobacco cessation counseling (43.6%). In the present study, although dentists possessed knowledge about tobacco cessation, it was not adequate. Dental professionals play an important role in educating patients regarding the oral health risks of tobacco use and motivating them to quit.

A survey of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug prescription for oral implant surgery

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the preferred analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by oral implantologists in India. Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to 332 dentists to gather information regarding their prescription habits for analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Frequency distributions were computed by type of drug being prescribed and the protocol followed. Results: Analysis of data showed that majority of dentists (85.8%, n = 285) prescribed conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for implant surgery. The most common prescription was ibuprofen with paracetamol combination (32.2%, n = 107) followed by diclofenac (20.2%, n = 67). Most dentists reported prescribing different NSAIDs for the same procedure in different patients (64.7%, n = 215). Only, 35.5% ( n = 118) followed the peri-operative protocol. Adjunctive prescription of steroids was done by only 33.7% ( n = 112). Conclusion: Our study illustrates that the general trend of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug prescription for dental implant surgery among Indian dentists is mostly in accordance with the guidelines for pain management worldwide. However, it is noteworthy that a few dentists do prescribe drugs not primarily indicated for dental pain management and use widely varying protocols for the same. Therefore, in order to avoid potential complications, it is essential to raise awareness of among the dental practitioners of the appropriate indications and dosage regimen of specific drugs.

Ergonomic Analysis to Study the Intensity of MSDs among Practicing Indian Dentists

Throughout the world background literature reviews have shown a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among dental practitioners. Prevalence of MSDs among dental practitioners in India is not well documented. Aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and distribution of MSDs among dental practitioners in Pune city in the state of Maharashtra, India. A cross sectional descriptive study in which a self-administered questionnaire (Body part discomfort survey) was used to assess the musculoskeletal symptoms among dental practitioners. In this study (n=57) in total, 47% of the respondents were males and 52% were females. The recorded data was analyzed. This questionnaire results (for all body parts), showed neck trouble to be the most predominant MSDs (69%), followed by shoulder (51%), upper back (51%), and lower back problem (39%).This results suggest that there is a need for change of body posture. This mean can be achieved by using a proper body support or change in work area. A prototype design is suggested to overcome this problem. The deployment of the prototype has reduced the RULA scoring and proved by t-test calculation. Results were verified by using the p-chart. The fraction of defects for all 12 areas and each respondent were calculated for further study.

Indian Academy of Dental Specialists releases it's annual dental science literature as print dental suppliment in association with jpbsonline.org from India, August 2015.

I am very happy to introduce this print dental supplement (www.jpbsonline.org) brought out in association with The Indian Academy of Dental Specialists, Erode, Tamilnadu, India (www.jiads.net) this year 2015. The annual supplements are bringing Original Articles, Review articles and Case Reports from the Indian Dentists of the subcontinent. I greatly appreciate the efforts of Dr. Himanshu Gupta, Assistant Editor (www.jbpsonline.org) in giving priority for the efforts of The Indian Academy of Dental Specialists, Erode, Tamilnadu, India for the past four years. Some of the articles from the previous supplements were cited in other popular journals by authors around the world and are being reported to us. India with nearly 300 recognized dental colleges needs more number of research papers to be published to showcase our Dentists ability to manage and treat dental diseases at par with the developed world. I thank the members of Indian Academy of Dental Specialists, The President, Prof. Dr. K. Sivakumar Kailasam and Secretary, Dr. M. Karthi, for their co-operation and efforts in bringing up this Print Supplement after peer reviewing and accepting the submitted articles to our forum. This supplement carries a wide array of Dental Scientific Literature from India. I also thank all the Principals, Prof. Dr. (Capt). S. Gokulanathan, Vivekanadha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Prof. Dr. G. S. Kumar, KSR Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Tiruchengode, Prof. Dr. A. Sivakumar, JKK Nataraja Dental College, Komarapalayam from Namakkal District, Tamilnadu, India for their continuous support in this supplement. I also acknowledge the efforts of Prof. Dr. N. Ganapathi, Editor, www.jiadsr.org, Dr. S. Sivaraj, Treasurer, The Indian Academy of Dental Specialists, Erode, Tamilnadu, India, Mrs. Dr. Yamunadevi Andamuthu, Dr. Yoitha Prabhunath, Dr. Biju, Dr. Gnanaseelan, Dr. Vijayanand and all the Authors in this Dental Supplement for the help at every stage of the work. Supplementary Editor and Co-Ordinator, www.jpbsonline.org

Knowledge, attitude and practices toward post-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus among dental practitioners in Pune, India

Background: As India has third largest number of people affected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), dental practitioners are more likely to encounter such patients for dental management. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV among dental practitioners in Pune, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 dental practitioners who attended Maharashtra State Zonal Conference organized by Indian Dental Association, Pimpri Chinchwad Branch in July 2013. Data related to HIV PEP was collected by predesigned, pretested, self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and results were expressed in percentage. Results: Majority of the participants (69.7%) were found to be in the private practice for Conclusion: The results of this survey showed that though dental practitioners had adequate knowledge of HIV PEP, but an elaboration of this topic is required in BDS curriculum.

Views of Indian Dental Students on Tobacco Cessation Counseling and Their Skills as Counselors

ABSTRACT Objectives This study aimed to determine Indian dental students’ views on tobacco cessation counselling, their skills as counsellors and the barriers faced by them. Methods A questionnaire study was conducted among 182 dental students in dental colleges of Faridabad, India. Significant differences among responses and demographic variables were calculated using chi square test. Results Majority (62.1 percent) of the participants indicated willingness to counsel their patients about the effects of tobacco and planned to advise patients about tobacco cessation (90 percent) while 74.2 percent felt that tobacco cessation counselling by dentist would help patients to quit. A majority disagreed that giving tobacco cessation counselling is not a part of their role (78.1 percent) or that they did not consider tobacco cessation counselling a part of their role (74.8 percent). However, 53.3 percent agreed that they do not have sufficient training to provide tobacco cessation counseling. Conclusion Dental students did not show much confidence in providing tobacco cessation counselling despite their perception that tobacco users look forward to them for such counselling.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Preventive Dentistry Among Private Dental Practitioners in Vadodara, India

ABSTRACT Background Private dentists’ knowledge and attitude on preventive dentistry may influence their practice and contribute to oral health of individuals and community. The objective of the study was to investigate the preventive orientation of private dental practitioners in Vadodara (India) through a questionnaire study. Methodology A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among Indian Dental Association-enrolled private dentists in Vadodara. The 37-item pre-tested questionnaire included questions about personal and professional characteristics and items to assess knowledge, attitude, practice and barriers related to preventive dentistry. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics and chi-square and correlation analysis using Pearson's Correlation coefficient. Results 82 of 140 eligible respondents filled the questionnaire (response rate: 58.57%). Majority were BDS degree holders (64.63%). Most dentists had solo-practice (65.85%) and had a work experience of 1-10 years (56.10%). 75% reported reading national and/or international dental journals. 62.20% claimed to have attended Continuing Dental Education programmes within the last year and interest was expressed by 89.02%. Majority (80.49%) possessed above average knowledge. Knowledge was higher among least experienced groups compared to the most experienced groups and it was statistically significant. 48.78% of respondents exhibited highly favourable attitude. Frequently rendered preventive measures were oral hygiene instructions, anti-tobacco advice and dietary advices practiced by 86.59%, 80.49% and 43.90% of dentists respectively. Oral cancer screening, fluoride and sealants were done by most dentists on risk basis. Lead protection was ignored by 43.90%. Most dentists perceived patient-related barriers as most impeding to preventive care. No correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude. Conclusion Preventive orientation of private dentists in Vadodara was encouraging with scope for improvement.

Occupational Hepatitis B Exposure: A Peek into Indian Dental Students' Knowledge, Opinion, and Preventive Practices.

Objective. To determine the level of knowledge, opinions, and preventive practices followed by dental students against Hepatitis B. The study also explored if any correlation existed between knowledge, opinion, and preventive practices score. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a dental teaching institution. The subjects comprised 216 dental students. The study was conducted using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared to assess knowledge, opinion, and preventive practices against Hepatitis B. Kruskal-Wallis and Kendall Tau test were performed. Results. The study found that only 44.4% of the students were vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine. 59.3% of the students reported washing their hands after contact with patient's body fluids. 63.9% used personal protective measures like facemask, aprons, head cap, eye shields, and so forth, while treating patients. Median knowledge, opinion, and practice scores were found to be 5.00, 3.00, and 3.00, respectively. Significant correlation was obtained between knowledge and preventive practices score (r = 0.385, p value <0.0001). Conclusion. Effective measures need to be taken to improve preventive practices of the students to prevent them from risk of Hepatitis transmission. Mandatory vaccination against Hepatitis B needs to be implemented.

Awareness among Indian Dental Graduate Students on Medical Emergency Drugs used in Dental Office: A Pilot Study

Background: Effective management of an emergency situation in the dental office is ultimately the dentist’s responsibility. Lack of good training and the inability to cope with these medical emergencies can lead to tragic consequences and sometimes legal action. Aims: Dental students have little understanding about medical emergencies, and there is very little in-depth data about the importance they place on this important area, i.e., fundamental to their professional training. A survey of 50 students from a dental college was carried out to evaluate the amount of awareness about the emergency drugs of the dental office. Materials and methods: The survey was conducted for the students of S Nijalingappa Dental College and Hospital, Gulbarga, India, who were undergoing 1-year mandatory internship. The number of students involved in this pilot survey was 50. A questionnaire was designed to obtain relevant information on the list of emergency drugs a dentist is supposed to know. The responses to the questionnaire so obtained were analyzed. Results: The results showed that undergraduate dental students perceive a need for more intensive education in medical emergency drugs as more than 70% of students were not aware of most of the emergency drugs of choice required in situations like hypotension, anaphylactic shock, allergic reaction, etc.

DENTISTRY AS A PROFESSION IN INDIA: AN OVERVIEW FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

India provides high and quality dental education to prospective students pursing dentistry as a profession. Highly trained and experienced teachers coupled with lower fees and great patient exposure makes India an attractive and promising hub for budding dentists. There are numerous options available for Indian and internationally trained dentists to pursue higher qualification in his chosen field of specialization. It is highly recommended that the international candidates aspiring for various courses in dentistry in India should verify the course content and must ensure its recognition from the governing body i.e. Dental Council of India.

Unconventional Dentistry in India – An Insight into the Traditional Methods

Unconventional medicine (UM) has been known and practised since the recorded history of civilization. Some unconventional practices may be viewed as “the continuity of traditions, religious beliefs, and even quackery that non-specialists practice.” These practices have been associated with religious beliefs and the spiritual domain as well as with the physical domain. In ancient Old World civilizations, UM was performed by skilled experts or wise men; in today's Western civilization, practitioners may or may not be licensed, and some are charlatans. Dentistry, like medicine, is a traditional, science-based, highly regulated healthcare profession that serves increasingly sophisticated and demanding clients. Today, traditional dental practice is dealing with an array of challenges to the established professional system; these challenges are generally termed “alternative” (or complementary, unconventional, or integrative). Genuine alternatives are comparable methods of equal value that have met scientific and regulatory criteria for safety and effectiveness. Because “alternative care” has become politicized and is often a misnomer – referring to practices that are not alternative to, complementary to, or integrating with conventional health care – the more accurate term “unconventional” is used.

IS COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE EFFECTIVE IN JOB SATISFACTION AMONG DENTISTS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS? A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Musculoskeletal disorders have serious impact on the profession of dentistry. There is common occurrence of pain due to incorrect posture in dental professionals. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies may cast a new light on preventing and intercepting musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). An epidemiological study was conducted in an effort to contribute to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MSD at dentists using CAM as a treatment and preventive modality for MSD and to compare job/career satisfaction between dentists who use CAM and conventional therapy (CT). Dentists registered in Uttrakhand state, India, under the Dental Council of India and registered members of the Indian Dental Association, Uttrakhand branch (N = 1496) were surveyed. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 17. A response rate of 84% (N = 1257) was obtained, revealing that 90% (N = 1131) had the problem of MSD. Seventy three percentage (N = 826) of dentists with MSD reported the use of CAM and CT. Complementary and alternative medicine users reported greater overall health (72.7% vs. 51%, p < 0.001), job satisfaction (61.2% vs. 35%, p < 0.001) and work efficiency compared to CT users. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies may improve quality of life, reduce work interruption and enhance job satisfaction for dentists who suffers from MSD. Through the course of their studies, dentists should be equipped with knowledge on ergonomics and CAM therapies, such as yoga and others, to help them prevent musculoskeletal disorders more effectively.

Life on the edge for the Indian dentist: A look at infection control and its application for Indian dental offices

Dental health personnel are constantly exposed to the potential threat of developing an infection by occupational exposures to a variety of microbial pathogens, most common of all are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) tuberculosis (TB) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Literature has detailed how globally; private practices do not always follow all infection control procedure despite numerous guidelines and regulations being published. Cross infection control practices in Indian dental clinics are said to be years behind the guidelines prescribed by regulatory bodies in the Western World. Researchers have reported on the lax attitudes of dentists in India regarding management of biomedical wastes. This review attempts to assess the possible sources of infection in a clinic setup and relate them to a dental clinic setup in India, and provide the reader with an insight to implement and monitor infection control protocols in the Indian dental setup

Self-perceived competency among postgraduate students of public health dentistry in India: A cross-sectional survey

Introduction: The professional profile of the public health dentist is made up of a number of competencies. Evaluation of the student's performance in relation to the specified competencies is an important task for purposes of student evaluation and for assessing the curriculum and making necessary revisions. Aim: The aim was to assess the level of self-perceived competency in dental public health among postgraduate (PG) students in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among the PG students in the specialty of public health dentistry in India. Their competency was assessed by a questionnaire sent through E-mail. Students assessed their competence in these dental public health functions using a 3 point ordinal scale, 0 indicating not at all competent, 1 as competent, and 2 as very competent. Chi-square has been used for categorical variables. Results: One-hundred and twenty-four PG students responded to the questionnaire. Comparison was made for gender and academic year. Males were significantly competent to comply infection control policies and procedures (P < 0.040*). Third year PG students were significantly competent to comply infection control policies and procedures (P < 0.017) and to adapt their dental practice to the existing laws and regulations (P < 0.45). Conclusion: In the present study, the PG students considered themselves more competent to elaborate the socioeconomic-cultural diagnosis of the community, to participate in epidemiological surveillance system and less competent to adopt ethical principles in all aspects of community oral health activities, to take up initiatives in advocacy issues for health policy and using media effectively.

A knowledge, attitude, and practices study regarding dental floss among dentists in India.

Objectives:To assess the knowledge, attitude, self-reported practices, and prescription patterns regarding dental floss amongst a select population of dentists in India.Materials and Methods:A pretested 30-item questionnaire was self-administered by authors to the dental faculty and postgraduate students in dental schools in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). Nine dental institutes were selected by simple random sampling procedure among 15 institutions and a total of 255 dentists were included in the study.Statistical Analysis:The data obtained were analyzed by SPSS version 18. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies were calculated and Pearson's Chi-square test was used with P value fixed at 0.05.Results:There was lack of adequate knowledge regarding dental floss, among dentists in India. 78% of the dentists responded that the routine use of dental floss was necessary for good periodontal health. Majority of the dentists cited lack of awareness, availability, and cost as the major factors affecting floss usage. Lack of training in the dental education programs may have an impact on the prescription patterns as well. 15.3% of those surveyed do not use floss at all. 63.9% of the dentists prescribed floss routinely to their patients and considered factors like education, occupation, and socioeconomic status of the patient before prescribing dental floss.Conclusion:Health education programs regarding dental floss are necessary to create awareness among the general population and adequate training at undergraduate level is also essential to increase the prescription practices. Dentists should practice recommended oral self-care and act as role models.

Computer Use Among Post Graduate Dental Students in India

ABSTRACT Objective Computers have become an integral component of dentistry finding application in both patient care and dental education. Few studies have been conducted to assess the use of computers in the field of dentistry in India. The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, skills, practice and attitudes of post graduate dental students towards the use of computers in dentistry. Subjects and Methods A self administered questionnaire was distributed among the post graduate dental students of KLE University, Belgaum, India. 68 out of 82 students responded, the data was analyzed and represented as frequency and percentage. Results Most of the students acquired knowledge about computer through informal training. Internet use was very high among the students. They could perform basic operations on computer but faced problem in some advanced functions like hardware maintenance, software installation, use of spreadsheets and photo editing. 73.5% used computer in both home and college. More than 75% owned their own computer. Only 41.2% felt they were well trained to use computers. More than 90% believed that computer education should be a part of dental curriculum. Conclusion Though computers in being extensively used by the post graduate dental students, they lack formal training and feel the need for the same. Computer training will be helpful in creating better dental professionals.

Mouth Guard - A Dental Gift for Sports

s www.ijhrs.com Sports dentistry deals with the correct diagnosis, prevention and treatment of sports related orofacial injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the collection and assessment of information on dental athletic injuries and the encouragement of research for prevention of such injuries which involves orthodontic correction of protruding anterior teeth and using facemasks and mouth guards while taking part in sports. Several functions and types of mouth guards have been explained in this article. Different studies have provided enough evidence that the use of specific mouth guard headgear or helmets reduces the risk of facial trauma. Currently there is a very limited data regarding sports dentistry in India. There is no dental institute in India that have course on Sports Dentistry. The Sports Authority of India does not have any policy on Sports Dentistry. Dentists should educate the general public, parents/guardians, staffs of emergency department, coaches and athletes regarding health risks and benefits of mouth guards including the importance of emergency care for orofacial injuries.