Background: Oral diseases have been a persistent public health problem globally, with almost every individual suffering from poor oral health at least once in their lifetime. Oral health problems affect 3.9 billion people globally. Dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer are examples of common oral conditions that meet the requirements for being classified as public health issues. Oral health promotion through school is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for improving knowledge, attitude, and behavior related to oral health and for the prevention and control of dental diseases among school children. Materials and methods: This school-based quasi-experimental study with nonequivalent group design was conducted between January and June 2022 among adolescent students from class V (5th year of school) to class X (10th year of school). The sample size was around 460. Oral self-examination was done once a month in each class of school by the teacher and also once a week in each class of school by a peer group. Results: The percentage of fathers’ education belonging to high school during the post-intervention phase in the intervention school and control school is 37 and 24.8%, respectively. The distribution of oral hygiene index simplified score (good) increased from 29.6 to 38.7% in the intervention school and the proportion of oral hygiene index simplified (poor) decreased from 20.4 to 20% in the intervention school. Conclusion: Schools offer a great environment for teaching about health issues, modeling healthy behaviors in them, connecting them with services, and interacting with parents and the community through the students, education is one of the most efficient ways to reach children and adolescents.

Background: Children are a kind and innocent part of society, and since their oral health affects the oral health of future generations, it is given the attention it deserves. The dental health of young children is greatly influenced by the knowledge and attitude of their parents. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents toward their children's oral health and also to compare the knowledge, attitude, and practices with regard to age and socioeconomic status. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with a sample of 200 among the parents of higher primary schoolgoing children in Davanagere. A questionnaire was designed to test parent's awareness toward their children's oral health, and data were collected by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 16 relevant questions with demographic data. The Chi-square test had been used to test the association between the responses among parent's socioeconomic status using statistical package for social sciences version 23. Result: A total of 210 questionnaires were distributed, with a response rate of 95.4%. Out of the 200 participants (30−60 years), 41% were mothers and 59% were fathers. Of them, 19.5% were upper middle (II), 48.5% were lower middle (III), and 32% were upper lower (IV). Almost 36% of the parents preferred to take their child for dental visit only after seeing a visible cavity in their child's mouth. Nearly 74% of parents were aware that deleterious oral habits can cause irregular teeth. Conclusion: More than half of the respondents had an average level of knowledge on oral health, while a majority had a positive attitude toward their child's oral health. Participants with lower middle (III) status had significantly better overall knowledge scores than others.

Background: Tooth loss, a result of one or more oral diseases, causes partial or complete edentulism. Aim: To determine tooth loss among patients attending selected public dental clinics in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study involved patients aged 18 years and above attending selected public dental clinics in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Multistage and proportionate sampling methods were used. Chi-square tests were performed, and the level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Of the 422 subjects aged 18–72 years, the majority were young adults (70.4%), females (65.2%) and with upper secondary education and above (70.1%). Tooth decay (n = 221; 74.4%) was the main reported cause for tooth loss among young adults (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that tooth loss is age-related and caused mainly by tooth decay. It is more common in one jaw for younger adults, unlike older adults who had fewer missing teeth affecting mostly one jaw and location. Sex and level of education did not influence tooth loss. Tooth loss should be prevented and rehabilitative protocols in place. Clinical significance: Clinicians are encouraged to provide oral health education to the community in an attempt to prevent diseases that cause tooth loss and make known treatment options for tooth loss.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and factors related to oral health-seeking behavior among a group of children residing in rural Sri Lanka. The proactive pursuit of oral health plays a pivotal role in determining the oral health status of children. Nonetheless, it is evident that the oral health-seeking behavior, particularly among children from low socio-economic backgrounds, is not optimal due to various contributing factors. There is a scarcity of scientific data from developing countries highlighting this issue, which is essential in addressing and improving the oral health of children. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among grade I school children using a self-administered questionnaire to gather sociodemographic data. A child and the caregiver comprised a study unit. Intraoral examination was conducted to record the dental caries and PUFA (pulp involvement, ulceration, fistula, abscess) score. SPSS version 26 was used for the data analysis. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with health-seeking behavior. Results: In the study, 46.3% of children had never received oral healthcare, and 54.3% believed that care seeking is necessary only when there is a dental problem. Dental caries [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.478, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.24–0.92] and PUFA score (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.23–0.96) showed significant associations with oral health-seeking behavior. Additionally, father's occupational status (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.16–1.58), distance to the government dental clinic (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.08–3.13), and the availability of a school dental clinic (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.22–3.68) were significantly associated with oral health-seeking behavior. Conclusion: The study found that children in this group had poor oral health-seeking behavior. Dental caries and PUFA score were significantly associated with care-seeking, along with fathers’ occupational status, distance to the dental clinic, and the availability of a school dental clinic.

Background: Shift work, particularly rotating shifts, has been associated with health issues such as sleep disturbances and systemic diseases, potentially influencing periodontal health. This study explores the relationship between shift work, sleep disturbances, and periodontal conditions among industrial workers. Aim: To assess the prevalence of sleep disturbances and their association with gingivitis and periodontitis in industrial workers in Chennai, focusing on the impact of shift work. Setting and design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 146 industrial workers. Participants were categorized based on their shift patterns—rotating shifts and fixed day shifts. Materials and methods: Data were collected using a pre-validated questionnaire and clinical examination (CPITN index), covering demographics, habits, oral health, and sleep quality. Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test using SPSS software version 25.0. Results: Workers on rotating shifts exhibited significantly poorer periodontal health, with a higher prevalence of periodontitis and lower rates of gingivitis and healthy gingiva compared to fixed day shift workers. Severe sleep disturbances were more common in rotating shift workers, and individuals with severe sleep disturbances were more likely to have periodontitis. Smokers showed a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances and worse periodontal health outcomes. Conclusion: The study highlights the negative impact of rotating shift work on both sleep quality and periodontal health. There is a strong association between sleep disturbances, smoking, and periodontitis, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to improve health outcomes in industrial workers.

Introduction: As a discrete and patient-friendly substitute for conventional fixed orthodontic appliances, clear aligner therapy has become increasingly popular. Using finite element analysis (FEA), this study assesses how well different composite attachments work to achieve rotational mobility of the mandibular lateral incisors. Orthodontic treatment has been transformed by Align Technology's Invisalign™ system and CAD/CAM technology, but rotational movements are still difficult, particularly for cylindrical and small teeth. Material and methods: The alveolar bone, aligner systems, and periodontal ligament (PDL) were all included in the three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the mandibular arch. Teeth with T-shaped composite attachments, half-ellipsoids, horizontal rectangles, and no attachments had their rotational forces examined. Forces were calibrated using strain gauge systems, and computer models examined stress distribution and displacement in teeth, aligners, and surrounding tissues. Importantly, while prior studies predominantly focused on larger teeth like canines and premolars, this investigation uniquely assessed the effects on smaller mandibular incisors, where maintaining structural integrity poses additional challenges. These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians in choosing appropriate instrumentation techniques for minimally invasive endodontic treatment. Results: Results indicated that composite attachments significantly enhanced rotational movement compared to aligners without attachments. Among the attachment designs, the horizontal rectangular attachment yielded the highest rotational efficacy, followed by the T-shaped attachment. Stress patterns showed concentration in the labioincisal and cervical regions, with stress values remaining within physiological limits, suggesting no harm to periodontal structures. The aligner with T-shaped attachments exhibited the least distortion, improving its functional efficiency.

Aims: This article aims to explore the evolving role of dentistry in chronic disease management by emphasizing the oral-systemic health connection and advocating for an interdisciplinary approach that positions dentists as pivotal players in early diagnosis and management of systemic diseases. Background: The connection between oral health and systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke has been increasingly recognized, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to healthcare. Dentists, often the first to detect oral manifestations of systemic diseases, are uniquely positioned to contribute to early diagnosis and management, thereby improving patient outcomes and potentially reducing the burden on the healthcare system. Case description: The article discusses specific examples where oral health serves as an indicator of systemic conditions. For instance, periodontal disease is linked to diabetes, and oral inflammation may signal cardiovascular issues. By identifying these early signs, dentists can initiate timely interventions and coordinate with medical professionals to manage chronic diseases more effectively. Conclusion: The article concludes that the integration of dental care with general healthcare practices offers significant potential for improving public health. Dentists, acting as “Oral Physicians,” can contribute to preventive care and early management of chronic diseases, thus playing a crucial role in a more holistic, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system. Clinical significance: By recognizing and embracing their role in chronic disease management, dentists can enhance patient outcomes and help optimize healthcare resources. This integrated approach represents a promising avenue for addressing the growing burden of chronic diseases and improving overall public health.