Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate objectively and clinically the relative improvement in retention forces of complete dentures with the use of three proprietary denture fixatives. Using the UCL Retentiometer, retention forces of ill‐fitting maxillary complete dentures were measured with saliva alone as the interface medium and with the use of the three test denture fixatives in edentulous subjects over a peroid of 6 h. Results showed that forces with saliva alone were consistently and significantly lower when compared with the forces measured at any test period with the use of the test fixatives. A sixfold improvement in forces from the salivary baseline values was observed when these materials were used. However, the test fixatives showed substantial variations in retention forces depending on the physical formulation of the material. Whilst the powder Variety was effective immediately after its application, retention forces with the liquid and paste materials did not peak until 3 h post‐insertion. Measurements at 6 h post‐insertion stage showed that the powder fixative was the least effective of the three materials. This was mainly attributed to the rapid washing of the active ingredients by saliva because of the absence of oily base present in the paste and liquid materials.

The health professions and systems have been challenged evoking heightened reactions around the globe as response to Covid-19. While most heavily impacted, the role of the dental professionals in preventing the transmission and responding to its long-term impacts on dentistry is critically important. This report, while outlining the immediate impact that the Covid-19 outbreak currently has on dental healthcare professionals, it also looks at some heavier impacts that this outbreak might have on the profession of dentistry. As such this manuscript offers some suggestions and recommendations based on personal feeling. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2698 How to cite this:Ghani F. Covid-19 Outbreak – Immediate and long-term impacts on the dental profession. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(COVID19-S4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2698 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Objectives:To determine the impact of missing teeth on the level of Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL)in subjects reporting at a teaching dental hospital.Method:Using a structured Performa incorporating the 12-item General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) Questionnaire, and a consecutive (non-probability) sampling technique, data relating to 182 subjects fulfilling the study inclusion and exclusion criteria were collected using the method of interview and examination. Subjects responses to each of the 12 items of the GOHAI questionnaire were recorded to determine the impact of missing teeth on OHRQoL. Each of the GOHAI item had a maximum score of 5 thus giving a total of 60 as the maximum score. A high score of GOHAI indicated better ORHRQoL. The ORHRQol of subject was taken as good when the GOHAI score ranged 57-60, average when 51-56 and poor when ≤50.Results:Subjects had a mean age of 35.6 ± 5.8 (S. Dev) with males as 50.5% compared to females (49.5%). The mean GOHAI score for all the subjects was 48.4 ± 8.2 as compared to the mean GOHAI score of 48.4 ± 8.2 for males and 47.6 ± 8.3 for females. The ORHRQoL was good in only 27%. A high proportion of subjects (53%) had poor OHRQoL. The number and the frontal location of the missing teeth adversely impacted OHRQoL. Missing maxillary anterior teeth had the most negative effect on OHRQoL. Missing mandibular first molar was the most common missing tooth either alone or in combination with other missing teeth among the subjects studied. The most important GOHAI items contributing to the adverse impact on the OHRQoL of the majority of subjects with some missing teeth were;often worried/concerned about dental problems and never having been pleased or happy with the look of their teeth and gumConclusion:The adverse effect of missing teeth on OHRQoL was substantial necessitating the importance of preventing the condition of missing teeth or restoring when missing and maintaining the oral health of subjects.

During the past few months, our understanding of the transmission, epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and management of Covid-19 has considerably improved. This had made the dental healthcare personnel confident enough and ready to provide safely by implementing efficient prevention and cross-infection control strategies in the dental clinical setting. , At the same time, it is necessary that we must be constantly aware of the continuation of such infectious threats challenging our infection control regimen and preparedness to provide dental treatments and teaching and education. Good infection prevention and control strategies need to be evidence-based and in line with the recommendations of the local and international public health agencies. The disruption in dental services and dental education all over the world resulted in this pandemic has emphasized and resulted in new, innovative and improved infection prevention and control strategies and adoption of alternative teaching, learning and assessment strategies for students. It further reinforces the need for continued research exploring ways for responding better to future contagious disease threats.

No abstract