Context:The scope of Bitemarks in forensic dentistry is widening as they help the forensic expert in identifying the perpetuator in medicolegal cases. The greatest challenge in Bitemarks analysis is the time-dependent changes produced in Bitemark patterns on various substrates at the scene of the crime.Aims:To analyze the time-dependent changes in Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets.Settings and Design:Single centered prospective study.Materials and Methods:Twenty-five subjects were randomly chosen, and dental casts prepared. Then test bites were registered on Styrofoam sheets, overlays prepared from these test bites on subsequent days (day 1, 2, 3, 4) and checked for matching accuracy.Statistical Analysis Used:The data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA to compare the overlays from dental stone cast with test bites on Styrofoam sheets on subsequent days.Results:The P value was found to be 1 which is statistically not significant implying that there were no significant time-dependent changes in the pattern of Bitemarks.Conclusions:There were no time-dependent changes in the pattern of Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets hence they serve as better materials than Bitemarks on human skin or food substrates obtained from the scene of the crime.
Background:
Self-medication is one of the major health concerns worldwide, and the World Health Organization has laid emphasis on correctly investigating and controlling it. Self-medication turns public and professional concern regarding imprudent practices, which has dramatically increased during the past few decades, especially in the developing countries.
Aim and Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess the self-medication practice for oral and dental health problems among adult dental patients in a teaching hospital, and the objective was to find the association between self-medication and ignorance in seeking dental treatment among those patients.
Materials and Methods:
This study was conducted among 100 participants with 50 males and 50 females from outpatient block, with various oral health problems.
Results:
The prevalence of practice of self-medication was 87% among dental patients irrespective of their oral health problem and was 70.1%, which was exclusively for oral health problems among those 87%. About 44.2% of the respondents answered that the professional operative procedures weaken the teeth, and about 24.5% of the respondents fear that dentists prescribed drugs would cause side effects, and this might be the reason behind these patients undertaking self-medication which was highlighted in this study.
Conclusion:
The increased prevalence of self-medication in this study was alarming with analgesics being the most commonly used drug without even considering the toxic effects of it. This study emphasized that there is a paramount need for educational programs on the public associated with indiscriminate usage of drugs in which all health-care providers including pharmacists should play a vital role, and the government should also emphasize on formulating new techniques on the sale of drugs which could reach both literate and illiterate individuals.
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