Background: Oral health problems can be considered a public health setback due to its high prevalence and significant social impact. Hence, it is essential to combat oral diseases with preventive approach and focus on education and promotion.

AIM:This study aims to assess the association of sugary foods and drinks consumption with behavioral risk and oral health status of 12- and 15-year-old government school children in Udaipur.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among of 12- and 15-year-old government schoolchildren of Udaipur. A survey pro forma designed based on HBSC (Health behaviour in School-aged Children) study protocol and WHO Oral Health Assessment Form for Children (2013) was used. Chi-Square test, Independent Sample t-test, and Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis were used with 95% confidence interval and 5% significance level.RESULTS:Out of 710 participants, 455 (64.1%) were males and 255 females (35.9%). Majority of 15 years age (57.3%) consumed more soft drinks than 12-year-old. Males showed a comparatively greater tendency to have sugar sweetened products than females. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) and DMFT scores were relatively higher for subjects who consumed sugary substances more than once/day than who had less than once/day. Gingivitis was associated with high sugar diet.CONCLUSION:Sugary foods and drinks consumption is significantly associated with behavioral habits of children and is a clear behavioral risk for oral health.

BackgroundOral health and academic performance are important contributing factors for a student’s professional life. Countless factors affect both, among which sleep, vitality and fatigue are less explored areas that also have a strong impact.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to assess the association of sleep disturbances, fatigue and vitality with self reported oral health status, oral hygiene habits and academic performance of dental students of Udaipur.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate and postgraduate dental students of Udaipur. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess the psychological factors, vitality, sleep quality, fatigue, self reported oral health status, habits and academic performance. Analysis of variance and stepwise multiple linear regression were utilized for statistical analysis with 95% confidence level and 5% level of significance.ResultsOf the 230 participants, 180 (78.3%) were undergraduates and 50 (21.7%) were postgraduates. Among them, females showed higher scores in disturbed sleep index (2.69±2.14) as compared to males (2.45±1.91). Respondents who had “Poor” dental health, scored more in disturbed sleep index (3.15±1.64) and fatigue scale (20.00±4.88). Subjects who flossed “everyday”, were found to have good sleep and more energy (p=0.01) and those who assessed themselves as excellent students scored more in the Vitality Scale (p=0.01) and less in the Sleep index (p=0.01).ConclusionThe present study confirms that disturbed sleep, aliveness and fatigue, all are interlinked with each other and are imperative factors having the potential to alter the oral health status, habits and academics of dental students.

BackgroundA dearth of literature exists concerning utilization of the unique cariogram model for caries risk assessment in tobacco users.ObjectiveTo assess & compare caries risk among smokers & smokeless tobacco users using Cariogram model.MethodsA descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among smokers and smokeless tobacco users of Udaipur for 3 months. Caries risk assessment was done by employing a survey proforma based on the Cariogram model. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square test followed by Marascuilo procedure and Stepwise multiple linear regression with 95% confidence interval and 5% significance level.ResultsMajority of the smokers (56%) portrayed high caries risk (less chance to avoid new caries) followed by smokeless Tobacco users (34%). Only 40% smokeless tobacco users had relatively high chances (>60%) of avoiding future new caries. The susceptibility sector of the cariogram model contributed primarily to caries risk in the study population.ConclusionThe study findings from the different cariogram elements converged to indicate that smokers were at maximum caries risk, followed by smokeless tobacco users and therefore Cariogram model could be a useful tool to represent caries risk among smokers and smokeless tobacco users.

Introduction: Dentistry is a demanding profession requiring focus, accuracy, and skills. However, with scientific advances, various new advances and types of equipment have developed enhancing the general dental care. It has been reported that chairs intended for right-handed users result in manual uneasiness or discomfort for left-handed dentists. This might constrain the left handers to adjust, thereby leading to decrease in their performance with increased perception of inconvenience.