Background: Amalgam has been the gold standard for restorations in posterior teeth. Mercury, a major component of dental amalgam, is considered an environmental pollutant. The Minamata Convention on mercury dictates the reduction in the use of mercury-containing products. Since Pakistan is a signatory to the convention, the same amalgam phase-out limitations are implemented in Pakistan. Aim: To identify and assess the use of amalgam and its waste management by dentists in Pakistan post-Minamata Convention guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore among 520 general dental practitioners in 2019. Results: The sample size for the study was calculated as 500; the questionnaire was distributed among 550 dentists. Dental amalgam was used by only 41.6% of the dentists in their practice; 55.0% perceived it to be a health risk. Most of the dentists (76.3%) were unaware of the proper disposal protocols for dental amalgam and 76.5% were unaware of any guidelines regarding amalgam use and disposal. Conclusion: Although there is gap in knowledge among the dentists when it comes to amalgam disposal, dentists in Pakistan are reducing their use of dental amalgam in accordance with the guidelines of the Minamata Convention.

Objective: To evaluate awareness among the General Dentists of Lahore regarding the use of lining materials under posterior resin restorations. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Lahore, from Sep 2019 to Jan 2020. Methodology: Non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used. A sample size of 271 was calculated. The questionnaires were distributed by 2 surveyors to the general dentists of Lahore, Pakistan. Results: The response rate was 100%. Amongst these dentists, 191 (63.87%) affirmed that they use lining materials in initial depth cavities, 248 (82.94%) used lining material under moderate depth restorations and 285 (95.31%) used lining materials under advanced depth cavities with calcium hydroxide being the most commonly used material. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that general dentists of Lahore are unaware of the contemporary concepts regarding the placement of cavity liners and tend to place liners in initial and moderate depth cavities under posterior resin restorations.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the perception of Dentists in Pakistan towards Tele-Dentistry and its usefulness during Covid-19 pandemic. Materials & Methods: The study was conducted among general dentists of Lahore after taking approval from the Ethics and Research Committee of the institution. This descriptive cross-sectional study was completed over the period of three months. Non-probability snowball sampling technique was used. Results: The results revealed that most of the dentists (89.5%) perceived that Tele-Dentistry can be of help during COVID 19 Pandemic in Pakistan. Conclusion: Most of the dentists were aware of teledentistry, and its uses, advantages and disadvantages in Covid-19 pandemic. Keywords: teledentistry, Covid-19, dentistry, Lahore, perception, health care professionals

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Brain drain is a term coined for the migration of highly skilled professionals from the country of their origin to more developed countries. As the trend of moving abroad is on a rise, ever since, it is causing a shortage of dental professionals in our country. The objective of our study is to determine the factors that would compel the dentists of Punjab, Pakistan, to move abroad and how to prevent this migration. METHODOLOGY: It was a cross-sectional survey. Data was collected through a self-constructed and validated questionnaire. The study was done in dental colleges in Punjab, and the duration of the study was one year. The questionnaire was distributed both by hand and via digital sources. RESULTS:  There were 155 (33.4%) participants, who were planning to go abroad for higher education, and 274 (59%) had not planned to go out of the country for further studies. Among the study participants, 50 (32.3%) participants were planning to move to the United Kingdom, whereas 23 (14.8%) participants were planning to go to Australia, 44 (28.3%) wanted to move to the US, 10 (6.4%) to Canada and the rest (18%) had plans to move to any other country. CONCLUSION: The majority of dental graduates wish to go abroad for their post-graduation. The dentists of Punjab were willing to serve their country, provided the economic and political situations improved.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically assess the outcome of interventions used to treat patients who have trismus as a result of radiotherapy to the head and neck region in the treatment of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC). METHODOLOGY: Searches were carried out on online databases (Medline, Embase and The Cochrane Central Library) on the 19th of June 2019 and then again using the same search terms on the 6th of June 2021. Randomized and Nonrandomized trials aimed at treating trismus as a side effect of head and neck radiotherapy (RT) were included for this systematic review. A total of 5 papers were reviewed for the purpose of this systematic review. RESULTS: Results show that there is limited evidence to support the use of any treatment modality other than structured jaw exercises to help treat trismus in patients with a history of HNC and RT induced fibrosis. There is no evidence to support the use of Botulinum toxin A, while further studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness of Pentoxifylline (with or without conjunction with Vitamin E) and Pregabalin in the treatment of postradiotherapy fibrosis. CONCLUSION: There is a need for more randomized control trials to identify treatment modalities for radiotherapy induced trismus. Rehabilitation exercises have been implemented across all papers involved in this study which indicates the need for analysis and identification of a pharmaceutical intervention. KEYWORDS: Head and neck cancer, trismus, lockjaw, radiotherapy, randomized controlled trial, placebo