Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to defective secretion or activity of insulin Prevalence of diabetes mellitus has tripled since 1970, hence it is a significant finding for dental professionals, as evidence from clinical research showing a strong relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease is mounting. In fact, periodontitis is often referred to as the sixth complication of diabetes. Objective : To assess the extent of awareness of periodontal disease in diabetic patients, among medical interns. Methods: A cross sectional survey containing 21 questions was answered by 150 medical interns from Mangalore, Karntaka. Conclusion: The results of this survey indicate that medical interns have thorough knowledge about diabetes and its complications; however, their awareness about periodontal disease in diabetic patients is limited thus further emphasis should be given to the dissemination of knowledge about the inter-relationship of diabetes and periodontal health.

Background:Stress classically describes a destructive notion that can have a bearing on one's physical and mental health. It may also add to an increased propensity to periodontal disease.Aim:To investigate the association between psychological stress and serum cortisol levels in patients with chronic periodontitis.Materials and Methods:Forty subjects were recruited from the outpatient department at the Department of Periodontics, from a college in Mangalore, divided into two groups, i.e., twenty as healthy controls and twenty were stressed subjects with chronic periodontitis. The clinical examination included the assessment of probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and oral hygiene index-simplified. Serum cortisol levels were estimated biochemically using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and the estimation of psychological stress was done by a questionnaire.Results:Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation was used to review the collected data. Independent sample t-test was used for comparison and correlation was evaluation using Pearson's correlation test. As per our observation, high serum cortisol levels and psychological stress are positively linked with chronic periodontitis establishing a risk profile showing a significant correlation (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Routine serum cortisol assessment may be a reasonable and a valuable investigative indicator to rule out stress in periodontitis patients as it should be considered as an imperative risk factor for periodontal disease.

Background and objectives: Studies on effects of smokeless tobacco (ST) use on the periodontium are limited and have, received less attention. The aim of the present split mouth study is to evaluate the periodontal parameters and oral hygiene status of sites associated with smokeless tobacco (ST) placement and compares the corresponding parameters on the contralateral site, where smokeless tobacco is not placed (NST). Methods: Study population: 25 subjects were selected from A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangalore. Written informed consent was taken from all the participants. Oral cavity of each subject was divided into two sites Smokeless tobacco (ST) site and Non-smokeless tobacco (NST) site.Screening examination included: Clinical examination of ST keratosis: the location, size, and specific teeth adjacent to the ST keratosis were recorded. Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), Gingival Index. Periodontal parameters-Probing depth (PD), Clinical attachment level, total number of teeth present in the mouth and number of teeth with attrition were recorded. Results: Of the 25 subjects, mean OHI-S and gingival index was 2.76 and 1.36 respectively. Mean clinical attachment level was 2.78 (p- <0.001), number of teeth with recession and attrition was 3.36 and 3.04 respectively, all in favour of the ST site. Interpretation and Conclusion: The smokeless tobacco site showed significantly greater gingival recession, attachment loss and periodontal deterioration when compared to nonsmokeless tobacco site.