Introduction: Medical as well as dental professionals are always at an increased risk of contracting infections in pandemics. The novel Coronavirus (nCoV), the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic is more contagious than other known members of Coronaviridae family. Aim: This research aims to evaluate the knowledge, psychological, social, and economic aspects of COVID-19 pandemic among dental professionals using a closed-ended questionnaire study. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study with close ended questionnaire was planned. The questionnaire form was prepared in the Google platform after receiving ethical clearance, with 39 questions under the headings of General Information, Knowledge, Psychological aspects, and Social and Economic aspects. The questionnaire link was circulated among dental professionals known to the research team through Email, WhatsApp, and Messenger. A total of 504 dental professionals participated in this study in five days. Knowledge score was calculated, and psychological stress was calculated using Likert scale. Economic aspect was measured using yes/no answers. Data were entered in an excel sheet and the data obtained were statistically analysed using the SPSS software, version 11.5. Chi-square test was done to evaluate whether there is an association between knowledge score and demographic factors and p-value was obtained. Results: There was almost equal gender distribution of respondents in the study. p-value obtained from chi-square test results correlating knowledge score with various demographic factors was not significant. A 59.9% of study participants were poorly informed on methods used to diagnose COVID-19 infection. A 44.4% of the respondents were psychologically stressed about infecting their family members and 72.22% were economically affected because of their profession. A 98.61% of the participants reported that they will wash their hands frequently, avoid crowded places and cancel travel plans in the near future. Conclusion: The present study evaluated the knowledge, psychological, social and economic aspects of COVID-19 pandemic among dental professionals. We identified that there is an urgent need to intensify the knowledge on COVID-19 and also to give psychological, social and economic support to dental professionals

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Aim: To evaluate a new flap design that is a modification of an envelope flap in reducing the postoperative complications and to compare it with the conventional flaps such as a bayonet flap and an envelope flap for the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Materials and methods: A prospective randomized control clinical study was conducted on 90 medically healthy patients who came with impacted mandibular third molars. The patients were randomly divided into group I, group II, and group III of 30 patients each. All three group patients underwent surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars wherein for group I patients, a bayonet flap was raised, for group II a modified envelope flap (new flap design), and for group III an envelope flap was raised. Postoperative pain and swelling at day 1, 3, and 7 were assessed and compared. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, using SPSS software version 20. Results: The group II proved more successful in reducing the postsurgical sequelae of impacted third molar removal. Postoperative analysis showed increased amount of pain and swelling in groups I and III as compared to group II. Conclusion:The new design flap that is a modification of an envelope flap is more superior to other two conventional techniques. Clinical significance: The new flap design is useful in reducing postoperative pain and swelling, which is the most common sequel of surgical removal of the impacted third molar and is easy to practice.

A BSTRACT Context: Problem-based learning (PBL) is mostly a student-centered learning method, and it is a new method used in medical and dental education all over the world. In India, PBL is a part of the learning process sparingly followed. Contrary to other institutions, PBL has been introduced in dental curriculum along with the traditional curriculum very recently. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the newly introduced PBL curriculum among the dental students using a closed-ended questionnaire on a five-point scale. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire on PBL was prepared in Google Forms, comprising 22 closed-ended questions on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). We carried out a pilot study in 10% of the target population to check validity and feasibility. Final study was conducted in the targeted population of 185 dental students who had undergone PBL sessions. Results: The responses for the questionnaire thus received from the students were compiled and analyzed using Google Forms software. Overall rating of PBL by the respondents was as follows. The majority of the student’s responses were agreed with 54.6% and a significant number of students strongly agreed with PBL at 33%. Conclusions: This study shows the responses of the students on aspects of group learning, imparting content knowledge, improvement of group skills, improvement of communication skills, and carrying out self-directed learning within the Indian context of dental health education.