Objective: To assess some habits and practices related to denture wearing among subjects reporting to Watim Teaching Dental Hospital, Rawalpindi. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Watim Dental College, Rawalpindi, from December 2018 to August 2019. Using a pre-structured questionnaire, data were collected from 155 subjects having used complete dentures for a minimum of 6-months. The questionnaire consisted of information including the type of dentures, duration and frequency of denture wearing, and denture cleaning habits. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 155 participants, 80 (51.6%) were male and 75 (48.4%) were females. 89 (57.4%) patients use toothbrushes and soap for denture cleaning. 139 (89.7%) participants didn’t wear dentures while sleeping and soaked them in water. 98 (63.2%) respondents were not using antiseptic oral rinse and were casual in mouth-cleaning. Conclusion: From this study, it is concluded that 65 (41.9%) subjects were cleaning their dentures once a day. The study also reveals that 65 (41.9%) edentulous participants were not able to clean their oral cavity. Dentists should emphasize the importance of recall visits to evaluate the status of denture hygiene along with mucosal surface examination. Patient motivation to follow hygiene instructions and informing them about the harmful effects of overnight wearing of dentures should be part of delivering the prostheses to them.

Objective: To compare the mean dentin hypersensitivity after using GC tooth mousse versus fluoride varnish in patients with dentinal hypersensitivity due to non-carious cervical lesions. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Setting: Watim Dental College, Rawalpindi. Period: February to August 2019. Material & Methods: A total number of 166 patients were enrolled in the study. Informed consent and demographic information were taken. The subjects were randomized by using random number table to minimize bias. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Fluoride varnish (group 1) which is the control group and GC Tooth Mousse which is group 2, both were used 3 times in the first day during the first week. On follow up the tooth sensitivity was noted. The follow up appointment to measure the level of dentinal hypersensitivity was done after the given treatment on the 7th day of the first week. For measuring the dentin hypersensitivity, the Visual Analogue Scale was used. The data that was collected was entered and 1 then it was analyzed on SPSS version 21. Results: In this study mean age of the fluoride varnish group patients was 44.14±8.95 years, in GC tooth mousse group patients was 44.24±9.04 years. The mean pain score of fluoride varnish group patients was 1.98±1.43 while in GC Tooth Mousse paste group patients was 2.39±1.21 (p-value=0.048). Conclusion: Fluoride varnish group showed significantly lower mean dentin hypersensitivity than to GC tooth mousse group in patients with dentinal hypersensitivity with caries free cervical lesions.

Objective: To determine the mean satisfaction score for patients with complete dentures and to compare the mean satisfaction score of patients with complete dentures and without past denture experience. Study design and Setting; It was a cross-sectional study conducted at Watim Dental College, Rawalpindi, from March to August 2018. Methodology: A total of 98 patients were selected and were asked regarding previous history of denture usage and their experience with the new set of dentures; in terms of function, comfort, appearance and total satisfaction. As a protocol all patients presenting to outpatient department and those patients who fulfilled the criteria were referred to Prosthodontic department for provision of complete dentures by specialist prosthodontist. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were calculated for both qualitative and quantitative variables. For qualitative variables like gender frequency and percentages was calculated. For Quantitative variables like age, score of function, comfort, appearance and total satisfaction mean and standard deviation were calculated. Mean± SD was calculated for satisfaction score among patients with and without past experience of denture usage. Independent sample t-test was used to compare quantitative variables. P values of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean score of function, comfort, appearance and total satisfaction was greater among the patients with past denture experience as compared to new denture wearers with no past experience of denture wearing. Conclusion: Past denture experience has significant effect on patient satisfaction with their new complete dentures

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of Halstead and Vasirani Akinosi block techniques in achieving mandibular anesthesia during exodontia among subjects reporting to Watim Teaching Hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was conducted in the department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Watim Dental Hospital, Rawalpindi from July 2019 to January2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a randomized control trail of 60 patients. Duration of onset of anesthesia, pain during injection, incidence of aspiration, success and failure of Halstead and Vasirani Akinosi techniques and their mean doses were analyzed and compared by using SPSS version 17.Comparison of categorical variables was done by Chi-square test. Comparison of non-categorical variables was done by independent sample t-test. p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 28(93.3%) experienced moderate while 2(6.7%) experienced severe pain in Halstead group, while 30(100%) experienced mild pain in Vasirani Akinosi group. Halstead technique was successful in 22(73.3%) while unsuccessful in 8(26.7%) patients. Vasirani Akinosi technique was successful in 29(96.7%) and unsuccessful in 1(3.3%) patients. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded from analysis in the present study that Vasirani Akinosi technique was statistically superior in all parameters such as duration of onset, pain during injection, aspiration and success rate as compared to the conventional Halstead block technique. KEY WORDS: Extraction tooth, local anesthesia, Vasirani-Akinosi technique, nerve block.