BackgroundRepetition and reinforcement have been shown to play a crucial role in the sustainability of the effect of Oral Health Education (OHE) programs. However, its relevance to school-based OHE imparted by different personnel is not depicted by the existing dental literature. The present study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the repeated and reinforced OHE (RR-OHE) compared to one-time OHE intervention and to assess its role in school-based OHE imparted by dentist, teachers and peers.MethodsThe study was a cluster randomized controlled trial that involved 935 adolescents aged 10-11 years. Twenty four boys’ and girls’ schools selected at random in two towns of Karachi, Pakistan were randomly assigned to three groups to receive OHE by dentist (DL), teachers (TL) and peer-leaders (PL). The groups received a single OHE session and were evaluated post-intervention and 6 months after. The three groups were then exposed to OHE for 6 months followed by 1 year of no OHE activity. Two further evaluations at 6-month and 12-month intervals were conducted. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire preceded by a structured interview and followed by oral examination of participants.ResultsThe adolescents’ oral health knowledge (OHK) in the DL and PL groups increased significantly by a single OHE session compared to their baseline knowledge (p < 0.05) and the increase was sustained over 6 months. Although one-time OHE resulted in a significant improvement in adolescents’ oral health behavior (OHB) related to the prevention of gingivitis in the two groups (p < 0.05), no significant change was observed in their behavior towards prevention of oral cancer. One-time teacher-led OHE was ineffective in improving adolescents’ OHK and OHB. The oral hygiene status (OHS) of the participants in all three groups did not change statistically after one-time OHE. The OHK, OHB and OHS indices increased significantly 6 months after RR-OHE than the initial scores (p < 0.001) irrespective of OHE strategy. Although the OHK scores of the DL and PL groups decreased significantly at 12-month evaluation of RR-OHE (p < 0.05), the said score of the TL group; and OHB and OHS scores of all three groups remained statistically unchanged during this period.ConclusionsThe repetition and reinforcement play a key role in school-based OHE irrespective of educators. The trained teachers and peers can play a complementary role in RR-OHE.

This survey aimed to evaluate current knowledge on existence of CIC protocols, procedures and guidelines amongst the fresh graduates working as interns in the dental training institutes of Lahore. METHODOLOGY: A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data regarding awareness on presence of cross infection control protocol. Results: Results observed lapses in the awareness on cross infection control protocols. CONCLUSION: The current study indicated the low levels of knowledge on infection control protocol.

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mother' s age, education, occupation and income on the dental health behaviours and caries experience of her pre-school children in the District of Lahore, Pakistan.Methods: This questionnaire based cross-sectional study evaluated the dental health status and oral health behaviors of 600 children in relation to the mother' s age, education, family income and her domicile of residence. Chi square test was used to see the association between the different variables. The level of significance was taken as p<0.05.Result: Tooth cleaning behaviors were found to be associated with all the maternal factors under study. Sugary food consumption was associated with mother' s level of education and her family income while dental decay positively correlated with her residence and family income.Conclusion: Younger age of the mother, high level of educational attainment, higher income and urban residence, all have a positive influence on the dental health practices of her pre-school children.

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Objective: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of dental caries (DMFT) in 15 years age children and to determine its association with dietary practices. Methodology: This study was conducted in the schools of Lahore having summer camp in July 2015. Study participants were 15 years old students attending summer camp by simple random technique. Written permission was taken before their examination and interview. Self-structure questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the dietary practices. DMFT index was used to measure dental caries. Data entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Data was assessed by percentage and frequency, descriptive part was used for demographic variables, and for dietary habits. Chi square test of association between dietary practices and dental caries was applied. P-value ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Results Total participants were sixty (n=60). Out of these 80% of the subjects of the study were males and remaining were females. Total 58.3% respondents were caries free in this study while caries positive were 41.7 %. Average DMFT score examined was 1.2. In Logistic Regression for the Prediction of Caries Status on Basis of Dietary Habits, three variables were usage of toffees, chocolates and sandwiches. These three played most important role in the production of caries status. Final regression model for calculating probability was Z= -10.665+1.479 Toffees+ 1.183 Chocolates+1.582Sandwiches. Conclusion: Findings of this study have shown that some of the dietary habits have significant relation with caries or tooth decay status like chewing gum, candies, soft drinks, sweets, toffees, chocolates and sandwiches have strong negative impact or relationship with teeth decay.