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Introduction: With an increasing number of retained teeth, there is an enhanced susceptibility to periodontal problems with gingival recession, which led root surface exposure to the oral environment and develops the root caries later stages among adults. Aim: Evaluate the root caries experience and its association with risk indicators among middle-aged South Indian adult dental patients using root caries index (RCI; Katz RV - 1979). Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among middle-aged (35 to 44 year) adults in the Outpatient Department of Private Dental Institute. Root caries experience was evaluated using the Katz RCI on a full mouth basis. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS software. Results: The prevalence of root caries among study population was 8.9% with a mean RCI score of 1.04 ± 5.10. As age increased mean number of teeth with gingival recession (45.25 ± 27.09), decayed root surfaces (0.34 ± 1.11), filled root surfaces (0.39 ± 2.99), mean number of teeth missing (3.78 ± 6.42), and RCI (1.68 ± 6.93) also increased. Conclusion: Age, gender and higher number of retained teeth were concluded as a significant risk indicators for root caries.

Introduction: Recently, Dental Council of India directed all the teaching dental institutions in the country to set up tobacco cessation centers (TCC). International experiences suggest that there are many barriers for the provision of tobacco cessation counseling at dental clinics. In this context, it is important to understand the dental students’ attitudes toward this initiative of tobacco cessation counseling at dental settings. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study to document the dental students’ perspectives toward the provision of tobacco cessation counseling using focus group interviews was conducted in two teaching dental institutions in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. 133 house surgeons from two dental institutions participated in the study and were interviewed as 13 focus groups. MAXQDA (version 12, VERBI GmbH, Berlin, Germany) was used for data analysis. All the interviews were audio recorded and the transcripts were open coded by three independent investigators. Results: The response rate in this study was 78.45%. The following themes were extracted from the views and opinions shared by the students: the reluctance of patients to discuss tobacco-related problems; tobacco use among students discouraging them to actively participate in counseling; an opinion that dental clinics are not suitable for the provision of tobacco cessation counseling; belief among students that they are not qualified enough. Conclusion: The directives given by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in association with Dental council of India to set up TCC at every teaching dental institution are laudable and demonstrate the commitment at policy level toward bringing down tobacco consumption in the country. However, few reforms need to be made in the curriculum to better execute the delegated responsibilities, which include orientation programs for dental students on the scope of the dental profession and workshops on tobacco cessation counseling.