The tribes of India have poor periodontal health status due to their isolation, awareness and less accessibility to dental resources. They follow traditional methods of oral hygiene practice, which are found to be inadequate and inaccurate to maintain their good oral health. This study aims to assess the oral hygiene practice, oral hygiene and periodontal status of two tribes residing in Bhadrachalam, Telangana, India. Based on accessibility the two tribes Koya and Lambada were included in the study. The total study population consisted of 1000 subjects, with 500 subjects in each group. Using a preformed proforma the oral hygiene practices were recorded for two groups and oral examination was done using Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) index and Community Periodontal Index (CPI). The OHI-S ranged between 2.5–3.0 in both the groups. The CPI index scores showed that sextants with calculus, shallow pockets, deep pockets and loss of attachment of 4-5 mm were significantly present in both groups. To conclude, though practice of poor oral hygiene and compromised periodontal status was seen among both groups. However, it was more prevalent in Koya. Under these circumstances, implementation of a basic awareness of oral health care programme for these tribes should be a high priority.

Background: Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by polymorpho nuclear neutrophils occurs in chronic periodontitis. These ROS are mainly involved in bacterial destruction. However, extracellular release of same results in destruction of surrounding tissue. Spirulina, a potent antioxidant when administered sub gingivally in pockets can offer improved results in chronic periodontitis patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Spirulina when delivered sub gingivally in patients with chronic periodontitis. Methods: Sixty chronic periodontitis patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I (n = 30) were treated with Scaling and Root planning (SRP) followed by placement of placebo (SRP-P) and in Group II (n = 30) Spirulina microspheres were placed sub gingivally (SRP-S) following SRP. Clinical parameters like bleeding on probing (BOP), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI) and probing pocket depth (PPD) were evaluated. Levels of salivary and serum Malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated using ultra violet spectrophotometer. Results: At baseline, in both groups there was no statistically significant difference in clinical and biochemical parameters. Intra group comparisons of parameters from baseline to 90 days were statistically significant in both groups. After 90 days difference in clinical parameters and salivary MDA levels were statistically significant in SRP-S compared to SRP-P group. Though serum MDA levels were reduced in both groups, they were not significant statistically. Conclusions: Our study concluded that, local drug delivery of Spirulina adjunctive to SRP has potent antioxidant effect in treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Introduction: Drug induced oral erythema multiforme a rare clinical entity which involves only the lips and oral mucosa without skin involvement. These lesions are difficult in diagnosing with other oral ulcerative lesions with similar clinical manifestations. Patient concerns: This article presents 2 case reports of Oral erythema multiforme in which drugs were the precipitating factor. Its etiopathogenesis, differential diagnosis and treatment modalities of the disease is discussed. Diagnosis: Based on patient's complaints, drug history and clinical appearance, provisional diagnosis of drug induced erythema multiforme was considered. Intervention: For case 1, patient was instructed to discontinue usage of drug and prescribed systemic steroid (Prednisolone 10 mg/d) for a week along with germicidal drugs to prevent secondary infection. Medication was tapered to 5 mg/d after first week. For case 2, patient was instructed to discontinue the drug and systemic steroid prednisolone 20 mg /d for 1 week with tapering dose of 10 mg/d for the second week was administered. Outcome: For case 1 and case 2 healing of the lesions were evident on third week of follow up. Conclusion: Medications should be taken under medical supervision. Over the counter drugs might lead to allergic reactions like drug induced oral erythema multiforme, which is a rare variant and needs to be differentiate from other oral ulcerative lesion for prompt management and follow-up.

Gingival enlargement due to calcium channel blockers is a common complaint reported by patients. It can be localized or generalized and can range from mild to severe, affecting patients appearance and function. Nifedipine induced gingival enlargement is noticed only in 10 % of patients and very few cases of Nifedipine induced gingival enlargement in an edentulous patient have been documented in the literature. Here in, we report a case of gingival enlargement in a 70 year old hypertensive edentulous patient who was on low dose Nifedipine therapy. Patient wanted complete dentures. We planned to excise the overgrowth and followed up for 1 year. Nifedipine induced gingival enlargement noticed only in 10 % of patients. Hence, there is a need for physicians and dentist to make a coordinated treatment plan and practice care while prescribing these drugs which are associated with gingival overgrowth.

Purpose: Dentists face a great deal of professional stress, in dental school and in practice. Their personal, as well as professional lives, get affected negatively by stress and poor mental health. This study aims to evaluate anxiety and depression among dentists of Abha in kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 246 registered dentists of Abha to assess anxiety and depression. Participants willing to participate, and completely filled questionnaire were included in study. Data regarding demography, work-related characters, lifestyle and self-reported physical and mental status were collected. Mental status was measured by using pre validated questionnaire Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20) by IBM. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, independent t test and one way ANOVA were used to analyze the data at the significant interval of p≤ 0.05. Results: Different levels of anxiety and depression were noticed both in males and female dentist. There was no statistical difference in the mean scores between males and females. There was a statistical difference of anxiety and depression scores noticed among dentist working in government institution, with five to ten years of experience. Habits of smoking were shown to significantly affect the risk of anxiety and depression scores. Conclusion: Dentist due to nature of the practice are prone for anxiety and clinical depression. Stress coping methods should be included in dental curriculum which would indirectly improve professional abilities and personal life.

Introduction (background): Headache is the primary complaint among students. Headaches mostly have multifactorial causes. The degree of headache severity significantly impacts attitudes, behavior, and academic performance. Objectives: Here, we investigate the demographic epidemiology of tension-type headaches (T.T.H.), and determine the clinical presentation and triggers of the tension-type among headache sufferers. Methods (settings, design): An institutional-based cross-sectional study (descriptive) was conducted on the medical and dental undergraduates at King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia, from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021. Data were gathered using a pre-designed questionnaire. A consecutive sampling method was used in a COVID-19-constrained environment. After preliminary screening of the study population, 460 samples were included. An electronic questionnaire was shared with them, and they were requested to respond. Results: More than half of the participants (258, 56.1%) experienced tension-type headaches, while the remaining 202 (43.9%) never felt a headache. Tension-type headaches manifested as heaviness of the head (44, 17.0%), tightness (126, 48.8%), and dull aching pain (66, 25.7%). Conclusions: T.T.H. is a prevalent condition with a significant impingement on academic work, and psychological health. Tension-type headache sufferers are advised to keep daily diaries to determine triggers, and plan for prevention and treatment progression.