The study shows that dental anxiety was high among study subjects. It is recommended that this issue should be given due importance and addressed in a practical and meaningful manner.

The aim of the study was to assess the periodontal status of patients among group of patients receiving hemodialysis in two super specialty renal institutes in the state of Gujarat. A cross-sectional study of 304 subjects, 152 subjects each in dialysis, and control group was conducted. Oral hygiene status was assessed using a Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, and periodontal status was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and Loss of Attachment (LOA) as per WHO methodology 1997. The dialysis group had poor oral hygiene than the control group (P<0.001). There was high severity of periodontitis in the dialysis group as compared with the control group (P<0.001). None of the subjects had healthy periodontium. There was high severity of periodontitis (for both in terms of CPI and LOA) in the dialysis group as compared with control group that was found to be statistically highly significant (P<0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was observed (P>0.05) when the intergroup comparison for CPI and LOA were made among the subgroups according to the duration of dialysis. Periodontal disease is prevalent in chronic renal failure patients who showed the unacceptable level of oral hygiene and hence there is need for oral health promotion and preventive programs among the patients receiving dialysis.

Aim:This study aims to study the effect of short-term consumption of probiotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 on salivary Streptococcus mutans count in high caries risk individuals.Materials and Methods:A double-blind randomized control trial was conducted, and 70 high caries risk individuals with a salivary S. mutans count of more than 106 CFU/ml of saliva were followed for 4 weeks. Participants ingested 100 g yogurt containing L. acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 or yogurt without the two probiotic bacteria once daily at the end of meals for initial 2 weeks. Salivary S. mutans were enumerated in the laboratory by selective culture media.Results:A statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) of salivary S. mutans was recorded after probiotic yogurt consumption with minimal residual effect, which was in contrast to the controls.Conclusion:L. acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 present in the yogurt were effective in reducing the S. mutans levels in saliva.