There was a lack of knowledge among primary schoolteachers in Riyadh concerning traumatic dental injuries and their management. Statistically significant differences were found among geographical areas, age groups and years of experience; no statistically significant differences were found regarding gender, nationality, marital status, level of education and school type (public/private).

BackgroundThe impact of visual impairment on oral health in the literature is inconclusive, and the available information on the medical and dental health status of visually impaired children is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dental and medical health status, and to assess the oral health knowledge of visually impaired girls aged 6–12 years, and compare them to that of sighted children.MethodsThis analytical cross-sectional study was carried out on 79 visually impaired and 83 age-matched sighted female primary school children. The children’s demographic data, medical history, and dental history were obtained through a validated questionnaire. The study population was examined to evaluate their dental caries status using the Decayed Missing Filled Teeth/Surface indices DMFT/DMFS/ and dmft/dmfs for permanent and primary teeth, respectively. Oral hygiene index (OHI), Plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were obtained for periodontal evaluation. Pearson’s Chi-square test and t-test were used for the statistical analyses.ResultsThe general health for both groups was found to be good; however, 21.5% of the visually impaired children had systemic diseases compared with only 4.8% of the sighted children (P = 0.002). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) were found between the two groups with regards to OHI. Among the sighted children, 49.4% had good oral hygiene compared with only 22.8% of the visually impaired group. The plaque accumulation was found to be greater among the visually impaired group and gingivitis was also higher. The DMFS score was found to be higher (P = 0.03) among the visually impaired group.ConclusionsThe visually impaired children had more medical conditions and poorer oral health status compared to their sighted peers.

Approximately one in every four male dental students at KSU is a smoker. Having friends who are smokers was the most important risk factor associated with smoking. There is a general belief among dental students that public tobacco use is not well addressed in the dental college curriculum.

The prevalence of self-perceived halitosis among the population in Riyadh is within the range reported in other countries. Self-perceived halitosis is related to gender, inadequate oral hygiene practices and cigarettes and shisha smoking however, it is not related to age.

IntroductionChildren with sheltered attachments to their parents have superior likelihood to develop into pleased, successful, and stable adults. Parents give their children the confidence to inspect the world, maneuver objects, and discover physical relationships. 1 This family life helps children to pertinently develop emotionally, psychologically, and physically. It has been shown that emotional, behavioral as well as psychiatric disorders transpire in orphan children more than nonorphan. 2 Orphanage livelihood differs from family livelihood since an orphanage offers shelter, foodstuff, and physical security, however, it does not provide psychological security. As a result, orphan children build up a population at risk of atypical psychosocial development. 3 Early behavioral and social disturbance of a child was cited as one of the strongest predictors of later problems, including psychological difficulties, involvement in crime and antisocial behavior, abnormal habits, violence, and substance use. 4Spec Care Dentist XX(X): 1