Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is the condition that mainly affects the tobacco harvesters. The condition is prevalent in Asian and South American tobacco harvesters. The present review was conducted to discuss the etiology, epidemiology, symptoms, and prevention of GTS. It is caused by the absorption of nicotine through the skin while the workers are engaged in handling the uncured tobacco leaves. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pallor, dizziness, headaches, increased perspiration, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhea, increased salivation, prostration, weakness, breathlessness, and occasional lowering of blood pressure. The prevalence of GTS varies from 8.2 to 47% globally. The use of personal protective equipment like water-resistant clothing, chemical-resistant gloves, plastic aprons, and rain-suits with boots should be used by the tobacco farmers to prevent its occurrence. An international-level awareness campaign has to be taken up and more stringent workers safety regulations have to be formulated.

The prison population is a challenging one with many health problems including oral health. In a country such as India, the information regarding the oral health status in prisoners is scant. So, a cross-sectional study was carried out among a 311 prison inmate population of Kanda model jail, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, to assess the dental caries levels, periodontal health status, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Dental caries was present among 71.8% of the population and the mean decayed missing and filled teeth index (DMFT) of the population was 5.1 ± 2.1. Calculus was seen among 54.9% of the population. The mean severity score, summed for the 14 items in the scale was 14.57. Dental caries, periodontal disease, the number of missing teeth were significantly associated with OHRQoL. The population had a higher level of oral diseases and one half of the population reported that their oral condition had negatively impacted them in some way, thereby affecting their quality of life.

Aim:The aim was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among undergraduate dental students about oral cancer.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among undergraduate dental students between the 3rd and 5th years in H.P Government Dental College, Shimla. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions, five each on knowledge, attitudes and practices. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., version 16 for Windows, Chicago, IL, USA).Results:The response rate of the study was 90.6%. There were 23 (21.5%) males and 84 (78.5%) females in the study. There was a predominance of females (78.5%). The average knowledge percentage for the entire population is 81.9% (excellent knowledge). Tobacco and alcohol were correctly identified by 63.5% of the subjects. Squamous cell carcinoma was described as the most common type of oral cancer by 105 (98.3%) of the students. 60.7% of the subjects strongly disagreed that their knowledge regarding the prevention and detection of oral cancer is current and adequate, and 99% agreed that there is a need for additional training/information regarding oral cancer. About 92.5% of the subjects used to educate their subjects about the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol.Conclusion:The study implies that the knowledge, especially about the etiological factors of oral cancer needs to be reinforced throughout the undergraduate dental courses so that they can use the same in educating and motivating the masses to adapt healthy lifestyles.

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The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS among dental students in H.P. Government Dental College, Shimla, India. In November 2011, a survey was conducted of all the dental students of the college using a forty-ive-item, self-administered questionnaire. The total mean knowledge score was 68.3 percent (good knowledge). The mean knowledge score was statistically higher in the clinical group than in the preclinical group. A majority of the students were aware of the association between HIV and oral candidiasis (89.1 percent), major aphthous (83.2 percent), and Kaposi's sarcoma (68.9 percent). Only 4.9 percent had professional attitudes about treating patients with HIV/ AIDS. Male students had signiicantly fewer negative attitudes and higher positive attitudes than female students. The overall attitude score was signiicantly higher in the clinical group than in the preclinical group. Although a majority of the students had good knowledge, there were some inadequacies in their knowledge; those were more frequently seen in the preclinical students. It is important that dental students, as future dentists, develop not only the necessary practical skills but also knowledge and attitudes that will prepare them to treat patients with HIV/AIDS.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the barriers to regular dental attendance for check- up in a rural population in Shimla Himachal Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 319 adults in the area of Thari Panchayat, Shogi, Shimla. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 13. Statistical tests used were chi square and multiple-variate analysis. Results: The response rate of the study was 96.8%. 46 (15.1%) visited a dentist within the previous one year. The most common reasons for the last dental visit were pain or a dental emergency (208, 68.5%). The most commonly reported reason for not seeking dental care was “no need to visit a dentist unless there is pain” by 190 (62.5%) in bivariate analysis as well as in multiple logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio: 1.95; CI: 1.71-2.22). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that only a small portion of population visited dentist in previous one year. They believe that visiting a dentist is necessary only for pain relief. Thus it is important to give them awareness programmes about the good oral health and motivating them to use the services available.

The caries experience of 12- and 15- year-old children was low compared to WHO - 'recommended' values. Effective oral health promotion strategies need to be implemented to further improve the dental health of school children in Shimla city.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of malocclusion and deleterious oral habits among 12 and 15-year-old school children in Shimla city, India and to find, if any correlation exists between the two. Design: Correlational study design. Setting: Twelve schools in Shimla city, India. Materials and Methods: Prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need was assessed using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) among a sample of 961, 12 and 15-year-old school children in Shimla city, who received no orthodontic treatment before or during the study. Subjects were also assessed for deleterious oral habits. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. Multivariate regression analysis was used to test the correlation of habits with mean DAI score and malocclusion traits. Results: Mean DAI score was 26.81±5.25. Nearly 53% of the study sample presented with malocclusion, ranging from 'definite' to 'handicapping' based on the DAI scores. The prevalence of various deleterious oral habits was 25.9%. About 29% of children with any oral habit developed malocclusion as compared to those without any habit (P value=0.023). Tongue thrusting, mouth breathing and thumb sucking habits had a significant impact on malocclusion. Conclusion: There was high prevalence of malocclusion (52.7%). Abnormal oral habits, particularly mouth breathing and tongue thrusting had a significant impact on malocclusion, resulting in higher frequency of crowding in anterior teeth, open bite, and spacing.