Objectives:Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common chronic metabolic disorder which affects millions of people. At present, India has the highest incidence of diabetes worldwide. Several oral lesions and conditions are associated with diabetes. However, there is a lack of consensus among researchers regarding the relationship between DM and dental caries. Hence, the present study was carried out to assess the dental caries prevalence among type II diabetic and nondiabetic adults attending a hospital in Ahmedabad city.Materials and Methods:A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted. One hundred and twenty diabetics individuals attending the diabetic Outpatient Department (OPD) and age and sex-matched 120 nondiabetic individuals from general OPD were included in the study. The data were gathered through semi-close-ended questionnaire and clinical examination. Dental caries was assessed by using the World Health Organization's 2013 proforma. Data was analyzed by applying Student's independent t-test or one-way analysis of variance.Results:Dental caries prevalence among the diabetic group was 73.33% and 33.33% among the nondiabetic group. Dental caries prevalence and mean dental caries was significantly higher among uncontrolled diabetic individuals than that among controlled diabetic individuals. Duration of the disease and dental caries prevalence did not show any significant difference.Conclusion:Dental caries prevalence was significantly high among diabetic individuals compared with nondiabetic individuals. Close collaboration between the patients, healthcare units, and oral health professionals could be a way of improving diabetic patients' general and oral health.

Aim: The present study was done to determine the activity of licorice root extract on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in comparison to chlorhexidine and fluoride mouthwash. Materials and methods: In the current study, the different concentrations of aqueous and ethanolic licorice root extract were subjected to microbiological assay and zone of inhibition was determined against S. mutans by agar ditch method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of aqueous and ethanolic solution was obtained by using broth dilution method and agar dilution method. Chlorhexidine and fluoride mouthwash were kept as a positive control in the present study. One-way ANOVA along with Tukey post hoc test were used at 5% level of significance to analyze data. Results: Mean zone of inhibition of chlorhexidine mouthwash, fluoride mouthwash, aqueous and ethanolic licorice root extracts against S. mutans at 24 hours were 23 mm, 14.2 mm, 15.8 mm and 22.4 mm, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration of aqueous and ethanolic licorice root extract on S. mutans was 20 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively by both broth dilution method and agar dilution method. Conclusion:The antibacterial effect produced by ethanolic licorice root extract on S. mutans was comparable to chlorhexidine mouthwash while significantly higher in comparison with aqueous form and fluoride mouthwash. Clinical significance: The interest in the plants with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity has increased now days to treat various dental diseases as consequences of current problems associated with the conventional agents. Licorice root is easily available, economically feasible and culturally acceptable and may possess minimal side effects as compared to conventional means of chemicotherapeutic agents used for reduction of S. mutans in oral cavity and hence can be recommended for prevention of dental caries.

Background: Looking at the current scenario, environmental awareness becomes a necessity in order to avoid further exploitation of our natural biotic systems. Environmental awareness amongst the students would directly become proportional to their participation in the environmental related issues. Aims: To evaluate the level of environmental awareness and responsibilities amongst the students of H.L. college of commerce, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional survey, in which 197 students of First, Second and Third year students of H.L. College of commerce, Ahmedabad, participated voluntarily. A self administered structured questionnaire with multiple-choice questions was designed for this survey. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis using SPSS version 20 software. Results: The awareness regarding environmental issues is mediocre. The response regarding environmental responsibility is good enough. In this study, we found that >50% of respondents reveal positive inclination towards environmental awareness and individual responsibility for pollution free environment, thus preserving the environment using renewable sources of energy and cost effective transport mechanism as well as learning the environmental issues and their management through lectures or seminars. One of the significant finding was that <50% of respondents shows negative attitude regarding saving our environment. Conclusion: The respondents agreed that global climate is changing at a rapid pace. It's all because of human activities but implementation is a major concern. Nationwide surveys could help mitigate the issues, implementing laws that will preserve the environment and bring awareness amongst the future generations.

Background: Forensic Odontology is based on fact that, the natural teeth can withstand degradation from extreme conditions even after the death of an individual. Hence, teeth are considered to be very crucial for identification during the investigative procedures, especially when there is lack of any other evidence. Aims: To analyze the level of awareness, feasibility and future perspective of Forensic Odontology among private dental practitioners of Ahmedabad City, Gujarat. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study, in which 210 private dental practitioners participated voluntarily from each of the six zones of Ahmedabad. The sample size was assessed using simple random sampling and then it was divided in six zones by stratified random sampling. A self administered structured questionnaire with a multiple-choice question was designed. Chi-square test was done using SPSS version 20 software. Results: In this study, we found that >50% of dentists are aware of regarding the basic principles of Forensic Odontology and >70% of dentists maintain Patient's details as dental records followed by radiographs. A significant finding was that around 58.7% and 72.7% of dentists were aware regarding testifying as an expert witness in court to present dental evidence and the awareness of any formal training courses of Forensic Odntology in the country respectively. Conclusions: The dentists were aware regarding basic principles of Forensic Odontology but they reveal poor attitude and practice regarding implementing it in everyday life. Hence there is dire need of organizing training programmes/conferences/workshops on forensic odontology.

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