The prevalence of oral cancers (OC) is high in Asian countries, especially in South and Southeast Asia. Asian distinct cultural practices such as betel-quid chewing, and varying patterns of tobacco and alcohol use are important risk factors that predispose to cancer of the oral cavity. The aim of this review is to provide an update on epidemiology of OC between 2000 and 2012. A literature search for this review was conducted on Medline for articles on OC from Asian countries. Some of the articles were also hand searched using Google. High incidence rates were reported from developing nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. While an increasing trend has been observed in Pakistan, Taiwan and Thailand, a decreasing trend is seen in Philippines and Sri Lanka. The mean age of occurrence of cancer in different parts of oral cavity is usually between 51-55 years in most countries. The tongue is the leading site among oral cancers in India. The next most common sites in Asian countries include the buccal mucosa and gingiva. The 5 year survival rate has been low for OC, despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Tobacco chewing, smoking and alcohol are the main reasons for the increasing incidence rates. Low socioeconomic status and diet low in nutritional value lacking vegetables and fruits contribute towards the risk. In addition, viral infections, such as HPV and poor oral hygiene, are other important risk factors. Hence, it is important to control OC by screening for early diagnosis and controlling tobacco and alcohol use. It is also necessary to have cancer surveillance at the national-level to collect and utilise data for cancer prevention and control programs.

The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to determine the level and type of bacterial contamination of the mobile phones of dental personnel involved in direct patient care and to determine the usefulness of cleaning with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for decontamination. Dental faculty and trainees in an Indian dental school were asked to participate in a study in which a questionnaire concerning patterns of mobile phone use and disinfection was administered. Swabs from mobile phones of the participants were taken using moist sterile swabs and plated on blood agar plates. The bacteria isolated were identiied by biochemical tests. Eighteen percent of the participants (n=9) reported using their phones while attending patients. Nearly 64 percent (n=32) used their mobiles for checking time, and 64 percent (n=42) reported never cleaning their phones. In total, ifty mobile phones were cultured for microorganisms: 98 percent (n=49) were culture-positive, and 34 percent (n=17) grew potentially pathogenic bacteria. There was signiicant reduction in the mean number of colony-forming units after decontamination with alcohol (p<0.001). The bacterial load was reduced by around 87 percent. The results of this study show that mobile phones may act as an important source of nosocomial pathogens in the dental setting. Therefore, it is important for dental school administrators to encourage higher compliance with hand-washing practices and routine surface disinfection through framing of strict protocols to reduce the chances of occurrence of nosocomial infections.Dr.

Aim The aim of the present study was to assess the oral health impact and to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status, oral health behaviors, dental caries experience, and oral health impacts among children enrolled in the National Cadets Corps. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 389 male cadets aged between 13 and 15 years. Sociodemographic and oral health behavior‐related information was collected using a self‐administered questionnaire. The Child–Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) Index was used to assess the oral impacts. The cadets were clinically examined for caries experience using decayed, missing, filled tooth index. Results A total of 359 children completed all stages of the survey. The mean age of the children was 13.96 ± 0.6 years. Fifty‐five percent of the participants experienced at least one impact in the last 3 months. The mean OIDP score for the population was 12.13 ± 5.85. The most prevalent impact was difficulty in eating (37%), and the least affected daily performance was social contact (17%). Dental attendance and caries experience were significant predictors of oral impacts. Conclusions The present study revealed that oral health had a significant impact on quality of life. Caries experience and past dental visits were associated with oral health‐related quality of life among this study population.

Objective: To assess the oral impact on daily performances (OIDP) and to study the inter-relationship between OIDP, dental attendance, socioeconomic status and caries experience among children enrolled in the National Cadets Corps (NCC). Materials and methods:A cross-sectional survey of 389 male NCC cadets in the age group of 13 to 15 years was done. Child version of Oral Impacts on Daily Performances questionnaire (Child-OIDP) was used to assess the quality of life. Information on demographic correlates and oral health behavior was obtained through self-administered questionnaire. The cadets were clinically examined for caries using decayed, missing and filled tooth index (DMFT). Results:A total of 359 children completed all the stages of the survey. The mean age of children was 13.96 ± 0.6 years. Fiftyfive percent of the participants experienced at least one impact in the last 3 months. The mean OIDP score for the population was 12.13 ± 5.85. The most prevalent impact was 'difficulty in eating' (37%) and the least affected daily performance was social contact (17%). Dental attendance and caries experience showed significant positive correlation with all the impacts and the overall OIDP score. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed significant influence of dental attendance and caries experience on OIDP. Conclusion:The study revealed that oral health has significant impact on quality of life of Indian children.