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Fluoridated dentifrices are considered as an effective method for preventing dental caries. Nano-hydroxyapatite crystals which have remineralizing potential can be combined with herbs with antimicrobial activity and used as a dentifrice without any risks like cytotoxicity and adverse effects. Nano-hydroxyapatite crystals are formulated by wet chemical precipitation method and tested using X-ray diffractometer. An herbal dentifrice is formulated from extract of Salvadora persica to which Nano-hydroxyapatite crystals are added. A 3x3mm wide window has been created in 14 extracted first premolars which are then processed through a pH cycling for 7 days. The depth of the lesion is assessed using a confocal microscope. The difference in mean depth of the lesion between test dentifrice (Herbal dentifrice with Hydroxyapatite) (240.33.± 23.47) and fluoride dentifrice (272.75±29.38) was found to be statistically significant. Herbal dentifrice with Hydroxyapatite group mean depth of the lesion was 763.13+66.18 before and 240.33+23.48 after the remineralization cycle. In the Fluoride dentifrice group the mean depth of the lesion is 763.14±66.18 before and 272.55+29.38 after the pH cycle. Herbal dentifrice incorporated with hydroxyapatite had higher remineralizing potential compared to a fluoride dentifrice.

Dental caries is a widespread chronic disease affecting billions of people worldwide. Dental caries can be an unfavourable sequelae of improper oral hygiene. Dental caries is regarded as mostly the disease of young age. Analysing a trend of dental caries experience and oral hygiene in young people would help in formulating and providing a comprehensive approach in treating this population. This retrospective cross sectional study is done among young adult patients of private dental hospital. Oral hygiene status and dental caries data was collected from patient records between June 2019 to March 2020. Collected data was entered in excel and exported to SPSS version 22 for software analysis. A chi square analysis was done and a p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Total records included in the study were 303, belonging to the young adults category.Overall OHIS score among young adults was found to be fair (27%) in the 18-20 years age group,49% fair in the 23-25 years age group. Overall dental caries experience [DMFS,DMFT scores] was found to be 25% fair in the 18-20 years age group ,25% good in the 21-22 years age group, 50% fair in the 23-25 years age group.Within the limitations of current study, overall oral hygiene status was found to be fair and moderate risk of dental caries experience among young adults was seen.

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of biomedical waste management among undergraduate dental students of a private teaching hospital in Chennai. Biomedical wastes are all wastes that are being generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings in the testing of biologicals and it's contaminated with human fluids. The waste generated by the healthcare workers during the treatment of patients is the most dangerous of all wastes and has a higher potential for infection and injury. This was an online questionnaire-based study, conducted on an online survey platform in April. The questionnaire was circulated among the Undergraduate dental students (third and fourth years and interns) of Saveetha dental college and hospitals, Chennai. The responses were collected and tabulated using the excel sheet and were exported to the SPSS software by IBM for statistical analysis. Among the interns, 85% had good knowledge and practice of biomedical waste management. 85% had a positive attitude towards the management of BMW. Amongst the final years, 80% had good knowledge, only 65% had a positive attitude and only 18% of the final years practice good BMW management. In the third year, 50% had good knowledge, 58% had a positive attitude and 58% had a good practice of biomedical waste management. The interns had good knowledge, a more positive attitude and good practice of biomedical waste management compared to the third and final years.

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