Purpose of review With growing aging populations and an increase in cases of glaucoma and glaucoma blindness worldwide, aging populations are particularly at higher risk of glaucoma and glaucoma blindness. Awareness of the gender differences might increase attention towards populations at risk. Recent findings Women not only outlive men, but also outnumber men in glaucoma cases worldwide. Women are at higher risks for angle closure glaucoma, but there is no clear gender predilection for open angle glaucoma. Of interest, there is some evidence suggesting that female sex hormones might be protective of the optic nerve. In addition, it is hypothesized that decreased estrogen exposure is associated with increased risk for open angle glaucoma, yet population-based studies present inconsistent results. Presently, there is insufficient evidence to support hormonal replacement therapy use in glaucoma prevention. In addition, it appears that women carry a larger burden of glaucoma blindness due to longevity and disadvantages in socioeconomics/health beliefs. Summary Current evidence suggests that older women are at risk for glaucoma and glaucoma blindness. Further interdisciplinary research involving investigators, specialized in glaucoma, women’s health and health disparities, will lead to better understanding of gender health disparities in glaucoma and better targeting populations at risk.

Purpose/objectives To investigate dental students’ perceptions and concerns regarding the COVID‐19 pandemic, their coping strategies and support resources, and their perceived stress levels. Methods A customized 19‐item survey and the perceived stress scale (PSS) were applied to undergraduate dental students from the US, Spain, Ireland, Chile, India, and Brazil between April 10 and July 5, 2020. Linear modeling and mediation analysis were used to explore the relationships among demographics, stressors, coping mechanisms, social support, and stress Results A total of 4475 students responded to the survey. The majority (72.4%) were women, and 52.3% had no COVID‐19 training at the time of the survey. The students reported that they had to accommodate to changes in patient care (96.6%) and didactic learning (95.2%) activities, while 88.5% of the respondents indicated at least one of their courses moved online. Transition to online courses went “smoothly with some troubles” for 51.8% of the respondents, and 48.3% perceived the faculty as prepared for the online transition; however, 45.9% reported feeling extremely concerned about the impact of COVID‐19 on their education. The average PSS score was 21.9 of 40 (moderate stress). Multivariate models were built for participants with full data (n = 3899). Being male, having completed more dental coursework, and perceiving a smoother transition were associated with lower PSS scores; more concern about academic progress was associated with higher PSS. Faculty support mediated the relationship between a smoothness of transition and concern about academic progress and PSS scores Conclusion Stress caused by the pandemic may be alleviated by smoother transition and good faculty support.

The findings of this study show that dental trauma has a moderately high prevalence among Indian primary school children. Community, especially parents and school teachers, should be educated about prevention and early management of dental trauma in children.

Although current oral health care initiatives have proved to be quite successful, a great number of individuals are unaware of how their choice of daily activities compromises their oral health. That is why newer technologies like WhatsApp can definitely serve as a platform to communicate dental advice, thereby strengthening the bridge between health and technology. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of WhatsApp as a tool for providing health education on tobacco and oral cancer as compared to the conventional health education via PowerPoint. The study was a cluster randomized controlled trial, single-center study. The students of 18-24 years of age with WhatsApp application active in their mobile phones were included. Four classes with 182 students were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Control group received health education on oral cancer using a PowerPoint presentation weekly, for a total of 4 weeks. Intervention group received health education through WhatsApp messaging thrice a week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-health education knowledge scores were assessed using a questionnaire and compared using unpaired and paired two-sample t tests. Statistically significant increase in knowledge scores was seen in both groups, with highly significant improvement in the intervention group (p value = 0.00). Intergroup comparison showed no significant difference in knowledge scores at baseline, but a significant difference in post intervention knowledge scores (t = -15.05 p<0.001) WhatsApp can be a more effective tool for providing dental education on tobacco and oral cancer as compared to conventional audio-visual aids.

Background: Researchers have described empathy as a cognitive attribute, which means it predominantly involves understanding another person's concerns. It has also been described as an affective or emotional characteristic, which implies that it primarily involves feeling another person's pain and suffering. Because empathic patient interactions by dentists are associated with improved patient outcomes, self-reported declines in empathy during dental student training are a concern. Aim: To measure empathy levels among 3 rd year, 4 th year undergraduate students and interns studying in dental colleges of Bangalore city and to investigate the differences in empathy scores based on gender and year of dental training. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive research was undertaken among 800 dental students (3 rd year, final year and interns) to measure the empathy levels using Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Health Professionals Version (JSPE-HP) questionnaire containing 20 items answered on a 5-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, neutral , disagree and strongly agree). The data was analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: Out of 800(100%) dental students, 300 (37.5%) were males and 500 (62.5%) were females with the mean age of males and females 22.93 ± 1.72 and 21.87 ± 1.28 respectively. The mean empathy scores with respect to age was more for 21-22 yrs whereas based on gender, empathy scores were more for males and there was not much difference found with the empathy scores with respect to fourth year students and interns. Conclusion: This cross-sectional study explored differences in empathy among dental student groups in the context of existing evidence that empathy declines as students progress through dental course.

Introduction:Preclinical dental education promotes development of competency and expertise before students work on patients, but this phase is devoid of exposure to real patients leading to challenges in teaching-learning.

Aim: Many weapons are available in the arsenal of a dental professional to combat dental caries, which is almost ubiquitously present. From a public health perspective, most of these weapons are far from being an ideal drug. Hence, there is a demand for better and effective antibacterial agents. This factor stimulated the process of the present study. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula on Streptococcus mutans. Materials and methods:Dried ripe fruits of Terminalia chebula were procured and powdered. Physical tests were done to estimate purity of the fruit powder. Hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared according to standard procedures. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts was determined by tube dilution method and confirmed by agar dilution method. The effect of the hydroethanolic extract on sucrose induced adhesion, glucan-induced aggregation and on glycolysis of Streptococcus mutans was also assessed. Preservative, gelling agent and sweetener were added in suitable quantities to the ethanol extract, and mouthrinse was formulated. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the formulation was also determined. Results:Yield was better in case of aqueous extract. The Minimum inhibitory concentration of hydroethanolic extract was determined to be 2.5%. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the aqueous extract was determined to be 10%. Hydroethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula (2.5%) inhibited sucrose induced adherence and aggregation of Streptococcus mutans in vitro. Conclusion:The mouthrinse formulated from ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula demonstrated substantial antibacterial activity and could be used as an effective anticaries agent. Clinical Significance: Terminalia chebula mouthrinse can be effectively used in clinical practice as an anticaries mouthrinse with additional benefit being that it is safe and economical. Original research

Streptococcus mutans counts were low up to 6 hours postrinsing among 80% of the children.