Oral cancer is a common malignancy in Nepal and many other South East Asian countries, which is predisposed by a variety of potentially malignant oral diseases. Considering the importance of knowledge of health professionals and their role in early diagnosis and reduction of cancer statistics, this study aims to evaluate the awareness of undergraduate dental and medical students towards oral cancer. The study involved undergraduate dental and medical students of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from Carter to Ogden was distributed. One hundred forty-three dental and 311 medical students responded to the questionnaire. Significantly more dental (80.4 %) than medical students (36.0 %) were found to routinely examine the oral mucosa. Tobacco smoking and chewing were the most commonly recognized risk factors by both medical and dental students. Most of the students found ulcer as the common change associated with oral cancer. Only 30 out of the total students felt very well informed about oral cancer. This study has demonstrated a lack of awareness in some aspects of oral cancer among medical and dental students which highlights the need to frame new teaching methodologies. Similar studies from other health institutions would provide an insight regarding the same and could be a base for formulating a uniform curriculum in the implementation of knowledge regarding oral cancer.

Introduction: The development of tooth is a complex process wherein there is series of interactions between the ectoderm and ectomesenchyme. The role of genes in determining the shape and form of a specific tooth has already been defined, the alterations in which can lead to a variety of anomalies in regards to number, size, form, shape, structure, etc. Objective: To review the literature on the developmental anomalies of teeth. Literature review: The developmental anomalies affecting the morphology exists in both deciduous & permanent dentition and shows various forms such as gemination, fusion, concrescence, dilacerations, dens evaginatus, dens invaginatus, enamel pearls, taurodontism or peg laterals. These anomalies have clinical significance concerning esthetics, malocclusion and more importantly predisposing the development of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Conclusion: Knowledge of various diagnostic criteria for identification of these developmental anomalies is significant for early diagnosis and pertinent treatment.

Background:Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer (OC) are preventable oral mucosal diseases prevalent in Asian region. This epidemiological study aims to identify oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer (OC), confirm histopathologically, and treat or refer these cases among the population of Eastern Development Region (EDR) of Nepal. It also attempts to assess the risk factors associated in order to compare dose–response measurements of oral habits in these patients.Methods:Cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted over a period of 2 years in 16 districts of EDR. A total of 3,200 people were screened. A brief history was taken and visual screening examination was conducted in two phases as described by British Columbia Oral Cancer Prevention Program. Suspicious oral lesions were biopsied either by punch or scalpel after toluidine blue staining. Tissue specimen was transported to the institutional lab for histopathological processing. The reports were sent to the patients through the local leaders or organizations. Results:More than 40% of the study population either chewed areca nut and/or tobacco. Eighteen percent were smokers. OPMDs were prevalent among 468 study population with male-female ratio of 3:1. Tobacco pouch keratosis (50.4%) was the most prevalent OPMD, followed by OSF (29.1%). Fifty-two had squamous cell carcinoma and 8 had verrucous carcinoma. Conclusion:Chewing areca nut, tobacco, commercial areca nut/tobacco preparation and smoking being the major risk factors, there is high prevalence of oral cancer and OPMDs in the EDR of Nepal.

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Introduction: Irrational or inappropriate prescribing practice is common in developing countries that can lead to ineffective treatment, prolonged hospitalization, harm to the patient, increased treatment cost and development of drug-resistant organisms. The prescription of antibiotics and other drugs in endodontics is limited to patients with progressive and diffuse swelling and with systemic infection. However, antibiotics continue to be over-prescribed by more than 66% dentists without a rational justification.Therefore, the periodic assessment of drug utilization pattern is important to know the existing pattern of drug use, decrease adverse effects and provide feedback to the prescribers. Objective: To evaluate the drug utilization pattern in endodontics using the World Health Organization prescribing indicators. Methodology: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted among the patients visiting the outpatient department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. After obtaining the informed consent, the relevant data were collected on a self-designed proforma by reviewing the health cards of the patients. The WHO prescribing indicators were calculated. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS version 11.0. Results: Out of 187 patients, 101 (54%) were female. Mean age was 38.9±16.6 years. Majority of the patients suffered from acute apical periodontitis (30.5%). A total of 281 drugs were prescribed to 187 patients. Paracetamol+Ibuprofen (44.1%) was the most frequently prescribed drugs. Most of the patients were prescribed one drug (78.6%).  Average drug per prescription was 1.5. Majority of the drugs (89.0%) were prescribed from Essential drug list of Nepal. Conclusions: Analgesics were the most frequently prescribed drug. The prescription practice was rational. There is need to increase the number of medicine prescribed from National List of Essential medicines.Educational initiatives should be undertaken to further strengthen the rational prescription among dental practitioners.

Introduction: Canals can be of different shapes in cross section including round canals, oval canals, long oval canals or ribbon shaped canals. Recesses of nonround canals may not be included in the round preparation created by rotary instruments and thus they remain unprepared. The aim of this study included determination of shape and taper of the apical root canal based on diameter at different levels. Methods: This was a cross sectional study which used convenient sampling technique to determine the sample size. Seventy extracted teeth were sectioned horizontally at one, two and three millimeter from the apex using the diamond disc which was observed under trinocular research microscope for the determination of diameter of root canal under 10x magnification. Results: The most common canal configuration was oval. The taper of the canals was 25% in mesial root and 20% in distal in bucco-lingual orientation and 14% in mesial root and 15% in distal in mesio-distal orientation. Conclusions: The most prevalent canal configuration in this study was non round, however, most of the rotary instruments tend to prepare root canals into round shape making their use questionable. The taper of the root canals was found to be higher in our study than what most of the shaping instruments have to offer. So it would be advisable to consider this fact while selecting instruments and preparing these non-round canals as far as the Nepalese subpopulation is considered.

Background & Objectives:The cur r ent study was conducted to identify and determine the association between gender and characteristics of palatal rugae in Nepalese population. Materials & Methods: Characteristics of palatal rugae including number, length, shape, direction and unification were analyzed in 100 maxillary dental plaster casts. Association between palatal rugae and gender were tested using chi square analysis and statistical descriptors were identified using SPSS 10.0 keeping the level of statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: A total of 997 rugae were traced. Females were found to have more rugae than males though statistically not significant. In the present study significant difference in secondary (p=0.012), fragmentary (p=0.005), straight (p=0.001) and perpendicular directed (p<0.0001) palatal rugae were observed, which were higher among females. Forward directed followed by backward were predominantly observed and more among females. Wavy followed by curved, straight and circular rugae was the most prevalent shape. Conclusion: No two individual had similar rugae pattern. They can be used to identify people and differentiate between males and females in addition to other tools of identification and has great application in forensic science.

The development of tooth is a complex process wherein there is series of interactions between the ectoderm and ectomesenchyme. The role of genes in determining the shape and form of a specific tooth has already been defined, the alterations in which can lead to a variety of anomalies in regards to number, size, form, shape, structure, etc. Objective: To review the literature on the developmental anomalies of teeth. Literature review: The developmental anomalies affecting the morphology exists in both deciduous & permanent dentition and shows various forms such as gemination, fusion, concrescence, dilacerations, dens evaginatus, dens invaginatus, enamel pearls, taurodontism or peg laterals. These anomalies have clinical significance concerning esthetics, malocclusion and more importantly predisposing the development of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Conclusion: Knowledge of various diagnostic criteria for identification of these developmental anomalies is significant for early diagnosis and pertinent treatment.