Sunitha Siddanna

Context: Global pandemic COVID-19 has been rapidly spreading and affecting all aspects of one’s existence. Due to their frequent interaction with infected patients, health-care professionals, particularly dentists, are at a greater risk of contracting an infection. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, fear, anxiety, and modification in the work environment among dental practitioners during the outbreak of COVID-19. Study Settings and Design: The study was conducted in Mysuru, Karnataka and the study design is cross-sectional questionnaire study. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire study was conducted using an online survey from April 22, 2021, to September 11, 2021. A well-constructed questionnaire was developed and validated. The Google Forms with the information sheet and consent form was sent to dental practitioners of the Mysuru district. A total of 216 participants from the Mysore district responded. After a detailed assessment, duly filled questionnaires (n = 204) were included in the study. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics with necessary parametric tests such as one-way ANOVA and independent sample t-test are used. Statistical significance was kept at ≤0.05. IBM SPSS version 24.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 204 respondents, 128 participants were male and 76 were female. Comparison of mean knowledge (P = 0.002) and practice modification (P = 0.00) scores about qualifying degrees presented a statistically significant difference, but not in terms of fear and anxiety. Conclusions: The results have shown that dental practitioners had fear and anxiety about getting infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The knowledge and work modifications certainly benefited dental practitioners in their practice.

Background: The collum angle (CA) is an extremely significant for patients who are undergoing orthodontic, dental implant restoration, prosthodontic and periodontic treatments. Aim and Objectives: To determine and compare the mean CA for maxillary central incisor in different types of malocclusion utilizing 3D Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) images. The additional objectives were to determine and compare the mean CA for maxillary central incisor based upon the demographic characteristics among Saudi, Jordan and Egypt subpopulation and to test for significant differences in the CA of maxillary central incisor with different molar malocclusions. Methodology: A total of 400 CBCT images were included from the radiology archive at the College of Dentistry, Jouf University (Sakaka, Saudi Arabia). The CBCT images were divided into four groups based upon molar classifications. The selected records were used for the measurement of CA of maxillary central incisor using the measurement tool built into 3D:OnDemand software. Statistical analysis was done using independent t test and ANOVA to examine the differences between gender and races. Results: The mean CA for Class II div 2 exhibited significantly higher crown-root variation as compared other groups (p < 0.0001). Males sample showed greater value of CA for each group as compared to the females and this difference was statistically significant for all the groups other than for Class I (p < 0.05). The post hoc pairwise comparisons between the races showed statistically insignificant findings (p > 0.05). Significant difference was found on pairwise comparisons among different malocclusion groups other than for group Class I/Class II div 1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The CA of Class II div 2 group was the greatest as compared to other malocclusion groups. Males sample showed greater value of CA for each group as compared to the females and this difference was statistically significant for all the groups other than for Class I. Statistically insignificant difference was noted for the mean CA among different races whereas significant difference was found on pairwise comparisons among different malocclusion groups other than for group Class I/Class II div 1.

Association of Fear and Annoyance with Acoustic Levels of Dental Equipment Among Adolescents Attending Rural Dental Health Center: A Cross-sectional Study