Tongue print as a valuable biometric and forensic tool: A digital photographic study.

Background: Surface features present on the dorsal surface of the tongue along with colour and shape are unique characteristics of every individual. Tongue print is being considered as a new biometric and forensic authentication tool. This digital photographic study was conducted to analyze and compare morphological differences on the dorsal surface of the tongue which can serve as a valuable tool in forensic odontology.

Hepatitis B: A Pilot study on awareness and attitude among staff nurses and students of a teaching hospital in India.

Background: Hepatitis B is a serious public health concern and health care professionals especially nurses are at higher risk of acquiring this infection. Basic knowledge, awareness and a positive attitude are required to prevent this disease.

Objective: The present pilot study was conducted to assess awareness and attitude regarding hepatitis B among staff nurses and nursing students of a teaching hospital in north India.

World Health Organization MPOWER for tobacco control in India: a 6-year retrospective analysis.

Background: Prevalence and practices of tobacco usage in India are diverse and incongruent and Government of India has enacted various laws to overcome this burden. To make tobacco control measures effective and powerful, WHO introduced MPOWER in 2004 and India was one of the first countries that implemented the MPOWER.

Objective: This study is aimed to quantify the implementation of MPOWER tobacco control policies in India.

Assessment of dental professionals' maintenance of management practices developed and incorporated during COVID-19 pandemic - a cross-sectional study.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of emerging public health problems for the past few years. Due to its contagious nature, health care professionals especially dentists, incorporated various modifications in their practices to prevent themselves and their patients from the risk of getting infected.

Objective: The present study aims to assess whether dental professionals are still continuing with those modifications in practice in current times.

Intranasal (IN) COVID-19 vaccines - a breakthrough.

Emerging variants of COVID-19 have threatened the effectiveness of intramuscular (IM) vaccines since that are made to target only the spike protein. Development of Intranasal (IN) vaccination has been proven to provide both the mucosal and systemic immune responses for broader and long lasting protection. Many IN vaccine candidates (virus-vectored vaccines, recombinant subunit vaccines and live attenuated vaccines) are in different phases of clinical trials and in near future many companies would be releasing their vaccines into the drug market.

Dental professionals' attitude and willingness to respond during disaster events: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: In the present times, natural and man-made threats have questioned our existence on this planet. Health care professionals need to be aware of all the procedures to follow during such an event that threatens to paralyze the entire community and should be able to respond effectively.

Objective: The present study was conducted to assess the willingness and attitude of dental professionals to render help during any disaster or catastrophic event.

Students' preferences regarding teaching methodology in dental education - a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The goal of dental education is to prepare competent ethical professionals with critical thinking, reasoning and analyzing skills along with ability of application of clinical skills and judgement in treating a patient. The present study was designed with the objective to elicit the preferences of dental students regarding the utility of the prevailing teaching and learning methods and teaching aids.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate dental students.

Identifying monkeypox: do dental professionals have adequate knowledge and awareness?

Background: The emergence of monkeypox has presented a new challenge for health agencies around the globe. There is significant increase in the number of cases that too in non-endemic countries with more than 18000 cases reported worldwide.

Objective: The present study was conducted to assess knowledge and awareness regarding monkeypox among dental professionals.

Omicron sub-variants: is the world going to witness another wave?

Omicron, the new 'Variant of Concern' of SARS-CoV-2, is rapidly evolving into new sub-variants or sub-lineages (BA.1, BA.2 etc.

Covid-19 update: Omicron variant - a new emerging threat.

A new health threat in the form of a new variant of Covid-19 called Omicron has emerged globally in this holiday season. This new variant has been declared a variant of concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization and experts are expecting another wave of the pandemic. A lot still unknown about this variant and researchers worldwide are conducting studies to find the nature and characteristics of this mutated strain.

Covid-19 and mucormycosis (Black Fungus): An epidemic within the pandemic.

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected India significantly with country reporting more than 400,000 cases in the month of May 2021 and health system almost collapsing. This was attributed to the new mutant strain also called as the 'Delta Strain' which led to high surge of cases across the country. As the country was stabilising over this situation, another imminent threat in the form of Covid Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) challenged the already burdened health system of India.

Attitude and acceptance of Covid-19 vaccine amongst medical and dental fraternity - a questionnaire survey.

Background: The second wave of Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2) is proving more disastrous than the first because of the new mutant stains. Under these circumstances, vaccination is the only effective solution that can save millions of lives across the globe.

Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the attitude and acceptance/willingness of health care professionals (medical and dental) towards COVID-19 vaccine.

Acquaintance and Approach in the Direction of Tobacco Cessation Among Dental Practitioners-A Systematic Review.

Background: Nowadays, tobacco consumption has become one of the major public health problems and is the leading cause of escapable illness and death. A significant role is played by dental professionals in the identification of smokers; they are, thus, in a better position to offer preventive care. The aim of the present study was to systemically review the knowledge and attitude of dental practitioners toward tobacco cessation.

Covid-19: a survey on knowledge, awareness and hygiene practices among dental health professionals in an Indian scenario.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) continues to spread globally. It has become a major cause of concern for health care professionals all over the world.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, awareness and hygiene practices regarding COVID-19 among private dental practitioners practicing in Tricity (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali) in India during these critical times.

Patient safety in primary and outpatient health care.

Primary care services provide an entry point into the health system which directly impact's people well-being and their use of other health care resources. Patient safety has been recognised as an issue of global importance for the past 10 years. Unsafe primary and ambulatory care results in greater morbidity, higher healthcare usage and economic costs.

H1N1 Influenza: Assessment of knowledge and awareness of private dental health professionals of a Tricity.

Background: Influenza like Swine flu virus has posed a greater risk of occupational transmission to dental professionals as it can spread through the aerosols.

Aim: To assess knowledge and awareness of private dental health care professionals regarding swine flu of a Tricity in India.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 255 private dentists practising in the Tricity.

Family physicians' knowledge and awareness regarding oral health: A survey.

Introduction: Oral health is an important component of general health. The World Health Organization has highly recommended the integration of oral health promotion into general health care. In majority of the cases, patients visit their physicians with simultaneous oral and systemic complaints, and primary oral complaints are more frequently encountered.

Hepatitis C: Knowledge and awareness of private dental practitioners of a tricity in India.

Background: Dental health-care personnel are at an increased risk toward infections caused by various microorganisms including hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses (HCV). A dentist can play an important role in the prevention of HCV by considering every patient as a potential carrier for hepatitis. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness of dental health-care professionals regarding various aspects of HCV.

Significance of mandibular canine index in sexual dimorphism and aid in personal identification in forensic odontology.

Background: Forensic odontology is basically the science dealing with establishing identity by teeth and has played an important, often crucial, role in the identification of victims of mass disasters. Among all teeth, the mandibular canines are found to exhibit greatest sexual dimorphism. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of mandibular canine index (MCI) in the determination of sex.

Evaluation of surface roughness of enamel after various bonding and clean-up procedures on enamel bonded with three different bonding agents: An study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the enamel surface roughness before bonding and after debonding, to find correlation between the adhesive remnant index and its effect on enamel surface roughness and to evaluate which clean-up method is most efficient to provide a smoother enamel surface.

Material And Methods: 135 premolars were divided into 3 groups containing 45 premolars in each group. Group I was bonded by using moisture insensitive primer, Group II by using conventional orthodontic adhesive and Group III by using self-etching primer.

Dental public health in India: An insight.

Oral diseases are a major public health problem, and their burden is on increase in many low- and middle-income countries. Dental public health (DPH) aims to improve the oral health of the population through preventive and curative services. However, its achievements in India are being questioned probably because of lack of proficiency and skill among DPH personnel.

Status of governmental oral health care delivery system in Haryana, India.

Background: Health system should be organized to meet the needs of entire population of the nation. This means that the state has the direct responsibility for the health of its population and improving the quality of life through research, education, and provision of health services. The present study was conducted to evaluate the government oral health care delivery system in Haryana, India.

Assessment of satisfaction levels of patients during dental outreach programs in rural part of Udaipur, India.

Background: The community-based dental outreach programs play a very crucial role in declining discovery-delivery disconnect by introducing awareness through health education and dental adumbrating services to the community members. However, the success of any oral health programme depends largely on how it meets the needs and expectations of the target community. Therefore, the present study was designed for the assessment of patient satisfaction at various rural outreach dental camps conducted over a period of 2 months.

Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Swine-Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection among Dental Professionals in India - A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Swine flu or Influenza A (H1N1) flu is the most recent of the pandemic disease that has affected the world's population. We, as health care providers should feel responsible for reducing the transmission of influenza.

Aim: To conduct a systematic review of observational studies and to assess dental professionals' knowledge and awareness regarding swine flu.