Mapping accessibility to oral health care in coastal India - A geospatial approach using a geographic information system (GIS).

It is imperative to have a thorough assessment of the existing distribution of oral healthcare facilities and understand potential accessibility when planning for expansion of oral health services. In the present study, an attempt to measure geographic accessibility to oral healthcare, by locating the availability of dental practitioners in the coastal districts of Karnataka state, India using a geographical information system (GIS), has been made. For the study, data on public and private oral health centres were collected for the three coastal districts of Karnataka state, India.

The impact of lifestyles on the periodontal health of adults in Udupi district: A cross sectional study.

Objectives: (1) To assess the impact of different lifestyle factors on periodontal health of adults. (2) To assess the impact of overall/combined lifestyle variable (calculated by health practice index [HPI]) on periodontal health of adults.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of a structured questionnaire on HPI, oral health-related behavior, and personal habits as well as sociodemographic variables was conducted on 800 subjects aged 20-50 years attending dental outreach set-ups of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal.