Tag: Dental Problem

Current Status of Dental Graduates in India – Oral Health

Article

August 2, 2021
/ Leave a Comment on Current Status of Dental Graduates in India – Oral Health

6 min
2 years
1,174 word

Tagged Dental, Dental Care, Dental Graduate, Dental Problem, Oral

Current Status of Dental Graduates in India – Oral Health

AUTHOR : DR. SAUMYA LAL

Introduction

Oral illnesses such as tooth decay, gum disorders and oral cancer impact around half of the world’s population and are among the most frequent health conditions in the world, with untreated dental decay. The most common ailment is oral problem in India and has stayed intact for the last 30 years. The fast expansion in the number of dental schools in the country, however, has neither reduced the burden of oral illnesses or provided oral health care access to all sections of society.

Most oral conditions may be avoided or may simply be handled with little intervention, if diagnosed early. A suitable “skill blend” in the dental staff is necessary. For nearly 313 dental colleges in India, dentists are only trained by 54 dental schools; dentistry mechanics training is provided by 90 dental colleges; and dental assistants are trained by 25 dental colleges. The incidence of oral illnesses has not improved significantly in India during the last three decades, emphasizing that the political and service-life aspects of oral health are not of any relevance.

There are several obstacles to oral health in India, as:

lack of recognition that oral health is important to people, which perceives it independent of and secondary to general health;
no access to oral health care services for many on account of geographical distances;
Dental health workers in India have a low population-to-population ratio. Dentists are unequally distributed nationwide, most of them are found in metropolitan areas.

Current Situation

There are other estimates that there are 3 lakh dentists in India but their dispersion across the country is unequal. India in 2001 had a dentist in urban regions for every 10,000 people and a dentist in rural regions for every 2.5 lakh. The demand for an equilibrium supply was excellent at one point, but the current imbalance might see up to 1 lakh of dentist oversupply in India by 2020.

DCI tried hard to decrease dental graduates’ performance by allowing colleges only when they had a medical school affiliated to them. However, this was not sufficient, as is clear by the increasing number of dental graduates with reduced chances of employment each year. Unemployment has invaded the health industry with supply overloads in the number of new dental graduates on the market. India has decided to discontinue allowing the opening of new dentistry schools. It was adopted at the last General Board Meeting of the Indian Dental Council (DCI), which granted new institutes authorization. It was decided that many of the current colleges want the council to refuse authorization for new institutions to make fresh bids. They also claimed that the high unemployment rate is a reason why new institutions should not be given approval. In recent years, dentistry in India has developed rapidly. Notably, the number of dental schools and of persons joining the dental profession has increased considerably in the previous 15 years. The quality of education and likely reduction of jobs in the next few years for dentists due to excessive dental output and market saturation are nonetheless a major worry for both professionals and the general public.

Dentistry is a noble occupation. A Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree demands years of commitment to the dental topic. However, the present status of dental graduates in India is serious even after such arduous efforts. The major source of the problem is a number of problems. As a result of a lack of assistance from the government, dental graduates are in difficulty. If it continues, the credibility of the dental profession will be negatively affected and the country’s highly qualified dental staff would go in vain. In dental grads, there are several causes that contributed to the present issue. Some of these factors could be related to lack of dental attention, a random distribution of dental colleges throughout the country, lack of government jobs, high competition in private practise, expensive equipment, insufficiency in Indian public awareness of oral medical care, very few postgraduate seats in government universities, very high fees for private schools, etc.

Different actions to alleviate inequity in dental care in India.

establishment in villages, schools, old-fashioned homes or orphanages;
satellite services for oral health services for the people in remote and poor areas;
mobile vans for remote village access;
use of oral health staff and preventive programmes.
the Indian Dental Council might provide competence-based, communal training in internships for pro-professional bodies in India;
reducing the tax on toothpastes and dental equipment in order to make them publicly and dentistry more affordable;
supporting the local production of dental products to create and reduce employment; and
integrating oral health into overall health, making it more community-acceptable.
The Indian government initiated the AIIMS national oral health program: changes in the causes of poor verbal health;
reductions in oral morbidity; integrate the oral health promotion and preventive services with the overall health care system; and
support the development of oral health and prevention services with a general healthcare system;

Conclusion

Dentistry planners and policymakers have a need to grasp the specific requirements and resources of development for an efficient oral health policy with suitable credentials and training in public health dentistry. Other government initiatives that offer basic oral health requirements of the large underserved populations of this nation can also be supported by professional dentistry organizations.

There are several articles on the issues of dentists in India published in the medical literature. However, the government of India is still not taking drastic efforts to improve the dental graduates’ condition. Several actions are necessary to manage the dental graduates’ bad position. First, the number of dental schools should be controlled, as the number of dental schools is larger than the total number of graduates’ posts. It is high time to manage dental surplus, as this simply leads to increased rates of unemployment.

Suggestions

Increasing employment possibilities in rural areas might increase the imbalance between the rural and urban dentists, therefore attracting dental graduates in rural regions and therefore divert the concentration of dentists in urban areas to underserved areas. Initiatives are being taken by the government of India to establish dental practises in rural regions through incentives that are genuinely important. In government hospitals and primary health centres, the government of India must prepare to generate new dentistry graduate jobs. Some of the causes that play a leading role in such a crisis are the non-uniformity of the method, unfair distribution in dental institutions across India, lowered education quality and obstacles to private practise, difficulties in graduating, financial stability etc. While not all such issues can be addressed quickly, DCI and the Indian government can do something to maintain their interest in the dentistry stream for dental graduates.

Unless suitable choices are taken on time, the integrity of the dental trade will be affected, and the country’s highly qualified dental workforce would be in vain.

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Dental Fluorosis | What is it, its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Medical

June 11, 2021
/ Leave a Comment on Dental Fluorosis | What is it, its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

6 min
3 years
1,177 word
2

Tagged Dental Fluorosis, Dental Problem, Dentist, Teeths

Dental Fluorosis | What is it, its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Dental Fluorosis is a common defect of tooth enamel caused by ingestion of too much fluoride during the first 8 years of life when enamel is formed. Characterized by hypo mineralization, the lack of calcium in teeth leads to visual changes in enamel, causing varying levels of discoloration and in some cases, damage to teeth.

AUTHOR : Dr Saumya Lal

Dental Fluorosis is a common cosmetic condition in which your teeth are discolored with tiny chalky white or, in severe cases, brown stains. Dental Fluorosis is a common defect of tooth enamel caused by ingestion of too much fluoride during the first 8 years of life when enamel is formed. Characterized by hypo mineralization, the lack of calcium in teeth leads to visual changes in enamel, causing varying levels of discoloration and in some cases, damage to teeth. Even though dental fluorosis can be cosmetically treated, enamel damage is permanent. Additionally, the extent to which dental fluorosis develops depends on the amount and duration of fluoride exposure while teeth are forming.

Dental fluorosis will be one of the first indicators of fluorosis. In clinical work one of the most widely used methods of classifying and recording dental fluorosis is the dental fluorosis index (DFI) formulated by Dean (1942). This system allows the amount of enamel alteration on each tooth to be classified. The first evidence of dental fluorosis is a loss of sheen, followed by the development of white patches that later discolour and may be accompanied by pitting . The pitting that occurs with fluorosis is a hypoplastic defect.

Dental fluorosis is a hypo-mineralization of enamel associated with elevated fluoride intake during the process of enamel formation. In its mildest form, dental fluorosis appears as barely discernable fine flecks or lines of opaque white enamel. Slightly more involved mild fluorosis often presents as lacy markings that follow the perikymata of the enamel. More involved dental fluorosis is characterized by thicker lines or bands of opaque enamel that can coalesce to form larger areas of affected enamel. In severe cases, these coalesced areas sometimes break down to form discrete pits, which can be accompanied by areas that are stained orange to dark brown.

At the structural level, dental fluorosis is characterized by subsurface porosity of the enamel surface, which is actually similar to what is seen in early dental caries lesions. Excess fluoride during enamel formation is believed to disrupt mineralization and promote the retention of enamel protein, yielding weaker enamel structures and thus subsurface porosity. All developmental stages of enamel are thought to be susceptible to excess fluoride, but it appears the early maturation stage is when the enamel is most sensitive to fluoride.

Dental fluorosis is dose dependent—the greater the fluoride intake during tooth development, the more severe the fluorosis. Dental fluorosis can occur in the primary dentition, but it is less common and less commonly studied than in the permanent dentition. In areas of very high-water fluoride concentrations, all primary teeth can be affected, but in most instances, only the later-erupting primary teeth are affected—mainly the primary second molars.

Sources of Fluoride :

One fluoride source or a combination of, can cause dental fluorosis. Whether natural or artificial, multiple sources of fluoride have the potential to cause dental fluorosis. However, the development typically occurs due to the following scenarios:

• Fluoridated drinking water (especially during infancy)

• Ingestion of fluoride toothpaste

• Use of fluoride tablets

• Consumption of food made with fluoridated water

Even something that seems so harmless like tea, can single handedly cause dental fluorosis in a child. As fluoride in tea can reach up to six times the amount of fluoride than tap water. In addition, most dental products for children are now flavored, and the likelihood of younger children swallowing toothpaste is extremely likely. Individuals should also keep in mind toothpastes are extremely potent in fluoride(1000 to 1500 ppm) and what seems like a small amount of toothpaste is in reality, a lot of fluoride. A substance that if swallowed, requires you to seek medical help.

Causes :

Unlike many other dental and gums diseases, fluorosis has nothing to do with brushing and flossing. The real factor behind this dental disorder is the ‘excessive intake of fluoride’ during the first eight years of life because here, at this stage, teeth are not fully mineralized.

This dental problem mainly occurs in rural areas where people used to drink water from shallow wells or hand pumps. Usually, in such areas, the water contains the fluoride content more than usual, which is 1ppm. Moreover, the below-average intake of calcium-containing foods also becomes a significant cause of fluorosis in children.

• Excessive Use of Fluoride Toothpastes: In most of the children, fluorosis occurs due to excessive use of fluoride-containing toothpaste. The teeth whitening fluoride toothpaste’s ads on television and magazines, entice people to use an excessive quantity of toothpaste while brushing.

• Fluoride Medication: Some of the infants are given fluoride drops or tablets for many reasons, one of which is the strengthening of baby teeth. If given for a longer time or excessive quantity, the chances for your child to get dental fluorosis are greater.

Symptoms :

Symptoms of dental fluorosis may vary from person to person, as in few patients, these appear as chalky white patches or yellow stains, whereas in others, it may seem like brown stains on the surface of the teeth.

Types of Dental Fluorosis

Tooth fluorosis manifests itself in different ways, depending on the severity of the condition. The greater our exposure to fluoride as a child, the more severe the type of fluorosis.

The types of fluorosis range from mild to severe, classed according to the visual appearance and physical surface of the tooth.

Mild fluorosis

Mild fluorosis appears as cloudy or pearly white lines, patches or marks on the surface of the tooth enamel. These deformations can appear on any part of the tooth, from the tip to the gum line. They may be so slight that only a dentist can pick up on them.

Moderate fluorosis

With moderate fluorosis, the white spots have a more chalky appearance, cover more of the tooth, and are much easier to see. Although this is not aesthetically pleasing, it doesn’t cause any pain and the tooth can still function as normal.

Severe fluorosis can mean damaged enamel

This is the most serious type of fluorosis. It can cause yellow or brown spots in addition to a chalky appearance on most of the tooth surface. The enamel may be rough, brittle or pitted, and parts of it may be missing completely.

Treatment

Mild, no treatment is needed.
The appearance of teeth affected by moderate-to-severe fluorosis can be significantly improved by a variety of techniques. Such techniques may include: – Tooth whitening and other procedures to remove surface stains – Bonding, which coats the tooth with a hard resin that bonds to the enamel – Crowns – Veneers, which are custom-made shells that cover the front of the teeth to improve their appearance.
Parental vigilance is the key to preventing fluorosis. – At home, keep all fluoride-containing products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, and supplements out of the reach of young children.
Since the major source of fluoride is drinking water, de-fluoridation is the best preventive measure which can be carried out at domestic as well as community level.
Nutritional interventions like high intake of vitamin C and Calcium also helps reduce the problem.

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