Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aim: Lead is one of the most dangerous metallic poisons which can lead to acute and chronic poisoning with a broad range of systemic and oral signs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of oral complications and blood lead level in workers employed in Koushk lead mines, Yazd province.

Materials and Methods: This analytical study was conducted on 70 subjects employed in Koushk lead mines and 70 workers in Yazdbaf textile factory as control group. A questionnaire including demographic information and medical questions was completed for each case and oral manifestations were recorded, as well. Blood samples were taken from subjects and blood lead level was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using t, Chi-Square and Mann Whitney tests with p<0.05 as the limit of significance.

Results: The mean lead level was 7.06 µg/dl in case group and 4.97µg/dl in control group (P= 0.039). In case group, 3 subjects had blood lead level more than 20µg/dl. Statistical analysis showed significant differences regarding neurologic disorder, chronic fatigue, existence of lead line, mucous pigmentation, gingivitis, tongue burning, taste sense reduction and DMF between case and control groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, since the mean blood lead level in mine workers was in normal limits, the observed symptoms were not related to systemic poisoning. Direct contact of the oral mucosa with the lead in breathing air or other factors related to overall health problems in mine workers may be responsible for the present findings. Further studies are recommended on similar subjects working in different conditions.

Background and Aim: Qigong is a type of Chinese psychosomatic exercise that integrates meditation, slow physical movements, and breathing. Numerous physical and mental benefits have been classically ascribed to qigong. On the other hand, unstimulated saliva is thought to play an important role in oral immunity, enamel stability and moisturizing the oral mucous membrane. Impaired salivary secretion leads to dental caries, mucosal deterioration and mouth dryness. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of a qigong program on various parameters of saliva such as quantity of unstimulated saliva, pH and SIgA.

Materials and Methods: Twenty three subjects participated in this clinical trial study. The experimental subjects underwent a qigong training program, conducted by a qualified instructor. The program consisted of half an hour daily practice for 6 months (spring and winter). Saliva was collected in two periods: once during the spring before the experiment commencement and the second, in the following spring. During each period saliva collection was done on tuesday of each week. pH and quantity of salvia measurements were taken simultaneously. SIgA measurements were also taken based on the values obtained in the last phase of the experiment at the end of each spring. The results were analyzed using paired sample T test, one way repeated measure and Bon Ferroni multiple comparison. P<0.05 was the level of significance. Results: Based on our findings, the change in the amount of unstimulated salvia as well as SIgA was statistically significant (P<0.001) however, there was no significant difference in pH values before and after experiment.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that after 6 months of practicing qigong, significant changes in amount of unstimulated saliva and SIgA occurred in participants. The authors suggest that qigong may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment that enhances amount of unstimulated saliva and SIgA.

Background and Aim: It is necessary to assess health status for designing and programming about oral health behaviors. In this study the Effectiveness of Health Promotion Model in Predicting oral health among the Students of Islamic Azad University of Sabzevar was examined.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study. A random (stratified) sample of 250 university students in Islamic Azad university of Sabzevar, participated in the study. Appropriate instruments were designed to measure the variables of interest based on health promotion model. Reliability and validity of the instruments were examined by a panel of experts and cronbach alpha (N=30,α=0.65-0.81) respectively. The data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 Statistical Software using Spearman Coefficient, Path analysis based on regression and ANOVA.

Results: The mean of oral health behaviors among students was moderate (19.17±3.91 out of total 36).Statistically significant differences were found in oral health behaviors and the model variables by parent education (P<0.05). The results showed that the model variables were related to oral health behaviors of the students (P<0.05).Self-efficacy,interpersonal influences,positive emotion, perceived barriers and commitment to plan of action as variables of HPM model explained 29% of oral health behaviors among subjects within which self-efficacy was the strongest predictor)β=0.252).

Conclusion: Although the mean of oral health behaviors was moderate among the subjects, but it should be promoted because of their great importance on the individuals' health. It was concluded that the Health Promotion Model may be used as a framework for planning intervention programs in an attempt to improve the oral health behaviors of the university students.

Background and Aims: Evaluation of the training is a principle for successful education. This study evaluated the effect of the theoretical course of community oral health on knowledge, attitude and self-reported practice of preventive dentistry in dental students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and assessed the students' satisfaction from the course.

Materials and Methods: The intervention group comprised the forth-year students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dental School and the controls were the forth year students of Shahid Beheshti Medical University. The questionnaire included questions on backgrounds, knowledge, attitude and practice of students towards preventive dentistry, and students' satisfaction from the course. The intervention was 17 weekly sessions (hours) of the community oral health course. The sum of scores for questions on backgrounds, knowledge, attitude and practice were calculated and changes were analyzed by General Linear Model.

Results: The mean baseline knowledge score in the intervention group was 16.9 (SD=4.0) and for the control group 16.3 (SD=3.5). Corresponding figures were 23.7 (SD=3.4) and 17 (SD=3.3) after intervention. General linear model showed the intervention to be successful in increasing the students' knowledge scores on preventive dentistry (P<0.0001). Most students (92%) were satisfied with learning several new items during the course.

Conclusion: The students' knowledge was successfully increased by passing the theoretical course of community oral health delivered by teacher-centered method of lecture. Student-centered methods may help in changing the students' attitude and practice of preventive dentistry.