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Biomedical subjects

R Bedi

Publications and source records attributed to R Bedi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

A review of correspondence to a general dental practice 'helpline'.

The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the correspondence sent to a dental helpline. A general dental practice telephone helpline was established under the auspices of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF). The name and contact telephone number were provided via the BDHF or through various media and patient organisations such as the Phobic Society. All the telephone enquirers were encouraged to follow up their telephone call with a written letter. The contents of the 105 letters which were received over a four-year period were collated and categorised. Correspondents fell into two categories: those seeking information about various dental issues and those who described themselves as dental phobics. There were 64 requests for information; of these, 20 were straightforward requests for information booklets, 16 were complaints about denture problems and 10 wanted advice on finding a 'sympathetic' dentist. 'Dental phobics' was how 41 correspondents described themselves. Seven of these 'dental phobics' wrote that they perceived their dental state to have become so poor that they were too embarrassed to attend a dentist. In conclusion, this pilot study highlights the potential value of a helpline in a general dental practice setting and describes the scope of enquiries received. The findings will help general dental practitioners who may wish to use a dental helpline to improve patient access to primary dental care.

Correspondence as Topic↗
PubMed1995

Dental student debt.

The aim of this investigation is to provide information about the financial status of dental students enrolled on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree course at the University of Birmingham. All undergraduate dental students enrolled during the academic year 1993-94 were asked to participate in the study. The pre-tested questionnaire, which was given to all students, covered personal details, expenditure levels, income, loans, overdrafts, use of government schemes ('top-up loans'), and so on. The questionnaire was completed by 115 dental students (response rate 47%). The results showed that dental students' debts increased each year throughout the course. A top-up loan (range 700 Pounds-850 Pounds) had been taken out by 36% of students. The financial status of 9% of students was severe enough to warrant their eligibility for awards from access funds. Credit cards were possessed by 52% of the surveyed students, and although only half of these owed money, 22% owed between 500 Pounds and 2000 Pounds. Personal overdrafts were held by 56% of respondents. A total of 17% of students engaged in weekly part-time employment. The average debt for final year students was 1200 Pounds. Dental students' estimates of the level of debt they were likely to incur was greater than the actual debt presently experienced by final year students. In conclusion, this preliminary study showed that most dental students incur debt during their undergraduate course and that this debt increases during the course.

Education, Dental↗
PubMed1992

Provision of domiciliary dental care for the older person by general dental practitioners in Scotland.

The databank at the Scottish Dental Practice Board (SDPB) was explored to determine the domiciliary care provided, for those patients over 70 years of age, by general dental practitioners under the National Health Service in one year. Three thousand nine hundred and forty-three (3943) courses of treatment were provided, via domiciliary visits to patients in this age category, by 38 per cent (1012) of dentists registered to provide dental care under the National Health Service. Whereas 34 per cent of dentists under 40 years of age provided domiciliary care, 46 per cent of those over 40 years provided such a service (P less than 0.001). In Scotland, approximately 1 per cent of 70-79-year-old patients and 2 per cent of patients over 80 years received domiciliary dental care over a 1-year period. For those elderly people who received such care, the mean percentage doubled for every 5-year increase in patient age.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

The prevalence of dental anxiety in a group of 13- and 14-year-old Scottish children.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental anxiety reported by a group of 13- and 14-year-old children, and to explore the relationships between dental anxiety and general fear, social class, gender, size of family, length of time since the last dental appointment, and the number of people known by the child to be afraid of visiting the dentist. A group of 1103 children from eight schools took part in the study, which was completed in 1989. The children (mean age 14.0 years, SD 0.35) completed a structured questionnaire containing the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and the Geer Fear Scale (GFS). The prevalence of high dental anxiety (CDAS greater than = 15) was 7.1%. High dental anxiety was associated with gender (girls having higher levels of anxiety than boys) and with social class as defined by father's occupation (lower social class groups having higher dental anxiety). Injection was the dental procedure most highly correlated with CDAS in children with a high dental anxiety, closely followed by 'drilling' and 'tooth scaling'. A high level of general fear (GFS) was associated with a high level of dental anxiety. Despite this, 64% of those with high dental anxiety had a low general fear. Two factors were useful predictors of high dental anxiety: the length of time since the last visit to the dentist and the number of people known by the child to be afraid of going to the dentist.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Dental caries experience and prevalence of children afraid of dental treatment.

The aim of this study was to examine the clinical outcome with regard to dental caries of high self reported dental anxiety in a group of Scottish secondary schoolchildren. 1103 children participated in the study, mean age 14 yr (sd 0.35 yr), and the prevalence of high dental anxiety was 7.1% (95% CI = 5.6%, 8.6%). When these children were compared with their contemporaries their DMFT and all its components were higher but only the mean MT reached statistical significance after adjusting for gender and social class. Children with a high dental anxiety were 62% more likely to have at least 1 missing tooth due to caries. In addition this group when compared to the rest of the study population, had a significantly lower mean number of teeth fissure sealed and a lower proportion of children with sealants. No similar trend was obvious for children who had a high general fear. The dentally anxious more accurately perceived their treatment need and were more likely to defer, cancel or not turn up for dental appointments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Dental management of a child with anorexia nervosa who presents with severe tooth erosion.

Carbonated soft drinks can, when consumed regularly and in large quantities, cause severe dental erosion. In patients with anorexia nervosa the temptation to substitute these drinks for their regular diet has increased, since they are readily available, relatively cheap and their consumption is socially acceptable. The dental management of a young child suspected of having anorexia, who presented with severe dental erosion, is described.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Preventive oral health related behaviour of dentally anxious schoolchildren aged 13-14 years in Lothian, Scotland.

The aim of this study was to determine the self-reported preventive oral health related behaviours of dentally anxious schoolchildren. 1103 children participated in the study, mean age 14 years (SD 0.35 years), and the prevalence of high dental anxiety was 7.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval = 5.6 per cent, 8.6 per cent). Children with high self reported dental anxiety were more likely to defer, cancel and or not attend dental appointments. In addition, for this group the last dental visit was more likely to be as a result of pain and less likely to have been for a dental examination only. Overall dentally anxious children did not help themselves by keeping their teeth clean. Fluorides were infrequently used by all the children, and only 12 per cent of all who participated in the study used fluoride supplements regularly. In this context it is not surprising that no differences in present or past use of fluoride supplements could be determined between high and low/moderate dental anxiety groups. The high dental anxiety group spend significantly more (median = 50p) on sweets per day and drank more cans of fizzy drinks (median = 2) compared with the low/moderate anxiety groups. These effects were significant after taking into account social class and gender differences. It was clear from the study that even when social class and gender are taken into account the children with high dental anxiety were not helped by their relatively poor attitudes towards preventing disease in their own mouths.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A primary double molar tooth in a child with Russell-Silver syndrome.

The prevalence of double teeth in the primary dentition, for the British schoolchild, is 1.6%. Although primary double teeth in the anterior region of the mouth are not uncommon, double teeth in the primary molar region are rare. This case report describes the intra-oral findings, and in particular a case of a primary molar double tooth, in a young child who has Russel-Silver syndrome.

Anodontia↗
PubMed1991

The dental health of 10-year-old children attending multi-racial schools in Greater Glasgow.

The aim of this study was to determine whether an inequality in caries experience existed for permanent teeth between Asian and white primary 7 schoolchildren (mean age 10.59 years, SE 0.03 years) attending Greater Glasgow schools. In 1989, all 18 schools in Greater Glasgow with at least 25% of its pupils from an Asian background participated in the study. All the schools selected by this method were located in areas of multiple deprivation according to both the ACORN neighbourhood classification and the Jarman social deprivation score. Five hundred and sixteen children were examined. The Asian population as a whole (n = 241, DMFT = 0.95) and each of the subgroups, Muslim with English-speaking mothers (ES) (n = 67, DMFT = 1.24), and non-English-speaking mothers (NES) (n = 130, DMFT = 0.93), non-Muslim with ES mothers (n = 24, DMFT = 0.38) and NES mothers (n = 20, DMFT = 0.90), had a better caries experience of the first permanent molar than that of the white indigenous population (n = 242, DMFT = 1.52). This trend was also seen in the percentage of children with sound first permanent molars: white = 39%, Asian (total) = 54%, Muslim (ES) = 43% and (NES) = 56%, non-Muslim (ES) = 71% and (NES) = 60%. It is concluded that the inequality in caries experience reported in the primary dentition between young Asian and indigenous schoolchildren is not apparent for permanent teeth in children attending primary 7 classes in multiracial schools.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1991

Dental caries experience and oral cleanliness of Asian and white Caucasian children aged 5 and 6 years attending primary schools in Glasgow and Trafford, UK.

The aim of this study was to compare the dental caries experience and oral cleanliness of Asian and white Caucasian children aged 5 and 6 years attending multi-racial schools in Trafford (Greater Manchester) and Greater Glasgow. In 1989 all schools having at least 25 per cent of per cent of pupils from an Asian background participated in the study. Although the white children in Trafford had a higher caries experience (dmft = 3.29) than those in Glasgow (dmft = 3.02), the difference failed to reach statistical significance. This was also true of the Asian population (Trafford dmft = 4.49. Glasgow dfmt = 4.18). When the Asian population was further divided according to religion and the English-speaking ability of the mother, the non-Muslim children of English-speaking mothers had similar caries levels in both areas (Trafford dmft = 2.28, Glasgow dmft = 2.32), and a better dental health than the rest of the Asian population. Oral cleanliness scores followed a similar pattern to dental caries experience. It is concluded that inequality in dental health between Asian and white schoolchildren exists in both Glasgow and Trafford. In addition, these young children who attended multi-racial schools which were located in deprived areas of Trafford and Glasgow had a similar dental health. This was true of the population as a whole and for each of the major ethnic groups.

Asia↗
PubMed1990

Ethnic minorities, health provision and the 1976 Race Relations Act.

The present anti-racial discrimination legislation in the United Kingdom is embodied in the 1976 Race Relations Act. In essence this Act attempts to avoid any form of direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of racial or ethnic origin. However, health professionals are acutely aware that there are important racial differences in disease, some of which are, in fact, not racial but merely associated with social deprivation, poor housing and, of course, the incapacity to speak English. These new findings present the medical profession, in the climate of scarce resources, with the challenge of meeting these needs without discriminating in favour of, or against, individuals on the basis of their race. This is because there are few provision in the 1976 Act to allow for such discrimination, even when it is for an ethnic group's advantage. The dilemmas this raises for health professionals who are involved in planning services for ethnic minorities are discussed.

Ethnicity↗
PubMed1990

Dental health related behaviour of Scottish and English secondary schoolchildren.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the dental health related behaviour of groups of 13-14-year-old English and Scottish schoolchildren, in order to explain the differences in caries experience demonstrated by the 1983 national children's dental health survey. The data-bank of health-reported behaviour of schoolchildren in the United Kingdom held by the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU), Exeter University was used. Seventy-four secondary schools in England and 8 secondary schools in Scotland participated in the study. The information obtained from the questionnaires of 2283 children in England and 259 children in Scotland was examined. The daily intake of sweets, sugary fizzy drinks and a 'sugary' carbohydrate index were analysed from a 24-hour recall dietary record. There was a general consistency between the findings from the SHEU data and the 1983 United Kingdom children dental health survey (Todd & Dodd 1985) with regard to toothbrushing behaviour and dental attendance. Therefore, as dietary information was not gathered in the 1983 survey, exploration of the SHEU data bank allowed a comparison of the dietary habits between Scottish and English schoolchildren. Scottish schoolchildren consumed more sugar-containing items than English schoolchildren. Children from lower social groups in both countries consumed more sugar; however, the major dietary difference between the two countries was not in the mean number of sweets consumed or the daily sugary carbohydrate index, but in the mean number of sugary fizzy drinks consumed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Ethnic indicators of dental health for young Asian schoolchildren resident in areas of multiple deprivation.

The aim of the study was to explore the use of two social indicators in a dental caries epidemiological study of 5-year-old Asian schoolchildren in an area of multiple deprivation. The two indicators selected were religious background and the mother's ability to speak English. Six hundred and forty-three 5-year-old schoolchildren from three schools were examined; the mean dmft was 2.84 (SD 3.63). Children were classified into three groups on broad ethnic/facial characteristics, and the mean dmft for Asians (3.64) differed statistically significantly from those of both Whites (1.83) and Afro-Caribbeans (1.87). When the Asian population was divided into four groups, to explore the effects of religion and the mother's ability to speak English, a statistically significant interaction was observed between religion and language for mean dmft and dental cleanliness. The Asian non-Muslim children whose mothers were English speaking (ES) compared well with the White and Afro-Caribbean group for mean dmft, percentage caries-free and oral cleanliness. When these variables were examined for the two Muslim groups and the non-Muslim group whose mothers were non-English speaking (NES), no statistically significant differences were observed. Oral health promotion should therefore consider that there are three distinct dental high-risk groups for young Asian children: Muslim ES and NES mothers and non-Muslim NES mothers. Each group will require a different health promotion strategy. Non-English speaking mothers need adequate translation, whereas all Muslim mothers need help to find proper alternatives to baby-foods which, although common in the UK, are culturally inappropriate to Muslims.

Asia↗
PubMed1989

The use of porcelain veneers as coronal splints for traumatised anterior teeth in children.

The value of porcelain veneers in a dentist's armamentarium for providing coronal splinting to anterior teeth is highlighted by two case reports. The splinting of weakened tooth structure by the use of porcelain bonded to enamel provides both stability and good aesthetics. In children porcelain veneers provide a simple means of splinting traumatised anterior teeth which have coronal fractures either for the immediate or the long term.

Adolescent↗