Abstract

Background: Dental amalgam remains in clinical use as a restorative material despite ongoing concerns about its mercury content. Undergraduate dental students represent a vulnerable occupational group; however, their awareness of mercury-related health hazards and safe handling practices in the Delhi-NCR context remains insufficiently characterised.

Objective: To evaluate awareness of mercury-related health hazards and the mercury hygiene practices adopted by undergraduate dental students in Delhi-NCR during clinical procedures involving amalgam.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 undergraduate dental students (second to fourth year BDS and interns) at institutions in the Delhi-NCR region. Data were collected via a 25-item structured online questionnaire. Chi-square tests of independence were applied at the 5% significance level to examine associations between academic year and awareness or practice outcomes.

Results: Overall awareness of mercury in dental materials was 97.0%, yet only 52% of participants demonstrated adequate mercury hygiene knowledge. Statistically significant inter-group differences were observed for curriculum exposure (p = 0.031), identification of mercury vapour as the most hazardous form (p = 0.031), knowledge of the safe biological threshold (p < 0.001), awareness of mercury release during condensation (p = 0.040), current clinical use (p = 0.040), and knowledge of mercury accumulation sites (p = 0.019).

Conclusions: Significant knowledge deficiencies exist across all academic levels. Standardised, competency-based mercury hygiene training must be integrated into undergraduate dental curricula to protect practitioners, patients, and the environment.

Abstract

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic neuropathic pain disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe, unilateral facial pain along the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Owing to its resemblance to odontogenic pain, TN is frequently misdiagnosed, resulting in unnecessary dental interventions and delayed treatment.

Case Presentation: A 20-year-old female reported with severe pain in the upper right posterior maxillary region for three years. The pain persisted despite extraction of the maxillary right third molar and previous pharmacological management. Clinical examination revealed trigger zones over the right cheek and upper lip, with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of 9/10. Based on the patient’s history and characteristic clinical findings, a diagnosis of right-sided trigeminal neuralgia was established.

Management and Outcome: Initial treatment with carbamazepine and pregabalin showed minimal improvement. Subsequently, the treatment regimen was modified to include a higher dose of carbamazepine along with gabapentin, amitriptyline, and methylcobalamin. Following three months of therapy, the patient demonstrated significant symptomatic improvement, with the VAS score decreasing from 9/10 to 4/10 and a marked enhancement in quality of life.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering trigeminal neuralgia in the differential diagnosis of persistent facial and dental pain, particularly when symptoms persist after dental treatment. Early recognition, identification of trigger zones, and appropriate pharmacological management can lead to substantial pain reduction and improved patient outcomes.