scholarly journals Effectiveness of brushing teeth in patients with reduced oral hygiene by laypeople: a randomized, controlled study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Greta Barbe ◽  
Aya Al-Barwari ◽  
Stefanie Hamacher ◽  
Renate Deinzer ◽  
Ulrike Weik ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To evaluate the success of plaque reduction after external toothbrushing by instructed laypeople versus dental professionals using either a manual or powered toothbrush. Longitudinal, randomized, parallel-group intervention study in periodontitis patients with reduced oral hygiene quality undergoing anti-infective therapy. Patients were randomly and equally assigned to one of four groups: laypeople using a manual or powered toothbrush or dental professionals using a manual or powered toothbrush. Plaque reduction (Quigley–Hein-Index (QHI), Marginal Plaque Index (MPI)), gingivitis (papilla bleeding index), and cleaning time (seconds) were investigated. Results Thirty-nine patients participated in the study. Neither the choice of toothbrush (p = 0.399) nor the use of a dental professional (p = 0.790) had a significant influence on plaque levels achieved. However, multivariate modeling indicated statistically significant differences in the external cleaning time between brushing groups, with longer time required by laypeople (p = 0.002) and longer use of the powered toothbrush (p = 0.024). Conclusion When the ability to carry out personal oral hygiene is reduced, external brushing by dental professionals or instructed laypeople who meet previously defined criteria such as sufficient personal oral hygiene at home could help to fill the emerging dental care gap. A combination of oral hygiene approaches adapted to the individual needs of the patients in need of external help is necessary for optimum oral hygiene. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials register (https://www.germanctr.de; number DRKS00018779; date of registration 04/11/2019).

1998 ◽  
Vol 159 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Heuck ◽  
OD Wolthers

Serum osteocalcin is a sensitive marker of suppressive effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on bone turnover. It has been suggested, however, that the degree of suppression detected by different assays may vary. Whether discrepancies between various assays influence conclusions from group studies of exogenous glucocorticoids has not been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to compare the CAP fluoroimmunoassay (FEIA), OSTK-PR and ELSA-OSTEO assays for assessment of prednisolone-induced effects on serum osteocalcin. Twelve men and eight premenopausal women aged 19-45 (mean 31) years were studied. All subjects were healthy. The design was a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel- group study with 2 days run-in, 3 days treatment and 4 days run-out. During run-in and run-out no medication was given. During the treatment period the subjects took either 20 mg prednisolone twice daily or placebo. Blood was collected on the last day of each period. Intra- and intergroup comparisons showed prednisolone treatment to be associated with a statistically significant suppression of osteocalcin which was detected by all assays (ANOVA;P<0.0001). In the individual subjects the response to prednisolone was the same for each assay. The CAP FEIA, OSTK-PR and ELSA-OSTEO assays seem equally sensitive for evaluation of osteocalcin in group studies of oral glucocorticoids.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (spe) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Criado ◽  
Andrew Tawse-Smith

Mechanical plaque control appears to be the primary means of controlling supragingival dental plaque build-up. Although daily oral hygiene practices and periodic professional care are considered the basis for any program aimed at the prevention and treatment of oral diseases, these procedures are technically demanding, time consuming and can be affected by the compliance and manual dexterity of the patient. Individual skills and acquired behavior patterns determine effectiveness of a preventive program and oral hygiene practice. Successful preventive programs and home care procedures clearly depend on the interaction and commitment between the dental professional and the patient. Identifying the capacity of the individual to comply with the professional recommendations and evaluating the dexterity of the patient to remove supragingival dental plaque will permit the implementation of an adequate preventive program and can help on the selection of adjunctive antimicrobial agents and devices needed to reach an effective oral care routine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1399
Author(s):  
Jure Oder ◽  
Cédric Flageul ◽  
Iztok Tiselj

In this paper, we present uncertainties of statistical quantities of direct numerical simulations (DNS) with small numerical errors. The uncertainties are analysed for channel flow and a flow separation case in a confined backward facing step (BFS) geometry. The infinite channel flow case has two homogeneous directions and this is usually exploited to speed-up the convergence of the results. As we show, such a procedure reduces statistical uncertainties of the results by up to an order of magnitude. This effect is strongest in the near wall regions. In the case of flow over a confined BFS, there are no such directions and thus very long integration times are required. The individual statistical quantities converge with the square root of time integration so, in order to improve the uncertainty by a factor of two, the simulation has to be prolonged by a factor of four. We provide an estimator that can be used to evaluate a priori the DNS relative statistical uncertainties from results obtained with a Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes simulation. In the DNS, the estimator can be used to predict the averaging time and with it the simulation time required to achieve a certain relative statistical uncertainty of results. For accurate evaluation of averages and their uncertainties, it is not required to use every time step of the DNS. We observe that statistical uncertainty of the results is uninfluenced by reducing the number of samples to the point where the period between two consecutive samples measured in Courant–Friedrichss–Levy (CFL) condition units is below one. Nevertheless, crossing this limit, the estimates of uncertainties start to exhibit significant growth.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e030638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleftherios G Kaklamanos ◽  
Rania Nassar ◽  
Sotirios Kalfas ◽  
Manal Al Halabi ◽  
Mawlood Kowash ◽  
...  

BackgroundThere is limited data on the beneficial effects of probiotics on the gingival health of patients undergoing treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances. This study aims to compare the effect of probiotic tablets combined with regular oral hygiene versus regular oral hygiene alone on gingival status in these patients. The effect of probiotic intake on plaque formation and salivary microbiome composition will be also assessed.Methods and analysisThis is a 3 month single-centre, single blind (clinical and laboratory examiners), parallel group randomised controlled two arm superiority trial. Fifty paediatric patients attending the Postgraduate Orthodontic Clinic at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine (HBMCDM), Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who meet the eligibility criteria will be recruited. Block randomisation with 1:1 allocation and concealment of allocation will be carried out. The treatment group will receive probiotic tablets containingStreptococcus salivariusM18 andLactobacillus acidophilustogether with regular oral hygiene versus the control group on regular oral hygiene alone. Clinical examination and collection of saliva for microbiome assay will be carried out at baseline and end of study. Self-reporting by patients will be used to document acceptability and adverse effects. Statistically significant decrease in gingival bleeding on probing in the treatment group will be classified as primary outcome of treatment success. Statistically significant reduction in Plaque Index, Gingival Index and shift in the composition of the oral microbiome in favour of beneficial bacteria are secondary outcomes indicative of efficacy of probiotic intake.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for the study has been granted by the HBMCDM, MBRU, Institutional Review Board (Reference #: MBRU-IRB-2018–015). Study findings will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberISRCTN95085398


1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
John O. Brooks ◽  
Jerome A. Yesavage ◽  
Angelico Carta ◽  
Daniele Bravi

Objectives: To assess the longitudinal effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) on patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Design: Longitudinal, double-blind, parallel-group, placebocontrolled. Setting: Twenty-four outpatient sites across the United States. Participants: A total of 334 subjects diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease by NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. These data were originally reported by Thal and colleagues (1996). Measurements: Cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) given every 3 months for 1 year. Results: The average rate of change was estimated using the trilinear approach, which allows for periods of both change and stability. Both the ALC group and the placebo group exhibited the same mean rate of change on the ADAS (0.68 points/month). However, a multiple regression analysis revealed a statistically significant Age × Drug interaction characterized by younger subjects benefiting more from ALC treatment than older subjects. Further analyses suggested that the optimal, though not statistically significant, cutpoint for ALC benefit was 61 years of age. Conclusions: ALC slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease in younger subjects, and the use of the trilinear approach to estimate the average rate of change may prove valuable in pharmacological trials.


COVID ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-727
Author(s):  
Parastoo Kheiroddin ◽  
Magdalena Gründl ◽  
Michael Althammer ◽  
Patricia Schöberl ◽  
Linda Plail ◽  
...  

(1) Background: With vaccination and new variants of SARS-CoV-2 on the horizon, efficient testing in schools may enable prevention of mass infection outbreaks, keeping schools safe places and buying time until decisions on feasibility and the necessity of vaccination in children and youth are made. We established, in the course of the WICOVIR (Where Is the COrona VIRus) study, that gargle-based pool-PCR testing offers a feasible, efficient, and safe testing system for schools in Germany when applied by central university laboratories. (2) Objectives: We evaluated whether this approach can be implemented in different rural and urban settings. (3) Methods: We assessed the arrangements required for successful implementation of the WICOVIR approach in a variety of settings in terms of transport logistics, data transfer and pre-existing laboratory set-up, as well as the time required to establish the set-up. (4) Results: We found that once regulatory issues have been overcome, all challenges pertaining to logistics, data transfer, and laboratory testing on different platforms can be solved within one month. Pooling and depooling of samples down to the individual test result were achievable within one working day in all settings. Local involvement of the community and decentralized set-ups were keys for success. (5) Conclusion: The WICOVIR gargle-based pool-PCR system is so robust and simple that it can be implemented within one month in all settings now or in future pandemics.


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