Denture characteristics, oral hygiene practice and periodontal changes of partial denture wearers and non-denture wearers in a Teaching Hospital- A comparative study

Background: There can be localized periodontal inflammation around abutment teeth of dentures as a result of plaque accumulation. This study assessed the periodontal changes of removable partial denture wearers compared to that of non-denture wearers. Methodology: Participants were recruited from the prosthodontic and restorative outpatient clinics of Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographics, denture characteristics, periodontal changes and oral hygiene practice of participants. Periodontal status assessed included gingival inflammation, plaque accumulation and tooth mobility. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM SPSS Armonk, New York) and presented as frequencies and percentages. Test for significance was done using Chi-square statistics, and the level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 96 participants between age 16 and 74years were recruited with mean age of 40±14.5years. There were 56 females and 40 males (F:M; 1.4:1). Fifty-four denture wearers and forty-two non-denture wearers were recruited into the study. Among participants wearing partial denture, 49(90.7%) had gingival inflammation; 45(91.8%) had mild inflammation compared to 4.8% participants who are non-denture wearers. 29(53.7%) denture wearers had fair oral hygiene while most 31(73.8%) non-denture wearers had excellent oral hygiene. Abutment teeth in denture wearers had tooth recession; mostly on the upper arch and also posteriorly. Conclusion: The periodontal inflammation, tooth recession and mobility in denture wearers were worse compared to non-denture wearers. Thus, they need to be motivated for more adequate oral hygiene practices and have regular recall system to monitor their periodontal health.

Self-Reported Dietary Choices and Oral Health Care Needs during COVID-19 Quarantine: A Cross-Sectional Study

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the healthcare system, including dentistry. However, it is not entirely clear whether affected patients’ willingness for regular dental visits and preventive behaviors with regards oral hygiene and diet. This is essential to understanding the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceleration of dental issues in the future. It was aimed at checking the level of dental visit avoidance, self-reported oral health needs, and dietary changes. This cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted in Poland (n = 2574; mean age 44.4 ± 15.6; female 56.3%) assessed nutritional habits and dental care changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. As demonstrated, nearly half of the responders (47.1%) avoided regular dental visits, while only 0.5% used online consultations. Fears related to potential cross-contamination in dental offices dropped from 25% to 11.4% and were associated with increased BMI and age (p < 0.05). Sweet snacking/drinking confirmed 19.1%/33.2% subjects. Self-reported oral health care needs (tooth stain, calculus, gingivitis, loss of fillings) were related to frequent snacking and poor oral hygiene (p < 0.05). The study highlights that pandemic periods are covered by eating and drinking changes combined with inadequate hygiene and dental care impose health complaints in the oral cavity. This can magnify both nutritional and interrelated oral health issues, highlighting the need to implement preventive and mitigation measures.

PERIODONTITIS AND MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION RISK: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association of periodontitis and Myocardial Infarction (MI) and contributes as a potential risk factor for its incidence. Methodology: This multi-centre, case-control study enrolled 125 participants. Case group comprising of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) = 55, control group consisting of non – AMI = 70. Both groups were assessed for presence of periodontitis along with specific risk factors that were recorded in a modified proforma comprising of questions pertaining to demographics, oral hygiene practices and oral eating habits. Chi-square test was used to assess association and p-value was considered significant at ≤0.05. Results: Periodontitis was found to be prevalent in 71% of Myocardial Infarction (MI) patients with an OR 4.125 (95% CI, 1.934 - 8.797) as compared to 37% in Control (non-Myocardial Infarct). Increasing age, male gender, illiteracy, unemployment/retirement, low socio-economic status, being overweight, no dental visits, and smoking (both duration & frequency) were found to be statistically significantly associated with occurrence of periodontitis and myocardial infarction in the study. Conclusion: Periodontitis was found to be prevalent among the MI patients suggesting a causal link between these two conditions that can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle, refraining from smoking, good oral hygiene and visiting a dentist for regular check-up.

Oral Hygiene Practice among Hospitalized Patients: An Assessment by Dental Hygiene Students

Aim: An epidemiological study was carried out, in hospital wards, with the aim of assessing the oral health status of patients subjected to multiple medical treatments. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo (Pavia, Italy). A questionnaire was submitted to patients for the evaluation of oral hygiene devices used; then, a clinical examination was conducted to collect Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Plaque Index (PI), and Marginal Gingival Index (MGI) values. Results: Manual toothbrushes were used by a wide range of the sample study (65–100% among hospital wards), together with mouthwash (20–80%); interproximal aids were used by few patients (the lowest recorded value was 33.3%). Conclusion: dental hygienists could be integrated into hospital wards as oral hygiene procedure instructors, for the improvement of the oral health conditions of hospitalized patients.

Risk Indicators and Treatment Needs of Children 2–5 Years of Age Receiving Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia in Saskatchewan

Background: When compared to national averages in Canada, Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) and average costs per child. Thus, the purpose of this cross-sectional study is to explore the risk indicators and treatment needs of children receiving dental treatment under GA in Saskatchewan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited caregivers of children between 24 and 71 months of age in Saskatoon, Canada. Caregivers completed a 40-item questionnaire, which was supplemented with clinical data and then subject to statistical analysis (independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA). Results: A total of 90 caregiver/child dyads were enrolled with the mean age for children being 49.5 ± 12.3 months. The mean age of a child’s first dental visit was 34.7 ± 15.3 months with only 37.9% of children having a dental home. The mean deft index was 11.7 ± 3.4, with an average of 10.9 ± 3.5 teeth receiving treatment. Additionally, location of primary residence (p = 0.03), family income (p = 0.04), family size (p = 0.01), parental education (p = 0.03), dental home (p = 0.04), and body mass index (p = 0.04) had a statistically significant association with a higher mean deft. Conclusions: Our cross-sectional study confirms that children who require dental treatment under GA have a high burden of disease. While individual risk indicators such as diet and oral hygiene play a role in the progression of early childhood caries (ECC), we also demonstrate that children who do not have access to early preventive visits or a dental home are at a higher risk. In addition to improving motivation for oral hygiene at home and nutritional education, improving access to oral health care should be addressed in strategies to reduce ECC.

Effects of drug abuse and mental disorders on oral health: a case report

Substance use disorders, related to mental health issues can lead to oral pathologies. The purpose of this case report was to identify the oral conditions and manifestations in a 28-year-old male narco-dependent schizophrenic who smoked tobacco and marijuana. In intra-oral clinical exploration, poor oral hygiene, excessive tartar formation and dental plaque were observed, and the diagnosis of severe chronic periodontitis was established. The choice of a treatment plan in such patients is complex because the consequences of an invasive treatment can aggravate the psychological state and emotional stability leading to a negative effect on behaviour and mental health due to edentulism. The effects of excessive drug consumption related to schizophrenia can cause poor oral hygiene habits leading to oral pathologies and the loss of teeth. Keywords: drugs, schizophrenia, oral manifestations, mental health, oral pathologies.

Oral Hygiene Considerations in Adult Patients with Leukemia during a Cycle of Chemotherapy

The oral cavity is the place where the first symptoms of systemic diseases may appear. Leukemia is the malignancy of the hematopoietic system in which abnormal leukocytes are produced in the bone marrow and these cells spread to the peripheral blood. It is classified clinically on the basis of the duration and nature of the disease (acute or chronic), the type of cell involved (myeloid, lymphoid, or monocytes), and a rise in the number of abnormal cells in the blood. The study aimed to assess and compare the oral hygiene and periodontium status based on the indices in leukemic patients before and after one cycle of chemotherapy and whether the therapy had an impact on the change of these parameters. Dental indices used in clinical diagnostics were calculated: API (approximal plaque index), SBI (sulcus bleeding index), and CPI (community periodontal index). The research project was conducted at the Clinic of Hematooncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin. The target population consisted of 102 adults with leukemia who were over 18 years of age. The time since diagnosis of the disease ranged from 1 to 10 years. The data were evaluated in the Statistica 12 software with the respective tests. In the majority of patients, both before and after chemotherapy, improper oral hygiene and severe generalized periodontitis were confirmed. The cycle of chemotherapy that was used did not correlate with the change of patients’ oral hygiene and periodontium state. Unsatisfactory oral hygiene and periodontal health has to be addressed with urgent dental treatment to avoid systemic complications in leukemic patients.

Cognitive deterioration in association with teeth loss in elderly population: A study from Eastern India

Background: With the global increase in cognitive impairment and dementia, the need to investigate into the possible ways that can be used to prevent or delay such occurrence has been growing. Maintenance of dental care and oral hygiene has been promoted as one such aspect. Aims and Objectives: To study the association between cognitive impairment in patients without registered diagnosis of dementia with tooth loss and chewing ability. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional hospital-based study where consenting elderly persons attending Dental outpatient department over 1½ years were included. Data obtained on socio-demographic details, number of tooth loss, number of remaining teeth, subjective chewing ability, cognitive assessment as per mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and Clock Drawing Test were analyzed statistically to check correlational association. Results: In this study 96 eligible elderly persons of mean age of 68.30±6.28 years showed increased cognitive impairment among females (P=0.003), increased age (P=0.009), rural background (P=0.033) and low income groups (P=0.001). Positive correlation was found between chewing capacity (P=0.348), number of remaining teeth (r=0.418) with MMSE scores. Conclusion: Our study population showed positive correlation between impaired cognition and the number of extracted tooth and chewing capacity. With further study on wider and representative population, we hope to project the role of maintaining good oral hygiene and dental care as a possible preventive strategy among many others to combat the increased burden of cognitive impairment.