Oral Hygiene Practices and Knowledge among Adolescents Aged between 15 and 17 Years Old during Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: Multicentre Study Conducted in France

The aims of this study were to assess oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among orthodontic patients between the ages of 15 and 17 years old compared to adolescents without orthodontic treatment. This cross-sectional study included 392 adolescents drawn from various French teaching hospitals. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment had a higher knowledge of oral health than adolescents without orthodontic treatment. The majority of adolescents for both groups (69%) claimed to brush their teeth twice a day. Regarding complimentary dental material, 81.9% of adolescents without orthodontic treatment never used an interdental brush and 78.8% never used dental floss. For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, 48.5% never used interdental brush. Only 4% of adolescents without and 3% of adolescents with orthodontic treatment never consumed fizzy drinks, 4.9% and 3% never consumed sweets, 4% and 8.4% never ate fast-food. Adolescents without treatment consumed more sodas (p=0.04) and more fast food (p=0.03). Adolescents had insufficient knowledge of oral health. Health education programmes should be implemented to improve adolescents' knowledge and individual oral prophylaxis with interdental brushes.

Plaque Removal Efficacy of Dental floss Compare to Water Jet Following Single Use

Background: Dental plaque (biofilm) is a well-known contributor to the onset and progression of many dental illnesses. Plaque is a natural biofilm that develops on oral surfaces and contains a wide variety of organisms. As a result, it is critical to control plaque formation, particularly in the young population, by implementing effective preventive strategies. Objective: To assess and compare plaque removal efficacy of water flosser and string floss in patients. Study design: Randomized controlled trial Place and Duration of study: Department of Periodontology, Sardar Begum Dental College, Gandhara University from 1st March 2019 to 31st May 2019. Methodology: Seventy patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups, group A (using dental floss) as the control group and group B (using waterpik) as the intervention group, using the lottery technique. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups, group A (control group), using dental floss and group B (intervention group), using waterpik utilizing the lottery technique. All participants were taught correct brushing technique utilizing the Modified Bass technique and manufacturer's instructions for using waterpik as well as normal flossing instructions for using Dental floss. Results: The mean age presentation was 34.23±6.78 years. The females were 42 (60%) males were 28 (40%). The mean percentage showed that those using water flosser with tooth brushing had low plaque score than using string floss with tooth brushing. The independent t test showed that water flosser is significantly more effective (p=0.001) in plaque reduction than conventional string floss. Conclusion: A water flosser coupled with hand brushing is more effective in eliminating plaque than string floss. Plaque removal was 20-30% higher in the group that used a water flosser. Key words: Efficacy, Dental floss, Water jet

Virtual Reality in Oral Hygiene Instruction: an Immersive Approach

Currently, oral health issues are increasingly been addressed and virtual reality (VR) is being used as an aid in health areas. However, there is little evidence of VR being used in preventing oral health problems. To evaluate the effectiveness of VR in oral hygiene education. Three hundred pupils, aged between 9 and 12 years, received instructions in oral hygiene by immersion VR and they gave their opinions about the performed activities. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were applied, with a significance level of 5%. Part perception of oral hygiene showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.550). There was an increase in the use of dental floss (P<0.001), tongue brushing (P<0.001), and tooth brushing (P<0.001). Both drawings and comments made by participants related to oral hygiene were positive regarding the project. Conclusions: The use of VR in oral hygiene instruction was effective. Most participants increased brushing and flossing frequency and produced drawings related to oral hygiene. VR is effective and should be used in dentistry for teaching and prevention , especially with children, as it presents an interactive instructional space that can be approached in a playful way. This study presents dentists with a promising alternative for changing oral hygiene habits.

Antibacterial Effect of Gold Nanoparticles Coated Dental Floss against Cariogenic Bacteria

Background: Carious lesions can occur on the proximal surfaces of the posterior teeth. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, are the main acidogenic bacteria that are commonly associated to dental caries. Interproximal cleaning is an important form of oral self-care habits, considering such areas of the dentition are easily affected by caries. Accordingly, dental floss has been used as an additional tool to enhance the quality of the cleaning process. It is reasonable that dental flossing should reduce interproximal caries risk because it is capable of removing parts of the interproximal plaque. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticle (AuNPs), when coated on unwaxed dental floss.Methods: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were cultured in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar. Broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of the AuNPs with subcultures so obtained. Then, the bacteria were grown and spread on blood agar on which identical lengths (20mm) of unwaxed dental floss coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at concentration of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/mL were placed. Control included untreated unwaxed dental floss and unwaxed dental floss with 0.2% Chlorhexidine (CHX). Five randomized sites of the inhibition zones were measured in millimeters in each concentration per floss. Means ± S.D. of the inhibition zones were calculated.Results: The MIC and MBC of AuNPs against S. sobrinus and S. mutans were 0.5 μg/mL and 1.0 μg/mL, respectively. The results indicated that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated unwaxed dental floss, placed on blood agar with S. mutans and S. sobrinus demonstrated significant inhibition of bacterial growth. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated unwaxed dental floss at 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 mg/mL resulted in zones of inhibition ranging from 2.93 ± 0.30 mm to 4.71 ± 0.32 mm for S. sobrinus and 2.95 ± 1.73 mm to 5.18 ± 0.61 mm for S. mutans, respectively.Conclusion: Invitro study demonstrated that the AuNPs-coated unwaxed dental floss had antibacterial activities against cariogenic bacteria.

Efeito de um programa de higiene oral sobre gengivite em escolares

An attempt was made to assess the effect of a prophylaxís programme on gingivitis in schoolchildren. A total oÍ 182 children, aged 8 - l0 years and attending an elementary school in Porto Alegre, participated. Ninetyone of the 182 children were used as an experimental group; the remaining 91, as a control Soup. The state of the gingiva were determined in a baseline examination. The prophylaxis programme was given to the experimental group and consisted of the following measures: supervised brushing of the teeth (with the help of disclosing solution) and dental flossing once a week at school; supply of toothbrushes and dental floss for daily use at home; and instruction in oral hygiene and diet. The results after nine months of treatment showed that the test group had low lG (molars and proximal surfaces).

Vitamin D, pregnancy and caries in children in the INMA-Asturias birth cohort

Background Vitamin D is traditionally associated with the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, a process essential for the mineralization of hard tissue such as bone or tooth. Deficiency of this vitamin is a problem worldwide, however. Given the possibly significant role of Vitamin D in odontogenesis in children, the objective of our study was to determine the influence of vitamin D levels in the blood on dental anomalies in children between 6 and 10 years of age, by means of 25-hydroxy vitamin D tests performed during pregnancy and the first years of life. Methods The data analyzed were sourced from data belonging to the INMA-Asturias birth cohort, a prospective cohort study initiated in 2004 as part of the INMA Project. The 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) test was performed with samples from 188 children in the INMA-Asturias birth cohort with a dental examination performed between 6 and 10 years of age. The samples were taken at three stages: in the mother at 12 weeks of gestation, and subsequently in the child at 4 and 8 years of age. Diet, nutritional and oro-dental hygiene habits were also analyzed by means of questionnaires. Results The results indicate a significant association between caries and correct or incorrect brushing technique. With incorrect brushing technique, the prevalence of caries was 48.89%, but this dropped to 22.38% with correct brushing technique. An association was also found between tooth decay and frequency of sugar intake. The prevalence of caries was 24.54% with occasional sugar intake, but this rose to 56% with regular sugar intake. On the other hand, levels < 20 ng/ml in both mother and child at 8 years of age would also be risk factors (ORgest = 2.51(1.01–6.36) and OR8years = 3.45(1.14–11.01)) for the presence of caries in children. The risk of caries practically tripled where 25(OH) D values were < 20 ng/ml. Conclusions Although incorrect brushing technique and regular sugar consumption was found to be the main cause of caries in the children, the low concentrations of vitamin D in the blood of the pregnant mothers may have magnified this correlation, indicating that the monitoring of vitamin D levels during pregnancy should be included in antenatal programmes. It is particularly striking that 50% of the children were deficient in vitamin D at the age of 4, and that dental floss was practically absent from regular cleaning routines.

AGE RELATED PECULIARITY OF THE CONTACT POINTS OF THE POSTERIOR TEETH FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

Reconstruction of the age-related anatomical and physiological features of the contact surfaces and contact points inherent in natural teeth in the treatment of caries of posterior teeth with a direct restoration with light-cured composite is one of the unsolved problems of practical dentistry. The study is devoted to the determination of age-related characteristics of the localization and shape of contact points of posterior teeth in permanent dentition. The assessment of localization and shape of 1224 contact points of posterior teeth in 236 patients aged 20 to 59 years was carried out. Comparison of data about the surface area, shape, vertical and horizontal positions of contact points related to teeth anatomic structures in the interdental space was performed. The analysis of interproximal intraoral radiography data, examination and measurement of the parameters of interdental contacts using dental floss, analysis of the display of contact points on dental impressions made according to a special technique were carried out. The localization of the contact areas of the posterior teeth with a displacement in the vestibular direction, the associated asymmetry of the buccal and lingual (palatal) interdental embrasures, as well as a gradual increase in the surface area of contact areas and a decrease in the depth of the occlusal interdental embrasures, correlated with the age of the patients, were recorded. The average numerical values of the listed parameters are derived, taking into account the age of the patients. Anatomical and topographic features of the interdental spaces of the posterior teeth in adult patients are characterized by the following features: the contact areas of the posterior teeth are displaced in the vestibular direction, the buccal and lingual (palatal) interdental embrasures are asymmetric; dynamics of the depth of occlusal interdental embrasures, linear dimensions and area of contact areas is expressed as average digital values for different age groups: 20-40 years: contact areas – 1×2 mm, S = 2 mm2, depth of occlusal interdental embrasure – 1.5 mm; over 40 years old: contact pads – 1.5 × 3 mm, S = 4.5 mm2, the depth of the occlusal interdental embrasure – 1.0 mm.

Level of Oral Hygiene Practices and its Association with Socio-Demographyic Characters Among Middle School Students in Low Income Countries

Background: The practice of keeping the mouth clean to prevent common oral health diseases is necessary, especially in children who live in developing countries. Thisstudyaims to assess middle school students’ oral hygiene practice (OHP)Status and its association with socio-demographic factors among children in low- income countries in Asmara, Eritrea.Methods: Descriptivecross-sectionalstudy wasconducted to determine the status ofOHPamongMiddle school studentsage of 12-15years. Data was collected from all participants (N=572) through face -to- face interview using a pretested and semi structured questionnaire. Pearson’s chi-square test and multiple binary logistic regressions were usedto analyze the whole data.Results: Overall, majority (70%) of middle school children were having poor OHP.From the total respondents, only 201 (35.2%) of the middleschool children cleaned their teeth two times or more a day,16(3.1%) used dental floss for dental cleaning and 314(54.9%) brushed their teeth after meals.The most utilized oral hygiene tools were toothbrush 554.8(97%), chewstick411.3(71.9%), and toothpick 192 (33.6%).Most of the participants 554(97.4%) used toothpaste during tooth cleaning, but 509 (89%) of the children were unaware about the presence of fluoride in their toothpaste.From the children, 196 (34.4%) changed their brush every three months,and only 72 (12.6%) applied circular strokes while brushing their tooth. The most frequently consumed sugar foods and drinks were bread and biscuits, sugar containing chewing gum and tea cited as 536(93.7%), 256(54.8%) and 486(85%) of the respondents respectively.Around half (52%) of the respondents didn’t cleaning their tongue at all. Only 112 (19.5%) visited a dentist during the past twelve months. OHP score was significantly different for gender and school type (P<0.05).Females children were having better OHP than males AOR=0.636 (0.441 – 0.918, P=0.012).Moreover, Arbate Asmara was less likely to have poor OHP than Bana AOR=0.426 (0.197 – 0.92, P=0.030).Conclusions: This study found that,majority of the children was having poor OHP. Sex and school ofmiddle school children in low income countries had a significantcorrelation with OHP. The results of this study indicatetheneed of a Comprehensive oral hygiene practiceeducation for the children and their parents to achieve good oral hygiene in the middle school.