Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the oral health of hepatitis B-infected individuals by comparing the DMFT index, which is recommended by the World Health Organization for assessing oral health, and the extraction and root canal treatment rates with those of healthy patients. Materials and Method: The panoramic radiographs of 212 hepatitis B-infected and 213 healthy individuals aged 18-74 years who applied for dental treatment between January and June 2018 were evaluated. Using the panoramic radiographs, the numbers of teeth subject to root canal treatment (RCT), decay (D), extraction (M), and restorative and prosthetic treatments (F) were recorded along with the total DMFT score. These rates were compared within and between the different age groups (18-34, 35-44, 45-65, and 66-74) and genders. The statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The level of significance was set to be p < 0.05. Results: F and RCT rates in the healthy group and DMFT, D, and M rates in the hepatitis B-infected group were found to be statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05). The DMFT scores of all age groups were statistically significantly higher in the hepatitis B-infected group compared to the healthy group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed among age groups in terms of DMFT scores within the healthy and hepatitis B-infected groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: When compared to healthy individuals, the DMFT, D, and M rates of individuals infected with hepatitis B were found to be higher, but the F and RCT rates were lower. Hepatitis B-infected individuals should be motivated to improve their oral health

Highlights

  • Hepatitis B infection has been reported to be the most frequent cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma diseases.[1,2] As a result, hepatitis B infection is considered to be a major public health problem.[3]

  • The DMFT scores of all age groups were statistically significantly higher in the hepatitis B-infected group compared to the healthy group (p < 0.05)

  • No statistically significant difference was observed among age groups in terms of DMFT scores within the healthy and hepatitis B-infected groups (p > 0.05)

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Summary

Introduction

Hepatitis B infection has been reported to be the most frequent cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma diseases.[1,2] As a result, hepatitis B infection is considered to be a major public health problem.[3]. The hepatitis B virus is highly contagious, and the common modes of transmission are the use of intravenous medication, unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners, exposure to the virus during medical interventions, such as dialysis and surgical operations, accidental injuries with a contaminated needle, and vertical transmission from mother to child.[3,7] In previous studies, it was determined that dental treatment procedures are a high-risk factor for the transmission of hepatitis B virus between patients.[8,9,10] the widespread use of sharp instruments contaminated with the patient’s blood and saliva in the dentistry practice increases the possibility of dental personnel’s injury with instruments infected with hepatitis B.10

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