Tetralogy of Fallot Associated with Amelogenesis Imperfecta: a Case Report

Introduction: Ignorance regarding oral diseases and oral health can be a major cause for a high prevalence of oral diseases. Parents' attitudes have a significant positive influence on the children's oral hygiene and oral health. Objectives: To assess the mothers' oral hygiene knowledge and practice and its impact on oral hygiene status of their 12-year-old children. Materials and Methods: A total of 900 children, 12 years old and their mothers were selected by random sampling from 10 administrative wards of Mathura city. The general information and data regarding mothers' oral hygiene knowledge and practice were obtained by personal interview using a pretested questionnaire. Clinical examination of the subjects was done using oral hygiene index-simplified (OHI-S) for both children and mothers. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), version 11.5 for windows. One-way ANOVA and independent t-test were used to find out the impact of mothers' oral hygiene knowledge and practice on oral hygiene status of their 12-year-old children. Results: Mothers' oral hygiene knowledge was found to have a significant impact on oral hygiene status of their 12-year-old children. There was a significant difference in mean OHI-S score of children with mothers who had poor oral hygiene knowledge (1.1650), fair oral hygiene knowledge (0.8947) and good oral hygiene knowledge (0.6431). Mothers' oral hygiene practices also had a significant impact on the oral hygiene status of their 12-year-old children. Conclusion: Mothers' oral hygiene knowledge and practice had an impact on oral hygiene status of their 12-year-old children in Mathura city.

Pulmonary valve replacement after repair of tetralogy of Fallot: Evolving strategies

Inappropriate antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures in congenital heart disease: Insights from a nationwide Korean cohort.

This study aimed to investigate the current status and associated factors of hand and oral hygiene behaviors among adolescent students in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey conducted in Zhejiang Province between April and June 2022. Data were collected through a self-administered, structured questionnaire that assessed tooth brushing frequency, hand washing practices before meals, after toilet use, and hand washing with soap. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify associations between hygiene practices and socio-demographic factors. The study included 26,101 adolescent students. Of these, 29.25% had poor oral hygiene practices, and the majority brushed their teeth twice per day (51.43%). Regarding hand hygiene, 78.06% exhibited poor hand hygiene before meals, 24.67% after toilet use, and 82.56% when using soap. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher parental education and greater family income were linked to a reduced likelihood of poor oral and hand hygiene practices. Conversely, older age and parental marital status (divorced, widowed, or separated) were linked to an increased risk of both poor oral and hand hygiene practices. Additionally, girls and only children were less likely to exhibit poor oral hygiene but more likely to have poor hand hygiene. The prevalence of poor hand and oral hygiene practices among adolescent students in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China was very high. Several socio-demographic factors were identified to guide future targeted interventions aimed at improving hygiene practices among this population.

To assess the efficacy of a "teledentistry" method using a mobile app (Telesmile) in enhancing knowledge of oral health conditions and oral hygiene practices among the blind and deaf populations in Jazan Province in Saudi Arabia. A randomized parallel design controlled study was conducted among 50 blind and 50 deaf subjects between the ages of 12-18 years, randomly chosen from blind and deaf schools. The participants were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. An innovative teledentistry platform named Telesmile, a mobile application for the Apple iOS App Store and Google Play Store, was developed. Multimedia Arabic dental sign language oral hygiene instructional videos were created and uploaded in the Telesmile mobile application under the deaf category. Similarly, oral hygiene instructions were audio recorded by experts and uploaded under the blind category in the Telesmile mobile application. Group I of the blind (n = 25) and deaf participants (n = 25) received regular oral hygiene instructions while Group II of the blind (n = 25) and deaf (n = 25) participants received the Telesmile mobile application intervention. The knowledge of the participants pertaining to oral health and oral hygiene practices was evaluated using a close-ended questionnaire comprising 14 questions at the initial visit (T0). Training sessions were conducted for all participants and the Telesmile mobile application was distributed among the participants in Group II. After 4 weeks (T1), the knowledge of the participants regarding oral health and hygiene practice was re-evaluated and compared between each group. The chi-square test revealed that the marginal mean of the knowledge of the blind and deaf participants pertaining to oral health and oral hygiene practices was very poor at their initial visit (T0) and it significantly increased (p < 0.001) after 4 weeks (T1) of using the Telesmile mobile application. The Telesmile mobile application can significantly enhance oral hygiene knowledge among blind and deaf people. The audio technique was an effective tool to deliver oral health education which could result in improving the oral health status of blind participants. The video demonstrations were also effective in enhancing the oral health and oral hygiene knowledge of deaf individuals.

BackgroundPatients with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) are considered at high risk of infective endocarditis (IE) as a result of altered hemodynamics and multiple invasive procedures, including pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). Data on the long‐term risk of IE are sparse.Methods and ResultsIn this observational cohort study, all patients with ToF born from 1977 to 2018 were identified using Danish nationwide registries and followed from date of birth until occurrence of first‐time IE, emigration, death, or end of study (December 31, 2018). The comparative risk of IE among patients with ToF versus age‐ and sex‐matched controls from the background population was assessed. Because of rules on anonymity, exact numbers cannot be reported if the number of patients is <4. A total of 1164 patients with ToF were identified and matched with 4656 controls. Among patients with ToF, 851 (73.1%) underwent early surgical intracardiac repair and 276 (23.7%) underwent PVR during follow‐up. During a median follow‐up of 20.3 years, 41 (3.5%) patients with ToF (comprising 24 [8.7%] with PVR and 17 [1.9%] without PVR) and <4 (<0.8%) controls were admitted with IE. The incidence rates of IE per 10 000 person‐years were 22.4 (95% CI, 16.5–30.4) and 0.1 (95% CI, 0.01–0.7) among patients and controls, respectively. Moreover, PVR was associated with a further increased incidence of IE among patients with ToF (incidence rates per 10 000 person‐years with and without PVR were 46.7 [95% CI, 25.1–86.6] and 2.8 [95% CI 2.0–4.0], respectively).ConclusionsPatients with ToF are associated with a substantially higher incidence of IE than the background population. In particular, PVR was associated with an increased incidence of IE. With an increasing life expectancy of these patients, intensified awareness, preventive measures, and surveillance of this patient group are decisive.

Risk of infective endocarditis among patients with tetralogy of fallot

This study aimed to assess oral hygiene practices, dental conditions, and access to dental care among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Tunisia. This descriptive cross-sectional study included 48 children diagnosed with ASD. Data were obtained through a structured questionnaire completed by caregivers and a clinical oral examination. The questionnaire comprised 25 items divided into three domains: (1) Knowledge (awareness of oral hygiene importance, fluoride use, recognition of dental caries, and regular dental checkups); (2) Attitude (motivation for oral care, caregiver perception of dental visits, and beliefs about prevention); (3) Practices (tooth brushing frequency, technique, use of toothpaste, dental attendance, and dietary habits). The clinical examination assessed oral hygiene status, presence of untreated caries, gingival condition, and parafunctional oral habits. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Of the 48 children included in the study, 23% (n = 11) were classified at the severe end of the autism spectrum, while the remaining 77% (n = 37) presented with mild to moderate forms of ASD. Poor oral hygiene was observed in 46.6% (n = 14) of the children, untreated dental caries were present in 36.6% (n = 11), and 60% (n = 18) had never visited a dentist. Additionally, 33.3% (n = 10) of the children did not brush their teeth regularly. The presence of gingival inflammation and parafunctional habits was also noted but varied across severity levels of ASD. The study reveals considerable challenges regarding oral hygiene behaviors, dental health status, and access to dental care among children with ASD in Tunisia. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted oral health education programs and enhanced caregiver involvement to improve oral health outcomes in this population. A better understanding of the specific oral health needs of children with ASD is essential for tailoring dental care protocols. Focused caregiver training and adapted dental approaches are recommended to promote improved oral hygiene practices and overall oral health in children with ASD. How to cite this article: Ben Hadj Khalfa A, Boukhris H, Ayari G, et al. Oral Health Challenges and Hygiene Practices in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study from Tunisia. J Contemp Dent Pract 2025;26(6):581-586.

Infekcyjne zapalenie wsierdzia (IZW) wywoływane jest głównie przez bakterie. Choroba ta obarczona jest dużą śmiertelnością i występowaniem powikłań. U pacjentów z grupy najwyższego ryzyka IZW przed zabiegami stomatologicznymi o dużym ryzyku wystąpienia bakteriemii powinna być zastosowana profilaktyka antybiotykowa. Do procedur stomatologicznych o dużym ryzyku wystąpienia bakteriemii należą zabiegi przeprowadzane w obrębie dziąsła, tkanek okołowierzchołkowych zęba, a także związane z przerwaniem ciągłości błony śluzowej jamy ustnej.Celem pracy było przedstawienie najnowszych poglądów i wytycznych towarzystw kardiologicznych w zakresie profilaktyki infekcyjnego zapalenia wsierdzia u pacjentów poddawanych zabiegom stomatologicznym.W 2015 r. eksperci Europejskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego podkreślili, że większe jest ryzyko wywołania IZW przez mikroflorę bakteryjną z jamy ustnej w wyniku przypadkowej bakteriemii związanej z rutynowymi czynnościami takimi jak żucie i czyszczenie zębów niż w wyniku bakteriemii związanej z zabiegami stomatologicznymi. Zła higiena, próchnica i stany zapalne dziąseł zwiększają ryzyko bakteriemii związanej z codziennymi czynnościami. Nacisk powinien być położony napoprawę opieki stomatologicznej, regularne wizyty kontrolne i planowe leczenie stomatologiczne, a także na utrzymanie prawidłowej higieny jamy ustnej. Te niespecyficzne metody prewencji IZW powinny być stosowane u pacjentów z grupy ryzyka IZW, a także jako rutynowa opieka wszystkich pacjentów, ponieważ IZW może rozwinąć się również u pacjentów, u których wcześniej nie wykryto chorób serca. Natomiast profilaktyka antybiotykowa powinna być ograniczona tylko do pacjentów zgrupy najwyższego ryzyka IZW: pacjentów ze sztuczną zastawką lub sztucznym materiałem zastosowanym do naprawy zastawki, pacjentów po przebytym IZW i pacjentów z nieskorygowaną siniczą wadą serca, a także pacjentów z wadami wrodzonymi serca po operacjach paliatywnych ze sztucznymi połączeniami, konduitami oraz innym sztucznym materiałem.

During a stroke, the mouth tends to become an unhealthy place and may give rise to various life-threatening conditions. To this end, there have been repeated calls to incorporate oral hygiene guidelines and practices for hospitalized stroke patients to prevent aspiration pneumonia and improve patients' oral health. The objective of the study was to determine health care providers' practices of oral health care among patients hospitalized after an occurrence of stroke and to determine health care providers' background and work environment effect on these practices. A cross-sectional study was conducted among stroke care providers in 13 public hospitals in Malaysia. The questionnaires distributed were self-administered, where nursing staff provided details of their oral health care practices for stroke patients. Information on the background of health care providers and work environment was also collected. Overall, a total of 780 responses from the registered nurses were obtained. Almost half of the respondents (48.1%) reported that they recommended toothbrushing twice or more per day to stroke patients. Two-thirds (64.7%) reported that they performed daily mouthwashing on their patient, while less than half (38.8%) reported daily oral hygiene assistance. Result of the analysis revealed that oral hygiene practices were significantly associated with having working wards ( P < 0.05), level of qualification ( P < 0.05), having oral health care guidelines ( P < 0.001), specific resources ( P < 0.05), and attending previous training in oral care ( P < 0.001). Provision of oral hygiene practices for hospitalized stroke patients is important. A lack of oral health care guidelines, support from dental professionals, specific resources, training, and assistance in daily oral care for patients is evident and detrimental to oral hygiene practices. The current findings have significant implications for new initiatives to support health care providers, particularly the registered nurses performing oral health care for hospitalized stroke patients. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This study may provide a basis of information for improving the delivery of oral health care to stroke patients. Enhancement in the training and improvement in the existing guidelines and resources is pivotal for the provision of better oral health care for the potential benefits to these patients, including their improved quality of life and disease prevention.

BackgroundVisual impairment affects a significant population globally. The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status and oral hygiene practices among visually impaired adolescents from a school in Kenya.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 159 adolescents aged 10–19 years attending the largest public primary boarding school for the blind in Kenya. A questionnaire was used to record participants’ socio-demographic variables and oral hygiene practices. Clinical examination was undertaken to assess oral health status which consisted of oral hygiene, gingival health, and dental caries. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare dental health outcomes across socio-demographic characteristics.ResultsThere were 69 (43.4%) and 90 (56.6%) participants in Category I and II visual impairment respectively, 85 (53.5%) were male and 74 (46.5%) were female. Study participants were divided into three age categories: 10–12 years 48 (30.2%), 13–15 years 67 (42.1%), and 16- 19 years 44 (27.7%), with an overall mean age of 13.9 ± 2.3. All participants brushed their teeth, majority 107 (67.3%) brushed two or more times daily. Only 66 (41.5%) of the participants replaced their toothbrushes at 3 months. Sex (p =< 0.001) and age (p = 0.04) influenced frequency of toothbrush replacement. The average plaque score and gingival score index was 0.95 ± 0.45 and 0.28 ± 0.25 respectively, with gingivitis prevalence of 88.1%. Overall dental caries prevalence was 44.7%, [42.1%)] permanent dentition and [8.2%] deciduous dentition. Mean DMFT and dmft were 0.44 ± 0.60 and 0.12 ± 0.32 respectively. DMFT had a statistically significant association with sex (t = 1.82, p = 0.03). Oral hygiene practices did not influence oral hygiene and dental caries status. However, a statistically significant association was reported between frequency of toothbrush replacement and gingival score index (“p” =< 0.001).ConclusionsThe study reported general good oral hygiene, prevalent gingivitis 140 (88.1%), and almost half of the study population affected by dental caries 71 (44.7%). Most participants were unaware of using fluoridated toothpaste and of needing to change toothbrushes within 3 months. Frequency of toothbrush replacement was reported to influence gingival score index.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes disrupt not only access to basic healthcare but also routine health behaviors. Despite its relevance to overall health, oral care is often neglected in postdisaster public health responses. This study investigated oral hygiene practices and access to dental care among individuals residing in temporary shelters following the 2023 Turkiye-Syria earthquakes. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 401 participants residing in a container city in Turkiye approximately 10 weeks postdisaster. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic variables, pre- and postdisaster oral hygiene practices, access to oral hygiene products, and the presence of orodental trauma related to the earthquake, while routine dental screenings were conducted to assess oral health status via the Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMF-T) index and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Seventeen participants reported earthquake-related orodental trauma. While 32.4% of the participants regularly brushed their teeth before the earthquake, 92.3% reported disruption postdisaster. Toothbrush availability was 84.8%, yet interdental cleaning tool ownership remained below 2%. The mean DMFT score was 11.19 ± 8.58; the mean OHI-S score was 3.22 ± 1.40. Females and participants with toothbrush access had significantly better oral hygiene scores (p < 0.001). The number of remaining teeth was inversely associated with all other clinical indices (p < 0.001). The earthquake significantly disrupted oral hygiene routines and limited access to oral care tools, particularly for those who previously maintained regular habits. These findings highlight the need for postdisaster oral health support and resource distribution to mitigate long-term public health consequences and suggest that emergency relief packages should also include provisions that help maintain oral hygiene practices following disasters.

Context: During pregnancy, poor oral hygiene practices and inadequate attention toward their oral health have an impact on the developing of the fetus and significant adverse pregnancy outcomes. Aims: The study aimed to assess the oral hygiene knowledge and practices among rural and urban pregnant women attending obstetrics and gynecology department in a tertiary care hospital of Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. Settings and Design: This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 400 samples were selected by convenience sampling technique. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire containing 12 questions related to knowledge and practices pertaining to the oral health of pregnant women, along with sociodemographic data. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained from this questionnaire were collected and analyzed using the SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: A majority of respondents (74%) of urban areas had good oral hygiene status and of rural areas only (44.50%) had good oral hygiene. Awareness of the connection between pregnancy and oral health among the urban participants was 7.5%, whereas only 4.5% of rural participants were aware of the same. Oral hygiene practice was found to be relatively fair in urban participants compared to rural participants. Dental visits were seen to be higher in urban participants. Conclusion: This study revealed that the knowledge of pregnant women of the rural group about the association of oral hygiene knowledge and practices was poor. Oral hygiene knowledge and practices were significantly associated with education and socioeconomic status. Therefore, pregnant women need to be educated and made aware in both urban and rural areas of oral hygiene knowledge and practices toward oral health to improve adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: To examine patterns of nicotine consumption, oral hygiene practices, and associated oral healthoutcomes among undergraduate students in Pakistan, with a comparative focus on medical and non-medicaldisciplines across two major cities in Pakistan.Study Design: A comparative cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted from March 2024 to September 2024 amongundergraduate students enrolled in selected medical and non-medical universities across two major cities inPakistan —Islamabad and Peshawar.Methods: A total of 500 undergraduate students were invited to participate; 364 completed the survey(response rate: 73%). Participants were recruited using a structured convenience sampling approach throughclassroom invitations and institutional online platforms. Data were collected via a validated, self-administeredquestionnaire. Responses were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and associations were assessed using the chi- square test, with P &lt; 0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: The mean age was 21 ± 1.64 years. Nicotine use was reported by 58%, mainly via vapes/e-cigarettes(48%) and cigarettes (35%). Use was higher among males than females (75.2% vs. 24.8%, P = 0.012), with nodifference between medical and non-medical students (49.5% vs. 50.5%, P = 0.285). Oral hygiene habits weresimilar, though users reported greater use of adjunctive aids (90.5% vs. 75.3%, P &lt; 0.001). Oral health problemswere significantly higher among users: oral lesions (38.1% vs. 13.6%), decay (40.5% vs. 11.7%), xerostomia(52.9% vs. 16.2%), bleeding gums (41.4% vs. 29.2%), halitosis (20.0% vs. 9.1%), discoloration (51.0% vs. 29.9%),and sensitivity (61.4% vs. 32.5%) (all P &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: Despite comparable hygiene behaviors across groups, nicotine consumption was stronglyassociated with multiple oral health problems. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted healthpromotion, oral hygiene education, and campus-based nicotine cessation interventions to address this publichealth concern among young adults. How to cite this: Sultan S, Niaz MO, Awais J, Bashir S, Tahira K, Khosa ZA. Effect of Nicotine Consumption on Oral Health and Hygiene Practices among Medical and Non-Medical Undergraduate Students: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study in Islamabad and Peshawar. Life and Science. 2025; 6(4): 528-535. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.891

Background The association between oral hygiene habits & practices and severity of tooth wear lesion varies from community to community and also from occupation to occupation. The present study was conducted with to assess oral hygiene habits & practices and tooth wear among fertilizer factory workers of Punjab, India. Material and Methods A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted among 965 male workers who were aged between 19–58 years, who were the workers of fertilizers factory of Bathinda, India. An interview on the demographic profile, oral hygiene practices, and adverse habits followed a clinical examination for recording the Tooth Wear (Smith and Knight Index 1984) using Type III examination. The Chi–square test and a Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were used for the statistical analysis. Confidence interval and p-value set at 95% and ≤ 0.05 respectively. Results In the present study majority (47.2%) of the study population used chew sticks for cleaning their teeth. Overall prevalence of adverse habits was reported (92.4%). Study population showed higher prevalence of tooth wear (77.1%). Best predictors identified for Tooth Wear were oral hygiene practices, adverse habits, years of work experience and age respectively. Conclusions Considerable percentages of fertilizer factory workers have demonstrated a higher prevalence of tooth surface loss. This may be useful in designing the investigations that aim to further explore the causes for these findings and more importantly to plan oral health promotion program implementing both preventive and curative strategies. Key words:Tooth wear, smith & knight index, fertilizer factory.