Dental Health Research Articles

Health care seeking behaviour of patients reporting to a dental health Institution- A cross sectional study

This study aimed to assess the factors influencing healthcare-seeking behaviour among patients presenting to a dental institution. Oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal diseases are prevalent global health concerns, particularly in developed countries, whereas oral cancers are more common in developing countries. In India, there is observed lower utilization of dental care services and higher rates of dental problems. This descriptive study involved 220 patients who visited a dental college and hospital in India. Patients were interviewed to gather information on their chief complaint, history of previous treatment for the complaint, and reasons for delaying dental treatment. The study identified several key factors contributing to delays in seeking dental treatment. Negligence was cited by 27.1% of patients, absence of symptoms by 14.5%, and financial constraints by 9%. Gender, occupation, and education level of patients also showed varying impacts on healthcare-seeking behaviour. Negligence, lack of symptom awareness, and financial constraints, particularly in rural and suburban areas were the significant barriers to timely dental treatment among patients in a dental institution in India.

Geographic Inequalities in the Distribution of Dentists: A scoping review

Background: Equity in health refers to ensuring that individuals have timely and sufficient access to healthcare services when needed. Human resources are a vital component of healthcare organizations, and they play a crucial role in improving people's access to services. Dentists, in particular, are essential healthcare professionals as oral and dental health significantly impacts overall societal health. This study aims to investigate the key factors contributing to the inequality in the distribution of dentists. Methods: A scoping review was conducted, systematically searching three databases—Scopus, PubMed, and WOS—using relevant keywords until January, 2023. A total of 565 preliminary results were screened, and 447 titles and abstracts were reviewed. Ultimately, 23 full-text articles were included in the analysis. Qualitative content analysis and thematic network were used to synthesize the extracted data. Results: Thematic analysis of the evidence yielded four main themes that contribute to inequality in the distribution of dentists: the development of the inequality situation, methods for analyzing inequality, causes of inequality, and potential solutions to address inequality. Conclusion: Policymakers should gain an understanding of the determinants that contribute to inequality and how these factors manifest in their respective countries. Policymakers can work towards achieving a more equitable distribution of dentists by directing resources towards policies and measures that improve access to oral and dental services. This will ultimately enhance overall societal access to oral healthcare services.

The use of autofluorescence stomatoscopy in the algorithm of diagnosing of the oral mucosal abnormalities of patients with tuberculosis infection

AIM. To evaluate the feasibility of using the autofluorescence stomatoscopy in dental examination of patients with tuberculosis infection.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The objects of the study were 75 patients aged 21 to 65 years (average age 47.9±2.1 years), 48 men and 27 women (64% and 36%, respectively) who are at the stages of treatment and reha bilitation of the underlying disease (pulmonary tuberculosis) in a specialized tuberculosis sanatorium. The design of the study included the generally standard stages of a comprehensive dental examination of patients, in which diseases of the oral mucosa and the red border of the lips were additionally detected using autofluorescence stomatoscopy, as well as a laboratory Candida test was carried out. The clinical picture of the diagnosed pathological conditions of the oral mucosa, autofluorescence images and their pathomorphological features were compared. The reports of the examined persons regarding the autofluorescence stomatoscopy were evaluated.RESULTS. It was shown that diseases of the oral mucosa and the red border of the lips in patients with tuberculosis infection are highly common (92%), are found more often in males and differ in the heterogeneity of their structure, which is dominated by candidiasis of the oral mucosa, traumatic lesions and various forms of cheilitis. The features of autofluorescence images of pathological conditions of the oral mucosa of different nature of the origin are marked. Positive feedback from patients after the autofluorescence stomatoscopy was recorded in 100% of cases.CONCLUSIONS. The use of the autofluorescence stomatoscopy in the algorithm of dental examination of patients with tuberculosis infection is appropriate because it allows to implement the principle of oncological alertness among specialists, helps the doctor to obtain additional information about the pathological process in real time and increases the motivation of the examined persons to maintain dental health.

Evaluation of oral and dental health parameters in children with special care needs

AIM. The aim of this study is to evaluate and raise awareness of the oral and dental health parameters in children aged 6 to 16 years with special care needs who are enrolled in special education institutions located in the central districts of Diyarbakir in Turkey. Specifically, the study examines the presence of caries, plaque, malocclusions, and molar-incisor hypomineralization.METHODS. A total of 368 children with special care needs participated in the study, with ages ranging from 6 to 16 years and an average age of 9.61 years. Of the participants, 196 have intellectual disabilities, 51 have Down syndrome, and 121 have autism spectrum disorder. The clinical findings of our study include the DMFT/dmft index, plaque index, occlusal relationships, and the presence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS v21 software package.RESULTS. The mean DMFT/dmft value was found to be 5.64, and the mean plaque index value was 1.37. The occlusal relationships of the participants were as followed: 78.26% had Class I, 11.14% had Class II, and 10.6% had Class III. Additionally, 98.64% of the participants did not have molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH), while 1.36% did have MIH.CONCLUSION. In our study, it was found that children with special care needs generally have poor oral hygiene, their parents/caregivers lack sufficient awareness, and the prevalence of caries and plaque index is high in the examined population.

A Description of the Dental Health and Treatment of Ukraine Military at U.S. Army Clinics in Germany.

Since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, most reports have focused on trauma and combat conditions. Trauma care is essential; however, disease and nonbattle injuries (DNBIs) also burden armies and reduce combat effectiveness. Dental emergencies (DEs) account for a substantial portion of DNBI, but there is limited information on Ukrainian military dental readiness. In September 2023, investigators were informed that Ukrainian military personnel were treated for DEs at 2 dental clinics in Germany. The investigators requested deidentified data from the Corporate Dental System (CDS), which is a repository for dental treatment records utilized by the U.S. Army. The data request captured DE treatment performed for Ukrainian military personnel in Germany from January 1, 2023, to September 20, 2023. The CDS report on DE encounters included the following: Gender, age, procedure codes, and provider narratives. This study was approved by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Institutional Review Board as research not involving human subjects and provided Log Number H-24-030nh. The CDS report captured 408 Ukrainian military DE encounters. A total of 360 Ukrainian military personnel were treated for DE during the 9-month reporting period in 2023. Oral surgery was the most common DE treatment category and accounted for 55.8% (N = 201) of DE procedures. Restorative dentistry procedures accounted for 18.1% of DE procedures. Of the 27 multiple category treatments, 25 had oral surgery procedures as one of the treatments. Restorative dentistry procedures were performed in 19 of the multiple category cases. The DEs in the Ukrainian military cohort suggest that chronic, untreated dental disease has progressed without routine care for years. The assertion that caries has progressed to a nonrestorable condition is supported by the distribution that 63% of all DE visits included oral surgery treatment. Based on the distribution of dental treatment, US dental officers must be proficient in oral surgery and prosthodontic care.

Oro-Dental Characteristics in Patients With Adult-Onset Hypophosphatasia Compared to a Healthy Control Group-A Case-Control Study.

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited disease that affects multiple organ systems including bone and teeth. Limited knowledge exists on dental and oral health in patients with adult-onset HPP (aHPP). The aim of this study was to investigate oro-dental characteristics in patients with aHPP compared to healthy controls. This case-control study included 20 patients with aHPP compared to 31 healthy controls. Oro-dental manifestations were examined by standardised interviews, clinical examinations as well as radiological registrations on panoramic radiograph (OP) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. The subjective experience of tooth fractures (p = 0.010), caries in permanent teeth (p = 0.032) and early loss of permanent teeth (p = 0.002) was significantly higher in patients with aHPP compared to the controls. In the aHPP group, the presence of specific teeth (p ≤ 0.045) and attrition of 11 were significantly lower (p = 0.012) compared to the controls. Opacity of a few teeth (p ≤ 0.049), presence of denticles (p = 0.024), the distance between the enamel-cement junction (CEJ) and the marginal bone level at specific sites (p ≤ 0.021) and crown height of 11 (p = 0.017) were significantly higher in patients with aHPP than in healthy controls. The results indicate that patients with aHPP have a subjective experience of having poorer dental health. Loss of permanent teeth, less attrition, tooth opacities, denticles and larger distance between CEJ and marginal bone level are possible oro-dental findings in patients with aHPP.

The impact of physical activity on the prevalence of edentulism: an analysis of the relationships between active lifestyle and dental health.

Edentulism is considered the ultimate sign of oral health disease burden. It is a common and frequent clinical disease, mostly seen in the elderly, which has been reported to be closely associated with many diseases. While physical activity is known to benefit many chronic diseases, the relationship between the volume of physical activity and edentulism remains unclear. The CHARLS provided the data for this study. A total of 6,480 participants were enrolled in this study, of whom 46.02% were male and 53.98% were female. The edentulism was defined according to self-report and physical activity volume can be represented by metabolic equivalents. Multiple logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, threshold effects analysis, and Cox regression models were used to explore the relationship between physical activity volume and edentulism. In the fully adjusted model, physically active participants had a 24% lower risk of edentulism compared to those who were physically inactive. Then, we subdivided participants with adequate physical activity into four levels: 600 ≤ PAV < 1200; 1200 ≤ PAV < 1800; 1800 ≤ PAV < 3000; and PAV ≥ 3000. We found that the risk of developing edentulism was lowest and statistically significant at the level of 1,800-3,000 MET-minutes/week physical activity volume (OR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.24-0.69, p < 0.001). A U-shaped relationship between physical activity volume and edentulism with an inflection point of 2514 (MET-minutes/week) was observed. The results of the longitudinal study also confirm the benefits of physical activity volume with edentulism, participants with adequate physical activity volume had a 21% lower risk of developing edentulism than participants with inadequate physical activity volume (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67-0.94, p = 0.008). This study reveals a U-shaped relationship between physical activity volume and edentulism. Physical activity reduces the risk of developing edentulism in middle-aged and older populations, but it is important to control the appropriate volume of physical activity.

Area-Level Factors of Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents in European Neighborhoods - a Systematic Review.

The WHO emphasizes the importance of taking area-level factors into account when formulating public health interventions. The aim of this systematic review was to identify which area-level factors are associated with children's dental caries in Europe and might therefore be a suitable starting point for public health interventions. We conducted a systematic review based on a search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library including all European studies on caries in children and their area-level factors published since the year 2000 in English or German. We included 39 studies and identified 13 area-level factors investigated in the literature: degree of urbanization, deprivation, mean housing price, gross-national product, mean level of education, unemployment proportion and income, density of supermarkets, snack bars and dental offices, health, diet, and crime. Rural residency and higher unemployment were weakly associated with poorer oral health regarding dental caries. Deprivation showed a stronger (inverse) association. For income, findings were ambiguous; studies showed associations in both directions. For the other determinants, the included studies found no association. Many studies reported associations between place of residence and children's dental caries, but the mediators on this causal path are still not clearly established. The area-level factors analyzed in this review seem to play a role, but more studies with designs that allow causal interpretation of findings are needed to establish solid robust evidence that can be used in the formulation of future health policies.

Aqueous solubility enhancement of theobromine using eco-friendly hydrotropic phenomena

Theobromine, a bioactive compound found in cacao beans, is recognized for its pharmacological health benefits, such as improving heart health by lowering blood pressure, enhancing cognitive function, supporting respiratory health, providing antioxidant benefits, reducing inflammation, and promoting dental health. However, its limited solubility in water poses challenges for therapeutic applications, necessitating methods to enhance its solubility. The approach to enhance its bioavailability making it more effective for medicinal use and easier to incorporate into various pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Hydrotropic solubilization, utilizing the amphiphilic nature of sodium benzoate, is employed to improve the solubility of theobromine. Through systematic investigation of varying concentrations (0–3 mol/L) of sodium benzoate and temperature conditions ranging between 303 and 333 K, this study is aimed to elucidate their effects on the solubility of theobromine. Standardized protocols were utilized to measure the concentration of dissolved theobromine in sodium benzoate solutions, while thermodynamic properties were analyzed to understand the underlying mechanism. The study discovered that the solubility of theobromine was enhanced by sevenfold in the presence of sodium benzoate. Thermodynamic analysis revealed the solubilization process to be entropy-driven. Additionally, contact angle estimations confirmed increased hydrophobicity with higher sodium benzoate concentration, facilitating the solubilization of theobromine in the aqueous phase. Furthermore, FTIR analysis indicates that the solubilization of the bioactive compound occurs exclusively subsequent to traversing the minimum hydrotropic concentration (MHC).

ISETECH-AI-Powered Dental Consultation Chatbot: Enhancing Public Healthcare Accessibility and Awareness

The evolving landscape of healthcare has witnessed remarkable transformations owing to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and chatbot technology. This paper presents the development of an AI-powered dental consultation chatbot aimed at revolutionizing dental healthcare accessibility and awareness, particularly in the context of Malaysia. The chatbot serves as a valuable resource for dental self-diagnosis, information dissemination, and remote consultations, reducing the need for in-person visits to dental clinics, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. The adoption of chatbots in healthcare has gained momentum, driven by their ability to engage in natural language conversations, disseminate reliable information, and provide personalized assistance. Chatbots have emerged as essential tools in public health management, offering services ranging from disease understanding and information provision to counselling and facilitating doctor-patient communication. In the specific domain of dental healthcare, chatbots have the potential to alleviate challenges associated with iatrophobia (fear of disclosing dental problems) and the need for professional dental consultations. The objective of this work is to develop a user-friendly, AI-powered dental consultation chatbot accessible online. This chatbot allows users to engage in real-life conversations with the machine, conducting short self-diagnosis of their oral health conditions. Users can seek information about their dental issues, understand symptoms, and gain insights into their dental health before or after visiting a dentist. Furthermore, the chatbot system presented in this study holds the potential to ease the workload of dental practitioners by offering an alternative method of consultation. Modern digital dental technologies are increasingly focused on diagnosis and classification tasks, but few have explored the realm of dental consultation chatbots for public use. This project bridges this gap and extends the utility of AI-powered chatbots to the field of dental healthcare. This AI-powered dental consultation chatbot not only addresses the evolving healthcare needs of the post-pandemic era but also contributes to advancing dental healthcare accessibility and awareness among the population.

Consensus statement on "Oral frailty" from the Japan Geriatrics Society, the Japanese Society of Gerodontology, and the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty.

The concept of oral frailty was first proposed in Japan in 2014 by the "Joint Working Committee on Oral Frailty," consisting of three academic societies-the Japan Geriatrics Society, the Japanese Society of Gerodontology, and the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty-to enhance public understanding of oral frailty. Oral frailty is a state between robust oral function (a "healthy mouth") and its decline, characterized by slight declines in oral function, including tooth loss and difficulties in eating and communicating, which increase the risk of impaired oral functional capacity but can be reversed with proper intervention and treatment. Oral frailty can be assessed using the Oral Frailty 5-item Checklist (OF-5) without the need for a dental health professional. Oral frailty is defined as having at least two of the following components: (i) fewer teeth, (ii) difficulty chewing, (iii) difficulty swallowing, (iv) dry mouth, and (v) low articulatory oral motor skills. Approximately 40% of community-dwelling older adults have oral frailty. Oral frailty is associated with poor dietary variety, social isolation, physical frailty, disability, and mortality. This statement introduces the concept and definition of oral frailty, a new assessment tool (OF-5), and concept diagrams for healthcare professionals and the general public. These tools aim to promote public awareness and facilitate collaboration between medical and dental healthcare providers. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Access to dental care among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in India: A scoping review.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) face numerous challenges in accessing dental care. Despite difficulties, more evidence exploring difficulties among this cohort in India is needed. This study aims to conduct a scoping review of articles published in India exploring access to dental care among individuals with IDD. We followed the Arksey O'Malley framework for scoping reviews and the PRISMA guidelines for reporting studies. Findings were analyzed based on Levesque's framework for access. Seventeen articles were collated from five databases. The perceived need for dental care was low, and dental visits were mainly need-based and infrequent. Knowledge regarding dental care did not translate to dental visits. Patient-related barriers were cost, transportation difficulties, fear, lack of dentist skills, patient behavior, and cooperation. From the providers' perspective, most dentists were willing to treat but noted infrastructural and knowledge-based limitations. Access to dental care was limited due to infrastructure constraints and a lack of dentist training. Caregivers and individuals with IDD did not prioritize dental health, faced communication barriers, and were afraid of dental procedures. It is important to improve preventive dental care and raise awareness among caregivers of individuals with IDD in India. Training dentists and incorporating special care dentistry into the standard dental curriculum will improve access.

Welcoming pregnant women as a strategy for adherence to dental prenatal care and health promotion in early childhood

This research deals with implementing Dental Prenatal Care as a public policy in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) to care for pregnant women and their future babies. The legal framework that assures pregnant women's rights of priority in accessing services is usually not enough to guarantee the health promotion coverage goals for this population group, who frequently have low adherence to dental care. Brazilian Unified Healthcare System (SUS) recommends monitoring pregnant women through eight mensal consultations during healthy pregnancy. Oral health is usually not monitored to the same extent, and many pregnant women still go through pregnancy without any dental consultation. This study was proposed to improve dental prenatal care and program adherence by mothers and children in the Basic Healthcare Unit Amaro José de Souza, in the municipality of Barueri, through the increased participation of the dental surgeon in the pregnant women welcoming team. A cross-sectional cohort study was designed to identify and meet the demands of low-risk pregnant women. For six months, all the women attending prenatal care at BHU Amaro José de Souza in Barueri were invited to participate and receive personal guidance from the multi-professional team. Information on dental health was investigated through questions targeting previous knowledge about the recommended moments for the first dental appointment of a child, the importance of exclusive nasal respiration, the identification of craniofacial asymmetries at birth, and general baby care. Attitudes and self-care were also investigated, including prenatal program adherence. Answers were collected in a Google Form platform and analyzed to characterize the group's literacy about prenatal care and breastfeeding and identify information needs about dental health care during pregnancy. At the same time, a welcoming expanded listening, educational, and preventive health action was developed: conversation and sharing experience groups were promoted monthly for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and their families. 90 pregnant women out of the 104 attending the BHU in the six months of the research were invited, and 83 agreed to participate. All the participants declared at least one previous appointment with the healthcare team, 92.8 % of them, with a gynecologist. The nursing team was involved in 53.0 % of the appointments, but only 6.0 % were reported to have been conducted exclusively by a nurse. A dental surgeon appointment was mentioned by 30.1 % of the research participants. The dental health literacy investigation revealed that 57.8 % believed they should only take their babies to a dental appointment after teething, and 27.7 % were aware of the child's craniofacial asymmetries at birth. Only 28.9 % had previous knowledge about the importance of exclusive nasal respiration. Despite only 34.9 % having their first pregnancy, 78.3 % declared they would appreciate receiving information about pregnancy. After the guidance, 72.0 % of the pregnant women had undergone dental prenatal care. Workshops for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers provided a convenient welcoming space, to listen and provide guidance to pregnant women and their families, in addition to demystifying the fear of dental care during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The intervention to guide pregnant women to perceive the BHU as an educational and health promotion space, not just a curative intervention, effectively increased adherence to dental prenatal care. The contact with the Specialist in Functional Jaw Orthopedics in this first phase of life facilitated dental health education and access to more complex cases. The prenatal program adherence, the pregnant woman’s self-care, and the care of the baby were favored by the welcoming, expanded listening, and personalized service.

Is there an association between salivary immune and microbial profile with dental health in systematically healthy children?

ObjectiveThis study aimed to characterize the inflammatory profile of systemically healthy children’s saliva and its association with clinical diagnoses of caries and gingival inflammation.Materials and methodsUnstimulated saliva was collected from 100 children before clinical dental examinations. The saliva samples were analyzed for total protein and specific inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, and TNFα) with Bradford and ELISA assays, respectively. Salivary bacteria were quantified using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain assay. The salivary values were then correlated with age, DMFT index, plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI).ResultsThe mean age of the cohort was 8.08 ± 0.23 years with 49% females, the mean DMF of the cohort was 2.64 ± 0.31, the mean GI was 0.51 ± 0.06, and the mean PI was 1.33 ± 0.07. Significant correlations were found between PI with DMFT and GI. Children with DMFT > 2 had significantly higher levels of IL-8 compared with children with DMFT ≤ 2. IL-6 and TNFα were significantly higher among children with PI > 1 than among children with PI ≤ 1.ConclusionsSalivary cytokine were found to be associate with clinical parameters as DMFT and PI, thus may be a potential tool that reflects dental health status.Clinical relevanceThe presence of salivary cytokines in children may reflect evaluation of dental caries and oral inflammation.

Mental Health, Socioeconomic Position, and Oral Health: A Path Analysis.

Mental health conditions and poor oral health outcomes share bidirectional links, and both are linked to factors related to socioeconomic position (SEP). We used nationally representative survey data to describe the complex interplay of SEP, mental health, oral health behaviors, dental treatment seeking, and oral health. We used data from the 2022 State of Oral Health Equity in America survey, which collects data from US adults on prior depression diagnosis and current depressive symptoms via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and demographic characteristics (age, sex/gender, race, ethnicity), SEP (education, income, employment, home ownership, dental insurance), oral health behaviors (brushing and flossing frequency), dental treatment seeking (time since last visit, plans for visit in the coming year), and self-rated oral health (feeling self-conscious due to poor oral health, having symptoms of poor oral health). We used structural equation modeling to identify latent variables and fit the path analytic models. In the total sample (N = 5,682), SEP was significantly associated with dental treatment seeking (standardized parameter estimate [SE] = 0.55 [0.05]), oral health behaviors (standardized parameter estimate [SE] = 0.34 [0.04]), and mental health (standardized parameter estimate [SE] = 0.59 [0.05]). These factors, in turn, were significantly associated with self-rated oral health (estimates ranging from 0.20 to 0.54, SEs ranging from 0.04 to 0.05). SEP, which involves several major social determinants of health, is directly associated with mental health and indirectly associated with self-rated oral health status, with mental health modifying the relationship between SEP and self-rated oral health. Findings emphasize the need to integrate medical, dental, and behavioral health with the goal of providing comprehensive person-centered care.

Correlation Between Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Bruxism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background The common conditions bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) have a major impact on dental health and quality of life. Even though both disorders have been thoroughly examined, there is still discussion and research surrounding their association. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship, possible risk factors, and therapeutic consequences of the interaction between bruxism and TMD. Methods To summarize the available data on the relationship between bruxism and TMD, a thorough literature review was carried out. Furthermore, information was gathered to look at the connection between TMD symptoms and self-reported bruxism. We searched several databases for the relevant literature. These included; PubMed, Cochrane Google Scholar, etc. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria a group of researchers collaborated to “include” and “exclude” the studies and a total of n=11 studies were considered for final review and analyses. Results The primary endpoint of the current analysis was to evaluate the correlation between temporomandibular joint disorders and bruxism. 10/11 (91%) of the studies advocated for a significant correlation; whereas, only 1/11 (9%) favored that there is a negative association between the two. The overall Odds ratio value was =5.66, CI=95% (4.63-6.91). The overall heterogeneity was found to be Tau2=0.05; Chi2=26.00; df=8; I2=69%. The overall effect size was found to be, Z=16.97 (p&lt;0.00001) which was significant. Conclusion In conclusion, our research shows an important association between temporomandibular joint abnormalities and bruxism, emphasizing the significance of identifying and treating these diseases in clinical settings. When patients report similar symptoms, healthcare practitioners should think about screening for both bruxism and TMD. Multidisciplinary approaches may also be helpful for a thorough examination and course of therapy. To further inform preventive and treatment measures, more study is required to clarify the underlying processes and causal links between bruxism and TMD. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 04 October’24 Page : 1008-1019

Electrosurgical Adjunct for Soft Tissue Management of the Paediatric Dental Trauma Patient

The interface between dental restorations and the neighbouring soft tissue is of key significance for restorative success and longevity. Trauma-related enamel–dentine fractures are frequently present with the restorative challenge of subgingival margins and little remaining tooth structure. This report looks at two paediatric dental trauma patients with extensive crown fractures resulting in subgingival margins, which posed a poor long-term tooth survival. Electrosurgery was used before definitive composite restorations to allow for supragingival margins and access. Each patient attended the Child Dental Health Department at the University of Manchester Dental Hospital for assessment and treatment provision. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article identifies electrosurgery as an increasingly useful adjunct to restorative management of traumatized permanent incisor teeth in paediatric patients.

Influence of Osteoporosis on the Course of Apical Periodontitis.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by disruption of the bone microarchitecture. It is observed in both sexes, but to a greater extent in women. It affects the whole body, including the jaws. The main indicator of the presence of osteoporosis accepted by the World Health Organization is bone mineral density. The aim of this article is to find data on the influence of osteoporosis on apical periodontitis, to investigate how the intake of osteoporosis drugs affects apical periodontitis, and to establish various data that may be of benefit to the dental practitioner when treating patients with osteoporosis and apical periodontitis. Open-access publications are included. The presence of osteoporosis is important to the dentist. Apical periodontitis in these patients has a faster progression. They are characterized by inflammation and destruction of the tissues located around the tooth root. Osteoporosis has a destructive effect on bone tissue through different mechanisms: nuclear factor-κβ ligand and NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β cascade. It is also associated with low estrogen levels. Various medications such as corticosteroids, bisphosphonates (alendronate, zoledronate (Zoledronic acid), calcitonin, raloxifene, and strontium used to treat osteoporosis can affect the course of apical periodontitis. When treating patients with periapical lesions, the dentist must take a proper medical history and general medical history. In cases of osteoporosis or taking bisphosphonates and other medications, consideration should be given to whether consultation with a specialist is necessary, what treatment approach would be most appropriate, and what the prognosis will be. Chronic diseases affect both the general state of the body and dental health. It has been found that in patients with osteoporosis, inflammation of the apical periodontium develops with faster bone resorption. Before starting dental treatment, it is important to specify the etiology of osteoporosis, the bone density of each patient, as well as the medications they are taking.

Knowledge, Attitude, And Oral Hygiene Practices Among Law Students In Chengalpatu District: A Cross‑Sectional Study

Introduction: poor oral health can have a profound effect on the quality of life. The experience of pain, endurance of dental abscesses, problems with eating and chewing, embarrassment about the shape of teeth or about missing, discoloured or damaged teeth can adversely affect people's daily lives and wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral hygiene and dental health knowledge of government law college, chengalpatu district, law students. Materials and methods: thirty questions about fundamental knowledge, mindset, and practice were given to one hundred and fifty law students at the government law college in chengalpatu district, tamilandu india. Microsoft excel was used to tabulate the data, and the statistical package for the social sciences programme was used for statistical analysis. Results: of the participants in this study, only 39.4% were aware that regular dental check-ups were necessary. 8.5% of participants made two annual visits to the dental clinic andof the individuals, 57% had never been to a dental facility. Dental health education is important, according to 65.5% of participants, and it may be important, according to 21.8%. The results indicated a statistically significant association between the participant's year of law degree and the responses, as determined by inferential statistics using the pearson chi-square test. Conclusion: the study's findings indicate that law students' understanding of oral health care and proper oral hygiene is adequate. But the learned knowledge needs to be applied in day-to-day activities. This can be accomplished by altering their perspective on maintaining good dental hygiene

Understanding training needs of dental public health professionals

Understanding training needs of dental public health professionals