Decayed, Missing, Or Filled Teeth Research Articles

Oral health status of Egyptian children with lysosomal storage diseases: An evaluation of dental indices, salivary cytokines level, and bacterial bioburden.

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), a group of inborn errors of metabolism, include various subtypes, for example, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and Gaucher disease (GD). Besides the physical/mental disabilities, they suffer from several oral deteriorations. To evaluate the oral health status of Egyptian children with LSD. Thirty LSD children and thirty non-LSD children were enrolled for this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Dental indices were used to assess caries prevalence and periodontal status. Saliva samples were collected from all enrolled children to estimate interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and protein levels as well as Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli colony counts. Children with MPS and GD showed non-significant differences in decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) scores (p = .115). Scores of dmft showed a significant increase in MPS, but not in GD children (p = .020, p = .127). Children with LSD showed significantly increased Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Plaque Index (PI), Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-s) scores (p < .001) and salivary IL-6 and TNF-α (p = .007, p = .001, p < .0001, p = .002, respectively) and salivary total proteins (p = .001) levels. Unexpectedly, non-significant differences were observed in salivary Streptococcus mutans or Lactobacilli counts in children with MPS and GD (p = .058, p = .420, p = .502, p = .053, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first article that evaluates Egyptian children with LSD. We demonstrated high caries prevalence in primary teeth, not permanent teeth, in children with MPS and poor gingival/hygiene status in children with MPS and GD, which triggered a state of inflammation. The daily supplement intake prevented oral bacterial growth. The most probable cause of oral alterations is decreased salivary flow rate, as deduced from a significantly increased salivary protein.

An Observation Study of Caries Experience and Potential Risk Assessments among Disabled Individuals Living in an Institutional Rehabilitation Centre.

The aim of this study was to conduct salivary, microbiological, and caries risk assessments in relation to caries experience among individuals with intellectual disability in an institutional center in the Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 89 patients residing in special care homes in the Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia, from October 2023 to February 2024. The demographic details of all participants were recorded. Clinical oral examinations were performed for the decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) and plaque indices. Salivary and microbiological assessments were also carried out. The mean age of the study sample was 30.11 ± 4.39 years, and the mean duration of years spent residing in the facility was 26.49 ± 4.66. There was no significant difference observed across plaque scores, S. mutans colony count, salivary rate, pH, DFMT, and caries experience when they were compared across the levels of severity of intellectual disability. Statistically significant differences were observed across diet score, circumstance score, and chances to avoid caries and were found to be correlated with the severity of intellectual disability (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.002), respectively. The cariogram revealed that participants in this study had poor oral health status, with participants with severe intellectual disability having higher diet scores, frequency scores, and susceptibility scores; hence lesser chances to avoid dental caries. Regular dental check-ups, including cleanings and other treatments if necessary, seem to be fundamental to prevent dental issues and maintain healthy teeth and gums for this group of people. Developing interventions that focus on improving oral health status among intellectually disabled individuals may be recommended to ensure the optimum level of support and reduce the burden of dental decay among those individuals.

Dental health and lung cancer risk in the Golestan Cohort Study

BackgroundPoor oral health has been linked to various systemic diseases, including multiple cancer types, but studies of its association with lung cancer have been inconclusive.MethodsWe examined the relationship between dental status and lung cancer incidence and mortality in the Golestan Cohort Study, a large, prospective cohort of 50,045 adults in northeastern Iran. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between three dental health measures (i.e., number of missing teeth; the sum of decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT); and toothbrushing frequency) and lung cancer incidence or mortality with adjustment for multiple potential confounders, including cigarette smoking and opium use. We created tertiles of the number of lost teeth/DMFT score in excess of the loess adjusted, age- and sex-specific predicted numbers, with subjects with the expected number of lost teeth/DMFT or fewer as the reference group.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 14 years, there were 119 incident lung cancer cases and 98 lung cancer deaths. Higher DMFT scores were associated with a progressively increased risk of lung cancer (linear trend, p = 0.011). Compared with individuals with the expected DMFT score or less, the HRs were 1.27 (95% CI: 0.73, 2.22), 2.15 (95% CI: 1.34, 3.43), and 1.52 (95% CI: 0.81, 2.84) for the first to the third tertiles of DMFT, respectively. The highest tertile of tooth loss also had an increased risk of lung cancer, with a HR of 1.68 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.70) compared with subjects with the expected number of lost teeth or fewer (linear trend, p = 0.043). The results were similar for lung cancer mortality and did not change substantially when the analysis was restricted to never users of cigarettes or opium. We found no associations between toothbrushing frequency and lung cancer incidence or mortality.ConclusionPoor dental health indicated by tooth loss or DMFT, but not lack of toothbrushing, was associated with increased lung cancer incidence and mortality in this rural Middle Eastern population.

The associations between dental disease and systemic health.

Understanding the relationship between a patient's systemic and oral health is key for clinicians. The aim of this study was to determine if there is an association between specific findings in a dental exam, such as class V carious lesions, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification as a proxy for systemic health. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patient charts that met inclusion criteria including detailed, complete, and vetted charts obtained over a three-year period in the predoctoral clinic of a United States dental college. Findings recorded at the initial exam included the decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) score, the location of carious lesions and restorations, the presence of periodontal disease, the number of endodontically treated teeth and the number of fractured teeth or restorations. We found no association found between DMFT score and ASA status but did find that ASA I patients had a higher degree of occlusal carious lesions and that ASA III patients were more likely to have interproximal restorations and fractured teeth. We found associations between a greater number of missing teeth and the presence of periodontal disease with worsening ASA status. Our data suggest that ASA classification cannot be used as a reliable predictor for the health of a patient's dentition or the number of cervical caries. However, the data does demonstrate a positive correlation between the number of missing teeth and ASA status, promoting the idea that the number of missing teeth is a crude prognosticator of systemic health. This information can be used by physicians and dentists to help understand the relationships between a patient's dental and systemic health.

Relationship between dental anxiety levels and oral health among dental patients in Turkey: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health in adult patients who applied to the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry at Suleyman Demirel University.MethodsThe study included 500 subjects. The dental anxiety levels of the patients were determined using a modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS). Information on sociodemographic details, oral hygiene and nutritional habits were recorded. Intraoral examinations of the subjects were performed. Caries prevalence of individuals was determined using the decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) and decayed, missing, or filled surfaces (DMFS) indices. Gingival health was evaluated using the gingival index (GI). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis and Chi-square tests and Spearman correlation analysis.ResultsThe ages of the 276 female and 224 male participants ranged from 18–84 years. The median MDAS value was 9.00. The median DMFT and DMFS values were 10.00 and 23.00, respectively. The median MDAS values ​​of women were higher than those of men. Individuals who postponed their appointment had a higher MDAS median value than those who did not (Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between dental anxiety level (MDAS) and GI, DMFT and DMFS index scores (Spearman correlation analysis, p > 0.05).ConclusionThe MDAS values of individuals who did not remember the reason for their dental visit were higher than those who visited the dentist for routine control. Based on the findings of this study, further research on the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health is necessary to determine the factors that pose a risk for dental anxiety and to ensure the regular benefits of dental services.

Relationship between dental fluorosis, dental caries and salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans.

Worldwide, dental caries is an endemic infection and a significant public health problem. Fluoride reduces caries by helping to prevent demineralisation, by remineralising early carious lesions, and by decreasing the activity and growth of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Fluoride intake above the optimal levels leads to a condition known as dental fluorosis, which causes hypo-mineralisation of the tooth. Some studies have revealed that the severity of fluorosis is directly proportional to caries, but some showed opposite results. Hence, with these contradicting results, this study was undertaken to identify the relationship between different grades of dental fluorosis, dental caries and the most common cariogenic bacteria S. mutans in saliva. A total of 90 subjects within 14- to 16-year age range were selected and categorised depending on the severity of fluorosis into three groups: group I (mild), group II (moderate) and group III (severe) based on modified Dean's fluorosis index criteria (1942). Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected using the oral rinse technique and processed for quantification of S. mutans using Mitis Salivarius Bacitracin Agar medium. The number of colony-forming units (CFUs) was determined using a colony counter and expressed as ≥102, ≥103, ≥104 and ≥105 CFUs per ml of the sample, in accordance with the scale recommended by the manufacturer (HiMedia Laboratories). The severity of the caries was measured using decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT). Observations revealed that the overall DMFT was directly proportional to the level of S. mutans titres. It was observed that 67 to 73% of participants showed fewer colony counts (102 and 103) with minimal DMFT scores and 27 to 33% showed higher counts (104 and 105) with higher DMFT scores in all the groups. 105 CFUs of group III showed the highest mean DMFT scores (2.9) with an increased number of involved subjects than group II (2.3) and group I (1.5). In all, male participants had higher bacterial titres and DMFT scores than females. Fluoride in the drinking water served as anticariogenic agent regardless of the severity of fluorosis. Severe fluorosis with a higher incidence of caries and increased CFUs of S. mutans clearly indicates the importance of preventive measures and early treatment to reduce the severity of fluorosis and prevalence of dental caries.

Validation of the Malay Oral Impacts on Daily Performances and Evaluation of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in a Multi-Ethnic Urban Malaysian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) can be used as a generic or condition-specific oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) instrument. It offers different contexts on how dental conditions affect OHRQoL. This cross-sectional study aimed to validate a newly translated Malay OIDP (OIDP-M), compare OHRQoL, decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) in Malaysians, and investigate factors associated with OHRQoL. A total of 368 Malaysians were surveyed and examined for DMFT. Short-form oral health impact profile-Malaysia [S-OHIP(M)] and OIDP-M were used to measure OHRQoL. The OIDP-M was tested for reliability and validity. DMFT, S-OHIP(M), and OIDP-M between ethnicities were compared. Associations between ethnicity, DMFT, S-OHIP(M), and OIDP-M of Malays and Chinese were evaluated through partial correlation. Malays and Chinese had more filled teeth and DMFT compared with Indians. Malays reported worse OHRQoL through S-OHIP(M). Decayed teeth were positively associated with S-OHIP(M), physical, psychological, social disabilities, and handicap. For OIDP-M, decayed teeth were positively associated with OIDP-M, working, and sleeping. Missing teeth and ethnicity were positively associated with eating and speaking. Filled teeth were negatively associated with cleaning teeth. The OIDP-M was reliable and valid for evaluating OHRQoL. There were differences in DMFT and OHRQoL between ethnicities. Ethnicity affects OHRQoL, where Malays experienced worse OHRQoL due to dental problems.

Anticholinergic medication and dental caries status in middle-aged xerostomia patients-a retrospective study

Background/purposeXerostomia is the most frequent side effect of anticholinergic (AC) medications, which block the cholinergic neurotransmission of saliva secretion. As the most significant increase in AC medications’ usage reported in middle-aged adults, we aimed to explore whether the level of exposure to AC medication show association with the severity of caries status of middle-aged individuals who complained about medication-induced xerostomia. Materials and methodsOur retrospective study included 414 individuals (between 45 and 64 years) with self-reported xerostomia. We determined caries status by the Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and quantified the level of AC drug exposure by the AC Drug Scale (ADS), verified through electronic medication records. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square and ANOVA tests. Covariates were age, gender, smoking, edentulism, comorbidities, polypharmacy, number, and the type of AC medications. ResultsIn total, 54% of patients were taking five or more AC drugs. The mean number of anticholinergics was 5.41 (±3.44), most frequently antidepressants and antipsychotics, among all medications 10.63 (±5.79). Higher ADS scores were associated (p = 0.006) with a higher number of missing teeth. Multiple linear regression model showed that the number of AC medications, age, and smoking status are associated with DMFT (mean of 18.7 ± 8.96) scores. ConclusionCaries status of middle-aged xerostomia patients was found to be reflective of the level of AC exposure from medications. Our finding emphasizes the importance of assessing AC medication burden in affected dental patients to improve clinical prevention strategies and guide interdisciplinary treatment plans.

Implementing policies and programmes to reduce the impact of globalisation on oral health in Pacific Island Countries and Territories

Very little research focuses explicitly on oral health in Pacific Islands countries and territories (PICT). However, oral health will continue to be a concern if policies, programmes, and strategies are not implemented to reduce poor oral health and inequitable outcomes that will affect many Pacific communities. A review of available studies written between 1969 and 2018 shows that dental caries and periodontal diseases were identified as the most significant oral health issue in PICT. The globalisation of imported food products that are high in sugary content has further exacerbated the increase in DMFT (decayed, missing or filled teeth). With the introduction of tobacco, there have also been many oral health issues with oral cancer, periodontal disease, and periodontitis. There is a need for a sugar tax policy, food policy changes, tobacco policy and the removal tax of oral health products in PICT. In addition, most oral health services are provided in the hospitals and often work within their own departments whereas they might be better working closely with other departments such as the public health team or the education sector so, therefore, there needs to be a coordinated collaboration approach with other services that can promote good oral health policies and health promotion activities.

Oral and dental health status in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer

A prospective, longitudinal assessment of oral and dental health status was done from baseline until treatment completion in patients scheduled to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC). One hundred fifty consecutive, treatment-naïve adult patients with biopsy-proven LAHNC scheduled to receive NACT were recruited. One hundred thirty-five patients completed all assessments at 3 designated time points: baseline (T0), midtreatment (T1), and posttreatment (T2). Variables assessed were: Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) score; decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) score; mucositis grade; pain score; and grade of trismus. Median OHI-S scores showed a statistically significant increase (higher the score, poorer the oral hygiene) when the patients were evaluated from baseline to completion of NACT (T1 vs. T2; T0 vs. T2; P < .001), which indicated a decrease in oral health. There was no change in median DMFT score (P = .32), but a significant change was seen in all-grade mucositis over time (P < .001). Median pain scores and trismus grades decreased significantly (P < .001) over time. There was a decrease in oral health status without any change in dental health seen in patients undergoing NACT. Mucositis was initially noted as an aftermath of chemotherapy, which resolved with time.

Racism and oral health inequities; An overview

Oral health is uniquely positioned to reflect both contemporary and cumulative race-based health inequities. For example, the most common clinical measure of dental caries experience, the Decayed, Missing or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, may be used to simultaneously present current inequities in experience of dental disease (D), as well as past exposure to inequitable treatment of that disease that is either radical (M) or conservative (F) across the life course. In so doing, this index captures the cumulative effect of racism operating at various societal levels, including race-based discrimination in dental care.

Dental caries status is associated with arteriosclerosis in patients on hemodialysis.

We previously found that worse dental caries status was associated with high pulse pressure among patients on hemodialysis, indicating that such patients might have arteriosclerosis. In this study, we used abdominal computed tomography to evaluate arteriosclerosis in patients on hemodialysis and investigated the association between arteriosclerosis and dental caries status. We also prospectively examined risk factors associated with 2-year prognosis. The dental caries and periodontal disease statuses of 80 patients on hemodialysis were evaluated using the decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) index, and periodontal pocket depth, respectively. The aortic calcification index was semiquantitatively measured using computed tomography images of the abdominal aorta. Clinical data were also analyzed after all patients on hemodialysis provided written, informed consent to participate in the study. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the DMFT and aortic calcification indexes. Multiple regression analysis showed that the DMFT index was significantly correlated with the aortic calcification index, following adjustment for age, sex, and dialysis period. Thirteen of the 80 patients died during the 2-year follow-up period; logistic regression analysis showed that mortality rate was significantly associated with the aortic calcification index, but not the DMFT index. However, periodontal pocket depth was not correlated with the aortic calcification index. These findings suggest that worse dental caries status could be associated with arteriosclerosis among patients on hemodialysis, which may indirectly affect the prognosis of arteriosclerosis in these patients.

A Longitudinal Study of DMFT Counts in a Population of Ljubljana Over a Thirty Year Period.

Few longitudinal studies on changes of decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) counts in a population have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in DMFT counts in Ljubljana citizens in a 30-year period. 238 dentate subjects that attended the third epidemiological study were invited. Ninety 45-95-year-old subjects (37.8%) responded to our invitation. Two (2.2%) edentulous subjects were excluded. Among the dentate subjects there were 28 men and 60 women. They were divided in six age groups with mean age of 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 95 years. The number of subjects in each age group was: 29, 12, 21, 18, 7, and 1, respectively. For evaluation of the state of teeth we used the DMFT index. The average DMFT value for 45-95-year-old population was 19.3. Mean DMFT counts in all comparable age groups (45-, 55- and 65-years) decreased in 30 years. In 45 year olds they decreased from 17.5 to 15.7, in 55-year-olds they decreased from 20.4 to 19.2, and in 65 year olds they decreased from 22.5 to 20.7. An increase of the average number of present teeth (for 6.4 teeth in average) from the first to the fourth study in subjects of the same age was seen. Dental health in Slovenia has improved in 30 years. Average DMFT counts in subjects of the same age (45-, 55- and 65-years) have decreased. Ljubljana citizens have less decayed, less missing and more filled teeth than 30 years ago.

Caries Prevalence and Severity in Immature Permanent First Molar Teeth in Sanliurfa City, Turkey Molar Teeth in Sanliurfa City, Turkey

The prevalence of dental caries, a major public health problem in high-income countries, is gradually increasing in many low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and severity of caries in the immature permanent first molars (PFMs) of children aged 7–9 years. Methods: This work is a retrospective analysis of caries in immature PFMs as observed from the panoramic radiographs of patients aged 7–9 years who presented to the pediatric clinic. The mean number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) and caries severity of immature PFMs were assessed. Results: A total of 3,112 PFMs from 778 patients were included in the study; 51.2% of the patients had at least one carious PFM. When caries prevalence was stratified by age, prevalences of 41.2%, 51.6%, and 60.4% were observed for children aged 7, 8, and 9 years, respectively. The relationship between age and presence of caries was statistically significant (p<0.01). The ratio of teeth with extensive-stage caries relative to all PFMs was 10.5%. Conclusions: In this study, the prevalence of caries in the immature PFMs of children aged 7–9 years was 51.2%, and the mean DMFT was 1.19. The finding that approximately 10% of PFMs exhibit extensive caries within 2–3 years after eruption is a serious concern.

The relationship between molar incisor hypomineralization, dental caries, socioeconomic factors, and polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene: a population-based study.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes increase the prevalence of dental caries, molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH), and hypomineralized primary second molars (HPSM). A representative population-based sample of 731 schoolchildren, 8years of age, was randomly selected in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. MIH, HPSM, and dental caries were clinically assessed by four calibrated examiners (kappa > 0.80) using European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (2003) criteria, the modified Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) index, and the Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index by the World Health Organization (2013), respectively. The VDR rs739837 and rs2228570 polymorphisms were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Associations were analyzed by Poisson regression with robust variance (α = 0.05). Schoolchildren with MIH presented a higher prevalence of dental caries (DMFT > 1, PR = 2.52, confidence interval = 1.60-3.97, p ≤ 0.001). No association was observed between MIH, HPSM, and dental caries, with rs739837 and rs2228570 polymorphisms. Individuals with the GT/GG genotype in rs739837 polymorphism presented a higher prevalence of MIH in molars and incisors than individuals TT (PR = 2.34, confidence interval = 1.08-5.07, p = 0.03). Children with MIH presented a significanthigher prevalence of dental caries than children without MIH. To carry at least one G allele in rs739837 was associated to higher prevalence of MIH in molars and incisors. Our findings suggested that more severe cases with incisors affected by MIH could be associated with polymorphism in VDR gene.

Anticholinergic Drugs and Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore, in a sample population of people with schizophrenia (PWS), the role of the anticholinergic burden on the perception of oral health-related quality of life (OHrQoL) in France.MethodsA pilot study was performed between March 2014 and January 2016. PWS were recruited from a population in Côte d’Or department in France. Dental status was investigated using the Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, the Xerostomia Index (XI), and the Global Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) for OHrQoL. The anticholinergic impregnation score was recorded using the anticholinergic impregnation scale (AIS).ResultsA sample of 62 people was selected. The DMFT score was 16.5± 8.7, the XI score was 22.9±7.8, the GOHAI score was 43.0±8.8, and the AIS score was 3.1±2.8. In total, 169 drugs were prescribed to the people of our sample, and 114 different anticholinergic drugs were observed. The most frequently used anticholinergic drugs (51.40%), in the study had a low antimuscarinic potency (1 point according to AIS scale). The multiple linear regression model showed that the OHrQoL scores were significantly lower when the DMFT scores, XI score, and anticholinergic scores were high.ConclusionsThis pilot study highlighted the potential role of the anticholinergic burden on the OHrQoL of PWS. A study with a validated specific scale for the OHrQoL and a standard anticholinergic burden scale should be conducted to clarify the role of anticholinergic drugs on the OHrQoL for PWS.

Prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in Polish 15-year-olds.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) can occur at any age. They may cause health, functional, esthetic, and psychological problems, negatively affecting quality of life. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, causes, treatment, and risk factors of TDIs among Polish adolescents. As part of a cross-sectional national monitoring survey concerning the oral health condition and its determinants in the Polish population, 992 15-year-olds of both sexes were examined. The subjects were the residents of the urban and rural areas of 10 from a total of 16 provinces of the country. Caries-affected teeth were assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and caries prevalence and the decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) index values were calculated. Traumatic dental injuries were assessed with the use of the WHO criteria, modified for retrospective evaluation. The details of clinically diagnosed TDI were supplemented by a questionnaire and an interview. Overall, TDIs occurred in 22.0% of the subjects, similarly often in urban and rural areas (23.0% and 20.9%, respectively; p = 0.439), and more frequently in males than in females (26.2% and 18.2%, respectively; p = 0.002). The most common damage was crown fracture (46.2%), followed by luxation (43.9%) and avulsion (9.9%). Among the traumatized teeth, 73.8% received crown fracture restorations, 29.6% root canal treatment, and 17.5% were splinted due to luxation or avulsion. The most common cause of TDIs were accidental falls - 96.3%, including playing sports (27.1%), the other referred to violence/fight (3.7%). Nearly 14% of the accidents took place at school. The likelihood of TDI experience in males was 1.59-fold higher than in females. Males revealed a 2.76-fold higher probability of TDI incidence during participation in sports activities. Other predictors of TDIs were a low level of education of the mother, a poor socioeconomic status and a high DMFT score. A relatively high prevalence of TDIs in Polish 15-year-olds calls for effective planning and intervention to prevent the occurrence of the injuries and their aftereffects.

Possible link between dental diseases and arteriosclerosis in patients on hemodialysis.

BackgroundPatients on hemodialysis must undergo this procedure at a hospital three times weekly and might be unable to visit a dentist. In addition, dentists might hesitate to provide oral care because such patients tend to bleed because they are medicated with anticoagulants, are susceptible to bacterial infections, and might have unusual drug reactions. We postulated that patients on hemodialysis have worse oral status than healthy people, which in turn might predispose such patients to systemic complications.MethodsWe compared the status of dental caries and periodontal diseases among 80 patients on hemodialysis and 76 healthy individuals (controls) using the decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) index, total number of C4 teeth (destruction of the entire tooth crown), and periodontal pocket depth. Clinical data were analyzed after all patients on hemodialysis and controls provided written, informed consent to participate in the study.ResultsTotal number of C4 teeth (p = 0.021), missing teeth (MT) index (p = 0.0302), and DMFT index score ≥ 24 (p = 0.017) were significantly higher in patients on hemodialysis than controls. Pulse pressure (p = 0.0042) and the prevalence of a history of heart disease such as angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction (p = 0.029) were higher in patients on hemodialysis with higher (≥ 24) than lower (< 24) DMFT index scores. Periodontal pocket depth was not significantly different between these two groups.ConclusionWorse status of dental caries is possibly associated with arteriosclerosis among patients on hemodialysis.

Correlation between tobacco smoking and dental caries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTIONTobacco is responsible for infaust oral conditions and many oral diseases. Dental caries is one of the most prevalent oral diseases. The association between tobacco smoking and dental caries has become an important recent topic of research. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between tobacco smoking and dental caries.METHODSA literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed, EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane, up to December 2018. Original observational articles that estimated relevance between tobacco smoking and dental caries in adults were included. Caries were determined by measurements of decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT), or decayed, missing or filled surface (DMFS), or caries-related microflora levels. Trials did not include a non-smoking group, exposure to smokeless tobacco products, or participants under 16 years old. Also, literature reviews, comments, case reports and letters to the editor were not considered. Both methods of systematic review and meta-analysis were adopted. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the methodological quality of all the included studies.RESULTSTen out of eleven of the included studies indicated a positive association between tobacco smoking and dental caries. Two meta-analyses were performed: one included five studies using DMFT as an outcome; the other included two studies of DMFS. A random effects model was used. Both were highly heterogeneous (I2=93%, chi-squared p<0.00001; I2=70%, chi-squared p=0.07, respectively) and statistically significant (mean difference, MD=1.20, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.40–2.00, z-test p=0.003; MD=1.88, 95% CI: 0.99–2.77, z-test p<0.0001, respectively). The quality scores of all varied from 7 to 9.CONCLUSIONSThere is a correlation between tobacco smoking and an increased risk of dental caries. However, the overall representativeness of the studies is not good. More prospective and extensive research on this topic is needed to get validation. Even so, it is imperative that people quit tobacco smoking.

Oral health in schizophrenia patients: A French Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status of a sample of patients with schizophrenia (PWS) in Côte d'Or region (France) and to determine the factors associated with dental status. A multicenter cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. PWS were selected using a random stratified method. Dental status was investigated using the Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, based on 32 teeth. The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), the Xerostomia Index (XI) and the Global Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) for Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHrQoL) were recorded. Among the 302 persons identified, 109 were included (acceptance rate was 49.1%). Of these, 61.5% were men. The mean age was 46.8 years±12.0 years. The majority (78%) had completed a secondary education (SE). The mean duration of mental illness (DMI) was 17.9±9.4 years, and 55.5% were taking drugs. The mean DMFT was 16.6±8.1. There was a significant relationship between age, SE, oral health variables, medical conditions and OHrQoL. PWS describe a poor OHrQoL. The dental and hygiene index scores are poor. We observed a lack of brushing and of dental visit for these persons and a gap in oral health between PWS and general population.