Dental Clinic Population Research Articles

Validity of patient self-reports and clinical signs in the assessment of sleep bruxism based on home-recorded electromyographic/electrocardiographic data.

Reliable and suitable bruxism assessment would be desirable, but available studies presented heterogeneous results. To determine the agreement of patient self-reports and clinical signs of sleep bruxism (SB) with electromyographic/electrocardiographic data. Two hundred individuals from a German dental clinic population (120 women and 80men) participated in the study. Participants completed different SB questionnaires, had a clinical examination to evaluate bruxism signs and used the Bruxoff® device to record electromyographic/electrocardiographic data for five nights. To investigate interrater reliability for clinical diagnosis of bruxism, 126 of the 200 participants were assessed for clinical signs of bruxism by two independent uncalibrated examiners. Statistical evaluation included calculation of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy and of Cohen's kappa. Based on the Bruxoff® data, 106 participants were identified as bruxers and 94 as non-bruxers. The 106 bruxers were further classified into 47moderate and 59 intense bruxers. The highest accuracy and sensitivity values were recorded for the overall score for clinical bruxism signs (accuracy: 72.0% and sensitivity: 70.8%). The best specificity (96.8%) was seen for the question regarding tooth grinding in the last two weeks reported by others, but concurrent sensitivity was very low (3.8%). Analysis of interrater reliability revealed a substantial agreement (Cohen's kappa of 0.6). The study results indicate that self-report questionnaires and clinical signs have moderate sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for diagnosing bruxism comparing with an ambulatory device for current SB (Bruxoff®). Regarding interrater reliability for clinical signs of SB, substantial agreement was found between the two examiners. NCT03039985.

Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Diagnosis of Dentigerous Cyst.

Odontogenic cysts have a high prevalence in the dental clinic population, with dentigerous cyst being one of the most frequent ones and whose aetiology involves accumulation of fluid between the reduced enamel epithelium and the crown of an unerupted tooth. In the diagnostic process of these lesions, one should consider complementary imaging exams such as conventional radiography and computed tomography, which are commonly used for providing anatomical information on the tissues compromised by the lesion, but not on the nature of it. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are noninvasive modalities which, due to their unique acquisition characteristics, can provide distinct information on the nature of the lesion. This study reports on a case of dentigerous cyst in the mandible of a 9-year-old patient, documented by means of different imaging modalities. MRI played an important role in both diagnosis of the lesion and differential diagnosis between neoplastic lesions presenting similar imagenological behaviour under other techniques of radiography.

Screening for Elder Mistreatment in a Dental Clinic Population

The purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility and utility of screening for elder mistreatment in a dental clinic population. We approached older adults in a busy dental clinic and enrolled 139 persons over the age of 65 who completed an Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI), which included the Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (HS-EAST). Overall, 48.4% of the participants scored 3 or greater on the HS-EAST, and 28.3% scored 4 or greater. Our study suggests that there is an opportunity to screen in busy dental clinics and to facilitate early detection for those patients who screen positive for elder mistreatment.

Coexistent Concerns

University dental clinic professionals identified increasing numbers of patients with complex problems and generated 2 research questions: (1) Are there significant health and social concerns within the dental clinic population that indicate the need for high-risk screening and social work services?; and (2) How do age, gender, and income influence health and social concerns in this population? This exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study employed a brief self-report survey in a clinic waiting area. Logistic regression was used to understand the influence of age, gender and income on the existence of specific concerns. Results indicate that caregiving, finances and health are issues for 1/3 of the participants and that 44% endorsed 2 or more concerns. These findings were used to develop a routine high-risk screening tool for dental clinic patients and social work services within the clinic; they suggest that community clinics with dental services are an important place for identifying complex unmet needs.

Prevalence and variations of pneumatized articular eminence: A study from Turkey

Pneumatized articular eminence or tubercule (PAT) is an air cell cavity in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone that is similar to air cells in the mastoid process and ethmoid bone. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and variations of PAT among an outpatient dental clinic population at Ankara University, Turkey, to make a contribution to the few current studies about PAT. A total of 1006 panoramic radiographs were retrospectively investigated for the prevalence and radiographic features of PAT. Meta-analysis was done for 4 large case series in the literature and our case series. Furthermore, we performed Chi-square test to evaluate age, gender, localization, and prevalence differences among 5 case series including ours. PAT was found in 19 (1.88%) patients with a mean age of 36.6 (SD 21.06) years. Twelve cases (63.1%) occurred in females and 7 cases (36.9%) occurred in males. Bilateral PAT was found in 7 patients (36.9%). Meta-analysis of 5 large case series revealed a total of 6669 patients, of whom 115 had PAT (1.76% prevalence) occurring over an age range of 7 to 90 years. Fifty (43.47%) occurred in males and 65 (56.53%) occurred in females. Bilateral PAT was found in 28 (24.34%) patients. The result of Chi-square test showed no statistically significant differences among the 5 studies with respect to age, gender, localization, and prevalence. Knowledge about these structures is helpful for the interpretation of imaging such as panoramic radiographs and provides valuable information to understand the spread and differential diagnosis of pathological entities in this region. Moreover, clinicians who are planning to perform temporomandibular joint surgery are advised to assess radiographic imaging thoroughly before the surgery to avoid intra-operative complications and reconstruction.

Factors predictive of nutrition risk in a dental clinic population

Factors predictive of nutrition risk in a dental clinic population

Self‐Reported Mental Illness in a Dental School Clinic Population

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of mental illness in a university-based dental clinic population. Dentists routinely review the patient's medical history to identify any physical disease or condition that may impact dental treatment. Mental illness may also affect dental treatment and patient management. This study examined the degree to which patients seeking routine dental care report these diagnoses. Data was gathered from records of 508 consecutive new patients whose treatment plans were submitted for faculty approval. The patient's self-reported mental illness was obtained from the patient questionnaire and physical evaluation forms of the dental record. One hundred thirty-six patients (26.77 percent) reported at least one mental illness. Of all diseases and disorders recorded in the medical history, self-reported depression was second only to hypertension in frequency. Substance abuse, anxiety, anorexia, bulimia, insomnia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder were also common findings. This study establishes the need for training of dental students to recognize and manage psychologically compromised patients. The dental curriculum must address these issues.

Prevalence of Legionella-specific IgG and IgM antibody in a dental clinic population.

This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of Legionella infection in a dental clinic setting. Serum samples from 270 dental clinic personnel were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect Legionella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies. The pooled-species whole-cell-antigen preparation used in these assays was derived from six Legionella pneumophila strains and one strain each from Legionella bozemanii and Legionella micdadei. Significant levels of IgG and IgM antibodies were found in 20% and 16%, respectively, of the samples. This compares with 8% and 10%, respectively, for a randomly selected non-clinical group from the region (P less than 0.005). Samples from clinic personnel with significant IgG titers (greater than 1:128) were also evaluated for activity to each of the eight single-species antigens, with the following results: L. pneumophila, 45% (combined six strains); L. micdadei, 37%; and L. bozemanii, 18%. Comparing individuals' "years spent in the clinic environment" with the incidence of significant antibody levels strongly suggests that the risk of Legionella infection increases proportionately with increased clinic exposure time (P less than 0.05). Analysis of these data implies that Legionella may be present in the dental clinic environment, thus creating an increased risk for clinical personnel or patients.

A comparison of combinations of clinical and radiographic examinations in evaluation of a dental clinic population

Panoramic periapical anterior and posterior bitewing radiographic, mirror-explorer, and transillumination clinical examinations were performed on 300 patients. Various combinations of the radiographic and clinical examination techniques were compared in terms of their ability to diagnose caries, alveolar bone loss, calculus, periapical bone lesions, impacted teeth, root tips, and miscellaneous conditions. A mirror-explorer clinical examination with panoramic and posterior bitewing radiographs and either anterior bitewing radiographs or transillumination proved to be as efficient in the initial examination of patients as the mirror-explorer clinical examination with periapical and posterior bitewing radiographs.

A comparison of panoramic and intraoral radiographic surveys in evaluating a dental clinic population

The effectiveness of radiographic surveys in detecting basic radiographic signs for the initial examination of patients in a specific dental clinic population was investigated. A sample of 300 patients showed that panoramic periapical and bitewing radiographs are all needed for a complete radiographic evaluation. Panoramic plus bitewings and periapical plus bitewings were the next most effective surveys with either survey being less effective than the other for some radiographic signs.