Caries Experience Research Articles

Association of asparagine in saliva with a lower risk of early childhood caries in undernourished children: a cross-sectional study.

The aim was to investigate the salivary amino acid profile in children with protein-energy undernutrition (PEU) and its association with caries experience in the presence of other risk factors. The study had a cross-sectional design and was carried out with 122 children (12-71months old), classified according to their level ofundernutrition (mild-GI, n = 22; moderate-GII, n = 53) or healthy controls (GC, n = 47). The children were categorized based on the presence of caries into caries-experienced groups (ceos > 0, 22 CG, 12 GI and 18 GII) and caries-free groups (ceos = 0, 25 CG, 10 GI and 36 GII). Total unstimulated and stimulated saliva were collected to determine amino acids and Streptococcus mutans, respectively. Eighteen amino acids were associated with PEU. Undernutrition and caries experience influenced the presence of thefollowing amino acids: L-anserine, asparagine, ethanolamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid,and norleucine. Asparagine was a significant predictor of a lower probability of caries experience in a logistic regression model. Salivary amino acids are associated with undernutrition in children, and the presence of asparagine in saliva relates to a lower caries risk.

The Association Between Periodontal Status, Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Self-Rated Oral Health in Socially Underprivileged Adolescents.

To assess the associations between periodontal conditions, dental caries, sex, psychosocial factors, socioeconomic status, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and self-rated oral health among adolescents living in socially deprived neighbourhoods. A school-based survey was conducted in a random sample of 406 12-year-old adolescents in 11 neighbourhoods in the East region of Manaus, Brazil. Gingival status, dental calculus (Community Periodontal Index), and dental caries (DMFT index) were registered through clinical examinations. Adolescents self-completed questionnaires to assess psychosocial factors (self-esteem, sense of coherence, and oral health beliefs), socioeconomic status (family income, parent's schooling, number of goods, and house crowding), oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) (CPQ11-14), and self-rated oral health. Direct and indirect relationships between variables were tested using structural equation modelling guided by the Wilson and Cleary model. Greater gingival bleeding was directly associated with worse self-rated oral health. Poor OHRQoL was directly linked to the number of teeth with dental calculus, more teeth with dental caries experience, and worse psychosocial factors. Worse socioeconomic status and dental calculus were associated with gingival bleeding. Dental calculus and socioeconomic status were indirectly associated with self-rated oral health via gingival status. OHRQoL mediated the association of dental caries experience and psychosocial factors with self-rated oral health. Gingival bleeding and dental calculus may negatively affect self-reported oral health in adolescents. Socioeconomic status and psychosocial factors were also relevant determinants for oral health in this age group.

Streptococcus mutans and Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

It has been questioned whether Streptococcus mutans can still be considered the major etiological agent for caries. The main argument is that most evidence has been based on single-species identification. The composition of the oral microbiome was not analyzed. This systemic review aims to assess the prevalence and abundance of S. mutans in caries-active (CA) and caries-free (CF) subjects based on clinical studies in which the microbiome was investigated. Three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase) were searched until May 22, 2023, for eligible publications that included CA and CF subjects and reported the detection of both S. mutans and the oral microbial community, using DNA-based methods. The clinical and microbial outcomes were summarized and further analyzed using a random-effects model. Of 22 eligible studies, 3 were excluded due to the high risk of bias. In the remaining 19 studies, 16 reported the prevalence of S. mutans, 11 reported its relative abundance, and 8 reported both parameters. The prevalence of S. mutans in CA was either similar to (n = 4) or higher than (n = 12) the CF group. The reported relative abundance in CA was higher than CF in all 11 studies, although the values varied from 0.001% to 5%. Meta-analysis confirmed the significance of these findings. The summary of microbial community data did not reveal other caries-associated bacterial genera/species than S. mutans. In conclusion, the collected evidence based on microbiome studies suggests a strong association between the prevalence and abundance of S. mutans and caries experience. While the cariogenic role of S. mutans in the oral ecosystem should be recognized, its actual function warrants further exploration.

Assessing the relationship between diabetes mellitus and dental caries among US adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2020.

To assess the relationship between diabetes prevalence and dental caries experience among a representative sample of US adults. Cross-sectional study. We used data on participants 25 years and older with complete data from the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles in 2013-2020. We defined diabetes prevalence using glycohemoglobin and self-reported diabetes. Dental caries was operationalized using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) score from a standardized dental examination. We used Poisson models to examine adjusted associations with dental caries experience or the DMFT score. We found a dose-response association between diabetes prevalence and DMFT score (RR=1.017, 95% CI: 0.994-1.041 for prediabetes and RR=1.045, 95% CI: 1.017-1.074 for diabetes) after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, family income to poverty ratio, smoking status, body weight and last dental visit. Diabetes prevalence was associated with higher dental caries experience. Future studies should examine the mechanism and interventions to ameliorate this association.

Erosive tooth wear, dental decay, and periodontal health in obese and normal weight children and adolescents.

This study aimed to compare the oral health status between normal weight (NW) and obese weight (OW) children/adolescents. Eighty-two participants aged 6-16 years were included in this cross-sectional study. The children/adolescents were classified according to the body mass index (BMI): NW (n=41) and OW (n=41). Caries experience was assessed by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II), decay, missing, filling teeth (dmft) for the primary teeth and (DMFT) for the permanent teeth, erosive tooth wear using Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE), Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI), probing depth (PD). Also, the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 25(OH)D blood biochemistry and oral health was evaluated in obese children/adolescents. Evaluation was made of a sum of 82 children/adolescents, comprising 43 females and 39 males, with a median age of 14 years in the obese group and 13 years in the NW group. Significant differences were determined between patients with NW and those who were obese, particularly in BMI, family income level, and tooth brushing habits. The results of the study indicate that individuals with obesity tend to exhibit significantly higher scores for PI, and GI as compared to those with NW (p<.05) CONCLUSION: Oral hygiene in children with systemic diseases should be treated with a multidisciplinary approach and under regular control by a pediatrician and pediatric dentist, as it may also affect the medical health of the children/adolescents.

Is History of Cardiovascular Disease Associated with Increased Caries Experience among Taiwanese Adults?

This study examined the association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) history and their dental caries experience status. Conducted from January 2021 to June 2023, this cross-sectional cohort study involved 7,138 participants who underwent oral examinations. Data on demographic background, oral health-related behaviors, and smoking status were collected using a structured questionnaire. Dental caries was diagnosed at the cavitation level according to the World Health Organization criteria and calculated into caries experience indices including DMFT, DT, MT and FT. Information on CVD history was obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, including acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and coronary artery disease. Multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the association between CVD history and their dental caries experience status. Of the participants, 158 (2.2%) had a prior diagnosis of CVD. Participants with CVD history had a significantly higher mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index (21.21 ± 8.37) than did those without CVD history (13.4 ± 7.82; P < 0.0001). After adjusting for confounding factors, participants with CVD history had a mean DMFT index that was 2.11 higher (95% CI = 0.99, 3.24, P < 0.01) and 2.21 more missing teeth (95% CI = 1.42, 3.00, P < 0.0001) than did those without CVD history. Subgroup analyses indicated that participants aged ≥ 65 years were predominantly affected. Older participants with CVD history were associated with increased number of missing teeth. The present study design could not conclude a positive association between CVD history and their DMFT status, partly due to the lack of data on the reason of missing teeth.

Parental psychosocial factors and children’s oral health-related quality of life: Data from a caries prevention study with phone-based support

BackgroundCaries burden in children disproportionately affects minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Severe early childhood caries requiring general anesthesia (GA) is a significant concern, with high caries relapse rates in subsequent years.AimTo examine associations between parental psychosocial factors, children’s caries burden, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), including group differences, following a phone-based parental support intervention for children treated under GA for severe Early Childhood Caries (ECC).MethodsData were collected during a randomized controlled trial examining a phone-based parental support program. Parental stress was assessed using the Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ), dental fear was measured with the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS), and dental attitudes were evaluated using the Dental Beliefs Survey (DBS-R). Children’s OHRQoL was assessed using the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and the Family Impact Scale (FIS). The Total Observed Caries Experience index was used to calculate the child’s cumulative caries burden. Unadjusted analyses were performed using t-tests, with effect sizes calculated as Cohen’s d. A two-step path analysis examined how parental factors, intervention, and baseline caries influenced caries burden at a one-year follow-up, while also assessing caries burdens impact on children's well-being.ResultsAt the one-year follow-up, the intervention group demonstrated significantly improved OHRQoL with lower mean scores on the P-CPQ and FIS compared to the control group, indicating fewer oral health issues and less impact on family life. No statistical differences were found in parental stress, dental fears, or dental beliefs between groups. Path analysis identified baseline caries and treatment group as significant predictors of caries burden, while intervention group predicted better OHRQoL outcomes. The model explained 86.2% of caries burden variance and 12.9% of OHRQoL variance.ConclusionA phone-based parental support program significantly improved children’s OHRQoL, even with a higher caries burden in the intervention group at the one-year follow-up. Parental stress, dental fears, and attitudes showed no differences and did not predict caries burden. Preventing early childhood caries in high-risk groups remains challenging, highlighting the importance of preventive initiatives that empower parents and foster collaboration with key stakeholders to reduce severe ECC.Registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ Identifier: NCT02487043.

Caries experience and salivary interleukin-17 level in pre and postmenopausal women

Background: The oral tissues has been affected by menopause in the same way as the other human body systems. Aim of study: This study was set for estimating the experience of caries in correlation to the salivary interleukin-17 level in post-menopausal and pre-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: Females which aged (47-51) years old divided in to : First group (control group) contained forty five pre-menopausal females and the second group (study group) contained forty five post-menopause females and were examined for caries experience on the authority of WHO,(1997)).We'd collect the un stimulated saliva from all females to analyses salivary interleukin-17 level.. Results: In control group the pre-menopause; the mean value of Decayed Surfaces, Missed Surfaces and DMFS were lower than that of study group the post-menopause group with lower level of salivary interleukin-17. Conclusion: menopause influence female's dental health represented by higher dental caries severity which might be related to elevated IL-17 level among postmenopausal women. Further studies recommended with larger sample size with other salivary immune factors types measurement.

Salivary alpha-amylase activity and its association with early childhood caries and rampant caries experience: a cross-sectional study.

This study aims to evaluate salivary alpha-amylase levels in children diagnosed with Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and Rampant Caries (RC) and compare them to levels in children without ECC or RC. It also examines the relationship between salivary alpha-amylase levels and increased caries activity in the children with ECC or RC. A cross-sectional study was conducted at RAK College of Dental Sciences (RAKCODS) with 100 children aged 3-12 years. Participants were divided into ECC and RC groups, each consisting of study and control groups. Salivary alpha-amylase levels were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Statistical analyses, including the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and Pearson's correlation coefficient, were performed using SPSS version 29 to compare salivary alpha-amylase levels between groups and examine correlation with severity of dental caries. The study found that children with ECC and RC had significantly higher mean salivary alpha-amylase levels (16.046 U/mL and 20.62 U/mL, respectively) compared to control groups (5.09 U/mL and 12.70 U/mL). The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Pearson's correlation coefficients indicated a strong positive correlation between salivary alpha-amylase levels and severity of dental caries in both ECC (r = 0.9891, p < 0.0001) and RC (r = 0.9142, p < 0.0001) groups. The study concludes that elevated salivary alpha-amylase levels, which are statistically significant, are observed in children with ECC and RC. Additionally, it was found that salivary alpha-amylase levels increased with the number of carious lesions. These findings suggest that salivary alpha-amylase could serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing caries risk and guiding preventive strategies.

Association of socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, lifestyle habits, and saliva parameters with dental caries in adults with obesity.

To describe the oral health status of patients with obesity and to explore the socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, lifestyle habits (tobacco, alcohol, sweet/acidic diet), and saliva parameters most associated with the dental caries experience. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 204 patients' data with obesity attending a therapeutic education programme. Caries experience (number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth [DMFT]), periodontal status, oral hygiene, occlusal tooth wear, masticatory inefficiency, and saliva parameters were recorded. Mean DMFT was 12 ± 7 and was independently associated with age (mean 47 ± 14 years; for 1 standard deviation (SD) increase: β = 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.16-0.29), female sex (72%; β= 3.76, 95% CI = 1.65-5.87), brushing <2 times/day (35%; β = 2.86, 95% CI = 0.81-4.90), salivary buffering capacity (low [46%] vs. normal [40%]: β = 2.02, 95% CI = 0.08-3.95; very low [10%] vs. normal: β = 3.34, 95% CI = 0.31-6.37), and salivary consistency (bubbly [30%] vs. clear [57%]: β = 2.45, 95% CI = 0.52-4.38). Improving patients' competencies for oral care, such as teeth brushing twice daily, is necessary to limit the burden of dental caries in individuals with obesity. Acting on salivary composition may also be of interest, and further studies are required to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Correlation Between Serum Vitamin D and Calcium Levels and the Risk of Dental Caries in Children in Western Maharashtra, India.

Background Vitamin D and calcium are necessary for tooth health, and a lack of these can cause substantial changes. Dental caries, or tooth decay, is a common childhood illness that causes pain, difficulty chewing, and a lower quality of life. There is a scarcity of research on the correlation between vitamin D and calcium levels and dental caries risk among children in western Maharashtra. Aim and objectives This article aims to study the correlation between vitamin D and calcium levels in serum with the risk of dental caries in children in western Maharashtra. Methodology The study was conducted on 124 children whose blood samples were taken to test for serum vitaminD and serum calcium levels. The DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth)/DMFS (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces) scores of all subjects were recorded. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results The mean age of the subjects was 10.04 ±0.91 years. A statistically significant negative linear relationship was found between serum vitamin D, calcium, and dental caries experience (DMFT and DMFS scores). DMFT and DMFS scores for dental caries decrease as blood levels of vitamin D and calcium rise. The logistic regression study indicated that serum vitamin D has a negative regression coefficient (-0.23) and an odds ratio of 0.4, demonstrating that caries risk and vitamin D levels rise in opposite directions at 60%. Conclusion The study shows a significant correlation between serum vitamin D levels and the risk of dental caries in children in western Maharashtra.

Oral Health of 7- to 9-Year-Old Children Born Prematurely-A Case-Control Observational Study with Randomized Case Selection.

Background: Along with the long-term sequelae of preterm birth for general health, oral health is potentially influenced by prematurity due to developmental and behavioral peculiarities. Objectives: This study aimed to compare oral health parameters in the mixed dentition of prematurely and full-term born children. Methods: Dental caries, developmental defects of enamel (DDE), and gingival inflammation were assessed in 7-to-9-year-old children (n = 38) born preterm (PT) compared to a matched control group born full-term (FT) in Germany. Dental caries was recorded using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) and DMFT/dmft-criteria. DDE was scored with modified DDE-Index and periodontal health by Periodontal Screening Index (PSI). Statistical analysis included McNemar's test and Poisson regression. The significance level was p ≤ 0.05. Results: Caries prevalence was 47.4% in PT and 57.9% in FT. In the primary dentition, FT children were significantly more affected than PT children (1.6 dmft vs. 2.7 dmft; p = 0.035). PT children with extremely low birthweight (ELBW) had the highest caries experience (3.2 dmft; 1.0 DMFT). Prevalence of DDE in primary teeth was significantly higher in PT (55.3%) than in FT children (28.9%; p = 0.008). PSI was 3.8 in PT and 3.3 in FT children, but significantly higher in PT children with ELBW (7.4; p = 0.125). Conclusions: PT children are at higher risk for DDE in primary teeth and compromised periodontal health than FT children. Children with ELBW are most susceptible for dental caries and gingivitis.

Effect of psychological distress on oral health: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIndividuals with psychological distress are at significantly higher risk of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, influence of psychological distress on oral health remains a concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychological distress and its relationship with caries, oral hygiene status, gingival health, and other factors among adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included a sample of 558 adult patients at the Dental Hospital College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The World Health Organization criteria were used to perform an oral examination of participants who responded to a self-administered questionnaire. Psychological distress was evaluated by using the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), which consists of 12 items on a 4-point Likert scale and its score ranges from 0 to 36. The oral health of participants was assessed using the DMFT, plaque, gingival, and simplified oral hygiene indices.ResultsIn this study, 21.5% of participants demonstrated psychological distress, with 16.80% having mild distress and 4.70% having severe distress. The mean score of GHQ-12 of the study sample was 10.47 ± 5.77. Significantly higher median scores of GHQ-12 were observed among participants over the age of 30 years (p = 0.021), low-income individuals (p = 0.008), smokers (p = 0.019), and those with medical problems (p < 0.001). Participants with psychological distress demonstrated significantly higher caries, poor gingival health, and compromised oral hygiene (p < 0.005). Multiple linear regression models revealed significant relationships between psychological distress and the DMFT index (p < 0.001), plaque index (p < 0.001), gingival index (p < 0.001), and simplified oral hygiene index (p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, nationality, income, and education.ConclusionPsychological distress was prevalent among the participants. Higher age, low-income status, smoking, and medical problems were significantly related to psychological distress. Additionally, psychological distress was significantly correlated with dental caries experience, gingival health, and oral hygiene.

Multiancestry Genome-Wide Association Study of Early Childhood Caries.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common noncommunicable childhood disease-an important health problem with known environmental and social/behavioral influences lacking consensus genetic risk loci. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a genome-wide association study of ECC in a multiancestry population of U.S. preschool-age children (N = 6,103) ages 3 to 5 y participating in a community-based epidemiologic study of early childhood oral health. Calibrated examiners used International Caries Detection and Assessment System criteria to measure ECC; the primary trait was the number of primary tooth surfaces with caries experience (i.e., dmfs index). We estimated heritability and concordance rates and conducted genome-wide association analyses to estimate overall genetic effects as well as stratified by sex, household water fluoride, and dietary sugar and leveraged combined gene/gene-environment effects using 2-degree-of-freedom joint tests. Common genetic variants explained 24% of ECC phenotypic variance among unrelated individuals, while concordance rates were 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42-0.79) among monozygotic twins and 0.44 (95% CI = 0.34-0.53) among first-degree relatives. Across all analyses, we identified 21 novel nonoverlapping genome-wide significant loci (P < 5 × 10-8) and 1 genome-wide significant gene (TAAR6) associated with ECC. The taste receptor activity gene set, with known roles in chemosensing, bacterial recognition, and innate immunity in the oral cavity, was strongly associated with ECC. While no locus remained significant after studywise multiple-testing correction, 3 loci were nominally significant (P < 0.05) and directionally consistent in external cohorts of 285,248 adults (rs1442369, DLGAP1 and rs74606067, RP11-856F16.2) and 18,994 children (rs71327750, SLC41A3). Meanwhile, the strongest marker known to be associated with adult caries (rs1122171, tagging the long noncoding RNA PITX1-AS1) was nominally significant (P = 0.01) and directionally consistent with ECC in our study. Taken together, the results of this study add to the genomics knowledge base for early childhood caries, offer several plausible candidates for future mechanistic studies, and underscore the importance of accounting for sex and pertinent environmental exposures in genetic investigations.

Persistent oral health inequality in children—repeated cross-sectional studies in 2010 and 2019

Background and aimChildren growing up in vulnerable circumstances have a higher risk of caries experience. Tracking the development of caries in relation to socioeconomic variables over time is essential for fair resource distribution to groups with higher caries risk and to even out inequalities in oral health. The aim was therefore to analyse the association between 6-year-olds´ caries prevalence and socioeconomic variables at family and residential area levels in 2010 and 2019 as well as potential differences in the association between 2010 and 2019.MethodsThe study design is an epidemiological registry-based, repeated cross-sectional study based on caries data (grouped as 0, 1–3 and > 3 dmft) for the population of 6-year-olds in 2010 (n = 4,408, 95% coverage) and 2019 (n = 5,199, 94% coverage) in a Swedish region. Multiple socioeconomic variables for the children’s families and residential areas were retrieved from official registries. Multinomial logistic regression was performed at both levels to produce models for each level and studied year.ResultsThe variables that explained most of the association between caries and socioeconomic variables were mainly the same over the years at both levels. At the family level, these were: maternal age when having their first child (explained most of the association in both years, at 30 and 35%, respectively); maternal age when having the child in the study group; parental employment; parental and child’s migration background; maternal educational level; form of housing; and financial assistance (only 2010). At the residential area level, these were: migration background (explained most of the association both years; 82 and 52%, respectively), educational level and number of persons per household. The association between socioeconomic variables and caries was consistently stronger for severe caries (dmft > 3) than moderate (dmft 1–3). Multiple socioeconomic risk variables meant an even greater likelihood of caries.ConclusionOver the studied years, variables related to socioeconomic vulnerability continued to be associated with caries in young children growing up under socially disadvantaged circumstances. Effective efforts for families living in socially vulnerable contexts are needed to achieve good and equal oral health, as is continued follow-up to evaluate whether the goal is reached.

Caries Impacts and Experiences and Dental Care Utilization for Saudi Schoolchildren: Caries Impacts and Experiences Questionnaire for Children – A Disease-Specific Measure

Introduction: The Caries Impacts and Experiences Questionnaire for Children (CARIES-QC) is a disease-specific questionnaire that assesses the impact of caries on the oral health-related quality of life of children. This study aimed to establish a baseline for caries-specific impact on schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia and to examine its association with dental care utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study used random stratified cluster sampling among 4th–6th graders in Jeddah. Two surveys were administered: (1) a general parental survey and (2) CARIES-QC, a self-reported survey for children. Clinical examinations were conducted using the decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth (DMFT/dmft) index. Descriptive statistics provided CARIES-QC baseline estimates, and multilevel linear regression was performed to examine the relationships between CARIES-QC scores, DMFT/dmft index, and care utilization. Results: A total of 805 children aged 8–13 years participated. The overall median CARIES-QC score was six (interquartile range, 3–11). A higher DMFT/dmft index was associated with a higher CARIES-QC score (p < 0.05). Children who had never visited a dentist had lower CARIES-QC scores (β = −1.18, 95% confidence interval: −2.33; −0.02, p = 0.045) than those who had visited a dentist in the past 12 months. After adjusting for reasons for dental visits, the CARIES-QC scores were not associated with prior dental visits (p = 0.086). Conclusion: A higher DMFT/dmft index was associated with higher CARIES-QC scores, but prior dental care utilization was not significantly associated with improved CARIES-QC scores. Future research should explore other factors that influence the relationship between care utilization and caries-specific quality of life.

Dental caries and gingival health condition among secondary school adolescents in relation to the nutritional status in Kerbala City, Iraq

Background: Oral health as a part of general health is affected by various, factors including oral hygiene, smoking, age, nutritional status, and socioeconomic status. This study aims to measure the impact of nutritional status on the prevalence and severity of some oral health variables (dental caries and gingival health conditions) to develop plans for future reduction and prevention of both diseases. Materials and methods: The sample included a total of 500 male students aged 15 years old who were randomly selected from secondary schools in Karbala City, Iraq. Dental caries, and gingival health condition were recorded. Anthropometric measurements include measurement of weight and height to determine the BMI =Body weight / (height)2 = BMI kg/m2 and using the CDC growth chart to determine the nutritional status. Data analysis were done by using one-way analysis of variance and Games-Howell post hoc test. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was (95.60%). Caries (DS) and missing teeth (MS) are more prevalent in the underweight group, whereas filling (FS) is more prevalent in the normal-weight group. Caries-free percentages were higher in the group of risk of overweight (6.82%) compared with other nutritional groups. Meanwhile, the prevalence of gingivitis among the students was 100%, all students have had the moderate type of gingivitis (1.1–2). The highest mean of gingivitis belonged to the normal weight group (1.923) and there was a significant difference observed. Conclusion: In this study, dental caries experience was not significantly affected by nutritional status. Meanwhile, nutritional status had a significant impact on the gingival health condition which attracted attention to the importance of healthy nutrition concerning oral health and to develop of a good nutritional school program.

Salivary vitamin D levels in children with autism in relation to oral health status and disease severity

Background: Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, as well as limited patterns of behavior and atypical sensory sensitivity. Although vitamin D insufficiency has previously been observed in autistic children, evidence on the link between vitamin D deficiency, oral health condition, and autism severity is scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate vitamin D levels in relation to oral health status of children with autism, as well as the relationship between vitamin D and disease severity. Materials and methods: Two groups were included in this study: 40 institutionalized autistic children as a study group and 40 apparently healthy children as a control group with age range (3-12) years. Depending on the severity of autistic symptoms, the group was classified into three subgroups: mild, moderate, and severe. The oral examination was performed using simplified oral hygiene and decayed, missing and filled tooth indices to measure oral health status for both groups. Three millilitres of un-stimulated salivary sample was taken by drooling technique, the salivary level of vitamin D assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data from the current study were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: Salivary vitamin D levels were found to be significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. This reduction was not correlated with the severity of autism. 37.5% of the autistic patient group had fair oral hygiene, compared to 20% of the control group; simplified oral hygiene index shows negative significant correlation with vitamin D level while caries experience was significantly higher in patient group and there was a negative non-significant correlation with vitamin D level. Conclusion: The vitamin D level was significantly lower in the patient group with no correlation with disease severity, fair oral hygiene and more caries in both primary and permanent dentition was observed in autistic patients with significant negative correlation between the simplified oral hygiene index and vitamin D, while negative non-significant correlation with dental caries

First steps towards healthy smiles: preliminary analysis of oral health in socioeconomically vulnerable youth in the Federal District

Introduction: Oral health is an essential indicator of general well-being and plays a fundamental role in the physical, social, and psychological development of children and adolescents. In socioeconomically vulnerable populations, the challenges of maintaining oral health can be even more significant due to barriers to access and specific risk factors. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the oral health profile in a sample of vulnerable children and adolescents in the Federal District. Methodology: The study was based on a cross-sectional observational survey, with clinical data collection. Clinical examinations were carried out to assess oral mucosa lesions, dental caries in primary and permanent teeth, and fluorosis. Additionally, questionnaires were administered to obtain demographic and behavioral data. Results: Data from 267 children (mean age: 6.7 years) were analyzed, with 40.4% identified as male and 59.6% as female. In terms of ethnicity, 52.4% identified themselves as brown, 39.7% as white, 7.5% as black, and 0.4% as indigenous. The initial analysis revealed that 18.7% of the children had caries experience in their deciduous teeth and 18% in their permanent teeth, while untreated caries lesions were present in 15.7% of deciduous teeth and 16.9% of permanent teeth. Regression analysis indicated that age was a predictor of caries in permanent teeth (R²: 16.22%, p&lt;0.001) but not in deciduous teeth (R²: 1.67%, p=0.083). Differences by ethnicity were also observed. Conclusion: These findings highlight the prevalence of oral health issues in the studied population and underscore the need for targeted and continuous interventions.

Oral Hygiene, Dietary Habits, and Saliva Properties in Relation to the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth Index of Dental Students: A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: Caries development is associated with poor oral hygiene, inadequate dietary habits, quantitative and qualitative food content, and a high level of bacterial plaque. Physical and chemical changes in saliva composition and particularly changes in its buffering capability play a significant role in caries development. This study aimed to determine the predictors of poor oral health among a sample of second-year dental students. Materials and Methods: The oral health of students was estimated with clinical examination and the DMFT index. The interview included questions about demographics status (gender, age), a dietary habits questionnaire, questions about oral hygiene, and a demonstration of tooth brushing technique. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected to measure buffering capacity and pH. Results: Almost half of the students have a low level of caries experience (46.7%), followed by a slightly smaller number having a medium level (41.3%), while one in eight students (12.0%) demonstrates a high level of caries experience. Male students have a statistically higher DMFT index 5.7 ± 1.2 than female participants 4.5 ± 0.5 (p = 0.036). Significant predictors for the DMFT index score in students were milk [β-coefficient = −0.338, p = 0.011] and yoghurt [β-coefficient = 0.284, p = 0.040] consumption. All students brushed their teeth two or more times during the day, usually after waking up before breakfast and before bedtime. Most students (85.3%) apply the proper tooth brushing technique, with female students applying it more frequently (p = 0.038). The mean salivary pH was 6.9, while the mean buffer capacity was 5.8. Female respondents have a statistically lower buffer capacity (5.8 ± 0.5) than male respondents (6.1 ± 0.4) (p = 0.047). Conclusions: Dentistry students are introduced to good oral hygiene habits, especially female students, while dietary habits should be improved. However, one in eight dental students is at high caries risk. By assessing the level of caries experience, targeted strategies can be developed to promote, maintain, and enhance oral health among dental students.