Mean DMFS Research Articles

Assessment of risk of dental caries among middle school children based on carbohydrate intake in Pune: Cross-sectional study

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between carbohydrate intake and the risk of dental caries among middle school children aged 11-15 years in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Objective: Dental caries is a prevalent oral disease, particularly in this age group, as most permanent teeth have erupted, making them vulnerable to decay if proper oral hygiene and dietary habits are not maintained. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 197 students from various schools in Pune. Data were collected through questionnaires and clinical examinations done through DMFT & DMFS index, focusing on dietary habits, brushing frequency, and oral hygiene practices. Result: The result of the study shows that there is a significant differences in oral hygiene practices based on intake of carbohydrate, with notable correlation between high carbohydrate intake and increased DMFT and DMFS scores. Specifically, children consuming >20% carbohydrates exhibited significantly higher mean DMFT (3.57 + 3.64) and DMFS mean scores (8.71 + 11.41) compared to those with lower carbohydrate intake <20% had low DMFT mean (1.98+1.57) and DMFS mean (3.07+2.99) Conclusion: The study shows that Children consuming more carbohydrates diet showed more dental caries compared to those with less carbohydrate intake

Dental fear and caries prevalence in schoolchildren with hearing impairment in Greece.

There have been limited reports on hearing impaired (HI) children's oral health, but no data on their dental fear. The aim of this study was to assess dental fear and caries prevalence in HI children and adolescents. Upon ethical approval, all elementary and junior/senior high schools for the HI in Greece were invited to participate in the study. Students were asked to fill in the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). High school students additionally answered the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Both questionnaires were translated into sign language by the same licensed interpreter. Caries prevalence was evaluated by dmfs/DMFS indices. Statistics by SPSS Statistics 28 (IBM) included parametric and non-parametric tests (significance at p ≤ 0.05). 33 elementary and 53 junior/senior high school students (mean age = 10.89 ± 2.63 and 16.23 ± 1.33years, respectively) participated in the study. Means of CFSS-DS were 24.1 ± 9.9 and 26.9 ± 10.5, respectively. Mean MDAS (high school students) was 11.3 ± 4.7. Mean dmfs was 2.5 ± 5.2 for elementary and mean DMFS was 3.5 ± 5.4 for elementary and 7.3 ± 9.0 for high school students, higher than similar-age general population. Dental fear was not significantly associated to age, gender, severity of hearing impairment (HI) or caries prevalence. HI children present similar dental fear values, but higher caries prevalence compared to similar-age Greek hearing population.

A Data-Driven Approach Identifies Subtypes of Caries From Dental Charting.

The objectives were to: (i) assess the accuracy of dental data for adults obtained from the Swedish Quality Register on Caries and Periodontitis (SKaPa); (ii) explore whether Latent Class Analysis (LCA) can identify groups of people based on caries data; and (iii) characterise the dental, medical and behavioural characteristics of people in the LCA-derived classes. Caries data from the SKaPa register were compared with clinical data collected by five experienced dentists in a nested subgroup of the Malmö Offspring Study (MOS), namely the Malmö Offspring Dental Study (MODS) (n = 724) for validation. Dental data from SKaPa were then used to classify 61 984 adult participants of the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) into five classes using LCA and DMFS-based quintile ranking, respectively. Dental status (including caries progression over 5 years), medical, anthropometric and behavioural characteristics were compared between the groups. Analyses were replicated in 2767 adults in the MOS. DMFS-scores and number of teeth recorded within -2 to +2 years showed excellent agreement between the SKaPa and reference data with intra-class correlations > 0.90. The five LCA classes differed in mean DMFS from 10.0 to 94.4. There were strong associations between LCA class and health, and health and behavioural measures respectively, including some associations that were not detected using DMFS-ranked quintile groups. LCA class was associated with incremental change in DMFS, DFS, and number of teeth. The results in the MOS cohort were consistent with the results in the VIP cohort. Dental data for adults from the SKaPa registry were considered accurate within 2 years of recording. The LCA approach can classify participants into caries subtypes based on dental charting. These groups differ in health and behavioural characteristics and future caries increment. The LCA approach may capture some information that is missing from DMFS-ranked quintile groups, but is also heavily influenced by total DMFS, meaning that applying LCA in cumulative, highly age-determined diseases, such as caries, is a challenge.

Impact of resin infiltration in controlling proximal initial carious lesion: A randomized controlled trial

: Dental caries is a major public health concern commonly affecting all age groups. Early detection and treatment of such lesions will limit the need for invasive treatment in the future. Resin infiltration is proposed as an encouraging non-invasive approach that can be used as an option in addition to non-operative and operative approaches to treatment.: To assesses the efficacy of micro-invasive interventions (resin infiltration or sealing) for controlling caries progression on proximal surfaces.The randomized clinical trial was carried out among 30 proximal caries lesion patients. After randomization participants were equally allocated in three groups; infiltration, sealant and placebo. DMFT & DMFS index and ICDAS were recorded at baseline, 3 months, 6months and 9 months. The ANOVA and chi square tests were used to determine significant differences between groups. In all tests, p-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. : There is a significant difference in the mean DMFT and DMFS value of infiltration and resin group as compared to control group p value 0.023 and 0.007 respectively. Also infiltration group had lower score as compared to resin group. Also, Infiltration group had the lowest mean ICDAS score at all time points, indicating the lowest severity of tooth decay, followed by the sealant group and then the Control group. : Our randomized controlled trial provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of resin infiltration, sealant, and placebo groups in preventing the progression of early enamel lesions. Resin infiltration was found to be the most effective method.

Oral processing behavior and dental caries; an insight into a new relationship.

Previous evidence suggests an individual variation in the preferred oral processing behavior. Individuals can be classified as firm processing(FPL) or soft processing likers(SPL). FPL(crunchers and chewers) prefer using their teeth while SPL(smooshers and suckers) prefer using the tongue and the palate when processing different food items. Variation in the preferred oral processing behavior has been associated with differences in food texture preference and eating time. Time is one of the factors directly related to the development of dental caries(tooth decay). Oral retention and eating times are associated with greater caries experience. This study aims to explore if a relationship exists between the preferred oral processing behavior and the individual's caries experience. This was a cross-sectional, dental center-based study conducted at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Five hundred participants consented to fill out the preferred oral processing behavior(POPB) questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (including weight, height, and waist circumference) were recorded. A single trained and calibrated dentist registered each participant's caries experience and plaque levels using the DMFS index and plaque index of Silness and Loe. A total of 351(70.2%) and 149(29.8%) participants were typed as FPL and SPL, respectively. SPL demonstrated higher levels of dental caries experience compared to FPL. The mean DMFS score for SPL was 28.8(±25.43) while for FPL was 18.71(± 18.34). This difference remained significant after adjustment for confounders(P<0.001). SPL exhibited a significantly higher mean score for the "M" component(P <0.001) while no significant difference in the mean score of the "D"(P = 0.076) and "F"(P = 0.272) components was observed when compared to FPL. The current findings provide new insight into a possible relationship between the preferred oral processing behavior and an individual's caries experience. A relationship in which the preferred oral processing behavior can potentially affect and/or be affected by the dental caries experience.

Prevalence and Management of Early Childhood Caries in Preschoolers

ABSTRACT Background: “Early childhood caries (ECC)” is a prevalent and serious oral health issue affecting preschool-aged children globally, with adverse effects on their overall health and well-being. Objective: This center-based research designed to investigate the prevalence and management of ECC among preschoolers within a specific setting and evaluate associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was employed, involving 300 preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years. Clinical examinations were conducted, and data on demographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, and dental visits were collected through structured interviews. Statistical analysis was performed to assess ECC prevalence and examine associations between demographic/behavioral factors and ECC severity. Results: The prevalence of ECC among preschoolers was 65%, with a mean dmfs score of 4.2. Factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and oral hygiene practices were associated with ECC severity. Management strategies included topical fluoride application, oral health education, and restorative treatments. Conclusion: ECC remains a significant public health concern among preschoolers. Comprehensive oral health programs targeting this population are essential to mitigate ECC burden and improve oral health outcomes. Further research is needed to address systemic barriers and disparities in ECC prevention and management.

Findings from the 2019 nationally representative oral health survey for adults in Singapore.

The aim of this study was to present key findings from the 2019 national adult oral health survey in Singapore (NAOHS). A multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to recruit participants for a representative national adult oral health survey. A total of 12 212 households were randomly selected from the National Database on Dwellings in Singapore. Within each household eligible persons aged ≥65 years were automatically invited to participate while a Kish selection method was used to invite those between 21 and 64 years old. The survey comprised a face-to-face interview questionnaire and a clinical examination which recorded details of tooth loss, DMFT, DMFS and prevalence of periodontal disease according to the CPITN and the US CDC-AAP classifications. Weighted analysis was performed to adjust for oversampling, non-response and post-stratification. Multivariate regression with backward stepwise selection was carried out to identify predictors of chronic periodontal disease and untreated dental caries. Six hundred and sixty-three participants completed both the questionnaires and the clinical examination. The prevalence of edentulousness was 2.7%. Of participants, 34.8% presented with untreated dental caries with a higher proportion found in those who were aged ≥60 years, of Malay ethnicity, living in 1-2-room public housing and who only visited the dentist when there was a problem. Mean DMFS and DMFT indices were 24.7 and 7.9 respectively. Based on the CDC-AAP classification, the prevalence of moderate-severe chronic periodontitis was 56.9% and increased with age, with a higher proportion in males. Participants with untreated dental caries were more likely to have moderate or severe periodontal disease. Survey findings showed high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease, at 34.8% and 77.6% respectively. A clear socio-economic gradient in the distribution of tooth loss, untreated dental caries and moderate-to-severe periodontitis was observed.

Oral health status, related behaviours and perceived stress in xerostomia, Sicca and Sjögren's syndromes patients - a cross-sectional study.

Mouth dryness increases the risk of some oral health-related conditions. Furthermore, it is unclear if patients with dry mouth engage in appropriate oral health-related behaviours. The study examined oral health, related behaviours, and perceived stress in dry-mouth patients and compared them to matched controls without mouth dryness. Information about 182 dry-mouth patients and 302 age- and sex-matched subjects was retrieved. Three dry mouth groups: xerostomia, Sicca syndrome and Sjögren's syndrome, were formed based on patient self-reported and objectively assessed symptoms. The World Health Organization's Oral Health for Adults and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaires inquired about sociodemographic characteristics, oral health-related behaviours, and self-perceived stress. Clinical oral health assessments included: caries experience measured as total numbers of decayed (DS), missing (MS), filled surfaces (FS), number of remaining teeth, erosive tooth wear and extent of periodontal pocketing. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable tests. The dry-mouth participants had higher mean (SD) DMFS scores than their matched controls: xerostomia patients vs. controls: 74.6 (34.4) and 66.3 (35.4), Sicca syndrome patients vs. controls: 88.3 (34.0) and 70.1 (33.9), and Sjögren's syndrome patients vs. controls: 95.7 (31.5) and 74 (33.2). In comparison to controls, individuals with Sicca and patients with Sjögren's syndromes had lower mean (SD) number of remaining teeth, 15.9 (10.1) vs. 21.7 (8.4) and 13.8 (10.0) vs. 20.1 (9.2), and a lower mean (SD) extent of periodontal pocketing, 20.7 (28.6) vs. 41.1 (31.0), and 21.2 (24.1) vs. 34.8 (34.2), respectively. Xerostomia, Sicca syndrome and Sjögren's syndrome patients had higher odds of using fluoridated toothpaste; OR 1.8 (95%CI 1.1-2.9), OR 5.6 (95%CI 1.7-18.3) and OR 6.9 (95%CI 2.2-21.3), respectively. Participants with Sjögren's syndrome had lower odds of the last dental visit being within the last year; OR 0.2 (95%CI 0.1-0.8). Dry-mouth patients had higher caries experience and fewer teeth than comparison groups but a lower extent of periodontal pocketing. Even though more participants with dry mouth used fluoridated toothpastes, their oral health-related behaviours were not optimal.

A Polygenic Score Predicts Caries Experience in Elderly Swedish Adults

Caries is a partially heritable disease, raising the possibility that a polygenic score (PS, a summary of an individual’s genetic propensity for disease) might be a useful tool for risk assessment. To date, PS for some diseases have shown clinical utility, although no PS for caries has been evaluated. The objective of the study was to test whether a PS for caries is associated with disease experience or increment in a cohort of Swedish adults. A genome-wide PS for caries was trained using the results of a published genome-wide association meta-analysis and constructed in an independent cohort of 15,460 Swedish adults. Electronic dental records from the Swedish Quality Registry for Caries and Periodontitis (SKaPa) were used to compute the decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces (DMFS) index and the number of remaining teeth. The performance of the PS was evaluated by testing the association between the PS and DMFS at a single dental examination, as well as between the PS and the rate of change in DMFS. Participants in the highest and lowest deciles of PS had a mean DMFS of 63.5 and 46.3, respectively. A regression analysis confirmed this association where a 1 standard deviation increase in PS was associated with approximately 4-unit higher DMFS (P < 2 × 10−16). Participants with the highest decile of PS also had greater change in DMFS during follow-up. Results were robust to sensitivity analysis, which adjusted for age, age squared, sex, and the first 20 genetic principal components. Mediation analysis suggested that tooth loss was a strong mediating factor in the association between PS and DMFS but also supported a direct genetic effect on caries. In this cohort, there are clinically meaningful differences in DMFS between participants with high and low PS for caries. The results highlight the potential role of genomic data in improving caries risk assessment.

Assessment of Oral Health Status of Differently Abled Children in Avadi Taluk, Tiruvallur District: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim: To assess the oral health status of differently abled children in Avadi Taluk, Tiruvallur District. Materials and Methods: The current study was carried out at the Carmel Special School in Avadi Taluk, Tiruvallur District. The study included 131 participants (68 men and 63 women). The age of the participants ranged from 10 to 18 years. The subjects underwent a clinical oral examination after recording participant’s medical and dental histories. Results: The mean Simplified Oral Hygiene Index score for the study population was 3.12 ± 1.12 and the mean DMFS score was 8.9 ± 5.69, and the fluorosis index of the teeth was also measured, showing that 14% of participants had mild fluorosis and &lt;3% of participants had moderate fluorosis. Conclusion: This study provides enough proof to conclude that, differently abled children’s oral health was below average and there was an increased unmet requirement for dental care. Children with disabilities face more significant obstacles in maintaining proper oral hygiene and accessing adequate health care, primarily because their limited motor skills and intellectual abilities often prevent them from engaging in essential practices like tooth brushing.

Trajectories of child free sugars intake and dental caries - a population-based birth cohort study

To investigate the association between trajectories of free sugars intake during the first five years of life and dental caries experience at five years. Data from the SMILE population-based prospective birth cohort study, collected at one, two and five years old, were used. A 3-days dietary diary and food frequency questionnaire were used to estimate free sugars intake (FSI) in grams. The primary outcomes were dental caries prevalence and experience (dmfs). The Group-Based Trajectory Modelling method was used to characterize three FSI trajectories ('Low and increasing'; 'Moderate and increasing'; and 'High and increasing'), which were the main exposures. Multivariable regression models were generated to compute adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) and rate ratios (ARR) for the exposure, controlling for socioeconomic factors. The prevalence of caries was 23.3%, with a mean dmfs of 1.4, and a median of 3.0 among those who had caries. There were clear gradients of caries prevalence and experience by the FSI trajectories. The 'High and increasing' had an APR of 2.13 (95%CI 1.23-3.70) and ARR of 2.77 (95%CI 1.45-5.32) against the 'Low and increasing'. The 'Moderate and increasing' group had intermediate estimates. A quarter of the caries cases could have been prevented if the whole study sample had been in the 'Low and increasing' FSI trajectory. A sustained, high trajectory of FSI from a young age was positively associated with child dental caries. Measures to minimise consumption of free sugars must commence early in life. The study has provided high level evidence to inform clinicians' decisions in promoting a healthy dietary pattern for young children.

Clinical assessment of deleterious oral habits and dental caries–periodontal parameters among Turkish twins

Twin studies are crucial to assess the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors. This study was conducted to evaluate association between deleterious oral habits and dental caries-periodontal parameters among Turkish twins. The study comprised 143 pairs of dizygotic (DZ) twins and 59 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) twins aged 3-15 years. Twins were examined for dental caries, plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing and deleterious oral habits. Mann Whitney U test was used to examine the data. The MZ twin pairs consisted of 60 male and 58 female twin pairs, whereas the DZ twin pairs consisted of 144 male and 142 female. The mean age of the twins was 9.63±3.0 in MZ twins and 9.47±3.2 in DZ twins. The mean DMFS value of MZ twins with bruxism is higher than those of MZ twins without bruxism (P=0.001). The mean DMFS value of DZ twins with pacifier sucking is lower than those without (P=0.007). A statistically significant difference was found between MZ twins with and without nail biting in terms of bleeding on probing and dmfs values (P=0.035; P=0.012). The mean values of the plaque index increased due to the mouth breathing in DZ twins (P=0.024). Regarding the bleeding on probing, there was a statistically significant difference between MZ twins with and without atypical swallowing (P=0.016). These findings suggest that dental caries-periodontal parameters are similarly affected by deleterious oral habits in MZ and DZ twins.

SHORT NUTRITION STATUS (STUNTING) WITH DENTAL CARRIES IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN SUKABUMI INDAH VILLAGE, BANDAR LAMPUNG CITY

Background: The problem of malnutrition in Indonesia is a health problem that has not been fully resolved by the government. Short nutritional status or stunting is a condition in which a person's height is less than normal based on age and gender. Height is one type of anthropometric examination and indicates poor nutritional status (malnutrition) in the long term/chronic. Stunting will have an impact on functional disorders such as cognitive abilities and poor academic achievement so that it can lead to a lack of income in the future, up to the loss of labor market productivity, which results in the loss of 11% of GDP (Gross Domestic Products) and reduces the income of adult workers by 20%. Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between short nutritional status (stunting) and dental caries (dmft) in children preschool in Sukabumi Indah Village, Bandar Lampung City. Method: survey method with a cross-sectional approach, the sample of this study was children 3-5 years old in Sukabumi Indah Village, Bandar Lampung City totaling 150 children. The measuring instrument used was Microtoise staturemeter as well as dental examination status, data analysis Data analysis was carried out by calculating the Chi Square test. Result: Nutritional status with caries experience (dmft) had a significant relationship, where the mean dmfs in the stunted child group was 14.03 ± 6.16, while the mean dmfs in the normal child group was 7.47 ± 3.74 (p=0.0001). Conclusion: nutritional status affects the occurrence of caries.

The feasibility of a digital health approach to facilitate remote dental screening among preschool children during COVID-19 and social restrictions.

Tele-dentistry can be useful to facilitate screening of children, especially those living in rural and remote communities, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated the feasibility of tele-dental screening for the identification of early childhood caries (ECC) in preschoolers using an app operated by their parents with remote review by oral-health therapists. This cross-sectional study was a sub-project nested in ORIGINS Project, a longitudinal birth cohort study in Western Australia. Initially, children were visually examined by a paediatric dentist (gold standard). Subsequently, dental photographs were taken by parents using a smartphone camera. Two trained oral health professionals asynchronously evaluated dental photographs. The presence of dental caries was recorded as per the International Caries Detection and Assessment System-II classification. The diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the tele-dental screening and the gold standard dental examinations were then compared. Forty-two children aged <4 years were enrolled in the study. Twenty-five per cent of examined children had dental caries (mean dmfs=0.7). A total of 370 dental photographs were obtained. Parents were able to take good-quality photographs, with 90% of photographs rated as good to fair quality. Tele-dental screening demonstrated high specificity (>=95.5%) for both reviewers compared to the gold standard dental examination. However, the sensitivity scores for the two reviewers varied, ranging from 44% to 88.4%. Tele-dental screening for ECC was shown to be a feasible approach following a brief training for primary caregivers. This approach can offer a potential low-cost and sustainable alternative for visual dental examinations for young children, particularly in times of COVID-19-related restrictions.

Long-term outcome of oral health in uncooperative children with caries treated under general anesthesia.

Although uncooperative children with extensive caries can be treated under general anesthesia (GA), they remain at high-risk for caries recurrence. This study aimed to assess the long-term outcome of the dental health of uncooperative healthy children (HC) and special needs patients (SNP) treated under GA at least 2 years before this study. Data were collected via questionnaire and oral examination. Oral hygiene was assessed using the Hygiene Index, while caries were recorded using ICDAS II. The dmfs/DMFS score was calculated for every participant. A total of 69 patients completed the questionnaire, and 37 were clinically examined (HC = 15, SNP = 22). The mean (±SD-standard diviation) follow-up time was 5.5 (±2.55) years, the mean DMFS score for HC was 6.39 (±4.99), and the mean DMFS score for SNP was 12.95 (±12.29). The SNP group had significantly more filled surfaces on permanent teeth than the HC group (6.18 (±6.17) vs. 1.54 (±3.27), p = 0.004). In regard to primary teeth, HC had a higher dmfs, indicating a clear trend for more decayed surfaces in this group of participants (p = 0.08). The DMFS score was significantly higher in children who underwent GA more than 5 years ago. Oral health-related behavior was not improved as expected. Altogether, HC and SNP have poor oral hygiene and high caries risk in primary and permanent dentition, and their treatment remains challenging.

Dental caries at enamel and dentine level among European adolescents – a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIn contrast with the last century, caries epidemiology has begun integrating enamel caries into determinations of caries prevalence and experience. The objective of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the caries status including estimations of enamel caries, of European adolescents.MethodFour databases (Medline Ovid, Embase, CINAHL, and SweMed+) were systematically searched from 1 January 2000 through 20 September 2021 for peer-reviewed publications on caries prevalence and caries experience in 12–19-year-olds; that also included evaluations of enamel lesions. Summary estimates were calculated using random effect model.ResultsOverall, 30 publications were selected for the systematic review covering 25 observational studies. Not all studies could be used in the meta-analyses. Caries prevalence was 77% (n = 22 studies). Highest prevalence was reported in the age groups 16–19 years, and in studies where caries examinations were done before 2010. The overall mean DMFS score was 5.93 (n = 14 studies) and it was significantly lower among Scandinavian adolescents than among other European adolescents (4.43 vs. 8.89). The proportion of enamel caries (n = 7 studies) was 50%, and highest in the lowest age group (12–15 years). Results from the present systematic review reflected the caries distribution to be skewed at individual-, tooth- and surface levels; at tooth and surface level, also changed according to age.ConclusionsAlthough studies in which the caries examinations had been done in 2010 or later documented a reduction in caries prevalence, caries during adolescence still constitutes a burden. Thus, the potential for preventing development of more severe caries lesions, as seen in the substantial volume of enamel caries during early adolescence, should be fully exploited. For this to happen, enamel caries should be a part of epidemiological reporting in national registers.

Association between asthma and oral conditions in children and adolescents: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

To investigate the association between asthma and oral conditions in children and adolescents. Observational studies that evaluated the association between asthma and oral conditions in children and/or adolescents were retrieved from five databases, grey literature and reference lists up to April 7th, 2022. Meta-analyses were performed, and I2 statistics were calculated. The mean difference was used as a measure of effect for continuous variables. Event frequencies were evaluated to determine odds ratios for dichotomous variables. Publication bias was investigated using Egger's test. The methodological quality (JBI) and certainty of the evidence (GRADE) were assessed. Forty-two studies were eligible, and sixteen were included in the meta-analysis. Mean dmft (MD: 1.11, 95%CI: 0.48-1.73), DMFT (MD: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.45-1.56), dmfs (MD: 3.62, 95%CI: 2.60-4.63) and DMFS (MD: 4.47, 95%CI: 0.98-7.96) indices were significantly higher in asthmatic children and adolescents compared to those without asthma. In the analysis of biofilm, asthmatic children and adolescents had a higher Plaque Index compared to those without asthma (MD: 0.18, 95%CI: 0.03-0.33). Asthmatic children and adolescents may be more likely to develop tooth decay and build up biofilm compared to those without asthma. It is suggested that there are no differences between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children and adolescents regarding gingivitis, developmental defects of enamel or erosive tooth wear. The certainty of the evidence was classified as 'very low'. Knowledge of the risks that asthma and asthma medications for oral health can assist in counselling families of children and adolescents with this condition in terms of control and prevention measures for oral problems.

Relationship between overweight/obesity and dental caries and oral hygiene among secondary-school students in Warsaw. Part I

Introduction. Both overweight/obesity and dental caries are referred to as civilisation diseases of the 21st century. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between caries and oral hygiene and the occurrence of overweight and obesity in secondary-school students. Material and methods. A survey on health status, the most frequently consumed cariogenic products at school and the frequency of toothbrushing was conducted; BMI was calculated; as well as dental examination to assess caries (DMFT/DMFS) and oral hygiene (plaque index – PI) was performed among 141 randomly selected 18-year-old students of three secondary schools in Warsaw. Student’s t-tests, chi-square tests and Spearman’s correlation were used for statistical analysis (p &lt; 0.05). Results. A total of 118 students were included in the study. The mean body weight was 59.53 ± 11.43 kg for women, and 78.57 ± 20.29 kg for men. There were 19 (16.1%) overweight and 3 (2.5%) obese adolescents. Higher BMI was found in men. The intake of cariogenic products was higher among students with a BMI &lt; 25. About 83.3% of overweight and 66.7% of obese adolescents most often brush their teeth twice a day (differences not statistically significant). Caries was present in 112 (94.9%) students. The mean DMFT and DMFS were 6.52 ± 3.80 and 7.81 ± 5.66, and the plaque index was 0.75 ± 0.49. DMFT values were lower in subjects with BMI &gt; 25, and PI was higher in overweight and obese participants (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions. There was no relationship between BMI and caries or hygiene indices, and no statistically significant differences between BMI and consuming cariogenic products. Individual prevention programmes and good cooperation with general practitioners can help improve the oral health and proper body weight in adolescents.

Is Oral Candida associated with Dental Caries in Children - A Cross Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is a world-wide public health issue and is considered the most common of all non-communicable disease. There has been a growing interest in association between oral fungal flora especially candida and dental caries. Hence the aim of the study was to assess the correlation between active caries status and oral candida carriage in children aged twelve years.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study where a multiphase sampling was done and a total of thirty children were selected randomly among children screened previously. Data was collected through clinical oral examinations and structured interviews. The oral rinse technique described by Samaranayake et al. was used for extracting candida spp. The correlation between candida spplevel and caries experience was performed by the Pearsons correlation coefficient.RESULTS: The mean DMFS and defs scores of the children were 3.70±4.61 and 5.83±5.51 respectively. Significant association with decay scores for deciduous teeth (P&lt;0.05) and defs (p= &lt;0.001) was demonstrated. Candida species was associated highly with caries prevalence and significant positive correlation was found between Candida (CFU/plate) and defs scores (r=0.790) (p= &lt;0.001)CONCLUSION: The study results suggested that there is a significant positive correlation between candida carriage and caries, especially in children in the age group of 12 years.

Prevalence of dental caries among government primary school children: a cross-sectional study

Background: Oral health is fraction of the whole health portion. The causal link connecting oral and complete disease has been revealed in recent years. Oral wellbeing has also affected the quality of life deeply. The extremely prevalent diseases in many communities include dental cavities and parodontal diseases. Once they happen, and even with complex etiology, they are rather irreversible. While there are primary preventive strategies, they do not offer maximum security. Methods: A total of 200 school children were selected randomly and dental caries assessment was recorded according to DMFT/DMFS indices.Results: Dental Caries was found to be 76 (38.0%) with mean DMFT scores 2.22±2.404 and mean DMFS scores 5.46±7.242, gender wise DMFT scores of school children is 2.22±2.404 and DMFS scores of school children is 5.46±7.242. The highest prevalence of dental caries 48.8% (mean dmft 2.27) was seen in 10-year children, followed 45.7% (mean dmft 1.69) was seen in 6-year children, 37.0% (mean dmft 2.3) was seen in 8-year children, 31.4% (mean dmft 2.26) was seen in 9-year children and lowest prevalence of dental caries 27.9% (mean dmft 2.49) was seen in 7-year children and females with 42.7% (mean dmft 2.15) and males with 32.2% (mean dmft 2.15).Conclusions: There is an urgent need to change from restorative dental services to preventive oriented dental services for government primary school children to improve the oral health status.