Oral Health Status Indicators Research Articles

Development of a Predictive Model for Chewing Difficulty Using EuroQol-5 Dimension Among Korean Older Adults.

We aimed to develop a predictive model for chewing difficulty using the EuroQol-5 dimension measure (EQ-5D). We included 6643 individuals aged ≥ 65 years (mean age: 72.6 ± 4.96 years; women: 3761 [56.6%]) who had completed the sixth (2013-2015) and seventh (2016-2018) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The participants were further divided into young-old (65-74 years) and old-old (≥ 75 years) adults. Data from the sixth KNHANES were used to establish an internal validation model (overall, young-old and old-old adult populations were 3472, 2271 and 1201, respectively). Data from the seventh KNHANES were used to establish an external validation model (overall, young-old and old-old adult populations were 3171, 1879 and 1292 participants, respectively). We evaluated chewing difficulty using the EQ-5D (Model 1) and comparative models, subjective oral health status indicators (SOHSI) and objective oral health status indicators (OOHSI). Compared with SOHSI and OOHSI, EQ-5D showed similar predictive utility for chewing difficulty in both the internal and external validation models. Effect sizes, quantified using Cohen's d, indicated that EQ-5D parameters had a moderate impact on the prediction accuracy for chewing difficulties.

Exploring the impact of oral health on the quality of life in older patients: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo investigate the significant impact of oral health on the quality of life of older individuals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, across various socioeconomic and demographic contexts.MethodsA cross- sectional study was conducted, involving the distribution of a translated online questionnaire based on the OHQoL-UK® tool to evaluate oral health-related quality of life OHRQoL. This included utilizing the Oral Health Quality of Life Scale to assess overall quality of life.ResultsA total of 586 participants were involved in the study, with the majority being over 60 years old (77.1%). The mean score of OHRQoL was 3.79. The Social Dental Scale SDS had a mean score of 0.71. The General Oral Health Assessment GOHS scored 3.51 on average. The mean score of Dental Impact Profile DIP was 3.12. The Subjective Oral Health Status Indicators SOHSIs had a mean score of 3.82. The mean score of Oral Health Benefit of Life Inventory OHBLI averaged at 4.04, and Dental Impact on Daily Living DIDL scored an average of 4.05. The mean scores of OHRQoL and Oral Impacts on Daily Performance OIDP were 3.90 and 3.89 respectively. Cronbach’s Alpha values ranged from 0.854 to 0.939, with an overall questionnaire reliability of 0.977, indicating a good reliability of the study’s tool.ConclusionOlder adults exhibited lower OHRQoL compared to younger adults, particularly influenced by factors such as health insurance coverage, monthly income, and educational level. It is essential to develop health programs specifically tailored for senior adults to safeguard their overall health and quality of life. Making health and medical insurance obligatory and accessible to all individuals is crucial for enhancing their QoL and reducing the diseases.

Relationship between tooth loss and progression of frailty: Findings from the English longitudinal study of aging

ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between indicators of oral health status (number of teeth; denture use) and the progression of frailty amongst adults in England. MethodsThe subjects were participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging [ELSA] aged 50 years and older. We used panel data from three waves of the study (Waves 7–9). Indicators of oral health comprised the number of teeth (≥20; 10–19; 1–9; 0) and combination of removable denture usage and the number of teeth. Frailty was assessed by the 32-item Frailty Index (FI). Covariates were age, sex, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol, and physical activity. The longitudinal relationship between oral health indicators and change in FI were investigated using linear mixed-effect models considering frailty as a time-varying variable. ResultsAmong the 7,557 participants, compared to those people with 20 or more teeth, change in frailty over time was significantly higher among those with less than 20 teeth: 10–19 teeth (β: 0.249, 95 %CI: 0.116 to 0.382), and 1–9 teeth (β: 0.238, 95 %CI: 0.053 to 0.423) and being edentate (β: 0.286, 95 %CI: 0.106 to 0.465) when adjusting for co-variates. The rise in frailty over time was significantly higher among those with fewer teeth (<20 teeth), including those using dentures. Conclusions and implicationsThis longitudinal analysis suggests that tooth loss is associated with accelerated progression of frailty and utilizing dentures did not reduce the trend in frailty. Thus, maintaining a functional natural dentition is important in healthy ageing.

Oral Health Status and Factors Related to Oral Health in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Matched Case-Control Observational Study.

Background: Schizophrenia (SCZ) patients have disproportionately poor oral health outcomes owing to a multidimensional set of factors, such as pathophysiology of the disease, drug-related adverse effects and lower utilization rate of dental healthcare services. The aim of the present observational study was to compare the indicators of dental and periodontal health in patients with SCZ to those of nonaffected healthy controls; furthermore, the influence of various anamnestic factors and lifestyle habits on oral health status were also assessed. Methods: A total of 50 SCZ patients-in remission-receiving treatment at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, were compared with 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls attending the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Szeged. Participants' dental (decayed, missing and filled surfaces [DMF-S] and decayed, missing and filled teeth [DMF-T]) and periodontal (plaque index [%], bleeding on probing [BOP%], pocket depth [PD] and attachment loss [AL]) status was measured according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Results: In total, 74.0%, 80.0% and 78.0% of SCZ patients received second-generation antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and mood stabilizers, respectively. Patients with SCZ had significantly higher DMFs (81.30 ± 40.16 vs. 61.64 ± 40.56; p = 0.010), D (8.18 ± 7.73 vs. 4.18 ± 4.22; p < 0.001) and DMF-T (18.20 ± 8.36 vs. 14.42 ± 8.21; p = 0.024) scores but significantly lower F (1.84 ± 0.29 vs. 4.62 ± 3.98; p < 0.001) scores compared to the controls; male subjects had significantly lower DMFs (74.52 ± 39.72 vs. 90.67 ± 39.1; p = 0.020) and DMF-T (16.52 ± 8.12 vs. 20.52 ± 8.32; p = 0.031) scores. Additionally, SCZ patients had significantly higher plaque indices (56.96 ± 23.19 vs. 27.44 ± 17.53; p < 0.001), BOP% (58.96 ± 22.89 vs. 23.56 ± 17.53; p < 0.001), PD (2.84 ± 0.67 vs. 2.19 ± 0.49; p = 0.024) and AL (3.39 ± 1.72 vs. 2.49 ± 0.76; p < 0.001) values compared to controls. Smoking > 10 cigarettes/day was associated with worse dental and periodontal indices, while consuming ≥ 4 units/week of alcohol was associated with worse periodontal indices, respectively (p < 0.05 in all cases). In contrast, coffee consumption rates and vitamin supplementation status had no significant effect on oral health status indicators. Conclusions: Our study highlights the overall poor oral health status of individuals affected by SCZ and the need for targeted preventive interventions.

Association between the number of existing teeth and maintenance dialysis therapy: A cross-sectional study of adult male dentists.

Dental caries and periodontal disease are typical oral diseases frequently observed in patients with renal diseases. Tooth loss is an outcome of dental caries and periodontal disease, and the number of existing teeth is an indicator of oral health status. However, the association between the number of existing teeth and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has not been investigated in detail. This study aimed to investigate the association between oral health status, expressed by the number of existing teeth, and ESKD. We analyzed data from the second survey of the Longitudinal Evaluation of Multi-phasic, Odontological, and Nutritional Associations in Dentists, a cohort study conducted among members of the Japan Dental Association. From August 2016 to July 2017, self-administered questionnaires were mailed to 16,128 male dentists and 8,722 responded. Among them, 7,479 men with complete data on age, number of existing teeth, and ESKD were included in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted, with ESKD as the dependent variable and the number of existing teeth (≥23 teeth and <23 teeth) as the independent variable. Subgroup analysis by age (<65 years and ≥65 years) was also conducted. The <23 teeth group had a significantly higher rate of ESKD than did the ≥23 teeth group. After adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking habits, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, there was no significant association between having <23 teeth and ESKD in all participants. However, the subgroup analysis revealed a significant association after adjustment for covariates in participants aged <65 years but not in those aged ≥65 years. In conclusion, having <23 teeth was associated with the risk of requiring maintenance dialysis therapy among Japanese men aged <65 years. Therefore, tooth loss may be associated with renal function decline.

Self-Rated Oral Health as a Valid Measure of Oral Health Status in Adults Living in Rural Australia.

It is unclear how well self-rated oral health (SROH) reflects actual oral health status in the rural Australian population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the clinically assessed oral health status and SROH of adults living in rural Australia. The data were from 574 participants who took part in the Crossroads II cross-sectional study. Three trained and calibrated dentists evaluated the oral health status of participants based on WHO criteria. SROH was assessed with the question 'Overall, how would you rate the health of your teeth and gums?', with a score ranging from excellent = 5 to poor = 1. A logistic regression analysis (LRA) was performed, allowing us to assess factors associated with SROH. The mean age of participants was 59.2 years (SD 16.3), and 55.3% were female. The key results from the LRA show poorer SROH in those with more missing teeth (OR = 1.05; 95% CI; 1.01-1.08), more decayed teeth (OR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.11-1.46), and more significant clinical attachment loss of periodontal tissue (6mm or more) (OR = 2.63; 95% CI: 1.29-5.38). This study found an association between negative SROH and clinical indicators used to measure poor oral health status, suggesting that self-rated oral health is an indicator of oral health status. When planning dental healthcare programs, self-reported oral health should be considered a proxy measure for oral health status.

Trends in Self-Rated Oral Health and Its Associations with Oral Health Status and Oral Health Behaviors in Japanese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from 2011 to 2019.

Self-rated oral health (SROH) is a valid, comprehensive indicator of oral health status. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to analyze how oral health behaviors and clinical oral status were associated with SROH and how they had changed over the course of nine years in Japanese university students. Data were obtained from 17,996 students who underwent oral examinations and completed self-questionnaires from 2011 to 2019. Oral status was assessed using the decayed and filled teeth scores, bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth, the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), oral health behaviors, and related factors. SROH improved from 2011 to 2019. The logistic regression model showed that university students who were female and had a high daily frequency of tooth brushing, no BOP, no decayed teeth, no filled teeth, and a low OHI-S score and were significantly more likely to report very good, good, or fair SROH. An interaction effect was observed between survey year and regular dental check-ups (year × regular dental check-ups). The improvement trend in SROH might be associated with changes in oral health behaviors and oral health status.

Effects of Oral Function Training and Oral Health Status on Physical Performance in Potentially Dependent Older Adults.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an oral function training program and indicators of oral health status on improvements in physical performance induced by physical function training in dependent older adults. The participants were 131 potentially dependent older adults (age: ≥65 years) who were randomly divided into two groups: an oral intervention and a control group. All participants underwent physical function training, but only the intervention group took part in the oral function training program. In total, 106 participants completed all of the survey components (60 and 46 participants from the intervention and control groups, respectively). The measures of physical fitness examined included the one-leg standing time with eyes open (OLST) and the timed up and go test (TUG). Logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the effects of the oral function intervention and health status on physical fitness. The results revealed that the oral function intervention significantly improved OLST and TUG times. These findings suggest that evaluations of oral health status and interventions aimed at activating oral functions are associated with improvements in physical fitness among potentially dependent older adults.

Dependence in instrumental activities of daily living and its implications for older adults' oral health.

We aimed to assess the association between dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and oral health in older adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 280 people aged ≥60 years served at public primary health care centers in Northeastern Brazil. Sociodemographic, oral discomfort and general health data were collected. The Lawton and Brody scale were used to assess IADL. This research adheres to the STROBE checklist. Most participants were married (n = 139; 49.6%), women (n = 182; 65.0%) and retired (n = 212; 75.7%). A total of 37 (13.2%) older adults had some degree of dependence in IADL. Dependence in IADL was associated with: retirement (p<0.040), poor general health (p = 0.002), speech problems (p = 0.014), use of medications (p = 0.021), difficulty chewing and swallowing food (p = 0.011), voice changes (p = 0.044), edentulism (p = 0.011), use of toothbrush (p<0.001), use of toothpaste (p<0.001), and visit to the dentist in the previous year (p = 0.020). Functional disability was associated with older age, cardiovascular diseases, speech problems, chewing and swallowing difficulties, use of medication and brushing deficiency. The functional dependence in IADL can be considered an indicator of oral health status in older adults.

Hyposalivation is the main risk factor for poor oral health status in Indonesian elderly

Aim: To analyze the effect of xerostomia and hyposalivation as risk factors for poor oral health status in Indonesian elderly. Materials and Methods: Oral health status of 158 elders in Yogyakarta, Indonesia was determined using Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified, Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, modified Community Periodontal Index, and number of natural occluding pairs (NOP). Xerostomia was determined by Xerostomia Inventory and hyposalivation was identified by measuring whole unstimulated saliva flow. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to analyze the possible correlation between the event of hyposalivation and xerostomia with each of the independent variables (oral health status) and to assess the simultaneous effect of hyposalivation and xerostomia for the event of poor oral hygiene (OH), respectively. Results: Periodontal pocket, high DMFT index, poor OH, ≤5 NOP, xerostomia, and hyposalivation were experienced by 41, 113, 44, 116, 94, and 40 of 158 participants, respectively. Based on the bivariate analysis between the event of xerostomia and oral health status indicators, it was found that there was a significantly different proportion of OH condition between the group of participants with and without xerostomia (P = 0.035). Conversely, the proportions of periodontal pocket and OH condition were significantly different between the group of participants with and without hyposalivation with P values of <0.001. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the participants with hyposalivation and xerostomia have a 5.68 and 2.49 times higher risk of experiencing poor OH condition, respectively, accounted for 20% of the total model. Conclusion: Hyposalivation is the main risk factor for poor oral health status in Indonesian elderly.

Feasibility of training community health workers to conduct periodontal examinations: a validation study in rural Nepal

BackgroundIn many low- and middle-income countries, insufficient human resources limit access to oral health services. Shifting clinical tasks to less specialized health professionals, such as community health workers, has been used as a strategy to expand the health workforce, especially in remote or underserved locations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the validity of periodontal examinations conducted by auxiliary nurse midwives in a rural home setting in Nepal.MethodsTwenty-one pregnant women < 26 weeks gestation from Sarlahi District, Nepal, underwent full mouth periodontal examinations measuring probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) on 6 sites per tooth by one of five auxiliary nurse midwives, who were trained for this study but had no previous training in dentistry. After a 15-min break, each participant was examined again by an experienced dentist. Measures of validity for PD and BOP were calculated comparing the pooled and individual auxiliary nurse midwives to the dentist. A multivariable GEE model estimated the effect of periodontal characteristics on agreement between the auxiliary nurse midwives and the dentist.ResultsParticipant mean age was 22 years (SD: ±3 years), mean PD was 1.4 mm (SD: 03 mm), and 86% of women had BOP (according to the dentist). Percent agreement, weighted kappa scores, and intraclass correlation coefficients for PD, with an allowance of ±1 mm, exceeded 99%, 0.7, and 0.9, respectively, indicating an acceptable level of agreement. Auxiliary nurse midwives tended to report higher PD scores relative to the dentist, although this over-estimation was small and unlikely to impact population-based estimates of important indicators of oral health status. GEE regression modeling indicated similar agreement for mandible vs. maxilla, left vs. right side, and PD (≤2 mm, > 2 mm), and lower agreement for posterior teeth and lingual and proximal sites.ConclusionAuxiliary nurse midwives were able to accurately conduct periodontal examinations in a rural home setting, suggesting the potential to shift tasks away from highly trained dentists and periodontal examiners in low-resource communities.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01177111 (Nepal Oil Massage Study); registered on August 6th, 2010.

Oral Health Status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) among Steel factory workers of Visakhapatnam-A cross-sectional study.

Introduction:The occupational environment influences oral health to a greater extent. The unique environment in the steel factory might influence oral health and oral health-related quality of life of its workers, especially those who are exposed to its environment.Aim and Objectives:To determine oral health status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among production line and administration workers of a steel factory and assess their relationship with occupation exposure.Method:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 533 production line and 517 administration workers of the steel factory aged 31–60 years using simple random sampling. The collected data includes information on demographic factors, adverse habits of the study subjects, and oral health-related quality of life using Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). The oral health status was assessed using the WHO oral health assessment form 2013.Statistical Analysis:SPSS Version 20 was used for statistical analysis. A student t-test was done to compare means.Results:The prevalence of dental caries is 62.5% in the production line and 74.9% in administration workers, and the prevalence of periodontal status is 91.6% and 74.8%, respectively. The mean of OHIP-14 was 2.13 ± 0.73 in the production line and 2.33 ± 0.77 in administration workers. All domains of OHIP-14 were found to have high statistical significance with dental caries, periodontal pocket depth, loss of attachment, oral mucosal lesions, dental erosion, and dental trauma in both study groups (P < 0.001).Conclusion:OHIP-14 scores were related significantly with oral health status indicators in both study groups. The prevalence of the periodontal disease, oral mucosal lesions, and OHIP-14 scores was found to be significantly higher among production line workers.

STATUS KESEHATAN GIGI &amp; MULUT MASYARAKAT KABUPATEN TIMOR TENGAH UTARA BERDASARKAN FORMAT PEMERIKSAAN WHO ORAL HEALTH SURVEYS BASIC METHODS 5th EDITION

One of the aims of Oral Health Global Goals 2020 is to reduce missing tooth or tooth loss due to dental caries, according with the fact that oral health problems that predominate in the world especially in Indonesia are tooth loss due to caries. Therefore an effort is needed to reduce the missing component through the implementation of good health services that are obtained from good planning, good planning is obtained from the existence of good data as well , good oral health status data obtained from data collectors, instruments and standardized oral examination formats good too. The oral examination format from WHO Oral Health Basic Methods 5th Edition is the latest examination format to record various indicators of oral health status but has not been widely used in determining the oral health status of individuals or communities in Indonesia . Research purposes is to know the community oral health status of the North Central Timor District people in accordance with the latest examination format from WHO Oral Health Surveys Basic Methods 5th Edition. This is a descriptive survey research with a cross sectional design , which was carried out by taking 208 respondents from the community of 5 villages in North Central Timor District, such as Hauteas, Tes, Sainiup, North Oenenu and Homusu village..The data obtained through direct examination by the dentist in the respondent's oral cavity to determine their oral health status and recorded in the WHO Oral Health Surveys Basic Methods 5th Edition examination format. The data will be analyzed descriptively in accordance with the provisions set by WHO. The oral health status of North Central Timor people are: Dentition status, on average there are 8 carious crowns and 10 exposed roots, both carious and not carious. Periodontal status, on average they had 5 teeth with gingival bleeding , whereas for gingival pocket, on average they had 6 teeth with deep gingival pocket 4- 5 mm . Loss of attachment status, on average there are at least 1 sextant with various conditions for periodontal tissue attachment loss, such as 4-5 mm, 6-8 mm, 9-11 mm , and ≥ 12 mm attachment loss from the cemento enamel junction. There is no fluorosis status . Dental erosion status, about 16.19% of them had enamel erosion, and 4.37% had dentine erosion. The average number of teeth with enamel erosion are 12 teeth and those with erosion to the dentin on average are 7 teeth .Oral mucosal lesions, about 3.9% of them had stomatitis aphthous recurrent (SAR), and 1.3% of the people had suspected oral cancer. Denture status, only 0.43 % of the population uses partial removable teeth, and only in the maxilla, the rest there is no denture.Intervention urgency status, about 60.3% of the population need oral health care, but not urgent, about 15.53% of the population do not or do not need oral health care, about 5.24% of the population need oral health care urgently. There are oral health problems among NorthCentral Timor District people, such as carious crowns, exposed roots, gingival bleeding, gingival pocket, loss of attachment periodontal, dental erosion, oral mucosal lessions, and dentureless edentulous, so they need oral intervention.

Socioeconomic Status as Oral Health State Determinant of the Active Working Displaced Persons and Domicile Inhabitants.

Introduction:Socioeconomic changes have a significant impact on the health of the population. Socioeconomic development of society is one of the basic determinants of the health condition and needs of the individual and in the population as well.Aim:To explore the existence of differences in indicators of oral health status between the displaced persons and domicile population, considering the socioeconomic status (SES) of the respondents.Patients and Methods:A total of 310 people, aged 35-44 (mean 40.19 ± 3.60), were interviewed and examined, with 157 of them in a subsample of domicile inhabitants and other 153 respondents in displaced persons subsample. The SES of respondents was determined using a survey. After conducted examinations in study participants, determined results were recorded as dental status (DMFT Index), and periodontal status (CPI Index).Results:There was a significant difference in the mean value of caries existence between displaced persons of low and middle SES. In domicile inhabitants, there were no statistically significant differences in mean values of caries existence between the individuals with low and middle SES, while the differences existed between the individuals with low and high and between the middle and high SES. Domicile inhabitants with high SES had significantly less carious lesions than those with lower SES. Domicile inhabitants with high SES had significantly fewer extractions and more teeth with fillings.Conclusion:People with low SES have worse oral health status. Displacement and low socioeconomic status significantly influence the state of oral health.

Chewing xylitol gum improves self-rated and objective indicators of oral health status under conditions interrupting regular oral hygiene.

Chewing xylitol gum provides oral health benefits including inhibiting Streptococcus mutans plaque. It is thought to be especially effective in conditions where it is difficult to perform daily oral cleaning. Our study aim was to determine the effects of chewing xylitol gum on self-rated and objective oral health status under a condition interfering with oral hygiene maintenance. A randomized controlled intervention trial was conducted on 55 healthy ≥ 20-year-old men recruited from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force who were undergoing field training. Participants were randomly assigned to a test group (chewing gum; n = 27) or a control group (no gum; n = 28) and the researchers were blinded to the group assignments. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores of oral conditions subjectively evaluated oral health, and the stimulated salivary bacteria quantity objectively evaluated oral health 1 day before field training (baseline) and 4 days after the beginning of field training (follow-up). VAS scores of all three oral conditions significantly increased in the control group (malodor: p < 0.001; discomfort: p < 0.001; dryness: p < 0.001), but only two VAS scores increased in the test group (malodor: p = 0.021; discomfort: p = 0.002). The number of salivary total bacteria significantly increased in the control group (p < 0.01), while no significant change was observed in the test group (p = 0.668). Chewing xylitol gum positively affects self-rated and objective oral health status by controlling oral hygiene under conditions that interfere with oral hygiene maintenance.

Altered oral viral ecology in association with periodontal disease.

ABSTRACTThe human oral cavity is home to a large and diverse community of viruses that have yet to be characterized in patients with periodontal disease. We recruited and sampled saliva and oral biofilm from a cohort of humans either periodontally healthy or with mild or significant periodontal disease to discern whether there are differences in viral communities that reflect their oral health status. We found communities of viruses inhabiting saliva and the subgingival and supragingival biofilms of each subject that were composed largely of bacteriophage. While there were homologous viruses common to different subjects and biogeographic sites, for most of the subjects, virome compositions were significantly associated with the oral sites from which they were derived. The largest distinctions between virome compositions were found when comparing the subgingival and supragingival biofilms to those of planktonic saliva. Differences in virome composition were significantly associated with oral health status for both subgingival and supragingival biofilm viruses but not for salivary viruses. Among the differences identified in virome compositions was a significant expansion of myoviruses in subgingival biofilm, suggesting that periodontal disease favors lytic phage. We also characterized the bacterial communities in each subject at each biogeographic site by using the V3 hypervariable segment of the 16S rRNA and did not identify distinctions between oral health and disease similar to those found in viral communities. The significantly altered ecology of viruses of oral biofilm in subjects with periodontal disease compared to that of relatively periodontally healthy ones suggests that viruses may serve as useful indicators of oral health status.

Risk indicators of oral health status among young adults aged 18 years analyzed by negative binomial regression

BackgroundLimited information on oral health status for young adults aged 18 year-olds is known, and no available data exists in Hong Kong. The aims of this study were to investigate the oral health status and its risk indicators among young adults in Hong Kong using negative binomial regression.MethodsA survey was conducted in a representative sample of Hong Kong young adults aged 18 years. Clinical examinations were taken to assess oral health status using DMFT index and Community Periodontal Index (CPI) according to WHO criteria. Negative binomial regressions for DMFT score and the number of sextants with healthy gums were performed to identify the risk indicators of oral health status.ResultsA total of 324 young adults were examined. Prevalence of dental caries experience among the subjects was 59% and the overall mean DMFT score was 1.4. Most subjects (95%) had a score of 2 as their highest CPI score. Negative binomial regression analyses revealed that subjects who had a dental visit within 3 years had significantly higher DMFT scores (IRR = 1.68, p < 0.001). Subjects who brushed their teeth more frequently (IRR = 1.93, p < 0.001) and those with better dental knowledge (IRR = 1.09, p = 0.002) had significantly more sextants with healthy gums.ConclusionsDental caries experience of the young adults aged 18 years in Hong Kong was not high but their periodontal condition was unsatisfactory. Their oral health status was related to their dental visit behavior, oral hygiene habit, and oral health knowledge.

Oral health‐related quality of life in a birth cohort of 32‐year olds

To describe oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among New Zealand adults and assess the relationship between clinical measures of oral health status and a well-established OHRQoL measure, controlling for sex, socioeconomic status (SES) and use of dental services. A birth cohort of 924 dentate adults (participants in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study) was systematically examined for dental caries, tooth loss, and periodontal attachment loss (CAL) at age 32 years. OHRQoL was measured using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14). The questionnaire also collected data on each study member's occupation, self-rated oral health and reasons for seeing a dental care provider. SES was determined from each individual's occupation at age 32 years. The mean total OHIP-14 score was 8.0 (SD 8.1); 23.4% of the cohort reported one or more OHIP problems 'fairly often' or 'very often'. When the prevalence of impacts 'fairly/very often' was modeled using logistic regression, having untreated caries, two or more sites with CAL of 4+ mm and 1 or more teeth missing by age 32 years remained significantly associated with OHRQoL, after adjusting for sex and 'episodic' dental care. Multivariate analysis using Poisson regression determined that being in the low SES group was also associated with the mean number of impacts (extent) and the rated severity of impacts. OHIP-14 scores were significantly associated with clinical oral health status indicators, independently of sex and socioeconomic inequalities in oral health. The prevalence of impacts (23.4%) in the cohort was significantly greater than age- and sex-standardized estimates from Australia (18.2%) and the UK (15.9%).

Oral health‐related quality of life: a critical appraisalof assessment tools used in elderly people

The purpose of this study was to undertake a critical appraisal of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) measurements used for research in the elderly. A variety of OHRQoL measurements have been developed in the past 20 years as a result of increased concern about the impact of oral conditions on a person's quality of life. There is need for an assessment aimed at prioritising the recommended measurements to be used for different purposes in the elderly. Original English language papers using measurements to assess OHRQoL in the elderly were identified from Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, Medline and Lilacs databases. The search included all papers published from 1985 to February 2007. The criteria of assessment were: (i) measurement criteria (number of items and domains, and classification of the results found for each measurement); (ii) quantitative-qualitative criteria (frequency, acceptability, reproducibility, reliability, sensitivity and capability of being reproduced in other language versions). In a total of 152 papers selected, 20 measurements were identified. However, only seven fulfilled all the measurement and quantitative-qualitative criteria. Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index, Subjective Oral Health Status Indicators, Oral Health Impact Profile-49, Dental Impact on Daily Living, Oral Health Impact Profile-14, Oral Impact on Daily Performances and German Version of the Oral Heath Impact Profile were considered as instruments of choice to assess OHRQoL in the elderly. The other 13 instruments identified require further research aimed at a validation process and the use of a language other than English.

Does oral health affect self perceptions, parental ratings and video‐based assessments of children's smiles?

To explore whether there is a relationship between children's objectively determined oral health status and their oral health-related quality of life, specifically the evaluations of their smiles as assessed by the children, their parents, and through measurements of the children's videotaped smiles. Chart review data were collected from 99 children (56 boys, 43 girls; average age: 7.06 years; range: 4-12 years) to determine their oral health status. The children responded to the Michigan Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Scale - Child Version (MOHRQOL-C), and the parents responded to the Michigan Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Scale - Parent Version (MOHRQOL-P) to assess the smiling-related aspect of the children's oral health-related quality of life. Parents also responded to questions concerning their own evaluations of their child's smile. The children were videotaped while they watched a funny cartoon. Two independent raters measured the width and openness of the children's mouth plus the number of teeth shown at 25 predetermined time points during these taped sessions to assess the children's video-based smiling patterns. The children's self evaluated smile scores correlated with the video-based ratings of the children's smiles, and with the number of positive adjectives parents chose to describe their children's smiles. There were significant relationships between several indicators of oral health status and all smile assessment scores. Children without caries evaluated their own smiles more positively, showed more teeth when smiling, and received more positive parent evaluations for their smiles than children with decay. Poor oral health is significantly related to children's smiling patterns and the way others perceived their smiles. Poor oral health may prevent children from expressing positive emotions, which can impact their social interactions and the way they feel about themselves.