Oral Health Status Of Individuals Research Articles

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.

Evaluation of Demographic Characteristics and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth Index in Adults Referred to Yazd Dental School in 2021

Introduction: Oral health assessment plays an important role in determining the health status and health planning of communities. The most important indicator that indicates the oral health status of individuals is the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. The present study was conducted to investigate the demographic characteristics and DMFT Index in adults referred to Yazd Dental School in Yazd, Iran in 2021.&#x0D; Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 500 adult patients in the age group of 18 to 65 years were studied. 343 (68.6%) of the samples were female and 157 (31.4%) were male. The patients completed a questionnaire, including their demographic characteristics and socio-economic status. DMFT index was also recorded in the study questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS17 statistical software and Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Tukey statistical tests.&#x0D; Results: The mean total DMFT index was 9.7± 5.1. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean DMFT index by age (P = 0.017), level of education (P = 0.000), occupation (P = 0.001) and number of family members (0.007 = P), however, no statistically significant difference was observed in the mean DMFT index according to gender, place of residence, and monthly income of participants (P &lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: The mean DMFT index is influenced by demographic characteristics. Older age, more family members, higher education level and better position jobs had the greatest impact on the mean DMFT index.&#x0D;

Oral health status in patients with inherited epidermolysis bullosa: a comparative multicenter study.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic mucocutaneous disorder characterized by epithelial fragility leading to blister formation on skin and mucous membranes with even minor mechanical trauma. Most EB oral health publications give fragmented information, focusing on only one oral health aspect or one EB type. The aim of this study was to expand the knowledge of the overall oral health status of individuals with dystrophic, junctional, and simplex EB. A comparative multicenter study, including a control group, and based on questionnaires and clinical examinations, was undertaken in three EB expert centers. Most EB (90.2%) participants brushed their teeth at least once a day despite the pain. The prevalence of enamel defects and caries experience did not differ between the 42 EB participants and the 42 age-/sex-matched healthy controls. Gingival inflammation unrelated to dental plaque accumulation was found in EB participants. Blisters, erythema, and erosion/ulceration mainly involved gingiva, buccal mucosa, lips, and palate, with different topographic patterns according to EB type. EB patients whatever the age showed a similar lesion distribution. Simplex and dystrophic EB patients under 12 years old displayed higher lesion severity than junctional EB ones. Only dystrophic type exhibited microstomia and ankyloglossia. Oral health status seemed to benefit from a close collaboration between dental practitioner and dermatologist, and from regular dental examination, starting at a young age and with a focus on prevention. The new appreciation of oral health involvement highlighted by this study is essential for EB patients care, regarding comorbidities and quality of life.

Oral health status of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder considering oral hygiene habits.

This study aimed to evaluate the oral health status of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Ninety-two participants, aged 18 years and older from which 46 had OCD symptoms, were included in this comparative cross-sectional study. Data on age, sex, smoking habit, educational level, and potential mediators including brushing frequency (BF) and brushing duration (BD) were collected. Clinical examinations determined outcome measures including decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT), presence of root caries (PoRC), gingival recession (GR), plaque index (PI), and papillary bleeding index (PBI). Pathway analysis was used for data analysis. Individuals with OCD had significantly lower DMFT (p < .01), higher BF (p = .01), and lower PI (p = .01); however, there were no significant differences regarding BD, GR, PBI, and PoRC (p > .05). While BD did not have a mediating role, BF mediated the effect of OCD on DMFT (B = -0.31, CI = -0.60 to -0.06) and PI (B = -0.15, CI = -0.36 to -0.03). Males had less PI (B = -1.03, CI = -1.81 to -0.24) and PBI (B = -1.14, CI = -2.09 to 0.20) than females. Except for OCD and sex, other predictors were not significant. Individuals with OCD had lower caries experience and similar gingival health compared to controls. Part of the impact of OCD was mediated through brushing habits.

Impact of dental education on DMFT index among undergraduate dental students in selected Nigerian universities

Background: DMFT is used to denote decayed, missing and filled teeth. The DMFT index is the universally employed index for measuring dental caries status. Dental caries is the most common oral disease affecting all age groups and a major cause of tooth loss. A fundamental purpose of dental education is to develop health professionals who will maintain and improve the oral health status of individuals and populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dental education on the occurrence of DMFT among undergraduate dental students in Nigeria.Materials and Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey involving the use of a multi-stage sampling technique to select 812 undergraduate dental students from six institutions. Structured questionnaires were designed in two sections (A and B). Section A on socio-demographic data was self-administered and section B on oral examination was interviewer-administered. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test at 5% level of significance.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 22.0±3.0 years. The overall prevalence of dental caries among the participants was 24%. The median DMFT score was 0.0 and the range was 0.0 – 8.0. The decayed component of the DMFT decreased significantly from 22.4% in 100 level to 7.2% in 600 level (p&lt;0.0001) and the filled component increased significantly from 2.5% in 100 level to 13.1% in 600 level (p&lt;0.018).Conclusion: Dental education had a positive influence on dental caries status of the subjects.

The oral health status of patients with peripheral vascular disorders: A systematic review.

ObjectivesPeriodontal disease and tooth loss were found to be associated with several peripheral vascular disorders. Nonetheless, an evaluation of the literature on the broader domains of oral health in individuals with peripheral vascular disorders is lacking. This systematic review aims to collate the current evidence on the oral health status of individuals with peripheral vascular disorders.MethodsFive electronic databases were searched for studies assessing oral health parameters in individuals with peripheral vascular disorders. Outcome measures considered were periodontal health, dentition status, caries indices, oral prostheses, oral pathologies and oral hygiene behaviours. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to appraise the quality of the studies.ResultsFrom 3025 records identified, 24 studies involving 1232 participants with peripheral vascular disorders were included in this review. In nine studies, periodontitis was significantly more prevalent in peripheral vascular disorders compared to non-peripheral vascular disorders participants. A further six studies reported individuals with peripheral vascular disorders also had significantly fewer teeth and increased rates of edentulism. Only one study reported a higher incidence of dental caries in peripheral vascular disorders participants. Other aspects of oral health such as oral prosthesis, oral pathology and oral hygiene behaviours were seldom assessed.ConclusionsThe scarcity of studies reporting on broader domains limited our ability to arrive at a conclusion regarding the oral health status of individuals with peripheral vascular disorders. Future studies ought to assess these domains in individuals with peripheral vascular disorders and controls to gain a more complete understanding of oral health and its potential association with peripheral vascular disorders.

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.

Does Individual Deprivation Affect the Sense of Coherence and Oral Health Status of Individuals?

Does Individual Deprivation Affect the Sense of Coherence and Oral Health Status of Individuals?

Quantitative metaproteomics of medieval dental calculus reveals individual oral health status

The composition of ancient oral microbiomes has recently become accessible owing to advanced biomolecular methods such as metagenomics and metaproteomics, but the utility of metaproteomics for such analyses is less explored. Here, we use quantitative metaproteomics to characterize the dental calculus associated with the remains of 21 humans retrieved during the archeological excavation of the medieval (ca. 1100–1450 CE) cemetery of Tjærby, Denmark. We identify 3671 protein groups, covering 220 bacterial species and 81 genera across all medieval samples. The metaproteome profiles of bacterial and human proteins suggest two distinct groups of archeological remains corresponding to health-predisposed and oral disease-susceptible individuals, which is supported by comparison to the calculus metaproteomes of healthy living individuals. Notably, the groupings identified by metaproteomics are not apparent from the bioarchaeological analysis, illustrating that quantitative metaproteomics has the potential to provide additional levels of molecular information about the oral health status of individuals from archeological contexts.

Association between oral mucosal lesions and crack and cocaine addiction in men: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) and their association with crack/cocaine addiction in men. Clinical oral examination was performed in 161 adult male patients at the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. Crack/cocaine addiction was determined from the medical records, and all drug-addicted individuals used both crack and cocaine. All participants (40 crack/cocaine-addicted men and 121 non-addicted men) underwent a systematic evaluation of the lips, labial mucosa, commissures, buccal mucosa and sulcus, gingiva and alveolar ridge, tongue, floor of the mouth, and soft and hard palate by a single examiner. Bivariate and regression analyses were conducted to assess for the presence of OMLs and the association of OMLs with crack/cocaine addiction. OMLs were found in 22 participants with a significantly greater prevalence in the crack/cocaine-addicted group (25 vs. 9.9%; p = 0.01). The most prevalent types of lesions in the addicted group were traumatic ulcer and actinic cheilitis (7.5% for each) followed by fistulae associated with a retained dental root (5%). After adjusting for covariates, crack/cocaine addiction was significantly associated with OMLs (OR = 2.87; 95% CI = 1.08-7.67; p = 0.03). The prevalence of OMLs was higher in crack/cocaine-addicted individuals, and crack/cocaine addiction was significantly associated with OMLs. A public health program aimed at the early diagnosis and treatment of OMLs is vital to improving the oral health status of individuals addicted to crack/cocaine.

Oral health status of children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders: systematic review and meta‐analysis

Individuals with special needs are often affected by oral disorders such as dental caries and periodontal disease. Current data regarding prevalence of these conditions in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are controversial. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in individuals with ASD, especially children and young adults. Searches were conducted through MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases in December 2015. Studies were included if fulfilled the following eligibility criteria: to evaluate the oral health status of individuals with ASD; to be an observational study; and to assess the prevalence of dental caries and/or periodontal disease. Meta-analyses were conducted considering prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in individuals as outcome. Search strategy identified 928 potentially relevant articles and seven of them were included in this review. All included studies reported dental caries prevalence, and the pooled prevalence was 60.6% (95% CI: 44.0-75.1). Moreover, only three studies showed prevalence of periodontal disease, resulting in pooled prevalence of 69.4% (95% CI: 47.6-85.0). Prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in children and young adults with ASD can be considered as high, pointing to the need for oral health policies focused on these individuals.

Oral health effects, brushing habits and management of methamphetamine users for the general dental practitioner.

Methamphetamine is a synthetic drug commonly abused in South Africa and is highly addictive. Users have a higher prevalence of dental caries compared to non-users and the classical caries pattern found in methamphetamine users is termed 'meth mouth'. The increased consumption of soft drinks and the absence of saliva are the main risk factors for 'meth mouth'. To determine the oral health status of individuals using methamphetamine. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 308 self-reported methamphetamine users at 22 specialised substance addiction treatment centres in the Western Cape, South Africa. There was a significant difference in tooth brushing frequency when using methamphetamine (p = 0.0000022; χ(2) = 23.84; OR = 3.25). The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth score was ten and there was an association between the mean number of decayed teeth and the duration of drug addiction (p = 0.0071; χ(2) = 12.07). Users who were using methamphetamine for less than four years had fewer missing teeth compared to those who were using methamphetamine for more than four years. When methamphetamine abuse is detected, the dentist can play a key role in early management of drug addiction by referring the patient to specialised substance addiction treatment centres. In addition, by restoring the dental appearance, users may regain their self-esteem and improve their oral health quality of life.

Oral health of patients under short hospitalization period: observational study

To assess the impact of hospitalization on the oral health status of individuals hospitalized for a short period of time. This was an observational study of hospitalized patients. The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) was measured at baseline (T0 - first 24h of hospital admission), and at 3 (T1), 7 (T2), 14 (T3) days. One hundred and sixty-two patients were examined at baseline (T0), 35 examined at 3days (T1), 23 at 7days (T2) and 16 at 14days (T3). The main reason for loss of patients was hospital discharge. The mean PI increased at T1 (0.97-1.21; p<0.001), at T2 (1.06-1.30; p<0.007) and at T3 (1.19-1.44; p<0.03). Gingival index (GI) increased at T2 (0.74-0.96; p<0.04) and at T3 (0.74-0.96; p<0.02). Oral health, assessed through PI and GI, deteriorates after a short period of hospitalization.

Oral health status of individuals with cerebral palsy at a nationally recognized rehabilitation center

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a set of nonprogressive neuromuscular disorders caused by defects in the developing fetal brain. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and distribution of various dental conditions including dental caries and periodontitis among individuals with CP who receive care at the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center dental clinic. Medical records of 478 patients between the ages of 3 and 78 years were reviewed. Patients were divided into four age groups: 3-20, 21-35, 36-55, and 56 and above year old. Data related to their dental conditions including caries, periodontitis, and other oral diseases were assessed. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the correlations between these oral diseases and age, gender, ethnicity as well as their living conditions (home or group home). The 36-55-year-old age group displayed significantly more caries and periodontitis than any other age groups. Individuals aged 3-20 years showed a significantly lower rate of periodontitis and caries. There was no significant association between gender and race with these outcome variables but there was a correlation between these variables and living conditions. Differences in oral health exist among people with CP from different age groups and living conditions. These findings suggest that there is a dire need for more oral hygiene training and education for the care givers. Dental schools should better prepare their graduates to meet the treatment demands of individuals with special healthcare needs.

Orofacial and dental condition in leprosy

AIM: To verify the orofacial and dental complex in individuals affected by leprosy concerning lesions, prevalence of dental caries and biofilm storage. METHODS: This study was performed on 56 patients with leprosy: 28 under treatment and 28 treated for the disease. A clinical form was prepared to include demographic and leprosy data. The prevalence of caries was analyzed using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index and oral hygiene was evaluated using the Plaque Control Record. The statistical significance was measured by chi-square and Student's t-test. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.4 years, and there was predominance of males. The treatment group had more women (Pearson ÷2=12.47, p=0.0004) and younger patients (Pearson ÷2=9.688, p=0.0079) than the healed group. As much as 30.4% of patients had orofacial complaints related to the disease. The most often observed variations of normality as racial melanin pigmentation (67.8%) and lingual varices (32.1%), and lesions such as atrophy of the anterior nasal spine (25%), inflammatory papillary hyperplasia (17.8%), and collapse of the nasal bridge (14.3%). There were no specific oral lesions among leprosy patients. The mean DMFT was 20.8 and the Plaque Control Record was 70.2%. The treated group had higher DMFT than the treatment group (Student's t p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The oral health status of individuals with leprosy is poor, with high levels of plaque and DMFT. No oral lesions associated with the disease were seen.

Oral Health in Individuals With Asthma

Objective. The prevalence of bronchial asthma is increasing globally by 50% every decade. With more individuals presenting with a medical history of asthma and concurrent medication usage, its impact on oral cavity needs to be recognized. The present study was conducted with an aim to assess the oral health status of individuals with asthma aged 12 years and older and to evaluate the effect of various antiasthma medications on oral health. Materials and Methods. Forty individuals with asthma (22 females and 18 males) between 12 and 66 years of age were included in the study after following extensive exclusion criteria. For all subjects a detailed case history was taken. A thorough oral examination was conducted to determine caries experience, periodontal status, and candidiasis. Furthermore, whole unstimulated saliva was collected for pH estimation and cytological smears obtained for the screening of candidiasis. Results. Of the 40 subjects examined, a history of xerostomia was found in 55%, stomatopyrosis in 22%, and halitosis in 5%. The mean DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) was 4.97. Periodontal treatment need evaluation revealed the requirement for oral hygiene education and professional prophylaxis in most of the subjects. However, no significant correlation was found between use of antiasthma medications and periodontal needs. An acidic pH was found in 52.5% of the subjects and candidiasis was detected in 65%. Conclusion. A high incidence of xerostomia, acidic pH, and candidiasis was found in those having asthma. Studies with a larger sample size may help confirm these findings. However, it is suggested that asthma patients on regular antiasthma treatment need special attention in the area of oral health care.

There is Limited Evidence to Support the Association between Severe Mental Illness and Poor Oral Health

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Advanced dental disease in people with severe mental illness: systematic review and meta-analysis. Kisely S, Quek L-H, Pais J, Lalloo R, Johnson NW, Lawrence D. Br J Psychiatry 2011;199:187-93. Reviewer Hoda M. Abdellatif, BDS, MPH, Dr PH Purpose/Question How does the oral health status of individuals with severe mental illness compare with that of the general population? Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Systematic review with a meta-analysis Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade B: Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence

Helicobacter pylori in dental plaque; is it related to brushing frequency, plaque load and oral health status?

To determine the relation between presence of H. pylori in supra-gingival dental plaque with oral hygiene habits and oral health status of patients suffering from symptomatic dyspepsia. Descriptive study. The Department of Oral Health Sciences, Shaikh Zayed FPGMI, Lahore, from September 2008 to August 2009. One hundred and fifty dyspeptic subjects with dental plaque were enrolled. After recording brushing frequency, oral health status and plaque load, the supra-gingival dental plaque samples were collected by sterile curettes. Helicobacter pylori were detected in dental plaque samples through PCR assay. Presence of H. pylori in dental plaque was found to be 37.5% in the sample. Most of the subjects brushed once daily, had plaque index score of 1 and had fair to poor oral hygiene status. Approximately 35% of the individuals who brushed once or twice a day harbored the bacterium in their dental plaque. There was no difference between bacterial detection rates among different categories of plaque index and oral health status of the study subjects. Presence of H. pylori in dental plaque was found to be associated with neither brushing frequency nor with the plaque load nor with the oral health status of individuals suffering from symptomatic dyspepsia.

Dento-alveolar lesions and palaeodietary inferences from the Paso Alsina 1 site (eastern Pampean–Patagonian transition, Argentina)

Several archaeological researches in northeastern Patagonia and southeastern Pampas have evaluated various indicators of the diets of hunter-gatherers who inhabited these regions during the Late Holocene, including the role of plant foods. Dental analysis is an important way to introduce new information about subsistence. In this sense, the objective of this work is to document and interpret dento-alveolar lesions in an osteological sample recovered from the Paso Alsina 1 archaeological site (eastern Pampean–Patagonian transition, Argentina). This paper will explore the oral health status of individuals and discuss palaeodietary information of hunter-gatherers that inhabited the lower valley of the Colorado River during the final Late Holocene (ca. 500 years BP). The site is defined as a formal area bundle composed of 10 secondary multiple burials containing 56 individuals of both sexes and various ages (e.g., perinatal, infant, and adult). In this study, 781 teeth and 1036 alveoli from 47 maxillae and 38 mandibles were analysed from 51 adult individuals. The results indicate a moderate rate of dental wear, and dental calculus, and low percentages of caries, abscesses, and antemortem tooth loss. The information obtained suggests a diet based on a combination of proteins, fat and carbohydrates. Results are then compared with those from other lines of analysis for the study area and for the neighboring regions (northeastern Patagonia and southeastern Pampas).

Oral Health Status of Individuals with Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate or Both in a Nigerian Population

Background: Cleft lip and/ or palate (CL/P) deformities are congenital anomalies with fissures of either the lip, palate or both combined. The altered oral anatomy causes physiological changes and diminished self cleansing ability. The oral hygiene may thus not be properly maintained. Aim: A prospective study of the oral health status of individuals with these deformities in Lagos-Nigeria was carried out to determine the need, types, and extent of pre-operative dental management that these patients may require. Material and Methods: Individuals with orofacial deformities in Lagos were screened by a CL/P management team at a sponsored treatment programme between April and June 2007. All those with CL/P deformities that were seen during the exercises participated in the study. Dental examinations included inspections for caries, plaque, calculus, gingivitis, malocclusions and enamel hypoplasia. The following parameters were assessed: Oral Hygiene, Debris, and Calculus Indices; Periodontal diseases, Caries experience, and CPITN. Results: Fifty-two cases with CL/P were seen. The ages ranged from 3weeks to 32years (mean 11.5 ± 10.9). CLP was the commonest presentation (48 %). The mean Oral Hygiene Index Score was 2.1 and 38.6 % had good oral hygiene. Highest prevalence of caries was in the age group 26-30years. Enamel hypoplasia in primary dentition was present in one subject and 50 % of permanent dentition. Nearly 50 % of the cases had malocclusion and different degrees of periodontal diseases. All the cases in age group 31-35 years had calculus. Conlusion: The oral health status of patients with CL/P deformities is poor in the environment in which the study was conducted.