Poor Dental Status Research Articles

An Ethical Analysis Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Oral Healthcare in Patients with Mental Disorders.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive measures were imposed that significantly impacted the healthcare system in general, and the dental healthcare system in particular. The literature cites a possible association between mental and oral health, as psychiatric patients have decreased awareness of their oral health and, therefore, poor dental status. Moreover, several studies have found a positive association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and oral health conditions, as well as between SARS-CoV-2 infection and mental health status. This context generated multiple ethical dilemmas in the case of persons with mental health disorders who require dental treatment because they are more vulnerable in this respect. This article aims to analyze the ethical issues in dental care for patients with mental disorders concerning the COVID-19 restrictive measures. The ethical aspects involved here are the basic principles of bioethics and the related elements of accessibility, equity, consent, and confidentiality.

Teeth Damage during General Anesthesia.

Dental injuries during anesthesia, especially when advanced airway management is required, represent a legal problem. Factors such as poor dental condition and excessive pressure during intubation contribute to dental damage. The maxillary central incisors are commonly affected. The objective of this review is to know the incidence of dental injuries in adults undergoing anesthesia that requires airway management. The search was performed in MEDLINE (through Pubmed), ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, LILACS (through the Virtual Health Library Regional Portal), and SciELO for all available literature on the subject up to December 2022. Inclusion criteria involved articles that studied patients aged 18 years or older who underwent general anesthesia requiring airway management with tracheal intubation or insertion of a laryngeal mask airway. Of all the articles, nine report dental injury associated with the type of airway management. Only one article does not have dental injury. This study addresses dental injuries related to tracheal intubation during general anesthesia. Although techniques are used to prevent them, these injuries still occur. Laryngoscopy, especially with support on the upper central incisors, can cause damage to the teeth. It is important that the anesthesiologist is aware of dental trauma and that orotracheal intubation or the placement of the laryngeal mask airway is performed systematically and rigorously, always considering the patient's dentition to choose the best approach in each specific situation.

A Case of Rhinitis Caused by Severe Periodontitis in a Maltese

A 2.8kg, 10-year-old, spayed female, maltese presented to the hospital with sudden sneezing and nasal discharge symptoms. On physical examination, the discharge of secretions came out through the bi-nostrils and abundant calculus, generalized gingivitis, and movement of several teeth in dental examinations. Dental radiographs showed periapical lucencies of the right maxillary canine and left fourth premolar. After scaling and multiple extractions including right maxillary canine and left fourth premolar, the clinical symptoms totally disappeared. Then, clindamycin 11mg/kg, orally, q12h was prescribed for 14 days. After treatment, the patient's nasal disease improved. Among the causes of rhinitis in dogs, periodontitis is a common cause. If a patient with a poor dental condition shows nasal discharge accompanied by sneezing, it is necessary to consider checking for periodontitis through dental X-ray imaging or CT scan.

Lung abscess: Clinical characteristics of 222 Danish patients diagnosed from 2016 to 2021

IntroductionLung abscess (LA) is a serious respiratory infection often followed by several weeks of antibiotic treatment. This study described the clinical presentation of LA, treatment duration and mortality in a contemporary Danish population. MethodsIn a retrospective multicenter cohort study at four Danish hospitals, patients diagnosed with LA were identified using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th revision (ICD-10) between 2016 and 2021. A predefined data collection tool was used to extract data on demographics, symptoms, clinical findings and treatment. ResultsOf 302 patients, 222 with LA were included after review of patient records (76%). Mean age was 65 years (54–74), 62.9% was male and 74.9% were ever-smokers. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (35.1%), use of sedatives (29.3%) and alcohol abuse (21.8%) were common risk factors. Dental status was reported in 51.4%, whereof 41.6% had poor dental status. Patients presented with cough (78.8%), malaise (61.3%) and fever (56.8%) Patients were hospitalized for a median of 14 days (interquartile ranges, IQR 7–21) and median duration of antibiotic treatment was 38 days (IQR 30–51). All-cause mortality after 1, 3 and 12 months was 2.7%, 7.7% and 15.8%, respectively. ConclusionRisk factors for LA include COPD and use of sedatives, alcohol abuse, and poor dental status. Despite long-term antibiotic treatment, long-term mortality is markedly high.

Foods and Nutrients at Risk for Insufficient Intake by Community-Dwelling Healthy Older Women Eating Alone and Together in Japan-A Preliminary Finding.

Eating alone and poor dental status have been reported to influence dietary intake in older adults. First, we compared nutrient and food intake and dental markers between women eating alone and together, who participated in a home health management program conducted by Kanazawa Medical University. The results showed the significantly higher intake of fresh fruit and some micro-nutrients and a lower decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index (better dental status) in women eating alone after adjusting for age, suggesting that dental status may mediate the association between commensality and dietary intake. Then, we investigated nutrients and foods at risk for insufficient intake and associated with increasing dental markers. The risks for the insufficient intake of protein and n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly increased with an increasing DMFT index. The risk for n-3 PUFA intake also increased with increasing numbers of missing teeth in women. Foods at risk for insufficient consumption included beans for women with an increasing DMFT index and green and yellow vegetables, fresh fruits, and meat and fish for women with increasing numbers of missing teeth. These findings suggest that good health management, including the treatment of decayed teeth, is important for the prevention of malnutrition in community-dwelling healthy older women.

Association between Malnutrition Risk Factors and Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Adults ≥80 Years

Malnutrition is associated with accelerated loss of physical function in old adults, but the assessment of malnutrition in primary prevention is challenging. This study aimed to investigate if malnutrition risk factors; poor appetite, dysphagia, and poor dental state, were associated with reduced physical function in community-dwelling adults ≥80 years. The study is based on data from two cross-sectional studies. Physical function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (score ≤ 9 indicate reduced physical function) and poor appetite, dysphagia and poor dental status was assessed by single questions. A total of 900 participants were included (age 85.1 ± 3.7 years; 60.9% females; 62.8% had reduced physical function). Participants with reduced physical function were older, had a higher BMI, more polypharmacy, more falls, and lower quality of life. Poor appetite was reported by 10.8% and associated with reduced physical function (adjusted-OR 1.93, 95%CI 1.18–3.15). No association was identified between dysphagia, poor dental state and reduced physical function (adjusted-OR 0.96, 95%CI 0.53–1.75 and adjusted-OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.41–2.35, respectively). The assessment of appetite during primary preventive strategies was feasible and may offer an opportunity for identification of very old community-dwelling adults at risk of reduced physical function.

GIS-Based Study of Dental Accessibility and Caries in 3-Year-Old Japanese Children

This study aimed to reveal the geographic accessibility of dental clinics for most municipalities in Japan in 2015 and to explore the association between dental accessibility and dental caries status in 3-year-old children. We computed the accessibility index and accessibility index rate for the population outside a 1-km radius of dental clinics using a geographic information system. We also used spatial autocorrelation analysis (Moran's I statistic) to examine the spatial clustering patterns of dental accessibility in Japanese municipalities. In addition, we adjusted the prevalence of dental caries for most municipalities using empirical Bayesian estimation. Finally, we applied multiple linear regression to scrutinise the associations between dental caries status, including the prevalence of dental caries and decayed and filled teeth (dft), and dental accessibility, with adjustments made for other sociodemographic variables. The distribution of dental accessibility in Japanese municipalities is relatively unequal. Dental accessibility is decent in the 3 metropolitan areas around Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya but poor in the Tohoku and Kyushu regions. In addition, dental accessibility is significantly related to the prevalence of dental caries and dft after adjusting for other sociodemographic variables (P < .005). This study suggests that dental accessibility is considerably connected to the dental caries status of 3-year-old children after excluding financial burden. Preschool children in areas with poor dental accessibility are likely to have poor dental caries status. We also verified the inequality of dental accessibility amongst Japanese municipalities. For the future development of primary oral health care, more attention should be paid to people with a disadvantage in terms of dental accessibility.

Dental Health, Caries Perception and Sense of Discrimination among Migrants and Refugees in Europe: Results from the Mig-HealthCare Project

Dental and oral health are considered among the main health issues for migrants and refugees, as access to dental health care services is often expensive and difficult. The study investigates dental and oral health determinants among migrants and refugees in 10 European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Sweden), examining how mental health, legal status, discrimination issues and dental services’ use frequency affect dental health. Methods: A cross sectional study using a purpose-made questionnaire was carried out to assess health status and access, with a dedicated section to measure self-perceived dental health, prevalence of caries, last visit to dentist and anticipated access to dental health services. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to investigate the impact of quality of life, discrimination, immigration status, and other demographic factors on dental health. Results: About half of the sample suffered from poor dental condition and 22% had never visited a dentist. Migrants with higher educational levels had higher odds of having good dental health (OR = 1.08; 95%CI (1.03, 1.12)) and brushing their teeth daily (OR = 1.1; 95%CI (1.04, 1.17)). Higher general and mental health scores were indicative of better dental condition (general health: OR = 1.02; 95%CI (1.01, 1.03); mental health: OR = 1.01; 95%CI (1.004, 1.02)) and higher probability of daily teeth brushing (general health: OR = 1.02; 95%CI (1.01, 1.03); mental health: OR = 1.02; 95%CI (1.01, 1.03)). The possession of any kind of legal immigration permission and not having any children showed similar results. Age and discrimination were correlated with decreased likelihood for good dental conditions. Gender was correlated with daily teeth brushing, as female migrants had higher odds of brushing their teeth daily. Conclusions: Many migrants report poor dental health. Nonetheless, migrants with higher education levels, legal immigration status, better general and mental health, no children, lower sense of discrimination, younger age, and regular dental visits were positively correlated to good dental health (perceived as no dental caries).

Chemosensory dysfunction in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a topical review.

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune exocrinopathy related to lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glandular epithelia (such as salivary, lacrimal, nasal, and sebaceous glands or vaginal mucosa) with systemic manifestations of an immuno-inflammatory nature, and not associated with any other systemic disease. It is characterized by severe dryness (Sicca syndrome), particularly in mouth and eyes, with potential strong impact on quality of life and could increase the risk of depression in Sjögren’s patient. To date, the impairment of taste and olfactory functions related to Sjögren syndrome remains poorly assessed; so is the trigeminal functions which remain sparsely studied in patients with Sjögren disease. However, other factors can also modify chemosensory functions (olfactory or gustatory sensations and trigeminal nerves), in particular the reduction of the masticatory coefficient or halitosis, due to oral saliva flow decrease, and poor dental condition, which are often present in Sjögren patients. Of the 12 articles evaluated after a 22-year literature search of this review, chemosensory disorders (including taste, smell, and trigeminal impairments) are described and evaluated in pSS patients, with mainly poorer performance compared to healthy controls. Diagnostic and therapeutic (including rehabilitation) approaches of chemosensory disorders in pSS are discussed in this review. Clinician should be more attentive to taste as well as olfacto-trigeminal disorders in primary Sjögren’s disease, if possible at the earlier stage, in order to take the best care of Sjögren’s patients. This review also highlights some lack in knowledge on pSS chemosensory disorders that should provide new research perspectives. Key Points•Chemosensory functions (including taste, smell, and trigeminal functions) are altered in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) due to dryness of the mouth and the nose.•The trigeminal nerve which interacts with olfactory and gustatory nerves contributes to olfactory and taste perception but remains little studied to date.•Chemosensory function should be considered in the daily clinical assessment of patients with pSS.•Chemosensory function treatment is not standardized yet, however symptomatic treatment of Sjögren syndrome-associated dryness transiently would improve taste and smell, and olfactory or gustatory rehabilitation in pSS patients would be useful.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10067-022-06359-w.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF DENTAL BRUSHING KNOWLEDGE WITH THE STATUS OF DENTAL AND MOUTH HYGIENE IN THE VIII CLASS ADOLESCENT OF SMPN 1 DARUL IMARAH ACEH BESAR, 2022

The maintenance of dental and oral health is often neglected by teenagers. Many bad habits of teenagers that can cause damage to the teeth and mouth, these bad habits include the habit of consuming sweet foods, drinking habits - sweet drinks and lazy habits of brushing your teeth at night. The results of the examination that the author conducted on 15 grade VIII students at SMPN 1 Darul Imarah, the average dental and oral hygiene was 3.3 with a poor category level. The results of interviews with 11 out of 15 students still did not know how to brush their teeth properly and correctly. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between knowledge of brushing teeth and the status of dental and oral hygiene in Class VIII Adolescents of SMPN 1 Darul Imarah Aceh Besar in 2022.This research is analytical with a cross sectional design, conducted at SMPN 1 Darul Imarah Aceh Besar District on 19-22 February 2022. The population in this study was 210 people. The sample in this study used a random sampling technique with a sample of 70 adolescents aged 13-14 years. Bivariate analysis looked at the relationship between knowledge of brushing teeth and oral hygiene status using the statistical test of 0.05.The results showed that the knowledge of brushing teeth with the most dental and oral hygiene status was in the moderate category as many as 20 people (28.6%), the knowledge of brushing teeth was not good with the most dental and oral hygiene status in the poor category as many as 23 people (32, 8%). It can be concluded that there is a relationship between knowledge of brushing teeth with dental and oral hygiene status in adolescents with a P Value: 0.01, it is recommended for adolescents to be more active in seeking information on social media about knowledge or maintenance of dental health such as brushing teeth properly and correctly so that avoid poor dental and oral hygiene status.

Relationship between physical frailty, nutritional risk factors and protein intake in community-dwelling older adults.

Physical frailty may compromise physical function and reduce self-reliance in community-dwelling older adults. We investigated if nutritional risk factors and protein intake were associated with physical frailty in community-dwelling adults. This cross-sectional study combined data from two studies in community-dwelling adults ≥65 years. Variables included physical frailty (SHARE-FI75+), nutritional risk factors (dysphagia, poor dental status, illness, unintentional weight loss, low and high BMI), chronic diseases, physical function, and protein intake (4-day food records). Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between physical frailty, number of nutritional risk factors and specific nutritional risk factors, and between physical frailty and protein intake. A total of 1430 participants were included in the study of these n=860 were ≥80 years. Having one, two or more nutritional risk factors increased odds of physical pre-frail/frail condition (adjusted OR 1.39 95% CI 1.07-1.80; OR 2.67 1.76-4.04, respectively). Unintentional weight loss, poor dental status, dysphagia, and high BMI independently increased odds of physical pre-frail/frail condition. In participants ≥80 years two or more nutritional risk factors were associated with physical pre-frail/frail condition (adjusted OR 2.56 95%CI 1.45-4.52) and high BMI increased odds of physical pre-frail/frail condition independently. Higher intakes of protein did not significantly reduce odds of physical pre-frail/frail condition (adjusted OR 0.23 95% CI 0.05-1.09) in this sample of community-dwelling adults ≥80 years. Nutritional risk factors were independently associated with physical pre-frail/frail condition in community-dwelling older adults. Tackling nutritional risk factors offers an opportunity in primary prevention of malnutrition and physical frailty.

Effects of textured food masticatory performance in older people with different dental conditions

BackgroundPhysiological deterioration (aging, poor dental status, and reduced tongue pressure) makes chewing difficult. This study aimed to investigate the chewing patterns of older people with or without dentures, evaluate the textural and masticatory properties of texture-modified radish Kimchi, and investigate the correlation between dental status and tongue pressure. Additionally, differences in the subjective–objective concordance of texture-modified Kimchi were investigated using the preference test.MethodsThis study included 32 Korean women aged between 65 and 85 years. Masticatory behavior was recorded by electromyography, and tongue pressure was measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument. A preference test, with hardness as the relevant textural property, determined the participants’ preferences among the test samples (food with a homogeneous structure—radish Kimchi). To assess preference differences, a questionnaire suitable for older people was designed. The preference for cooked radish Kimchi with various blanching times based on overall acceptability and self-reporting of preference was investigated to develop elderly-friendly food. The subjective scores indicated whether the sample (radish Kimchi) was hard or soft based on the chewing ability of the participants. Dental status, muscle activities, and tongue pressure were considered for the food design with optimized texture. The relationship between subject score and mastication properties were examined using multiple regression analysis.ResultsThe number of chews and chewing time increased with hardness, significantly activating the masseter and temporalis muscles. The evaluation of masseter muscle activity, particularly for level-6 radish Kimchi, showed that older people with complete dentures chewed less actively than those with natural teeth (p < 0.05). The older people with natural teeth (18.94 ± 10.27 kPa) exhibited higher tongue pressure than those with complete dentures (10.81 ± 62.93 kPa), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Older people preferred food with familiar tastes and textures. An association was found between the subjective hardness score and the objective hardness level. The perceived hardness intensity was linked to the chewing ability of the participant. Denture wearers exhibited a lower chewing ability, and at level 6, they perceived greater hardness of food than those with natural teeth.ConclusionsDeveloping food with a modified texture can bridge the gap between physiological and psychological aspects of food texture; texture-modified radish Kimchi, with limited blanching time, may be favorable for older people.

The impact of poor dental status and removable dental prosthesis quality on body composition, masticatory performance and oral health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in older adults

BackgroundTo determine the impact of dental status, types, and quality of dental prostheses on body composition, masticatory performance and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Potential associations between body composition, masticatory performance and OHRQoL were also investigated.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 110 older adults who received prosthodontic treatment at the Dental Faculty Clinics at Chulalongkorn University. Participants were categorized according to their dental prostheses: complete denture (CD), removable partial denture (RPD) and fixed partial denture (FPD). Retention and stability of the RPD and CD were evaluated using the CU-modified Kapur and the modified NHANES III criteria to classify denture quality into acceptable and unacceptable. Dental status including posterior occluding pairs and number of remaining natural teeth were assessed intraorally. Dependent variables were body composition, masticatory performance and OHRQoL. Body composition, including muscle mass (kg), bone mass (kg), basal metabolic rate (kcal) and visceral fat (%) were determined through a bioelectrical impedance analysis. Masticatory performance was assessed using a multiple sieve method of peanut mastication. OHRQoL was assessed using the validated Thai version of Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (Thai-OIDP) index. After adjusting for covariates, including age and sex, the associations between oral and dental prosthesis status and body composition, masticatory performance as well as OIDP score were analyzed using multivariable linear and negative binomial regression analyses. Spearman’s correlation was used to determine the potential associations between body composition, masticatory performance and OHRQoL.ResultsThe presence of fewer natural teeth or wearing an unacceptable removable denture were factors associated with lower bone mass, muscle mass and basal metabolic rate, and with a higher visceral fat. Similar dental and removable denture status were also associated with larger peanut particle size and higher OIDP score. Masticatory performance and OHRQoL variables were moderately correlated (Spearman's rho = 0.44). However, body composition was not correlated with masticatory performance or OHRQoL.ConclusionsIn individuals wearing dental prostheses, factors such as severity of tooth loss, types, and quality of dental prostheses, particularly retention and stability, negatively impacted not only masticatory function and OHRQoL, but also their overall body composition and health.

LITERACY CHARACTERISTICS OF CALCULUS AND ITS ROBLEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

The prevalence of dental and oral diseases in Indonesia tends to increase. The problem of high rate in dental and oral disease are currently influenced by community behavioural factors. High rate of dental and oral disease was also because of the Indonesian population who realized that they has dental and oral problem is only 23% of population. Community behaviour is closely related to the level of public knowledge about gum health and tartar. Lack of knowledge about gum health and ignorance of the dangers of tartar that caused by dental plaque causing people not to take advantage of dental health services when they have dental plaque and even become inflammation of the gums. That condition, will contribute to poor dental health status of the community. Therefore, this community service is carried out for educate the characteristics of calculus, gum inflammation and the treatment of tartar.

Dental, oral pH, orthodontic and salivary values in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Mouth breathing is a key feature of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The current study evaluated dental, salivary and orthodontic characteristics of children with OSA, and compared them to those of children without OSA. Twenty-two children (mean age 5.3years, 13 males) with OSA and 21 children without OSA who served as a control group (mean age 6.8years, 11 males) underwent dental examinations. The OSA group was classified according to the apnea-hypopnea Index. Clinical examination included plaque index, gingival index, caries status, pH at 7 oral sites, salivary carries bacterial counts and inflammatory cytokine levels. Orthodontics measurements were calculated as the percentage of children with values in the normal range, in each group. The mean values of the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT)/dmft index, the gingival index and the plaque index were higher in the OSA than the control group. Salivary Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts were significantly higher in the OSA than the control group; as were pH values in the hard and soft palate, and in the posterior and middle tongue. Significantly lower values were observed in the OSA than the control group for most of the orthodontic variables examined. Similarly, stratification of AHI according to severity shows the lowest values among those with mild OSA, and the highest among those with severe AHI. Compared to a control group, mouth breathing children with obstructive sleep apnea had differences in oral microbiota, greater acidity and poorer dental status. Clinicians should be aware of the various oral disturbances that may accompany OSA, and implement preventive measures.

Association of poor dental status with eating alone: A cross-sectional Japan gerontological evaluation study among independent older adults

Eating alone is reported to deteriorate health; however, the relationship between eating alone and poor dental health remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between poor dental health and eating alone. Data of participants (n = 156,287) aged ≥65 years from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study were evaluated using logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between dental status, including prosthesis use, and eating status. Differences in these associations according to living status were also examined. The mean age of participants was 73.7 (SD = 6.0) years. The percentages of participants eating alone with 20 or more teeth, 10–19 teeth with dental prostheses, 0–9 teeth with dental prostheses, 10–19 teeth without dental prostheses, and 0–9 teeth without dental prostheses were 13.8%, 16.0%, 18.6%, 18.9%, and 27.0%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, participants with 0–9 teeth without any dental prosthesis showed a significantly higher odds ratio for eating alone (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.58–2.07) than those with 20 or more teeth. Among participants with poorer dental status, the probability of eating alone was higher in those living alone than in those living with others. Among older adults, poor dental status was significantly associated with eating alone, and this association was stronger among those living alone. Maintaining better dental status by using a dental prosthesis might reduce the risk of eating alone, especially for those living alone.

Poor dental condition is a factor of imbalance of the nutritional status at the outset of management of head and neck cancer.

To determine whether deterioration of dental condition at the outset of management of head and neck cancer (HNC) is a nutritional risk and whether social deprivation is a cause of the poor dental condition observed in HNC patients. A nutritional assessment form (NAF) and the Nutrition Risk Index (NRI) were used to standardize the nutritional status of 108 patients at the outset of management of HNC (2017-2019). The NAF includes assessment of weight loss over the past 3months, the amount and difficulty of food intake, and the presence of digestive disorders. Dental condition was assessed by the decayed, filled, and missing teeth acopre (DFM) index and the masticatory coefficient (MC). Dental status and social deprivation were correlated with the EPICES score. A correlation was found between the extent of weight loss and dental condition. The MC was higher in absence of weight loss (46% vs. 27%, p = 0.03) and the DMF lower when weight loss was less than 5% (22.3 vs. 26.9 if > 5% loss of weight, p = 0.005). No correlation was found between dental status and nutritional status. Social deprivation was associated with a lower MC (26% vs. 50%, p < 0.001). Dental condition is a risk factor for weight loss at the outset of management of HNC but is not a determinant of nutritional status. Clinical relevance Dental condition is no longer considered simply as a source of potential complications after radiotherapy but also as an important factor for nutritional status.

Association between occupational exposure to domestic solid waste and dental caries: a cross-sectional study.

Studies have shown that domestic waste collectors are exposed to toxicants including infectious pathogens, which may be linked to their oral health conditions. This cross-sectional study evaluated the dental caries and its associated factors among domestic waste collectors. A total of 301 adult men who worked for a waste collection corporation were included; 171 men worked in direct contact with domestic solid waste and 130 did not. Sociodemographic data, working, and medical history were assessed. The decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index was examined. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with dental status with a significance level of 5%. The overall mean DMFT score was 8.36±5.64. The mean DMFT, missing teeth (MT), and filled teeth (FT) were significantly higher in workers who did not have any direct contact with waste (p≤0.04). In the logistic analysis, DMFT ≥8 was only associated with older age (OR=8.41 [95% confidence interval (95%CI), 5.01–14.12], p<0.001). Decayed teeth (DT) ≥2 was associated with no previous oral hygiene instruction (OR=2.70 [1.50–4.81], p=0.001) and no daily dental flossing (OR=4.26 [1.92–9.43], p<0.001). MT ≥9 was associated with lower education level (OR=3.33 [1.57–7.10], p= 0.002). FT≥3 had a negative association with low income (OR= 0.42 [0.25–0.70], p<0.001) and no daily flossing (OR=0.42 [0.23–0.76], p=0.004). In conclusion, occupational exposure to domestic solid waste was not associated with poor dental status. Instead, age, education, income level, and oral hygiene were associated with dental health status. Missing teeth constituted the major component of the DMFT index. Therefore, prevention and oral rehabilitation programs are necessary to improve dental health.

Risk Factors for the Development of Malignant Tumors of the Head and Neck

Relevance. Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of head and neck cancer throughout. Head and neck cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, accounting for 5-10% of all cancers in the world. In the structure of cancer it takes 8th place. Aim. Highlight the main risk factors for the development of malignant neoplasms of the head and the etiological role of the human papillomavirus. Conclusions. Currently, it is an increase in prevalence of viral infections is considered to be the main cause of increase in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and this pathology is more common among non-smoking middleaged man with a high socio-economic status, having oral-genital sex with multiple sexual partners, as well as having poor dental status.

Oral Health Status and Nutritional Habits as Predictors for Developing Alzheimer’s Disease

Objective: Poor oral health, mainly tooth loss, has been suggested to pose a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The nature of this relationship can be explained by mastication deficit and nutritional status. Also, the influence of nutritional parameters on cognitive impairment has been documented. The aim of this study was to investigate whether poor dental status and nutrition habits can be potential separate or associated risk factors for development of the AD. Methods: The study sample included 116 patients with AD and 63 controls. Sociodemographic variables were investigated as factors potentially associated with AD. Dental examination included recording the number of natural teeth, presence of fixed or removable dentures, and the number of functional tooth units (FTUs). Nutritional status analysis included qualitative nutrition information, body mass index, serum albumin level, food consistency, and need for assistance in feeding. Regression analysis was used to investigate the predictors for development of AD. Results: Variables with significant differences between groups, which were analyzed by using the binary regression analysis, were marital status, residence, number of total FTUs (no matter whether the contacts were between natural teeth or dentures), eating meat/fish and fruits/vegetables, food consistency, and serum albumin level. Logistic regression analysis showed that being single/widowed/divorced, eating more meat/fish or fruit/vegetable, eating blended/mashed/liquid food, having low levels of serum albumin, and having less FTUs were significant predictors for developing dementia. Conclusion: Having fewer occlusal contacts, consumption of soft food, and lower serum albumin levels can be considered as associated risk factors for AD.