Routine Dental Check-up Research Articles

Unusual presentation of lower right second molar: A case report

Introduction: Dental anomalies such as fusion and gemination are rare but clinically significant conditions that can complicate diagnosis and treatment. This report presents a unique case involving the lower right second molar in a young adult male, exploring the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic implications. Case Report: A 20-year-old male patient presented for a routine dental check-up during which an unusual morphology of the lower right second molar was observed. Radiographic analysis suggested a dental anomaly, with differential diagnoses including fusion and gemination. The clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and subsequent management are discussed in detail. Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis of dental anomalies is crucial for effective treatment planning and management. This case underscores the importance of detailed clinical and radiographic evaluation in identifying and differentiating between dental conditions like fusion and gemination.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PARENTS' PATTERNS AND BARRIERS TO BRINGING CHILDREN TO THE DENTIST

Caries at an early age is a global problem that affects almost half of preschool children, the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) globally varies widely. One of the causes of caries in children less than 5 years old is the delay in the first visit to the dentist. The purpose of this study is to identify patterns of service utilization and obstacles that cause low visits to dentists so that programs can be planned that are able to increase the number of dental visits. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, ProQuest, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect databases with keywords such as Dental care, Dental attendance, dental utilization, and Oral health promotion. The data were then thematically analyzed to uncover trends, common challenges, and effective interventions across the literature. The results of this systematic review show a pattern in visiting the dentist, including visiting for routine dental checkups, preventive treatments, acute pain conditions that have been experienced and trauma. The patterns of use of dental and oral health services in children are influenced by the level of parental education, the type of dental health care that is covered by limited health insurance, low socio-economic factors, socio-demographic factors, and lack of adequate insurance. This study aims to offer valuable insights into the patterns of dental care utilization and the obstacles preventing higher visitation rates to dental services. The findings are synthesized to highlight consistencies and gaps, ultimately providing insights to inform the development of programs aimed at improving dental visit rates.

The effect of Previous Dental Treatments on Dental Anxiety in Children Aged 4-12

Objective: The patient’s cooperation is crucial for the success of dental treatment. In addition to previous treatments, various factors such as socio-economic status, age, gender, and oral hygiene can influence dental anxiety. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of previous dental treatment experiences on dental anxiety. Material and Method: Children aged 4-12 years who applied for dental treatment, along with their families, participated in the study. During their children’s dental treatment, families completed a survey form containing sociodemographic data and information about previous dental treatments. Before the procedure, children were shown five pictures from the Facial Image Scale and asked to choose the picture that best represented their current emotion. The degree of cooperation during the procedure was assessed using the Frankl Behavior Scale. The interaction of patients’ dental anxiety with various factors was analyzed. ANOVA post-hoc analysis and Tukey’s test were used for multiple comparisons of normally distributed variables among continuous variation variables. Kruskal-Wallis post-hoc analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for variables that did not follow a normal distribution. Results: Dental anxiety was found to be higher in girls and younger age groups, although this difference was not statistically significant. According to the Frankl scale, children who attended routine dental check-ups and had previous dental treatment experiences had higher scores, regardless of whether the previous treatment was favorable or unfavorable. Based on the Facial Image Scale, it was observed that children with no previous dental treatment selected more positive faces, whereas children with negative dental treatment experiences selected more negative faces. Conclusion: Previous dental treatment experiences and routine check-ups significantly impact reducing dental anxiety by familiarizing the child with the clinical environment and the dentist, as well as by reducing the need for invasive dental procedures. Therefore, to eliminate the negative effects of dental anxiety, preventive dental treatments should be emphasized by bringing children to regular dental check-ups at an early age, thus minimizing the need for invasive dental treatments.

Oral health status and oral health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study of clients in an Australian opioid treatment program.

Background Individuals with opioid dependence often experience poor oral health, including dental decay, periodontal disease and mucosal infection, frequently exacerbated by factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, inadequate oral hygiene and low utilisation of oral health services. This study aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among opioid-dependent individuals and explore their potential associations. Methods Participants enrolled in an opioid treatment program (OTP) at three Australian urban clinics were assessed using the validated Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Results The average age of the 75 participants was 44.7years, with 45% receiving opioid treatment for over 5years. Dental decay and inadequate oral hygiene were prevalent. Mean OHAT and OHIP-14 scores were 6.93 and 20.95 respectively, indicating moderate oral health severity and poor OHRQoL. Physical pain and psychological discomfort significantly impacted participants' quality of life, with the effects being particularly pronounced for those aged 30 and above. An exploratory analysis revealed a strong correlation between OHAT and OHIP-14 severity scores, with a one-point increase in OHAT associated with 1.85times higher odds of a lower OHRQoL (odds ratio=1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.38-2.49, P = Conclusions These findings underscore the multifaceted impact of oral health on the well-being of OTP clients. Routine dental check-ups, education on oral hygiene practices and timely treatment for oral health problems are crucial recommendations based on this study. Such measures hold the potential to enhance the quality of life for individuals attending OTPs.

Focal osteoporotic bone marrow defect: A happenstance finding

Abstract Focal osteoporotic bone marrow defects (FOBMDs) of jaws are rare and usually discovered as an incidental radiographic finding. They present as a poorly demarcated radiolucency affecting the posterior mandible of middle-aged women with pathogenesis remaining unknown. A 60-year-old female patient had visited our dental college for routine dental checkup and oral prophylaxis. Her radiograph revealed a well-defined radiolucency in the left mandibular posterior region as an incidental finding. Clinical examination revealed a diffuse swelling in the above-mentioned region which the patient had not noticed. The patient gave a history of trauma in the same region almost 20 years back. Incisional biopsy was performed. Microscopic examination revealed multiple bits of fatty fibro cellular tissue resembling the bone marrow with aggregates of blood cells. A diagnosis of FOBMD was given. FOBMD, although rare, should be included in differential diagnosis of the radiolucent lesions of the jaws.

EXPLORING THE DENTAL HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN RELATION TO SCALING AND ROUTINE DENTAL CHECK-UPS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA KPK

Background: Maintaining good oral hygiene practice and receiving routine dental check -up are crucial for preventingdental diseases. Dental scaling is a common dental procedure that involves removing the calculus and other debris fromthe teeth.Objective: This study aimed to explore the dental health beliefs and practices of college students in District Mansehraregarding scaling and routine dental checkups and identify the sociodemographic factors that influence dental healthbehaviors.Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 college students including females and males inDistrict Mansehra, and data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics is used toanalyze the data through SPSS .Result: Only 37% of college students adhere to regular dental checkups every six months, and a mere 16.5%express a positive attitude towards dental scaling. Notably, there are no statistically significant differences in dentalcheck-up rates between genders (P = 0.210), housing arrangements (own vs. rented, P = 0.494), or education levels(P = 0.598). Similarly, there is no significant variance in attitudes towards scaling based on gender (P = 0.116),urban/rural residence (P = 0.459), housing status (P = 0.531), or education level (P = 0.295). Overall, the studyunderscores the unsatisfactory dental care habits among college students and suggests a widespread negative perceptionof routine dental check-ups and scaling.Conclusion: The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the oral health needs of this population andinform the development of culturally appropriate oral health promotion programs.Keywords: Dental Health beliefs and Practice, Routine Dental Check-up, Sociodemographic factors.

Self-determined use of provided powered oral hygiene devices leads to improved gingival health after 1 year: a longitudinal clinical trial

PurposeOur study aimed to evaluate the long-term concordance and acceptance when using powered devices for everyday oral hygiene routine and gingival health in patients showing papillary bleeding.Patients and methodsThirty-one participants were recruited at the dental clinic of the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, over a 6-week duration. At baseline, a standard dental check-up was performed, including oral hygiene indices and documentation of oral hygiene devices used. The study consisted of two consecutive phases: the first (motivational trial) was designed to prove the effectiveness and safety of a microdroplet device and a powered toothbrush compared to dental floss and a manual toothbrush over a period of 4 weeks. The second (observational) phase began with all participants receiving the powered oral homecare devices. Participants were able to use their oral hygiene measures of choice over an unsupervised period of 1 year. All participants were then rescheduled for a routine dental check-up, where oral hygiene indices and oral hygiene devices used were reevaluated.ResultsAfter 1 year, 93.3% of participants stated they performed interdental cleaning on a regular basis (baseline 60.0%). The percentage using a powered toothbrush increased from 41.9% (baseline) to 90.0% after 1 year. Oral hygiene parameters had improved after both the motivational trial and observational phases compared to baseline (papillary bleeding index p = .000; Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index p < .05; Quigley-Hein Index p = .000).ConclusionIn the long term, participants preferred using powered oral hygiene devices over the gold standard dental floss and manual toothbrush. Improved oral hygiene parameters after 1 year may indicate implementation of newly acquired oral-hygiene skills during the 4-week instruction phase.

A Study Protocol to Assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Related to Oral Health among Nursing Students in DMIHER (DU)

Abstract Background: Nursing student’s dental health education model is aimed at orienting nursing students with oral health knowledge so that these students must be knowledgeable about dental health to implement it in their daily practices, and thus, they can play a vital part in health education and serve as the ideal role model for patients and the community. Therefore, a questionnaire-based survey is to be conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices related to oral health among nursing students in Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Materials and Methods: Around 440 nursing students will be participating in the questionnaire-based cross-sectional study for 2 months. The population will be taken from the nursing college of Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Sawangi Meghe, Wardha. The validated questionnaires will be circulated among the nursing students with the consent of the participation for the participants in study. After receiving the feedback of the questionnaires, the data will be observed, analyzed, and resulted. Expected Results: More than 80% is expected to have knowledge that toothbrushing prevents caries and gingival bleeding, and bleeding gum indicates gum disease. More than 90% may show a positive attitude toward the importance of oral health and considered that it is as important as other systemic health. Around 90% of students are expected to have a positive attitude toward dental floss and mouthwash helps in keeping the teeth clean. More than 90% of students are expected to brush their teeth twice daily and around 50% of students are expected to visit dental clinic regularly for routine dental checkup. Conclusion: The present study will show significant knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding oral health among nursing students. Therefore, our study’s findings might fill the void and provide a sound basis for developing evidence-based oral health reinforcement programs to reduce the discrepancy in oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices.

Promoting Dental Health Through Teledentistry: Assessing Awareness and Attitudes in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Teledentistry has emerged as a promising solution to enhance dental healthcare accessibility and quality. Understanding public awareness and attitudes towardteledentistry is crucial for its successful implementation, especially in regions like Saudi Arabia where digital health initiatives are rapidly expanding. This study aims to assess the level of awareness, attitudes, and perceptions towardteledentistry among the Saudi Arabian population, as well as examine the demographic factors influencing its acceptance. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 474 participants, employing a structured questionnaire to collect data on demographics, awareness, knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward teledentistry. Statistical analyses, including correlation and chi-square tests, were performed to analyze the data. Results The majority of respondents (64%) reported awareness of teledentistry, primarily through the Internet (44.5%) and healthcare providers (36.3%). The average self-assessed knowledge score was 3.04 out of 5, indicating moderate familiarity with teledentistry concepts. Attitudes towardteledentistry were generally positive, with 54% expressing belief in its effectiveness. However, a significant portion of the sample showed reluctance towardusing teledentistry for routine dental check-ups, with only 45.1% showing willingness. High technological accessibility was reported, yet 55.9% of participants preferred traditional in-person consultations. Correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive relationship between knowledge and belief in effectiveness (r = 0.21), but a negligible correlation with willingness to use teledentistry (r = 0.016). A strong positive correlation was found between belief in effectiveness and willingness for routine check-ups (r = 0.673). Educational level significantly influenced teledentistry acceptance, with higher education correlating with greater receptiveness. Conclusion While there is a moderate level of awareness and a generally positive attitude towardteledentistry among the Saudi population, hesitance remains regarding its use for routine care. The findings highlight the need for educational initiatives to improve knowledge and perceptions of teledentistry, potentially enhancing its acceptance and integration into the healthcare system.

Structural and functional abnormalities of the tongue: An epidemiological study from a tertiary care center in India.

The tongue is a prominent muscular organ of the oral cavity and the integrity of the tongue mucosa frequently can reflect the overall health of an individual. Many notable structural and functional alterations can affect the tongue. These changes may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Hence, the aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of structural and functional abnormalities of the tongue in a population reporting to a tertiary care center. We also assessed the prevalence of the normal variants and evaluated the normal tongue protrusion measurement in the study population. The cross-sectional study included 1,143 dental outpatients above 18 years of age who visited the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology between October 2021 to February 2022. Demographic details of the patients were noted. Participants were asked questions regarding any symptoms or abnormalities noticed on the tongue. The tongue was examined thoroughly for any structural/ functional abnormalities. The maximal tongue protrusion for each participant was measured by asking them to extend their tongue out. Medical history, drug history, and social history were recorded. The study included 564 male and 579 female participants; tongue lesions were positive in 66.5% of the study population. Coated tongue (26.2%) was the most frequent structural abnormality that was noted in the present study. Taste dysfunction (4.6%) was the most frequent functional abnormality. The lesions were mostly in the anterior two-thirds (4.2%) of the tongue. Functional abnormalities of the tongue were noted in 8.7% of the study participants. The results of the present study showed that structural and functional abnormalities of the tongue were present in 66.5% of the population. Careful and detailed evaluation of the tongue examination is mandated in routine dental checkups. This shall help in the prompt identification of various etiological factors causing structural and functional abnormalities of the tongue.

Investigate how Frequently Dental Professionals Conduct Oral Cancer Screenings During Routine Dental Check-Ups and the Methods they Use

ABSTRACT Background: Oral cancer is a significant global health concern with substantial morbidity and mortality rates. Early detection during routine dental check-ups is crucial for improved patient outcomes. Dental professionals play a pivotal role in conducting oral cancer screenings, but the frequency and methods they employ remain understudied. Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the frequency of oral cancer screenings during routine dental check-ups conducted by dental professionals and the methods they commonly use Materials and Methods: A survey was administered to 500 dental professionals, including dentists and dental hygienists, representing diverse demographics and practice settings. The survey collected data on the frequency of oral cancer screenings and the primary methods employed. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results: The study found that 85% of dental professionals conduct oral cancer screenings during routine dental check-ups, with 48% performing them annually and 33% at every visit. Visual inspection (97%) and palpation (83%) were the most commonly used methods, while adjunctive screening tools (45%) were less frequently incorporated Conclusion: Dental professionals are actively engaged in oral cancer screenings during routine dental check-ups, demonstrating a commitment to early detection. Visual inspection and palpation are commonly employed methods, but there is room for improvement in the adoption of adjunctive screening tools.

Evaluation of the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of school-age children on oral and dental health

Aims: It is essential to teach children behaviors about oral and dental health in the early period. This study aimed to evaluate school-age children's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about oral and dental health. Methods: The population of this research consists of 782 school-age literate individuals who applied to the Fırat University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Pedodontics. A questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was administered to the participants. Results: 45.5% of the participants were boys, and 54.5% were girls. The mean age of the participants was 10.53±1.95. While 42.7% of the participants answered in the morning and before going to bed, 24.7% stated that they did not brush regularly. The rate of those who indicated that they touched only in the morning was 11.6%, and those who said that they brushed only in the evening was 21.6%. Also, "When do you brush your teeth?" there is a significant difference in the answers given among the participants based on their gender (p&amp;lt;0.05). The female participants answered that they brush their teeth in the morning and before bed at a higher rate than the male participants. In addition, 77.9% of the female and 70.5% of the male participants think that routine dental check-ups should be done before our teeth hurt. Conclusion: As a result of this study, it was seen that the individual's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors on oral and dental health were similar to other studies in the literature. We think the behaviors taught to school-age children about oral and dental health can be effective throughout an individual's life.

Headache, Vertigo in a Teenage Dental Patient

A 13-year-old female patient presented to the dental office for routine dental checkup and correction of her proclined teeth through braces. Patient’s medical history suggested that the patient suffers from frequent episodes of headache, vertigo, dizziness and confusion. These episodes are random and have begun after the onset of menarche. Her physician diagnosed it as migraine and had prescribed medications which are helping with the headache but the episodes still happen at random. Routine lateral cephalometric x-ray done for orthodontic diagnosis, revealed a bony bridge on the posterosuperior articular process of atlas (C1 vertebra).

Occurrences of Dental Diseases in Dogs in a Teaching Animal Hospital, Morogoro, Tanzania

Dental diseases are common in dogs with a prevalence of more than 80% in some breeds of dogs. They cause damage to oral health and may act as a source of bacteria causing other diseases such as endocarditis, pneumonia and arthritis. A cross section study was conducted to determine the current status on the occurrence of dental diseases in dogs attended at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Teaching Animal Hospital in Morogoro, Tanzania. A total of 87 dogs were examined macroscopically for the presence of dental diseases. Dogs examined in this study ranged from medium (93.1%) to large (6.9%) sized, and up to 73.6% were mixed-breed. The minimum and maximum ages of the dogs were 6 and 72 months, respectively, with majority being females (60.9%). The proportions of intact, spayed and castrated were 92%, 5.8% and 2.3%, respectively. Of the 87 dogs examined, 62.1% had different kinds of dental diseases. The frequently observed dental diseases were; dental deposits (43.7%), missing teeth (24.1%), periodontal disease (20.7%), dental attrition (16.1%), and dental abrasion (10.3%). Further, it was noted that none of the dogs had been previous underwent routine dental check-up or anaesthetised for dental cleaning. This study indicates that dental diseases are frequent in dogs attended at SUA Teaching Animal Hospital. Therefore, it is recommended that routine dental examination should be performed in dogs presented at the Teaching Animal Hospital. Further, there is a need for educating dog breeders and owners on the importance of dental home care.

Real-World Evidence on the Prevalence of Molar Incisor Hypomineralization in School Children from Bucharest, Romania.

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is an understudied and underrecognized clinical entity occurring in children. We performed a cross-sectional study to determine the real-world prevalence of MIH among school children undergoing routine dental checkups at one primary and middle school in Bucharest, Romania. Our study cohort consisted of 266 children with evaluable data, of which 143 (53.8%) were males, with a median age of 10 years old (interquartile range: 8-11 years). In this study cohort, we have identified a prevalence of 14.3% (n = 38 cases) of MIH. Among patients diagnosed with MIH, hypomineralizations were present in 47.4% of children on the maxillary first molar, 92.1% on the mandibular first molar, 94.7% on the maxillary incisor, 36.8% on the mandibular incisor, and 5.3% on the deciduous second molar. We identified the maxillary incisor and the mandibular first molar as the most important examined sites significantly associated with the presence of MIH (p < 0.0001 each), highlighting the importance of paying focused attention to these sites during routine dental care in children. In order to establish the diagnosis of MIH, findings of hypomineralization should be present on at least one permanent first molar, according to the case definition currently in use; this definition does not include findings on the incisors. Thus, our finding that hypomineralization of the maxillary incisors is significantly associated with MIH is particularly important. While incisor hypomineralization is not diagnostic of MIH, based on our results, we conclude that it should raise the suspicion of MIH and lead to an attentive examination of the permanent molars in order to establish timely diagnosis.

Structural and functional abnormalities of the tongue: An epidemiological study from a tertiary care center

Background: The tongue is a prominent muscular organ of the oral cavity and the integrity of the tongue mucosa frequently can reflect the overall health of an individual. There are a number of notable structural and functional alterations that can affect the tongue. These changes may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of structural and functional abnormalities of the tongue in a population reporting to a tertiary care center. We also assessed the prevalence of the normal variants and evaluated the normal tongue protrusion measurement in the study population. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 1,143 dental outpatients above 18 years of age who visited the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology between October 2021 and February 2022. Demographic details of the patients were noted. Participants were asked questions regarding any symptoms or abnormalities noticed pertaining to tongue. The tongue was examined thoroughly for any structural/ functional abnormalities. The maximal tongue protrusion for each participant was measured by asking them to extend the tongue out. Medical history, drug history and social history were recorded. Results: The study included 564 male and 579 female participants; tongue lesions were positive in 66.5% of the study population. Coated tongue (26.2%) was the most frequent structural abnormality that was noted in the present study. Taste dysfunction (4.6%) was the most frequent functional abnormality. The lesions were most in the anterior two thirds (4.2%) of the tongue. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that tongue lesions were present in 66.5% of the population. Careful and detailed evaluation of the tongue examination is mandated in routine dental checkup. This shall help in prompt identification of various etiological factors causing structural and functional abnormalities of the tongue.

Association of severely damaged endodontically infected tooth with carotid plaque and abnormal carotid intima-media thickness: a retrospective analysis.

We investigated the association of severely damaged endodontically infected tooth with carotid artery plaque and abnormal mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) ≥ 1.0mm. A retrospective analysis of 1502 control participants and 1552 participants with severely damaged endodontically infected tooth who received routine medical and dental checkup in Health Management Center, Xiangya Hospital was performed. Carotid plaque and CIMT were measured with B-mode tomographic ultrasound. Data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression. Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth group had a significantly higher prevalence of carotid plaque (41.62%) compared to 32.22% of carotid plaque in control group. Participants with severely damaged endodontically infected tooth had a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal CIMT (16.17%) and a significantly increased level of CIMT (0.79 ± 0.16mm) in comparison to 10.79% of abnormal CIMT and 0.77 ± 0.14mm CIMT in control participants. Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth was significantly related with formation of carotid plaque [1.37(1.18-1.60), P < 0.001], top quartile length [1.21(1.02-1.44), P = 0.029] and top quartile thickness [1.27(1.08-1.51), P = 0.005] of carotid plaque and abnormal CIMT [1.47(1.18-1.83), P < 0.001]. Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth was significantly associated with both single [1.277(1.056-1.546), P = 0.012] and multiple carotid plaques [1.488(1.214-1.825), P < 0.001] and instable carotid plaques [1.380(1.167-1.632), P < 0.001]. Presence of severely damaged endodontically infected tooth increased 0.588mm of carotid plaque length (P = 0.001), 0.157mm of carotid plaque thickness (P < 0.001) and 0.015mm of CIMT (P = 0.005). Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth was associated with carotid plaque and abnormal CIMT. Early treatment of endodontically infected tooth is warranted.

Association of congenitally missing teeth with adult temporomandibular disorders in the urban health checkup population

BackgroundCongenitally missing tooth is the most common dental abnormality which leaves spaces in the arch, leads to numerous forms of malocclusion due to the Bolton index discrepancy and is even associated with abnormal craniofacial morphology. Even though the roles of malocclusion and tooth loss in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) development remain controversial, basic researches have found some common molecules are involved in osteoarthritis and dental agenesis. However, the association of congenitally missing teeth with TMD is unknown. We hence investigated the association of congenitally missing teeth with TMD.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of 586 control participants (male: 287, female: 299, 38.33 ± 11.65 years) and 583 participants with non-third molar congenitally missing teeth (male: 238, female: 345, 39.13 ± 11.67 years) who consecutively received routine dental and TMD checkup according to Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axis I in Health Management Center, Xiangya Hospital was performed. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association of congenitally missing teeth with TMD.ResultsThe congenitally missing teeth group included 581 hypodontia and 2 oligodontia participants. The congenitally missing anterior teeth participants, the congenitally missing posterior teeth participants and participants with both congenitally missing anterior and posterior teeth accounted for 88.34%, 8.40% and 3.26% of the congenitally missing teeth group respectively. Congenitally missing teeth group had greater ratios of females and orthodontic history. Participants with congenitally missing teeth had a significantly higher prevalence of overall TMD (67.24%) in comparison to control participants (45.90%). After adjusting age, gender, presence of congenitally missing teeth, number of congenitally missing teeth, number of non-congenitally missing teeth, number of dental quadrants with missing teeth, visible third molar and orthodontic history, the variables of age, gender, presence of congenitally missing teeth and number of dental quadrants with missing teeth were significant for overall TMD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed congenitally missing tooth was significantly related with overall TMD [odds ratio (OR):1.689(1.080–2.642), P = 0.022], intra-articular TMD [OR: 1.711(1.103–2.656), P = 0.017] and pain-related TMD [OR: 3.093(1.321–7.239), P = 0.009].ConclusionCongenitally missing tooth is a risk factor for TMD. When treating the congenitally missing teeth population, TMJ evaluation and multidisciplinary strategies are necessary.

Parameters associated with radiographic distal surface caries in the mandibular second molar adjacent to an impacted third molar

BackgroundTo determine the risk factors for the development of radiographic distal surface caries (rDSC) in patients who attend routine dental check-ups during an era of National Institute for Health Care Excellence third molar surgery guidelines.MethodsRadiographs taken during routine dental examinations involving 1012 patients from Manchester, UK were accessed. Clinical parameters, oral health, patient demographics, and socioeconomic factors were assessed. Risk factors were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe detected rate of rDSC was 63.9% and rDSC was distributed homogenously across all five socioeconomic groups (p = 0.425). Risk factors associated with rDSC (p < 0.001) were identified as partially erupted mesio-angularly impacted mandibular third molars, third molars with compromised molar to molar contact points, loss of lamina dura of ≥ 2 mm, male gender, increasing age, and a higher modified Decayed Missing Filled Tooth score.ConclusionrDSC was significantly associated with the angulation of third molars, the compromised contact position of the adjacent third molar, the periodontal status of the distal aspect of the second molar and the cumulative history of oral health in a population governed by specific third molar guidelines. An active approach to third molar surgical management could reduce rDSC and serve this population, irrespective of patients’ socioeconomic or deprivation status.

Assessing Videoconferencing as a Method of Remote Consultation in Pediatric Dentistry.

The oral health condition in rural areas remains compromised due to insufficient healthcare providers. Implementation of teledentistry through videoconferencing in these areas can improve this situation when trained personnel are able to carry out real-time consultations of the patients with a pediatric dentist. To observe the feasibility of using teledentistry for an oral examination, consultation, and education, and also to assess the participant's satisfaction regarding the use of teledentistry for a routine dental checkup. An observational study was carried out with 150 children aged 6-10 years. About 30 primary health centers (PHC)/Anganwadi (AW) workers were trained to perform the oral examination with the intraoral camera (IOC). Four self-constructed and nonstructured questionnaires were prepared to understand the knowledge, awareness, and attitude of the participants toward pediatric dentistry and their acceptance of teledentistry. A total of 83.3% of children were not scared and felt that the use of IOC was better. About 84% of the PHC/AW workers found teledentistry very convenient, easy to learn, and adapt. And around 92% thought that teledentistry is time-consuming. Teledentistry is a possible way to provide pediatric oral health consultation in rural areas. It can save time, stress, and money for people in need of dental treatment. Agarwal N, Jabin Z, Waikhom N. Assessing Videoconferencing as a Method of Remote Consultation in Pediatric Dentistry. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(5):564-568.