JOURNAL OF ORAL HEALTH AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Year:2021 | Volume:10 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Oral lichen planus (OLP) has been known as an inflammatory disease and might have an association with helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of H. pylori in patients with OLP. METHODS: In this review study, all articles with English abstracts were searched in the Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases up to May 2020. The searches were performed using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords of "oral lichen planus" or "oral lichenoid reaction" or "OLP" and "Helicobacter pylori" or "H. pylori". The heterogeneity percentage obtained during different studies was evaluated by the Cochrane (Q) test and I2 statistic. The analyses were performed by the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software version 2. 0. RESULTS: Amongst the 16 articles obtained after the abstract review, 7 proper articles fitted to our study were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that the incidence of H. pylori in patients with OLP was 2. 9 times greater than that in the control group (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of previous studies, H. pylori increases the risk of OLP lesions. Therefore, testing for H. pylori infection in these patients before starting routine treatment is recommended.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Early loss of deciduous teeth has negative effects on chewing function, aesthetics, self-esteem, and permanent dentition. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of premature primary tooth loss and the contributing factors in children aged 36-71 months in Babol City, north of Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 558 healthy preschool children underwent oral examination to record the type and frequency of premature tooth loss and Silness-Loe plaque index. The parents were then asked to fill out a questionnaire about the related factors. Data were evaluated by SPSS software and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent samples t-test, and multiple linear regression analysis. The level of significance was set at P ≤,0. 05. RESULTS: The frequency rate of missing primary teeth was 1. 56% estimated in 13. 62% of children. The mean number of missing teeth showed a significant difference among different subgroups of children classified based on parent’, s education (P = 0. 001), socio-economic status (P = 0. 001), child's age (P = 0. 020), plaque index (P = 0. 001), frequency of consumption of cariogenic snacks (P = 0. 001), and brushing (P = 0. 001). According to multiple linear regression test, father's educational level, socio-economic status, plaque index, and frequency of consumption of cariogenic snacks were correlated with the number of missing teeth. CONCLUSION: Less than one-seventh of children had at least one premature missing primary tooth. Child's age, parent’, s educational level, socio-economic status, frequency of consumption of cariogenic snacks, plaque index, and brushing are related to premature primary tooth loss.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Neglecting the importance of oral health may lead to complications and decrease quality of life (QOL). Regular use of toothbrushes, mouthwash, and flossing is effective in preventing and treating many oral diseases. In this study, we assessed the effect of computer-based learning method on the improvement of oral health knowledge among office employees in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: In a quasi-experimental study, we selected 80 participants and randomly assigned them to 2 equal arms (intervention and control arms) in 2 governmental offices in Kerman. As a pretest, we measured individuals' level of knowledge using a questionnaire in both arms. After collecting the completed questionnaires, we distributed a recorded CD containing oral health education e-content among the intervention arm participants and after a week, during which the intervention arm had a chance to use the CD, the same questionnaire was given to both arms as a posttest. After completing the second round of the study, the participants in the control arm received the training CD. The CD was prepared in Loheh commercial software and its content was 2 types of slide files and short educational videos. RESULTS: The comparison of the posttest and pretest showed that the average knowledge score significantly increased in the intervention arm from 9. 97 to 12. 2 (paired t-test,P < 0. 002). The knowledge score difference between the intervention arm and the control arm was not affected by age or gender (Student’, s t-test, Pearson Correlation,P > 0. 050). However, a positive and significant relationship was observed between educational level and the posttest score (Spearman’, s correlation,P < 0. 005). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the general level of knowledge about oral health is poor. Computer-based learning can positively improve knowledge. This kind of learning approach could be useful and effective enough for enhancing social oral health knowledge and status.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of passive music intervention in patients with moderate to high dental anxiety undergoing ultrasonic scaling procedure. METHODS: Eighty healthy subjects with an anxiety score of 13-25 by Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) were recruited into study and control groups. Study group of forty subjects underwent ultrasonic scaling procedure with pre-recorded instrumental music intervention. Forty subjects in control group received the same dental treatment without music intervention. Physiologic parameters such as pulse rate (PR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were recorded twice (before and at the end of procedure) for both groups. Dental anxiety experience was recorded using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for all the subjects at the end of study program. Repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the significant mean difference between pre-and post-measurements of all clinical parameters among study and control groups. Independent samples t-test was applied to analyze VAS inter-group significance. RESULTS: The mean values of PR (pre and post) as well as SBP and DBP (pre and post) were statistically significant for study group as compared to control group. Mean values of PR (pre and post) and SBP and DBP (pre and post) showed statistically significant reduction in study group compared to control group. Post-therapy VAS score was significantly lower in the study group as compared to the control group. P-value was maintained at < 0. 05. CONCLUSION: Music intervention during ultrasonic procedure helps reduce dental anxiety in subjects with moderate to high dental anxiety levels.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Silver fluoride solutions have been used successfully over the past 40 years for the prevention and inhibition of dental caries, in both clinical and in vitro studies. This study was performed to investigate worldwide interest in silver diamine fluoride (SDF) over the last decade using Google Trends. METHODS: On January 6, 2020, the term ‘, silver diamine fluoride’,was searched for on Google Trends and the relative search volume (RSV) was downloaded. This search was first performed worldwide, and then within the five most-searched countries, i. e., the United States of America (USA), Canada, Egypt, India, and the United Kingdom (UK), from January 2010 to December 2019. Data were subjected to multiple time-series analysis and Kruskal-Wallis test, and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) forecasting models were generated. RESULTS: The highest RSVs were obtained in the USA (100) and Canada (99). The monthly RSV values were significantly different among countries (P < 0. 001). Multiple time-series analysis showed a marked increase in the number of searches including the term ‘, silver diamine fluoride’,since 2014. CONCLUSION: There has been an increase in interest regarding SDF among Google users over the last decade. The increase started in 2014, with the highest number of searches for this term being conducted in the USA and Canada.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common type of cancers in the world and it has been emphasized that chronic inflammation may be associated with carcinogenesis in recent years. In the present study, the purpose is to investigate the patient characteristics and the periodontal health status of patients with malignant and benign oral mucosal lesions. METHODS: 34 patients with suspicious mucosal lesions were registered. The patients’,demographic variables, tobacco use, and clinical periodontal measurements such as probing pocket depth (PD), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were established for statistical analysis. All lesions were stained using Toluidine blue solution in order to determine the biopsy site and punch biopsy was performed prior to the histological examination. The patients’,test parameters including demographic variables, tobacco use, and clinical periodontal measurements were statistically analyzed for benign and malignant groups. T-test, chi square, and Fisher’, s exact tests and logistic regression test were utilized for data analyses using SPSS program. The level of significance was set at P = 0. 050. RESULTS: 34 patients [15 (44. 0%) females and 19 (56. 0%) males] with suspicious oral mucosal lesions were enrolled into the study. Of the 34 lesions, 8 (23. 5%) were histologically diagnosed as malignant whereas 26 (76. 5%) were benign. Although periodontal parameters and tobacco use were clearly granted higher scores in the malignant group, the logistic regression analysis revealed that none of the variables were influential on the diagnosis of the lesions [gender (P = 0. 487), age (P = 0. 891), duration of the lesion (P = 0. 526), lesion localization (P = 0. 356), tobacco use (P = 0. 873), pocket depth (P = 0. 741), plaque index (P = 0. 672), bleeding index (P = 0. 707)]. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the present study did not report statistically significant results, meaningful values related to tobacco use and periodontal measurements were observed in the patients with malignant mucosal lesions when compared to those with benign mucosal lesions.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Alleviating a painful procedure like tooth extraction by compound analgesics in a single dose using the synergistic effects, particularly before the beginning of extraction pain, is favourable. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of time (preoperative/postoperative) to prescribe medication in the management of postoperative dental pain following primary tooth extraction. METHODS: The present double-blind clinical trial study included 121 healthy children aged 6-12 years old. The children were classified into four groups, including Group 1: Neurobion forte-vitamin B complex-vitamin B12 as placebo 30 minutes before extraction, Group 2: Neurobion forte-vitamin B complex-vitamin B12 30 minutes after extraction, Group 3: concurrent ibuprofen-acetaminophen combination 30 minutes before extraction, and Group 4: concurrent ibuprofen-acetaminophen combination 30 minutes after extraction. The researcher was blind about which group took placebo or main drug. Patient was blind too. The rate of pain was evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS) immediately, 30 minutes after extraction, and 6 and 24 hours later. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS software. T-test was used to compare between groups (P < 0. 05). Repeated measures test was used to compare between the placebo and main drug groups during measurement times. RESULTS: Population of the study included 58 (47. 9%) boys and 63 (52. 1%) girls. It was found that mean pain intensity in group 3 was considerably lower than other groups immediately after intervention. Moreover, in group 2, it was significantly more than other groups. However, under 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours, repeated measures test showed that the mean severity of pain in group 2 was significantly more than other groups. CONCLUSION: According to the results, concurrent preoperative ibuprofen-acetaminophen administration would provide better analgesic efficacy compared to the postoperative ibuprofen-acetaminophen combination in 6-12 years old children. Moreover, the effect of induction in children could be demonstrated.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mucosal lesions are in several diseases, such as mucocutaneous disorders. Diagnosis of these lesions is based on background/history, clinical features, and histopathological examination. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between clinical and pathologic diagnoses in mucocutaneous biopsies during a ten-year period. METHODS: Based on the existing data, this descriptive, analytical, and retrospective study was carried out on the archives of the pathology departments of School of Dentistry of Kerman University of Medical Sciences and Afzalipour Therapeutic Training Hospital, Kerman, Iran, during March 2008-March 2018. Data were collected using a checklist including the clinical and histopathologic diagnoses of mucosal skin lesions and patients’,demographic characteristics, and were analyzed in SPSS software. RESULTS: In this study, 650 cases of skin lesions were detected with a conclusive microscopic diagnosis. The lichen planus (LP) with 346 cases (53. 23%) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) with 138 cases (23. 23%) were the most common lesions, whereas the least cases were related to psoriasis (0. 03%). Moreover, buccal mucosa was the most frequent location of lesions, and the prevalence of lesions was significantly higher in female patients, compared to male patients. Furthermore, the most conformity between clinical and histopathologic diagnoses was related to LP. In this regard, the Kappa coefficient as the rate of overall conformity with the histopathologic diagnosis was estimated at 0. 542. CONCLUSION: The conformity between the clinical and the histopathologic diagnoses was within the acceptable range. However, it is recommended that the accurate clinical information of patients be completed to make the correct diagnosis.