JOURNAL OF ORAL HEALTH AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Year:2021 | Volume:10 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the source of information and concerns about implant treatment as an option for replacement of missing teeth. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 dental patients referred to dental school and clinics of Kerman, Iran, in 2018, from October to February. A standardized self-administered closed-ended questionnaire was used in the study. The obtained data from the questionnaires were scored and analyzed with SPSS software. RESULTS: 54. 89% of the patients claimed that the dentists were the main source of information and the high cost was the most common concern of participants in implant treatment (53. 8%). In case of esthetic zone, the patients should be informed about crown esthetics. The patients’,information on the impact of tobacco and systemic factors on the lifetime and potential of implant treatment was close to reality. CONCLUSION: The results of the current survey showed that the majority of the patients were aware about dental implants and their main source of information was their dentists.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dental caries is still one of the most common chronic diseases among children, although it can be prevented through early and regular professional services. This study aimed to analyze cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish therapy intervention to develop and implement appropriate strategies in order to reduce incidence of tooth decay. METHODS: This study modelled the cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish therapy plan to prevent dental caries in elementary students with age range between 7-12 years, in Urmia, northwestern Iran. All costs and benefits were measured from a provider perspective in order to obtain the cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). We estimated the direct medical costs of fluoride varnish in a school-based setting and compared this to the benefits of reducing the incidence of dental caries, as measured by the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) index. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist was used to report this economic evaluation. To calculate Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio and sensitivity analysis, TreeAge software was used. RESULTS: Based on the DALY index, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was obtained $200. 02 per DALY averted. According to the threshold defined by World Health Organization (WHO), fluoride varnish therapy intervention in this study is cost-effective. The results of this research were not sensitive to the desired parameters based on the results of one-way sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION: This study recommends fluoride varnish therapy intervention because of reducing caries, improving quality of life (QOL), and financial saving for families in the long term. The results of this study can also help health policy makers and managers to make decisions about allocating resources to prevent dental diseases.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In the current healthcare system of Iran, there is a great emphasis on improving the quality healthcare services and access of all people to these services, especially in the field of oral health. Achieving this goal requires the provision of services by dentists. In order to adopt the best policies in this regard, having up-to-date knowledge on the number and distribution of the workforce is crucial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present a report on the status of dental resources in Iran in 2019 based on the number of dentists. METHODS: In the present descriptive study, data was collected from several sources. The statistics of specialist dentists graduated in the country were collected through correspondence with all dentistry faculties of the country. In addition to presenting the statistics of available dentists and dentists employed in the country, the "dentist to population ratio" index was also used to examine the distribution of dentists across the country. RESULTS: The number of general and specialist dentists across Iran in 2019 is calculated to be 30811 and 4593, respectively. Notably, the largest number of specialists was in the specialized field of endodontics (13. 8%), and the lowest number belonged to oral and maxillofacial pathology (4. 2%). In Iran, there are 43 dentists per 100000 people. The number of general and specialist dentists with office license and employed in the private sectors is 18287 and 2773, respectively. Moreover, overall, 36 state universities in 10 specialized fields offer courses with 1824 specialists as faculty members. CONCLUSION: Although the number of general and specialist dentists in the country has increased considerably in recent years, the distribution of these individuals across different regions of Iran has been overlooked, and the dentist to 100000 population ratio differs in various provinces of the country.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The purpose of this study was the quantitative assessment of accuracy of surgical approaches for reconstruction of unilateral orbital wall fractures by means of measuring orbital volume changes through analysis of pre-and post-operative computed tomography scan (CT scan). METHODS: Twenty-two patients with unilateral orbital wall fractures were included in this study. CT scans were used to obtain computer-based measurement of orbital volume in uninjured and injured orbit before and after surgery. The Shapiro-Wilk test, t-test, and paired t-test were used to analyze the data by SPSS software, such that P < 0. 05 was significant. RESULTS: The orbital volume of fractured orbit was significantly increased compared with unfractured orbit before surgery (P = 0. 0001). There was no significant difference between the two orbits after orbital reconstruction (P = 0. 42), but there was a significant difference between orbital volume of fractured orbit before surgery and after reconstruction (adequate reduction of the fractured orbit, P = 0. 0001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that common surgical approaches to reconstruct unilateral orbital fractures were adequate methods to restore the orbital fractured volume.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The habit of grinding teeth together is called grinding and the scientific term is “, bruxism”, . Bruxism usually occurs in deep sleep or when the person is under stress. This motivates the authors to investigate the relationship between stress and anxiety with the rate of free informed bruxism in the present work. METHODS: This research was a cross-sectional study and the population under analysis was adults over 18 years of age who referred to dental clinics of Kerman, Iran, and also people who accompanied them (simple census). The ethical approval code was IR. KMU. REC. 1399. 321. The investigations included questioning the patients about the history of bruxism and clenching. The information was analyzed by chi-square test, using SPSS software with 0. 05 confidence level. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported bruxism was 23. 2% and 15. 1% among women and men, respectively. The percentage of clenching alone was 27. 3%, and it was 23. 5% and 25. 6% in women and men, respectively. The prevalence of bruxism and clenching together was 9. 8 %. In patients suffering from bruxism, the prevalence of temporomandibular signs was 24. 6%, the feeling of fatigue, stiffness, or pain after awakening was 23. 5%, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sound was 6. 9%, and limitation in mouth opening was 8. 8%. In patients suffering from clenching, TMJ sound was 5. 8%, oral pain was 8. 8%, and limitation in mouth opening was 10. 5%. Between 365 respondents, people who were aware of their bruxism significantly reported more anxiety. CONCLUSION: Based on the present findings, self-reported bruxism, anxiety, and stress may be associated with each other.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The awareness about bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and diabetes mellitus (DM) is not well known among the Malaysian population. This study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness of periodontal disease (PD)-DM interrelationship and self-reported periodontal health among patients with DM. METHODS: Patients who attended the diabetic clinic were systematically and randomly invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Consented participants completed a validated self-administered questionnaire and provided information on socio-demographic background, oral hygiene practice, periodontal health status, and awareness about whether there is relationship between PD and DM. The level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was obtained from the medical record. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were carried out using SPSS software with P < 0. 05 considered as significant. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients with DM with a mean age of 62. 20 ±,9. 55 years participated in the study. The mean duration of living with DM was 10. 62 ±,6. 52 years and that for HbA1c level was 9. 08 ±,2. 24 mmol/l. About 53% of the participants had signs of PD, but only 22% perceived that they had PD. Only 15% were aware of the PD-DM interrelationship. The odds of knowing the definition and cause of PD and believing that oral health could be better without DM were greater in participants who had the awareness compared to those without awareness (P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: This study showed that patients with DM had a low level of awareness about PD-DM interrelationship which could be due to a lack of understanding about PD. It is recommended that patients with DM should be referred to a dental clinic for oral health counselling.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The most common oral hygiene aid used for the maintenance of oral health is the toothbrush and its hygiene is frequently neglected. Cigarette smoking is associated with many oral and periodontal diseases. Its effect can never be neglected on the microbiota of the oral cavity. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the microbial contamination of toothbrushes and its relation with smoking. This study aimed to assess the microbial contamination of capped and uncapped toothbrushes of adult smoker and non-smoker men. METHODS: This randomized study included 50 different used toothbrushes of healthy men, non-smoker and smoker, who may use capped and uncapped toothbrushes. This study was conducted at Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan, from September to October 2019. All toothbrushes were evaluated for microbial analysis. Samples were allocated through simple random sampling. Every toothbrush head was put in a sterile container with 10 ml brain heart agar (Oxoid) and incubated in 37 º, C for 24 hours,after which, they were placed in different bases (blood agar, McConkey). Results were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus was the most offender and major organism causing contamination in all 4 groups of smokers and non-smokers with capped toothbrush and smokers and non-smokers with uncapped toothbrush. A correlation test was done using Pearson’, s correlation, showing a positive correlation between uncapped non-smokers and capped smokers (P = 0. 050). CONCLUSION: The microbial contamination of capped and uncapped toothbrushes of adult smoker and non-smoker men was quite high and hence, it increases the risk of dental diseases.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated disease without a known etiology. Recent studies have indicated the role of vitamin D on immune system and proposed its anti-inflammatory effects. Present study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D on the severity of pain, burning, and lesions of patients with OLP and serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α, ) after the intervention. METHODS: 28 patients with OLP with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency participated in this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. They were divided into the two groups of intervention (n = 13) and control (n = 15). Serum levels of TNF-α, , vitamin D, and IL-6 were assessed before and 8 weeks after the treatment. The intervention and control groups were given one capsule of 50000 units of vitamin D and one placebo capsule weekly for 8 weeks, and they were also examined every other week, in terms of the severity of lesions (Thongprasom Index) and the severity of pain and burning [visual analog scale (VAS)]. The data analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software and statistical tests included independent t-test, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test, repeated measures test, and Pearson correlation coefficient test. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The P-value < 0. 05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The severity of lesions was significantly reduced in the intervention group (P = 0. 043). After the treatment, the mean IL-6 levels significantly decreased in the intervention and control groups compared to pre-treatment conditions (P = 0. 005 and P = 0. 014, respectively). Moreover, the mean TNF-α,concentrations significantly decreased only in the intervention group (P < 0. 001). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D reduced the severity of OLP lesions, IL-6, and TNF-α, . Vitamin D can be suggested as adjuvant therapy for patients with OLP,however, further studies are required to confirm these effects.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Research has focused on relating ABO blood group systems and different systemic disorders in recent years. Studies showing relation between dental disorders and ABO blood groups, to date, are limited. Thecurrent study was undertaken to explore whether blood group affects dental diseases, especially dental caries. METHODS: 346 patients who attended the Dental Clinic and Research Center, Patanjali Ayurved Hospital, Haridwar, India, were randomly selected for the study. Patients who showed their blood group test performed in a registered pathological laboratory or in our pathobiology laboratory were included in the study. Dental caries were recorded based on theDecayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). RESULTS: The prevalence of caries among the adults and older people was within 100% both in Yerevan and its regions. The most common dental disorder was dental caries among all blood groups. Dental caries were more prevalent inblood group B, followed by O, A, and AB. No significant correlation was found between the DMFT index score and blood groups. CONCLUSION: Further studies are required on a larger population to conclude any correlation between the ABO blood group phenotypes and dental disorders.