Search

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and associated risk indicators for dentine hypersensitivity (DH), erosive tooth wear (ETW), gingival recession (GR), and gingival inflammation (bleeding on probing, BOP), with clinical and questionnaire data from seven European countries., Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, seven-European country, epidemiological study in systemically healthy adults. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding oral hygiene, diet and lifestyle factors. A clinical examination, by calibrated examiners, measured DH (Schiff; participant yes/no), ETW (basic erosive tooth wear examination, BEWE), GR (mm), and BOP (yes/no)., Results: 3551 participants completed the study, mean age 44 ± 17.4, 43.6 % male, 26.1 % rural dwellers. DH (Schiff ≥ 1) was seen in 75.9 % of participants, ETW (BEWE ≥ 1) in 97.6 %, GR (≥1 mm) in 87.9 %. 65.7 % participants had BOP ≥ 10 % sites, 34.3 % BOP<10 % with probing depths ≤3 mm. DH, ETW, GR and BOP increased markedly during young adult life. Thereafter, GR and ETW continued to increase, DH declined after around age 38-47, and BOP plateaued after age 48. DH was significantly associated with ETW (p < 0.001) and GR (p < 0.01); GR was significantly associated with BOP on lingual surfaces (p = 0.017). There were significant associations between increased full mouth BOP ≥ 10 % and reduced brushing duration and exercise frequency (p < 0.001); increased DH and heartburn (p < 0.001); decreased DH (p < 0.001), ETW (p < 0.001) and BOP ≥ 10 % (p = 0.002) with powered toothbrush use., Conclusions: Prevalence of oral conditions assessed was high, greater than in the majority of the GR, DH and ETW literature. Periodontal health was seen in a third of sampled individuals. All these conditions varied markedly by country and age., Clinical Significance: Oral diseases and conditions were highly prevalent throughout the seven European countries investigated. For the majority, these conditions are eminently preventable and treatable by changing behaviours. Upstream policy changes are needed to address these health challenges, to raise awareness and to empower individuals with oral health education and support., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Nicola West reports financial support was provided by Haleon plc. Jonathan Creeth reports a relationship with Haleon plc that includes: employment. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: This study aimed to assess the effect of malocclusion severity according to the Index of Treatment Need (IOTN) on oral health (dental caries and gingivitis), and its correlation with socioeconomic status (SES) in Iranian adolescents., Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on adolescents between 10 and 16 years in Tehran city, who underwent clinical dental examination. The Dental Health Component (DHC) of the IOTN was used to assess the severity of malocclusion. The DMFT index was calculated to assess dental caries, and the gingival index (GI) was calculated for gingival health assessment. For oral hygiene assessment, the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) was calculated, and a questionnaire was used., Results: Totally, 306 adolescents participated in this study. The frequency of IOTN grades was 88 (28.8%), 89 (26.1%) ,49 (16%), 60 (19.6%), and 29 (9.5%) for grades 1 to 5, respectively. The multinomial logistic regression showed that by an increase in OHI-S score, the odds of having IOTN grade 4 compared to grade 1 increased. Postgraduate parental level of education decreased the odds of having IOTN grade 4 compared to grade 1. Furthermore, there was an inverse correlation between oral hygiene practice and the odds of having IOTN grade 5 compared to grade 1., Conclusions: Malocclusion may hinder oral hygiene practice, and resultantly increase plaque accumulation. This risk may be amplified in children with lower SES, highlighting the need for preventive and educational oral health programs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: While physical health status is known to impact social functioning, a growing literature suggests that social well-being may affect oral health. This investigation evaluated whether self-perceived quality of social roles, activities and relationships (social well-being) influences gingival inflammation., Methods: Data were from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative cohort of US adults, biennial waves 4 (2017) to 6 (2021). Social well-being was derived from the validated PROMIS Global-10 survey instrument, categorized for this longitudinal analysis as high, moderate or low. The main outcome was incident self-reported gum bleeding (dichotomous, proxy for gingivitis). Survey-weighted logistic regression modelling adjusted for overall health status, sociodemographic (e.g. age, sex, race/ethnicity), socioeconomic (e.g. income, education) and behavioural (e.g. tobacco, alcohol) confounders and was used to predict marginal mean gum bleeding incidence., Results: Cross-sectionally at wave 4 (N = 23 679), gum bleeding prevalence was higher along a stepwise gradient of decreasing satisfaction with social activities and relationships (extremely satisfied: 20.4%; not at all: 40.1%). Longitudinally, among participants who had never reported gum bleeding through wave 4 (N = 9695), marginal predicted new gum bleeding at wave 6 was greater with each category of lower wave 4-5 social well-being (high: 7.6%; moderate: 8.6%; low: 12.4%). Findings were robust to alternative model specifications. Results should be interpreted considering study limitations (e.g. potential unmeasured confounding; outcome by self-report)., Conclusions: Social functioning may affect physical health. Specifically, social roles, activities and relationships may influence inflammatory oral conditions, like gingivitis. Confirmatory research is warranted, along with policies and interventions that promote social well-being., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Determining the prevalence of inflammatory periodontal diseases makes it possible to determine the age group most prone to them, which will help to implement correct treatment and prevention measures for persons of this group, aimed at increasing the level of individual and public health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of inflammatory periodontal diseases among the population of the city of Astana according to several criteria and to compare data on the statistics of periodontitis incidence from the world and Kazakhstan., Objective: The research was conducted using the methods of clinical examinations and statistical data processing., Material and Methods: The study involved 642 people aged 18 to 80 years who, within twelve months, applied to dental institutions in the city of Astana and were checked according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical studies included determining the level of oral hygiene using the OHI-S simplified oral hygiene index and determining the condition of periodontal tissue using the CPITN periodontal disease treatment need index., Results: It was found that the highest prevalence of various forms of gingivitis and periodontitis was observed in the 66-80 age group - 99% and 69%, respectively. The general distribution in all groups indicated a directly proportional relationship between the frequency of detection of inflammatory periodontal diseases and the age of the group participants. A comparison of data on the incidence of periodontal disease in the world and in Kazakhstan showed a 3.52% lower incidence rate in Kazakhstan compared to the world average., Conclusions: The use of regular and timely preventive and treatment measures for the population group most prone to inflammatory periodontal diseases will make it possible to improve the state of individual health of the population and, accordingly, raise the level of public health.

Aim: The occurrence of periodontal diseases is still to be determined in large samples of major Brazilian cities. This study aimed to assess the periodontal status of adults from Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, using periodontitis definitions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Periodontology (CDC/AAP) and the recently published ACES 2018 Classification Framework., Materials and Methods: A multi-stage probability sampling technique was applied to draw individuals aged 18 or older. A total of 566 individuals underwent a full-mouth periodontal examination. Periodontitis cases were defined according to the CDC/AAP and the ACES 2018 Classification Framework. Non-periodontitis cases were classified as healthy or gingivitis. The agreement between the two definitions was calculated., Results: Periodontal health was present in 33.6% and 13.8% of individuals, and gingivitis was found in 11.7% and 7.5%, according to CDC/AAP and ACES, respectively. Mild, moderate and severe periodontitis (CDC/AAP) were present in 2.1%, 33.4% and 19.1% of individuals, respectively. Using ACES, 34.3% had Stages I/II and 43.3% had Stages III/IV. The occurrence of periodontitis was higher when a subgroup of individuals aged 30+ were analysed, ranging from 69.6% (CDC/AAP) to 90.1% (ACES). CDC/AAP and ACES agreement for health, gingivitis and periodontitis accounted for 68.8% of the observations., Conclusions: Periodontal diseases affect more than 66% of the population aged 18+ years. Classic definition by the CDC/AAP and the recently published ACES Framework yielded moderate agreement., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Dental caries, gingivitis, and excess weight are highly prevalent, interconnected chronic conditions. The association of oral health with the development of adiposity among children is sparsely addressed. We examined the association of oral health to the development of excess weight and central obesity in early adolescence during a 2-year follow-up period. This prospective study was conducted with 2702 children aged 9-12 years at baseline from the Finnish Health in Teens study. Their weight development was followed up for 2 years. Body mass index with age- and sex-specific cut-offs and the waist-height ratio indicated weight status and central obesity. Oral health data (caries experience and gingivitis/calculus) were collected from outpatient records of public dental services. Having both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus was considered burden of oral diseases. Of the sample, 74% were caries-free but 70% exhibited gingivitis and/or calculus, and 20% had both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus. During the follow-up period, 5.3% (n = 124) and 4.7% (n = 118) of the children became overweight/obese or centrally obese, respectively. Having both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus associated with the development of excess weight in a fully adjusted model (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.03-2.97) but not of central obesity. Caries experience or gingivitis/calculus alone did not associate with adiposity development., Conclusion: Having burden of oral diseases without excess weight at early adolescence could imply future weight gain; thus, normal-weight individuals with both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus could be targeted with preventive measures. Our findings warrant further research to explore whether oral diseases and the development of obesity merely share risk factors or if their relationship is of causal nature., What Is Known: • Association of excess weight with caries experience and gingivitis is known to exist both cross-sectionally and longitudinally in children and adolescents., What Is New: • Burden of oral diseases, that is, having both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus, was associated with becoming overweight or obese 2 years later during early adolescence. • Normal-weight individuals with burden of oral diseases at early adolescence could be targeted with preventive measures against excess weight gain., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: While studies have suggested an association between periodontal disease and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, the strength of this association and its specific links to various types of cardiovascular disease have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to examine how gingivitis and tooth loss affect cardiovascular diseases, probing their individual impacts., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, encompassing 3,779,490 individuals with no history of cardiovascular disease, utilizing data from the National Health Examination and the Korean National Health Insurance database from 2006 to 2019. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate the association between tooth loss, gingivitis, and cardiovascular disease., Results: Following a median follow-up of 10.38 years, 17,942 new cardiovascular disease cases were identified, comprising 10,224 cases of angina pectoris, 6,182 cases of acute myocardial infarction, and 9,536 cases of stroke. It was observed that the risk of stroke was significantly higher in the tooth loss group compared to the control group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.15). In the group with gingivitis and tooth loss, the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease was significantly higher than in the control group (aHR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.20; aHR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.14). The gingivitis group exhibited a higher risk associated with stroke (aHR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.10) among individuals aged 50 and above. However, statistically significant associations between periodontal disease and angina pectoris were not observed, nor between periodontal disease and acute myocardial infarction except among those aged above 50. Furthermore, the association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease was found to be stronger among individuals over the age of 50, males, those with obesity, and smokers compared to the control group., Conclusions: Our results emphasize the association of tooth loss and gingivitis with cardiovascular disease, specifically stroke, underlining the critical need for preventive oral healthcare. Tailored interventions are necessary to reduce the heightened risk of cardiovascular disease events, especially stroke, among older, obese individuals and smokers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Seung Yeon Lee. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objectives: Prospectively collected data were used to estimate the prevalence of gingivitis in a cohort of companion cats aged up to 6 years and to investigate factors associated with the risk of gingivitis in cats aged 3 to 4 years., Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of domestic cats (the Bristol Cats Study), using owner-completed questionnaires and veterinary surgeon-completed oral health scores. Prevalence estimates of veterinary-reported gingivitis for cats aged up to 6 years old (n = 1534) were calculated for different age groups. Cat signalment, diet and dental care were assessed for association with gingivitis in cats aged 3 to 4 years (n = 317) using univariable and multiple logistic regression., Results: The prevalence of gingivitis increased with age and ranged from 24.5% (<12 months old) to 56.3% (5 to 6 years old). Odds of gingivitis in cats aged 3 to 4 years were higher in cats fed a wet only or mixed wet/dry diet compared to dry only (odds ratio: 2.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.4 to 5.1), cats not reported to hunt compared to reported hunters (odds ratio: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.0 to 4.2), cats reported to dribble whilst being stroked at age 6 months compared to reported non-dribblers (odds ratio: 3.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 8.4) and cats with orange variants in their coat colour compared to non-orange cats (odds ratio: 2.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.0 to 5.3)., Clinical Significance: These results will help veterinary surgeons identify cats that may be at a greater risk of gingivitis and provide an evidence base to inform dietary and oral healthcare recommendations aimed at promoting gingival health in cats., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Small Animal Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Background: Various orodental problems affect patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI), but there are limited studies on these issues., Aim: To study orodental status and its confounding factors in patients with IEI., Design: Caries, enamel defects, gingival, and soft tissue conditions were examined. Data on patient characteristics, dental hygiene habits, dental attendance, and household income were collected. Statistical analysis and logistic regression were performed., Results: Forty-five participants with a mean age of 9.20 ± 6.41 years were included. Almost all participants had gingivitis (42 of 45; 93.3%), whereas a small number had periodontitis (five of 45; 11.1%). Calculus was found in 33 (73.3%) and caries in 30 (66.7%). Mucosal ulcers, enamel defects, and candidiasis were observed in 23 of 45 (51.1%), 16 of 43 (37.2%), and six of 43 (14.0%), respectively. Chances of having caries, moderate-to-severe gingivitis, periodontitis, calculus, and ulcers increased with age. Taking antibiotics in the last two months increased the risk of caries by five times. Lower income increased the risk of calculus deposit by nine times., Conclusion: Gingivitis, calculus, caries, and mucosal ulcers were the most common orodental findings in patients with IEI. Antibiotics increased the risk of caries, and low-income children had higher calculus accumulation., (© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry published by BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To explore the association between hygiene knowledge and habits and gingivitis in Puerto Rican school children., Methods: Questionnaires on oral health knowledge and hygiene habits were provided to almost half of the 12-year-olds who participated in an island-wide cross-sectional oral health study. The evaluations included gingival examinations in 2 quadrants. Odds ratios (ORs) (with 95% CIs) were computed using logistic regression models and oral health-related knowledge and hygiene habits to gingivitis., Results: Of the 823 participants who completed the questionnaire 53.43% were female, and 81% had gingivitis. Most reported having received instructions on brushing (98%), flossing (89.5%), and using mouthwash (90%). The majority (75%) rated their gums as healthy, and 44.68% agreed that oral health affects general health. Nearly half (44%) reported brushing their teeth at least 2 times a day, and 80.25%, flossing daily. In multivariate analysis, not having been instructed on how to brush was related to greater odds of having gingivitis (OR: 7.32; 95% CI: 1.5-35.67). Flossing more than once a day was associated with half the odds of gingivitis (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.29-0.88)., Conclusion: The children had knowledge of oral hygiene methods but were mostly unaware that gingival health could affect systemic health. Fewer than half reported brushing 2 or more times a day. Not having been instructed on how to brush was associated with higher odds of gingivitis.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis, and the oral hygiene status of adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) in the Republic of Ireland., Materials and Methods: A case-control study in the form of a clinical examination of 92 adults with a diagnosis of CF was carried out in the adult CF unit in Cork University Hospital. A 40-item questionnaire was used to capture socio-demographic variables and medical and dental information. Two calibrated examiners carried out a periodontal assessment on participants, using the WHO-recommended CPI-modified index, and oral hygiene status was measured using the Greene-Vermillion index. The results were compared with a population-based control group of similar socio-demographic profile., Results: Oral hygiene levels (plaque and calculus) were significantly worse in people with CF, with a median plaque index of 0.83 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.333-1.542) in the CF group compared with 0.5 (IQR 0.167-0.667) in the non-CF group. Calculus index in the CF group was 0.33 (IQR 0.17-0.83) compared with 0.33 (IQR 0.125-0.33) in the non-CF group. However, periodontal disease levels were significantly lower in the CF group. Gingivitis (bleeding on probing ≥ 10% sites) was seen in 67.4% of the CF group, compared with 83.7% of the non-CF group, OR 0.365 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.181-0.736), relative risk (RR) 0.779 (95% CI 0.655-0.928). Mild periodontitis (periodontal probing depth [PPD] < 5 mm) was seen in 15.2% of the CF group, compared with 31.5% of the non-CF group, OR 0.390 (CI 0.190-0.800), RR 0.483 (95% CI 0.273-0.852). Severe periodontitis (PPD ≥ 6 mm) was seen in 0% of the CF group, compared with 9.8% of the non-CF group. There was a tendency, albeit non-significant, towards reduced periodontitis in PWCF who regularly took antibiotics, particularly azithromycin., Conclusions: In this study, adults with CF had poor oral hygiene practices, with high levels of plaque and calculus. Despite this finding, adults with CF had lower levels of clinical gingivitis and periodontitis than seen in a non-CF control group. Further study is required to examine the causes of this phenomenon., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Periodontology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Stroke is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Chronic inflammatory conditions may lead to atherosclerosis and a subsequent stroke., Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review the association of periodontitis and gingivitis with stroke., Methods: An electronic search of PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Science Citation Index, Database of Abstracts and Reviews of Effects (DARE), and various clinical trial registries was conducted to include studies published up to February 2022. Data was retrieved by 2 independent reviewers. The Stata software, v. 13, was used to conduct a meta-analysis., Results: Thirteen studies stated an association between periodontitis, determined based on clinical attachment loss (CAL), and stroke. Meanwhile, 6 studies described an association between gingivitis, determined based on the gingival index (GI), and stroke. Out of the 6 studies on gingivitis, 5 also investigated CAL, which means the meta-analysis included 14 studies in total. The total number of participants from the included studies was 35,937, and they were all above 17 years of age. There was a significant association between periodontitis and gingivitis and stroke and its all types. There was a significant association between periodontitis and stroke and its all types in 13 studies (ES (effect size): 1.32; 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.04-1.60), and between gingivitis and all stroke types in 6 studies (ES: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.42-1.92)., Conclusions: This systematic review indicated a significant association between stroke and periodontal disease in case-control, cohort and cross-sectional studies. The findings need to be further substantiated in prospective cohort studies with an optimal sample size.

Objectives: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by bacteria present in the dental biofilm. However, the presence of two oral protozoans, Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax, in patients with the periodontal disease remains largely unknown in Taiwan. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of oral microbial infections between the sites with mild gingivitis and chronic periodontitis in patients., Materials and Methods: We collected 60 dental biofilm samples from sites with mild gingivitis (probing depth <5 mm) and chronic periodontitis (probing depth ≥5 mm) from 30 patients at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital. The samples were analyzed via polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis., Results: Among oral protozoans, E. gingivalis and T. tenax were detected in 44 (74.07%) and 14 (23.33%) of all samples, respectively. Among oral bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia were detected in 50 (83.33%), 47 (78.33%), and 48 (80.0%) samples, respectively., Conclusions: This study, which is the first to analyze E. gingivalis and T. tenax presence among patients with periodontitis in Taiwan, revealed an association between periodontitis and oral microbes., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aim: To explore the epidemiology of plaque-induced gingivitis and related factors among Chinese adolescents., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey comprised 118,601 schoolchildren in the 12-15-year age group. Data came from the National Oral Health Survey in mainland China. The field investigation was conducted according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The new 2018 case definition for plaque-induced gingivitis was used. Participants underwent clinical examinations and completed a structured questionnaire. Bleeding on probing (BOP) was performed on all teeth. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the factors related to the extent of gingivitis., Results: Nearly half of the study population (47.3%) had plaque-induced gingivitis; 23.9% and 23.3% presented with localised and generalised gingivitis, respectively. The first molars were the most affected by BOP. Well-established factors, such as demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, local factors and smoking habits, were significantly associated with the extent of gingivitis. Odds ratios for localised and generalised gingivitis increased with the decrease in frequency of toothbrushing with a fluoride dentifrice., Conclusions: The study population had high plaque-induced gingivitis prevalence. The extent of gingivitis appeared to have a dose-response relationship with the frequency of toothbrushing with a fluoride dentifrice., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: To estimate association between the use of interdental cleaning aids (IDAs) and type on 7-year follow-up levels of interdental plaque, interdental gingival inflammation, interdental periodontitis severity, the number of interdental sound surfaces and the number of missing teeth in a population-based cohort study., Materials and Methods: We used 7-year follow-up data of 2224 participants from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND). We applied generalized linear and ordinal logistic models, adjusting for confounding and selection bias using inverse probability treatment weighting and multiple imputation., Results: Flossers were 32% less likely to have higher interdental plaque (iPlaque) levels than non-users of IDAs (odds ratio [OR] = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.94); flossing resulted in 5% lower means of iPlaque. Effects on interdental bleeding on probing (iBOP), mean interdental probing depths and mean interdental clinical attachment levels were direction-consistent but statistically non-significant. Interdental brushing was associated with lower follow-up levels for interdental plaque (OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57-0.93) and iBOP (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.53-0.89). IDAs were more effective in reducing iPlaque in participants with periodontitis, whereas iBOP reduction was more pronounced in participants with no or mild periodontitis. The analyses did not suggest that the use of IDAs affected caries. Finally, applying change score analyses, flossing reduced tooth loss incidence (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.71) compared with non-users of IDAs., Conclusions: Recommending flossing and interdental brushing in dental practices represents an approach to the prevention of gingivitis and consequently periodontitis., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Periodontology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that impairs health. The global prevalence of obesity has been increasing significantly among all age groups. Furthermore, obesity is a comorbid factor for numerous diseases, including cardiovascular and periodontal pathologies., Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of overweight and obesity on the periodontium of young adults in relation to the functional state of the cardiovascular system., Material and Methods: The oral health status of 132 males and females aged 18-22 years was examined. They were divided into 4 groups according to their body mass index (BMI): normal weight; overweight; class I obesity; and class II obesity. A periodontal chart, the records on oral hygiene and caries, and periodontal indices were provided for each participant. The main functional parameters of the cardiovascular system were measured before and after the dental examination., Results: Overweight or obesity did not affect the intensity of caries in young adults. The prevalence and severity of gingivitis were significantly higher in obese individuals. A moderate correlation was found between gingivitis and BMI in patients with class I and II obesity. Disturbances in the cardiovascular system function and in the autonomic nervous system tone were also diagnosed in obese patients. An impaired vascular response and significant functional changes in the cardiovascular system developed against the background of obesity. These changes show the development of subcompensation in young adults with obesity., Conclusions: In obese individuals, significantly worse oral hygiene was observed as compared to normalBMI patients. Moreover, the clinical manifestation and intensity of gingivitis in obese individuals were high even in those with satisfactory oral hygiene. In young obese individuals, the periodontal disease manifested as gingivitis is due to significant adaptive and compensatory mechanisms.

Objective: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the periodontal health of systemic sclerosis patients compared with non-systemic sclerosis controls., Materials and Methods: Online databases were searched for eligible studies on February 24, 2023. The primary outcomes of interest in systemic sclerosis patients and controls included the clinical attachment level, periodontal probing depth, recession depth, plaque index, bleeding on probing score, gingival index, number of teeth with periodontitis, prevalence of periodontitis and gingivitis, and extent and severity of periodontitis., Results: Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria and were incorporated in the qualitative and quantitative analysis. In comparison with the controls, systemic sclerosis patients had a higher prevalence of periodontitis (OR = 7.63 (1.74-33.50), p = 0.04, I2 = 69%), including more severe forms of periodontitis (OR = 6.68 (3.39-13.15), p = 0.85, I2 = 0%), as well as higher periodontal probing depth ((0.88 (0.45-1.31), p = 0.02, I2 = 99%)), clinical attachment level (1.22 (0.8-1.64), p = 0.003, I2 = 98%), and plaque presence (0.83 (0.13-1.53), p = 0.03, I2 = 96%). There was no statistically significant difference in gingival inflammation (1.14 (0.07-2.21), p = 0.04, I2 = 98%)., Conclusions: The systematic review and the meta-analysis showed that systemic sclerosis patients suffer from worse periodontal health than non-systemic sclerosis individuals., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no com peting interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Sredojevic et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction: Periodontal disease (PD) and dental caries are oral infections leading to tooth loss that are associated with atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular disease. We assessed the hypothesis that PD and caries are associated with asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study., Methods: Full-mouth clinical periodontal measurements (7 indices) collected at 6 sites per tooth from 6,155 subjects from the Dental Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (DARIC) without prior stroke were used to differentiate seven PD stages (Periodontal Profile Class [PPC]-I to -VII) and dental caries on coronal dental surface (DS) and dental root surface (DRS). A stratified subset underwent 3D time-of-flight MR angiogram and 3D high isotropic-resolution black blood MRI. ICAS was graded according to the criteria established by the Warfarin-Aspirin Symptomatic Intracranial Disease (WASID) trial. We evaluated the relationship between PD stage and dental caries with asymptomatic ICAS, graded as no ICAS, &lt;50% ICAS, and ≥50% ICAS., Results: Among dentate subjects who underwent vascular imaging, 801 (70%) had no ICAS, 232 (20%) had &lt;50% ICAS, and 112 (10%) had ≥50% ICAS. Compared to participants without gum disease (PPC-I), participants with mild-moderate tooth loss (PPC-VI), severe tooth loss (PPC-VII), and severe PD (PPC-IV) had higher odds of having &lt;50% ICAS. Participants with extensive gingivitis (PPC-V) had significantly higher odds of having ≥50% ICAS. This association remained significant after adjusting for confounding variables: age, gender, race, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, 3-level education, and smoking status. There was no association between dental caries (DS and DRS) and ICAS &lt;50% and ≥50%., Conclusion: We report significant associations between mild-moderate tooth loss, severe tooth loss, and severe PD with &lt;50% ICAS as well as an association between extensive gingivitis and ≥50% ICAS. We did not find an association between dental caries and ICAS., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare clinical oral conditions as well as the self-reported oral health status of biathletes and cross-country skiers (A) to age- and gender-matched non-athletic controls (C). Thirty-one A and 68 C were examined in 2020 regarding caries experience (DMF-T), partially erupted wisdom teeth, non-carious tooth wear (erosion), dental plaque biofilm, gingival inflammation, periodontal screening (PSI), salivary active matrix-metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) test and screening for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Questionnaires recorded periodontal symptoms, TMD symptoms and oral health behaviour. Group A had a lower prevalence of carious teeth and positive aMMP-8 tests, but more of them had severe gingivitis and signs of periodontitis. Both groups reported similar oral health behaviour. Only in group C, associations between aMMP-8 and periodontal findings as well as clinical findings and self-reported symptoms of TMD were identified. Group A showed a high prevalence of oral inflammation and seemed to be less aware of oral symptoms. Clinical examination seems to be necessary for periodontal/TMD screening of athletes.

This cohort study assessed the association between toothbrushing frequency and the increment of dental caries and tooth loss in a population-based sample of southern Brazilian adolescents, to investigate whether there is any additional benefit in performing a third daily brushing. At baseline, 1,528 12-year-old schoolchildren attending 42 schools were examined for gingivitis and dental caries, and answered a questionnaire. After a mean period of 2.5 years, 801 schoolchildren were re-examined. Dental caries and tooth loss increment were outcomes of the study. The main predictor variable was toothbrushing frequency (≥3 times/day vs. twice/day or ≤1 time/day). Poisson regression models were used to estimate the risk for caries and tooth loss increment. Incidence risk ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. The final model adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables showed that brushing twice/day afforded 40% greater risk (IRR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.02-1.92) for caries increment than ≥3 times/day. Regarding the tooth loss increment, adolescents who brushed their teeth twice/day had a fourfold greater risk (IRR = 3.92; 95%CI: 1.23-12.49) than those who brushed ≥ 3 times/day. Sex, school type, and gingivitis were found to act as effect modifiers, inasmuch as a third daily brushing presented advantages against tooth loss only for girls, public school attendees, and those with ≥ 50% of bleeding sites. This study suggests that adolescents benefit from a third daily toothbrushing. Increasing brushing frequency to 3 times/day may be a suitable strategy to control dental caries and tooth loss among high-risk adolescents.

We aimed to characterize the association between air pollutants exposure and periodontal diseases outpatient visits and to explore the interactions between ambient air pollutants and meteorological factors. The outpatient visits data of several large stomatological and general hospitals in Hefei during 2015-2020 were collected to explore the relationship between daily air pollutants exposure and periodontal diseases by combining Poisson's generalized linear model (GLMs) and distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNMs). Subgroup analysis was performed to identify the vulnerability of different populations to air pollutants exposure. The interaction between air pollutants and meteorological factors was verified in both multiplicative and additive interaction models. An interquartile range (IQR) increased in nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentration was associated with the greatest lag-specific relative risk (RR) of gingivitis at lag 3 days (RR = 1.087, 95% CI 1.008-1.173). Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure also increased the risk of periodontitis at the day of exposure (RR = 1.049, 95% CI 1.004-1.096). Elderly patients with gingivitis and periodontitis were both vulnerable to PM 2.5 exposure. The interaction analyses showed that exposure to high levels of NO 2 at low temperatures was related to an increased risk of gingivitis, while exposure to high levels of NO 2 and PM 2.5 may also increase the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis in the high-humidity environment, respectively. This study supported that NO 2 and PM 2.5 exposure increased the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis outpatient visits, respectively. Besides, the adverse effects of air pollutants exposure on periodontal diseases may vary depending on ambient temperature and humidity., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Introduction: Noma is a rapidly spreading infection of the oral cavity which mainly affects young children. Without early treatment, it can have a high mortality rate. Simple gingivitis is a warning sign for noma, and acute necrotizing gingivitis is the first stage of noma. The epidemiology of noma is not well understood. We aimed to understand the prevalence of all stages of noma in hospitalised children., Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from 1st June to 24th October 2021, enrolling patients aged 0 to 12 years who were admitted to the Anka General Hospital, Zamfara, northwest Nigeria. Consenting parents/ guardians of participants were interviewed at admission. Participants had anthropometric and oral examinations at admission and discharge., Findings: Of the 2346 patients, 58 (2.5%) were diagnosed with simple gingivitis and six (n = 0.3%) with acute necrotizing gingivitis upon admission. Of those admitted to the Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC), 3.4% (n = 37, CI 2.5-4.7%) were diagnosed with simple gingivitis upon admission compared to 1.7% of those not admitted to the ITFC (n = 21, CI 1.1-2.6%) (p = 0.008). Risk factors identified for having simple gingivitis included being aged over two years (2 to 6 yrs old, odds ratio (OR) 3.4, CI 1.77-6.5; 7 to 12 yrs OR 5.0, CI 1.7-14.6; p = <0.001), being admitted to the ITFC (OR 2.1; CI 1.22-3.62) and having oral health issues in the three months prior to the assessment (OR 18.75; CI 10.65, 33.01). All (n = 4/4) those aged six months to five years acute necrotizing gingivitis had chronic malnutrition., Conclusion: Our study showed a small proportion of children admitted to the Anka General Hospital had simple or acute necrotizing gingivitis. Hospital admission with malnutrition was a risk factor for both simple and acute necrotizing gingivitis. The lack of access to and uptake of oral health care indicates a strong need for oral examinations to be included in routine health services. This provision could improve the oral status of the population and decrease the chance of patients developing noma., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Farley et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: In the context of a study of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH), elderly Icelandic horses were examined in their originating country. The subject of this survey was the impact of dental treatment and keeping and feeding management on the health of the rostral oral cavity., Animals: A total of 170 horses (aged ≥ 15) located in different areas of Northwest, West, and South Iceland., Methods: The horse owners completed a questionnaire about keeping, feeding, and preventative dental care. The horses were clinically examined with particular attention to gingival and dental disorders of the rostral mouth, such as gingivitis, fistula, gingiva retraction, enlargement of the roots and dental calculus as well as integrity of incisors, bite angle, and tooth mobility., Results: Most of the horses were kept on pasture all year with little supplementary feeding. The frequency of dental treatment in Iceland was low. Only a few horses were affected by tooth loss, gingivitis, gingival recession, and incisor calculus. Calculus occurred more frequently and more severely in canines than in incisors. The findings did not depend on the location of the horse., Clinical Relevance: Assuming that the remarkable health of the rostral oral cavity in elderly Icelandic horses was not caused by preventive dental care, it is likely that it was due to living conditions in Iceland. Continuity, intensity of chewing, and nativeness of forage might promote the health of incisors and tissue surrounding the tooth even in elderly horses.

Maternal mental health affects their children's oral health. This study assessed the associations between maternal mental health and dental anxiety level, dental caries experience, oral hygiene, and gingival status among 6- to 12-year-old children in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study that recruited mother-child dyad participants through a household survey conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Data collected included the independent (maternal mental health risk, depressive symptoms, and child's dental anxiety), and dependent (caries experience, oral hygiene status, and gingival health status) variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the associations between dependent and independent variables after adjusting for confounders (mothers' age, child's age, sex, and socioeconomic status). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Of the 1411 mothers recruited, 1248 (88.4%) had low mental health risk, and 896 (63.5%) had mild depressive symptoms. As for the children, 53 (3.8%) had caries, 745 (52.8%) had moderate to high dental anxiety, 953 (63.0%) had gingivitis and 36 (2.6%) had poor oral hygiene. The maternal mental health risk was not significantly associated with the child's caries experience (AOR: 1.012; 95%CI: 0.860-1.190; p = 0.886), poor oral hygiene (AOR:1.037; 95%CI: 0.975-1.104; p=0.250), and moderate/severe gingivitis (AOR:0.887; 95%CI: 0.764-1.030; p = 0.115). Maternal depression status was not significantly associated with the child's caries experience (AOR: 0.910; 95%CI: 0.802-1.033; p = 0.145), poor oral hygiene (AOR: 1.016; 95%CI: 0.976-1.057; p = 0.439), and moderate/severe gingivitis (AOR: 0.963; 95%CI: 0.861-1.077; p = 0.509). Maternal mental health risk and depression do not seem to be risk factors for schoolchildren's oral health in Nigeria. Further studies are needed to understand these findings.

Background: Visual impairment affects a significant population globally. The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status and oral hygiene practices among visually impaired adolescents from a school in Kenya., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 159 adolescents aged 10-19 years attending the largest public primary boarding school for the blind in Kenya. A questionnaire was used to record participants' socio-demographic variables and oral hygiene practices. Clinical examination was undertaken to assess oral health status which consisted of oral hygiene, gingival health, and dental caries. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare dental health outcomes across socio-demographic characteristics., Results: There were 69 (43.4%) and 90 (56.6%) participants in Category I and II visual impairment respectively, 85 (53.5%) were male and 74 (46.5%) were female. Study participants were divided into three age categories: 10-12 years 48 (30.2%), 13-15 years 67 (42.1%), and 16- 19 years 44 (27.7%), with an overall mean age of 13.9 ± 2.3. All participants brushed their teeth, majority 107 (67.3%) brushed two or more times daily. Only 66 (41.5%) of the participants replaced their toothbrushes at 3 months. Sex (p =< 0.001) and age (p = 0.04) influenced frequency of toothbrush replacement. The average plaque score and gingival score index was 0.95 ± 0.45 and 0.28 ± 0.25 respectively, with gingivitis prevalence of 88.1%. Overall dental caries prevalence was 44.7%, [42.1%)] permanent dentition and [8.2%] deciduous dentition. Mean DMFT and dmft were 0.44 ± 0.60 and 0.12 ± 0.32 respectively. DMFT had a statistically significant association with sex (t = 1.82, p = 0.03). Oral hygiene practices did not influence oral hygiene and dental caries status. However, a statistically significant association was reported between frequency of toothbrush replacement and gingival score index ("p" =< 0.001)., Conclusions: The study reported general good oral hygiene, prevalent gingivitis 140 (88.1%), and almost half of the study population affected by dental caries 71 (44.7%). Most participants were unaware of using fluoridated toothpaste and of needing to change toothbrushes within 3 months. Frequency of toothbrush replacement was reported to influence gingival score index., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: A group of eukaryotic organisms that are either free-living or parasitic and feed on organic matter, such as microorganisms or organic detritus. This group is referred to as a polyphyletic classification. They can be found in a wide variety of patterns and sizes, ranging from an amoeba, which can vary its shape, to a paramecium, which has a fixed shape and a complicated structure. The objective was to find out the occurrence of Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas among Dental Patients visiting the Periodontology Department Dental Section, Sandeman, Provincial Hospital Quetta., Methods: The study design was randomized cross-sectional and conducted in the Department of Periodontology Dental Section, Sandeman Provincial Hospital Quetta, from March 2022 to February 2023. A total of 110 known cases of periodontitis and gingivitis were recruited in this study, and further to laboratory work the bacterial biofilm samples were collected from both gingivitis and periodontitis patients. The dental plaque was placed on individual glass microscope slides and a drop of saline and mixed and covered with a coverslip. The wet smear was examined immediately under 40X, and the objective for the presence and absence of motile amoebae or flagellated protozoa was recorded. ., Results: out of 110 known cases of periodontitis and gingivitis 91 (83%) patients were males and 19 (17%) were females among 110 patients, 40 (36%) patients were periodontitis and 70 (64%) patients were gingivitis. Among 40 (36%) periodontitis patients 3(7.5%) were Entamoeba gingivalis and 4(10%) were Trichomonas Tenax while 70 (64%) cases of Gingivitis 20 (28%) of Entamoeba gingivalis and 1(1%) Trichomonas tenax was recorded. No patient had both species of protozoa were seen in this study., Conclusion: The results of this study revealed the frequency of occurrence of E. gingivalis and T. tenax and the state of periodontitis and gingivitis. The prevalence of E. gingivalis was higher than T. tenax. We recommended further research with a higher number of patients and may use more advanced and reliable laboratory techniques such as PCR and electron microscopy.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between obesity and periodontitis staging compared with periodontal healthy or gingivitis in pregnant women., Materials and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. Sociodemographic, clinical, obstetric, and periodontal variables were studied. The exposure variable was obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30), and the primary outcome was periodontitis staging versus periodontal healthy/gingivitis. Data were analysed and estimated by multinomial logistic regression models., Results: The present study screened 1086 pregnancies and analysed 972 women with a median age of 29 years; 36.8% were diagnosed as obese. 26.9% of patients were diagnosed as periodontal healthy or gingivitis, 5.5% with stage I periodontitis, 38.6% with stage II periodontitis, 24% with stage III periodontitis, and 5.1% with stage IV periodontitis. After identifying and adjusting for confounding variables (educational level and plaque index), obesity had a relative risk ratio (RRR) of 1.66 (95% CI: 1.05-2.64; p = 0.03) and 1.57 (95% CI: 1.09-2.27; p = 0.015) for stage III periodontitis compared to periodontal healthy/gingivitis and stage II periodontitis, respectively., Conclusion: Besides the already known risk indicators for periodontitis (age, smoking, and educational level), our study suggests a relationship between obesity and periodontitis staging in pregnancy., Clinical Relevance: Obesity can alter host immune responses, leading to increased susceptibility to infections and overactive host immunity, which could influence the prevalence and severity of maternal periodontitis in pregnancy., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study aimed to measure the levels of volatile sulfur compounds and investigate the occurrence of halitosis in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. Additionally, the incidence rates of gingivitis and periodontitis in patients with halitosis were investigated. Through various statistical analyses, we attempted to determine the relationship between periodontal disease and halitosis. One-hundred-and-four participants (52 females and 52 males, mean age: 46.49 ± 16.03 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, comprising 33 healthy controls, 43 patients with gingivitis, and 28 patients with periodontitis. Gas chromatography was used to measure hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and methyl mercaptan (CH 3 SH), which are representative VSCs. The VSC cut-off values for diagnosing halitosis were 65.79 ppb for women and 79.94 ppb for men. Total VSC level was significantly higher in the gingivitis than the healthy control group (186.72 ± 374.83 ppb vs. 19.80 ± 40.19 ppb, p = 0.035). There was no significant difference between the gingivitis and periodontitis (153.79 ± 278.51 ppb) groups. H 2 S level was significantly higher in the gingivitis (100.51 ± 183.69 ppb) and periodontitis (91.57 ± 132.06 ppb) groups than in healthy controls (14.97 ± 31.22 ppb), and CH 3 SH level was significantly higher in gingivitis group (29.31 ± 59.16 ppb) than in the healthy control (5.73 ± 14.10 ppb) (all p < 0.05). Halitosis was found in 3% of healthy controls and 39.5% and 42.9% of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis patients, respectively, making it significantly higher in the gingivitis and periodontitis groups than the healthy controls (p = 0.005). Conversely, among participants with halitosis, 53.1% had gingivitis, 37.5% had periodontitis, and 90.6 incidence had periodontal disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict the presence of halitosis, found periodontal disease was a significant predictor of halitosis (OR = 3.607, 95% CI 1.023-12.718, p = 0.046). Considering area under curve value for halitosis, the cut-off value of healthy control (H 2 S:61.5 ppb, CH 3 SH:3.5 ppb), gingivitis (H 2 S:50.0 ppb, CH 3 SH:6 ppb), and periodontitis (H 2 S:62.0 ppb, CH 3 SH:3.5 ppb) were (all p < 0.05). Our results emphasize the close and strong relationship between periodontal disease and halitosis through human clinical evidence based on the high co-occurrence rate of mutual diseases. Additionally, the presence of periodontal disease increased the probability of halitosis by 3.607 times. These results suggest that H 2 S can be used as a biomarker of halitosis in patients with periodontal disease., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: During pregnancy, dental plaque-induced gingivitis prevalence and subsequent risk of periodontal disease increases substantially, as a consequence of both inadequate oral hygiene and changes in sex steroid hormone levels. Although maternal periodontal disease has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including spontaneous preterm birth, previous clinical trials involving mechanical debridement (eg, scaling and root planing) to remove plaque biofilm have not yielded decreased rates of preterm birth., Objective: We hypothesized that an advanced oral hygiene program, including an antibacterial regimen coupled with a power toothbrush and hygiene instruction, may improve the periodontal milieu and reduce the rate of spontaneous preterm birth. Therefore, we conducted a clinical trial of obstetrical patients with moderate-to-severe gingivitis who were randomized to an advanced oral hygiene program vs usual oral hygiene care, and the primary obstetrical outcome compared between the treatment groups was gestational age at delivery., Study Design: Obstetrical patients with singleton pregnancies between 8 and 24 weeks' gestation were screened by trained dentists at 2 clinical sites for moderate-to-severe gingivitis (>30 intraoral sites with gingival bleeding on probing). Eligible participants were randomized to an advanced oral hygiene regimen, including antibacterial mouth wash, dental floss, antibacterial toothpaste, a power toothbrush, and intensive oral hygiene education vs standard oral home care instructions and regimen. The primary obstetrical outcome assessed was gestational age at delivery. The overall primary (dental) outcomes were gingival index, bleeding sites, and pocket depth (reported elsewhere). Secondary obstetrical outcomes included birthweight and incidence of preterm birth at <37 weeks' gestation. Regression models were utilized and included factors such as treatment group, gestational age at enrollment, preterm birth history, and potential markers of health disparities (ie, education, employment status)., Results: A total of 817 obstetrical patients underwent dental screening at the 2 sites, 789 were identified with moderate-to-severe gingivitis, 746 were randomized, and birth outcomes were available for 613 of the study participants. The gestational age at delivery was 2 days earlier in the control group (P=.040), but the clinical significance of this finding was limited (39.13 vs 38.85 weeks). Overall rates of spontaneous preterm birth <37 weeks and <34 weeks were not statistically different between the 2 treatment groups (7.0% advanced oral hygiene regimen vs 10.3% controls, OR=1.63 (0.90-3.00), P=.11; and 2.3% vs 3.9%, OR=1.88 (0.71-4.98), P=.20, respectively). However, we observed lower rates of spontaneous preterm birth among unemployed participants with less favorable socioeconomic status (4.7% advanced oral hygiene regimen vs 16.0% controls, OR=4.04 (1.34-15.12), P=.01)., Conclusion: An advanced oral hygiene program may reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm birth among pregnant patients with moderate-to-severe gingivitis and health disparities. This is the same group that may be at highest risk of poor dental hygiene and preterm birth., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study assessed the clustering of children' caries experience, plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation in families and villages in Northwestern Egypt and the factors related to the severity of these conditions., Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a 2019 household survey of children in villages around Alexandria, Egypt. Clinical examination assessed primary and permanent teeth caries experience (dmft/ DMFT using the World Health Organization criteria), plaque accumulation (Plaque Index (PlI)) and gingival inflammation (Gingival Index (GI)). A child questionnaire assessed child's age, sex, the frequency of toothbrushing (at least twice daily versus less) and frequency of consuming eight types of sugary products (daily sugar consumption score, sum of sugary products consumed daily). Mothers' questionnaire assessed the number of children in the family, mother's education (at least high school versus less), at least twice daily toothbrushing and daily sugar consumption similar to the child. Multilevel regression analyses assessed clustering, calculated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the three conditions in families and villages. Regression estimates (B) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of individual and family factors were calculated., Results: Complete data were available for 450 children (246 families, seven villages], mean = 9.9 years-old and 56% females. The mean caries experience score = 3.6, mean plaque index = 1.5 and mean gingival index = 1.2. Caries experience, plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation were not clustered in villages (ICC < 0.01) but clustered in families (ICC = 0.10, 0.44 and 0.29). Child factors significantly improved model fit for caries experience and gingivitis (p < 0.001) but not plaque accumulation (p = 0.90). Family factors did not improve any model fit (p > 0.05). Child's age was significantly associated with caries experience (B= -0.48, p < 0.001) and gingival inflammation (B = 0.032, p < 0.001). Children who brushed their teeth twice daily had significantly more caries experience (B = 1.04, p = 0.01)., Conclusion: The three oral conditions were not clustered in villages but clustered in families. Plaque accumulation showed the greatest within-family clustering. Family factors were not associated with the three conditions and individual factors indicated the need for interventions to promote preventive behaviors and identify families at risk of oral conditions., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aim: To investigate the association between 11 oral conditions and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL)., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study used a multistage sampling strategy to draw a representative sample of adults aged ≥35 years living in Porto Alegre, Brazil. OHRQoL was assessed using OHIP-14. Oral examinations were conducted to assess gingivitis, dental calculus, tooth loss, gingival recession (GR), dentine hypersensitivity (DHS), dental caries (DFT), dental erosion, and non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL). Questionnaires recorded the following self-reported oral variables: xerostomia, halitosis, and perceived need for dental treatment. Structural Equation Models were used to assess the associations adjusting to demographic and behavioral variables., Results: 1022 individuals were analyzed. The overall OHIP mean equaled 9.2 ± 9.7 points. Xerostomia [coefficient (coef)=0.10], halitosis (coef=0.28), DFT (coef=0.16), and DHS (coef=0.19) were significantly and directly associated with negative impacts of OHIP-14. GR was significantly and indirectly associated with poor OHRQoL due to higher DHS. Perceived need for dental treatment was significantly and directly associated with higher OHIP-14 (coef=0,40)., Conclusions: Poor OHRQoL was observed in a sample of Brazilian adults and old people. Five important oral conditions were associated to poor OHRQoL. Tooth loss, gingivitis, calculus, dental erosion and NCCL did not associate with OHRQoL., Clinical Significance: Poorer oral health related quality of life is observed in a Brazilian urban area compared to other parts of the world. Xerostomia, halitosis, dental caries, gingival recession, and dentine hypersensitivity may be targeted to improve oral health and consequently oral health related quality of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim: To evaluate and compare the prevalence of gingivitis according to the PMA index in children aged 5 to 6 years in preschool with ASD and without disorders (Kyiv, Ukraine)., Patients and Methods: Materials and methods: Oral assessment was conduct on 69 children with ASD and 23 children without ASD aged 5 to 6 years. To determine the periodontal status it was used the papillary-marginal-alveolar index - PMA (according to Schour, Massler, in the modification of Parma)., Results: Results: Children with ASD (18.84%) were 3.7 times less likely to have a clinically healthy periodontium than children without disorders (69.57%). The average PMA index among the main group was 6.8 times higher (15.31 ± 1.49%) than in the control group (2.25. ± 0.73%), but this difference was not statistically confirmed (p> 0.05). The most common pathology of periodontal tissues was chronic catarrhal gingivitis. 49.28% of children in main group with ASD had mild catarrhal gingivitis, while just 30.47% of children in control group without ASD had this pathology. Catarrhal moderate gingivitis was diagnosed in 31.88% of children from main group, symptoms of moderate gingivitis were not detected in the control group without disorders., Conclusion: Conclusions: ASD children 5-6 years old may have major risk of developing such periodontal lesions as mild and moderate gingivitis. Further investigations need to be done to clarify prevalence of other oral pathologies in ASD individuals to understand the effect of the disorder on oral health.

Background: According to epidemiological studies, gingivitis is a common disease. However, its morbidity, considerably varies among individual. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of gingivitis, including prevalence, severity, intraoral distribution, and associated risk factors, in children aged 6-12 years in Jinzhou, China., Methods: A multistage, whole-group, randomized sample of 2880 children aged 6-12 years in Jinzhou City, China, was selected and clinically examined. Each selected child completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic factors and oral health behaviors in cooperation with the investigator and teacher. Gingival bleeding refers to the bleeding of 10% or more teeth under the condition of ingivitis. Gingivitis was further categorized into localized gingivitis (30% ≥ number of teeth positive for gingival bleeding ≥ 10%) and generalized gingivitis (number of positive for gingival bleeding > 30%). The score of gingival bleeding was recorded using the Gingival Index., Results: The prevalence of gingivitis in children aged 6-12 years in Jinzhou was 28.58%, including 701 cases of localized gingivitis (24.3%) and 122 cases of generalized gingivitis (4.2%). There were 429 cases (28.3%) of gingivitis in males and 394 cases (28.9%) in females, with no statistically significant difference in prevalence between males and females (P > 0.05). Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analysis showed that aging, dental calculus, plaque, and dental crowding were significantly associated with a high prevalence of gingivitis., Conclusions: Our study showed that dental calculus, large amount dental plaque, poor oral health behavior, and oral health awareness are associated with the prevalence of gingivitis and maintaining children's oral health requires professional guidance and regular preventive care., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: to determine the severity of gingivitis in children with teeth formation disorders - residents of the ter-ritories contaminated with radionuclides as a result of Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) accident., Materials and Methods: The object of the study is 1470 children aged 6-14 years with dental malformations, 528 amomg them are residents of areas contaminated with radionuclides as a result of the ChNPP with the identified types of disorders of teeth formation (DTF) (systemic enamel hypoplasia (SEH) and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH)), and different stages of the severity of gingivitis., Results: Determining of the degree of severity of gingivitis in children with DTF indicates the presence of its lesion of a moderate degree of the severity with a prevalence in persons with SEH or MIH and chronic diseases of internal organs suffered after the ChNPP accident., Conclusions: In irradiated children with DTF, an average degree of severity of gingivitis was established (РМА = (43.03 ± 19.64) %, p > 0.001), which may be due to the effect of a complex of negative factors, in particular the influence of low doses of ionizing radiation, the peculiarities of the social status of the examined persons (imbalanced nutrition), unsatisfactory oral hygiene. In children suffered after the ChNPP accident with SEH, the indicators of the PMA index were reliable (p > 0.05) higher compared to individuals with MIH, which indicates a more pronounced degree of periodont damage. Revealed damage to periodont, in particular gingivitis, in children with DTF residents of the contaminated territories, probably caused by the action of a complex of negative environmental factors, in particular the influence of low doses of ionizing radiation, and the peculiarities of the social status of children, which requires a comprehensive approach to the prevention of complications of defects of hard tissues of the teeth., (S. F. Liubarets.)

Nowadays, the reduction of widespread dental diseases (caries and periodontitis) is still crucial and appears to be both a medical and social concern. The aim of this study was an investigation of dental health status, determination of leading risk factors, and determination of preventive measures among the students of the Adjara region. Clinical studies were conducted on 392 students aged 18-25 years. The methodology provided by WHO was used to determine the epidemiological data on the prevalence of dental caries. The BOP (Bleeding on probing) method was used to determine the prevalence of inflammatory periodontal diseases. Oral hygiene status was assessed by OHI-S (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index). A survey of students was conducted to determine the impact of various factors. In the study group, caries prevalence equaled 97.04%, the intensity was 5.68±0.21, gingivitis prevalence was 75.4%, and oral hygiene condition was 1.9±0.06. Hygienic condition is correlated with caries and periodontal diseases (p<0.05). A statistically reliable relationship was revealed with hygiene knowledge, nutritional factors, etc. It is necessary to improve treatment and prevention measures among students and adolescents in the region through the implementation of social programs and sanitary educational measures.

Background: Malnutrition and poor oral health are common conditions in patients in the hospital. Both conditions are associated with poor systemic health. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the oral condition and the nutrition status of individuals admitted to a large tertiary hospital., Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 364 patients who received a comprehensive dental examination at their hospital bed. An examiner recorded visible plaque index, gingival bleeding index, plaque retentive factors, probing depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, number of existing teeth, and prosthesis use. Medical status was assessed by the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The nutrition status was evaluated by the Subjective Global Assessment. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated by Poisson regression analysis with robust variance., Results: Patients with moderate to severe malnutrition presented worse oral hygiene (55.83 ± 25.16 vs 64.90 ± 24.28; P < 0.001), more gingival inflammation (24.31 ± 24.13 vs 33.43 ± 27.36; P < 0.001), higher levels of attachment loss (4.22 ± 1.81 vs 4.80 ± 1.83; P < 0.001), and a lower mean number of teeth (14.58 ± 7.45 vs 10.94 ± 6.85; P < 0.001) than patients without malnutrition. In the multivariable analysis, the number of teeth and higher comorbidity index were associated with malnutrition., Conclusions: Poor oral health and medical condition were associated with malnutrition in this single-institution study, and oral condition may be considered an indicator of malnutrition in patients in the hospital. The implications of this study include the need to raise awareness among health professionals of the importance of oral health and nutrition status in adults., (© 2022 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Institutionalized children, regardless of their age, are prone to psychiatric disorders, compared to those who live in two-parent families, due to the unfavorable physical and psychological conditions in which they develop. Unpropitious psychological conditions affect the child's general health and induce local manifestations that can be found in the oral cavity, affecting both soft tissues and teeth. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to assess and diagnose a series of pathological manifestations of the oral mucosa associated with poor living conditions or closely related to psychological stress. The clinical examination was performed by 4 specialist dentists, who consulted 150 children representing the study group and 52 children representing the control group, all having ages between 14 and 18 years old and meeting the same inclusion criteria. From the control group, 62.5% presented plaque-induced gingivitis (26.6% girls, 35.8% boys), 26.6% presented mucosal lesions produced by lip and cheek biting (23.3% girls, 35.8% boys), and 11.7% presented geographic tongue (6.6% girls, 5% boys), herpes simplex eruptions (3.3% girls, 4.2% boys) and oral ulcerations (12.5% girls, 10.8% boys). Morsicatio buccarul is a chronic, self-mutilating habit, currently becoming one of the most common tics encountered among institutionalized children. Furthermore, these children do not benefit from constant support and guidance to perform their dental hygiene, so the incidence of gingivitis induced by bacterial plaque and calculus is very high., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: There is little is known about the factors associated with caries experience and gingivitis among 6-11-year-old children in Nigeria. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and preventive oral health behaviors associated with caries and gingivitis among 6-11-year-old children in Nigeria., Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The dependent variables were caries and gingivitis. The dmft/DMFT index was used to assess dental caries experience (present or absent) and caries severity. The gingival index was used to assess the prevalence (present or absent) and severity of gingivitis (healthy gingiva/mild gingivitis versus moderate/severe gingivitis). The independent variables were preventive oral health behaviors (frequency of daily tooth brushing, frequency of consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between-meals, use of fluoridated toothpaste, and use of dental floss, history of dental service utilization). A series of logistic regression analysis models were constructed to determine the associations between the dependent and independent variables after adjusting for confounders (age, sex, and socioeconomic status)., Results: There were 69 (5.2%) children with caries. The mean (standard deviation) dmft was 0.08 (0.457) and the mean DMFT was 0.02 (0.159). There were 839 (63.3%) children with gingivitis with a mean (SD) gingival index score of 0.503 (0.453). Children who seldom or never used fluoride toothpaste had significantly higher odds of developing moderate to severe gingivitis (AOR; 1.671; 95% CI: 1.003-2.786; p = 0.049). Children with middle socio-economic status had significantly lower odds of developing moderate to severe gingivitis (AOR: 0.573; 95%CI: 0.330-0.994; p = 0.048). There were no risk indicators identified for caries., Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries was low while the prevalence of gingivitis was high in the study population. The daily used of fluoridated toothpaste seem to reduce the risk for moderate/severe gingivitis. Further studies are needed to understand these findings., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

We investigated the associations between periodontal inflammation (gingivitis and periodontitis) and all-kind malignancies, specifically breast and prostate cancer, in a cohort followed-up for 30 years. The study hypothesis was based on the oral inflammation vs. systemic health paradigm. A sample of 2,168 subjects from an original cohort of 105,718 individuals from the greater Stockholm area in Sweden that had been followed since 1985 was investigated. Swedish national health registers were used in the study. Chi-square tests and logistic multiple regression analyses were conducted. The results showed that periodontitis was significantly associated with any cancer after adjusting for gender, age, income, and education (p = 0.015). The probability of getting cancer increased on average by 38% if the patient had periodontitis vs. had not; the odds ratio was 1.380 (95% confidence interval l.066-1.786). No significant association was observed between periodontitis and breast cancer (p = 0.608), while the association between periodontitis and prostate cancer tended towards significance (p = 0.082). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the observed and the calculated distribution of any cancer in gingivitis groups (p = 0.079). Thus, the study hypothesis was partly confirmed by showing a statistically significant association between periodontitis and any cancer., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Street-children (Almajirai) constitute a significant proportion of the adolescent population in northern Nigeria. They face health challenges, especially oral health, from being inadequately protected, supervised or directed by responsible adults., Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries, dental trauma, gingivitis and oral hygiene scores in street-children., Methodology: Three hundred and sixty-six school-aged children were selected through a multi-stage sampling of 10 to 12-year-old children from four modern and traditional qur'anic schools, and examined for oral conditions using the WHO protocol. The DMFT index, the modified Ellis criteria, the Gingival Bleeding Index and the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) were used to assess dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, gingivitis and oral hygiene scores respectively. Chi-squared tests and Odds Ratio were used to compare the difference and test the association between Almajirai groups. Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Statistical significance was considered when p < 0.05., Results: One hundred and sixty eight (45.9%) traditional Almajirai and 198 (59.4%) modern-type Almajirai, participated in the study. Their mean age was 10.8(±0.8) years. The prevalence of dental caries was 25.4% with mean DMFT and SiC scores of 0.6 (±1.3) and 1.7 respectively. DMFT scores ranged from 0 to 12. The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and gingivitis were 8.7% and 82.2% respectively, while the OHI-S score was 3.0. The odds for traumatic dental injuries were 41% less in the modern-type Almajirai (p=0.02); the modern-type Almajirai were twice as likely to develop gingivitis (aOR 95%CI =2.0, p=0.01). OHI-S scores showed poorer oral hygiene levels in the modern Almajirai (p=0.02)., Conclusion: Dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, gingivitis and poor oral hygiene were prevalent among street-children in Kano. There is a high level of untreated dental disease in the study population., Competing Interests: The Authors declare that no competing interest exists, (Copyright © 2022 by West African Journal of Medicine.)

This study aimed to review the use of interdental care products (ICPs) among adults in Korea, reconfirm their relevance to periodontal health, and identify factors affecting the use of ICPs. Data from 2007 to 2018 from the National Health Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) were used, and 43,069 adults (18,412 men, 24,657 women) aged 30 years or older were included. The frequency and percentage of ICP use according to the characteristics of the subjects are presented. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the factors affecting ICP use. The ICP usage rate of participants in the KNHANES phase gradually increased to 22.8% in the 4th, 26.4% in the 5th, and 38.0% in the 6th phase and then decreased to 36.3% in the 7th phase. The adjusted OR values for periodontal health in ICP users were 0.721 for gingivitis and 0.642 for periodontitis, confirming that ICP was associated with a lower prevalence of these conditions. Sex, age, educational level, household income, toothbrushing, and dental check-ups were related to ICP use in all phases. ICP was associated with improved periodontal health, but its use rate was very low. Therefore, oral health professionals should educate adults on the use of ICP, particularly interdental brushing.

Background: Dental and oral anomalies are among the most common long-term side effects of childhood cancer therapy., Aim: To evaluate chemotherapy as a risk factor for caries lesions and gingivitis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with the ALL IC-BFM 2009 chemotherapy protocol., Design: A retrospective cohort study was designed. Clinical records of 23 paediatric patients with ALL exposed to chemotherapy in the Regional Hospital in Valdivia, Chile, and 46 unexposed patients assessed every 3 months for 24 months were analyzed. The data on gender, age, index of the number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth, and the presence of gingivitis were recorded (Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression analysis, p ≤ .05)., Results: A significantly greater frequency of gingivitis (69.57%; p < .002) and a mean of new caries lesions were observed in children treated with chemotherapy than in the unexposed children (p < .01). The chemotherapy protocol presented a relative risk of 2.15 (95% CI = 1.22 - 2.66; p = .01) for new caries lesions and 2.29 (95% CI = 1.76 - 3.82; p = .002) for gingivitis., Conclusion: The ALL IC-BFM 2009 chemotherapy protocol in patients with ALL is a risk factor for new caries lesions and gingivitis., (© 2021 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: The purpose of this repeated cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of oral hygiene conditions in Cambodian primary school children., Methods: Oral examinations were conducted on 2,020 school children (1st-6th grade) at a public primary school in Siem Reap, Cambodia from 2013 to 2015, focusing on plaque adhesion, gingiva, and dental calculus deposition. Data analysis was performed on 1,998 children without any missing data, and the chi-square test was used to compare the variables., Results: The prevalence of dental plaque adhesion in 2013, 2014, and 2015 was 93.6%, 93.7%, and 85.1%, respectively. The prevalence of gingivitis in 2013, 2014, and 2015 was 93.1%, 92.1%, and 88.8%, respectively. The prevalence of dental calculus deposition in 2013, 2014, and 2015 was 55.1%, 19.3%, and 34.7%, respectively. Significant differences were observed in all variables each year (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that oral hygiene conditions were poor in this population.

Aim: To investigate the oral health of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its associations with diabetes-related and lifestyle factors., Design: Cross-sectional study at a large tertiary hospital pediatric diabetes clinic. Oral examination determined dental caries experience and gingival health. Secondary outcome measures included salivary characteristics, oral hygiene and dietary practices, and diabetes-related factors., Results: Eighty children and adolescents with T1D participated; mean (SD) age and HbA 1c were 13.4(2.6) years and 7.7(0.9)%, respectively. Forty-seven (59%) participants had one or more decayed, missing or filled teeth; 75 (94%) participants had gingivitis. Half (50%) reported ≥3 hypoglycemic episodes necessitating rapid-acting carbohydrate in the previous week. Sixty-two participants (78%) had normal saliva flow, however, 42 (52%) had reduced salivary buffering capacity. Glycemic control (HbA 1c ) was not associated with caries experience, gingival health or salivary characteristics. Increased frequency of tooth brushing (OR, 0.11; 95%CI 0.01-0.97, p = 0.05) and interdental flossing (OR, 0.31; 95%CI 0.12-0.81, p = 0.02) were associated with lower caries experience. Interdental flossing (OR, 0.31; 95% CI 0.12-0.80, p = 0.02) and good oral hygiene (OR, 0.06; 95% CI 0.01-0.22, p < 0.001) were associated with less gingivitis., Conclusion: Poor oral health is common in children with T1D, regardless of HbA1c. Given potential implications for short- and long-term systemic health, this study demonstrates the need for targeted strategies to improve oral health in children with T1D., (© 2022 The Authors. Pediatric Diabetes published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Periodontitis has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Little is known about the burden and risk factors for periodontitis among reproductive age women in sub-Saharan Africa. This analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of periodontitis among Kenyan women planning to conceive., Methods: HIV-seronegative, reproductive-age women who were planning to conceive were enrolled and underwent a periodontal examination. Following the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clinical case definitions, the presence and severity of periodontitis was determined by establishing the level of clinical periodontal attachment loss and graded in three categories: no/mild, moderate, and severe. Secondary outcomes included the scores on the Gingival Index and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index. Correlates of periodontitis were examined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression., Results: Of the 647 women in the study, 84% (n = 541) had no/mild periodontitis, 15% (n = 97) had moderate periodontitis, and 1% (n = 9) had severe periodontitis. Mild gingivitis was present in 61% (n = 396) of women, while 27% (n = 176) had moderate gingivitis, and 1% (n = 9) had severe gingivitis. The majority (75%, n = 487) of women had a DMFT index in the very low range (score < 5). Periodontitis was observed in 12% (12/101) of nulliparous women compared to 13% (36/286) of women with one prior delivery (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.57-1.96), 21% (36/170) of women with two prior deliveries (PR 1.78, 95% CI 0.97-3.26), and 24% (22/90) of women with 3 or more prior deliveries (PR 2.06, 95% CI 1.08-3.92)., Conclusion: This study demonstrated a substantial prevalence of moderate-severe periodontitis among women planning to conceive in Kenya. These results highlight the need to address the oral care needs of reproductive age women, particularly those with multiple prior pregnancies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Aim: National surveys of periodontal diseases in children are rare. This study describes the first national survey of oral health of adolescents attending public schools in Morocco. We report the prevalence and demographic determinants of periodontal diseases, and generate population estimates for this young population., Materials and Methods: This study used a multi-stage probability sample comprising 14,667 students in 87 schools and 520 classrooms, representative of students attending grades 6-12 (age 12-18 years) in Morocco. The students were interviewed and then examined clinically to assess their periodontal status, which was classified according to the 2017 World Workshop. In addition, the diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis (AgP) was assessed., Results: Of approximately 3 million students in this age cohort, 12.3% (or approximately 360,894 subjects) had periodontitis and 46.9% (1.4 million) had gingivitis. They comprised 10.8%, 2.9%, and 6.1% subjects with periodontitis stage I, II, and III/IV, respectively; 5.0%, or 148,336 subjects, had AgP. The prevalence rates were not significantly different by gender or urban status. However, the prevalence of AgP was particularly high in certain regions of Morocco., Conclusions: The prevalence of staged periodontitis and AgP in this young population is among the highest reported in national surveys worldwide., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to (i) determine the prevalence and distribution of developmental grooves in a young population and (ii) to evaluate the local periodontal conditions. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-one students with a mean age of 22.9 ± 4.7, attending the School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene of Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (Milan, Italy) were included. The subjects underwent a clinical evaluation by two calibrated examiners. The following clinical parameters were recorded for each site presenting a radicular groove and for each corresponding site on an adjacent tooth used as control: probing pocket depth, plaque index, bleeding on probing, recession depth. Results: The prevalence of radicular grooves at patient and tooth level was 15.9% and 5%, respectively. When compared to control sites, the number of teeth with a radicular groove that presented plaque and bleeding on probing was higher. The logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of radicular grooves was significantly associated with the presence of plaque (OR, 6.14, p < 0.001) and of bleeding on probing (OR, 2.91, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The presence of radicular grooves increases the possibility of developing gingival inflammation by acting as a plaque retentive factor.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) still leads to high mortality rates, mainly due to cardiovascular disease. One important influencing factor is persisting low-grade chronic inflammation partly maintained by gingivitis that favors transient bacteremia during daily activities such as toothbrushing., Methods: To examine whether intensive dental prophylaxis can restore oral health, reduce the prevalence of bacteremia and degree of systemic inflammation indicated by CRP levels, we conducted this pilot study examining 30 CKD patients aged 6-26 years, 15 receiving intensive prophylaxis (IP), 15 receiving treatment as usual (TAU) serving as control group. There were three appointments for examination, each 10 ± 1 weeks apart (at baseline, after intervention periods one and two, when TAU also received IP, and the IP group stopped prophylaxis)., Results: The gingival index (GI) in the IP group decreased by 90% (GI 0.09; p=0.001), resulting in almost healthy gingiva. There was no significant change in CRP or prevalence of bacteremia. General prevalence of bacteremia after toothbrushing was 9.5% affecting 7 (26%) of the participants. In three participants, bacteremia dissolved after IP, in one after TAU. Two patients developed bacteremia ≥ 10 weeks after ending IP. We identified eight different bacterial species., Conclusions: We were able to show that IP can effectively treat gingivitis. It might be a promising approach to reduce systemic inflammation and subsequently lower premature cardiovascular disease, despite the lack of statistical significance. Future research requires a larger patient cohort to enable matched treatment groups with long-term follow-up and molecular detection methods for bacteremia. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The rapid deterioration of oral health in young adults is an alarming problem in Japan. The aim of the present study is to investigate the oral health status, subjective oral symptoms and oral health behaviors of dental students., Methods: Participants were 108 first-year students attending dental school in 2018-2019. Oral examinations were performed to assess dental caries indices, oral hygiene status, gingival bleeding on probing (BOP) and pocket depth. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess subjective oral symptoms and oral health behaviors., Results: The prevalence of decayed teeth (DT) and gingivitis (BOP ≥ 10%) were 43.5% and 50.0%, respectively. Having DT and gingivitis were significantly associated with poorer oral hygiene. No association was observed between DT and subjective symptoms. Having gingivitis was significantly associated with xerostomia, mouth-breathing and less use of interdental cleaning tools. Multiple logistic regression analysis for gingivitis yielded an odds ratio of 1.41 (95% confidence interval: 1.19-1.67) for plaque score, and 2.75 (1.27-5.98) for xerostomia., Conclusion: Since a relatively high ratio of students had DT and gingivitis without clear subjective symptoms, they require regular dental visits for early treatment and oral hygiene maintenance from the start of their time at university.