Laminin 511 E8 fragment promotes to form basement membrane-like structure in human skin equivalents.

Introduction: Laminin 511 (LM511), a component of the skin basement membrane (BM), is known to enhance the adhesion of some cell types and it has been reported to affect cell behavior. A recombinant fragment consisting of the integrin recognition site; E8 region of LM511 (511E8) has also been studied. 511E8 has been reported by many as a superior culture substrate. However, the effects of 511E8 on human skin cells remain unclear. In this study, we added 511E8 during the culture period of a reconstituted skin equivalent (SE) and investigated its effect on the formation of BM-like structures. Methods: SEs were formed by air-liquid culture of human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) on contracted type I collagen (Col-I) gels containing human fibroblasts. We compared the BM-like structures formed with and without 511E8 during HFKs culture periods. Morphological analysis, gene expression analysis of extracellular matrix components, and localization analysis of 511E8 in order to identify where 511E8 works were performed. Results: Immunohistochemical observation by light microscopy showed an accumulation of BM components between the gels and cell layers regardless of the addition of 511E8. There was a stronger and more continuous positive staining for LM α3, type IV collagen, and type VII collagen in the 511E8-added group compared to the no-added group. Transmission electron microscopic observation showed that the continuity of BM-like structures was increased with the addition of 511E8. Furthermore, gene expression analysis showed that the 511E8 addition increased some BM component genes expression, with collagen type IV and type VII α1 chains showing significant increases. His-tagged 511E8 was stained around the basal cells of HFK layers, not in basal regions. Co-staining with anti-His-tag and anti-integrin ß1 antibodies revealed the co-localization of theses in some intercellular regions among basal cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that 511E8 effected on HFKs, enhancing the production of BM components and strengthening the anchoring between the Col-I gels and the HFK layers.

Urban-rural differences in the prevalence of having a family dentist and their association with income inequality among Japanese individuals: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Few reported studies evaluate the status of those who have a family dentist (FD) by regional differences and the socioeconomic factors associated with this status. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of having an FD among Japanese individuals across three samples of municipality type: urban, intermediate, and rural areas, and determine the factors associated with having an FD. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving a web-based survey. In total, 2,429 participants (comprising men and women aged 20-69 years) were randomly selected from among the registrants of a web research company: 811 urban residents, 812 intermediate residents, and 806 rural residents. In each area, we categorized the participants into those who had an FD (FD group) and those who did not (non-FD group). A multivariate modified Poisson regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the FD group as compared to the non-FD group. RESULTS: The proportion of the FD group was lowest in rural areas (42.3%), followed by intermediate (48.6%) and urban areas (49.7%). The regression analysis revealed a statistically significant tendency between associated factors in the two groups; that is, the higher the household income, the more likely that the family belonged to the FD group (prevalence ratio (95%CI), JPY 4-6 million: 1.43 (1.00-2.03), JPY ≥ 8 million: 1.72 (1.21-2.44)). CONCLUSIONS: Rural areas have the lowest proportion of people with an FD among the three areas, and income inequality is associated with having an FD. Thus, when planning policies to encourage individuals to have an FD to manage their oral health, it is necessary to consider regional differences.

Regular dental check-up status and related factors among Thai residents in Japan.

The objectives of this online study were to determine the status of regular dental check-ups among Thai nationals living in Japan and to identify barriers to regular dental check-ups by comparing them with general health check-ups. We conducted the online survey twice, in 2021 and 2022, among Thai nationals aged 18 years and older living in Japan via social networking services by an organization that supports Thai nationals living in Japan. Respondents between the ages of 30 and 59 were included in this study. Independent factors included gender, age, length of stay in Japan, family economic status, confidence in Japanese and stay for work purposes. Dependent factors were regular dental check-ups and general health check-ups in the past year. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used for analysis. 56.6% of respondents had regular dental check-ups. The adjusted odds ratio for the proportion of people with regular dental check-ups was significantly higher for those with high economic status, 2.15 (1.06-4.33), compared with those with low economic status. It was also significantly higher 1.88 (1.10-3.21) for those with confidence in the Japanese language compared with those without. The study suggested the need for Japanese language support in addition to financial support for dental health prevention programs for foreigners living in Japan.

Associations between school-based fluoride mouth-rinse program, medical-dental expense subsidy policy, and children's oral health in Japan: an ecological study.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries are a common non-communicable disease among children. As a public health measure at the prefectural level, school-based fluoride mouth-rinse (S-FMR) program, medical/dental expense subsidy policies, and other factors may reduce the incidence of dental caries and tooth loss. Prefectures focusing on promoting oral health policies may promote both, but the interaction effect of implementing both subsidy policies and S-FMR at the prefectural level on caries prevention has not yet been examined. METHODS: We conducted an ecological study using two-wave panel data, prefecture-level aggregated data in Japan for 2016 and 2018. Coefficient and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the dependent variables for oral health using mixed-effects linear regression analysis adjusted for possible confounders. Two dependent variables were used; the standardized claim ratio (SCR) of deciduous tooth extraction and 12-year-olds' decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT). Four independent variables were S-FMR, the SCR of dental sealants, prefectural income per person, and subsidy policy in three models: co-payment until children enter elementary school (n = 23), no co-payment until children enter elementary school (n = 7), and co-payment continuing beyond elementary school (n = 17). The effects of six interaction terms, each representing a unique pairing from the four independent variables, were individually calculated. RESULTS: S-FMR was negatively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions and DMFT (coefficient = -0.11, 95% CI -0.20; -0.01 and coefficient = -0.003, 95% CI -0.005; -0.001, respectively). No co-payment until children enter elementary school was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extraction compared to co-payment until children enter elementary school(coefficient = 11.42, 95% CI 3.29; 19.55). SCR of dental sealants was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions (coefficient = 0.12, 95% CI 0.06; 0.19) but negatively associated with DMFT (coefficient = -0.001, 95% CI -0.003; -0.0001). Per capita prefectural income was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions(coefficient = 0.01, 95% CI 0.001; 0.02). No interaction was found between S-FMR and the subsidy policy at both outcomes. CONCLUSION: High S-FMR utilization and no co-payment until children enter elementary school were associated with fewer deciduous tooth extractions. Also, S-FMR and dental sealant were associated with decreased DMFT.

Age- and sex-related oculomotor manifestation of dopamine deficiency in Segawa disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the oculomotor manifestations of Segawa disease (SD), considered to represent mild dopamine deficiency and discuss their pathophysiological basis. METHODS: We recorded visually- (VGS) and memory-guided saccade (MGS) tasks in 31 SD patients and 153 age-matched control subjects to study how basal ganglia (BG) dysfunction in SD evolves with age for male and female subjects. RESULTS: SD patients were impaired in initiating MGS, showing longer latencies with occasional failure. Patients showed impaired ability to suppress reflexive saccades; saccades to cues presented in MGS were more frequent and showed a shorter latency than in control subjects. These findings were more prominent in male patients, particularly between 13 and 25 years. Additionally, male patients showed larger delay in MGS latency in trials preceded by saccades to cue than those unpreceded. CONCLUSIONS: The findings can be explained by a dysfunction of the BG-direct pathway impinging on superior colliculus (SC) due to dopamine deficiency. The disturbed inhibitory control of saccades may be explained by increased SC responsivity to visual stimuli. SIGNIFICANCE: Oculomotor abnormalities in SD can be explained by dysfunction of the BG inhibitory pathways reaching SC, with a delayed maturation in male SD patients, consistent with previous pathological/physiological studies.

The Pathophysiology of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: Changes in Saccade Performance by Low-Dose L-Dopa and Dopamine Receptor Blockers.

AIM: To elucidate the pathophysiology of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), which is associated with prior use of dopamine receptor antagonists (blockers) and treatment by L-Dopa, through saccade performance. METHOD: In 226 male GTS patients (5-14 years), we followed vocal and motor tics and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) after discontinuing blockers at the first visit starting with low-dose L-Dopa. We recorded visual- (VGS) and memory-guided saccades (MGS) in 110 patients and 26 normal participants. RESULTS: At the first visit, prior blocker users exhibited more severe vocal tics and OCD, but not motor tics, which persisted during follow-up. Patients treated with L-Dopa showed greater improvement of motor tics, but not vocal tics and OCD. Patients with and without blocker use showed similarly impaired MGS performance, while patients with blocker use showed more prominently impaired inhibitory control of saccades, associated with vocal tics and OCD. DISCUSSION: Impaired MGS performance suggested a mild hypodopaminergic state causing reduced direct pathway activity in the (oculo-)motor loops of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit. Blocker use may aggravate vocal tics and OCD due to disinhibition within the associative and limbic loops. The findings provide a rationale for discouraging blocker use and using low-dose L-Dopa in GTS.

Abnormal saccade profiles in hereditary spinocerebellar degeneration reveal cerebellar contribution to visually guided saccades.

OBJECTIVE: To study how the pathophysiology underlying hereditary spinocerebellar degeneration (spinocerebellar ataxia; SCA) with pure cerebellar manifestation evolves with disease progression using saccade recordings. METHODS: We recorded visually- (VGS) and memory-guided saccade (MGS) task performance in a homogeneous population of 20 genetically proven SCA patients (12 SCA6 and eight SCA31 patients) and 19 normal controls. RESULTS: For VGS but not MGS, saccade latency and amplitude were increased and more variable than those in normal subjects, which correlated with cerebellar symptom severity assessed using the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). Parameters with significant correlations with cerebellar symptoms showed an aggravation after disease stage progression (ICARS > 50). The saccade velocity profile exhibited shortened acceleration and prolonged deceleration, which also correlated with disease progression. The main sequence relationship between saccade amplitude and peak velocity as well as saccade inhibitory control were preserved. CONCLUSIONS: The cerebellum may be involved in initiating VGS, which was aggravated acutely during disease stage progression. Dysfunction associated with disease progression occurs mainly in the cerebellum and brainstem interaction but may also eventually involve cortical saccade processing. SIGNIFICANCE: Saccade recording can reveal cerebellar pathophysiology underlying SCA with disease progression.

Factors Affecting the Career Continuation of Newly Graduated and Reinstated Dental Hygienists Who Participated in a Technical Training Program in Japan.

This study aimed to identify (1) what newly graduated dental hygienists and reinstated dental hygienists consider important for preventing early turnover in their own professions and for encouraging them to continue in the profession more generally and (2) relevant factors among hygienists intending to continue working in the field. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey was distributed to 215 Japanese dental hygienists who participated in the technical training programs (response rate: 72.6%). Of them, 143 participants were classified into two groups: newly graduated (NGDH, n = 32) and those reinstated to work (RDH, n = 111). Follow-up for lack of skills was most often selected as important for preventing early turnover among both groups and follow-up for lack of knowledge was significantly selected in the RDH group (p < 0.001). Regarding factors important for career continuation, NGDHs significantly selected gaining job satisfaction, whereas RDHs significantly selected working support. Relevant factors contributing to participants' intentions to continue in the profession were job satisfaction (NGDH, OR = 8.37; RDH, OR = 8.83), career outlook (RDH, OR = 3.11), and job turnover experience because of marriage and parenting (RDH, OR = 2.70), thereby suggesting the importance of raising awareness regarding career progression and job-related rewards among dental hygienists, their educators, and the government through ongoing career education.

Trends in dental visits during the state of emergency for COVID-19 in Japan: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine national medium-term trends in dental visits during three COVID-19 emergency declaration periods in Japan and to analyse how these trends varied according to prefectural emergency measures and COVID-19 incidence. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective observational study of Japan's dental claims from January 2017 to December 2021. DATA SOURCES: Data from a monthly report by the Health Insurance Claims Review and Reimbursement Services (HICRRS) in Japan. HICRRS handles the claims of employer-based health insurance. DATA ANALYSIS: We determined the number of monthly dental claims nationwide from January 2017 to December 2021 and the percentage change in the number of monthly dental claims based on the difference in the COVID-19 alert level between the three emergency declaration periods in 2020-2021 and the corresponding periods in 2019. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression model, graphical figures, and narrative synthesis. OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was the change in the number of dental visits between the emergency declaration periods in 2020-2021 and the corresponding periods in 2019. We also assessed the difference in the number of dental visits based on the COVID-19 alert level. RESULTS: The data set included a total of 736 946 088 dental claims. Until the end of 2021, the greatest decrease in monthly dental claims was in April 2020, which was 22.3% lower than that in April 2019. As indicated by the coefficient in the regression model, the percentage change in monthly dental claims decreased by 5.01% (95% CI -8.27 to -1.74) depending on the difference between the prefectures designated as being under special precautions and other prefectures. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in dental visits was greater during the first state of emergency, ie, April-May 2020, and in prefectures designated as being under special precautions. Further efforts to promote appropriate dental visits at different alert levels are necessary.

Characteristics of Individuals in Japan Who Regularly Manage Their Oral Health by Having a Family Dentist: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey.

Dental healthcare systems may differ between countries; however, having a family dentist is generally important for proper oral health management. This study aims to analyze the proportion of people in Japan who have a family dentist, and their characteristics. A nationwide web-based survey with 3556 participants (1708 men and 1848 women) showed that 45.6% of men and 54.1% of women had a family dentist (FD group). A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that men in the FD group mostly belonged to older age groups (≥70 s, OR: 2.41), received higher household incomes (≥8000 K JPY, OR: 1.47), brushed their teeth three or more times daily (OR: 1.60), practiced habitual interdental cleaning (OR: 3.66), and fewer lived in rural areas (towns and villages, OR: 0.52). Regarding the women, the majority belonged to older age groups (60 s, OR: 1.52; ≥70 s, OR: 1.73), practiced habitual interdental cleaning (OR: 3.68), and fewer received lower household incomes (<2000 K JPY, OR: 0.61). These results suggest that despite Japan being a country with a public insurance coverage system for both men and women, having a family dentist is associated with disparities in individual socioeconomic factors, particularly age and household income.

Oral cleaning habits and the copy number of periodontal bacteria in pregnant women and its correlation with birth outcomes: an epidemiological study in Mibilizi, Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Since 1996, many studies have reported that periodontal disease during pregnancy may be a risk factor for preterm birth and low birth weight; however, in Africa, periodontal disease is considered a non-high-priority disease. In addition, there are few dental facilities in rural Rwanda; thus, the oral condition of pregnant women has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to assess the tooth brushing habits of pregnant women in rural Rwanda and evaluate whether periodontal bacteria in the oral cavity of pregnant women are related to birth outcomes or oral cleaning habits. METHODS: A questionnaire survey and saliva collection were conducted for pregnant women in the catchment area population of Mibilizi Hospital located in the western part of Rwanda. Real-time PCR was performed to quantitatively detect total bacteria and 4 species of periodontal bacteria. The relationship of the copy number of each bacterium and birth outcomes or oral cleaning habits was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Among the participants, high copy numbers of total bacteria, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola were correlated with lower birth weight (p = 0.0032, 0.0212, 0.0288, respectively). The sex ratio at birth was higher in women who had high copy numbers of Porphyromonas gingivalis and T. denticola during pregnancy (p = 0.0268, 0.0043). Furthermore, regarding the correlation between oral cleaning habits and the amount of bacteria, the more frequently teeth were brushed, the lower the level of P. gingivalis (p = 0.0061); the more frequently the brush was replaced, the lower the levels of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia (p = 0.0153, 0.0029). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that improving tooth brushing habits may reduce the risk of periodontal disease among pregnant women in rural Rwanda. It also indicated that the amount of bacteria is associated with various birth outcomes according to the bacterial species. Both access to dental clinics and the oral cleaning habits of pregnant women should be important considerations in efforts to alleviate reproductive-related outcomes in rural Africa.

Periodontal disease is known to cause many complications. For instance, pregnant women with periodontal disease are at increased risk of preterm birth and delivering low-birth-weight infants. However, the importance of oral care during pregnancy is not an important consideration in rural Africa, where preterm birth rates and low-birth-weight rates are particularly high. Moreover, even the oral hygiene status of pregnant women has not been assessed in such areas. In this study, we focused on the amount of periodontal bacteria that cause periodontal disease and investigated the relationship between the amount of bacteria and birth outcomes. Our findings indicate that tooth brushing guidance for pregnant women and improved access to dental clinics in rural Africa may contribute to reduced rates of preterm birth and low birth weight.

Factors Associated with Regular Dental Checkups' Discontinuation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey in Japan.

Managing oral health through regular dental checkups (RDCs) can help prevent dental diseases. Our study aimed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of those who stopped receiving RDCs owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A nationwide web-based survey in Japan in September 2021 (3556 participants) revealed that 62.4% of participants had habitually received RDCs before COVID-19. Of these (n = 2219), 71.5% had received RDCs since the pandemic and 28.5% had not. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the following characteristics of those without RDCs since the pandemic: female (male, OR: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.45−0.74), lower household income (<2000 K JPY, OR: 1.45, 95%CI: 0.94−2.23; 2000 K−< 4000 K JPY, OR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.08−1.98), fewer teeth (20−27, OR: 0.63, 95%CI: 0.39−1.03; ≥28, OR: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.36−0.98), and no interdental cleaning habits (OR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.41−0.63). These results suggest that the disruption to RDCs owing to the pandemic is related to individual socioeconomic factors. Additionally, these individuals have poor oral health, which may be worsened by such barriers.

[Dental care behavior and related factors during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan].

Objectives　In response to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, a state of emergency was declared in Japan on April 7, 2020, and in the same month, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare informed dentists of the need to postpone non-emergency dental care. The purpose of this study was to identify the patients who refrained from dental care during the state of emergency in April 2020, and to clarify their personal characteristics.Methods　A total of 1,335 patients who visited 28 dental clinics in Saitama in September 2020 completed survey questionnaires; of these, 1,227 valid responses were received. Among those who sought dental care under the state of emergency, those who did not visit a dental clinic comprised the "refrained group" and those who visited the dental clinics comprised the "visited group".Results　Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratios for the "refrained group" were 1.69 (95%Cl: 1.12-2.55) for females, 2.91 (95%Cl: 1.88-4.49) for those younger than 65 years, 1.71 (95%Cl: 1.04-2.82) for those that visited the dental clinic less than once a month, and 7.12 (95%Cl: 4.56-11.11) for those who did not have an appointment during the state of emergency.Conclusion　In conclusion, 35% of patients in this study refrained from visiting the dental clinic during the state of emergency. The related factors for refraining from dental care were being females, middle-aged (<65 years), visiting the dental clinic less than once a month, and not having an appointment during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Deciphering the saccade velocity profile of progressive supranuclear palsy: A sign of latent cerebellar/brainstem dysfunction?

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the velocity profile of horizontal saccades could be used as an indicator of brainstem and cerebellar output dysfunction, depending on progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) subtype. METHODS: We compared the velocity profiles in 32 PSP patients of various subtypes with 38 age-matched normal subjects, including Richardson syndrome (RS), PSP-parkinsonism (PSPp), and pure akinesia (PAGF), and cerebellar subtypes of PSP (PSPc). RESULTS: PSP patients showed reduced peak velocity along with increased duration, especially in the deceleration phase. This alteration was more prominent for larger target eccentricities (20-30 degrees), and correlated with disease severity. The changes were most pronounced in PSPc patients, with irregular increases and decreases in velocity profile, followed by RS patients, whereas the change was smaller in PSPp and normal in PAGF patients. CONCLUSIONS: Saccade velocity profile can be an indicator of brainstem and/or cerebellar output. Altered velocity profile of PSP patients may reflect the pathology in the brainstem, but may also reflect cerebellar dysfunction, most prominently in PSPc. SIGNIFICANCE: Saccade velocity profile may be used as an indicator of latent cerebellar/brainstem dysfunction.

Relationship between career education experience among final-year dental hygiene students and their perspective towards work and profession: A nationwide survey in dental hygiene schools of Japan.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the experience of receiving career education among final-year dental hygiene students and their views regarding their work and profession, as part of research on the working style of dental hygienists. METHODS: An anonymous, self-administered survey was sent by post to all the 162 dental hygienist schools in Japan with dental hygiene students in their final year in November 2019. The main questions were regarding student attributes, career aspirations, their perspective on work and profession and whether or not they received career education at a dental hygienist training school. Analysis was conducted by cross-tabulation and logistic regression. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were sent to us by 150 schools (response rate 92.6%), with a response from 6,270 students. The students who had received career education had significantly higher awareness and plans for the profession and a positive attitude towards the work (p < 0.01). Following adjustment for age, sex, educational attainment, length of the course of study and timing of class the results shows that there was a significant relation between the experience of the career education with having future plans (odds ratio = 2.11, 95% confidence interval = 1.88-2.38, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that the experience of receiving career education just before graduating from dental hygienist school was related to an increased positive attitude of the students towards their work and profession. Further long-term investigations are necessary to evaluate the effects of career education among dental hygiene students and their attitude towards their profession.

Transparent Exopolymer Particles in Deep Oceans: Synthesis and Future Challenges.

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are a class of abundant gel-like particles that are omnipresent in seawater. While versatile roles of TEP in the regulation of carbon cycles have been studied extensively over the past three decades, investigators have only recently begun to find intriguing features of TEP distribution and processes in deep waters. The emergence of new research reflects the growing attention to ecological and biogeochemical processes in deep oceans, where large quantities of organic carbon are stored and processed. Here, we review recent research concerning the role of TEP in deep oceans. We discuss: (1) critical features in TEP distribution patterns, (2) TEP sources and sinks, and (3) contributions of TEP to the organic carbon inventory. We conclude that gaining a better understanding of TEP-mediated carbon cycling requires the effective application of gel theory and particle coagulation models for deep water settings. To achieve this goal, we need a better recognition and determination of the quantities, turnover, transport, chemical properties, and microbial processing of TEP.

Perceived general health in relation to oral health status in a rural Kenyan elderly population.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the present oral health status of the rural Kenyan elderly population and to investigate whether oral health status is associated with the perceived general health. METHODS: A total of 131 individuals aged 65 years and over in Mbita Constituency, Homa Bay County in Kenya were randomly selected and visited at home. The home visit study, which was conducted from 2014 to 2016, included oral examination by a dentist and administration of a self-reporting questionnaire. The number of teeth present and functional tooth unit (FTU) points were calculated using the dental chart. Perceived general health, subjective masticatory ability, and self-reported periodontal symptoms were collected using a questionnaire sheet. Fisher's exact test and nonparametric test were used to determine the difference in percentage and means. The odds ratio of good general health based on the participants' masticatory satisfaction was calculated by logistic analysis. RESULTS: Satisfactory mastication was dependent on the number of teeth present, FTU points, and self-reported "gum bleeding" and "tooth mobility". Furthermore, satisfactory mastication was associated with perceived general health status independent of sex and age. The adjusted odds ratio of good perceived general health was 2.29 (95% confidence interval 1.05-4.99) for participants who had the subjective masticatory ability. CONCLUSION: Among the Kenyan elderly population, satisfactory mastication was related to the number of teeth present, FTU points, and self-reported periodontal symptoms. Furthermore, satisfactory mastication was associated with perceived general health status independently.

The Relationship between Dental Findings and Tongue Pressure: A Survey of 745 Community-Dwelling Adults and Elderly Persons in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Reduced tongue pressure is one of the causes of dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental findings and tongue pressure, and whether prosthetic treatment prevents reduced tongue pressure. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were 745 community-dwelling adults and elderly persons in the Goto Islands in Nagasaki, who underwent a health checkup for residents in 2015 and 2016. Data were collected on gender; age; grip strength; hemoglobin; Creatinine (Cr); glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c); history of stroke; smoking, drinking, exercise, and walking habits; number of teeth; wearing of removable dentures; functional units of natural teeth (n-FTUs), fixed prostheses (nif-FTUs), and removable dentures (t-FTUs); and tongue pressure. The associations between each variable and tongue pressure were examined using multiple regression analysis. Next, those with 3 or fewer n-FTUs were selected, and differences in tongue pressure were compared between those with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs and those with 4 or more nif-FTUs, using a propensity score matching method. RESULTS: Male gender, weak grip strength, low HbA1c, no drinking, and a low number of teeth were independent factors significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. Among participants with 3 or fewer n-FTUs, the 43 with 4 or more nif-FTUs showed significantly higher tongue pressure than the 43 with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs after propensity score matching, although the number of t-FTUs was not associated with tongue pressure. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Tooth loss was significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. It was suggested that fixed prosthesis treatment might prevent the reduction of tongue pressure, but removable dentures did not have such an effect.