Oral Hygiene Profile of Schoolchildren from Bucharest, Romania-How It Can Be Used and Improved for Better Prevention of Oral Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Oral hygiene is essential for low caries or gingivitis prevalence in children. This study aimed to determine the oral hygiene profile of children from secondary schools (10-17 years) in Bucharest, Romania, and to explore options for preventing their future oral diseases. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional, with a sample of n = 1595 pupils. The sample was stratified by clusters in city areas, grades, and the criterion of the presence/absence of in-school dental service. Dental check-ups were performed by using a commune dental examination kit. The oral hygiene simplified index (OHI; Silness and Löe) was used to assess the children's oral hygiene status. Five questions were used to determine oral hygiene habits. RESULTS: The mean value of the OHI was 1.04. Some differences in oral hygiene scores were found for different socioeconomic variables, such as parents' education (p < 0.05): parents with vs. without a university degree-0.95/0.94 (male/female) vs. 1.06. Most of the children used manual toothbrushes (88%). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of objective data (OHI) revealed a good level of oral hygiene, with many socioeconomic disparities.

Management of SARS-CoV-2 Prevention Methods in Dental Offices-A Cross-Sectional Study in Bucharest, Romania.

We compared the managing of prevention methods for SARS-CoV-2 infections in dental offices before and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to find out the varieties of infection prevention methods used by dentists before and during the pandemic and compare them. We designed a digital transversal questionnaire with 15 closed questions that was sent to 150 dentists in Bucharest, Romania. We received n = 112 valid answers during July-August 2021 from dentists of all age groups (25-60 years), with a sex ratio of 0.36, which agreed to anonymously participate in this study. The results showed an increase in types and amount of personal protection equipment (i.e., ocular/facial protection, supplemental gown, and upgrading the FFP1 masks to FFP2 or FFP3). Ocular protection showed statistical significance by gender but not by age group. Vaccination rate against SARS-CoV-2 was at 80% of the participant dentists at the time of the survey and had statistical significance. However, vaccination status of the patients did not alter dentists' protection protocol.

Exploring the Threefold Viewpoint on Children's Oral Health in a Cross-Sectional Study.

Oral health is situated within the framework of the global health agenda, addressing facets pertaining to well-being and quality of life. The research is based on the need to address variables at the community level to improve schoolchildren's oral health and promote healthy behaviors and aims to carry out an in-depth analysis from the perspective of the factors that influence children's oral health. Step 1, designed by the World Health Organization, was utilized. An easy-to-use web interface was created for data collection. The statistical analysis consisted of using multinomial and binominal logistic regression models. The level of education of the adult has a high probability of influencing the consumption of unhealthy or healthy foods, it has a significant probability of exerting influence on social or medical problems and a correlation was found between the level of academic education and the pattern of dental visits. The development of health-promoting behaviors begins in childhood and involves parents, who have an essential role in the education of their children. Oral health promotion programs in schools need to target the child-adult-teacher-dentist relationships. Taking into consideration the aforementioned, a threefold viewpoint is necessary for the development of a national program aimed at promoting the oral health of schoolchildren in Romania.

A STEPwise Approach for Oral Hygiene Behavior of Schoolchildren in Romania.

This research analyzes the dental hygiene habits of schoolchildren from parents' perspectives, using the STEPS approach recommended by the World Health Organization. The key points of oral health care in children include the role of the family in encouraging and maintaining proper oral hygiene practices. This study aimed to assess the oral hygiene practices of schoolchildren with on-site dentists in Romania. Additionally, it sought to establish correlations between these behaviors and the educational levels of the adults with whom they live with. The participants were selected from the zero grade to the eighth grade, totaling 3843students. Statistical analysis involved the application of Fisher's Exact Test and Z-tests with Bonferroni correction. Multinominal and binominal logistic regression models were employed to predict the impact of parents' education on children's oral health status and behavior. The oral health status of children evaluated by parents as poor was more frequent in children whose parents had a primary or gymnasium education (p < 0.001). Female adults with a university education evaluated the gum health of their children as very good to a much greater extent (41.7%, p < 0.001). Regarding the use of auxiliary means, the majority of parents with a university education mentioned that their children use dental floss (26.4% females/27.4% males) (p < 0.001), compared to those with primary education, where the percentage was only (1.2% males/3.5% females) (p < 0.001). The results of this study highlight that the education level of the adults with whom the children live with influences the perception of the teeth and gums health status, the frequency of oral hygiene, the use of fluoride toothpaste, and auxiliary brushing aids.

A New Model of Salivary Pacemaker-A Proof of Concept and First Clinical Use.

Background and Objectives: Saliva is of utmost importance for maintaining oral health. Management of saliva flow rate deficiency recently includes salivary neuro-electrostimulation. The aim of this paper is to present a new model of salivary pacemaker-the MICROSAL device (MD), an intelligent, miniaturized, and implant-supported oral device used for salivary stimulation. Materials and Methods: This report presents the development, calibration, and first clinical tests which involved the MD. The novel features of this device are the pH sensor and the fact that it communicates with the patient's smartphone, where oral wetness and pH are graphically exposed. Saliva samples were taken before and after the MD was used on a 68-year-old patient suffering from post-irradiation xerostomia, and albumin and total protein were analyzed. Results: The device uses up to 3 V and time intervals of 2 s seconds for stimulation. The total volume of all saliva samples collected during the clinical trial was almost seven times higher after the device was used. Albumin decreased from a maximum of 0.15 g/dL to 0.04 g/dL, and total proteins from 0.65 g/dL to 0.21 g/dL, after salivary stimulation. Conclusions: The MD increased saliva secretion of the patient, and we are confident it will be a good solution for future management of salivary gland hypofunction.

Exposure to Biological Fluids in Dental Practice-Narrative Review on Appropriate Risk Assessment to Guide Post-Exposure Management.

Accidental exposure to blood or other biological fluids is a common occurrence in dentistry, and its post-exposure management is a key component of infection prevention and control programs designed to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This narrative review aims to comprehensively review the risk assessment process for each of these pathogens at all steps of the epidemiological process, i.e., source-exposure route-receptive person, in order to provide a better understanding of the delicate differences that influence the transmission risk and that drive the individualized post-exposure management.

In vitro study of the orthodontic mini-implants influence on the growth of human osteoblasts.

This study aimed to assess the in vitro biocompatibility of titanium (Ti) alloy orthodontic mini-implants by correlating human osteoblasts (HOb) response with chemical composition and surface morphology of mini-implants. HOb were cultivated with or without custom-made and commercial mini-implants, discs and filings. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the implants were assessed under the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis system. Cell viability, adhesion and proliferation were analyzed by optical microscopy and flow cytometry. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) reduction and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release tests were used to assess the cytotoxicity of discs and filings-treated culture medium. Shape, adhesion, and multiplication of HOb were not significantly altered by the presence of mini-implants, discs or filings in culture, even though Ti alloy may exert in vitro a low cytotoxic effect on HOb adhered to discs. Morphology analysis by SEM demonstrated that custom-made mini-implants' surface differs from that of commercial mini-screws in terms of surface finish and roughness, whilst EDX analysis showed largely similar percentages of Ti, aluminum and vanadium for the two types of implants. No major differences were noticed regarding the effect exerted in vitro on HOb by the investigated implants. The new mini-implants have a convenient in vitro cytotoxicity profile on HOb.

A rare case of osteoma in the frontal sinus: anatomical and histological description.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to present a rare case of osteoma localized in the left frontal sinus. A 22-year-old woman who arrived at the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, presented a vertical asymmetry of the eyeballs but displayed no clinical signs like pain or diplopia. The computer tomography exam was used for preoperatory diagnostic. Histopathology was performed after surgery using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. The Nikon Eclipse microscope was used to examine the slides. RESULTS: The histopathology exam shows a compact osteoma with dense and non-Haversian bone tissue and parallel bony trabeculae. A few spaces for the marrow were also found. The osteocytes were small and no fibrous cells were discovered. CONCLUSIONS: The computer tomography and histopathology exam were the investigations that lead us to a true diagnostic of dense osteoma. This tumor was the first case of frontal sinus osteoma histologically described in the Romanian population.

Caries experience in schoolchildren in Bucharest, Romania: the PAROGIM study.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence and experience of dental caries among children from public middle schools in Bucharest in relation to socioeconomic status and access to school-based dental care. METHODS: Clinical data were collected from 1,595 schoolchildren aged 10-17 years, randomly allocated by clusters into a stratified sample population. The dental caries were scored according to the World Health Organization (WHO) clinical criteria and expressed based on tooth and surface levels [Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth/Surfaces indices (DMFT/DMFS)]. A questionnaire was administered to the children to determine the education level of their parents and their living standard. RESULTS: The caries prevalence was 75 percent, and 64 percent had untreated caries. The mean DMFT value for the entire sample was 2.8, and its highest component was decayed teeth (mean DT 2). Parental education level had the strongest influence on the caries scores; 70 percent of children whose parents had not completed a university degree had untreated caries (%DT) compared to only 49 percent of children whose parents had a higher level of education (P < 0.05). Children with access to school-based dental care had significantly better dental health (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to previous national surveys, the caries rates among schoolchildren in Bucharest are slowly declining. However, there was still a high proportion of untreated caries with a clear socioeconomic gradient, and a change in the school-based oral preventive strategy is needed to meet the needs of the children.