Are Dental Procedures Associated With Pyogenic Vertebral Osteomyelitis?

BACKGROUND: Dental procedures can lead to bacteremia and have been considered a potential risk factor for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO). However, data on the association between dental procedures and PVO are limited. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) After controlling for relevant confounding variables, are dental procedures associated with an increased risk of PVO? (2) Does antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures effectively decrease the risk of PVO? METHODS: A case-crossover study was conducted to investigate the association between dental procedures and PVO using a Japanese claims database. The advantage of this study design is that confounding factors that do not vary over time are automatically adjusted for, because cases act as their own controls. From April 2014 to September 2021, the database included 8414 patients who were hospitalized for PVO. Of these, 50% (4182 of 8414) were excluded because they had not undergone any dental procedures before the index date, a further 0.1% (10 of 8414) were excluded because they were younger than 18 years at the index date, and a further 7% (623 of 8414) were excluded because they did not have at least 20 weeks of continuous enrollment before the index date, leaving 43% (3599 of 8414) eligible for analysis here. The mean age was 77 ± 11 years, and 55% (1985 of 3599) were men. Sixty-five percent (2356 of 3599) of patients had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and 42% (1519 of 3599) of patients had a diagnosis of osteoporosis. We compared the frequency of dental procedures between a 4-week hazard period before the admission date for PVO and two control periods, 9 to 12 weeks and 17 to 20 weeks before the admission date for PVO, within individuals. We calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Comparing the hazard and matched control periods within individuals demonstrated that dental procedures were not associated with an increased risk of PVO (OR 0.81 [95% CI 0.72 to 0.92]; p < 0.001). Additional analysis stratified by antibiotic prophylaxis use showed that antibiotic prophylaxis was not associated with a lower OR of developing PVO after dental procedures (with antibiotic prophylaxis: OR 1.11 [95% CI 0.93 to 1.32]; p < 0.26, without antibiotic prophylaxis: OR 0.72 [95% CI 0.63 to 0.83]; p < 0.001). Our sensitivity analyses, in which the exposure assessment interval was extended from 4 to 8 or 12 weeks and exposure was stratified by whether the dental procedure was invasive, demonstrated results that were consistent with our main analysis. CONCLUSION: Dental procedures were not associated with an increased risk of subsequent PVO in this case-crossover study. The effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis was not demonstrated in the additional analysis that categorized exposure according to the use of antibiotic prophylaxis. Our results suggest that the association between dental procedures and PVO may have been overestimated. Maintaining good oral hygiene may be important in preventing the development of PVO. The indications for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures should be reconsidered in view of the potential risk of adverse drug reactions to antibiotic prophylaxis and the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and assess the role of antibiotic prophylaxis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Association between dental procedures and periprosthetic joint infection: A case-crossover study.

BACKGROUND: Although the risk of dental procedures as a cause of bacteremia has been recognized, evidence regarding the association between dental procedures and late periprosthetic joint infection (LPJI) is scarce. We sought to determine whether dental procedures are associated with an increased risk of LPJI. METHODS: The study was conducted under a case-crossover design using a large claims database in Japan. We identified adult patients who had undergone dental procedures and were hospitalized for LPJI between April 2014 and September 2021. Exposure to dental procedures was assessed during a case period of 1-4 weeks, with two control periods of 9-12 weeks and 17-20 weeks, preceding LPJI hospital admission. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of LPJI associated with dental procedures in the case period compared with the two control periods. RESULTS: In total, 241 patients with LPJI were included in the case-crossover study. At least one dental procedure was performed in 46 patients (19.1%) in the hazard period and in 75 patients (31.1%) in the control periods. The OR for LPJI with dental procedures was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.61-1.53; p = 0.88). Findings were robust in several sensitivity analyses, including stratification by whether the dental procedure included antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that dental procedures are not associated with increased risk of LPJI, and will raise questions about the recommendation for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures.

Insufficient Sleep and Incidence of Dental Caries in Deciduous Teeth among Children in Japan: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether late bedtime and short nighttime sleep duration at age 18 months are associated with risk of caries in deciduous teeth. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based cohort study using health check-up data of 71 069 children born in Kobe City, Japan, who were free of caries at age 18 months and had information on sleep variables at age 18 months and records of dental examinations at age 3 years. Sleep variables were assessed by standardized parent-reported questionnaires, and the incidence of caries in deciduous teeth was defined as the occurrence of at least 1 decayed, missing, or filled tooth assessed by qualified dentists without radiographs. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of late bedtime and short sleep duration on dental caries with adjustment for clinical and lifestyle characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, 11 343 (16.0%) cases of caries were observed at age 3 years. aORs for children with late or irregular bedtimes compared with those with bedtimes before 21:00 were 1.26 (95% CI 1.19-1.33), 1.48 (1.38-1.58), 1.74 (1.58-1.92), 1.90 (1.58-2.29), and 1.66 (1.53-1.81) for bedtimes at 21:00, 22:00, 23:00, 0:00, and irregular bedtime, respectively. aORs for children with short or irregular sleep duration compared with those with sleep duration of ≥11 hours were 1.30 (95% CI 1.15-1.47), 1.16 (1.09-1.24), 1.11 (1.05-1.18), and 1.35 (1.25-1.46) for sleep duration of ≤ 8, 9, 10 hours, and irregular sleep duration, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory study, late bedtime and short sleep duration were both consistently associated with increased risk of caries in deciduous teeth.

Evaluation of the clinical and aesthetic outcomes of Straumann(®) Standard Plus implants supported single crowns placed in non-augmented healed sites in the anterior maxilla: a 5-8 years retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term aesthetic outcome of the single crowns supported by soft tissue level implants placed in healed sites in the anterior maxilla region via the pink aesthetic score (PES) and the white aesthetic score (WES). MATERIAL AND METHODS: According to the inclusion criteria, patients who had received a single Straumann(®) Standard Plus implant in the anterior maxilla at the Shanghai 9th People's Hospital between 2005 and 2008 were invited for a re-examination based on a number of inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Clinical, radiographic and aesthetic outcomes (PES/WES) were assessed during their revisit at 5-8 years after crown placement. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were enrolled in the study. All 45 implants were successfully integrated and most of the implants did not show signs of peri-implant disease at the time of the assessment. The marginal bone resorption was 1.10 ± 0.92 mm. The mean total PES was 8.48 ± 2.62 at the baseline, 9.57 ± 2.37 at the 6-10 months revisit and 9.01 ± 2.45 at the 5-8 years follow-up. The scores of the mesial and distal papillae increased significantly between the baseline and 6-10 months follow-up, this improvement remained stable at the 5-8 years follow-up. The scores of soft tissue level, colour of the soft tissue, soft tissue texture and the alveolar process decreased significantly between the 6-10 months and 5-8 years revisits. The mean WES was 7.83 ± 1.60 at the baseline and 7.72 ± 1.43 at the 5-8 years revisit. There was no significant difference of the WES between the baseline and 5-8 years revisit. CONCLUSION: The possibility of spontaneous papillae regeneration after implant treatment and the long-term stability of the regenerated papillae were confirmed. However, recession of the facial soft tissue has been found. The incidence of the recession at thin biotype sites tended to be higher.

Relationship Between the Number of Occlusal Supporting and Medical Cost: Analysis Using Large Claims Database from Employee Health Care Insurance in Japan.

BACKGROUND: There are several previous reports suggesting that the number of remaining teeth is related to increase of total medical expenditure. However, the measurements of oral healthcare conditions used in the previous studies were the number of remaining teeth, and occlusal support was not assessed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between occlusal support and healthcare resource utilization. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study using a claims database. Measurements of occlusal support were defined by the Eichner and Miyachi classification systems based on dental formula information. Medical healthcare resource usage was measured by medical visit rate and 12-month medical expenditure. RESULTS: Of the total population in the claims database, 1 288 713 patients were included in the analysis. The proportion of patients who had at least one medical visit and annual medical expenditure in the best condition classes in each classification measure (i.e. A1 for Eichner classification and Area I for Miyachi classification in both endpoints) were 58.2% and 61.1%, and JPY34 597 (US$314.52 at JPY110/US$) and JPY43 129 (US$392.08), respectively. Those in the poorest condition classes in each classification measure (i.e. B3 for Eichner classification and Area IV for Miyachi classification in the medical visit rate, and C1 for Eichner classification and Area III for Miyachi classification in medical expenditure) were 75.3% and 75.1%, and JPY149 339 (US$1357.63) and JPY120 925 (US$1099.32), respectively. We found a positive correlation with the outcomes by regression analysis adjusting for deterioration of occlusal support with age and gender. CONCLUSION: We found significant relationships between occlusal support conditions and healthcare resource utilization. The maintenance of oral health or dental treatment may positively impact overall health, and active dental intervention may reduce the total medical expenditure.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Molar Single Implant Versus Fixed Dental Prosthesis.

PURPOSE: To calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of prosthetic treatment of a single missing intermediate molar by performing cost-utility analysis on implants, insurance fixed dental prostheses (IFDPs), and private fixed dental prostheses (PFDPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transition probability (based on the results of past research) and the Markov model were used for cost-utility analysis, and Monte Carlo simulations were performed for sensitivity analysis. The utility values for various types of missing teeth were collected in September 2017, and dental prosthetic treatment was performed in general members of the Japanese population, distributed by sex and age. The time trade-off (TTO) method, which is an index scale (0-1), was used for measuring the utility values. RESULTS: The utility value was the highest when measured at the state in which implant treatment was performed and the lowest when measured in the untreated missing-tooth state. This model showed that compared to FDPs, implant treatment resulted in higher quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). However, the estimated cost over 30 years was lower for IFDPs. The results also showed that PFDPs were in a more extended, dominant state than both IFDPs and implants. The implant-to-IFDP ICER was €2,454.37. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that implants can be used to obtain higher utility values in comparison to IFDPs and PFDPs. The ICER threshold for 1 QALY in Japan is approximately €37,037 to €44,444, and the implant-to-IFDP ICER was found to be below that found in this study. Accordingly, it appears that implants offer superior cost-effectiveness.

Study on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients After Dental Implant Treatment with Patient-Reported Outcome.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to use patient-reported outcome to explore patient characteristics that influence the oral health-related quality of life of post-implant patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study design was a nested case-control study. The target population was patients who had undergone implant treatment at the Department of Oral Implantology, Osaka Dental University, with a superstructure fitted ≥ 3 months previously. The survey period was from April 2014 to the end of October 2016. Oral health-related quality of life was evaluated using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). The relationship between patient characteristics and oral health-related quality of life was investigated by binomial logistic regression analysis. The Japanese GOHAI norm for the 50s and 60s age groups was used as the dependent variable for comparison with this study population. Explanatory variables were age, sex, time of survey, implant site, type of superstructure, pre-implant number of molar occlusal support zones, pre-implant deficit status, and number of missing teeth. RESULTS: Of the total of 1,967 subjects, data were missing for 176 subjects, the time of survey was < 3 months since fitting of the superstructure for 1,021 subjects, and 123 subjects did not meet the inclusion criteria. Therefore, 647 subjects were finally analyzed. As a result of implant treatment, 64.5% of subjects exceeded the Japanese GOHAI norm for the same age group (52.2). From logistic regression analysis, patient characteristics that were extracted as influencing oral health-related quality of life were age < 65 years (odds ratio: 1.8); women (odds ratio: 1.8); and 1 pre-implant molar occlusal support zone (reference value of 4 zones) (odds ratio: 2.5). CONCLUSION: This study showed that implant treatment is an effective method for dental prosthetic treatment from the perspective of patient-reported outcome. In addition, patient characteristics that influence the oral health-related quality of life of post-implant patients were shown to be age < 65 years, women, and one pre-implant molar occlusal support zone. This study may help to predict posttreatment oral health-related quality of life and determine treatment plans.

Oral health-related quality of life in patients with implant treatment.

PURPOSE: Patient-reported outcomes are increasingly commonly used as a method of evaluating treatments. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate implant treatment from the perspective of patient-reported outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 804 patients who visited the Department of Oral Implantology at Osaka Dental University. The participants were categorized into a pre-implant group and a post-implant group. They were further categorized into five subgroups based on the number of occlusal supports provided by the remaining teeth according to the Eichner classification. The participants answered a basic questionnaire and the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) questionnaire, an oral health-related quality of life (QOL) scale. GOHAI scores were compared according to the number of occlusal supports within each group and between the two groups. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant difference in terms of the number of occlusal supports within the pre-implant group; GOHAI scores decreased as the number of occlusal supports decreased (P<.001). However, no significant difference was observed in GOHAI scores in terms of the number of occlusal supports in the post-implant group (P>.05). GOHAI scores significantly improved in both pre- and post-implant groups in all occlusal support subgroups (P<.001). CONCLUSION: GOHAI scores decrease as occlusal support is lost. However, implant treatment performed in areas of loss improves the GOHAI score when occlusal support is restored.

[Comparison of shortened dental arches with complete dental arches by clinical examinations].

PURPOSE: Recently, there have been reports in favor of avoiding prosthodontic intervention as Shortened Dental Arch (SDA) in Northern Europe. However, many of these reports were conducted through interviews and questionnaires, and so the evaluation of the results lacked objectivity. Thus, this research analyzed the clinical status of SDA. METHODS: For the selection of subjects, seven patients (average age: 59.3+/-13.2 years old) who had had the free-end missing on both sides of the lower dental arches for over five years were chosen as the SDA group. As the complete dental arch (CDA) group, seven patients (average age: 61.3+/-9.6 years old) who had no clinical defects in their masticatory function, and who had no missing teeth other than the third molar, were selected. Measurement items in this study were occlusal contact areas for the mandible premolar, center of force, occlusion time, and interdentium. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis and the significance level was assumed to be 5%. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The occlusal contact area of the mandible premolar of SDA was significantly large. 2) The center of force of SDA was significantly forward. 3) The occlusion time of SDA had a tendency of prolongation. 4) Interdentium of 3 2 | 2 3, 4 3 | 3 4 and 5 4 | 4 5 of SDA were significantly wide. CONCLUSIONS: There were differences of clinical parameters between SDA and CDA in this study.

Erratum to: Analysis of factors associated with maintenance discontinuation in implant patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40064-015-1569-3.].

Effect of difference in occlusal contact area of mandibular free-end edentulous area implants on periodontal mechanosensitive threshold of adjacent premolars.

Implant treatment is believed to cause minimal invasion of remaining teeth. However, few studies have examined teeth adjacent to an implant region. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of occlusal contact size of implants on the periodontal mechanosensitive threshold of adjacent premolars. A cross-sectional study design was adopted. The Department of Oral Implantology, Osaka Dental University, was the setting where patients underwent implant treatment in the mandibular free-end edentulous area. The study population comprised of 87 patients (109 teeth) who underwent follow-up observation for at least 3 years following implant superstructure placement. As variables, age, sex, duration following superstructure placement, presence or absence of dental pulp, occlusal contact area, and periodontal mechanosensitive threshold were considered. The occlusal contact area was measured using Blue Silicone(®)and Bite Eye BE-I(®). Periodontal mechanosensitive threshold were measured using von Frey hair. As quantitative variables for periodontal mechanosensitive threshold, we divided subjects into two groups: normal (≤5 g) and high (≥5.1 g). For statistical analysis, we compared the two groups for the sensation thresholds using the Chi square test for categorical data and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous volume data. For variables in which a significant difference was noted, we calculated the odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) and the effective dose. There were 93 teeth in the normal group and 16 teeth in the high group based on periodontal mechanosensitive threshold. Comparison of the two groups indicated no significant differences associated with age, sex, duration following superstructure placement, or presence or absence of dental pulp. A significant difference was noted with regard to occlusal contact area, with several high group subjects belonging to the small contact group (odds ratio: 4.75 [1.42-15.87]; effective dose: 0.29). The results of this study suggest an association between implant occlusal contact area and the periodontal mechanosensitive threshold of adjacent premolars. Smaller occlusal contact application resulted in an increased threshold. It appears that prosthodontic treatment should aim not only to improve occlusal function but also to maintain oromandibular function with regard to the preservation of remaining teeth.

Analysis of factors associated with maintenance discontinuation in implant patients.

Maintenance following implant treatment is essential to ensure long-term stability. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to investigate the factors leading patients to discontinue maintenance following implant treatment. Among the 729 patients that underwent implantation at the Department of Oral Implantology, Osaka Dental University Hospital from January 2008 to December 2012, 41 patients were excluded from the study. Exclusion criteria comprised patients without a superstructure attachment, those who only underwent maxillary sinus floor augmentation procedures and those who discontinued visiting the hospital prior to superstructure attachment. Treatment was discontinued in 181 patients. The rate of discontinuation was 26.6 %. The odds ratio (OR) in the adjustment model was 1.552 (95 % CI 1.078-2.236) in males when compared with females. When compared with those who were 30-64 years old, the OR was 5.818 (95 % CI 3.017-11.220) in those 29 years old or younger and 1.561 (95 % CI 1.021-2.386) in those 65 years old or older. Moreover, when compared with those with a O'Leary's Plaque Control Record of all teeth and superstructures (PCR) level of 20 % or less following superstructure attachment, the OR was 2.113 (95 % CI 1.471-3.035) in those with a PCR level of 20 % or more following superstructure attachment. It is highly important to decrease maintenance discontinuation, especially in patients aged 29 years old or younger with a PCR level of 20 % or more following superstructure attachment. Moreover, a support system must be developed to enable patients with difficulties visiting the hospital to continue their maintenance program.