Descriptive study of the oral health status of disadvantaged mexican populations in relation to their adherence to the mediterranean diet.

BACKGROUND: Obesity in Mexico is an alarming problem that has been increasing in recent decades. Dietary factors make this pathology more common at younger ages and closely related to oral health. This study attempts to investigate the association between the oral health status of a Mexican population in the state of Yucatan and their dietary habits. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the relationship between oral health-related quality of life and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a disadvantaged population in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. METHODS: The research was conducted in July 2023 in Merida, Yucatan (Mexico). The sample consisted of 109 individuals aged between 4 and 72 years old. Data analysis focused on factors such as body mass index (BMI), oral health-related quality of life, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. RESULTS: A notable presence of caries is observed in individuals with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Correlation coefficient 0.040, p=0.682). This underscores the potential interaction between oral health, obesity, and dietary habits. The mean Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHIP-14Sp) score was 13.19 ±13.57, median 8.00. CONCLUSIONS: This research adds to the increasing evidence that highlights the significance of a balanced diet in enhancing the oral quality of life for people. More research is necessary to explore preventive measures and treatment to raise awareness about oral health within the community.

ANTECEDENTES: La obesidad en México es un problema alarmante que ha ido en aumento en las últimas décadas. Los factores dietéticos hacen que esta patología sea más común en edades más tempranas y muy relacionada con la salud bucal. Este estudio intenta investigar la asociación entre el estado de salud bucal de una población mexicana en el estado de Yucatán y sus hábitos alimentarios. OBJETIVO: Este estudio explora la relación entre la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal y la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en una población desfavorecida del estado de Yucatán, México. Métodos: La investigación se realizó en julio de 2023 en Mérida, Yucatán (México). La muestra estuvo compuesta por 109 individuos con edades comprendidas entre 4 y 72 años. El análisis de los datos se centró en factores como el índice de masa corporal (IMC), la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal y la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea. RESULTADOS: Se observa una notable presencia de caries en individuos con baja adherencia a la dieta mediterránea (coeficiente de correlación 0,040, p=0,682). Esto subraya la posible interacción entre la salud bucal, la obesidad y los hábitos alimentarios. La puntuación media de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal (OHIP-14Sp) fue 13,19 ± 13,57, mediana 8,00. CONCLUSIONES: Esta investigación se suma a la creciente evidencia que resalta la importancia de una dieta equilibrada para mejorar la calidad de vida bucal de las personas. Es necesaria más investigación para explorar medidas preventivas y tratamientos para crear conciencia sobre la salud bucal dentro de la comunidad.

Comparative Meta-Analysis of Minimally Invasive and Conventional Approaches for Caries Removal in Permanent Dentition.

Background and Objectives: Addressing deep carious lesions poses significant challenges in daily dental practice due to the inherent complexity of their treatment. Traditionally, complete removal of carious tissues has been the norm, potentially leading to pulp tissue exposure and subsequent pulpitis. In contemporary dentistry, there is a growing preference for minimally invasive techniques, such as selective removal, offering a more conservative approach with enhanced predictability and success rates. Materials and Methods: Our study commenced with a comprehensive systematic review. After that, we performed a meta-analysis focused exclusively on randomized controlled trials involving permanent dentition. Our investigation incorporated seven selected articles, which scrutinized success rates and the incidence of pulp exposure in minimally invasive techniques (MIT) versus conventional techniques (CT). Statistical analysis employed U Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests to interpret the results. Results: Although the difference did not reach statistical significance, MIT demonstrated marginally superior success rates compared to CT. Furthermore, MIT exhibited a lower percentage of pulp exposure when contrasted with CT. However, due to the limited sample size, statistical significance for this difference could not be established. Conclusions: Minimally invasive techniques for caries removal emerge as a conservative and promising approach to safeguard pulp tissues in comparison to conventional techniques. The need for additional randomized controlled trials is emphasized to unequivocally establish the superior success rates of these procedures over their conventional counterparts.

Active Tactile Sensibility in Implant Prosthesis vs. Complete Dentures: A Psychophysical Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Proprioceptive information from natural dentition and adjacent oral tissues enables correct masticatory function, avoiding damage to the teeth. Periodontium is the main source of this relevant information, and when a tooth is lost, all this proprioceptive sensibility relies on receptors from muscles, the mucous membrane or the temporomandibular joint, and this sensibility gets worse. Active tactile sensibility measures this proprioceptive capability in microns by psychophysical studies consisting of introducing thin metal foils between patients' dental arches during chewing to see if they are able to notice them or not. Osseoperception is a complex phenomenon that seems to improve this sensibility in patients wearing dental implants. The objective of this investigation is to measure this sensibility in different prosthetic situations by performing a psychophysical investigation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We divided 67 patients in three groups depending on their prosthetic situation and performed a psychophysical study by introducing aluminium foils of different thicknesses in order to establish an active tactile sensibility threshold in every group. We also measured variables such as prosthetic wearing time, age or gender to see how they may influence threshold values. We used Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U tests to analyse these results. RESULTS: Active tactile sensibility threshold values in implants are lower than those from complete dentures but higher than values in natural dentition. However, values in implants are closer to natural dentition than complete denture values. Age, gender or prosthetic wearing time have no influence in active tactile sensibility thresholds. CONCLUSION: Active tactile sensibility threshold values depend on prosthetic rehabilitations and the mechanoreceptors involved in every situation. Implant prosthesis presents an increased active tactile sensibility thanks to osseoperception phenomenon.

Tactile Sensibility Thresholds in Implant Prosthesis, Complete Dentures and Natural Dentition: Review about Their Value in Literature.

Background and Objectives: The periodontium has important proprioceptive receptors that prevent teeth from using excessive occlusal forces during chewing. There are other receptors from adjacent tissues that replace periodontal ones when teeth are extracted and rehabilitated with prosthesis, although they seem to be less effective. Psychophysical studies investigate tactile sensibility thresholds, which are useful to measure this masticatory efficiency in different prosthetic rehabilitations. There are two types of sensibility depending on the receptors that are activated during these studies: active and passive tactile sensibility. The purpose of this study is to obtain active and passive tactile sensibility threshold figures in natural dentition and prosthetic rehabilitations so we can compare them and understand how this sensibility works in different situations. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review of the available literature, following PRISMA guidelines and including articles from 2004 to 2021 in the MEDLINE database. Only 10 articles were included in this investigation as they provided concrete threshold figures. Results: The mean values of active tactile sensibility thresholds in complete dentures, implant prosthesis and natural dentition are 64 µ, 23.3 µ and 16.1 µ, respectively. The mean values of passive tactile sensibility thresholds in implant prosthesis and natural dentition are 6.7 N and 0.8 N, respectively. Conclusions: Implant prosthesis have lower thresholds, that are very close to those present in natural dentition, than complete dentures due to an increased tactile sensibility. Active tactile sensibility thresholds present fewer differences between values than passive tactile ones; as these are only influenced by receptors from periodontal or periimplant tissues.

Importance of Osseoperception and Tactile Sensibility during Masticatory Function in Different Prosthetic Rehabilitations: A Review.

Background and Objectives: Tactile sensibility is an important characteristic for evaluating the masticatory efficiency in different occlusal situations. When a tooth is extracted, relevant proprioceptors from the periodontal ligament get lost; and after the rehabilitation of this abscess by means of oral prosthesis, this sensibility decreases influencing masticatory function. Osseoperception is a sensitive phenomenon associated with dental implants that allows an increased tactile sensibility to those wearing implant prostheses. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in tactile sensibility values between implant prosthesis, complete dentures, and natural teeth through a review of the available literature. Materials and Methods. In order to dissect the information, 24 articles from 2004 to 2021 were analyzed from MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Web of Science databases. These articles were directly related to measuring tactile sensibility in different situations and demonstrating the influence of osseoperception in an improved masticatory function. Results: Tactile sensibility in implant prosthesis is slightly reduced compared with natural dentition but presents improved values with regard to complete dentures. Conclusions: Implant prosthesis are more effective during masticatory function than complete dentures, as they present an increased tactile sensibility, very similar to that present in natural dentition. This enhanced sensibility in implants is due to the osseoperception phenomenon.