The Saudi Arabian national demographic and health survey, 2017: Study design and oral health-related influences.

Objective: To describe the study design, and the distal and proximal influences on oral health reported in the national demographic and health survey (DHS) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2017. Methods: The 2017 KSA DHS used an innovative multistage stratified random-sampling technique to select the population sample by using primary health care centers' (PHCs) catchment areas as the primary sampling unit. Over 45,000 household heads plus a family member were interviewed. A conceptual framework for distal and proximal oral health influences specific to the KSA was adapted based on the oral health surveillance model. Cross-tabulation and Chi-square tests were performed with consideration for sample weights to provide estimates representative for the KSA population. Frequencies and weighted percentages for each variable reflecting each construct were reported. Results: The total number of individuals included in the analysis was n = 55,511, ages ranging between 2 and > 65 years. Lack of dental care when needed was reported for 22.5 % of the population (males = 20.8 %/females = 24.7 %). Proportion of population from Central, West, East, South, and North regions who reported available dental care services when needed was 62.3 %, 58.0 %, 58.9 %, 62.3 %, and 60.1 %, respectively. PHCs were the most regular source for dental care (55.1 %). In total, 48.3 % visited the dentist at least once last year (males = 49.4 % /females = 46.8 %). Dental pain was the most common reason for last dental visit (69.0 %), while only 6.4 % reported visited the dentist for routine visit. Only 15.3 % reported brushing their teeth at least twice per day (males = 14.6 % /females = 16.4 %). Conclusion: Two major oral health influences previously reported to have a significant negative influence on oral health, namely, limited routine dental check-up visits and inadequate oral hygiene, were present among KSA residents. Further inferential study is needed to investigate such influence on oral health status within the KSA population.

Success Rates of Pulpotomies Performed by General Dentists Versus Pediatric Dentists: A Claims Data Analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine if there are differences in the success rate of primary teeth treated with pulpotomies performed by general dentists (GDs) versus pediatric dentists (PDs), using submitted paid insurance dental claims. The extraction time after pulpotomy was examined. Methods: Data for this study were obtained from a private dental insurance claims warehouse. The insurance claims data were retrieved, and a retrospective analysis was performed over seven years (2008 to 2015). The survival rate was estimated using proportional hazard survival analysis. Results: The total number of paid dental claims that used the CDT code for pulpotomy was 401,638. For teeth that received pulpotomy, the average time between pulpotomy and extraction was 1.1 years if the pulpotomies were performed by GDs. The average time was 1.3 years if the pulpotomies were performed by PDs (P<0.0001). GDs had an extraction rate of 7.83 percent after pulpotomies and the placement of stainless steel crowns, while PDs had an extraction rate of 4.09 percent. Conclusions: There is a significant difference in the success rate of teeth treated with pulpotomies performed by pediatric dentists versus general dentists, with pulpotomies performed by the former having a longer survival rate.

Analysis of factors influencing the development of xerostomia during intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: Factors influencing xerostomia during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were assessed. METHODS: A 6-week study of 32 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients was performed. Subjects completed the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and provided stimulated saliva (SS) at baseline, week 2 and at end of IMRT. Influence of SS flow rate (SSFR), calcium and mucin 5b (MUC5b) concentrations and radiation dose on xerostomia was determined. RESULTS: HNC subjects experienced mean SSFR decline of 36% by visit 2 (N = 27; P = .012) and 57% by visit 3 (N = 20; P = .0004). Concentrations of calcium and MUC5b increased, but not significantly during IMRT (P > .05). Xerostomia correlated most with decreasing salivary flow rate as determined by Spearman correlations (P < .04) and linear mixed models (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although IMRT is sparing to the parotid glands, it has an early effect on SSFR and the constituents in saliva in a manner that is associated with the perception of xerostomia.

Risk of adrenal crisis in dental patients: results of a systematic search of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The authors performed a systematic search of the literature to identify the frequency of, risk of experiencing and factors associated with adrenal crises in dental patients. METHODS: The authors searched PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE (1947-June 20, 2012) and Embase (1974-2012) for English-language articles related to cases of adrenal crisis in dentistry and extracted and analyzed data from the articles. The six authors determined whether the cases identified met a consensus definition of adrenal crisis. RESULTS: Of 148 articles identified in the initial screening, 34 articles were included in the final review, from which six cases met the criteria of adrenal crisis. The authors categorized four cases as "suggestive of adrenal crisis" and two cases as "consistent with adrenal crisis." Risk factors were significant adrenal insufficiency, pain, infection, having undergone an invasive procedure, having received a barbiturate general anesthetic, and poor health status and stability at the time of presentation. The authors estimated risk to be less than one in 650,000 in patients with adrenal insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal crisis is rare in dental patients, with only six reports of it having been published in the past 66 years. Risk is associated with unrecognized adrenal insufficiency, poor health status and stability at the time of treatment, pain, infection, having undergone an invasive procedure and having received a barbiturate general anesthetic. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Risk of adrenal crisis is reduced through proper evaluation of the patient, identification of risk factors and following appropriate preventive measures.

Consideraciones del uso de antibióticos en infecciones odontogénicas / Considerations on the use of antibiotics in odontogenic infections

Las infecciones odontogénicas se originan de procesos infecciosos periapicales o periodontales, que al propagarse al tejido celular subcutáneo logran formar una celulitis o un absceso. En raras condiciones, pueden complicarse y comprometer el estado general del paciente. Los microorganismos frecuentemente asilados en este tipo de infección son: Streptococcus viridans, Prevotella, Porphyromonas y Fusobacterium. Para el manejo de las infecciones odontogénicas, se debe determinar la serveridad de la infección, evaluar las defensas del huésped, eliminar la causa con un drenaje adecuado y administrar el antibiótico adecuado. Entre los antibióticos más utilizados se encuentran las penicilinas, cefalosporinas, macrólidos, lincosaminas y nitroimidazoles