Evaluation of dental plague removal procedure in adult population from the Lomza region.

INTRODUCTION: The National Health Fund guarantees to insured persons free dental treatment as part of a catalog of scopes and benefits, such as dental treatment. Among the services included in the appendix there is a dental plaque removal procedure, which can be performed in adults once every 12 months or once every 6 months in the case of pregnant and puerperal women. This procedure involves breaking down the bacterial biofilm above and below the gingiva, rinsing it in vases with water from the periodontal area, and additionally, through the cavitation effect, it causes the implosion of air bubbles, directly destroying bacterial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis covered 2,114 patients aged 18-89 who visited the dentist from 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2019. The dental clinic was located in a medium-sized town in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The dental plaque removal procedures were performed on patients by dentists and then coded in accordance with the ICD9 Basic Edition Dictionary ICD9 CM (5.18) "23.1601 - Removal of plaque from 1/2 of the dental arch", respectively. The visits analyzed for this study were performed in the period from 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2019. In the following epidemiological descriptive study, secondary sources of information were used, in the form of collective reports generated from electronic records, which are stored in the dental clinic that provides dental care for patients under an agreement with the National Health Fund for general dental treatment. RESULTS: The total number of women undergoing the plaque removal procedure was significantly higher than the number of men. The distribution of patients in different age groups was uneven. The highest percentage of patients undergoing the dental plaque removal procedure occurred in the age groups of 18-29 and 30-39 years - 21% and 29% of all respondents, respectively. The lowest number of patients was found in the age group of 80-89 years (1%).There is a statistical difference in the total number of dental procedures and in each age group in favor of women in each group, except the 60-79 age group. The greatest number of dental plaque removal procedures, compared to other procedures, was performed in men aged 30-39 years. Among men, along with the increase in age up to the age of 60, the number of dental plaque removal procedures decreased by an average of 10%, a drastic decrease occurred at the age of 70-79 - only 10% of procedures were dental plaque removal procedures. Among women aged 30-59 who were patients of the clinic, the percentage of women with dental plaque removal was about 30%, only in the age group over 80 the percentage of women who underwent the procedure fell to less than 10%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that the sex and age of the inhabitants of the Lomza region are significant variables related to the procedures of removing plaque in a dental office. Observation showing a decrease in the number of these procedures with increasing age of patients and their more frequent occurrence in women generally requires detailed studies identifying the main determinants of existing relationships.

Factors Associated with Undergoing Regular Dental Check-ups in Healthy Elderly Individuals.

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of healthy elderly individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups and identify any environmental or associated oral factors. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was used to interview 216 individuals attending 2 welfare facilities for the elderly, of whom 160 were included in the final analysis. Items comprised age, sex, number of residual teeth, frequency of teeth/denture cleaning, subjective chewing ability, denture use, oral status, regular dental check-ups, visitation of the same dentist, number of dental visits in the past year, General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) (Japanese version) score, living situation, and use of routine medication. Individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups were defined as those with a primary dentist whom they saw for dental check-ups at least once a year. The rate of individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups was 75.0% in men aged 60-74 years, 58.8% in women aged 60-74 years, 70.0% in men aged 75 years or over, and 45.3% in women aged 75 years or over. Logistic regression analysis revealed a higher number of residual teeth (odds ratio [OR]=2.664 in comparison with those with fewer than 20 teeth, p=0.0427); cleaning teeth/dentures 3 or more times per day (OR=2.546 in comparison with cleaning them twice per day or less, p=0.0157); and a higher GOHAI score (OR=2.742 in comparison with those with a GOHAI score of less than 58, p=0.0263) as factors significantly correlated with undergoing regular dental check-ups. In conclusion, the results revealed that individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups had 20 or more residual teeth, cleaned their teeth/denture 3 or more times per day, and had a higher GOHAI score. This indicates that the best predictive factor for undergoing regular dental check-ups in healthy elderly individuals is their GOHAI score.

Patterns of dental visits and their predictors among male adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Improved oral health outcomes, including better quality of life, are associated with dental attendance. Visiting a dental office is an important mode of behavior, especially among adolescents; however, the factors that influence the patterns of dental visits are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of visiting a dental office and its predictors among male adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved a sample of 376 male adolescents (13-14 years old). Multi-stage random sampling was used to recruit participants from public schools in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. World Health Organization (WHO) oral health questionnaire for children was used for data collection. The χ2 test and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the predictors of dental attendance. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of studied adolescents (n = 192) visited the dentist during the last 12 months. Pain was the most common reason for the dental visit (22.9%), followed by a treatment or a follow-up (16.2%), and a routine dental check-up (9.3%). The participants with pain were 16.29 times more likely to visit a dental office than those without pain. Similarly, adolescents who had routine dental check-ups (odds ratio (OR) = 7.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.75, 15.15) and treatment or follow-ups had significantly higher odds (OR = 15.21, 95% CI = 7.22, 32.04) of making a dental visit than those without check-ups and treatment. In addition, the perception of good health of gums (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.33, 4.66) and difficulty in chewing (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.02, 3.92) were associated with dental attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Visiting a dental office was common among male adolescents. Pain was the most important reason and a predictor for dental attendance, and a small proportion of adolescents made dental visits for routine dental check-ups. Oral health literacy should be improved through awareness programs in schools. Adolescents should be encouraged to regularly visit the dentist to maintain optimal oral health.

Practice characteristics and service provision rates of dental hygienists in Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Dental hygienists (DHs) have been practising in Australia since the early 1970s. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the clinical activity of Australian DHs. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to members of two professional associations representing DHs. Practitioner characteristics, employment characteristics and clinical activity on a self-reported typical practice day were collected. The proportion of each service item of all services provided was estimated. Associations between practice characteristics and service provision were assessed by log-binomial regression models. RESULTS: Adjusted response rate was 60.6%. Of the DHs included in analysis (n=341), 80% were employed in general practice, and nearly all (96%) worked in the private sector. About half (53.7%) of all service provided were preventive services, and one-fourth (23.9%) were diagnostic. Service provision varied by practice and practitioner characteristics, with the largest variations observed by practice type. Unadjusted analysis showed that general practice DHs provided a higher mean number of periodontal instrumentation and coronal polishing (0.92 vs 0.26), fluoride applications (0.64 vs 0.08), oral examinations (0.51 vs 0.22) and intraoral radiographs (0.33 vs 0.07) per patient visit and a lower mean number of impressions (0.05 vs 0.17) and orthodontic services (0.02 vs 0.59) than specialist practice DHs. In adjusted analysis, rates of periodontal services also significantly varied by practice type; other associations persisted. CONCLUSION: Service provision of DHs varied by practice type. Practice activity was dominated by provision of preventive services while provision of periodontal treatments, fissure sealants and oral examinations was relatively limited indicating areas in which DHs are possibly underutilized.

Association Between Employee Dental Claims, Health Risks, Workplace Productivity, and Preventive Services Compliance.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined differences in health risks and workplace outcomes among employees who utilized preventive dental services compared with other employees. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of employees of a large financial services corporation, with data from health risk appraisal questionnaires, medical claims, pharmacy claims, and dental claims. RESULTS: Employees with no dental claims were significantly more likely to have a variety of health risk factors (such as obesity and tobacco use), health conditions (such as diabetes), absenteeism, and lost on-the-job productivity, and were significantly less likely to be compliant with clinical preventive services compared with those with preventive dental claims. CONCLUSIONS: Employees with preventive dental claims had fewer health risks and medical conditions and better health and productivity measures. Study employees underutilized free dental care; employers should incorporate preventive dental care awareness into their worksite wellness programs.

Analysis of volume and costs of dental care provided in outpatient settings. / Analiz ob''emov i stoimosti stomatologicheskoi pomoshchi, okazyvaemoi v ambulatornykh usloviyakh.

A conducted analysis of volume and cost of dental care provided in outpatient settings proves the need for harmonization of Russian Ministry of Health's documentation regulating dental checks in adults and children, and the Programme of state guarantees.

Dentition status in 12-year-old children in Lódzkie province in 2014.

BACKGROUND: In the year 2014 an epidemiological study was carried out again in the region of Lódz amongst 12-year old children as a part of general study in Poland. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of carries, caries severity measured by the DMF index among 12-year old children in the region of Lódz. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 328 children aged 12 were randomly selected and examined, of which 176 girls and 152 boys respectively. The methodology was based on clinical examination according to WHO standards. The prevalence of carries, DMF index , treatment index was calculated in lodzkie voivodeship. RESULTS: The studies indicated that the prevalence of caries was 67.8 % for 12-year old children and decreased 1.4% in comparison with last studies in the region of Lódz. DMF index also decreased and the value was 1.63. The score obtained caused that the goal proposed by the WHO for 2015 for 12-year-old children was achieved in lodzkie voivodeship. SiC index in the study group was estimated at 4.03. Compare to the previous study in the SiC index value has been reduced in Lódzkie voivodeship. The result makes our study group very close to the next goal proposed by the WHO for 12-year-old children where SiC index should be less than 4. CONCLUSIONS: Intensity and prevalence of caries for 12 year old children in Lódz and surrounds suggests that it is on the decrease, and dental state in the study group is satisfactory.

Dental service provision by oral health therapists, dental hygienists and dental therapists in Australia: implications for workforce modelling.

OBJECTIVE: Dental service provision rates are necessary for workforce planning. This study estimates patient and service rates for oral health therapists (OHTs), dental hygienists (DHs) and dental therapists (DTs). To identify important variables for workforce modelling, variations in rates by practice characteristics were assessed. DESIGN: A cross-sectional self-complete mailed questionnaire collected demographic and employment characteristics, and clinical activity on a self-selected typical day of practice. SETTING: Private and public dental practices in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Members of the two professional associations representing DHs, DTs and OHTs. METHODS: For each practitioner type, means and adjusted rate ratios of patients per hour, services per visit and preventive services per visit were estimated. Comparisons by practice characteristics were assessed by negative binomial regression models. RESULTS: Response rate was 60.6% (n = 1,083), 90.9% were employed of which 86.3% were working in clinical practice and completed the service log. Mean services per patient visit provided by OHTs, DHs and DTs were 3.7, 3.5 and 3.3 and mean preventive services per patient were 2.1, 2.1 and 1.8 respectively. For all three groups, adjusting for explanatory variables, the rate of preventive services per patient varied significantly by practice type (general or specialist) and by the proportion of child patients treated. CONCLUSION: Services rates varied by age distribution of patients and type of practice. If these factors were anticipated to vary over-time, then workforce planning models should consider accounting for the potential impact on capacity to supply services by these dental workforce groups.

Racial disparities in orthodontic service use for Medicaid-enrolled children: An evaluation of the Washington Medicaid program.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the relationship between race and orthodontic service use for Medicaid-enrolled children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study focused on 570,364 Medicaid-enrolled children in Washington state, ages 6 to 19 years. The main predictor variable was self-reported race (white vs nonwhite). The outcome variable was orthodontic service use, defined as children who were preauthorized for orthodontic treatment by Medicaid in 2012 and subsequently received orthodontic records and initiated treatment. Logistic regression models were used to test the hypothesis that nonwhites are less likely to use orthodontic care than are whites. RESULTS: A total of 8223 children were approved by Medicaid for orthodontic treatment, and 7313 received records and began treatment. Nonwhites were significantly more likely to use orthodontic care than were whites (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02, 1.36; P = 0.031). Hispanic nonwhite children were more likely to use orthodontic care than were non-Hispanic white children (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.18, 1.70; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In 2012, nonwhite children in the Washington Medicaid program were significantly more likely to use orthodontic care than were white children. The Washington Medicaid program demonstrates a potential model for addressing racial disparities in orthodontic service use. Future research should identify mechanisms underlying these findings and continue to monitor orthodontic service use for minority children in Medicaid.

Dental Homes for Children With Autism: A Longitudinal Analysis of Iowa Medicaid's I-Smile Program.

INTRODUCTION: Medicaid-enrolled children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encounter significant barriers to dental care. Iowa's I-Smile Program was implemented in 2006 to improve dental use for all children in Medicaid. This study compared dental home and preventive dental utilization rates for Medicaid-enrolled children by ASD status and within three time periods (pre-implementation, initial implementation, maturation) and determined I-Smile's longitudinal influence on ASD-related dental use disparities. METHODS: Data from 2002-2011 were analyzed for newly Medicaid-enrolled children aged 3-17 years (N=30,059); identified each child's ASD status; and assessed whether the child had a dental home or utilized preventive dental care. Log-linear regression models were used to generate rate ratios. Analyses were conducted in 2015. RESULTS: In 2003-2011, 9.8% of children with ASD had dental homes compared with 8% of children without ASD; 36.3% of children with ASD utilized preventive care compared to 45.7% of children without ASD. There were no significant differences in dental home rates by ASD status during pre-implementation, initial implementation, or maturation. There were no significant differences in preventive dental utilization by ASD status during pre-implementation or initial implementation, but children with ASD were significantly less likely to utilize preventive care during maturation (rate ratio=0.79, p<0.001). Longitudinal trends in dental home and preventive dental utilization rates were not significant (p=0.54 and p=0.71, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among newly Medicaid-enrolled children in Iowa's I-Smile Program, those with ASDs were not less likely than those without ASD to have dental homes but were significantly less likely to utilize preventive dental care.

Role of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis (AgP). METHODS: The addressed focused question was "Is aPDT effective in the treatment of AgP?" MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI Web of knowledge and Google-Scholar databases were searched from 1977 till May 2015 using combinations of the following keywords: antimicrobial; photochemotherapy; photodynamic therapy; photosensitizing agents; AgP; scaling and root-planing (SRP). Reviews, case reports, commentaries, and articles published in languages other than English were excluded. RESULTS: Seven studies were included. In 5 studies, aPDT was performed as an adjunct to SRP. Laserwavelengths and duration of irradiation ranged between 660-690 nm and 60-120 s, respectively. Laser power output as reported in 2 studies was 75 mW. One study showed significant improvement in periodontal parameters for subjects receiving aPDT as an adjunct to SRP as compared to treatment with SRP alone at follow up. However, comparable periodontal parameters were reported when aPDT as an adjunct to SRP was compared to SRP alone in the treatment of AgP in one study. One study showed comparable outcomes when aPDT was compared to SRP in the treatment of AgP. In two studies, adjunctive antibiotic administration to SRP showed significantly better outcomes when compared to application of adjunctive use of aPDT to SRP. CONCLUSION: aPDT is effective as an adjunct to SRP for the management of AgP, however, further randomized clinical trials with well defined control groups are needed in this regard.

Predictors of Dental Cleaning Over a Two-year Time Period Around Pregnancy Among Asian and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Race Subgroups in Hawai'i, 2009-2011.

Oral health disease is linked to several chronic diseases including adverse health outcomes around pregnancy. Optimizing a woman's oral health before, during, and after pregnancy can impact her health and the health of her children. Preventive, diagnostic, and restorative dental services can be done safely and effectively including during pregnancy. We examined data from the 2009-2011 Hawai'i Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to assess the prevalence of dental cleanings over an approximately 2 year (Median: 2.0 years, Range:1.6-2.5 years) time period (12 months before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and in the first few months postpartum) among 4,735 mothers who recently had a live birth. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) of dental cleanings were calculated for both race and Medicaid/QUEST insurance status adjusting for maternal age and education. During a two-year span before, during, and after pregnancy an estimated 60.8% of women had dental cleanings. Native Hawaiian (APR=0.87; 95% CI=0.80-0.93), Other Pacific Islander (0.70; 0.58-0.83), Filipino (0.90; 0.82-0.97), and Chinese (0.76; 0.63-0.93) mothers were less likely to have had dental cleanings compared to white mothers. Additionally, mothers with Medicaid/QUEST health insurance (0.73; 0.68-0.79) were less likely to have had cleanings. More than one-third of recently pregnant mothers did not have dental cleanings in the approximately two-year time period. Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander, Filipino, and Chinese mothers and those on Medicaid/QUEST health insurance were less likely to receive regular dental care. Identification of the reasons why these populations do not seek regular dental care can inform programmatic efforts to improve oral health outcomes for women and families.

One-year follow-up of at-home bleaching in smokers before and after dental prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: This clinical study evaluated the color longevity after one-year of at-home bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) in smokers and nonsmokers. METHODS: Sixty patients, 30 smokers and 30 non-smokers were subjected to bleaching with 10% CP during three hours daily for three weeks. The color was measured at baseline and one week, one month and one year after the completion of dental bleaching using the spectrophotometer Vita Easyshade (ΔE*), shade guide Vita classical organized by value and Vita Bleachedguide 3D-MASTER (ΔSGU). In the one-year recall, the color was assessed before and after dental prophylaxis with Robinson brush and prophylaxis paste. Data from color evaluation were analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's test for the contrast of means (α=0.05). RESULTS: Twenty-seven smokers and 28 non-smokers attended the one-year recall. For both study groups, only the main factor assessment time was statistically significant for ΔSGU (Vita classical) and ΔE* (p<0.001). Effective whitening was observed for both groups at baseline, which was stable at one-month and one year after dental prophylaxis. A slight darkening was observed after one year when the color was measured without prophylaxis. For the Vita Bleachedguide 3D-MASTER, color rebound was observed irrespectively of dental prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: The bleaching with 10% CP remained stable in both groups as long as extrinsic stains from diet and cigarette smoke were removed by professional dental prophylaxis. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY: NCT02017873. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study indicate that the bleaching is effective in smokers even after one-year, but dental prophylaxis may be necessary to remove extrinsic stains caused by diet and smoking.

Pediatric Dentist Density and Preventive Care Utilization for Medicaid Children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate county-level pediatric dentist density and dental care utilization for Medicaid-enrolled children. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 604,885 zero- to 17-year-olds enrolled in the Washington State Medicaid Program for 11-12 months in 2012. The relationship between county-level pediatric dentist density, defined as the number of pediatric dentists per 10,000 Medicaid-enrolled children, and preventive dental care utilization was evaluated using linear regression models. RESULTS: In 2012, 179 pediatric dentists practiced in 16 of the 39 counties in Washington. County-level pediatric dentist density varied from zero to 5.98 pediatric dentists per 10,000 Medicaid-enrolled children. County-level preventive dental care utilization ranged from 32 percent to 81 percent, with 62 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children utilizing preventive dental services. County-level density was significantly associated with county-level dental care utilization (Slope equals 1.67, 95 percent confidence interval equals 0.02, 3.32, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant relationship between pediatric dentist density and the proportion of Medicaid-enrolled children who utilize preventive dental care services. Policies aimed at improving pediatric oral health disparities should include strategies to increase the number of oral health care providers, including pediatric dentists, in geographic areas with large proportions of Medicaid-enrolled children.

Dental treatment need and dental general anesthetics among preschool-age children with cleft lip and palate in northern Finland.

Cleft lip and palate incidence is high in northern Finland. This study aimed to investigate the proportion of children in need of restorative dental treatment among cleft lip and palate patients in northern Finland, as well as their need for dental treatment under general anesthesia. The records of 183 cleft lip and palate patients, treated in Oulu University Hospital from 1997 to 2013, were reviewed. Data on dental caries were analyzed in association with cleft type, considering also the presence of syndromes. The frequency of dental general anesthetic (DGA) use, and of treatments, were also analyzed. Dental treatment need was most frequently observed, in this rather limited study population, in patients with the most severe deformities, namely bilateral cleft lip and palate, of whom 60% had caries. Among the study population, 11.5% (n = 21) had a syndrome. Of those, 57.1% had dental caries at the age of 3 or 6 yr, and only four could be treated without a DGA. Dental treatment under general anesthesia was performed in 14.8% of cleft patients without a syndrome, but in 38.1% of those with a syndrome. General anaesthesia is required for the provision of dental care more often in cleft (17.5%) than in non-cleft (0.2%) patients, and especially for those with a syndrome.

Lack of Correlation between Benign Brain Tumors and Markers of Oral Health.

UNLABELLED: Case control studies implicating dental X-rays in the genesis of intracranial meningiomas have yielded conflicting results. To further evaluate what risk, if any, that intracranial meningioma might be associated with dental X-rays, we examined the association of benign brain tumor incidence with the number of dentists and other correlates of oral health in U.S. states and the District of Columbia. We compared these correlations to the association of the same markers of oral health with Alzheimer's death rates. Poor oral health, especially periodontal disease, is a well-established risk factor for dementia. RESULTS: Pearson correlations, number of cases (49, no data from Kansas or Maryland) and significance (2 tailed p values) of benign brain tumor incidence and parameters of oral health are presented. None of the correlations approached statistical significance. In contrast, Alzheimer's deaths by state were negatively correlated with number of dentists and other markers of oral health. CONCLUSION: Our finding of a total lack of correlation between benign brain tumors and markers of oral health and, by implication, dental X-rays, suggests there may be no relationship between dental X-rays and meningioma or other benign brain tumors. This conclusion is strengthened by our demonstration of the known negative correlation between Alzheimer's and dental care.

Dental prophylaxis decreases the risk of acute myocardial infarction: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between periodontal disease (PD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and evaluate the effect of dental prophylaxis on the incidence rate (IR) of AMI. METHODS: The Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 from the National Health Insurance program was used to identify 511,630 patients with PD and 208,713 without PD during 2000-2010. Subjects with PD were grouped according to treatment (dental prophylaxis, intensive treatment, and PD without treatment). The IRs of AMI during the 10-year follow-up period were compared among groups. Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, residential urbanicity, and comorbidities was used to evaluate the effect of PD treatment on the incidence of AMI. RESULTS: The IR of AMI among subjects without PD was 0.19%/year. Among those with PD, the IR of AMI was lowest in the dental prophylaxis group (0.11%/year), followed by the intensive treatment (0.28%/year) and PD without treatment (0.31%/year; P<0.001) groups. Cox regression showed that the hazard ratio (HR) for AMI was significantly lower in the dental prophylaxis group (HR =0.90, 95% confidence interval =0.86-0.95) and higher in the intensive treatment (HR =1.09, 95% confidence interval =1.03-1.15) and PD without treatment (HR =1.23, 95% confidence interval =1.13-1.35) groups than in subjects without PD. CONCLUSION: PD is associated with a higher risk of AMI, which can be reduced by dental prophylaxis to maintain periodontal health.

Disparity in perception of the working condition of dental hygienists between dentists and dental hygiene students in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: In Japan, there continues to be a shortage of active dental hygienists. The scope of dental hygienists' practice is also considered to be unclear. One of the reasons for this is that dental hygienists find the working conditions during dental hygiene education different from those in reality. The purpose of this study was to clarify the actual working condition of dental hygienists in dental clinics, as well as evaluate the awareness of dental hygiene students and dentists regarding the working condition of dental hygienists. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent by post to 481 dentists and were distributed to 89 dental hygiene students. The awareness about the working condition of dental hygienists was compared between dentists and dental hygiene students. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-two dentists and 89 dental hygiene students responded to questionnaires. Dental hygiene students considered the team of 'dental hygienist, dental technician and clerk' to be more effective in providing dental care than dentists (P < 0.001). Among the dentists, 37.1% did not find any clear distinction between hygienists and assistants in their clinics. However, 97.4% of dental hygiene students answered that dental team members should clearly inform patients of the distinction between hygienists and assistants. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that there was disparity between dentists' and dental hygiene students' perception of dental hygienists' working conditions, and dental team work was not always effective. For training high quality dental hygienists, all educational institutions related to dentistry must educate students regarding the more realistic dental hygienists' working condition, as well as benefits.

Association between periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth and low birth weight. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Interviewer-administered questionnaires were completed by the subjects who attended the antenatal clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos. Information obtained included; maternal age, gestational age, marital status, educational status, occupation and expected date of delivery. After delivery, the questionnaire was completed with baby's weight at birth and the actual date of delivery. Clinical assessment of the periodontium was done using Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Participants were divided into three groups: Test, Control I and Control II groups. Scaling and polishing were done for all patients with periodontal disease before (Test group) and after delivery (Control I). All Control II participants (those without periodontal disease) were given Oral hygiene instructions. Descriptive and comparative analyses were done using Epi info version 2008. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty women received the questionnaire but the response rate was 94%, giving an actual sample size of 423 participants. Maternal age range was between 18 and 34 years with mean age of 29.67 (± 3.37). Gestational age at the point of recruitment was between 10 weeks and 26 weeks with mean of 23.34 (± 4.05). The prevalence of periodontal disease among the study group was 33.38%. About 71% of the participants attained tertiary level of education; only 0.7% had no formal education. There was 9.9% use of alcohol among the participants. The mean oral hygiene score for the participants was 1.94 (± 1.31). The prevalences for preterm deliveries, low birth weight and spontaneous abortion were 12.5%, 12.1% and 1.42% respectively. CONCLUSION: This study confirms periodontal disease as a probable risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and low birth weight. Therefore, health workers should be encouraged to promote good oral health among women.

Dental prophylaxis decreases the risk of esophageal cancer in males; a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease (PD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases. Esophageal cancer (EC) is also a common cause of death due to cancer among males. Systemic inflammatory processes have been shown to increase the risk of cancer. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the association between PD and EC. METHODS: A total of 718,409 subjects were recruited from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) and followed from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. Of these, 519,831 subjects were diagnosed with PD and were grouped according to the most advanced treatment they received: dental prophylaxis, intensive treatment, or no treatment. The IRs of EC were compared among groups. RESULTS: A total of 682 patients developed EC, resulting in an overall IR of 0.11 case-number per 1000 person-years (‰/y). The dental prophylaxis group had a significantly lower IR of EC (0.06‰/y) than other groups (p<0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis further revealed that male subjects [hazard ratio (HR) = 10.04, 95% confidence interval (CI)  = 7.58-13.30], as well as a history of esophageal ulcers (HR = 7.10, 95% CI = 5.03-10.01), alcohol abuse (HR = 5.46, 95% CI = 2.26-13.18), or esophageal reflux (HR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.02-3.52), were factors associated with a higher risk of EC. And the dental prophylaxis group showed a significantly lower risk for EC (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.44-0.65). Further subgroup analysis showed that the dental prophylaxis group among males had a significant lower risk (HR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.44-0.66) for EC, while that of the females did not has statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: For this cohort, subjects received dental prophylaxis reduced the risk of EC compared to all PD and no PD groups among males.