Knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to tooth loss and dentures among patients with dental arch deficiencies.

BACKGROUND: Tooth loss is a common problem that affects many people worldwide. Exploring knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among patients can identify barriers and challenges in following recommended practices, providing valuable insights for dental healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers. This study aimed to explore the KAP of patients with dental arch deficiencies regarding tooth loss and dentures. METHODS: This web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with dental arch deficiencies using a self-designed questionnaire. RESULT: 3166 valid questionnaires were included. Participants' mean KAP scores were 6.84 ± 2.27 (possible range: 0 ~ 12), 39.4 ± 3.72 (possible range: 9 ~ 45), and 27.7 ± 4.36 (possible range: 8 ~ 40), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge (OR = 1.383), employed (OR = 1.805), family history (OR = 2.158), and treatment (OR = 1.683) were independently associated with attitude. Moreover, knowledge (OR = 1.239), attitude (OR = 1.250), female (OR = 0.619), age (OR = 0.967), college/bachelor (OR = 0.373), and master and above degree (OR = 0.418), employed (OR = 0.554) or student (OR = 0.434), with 10,001-20,000 Yuan household income per month (OR = 0.492), have been married (OR = 0.609), smoking (OR = 0.595), drinking (OR = 0.397), disease duration (OR = 0.972), with family history (OR = 1.676), and with treatment (OR = 3.492) were independently associated with practice (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with dental arch deficiencies have insufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and moderate practice toward tooth loss and dentures, which might be affected by multiple demographic factors.

Xanthan gum protects temporomandibular chondrocytes from IL­1ß through Pin1/NF­κB signaling pathway.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a complicated and multi­factorial disease related to inflammation and cartilage destruction. Intra­articular injection of xanthan gum (XG) has been demonstrated to protect the joint cartilage and reduce osteoarthritis progression. However, the role and mechanism of XG in TMD is still unclear. In the present study, chondrocytes were isolated from rats and identified by immunofluorescence. Cells were stimulated by XG or interleukin (IL)­1ß. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF­α) and IL­6 levels were determined by ELISA. The expression of monocyte chemoattractive protein­1 (MCP­1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), collagens, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), peptidyl­prolyl isomerase 1 (Pin1) and phosphorylated nuclear factor κB (NF­κB) p65 (p­p65) was analyzed by quantitative PCR or western blotting. MMP activity was assessed by gelatin zymography. Compared with the control, XG treatment partially reversed the IL­1ß­reduced cell viability. In addition, IL­1ß stimulation increased inflammatory cytokine expression, including TNF­α, IL­6 secretion, MCP­1 and iNOS expression, whereas XG treatment reduced the expression of these inflammatory cytokines compared with that of the IL­1ß­stimulated cells. Additionally, XG increased the expression of collagen, but reduced MMP expression and activity as compared with that in the IL­1ß group. In addition, XG treatment prevented the IL­1ß­increased Pin1 and p­p65 expression. These data suggested that XG reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and may maintain the balance between collagens and MMPs partially through the Pin1/NF­κB signaling pathway in IL­1ß­stimulated temporomandibular chondrocytes. Therefore, XG may be useful in the treatment of TMD.