Effects of interdental aids on clinical periodontal indices.

BACKGROUND: Removal of plaque and food particle between teeth represent interdental cleaning. Every patient's self-care program includes plaque removal efficiently and systematically. Periodontal disease, tooth decay and tooth loss may result from the absence of interdental cleaning or even an irregular and unsuccessful interdental cleaning. AIM: The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of inter-dental aids, including dental floss and toothpicks, on gingival and plaque indices. METHODS: A questionnaire including age, gender, education level and other information was obtained from 150 male subjects who were systemically and periodontally healthy. Clinical periodontal parameters (including plaque index and gingival index) were taken from each subject. The participants were categorized into different groups according to the use of inter-dental aids (dental floss, dental picks and without any interdental aids). The participants were divided into the toothbrush-alone group, including participants who did not use either dental floss or toothpicks; the dental floss group, including participants who used dental floss; and the toothpick group including participants who used toothpicks. Plaque and gingival indices compared among groups. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the maximum mean of Plaque index was found in the toothbrush-alone group (1.09 ± 0.43), while the lowest mean of Plaque index was found in the dental floss group (0.87 ± 0.39). Plaque index of the toothpick group was (0.99 ± 0.41) with statistically significant difference among groups (p-value = 0.04*). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, dental floss is the most effective mean of removing interdental plaque.

Dental Caries, Dental Erosion and Periodontal Disease in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: There is reportedly a higher prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in healthy adults. Similar data for children are lacking in the literature. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of dental erosion, dental caries, and periodontal disease in children with IBD. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study. Using the established criteria of the World Health Organization, oral investigations and detailed questionnaires that covered nutritional habits were completed by the same pediatric dentist for 32 patients with IBD, aged 11 to 18 years (15.53 ± 2.00), and 32 healthy controls. Results: The decayed, missing, and filled tooth index showed no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.072). The frequency of consumption of salad, lemon gum, candy and sweetened milk was significantly higher in the control group (p = 0.041, 0.012, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively) than in the IBD group. No dental erosion was observed in the IBD group. Oral mucosal history determined that 20/32 patients with IBD (62.5%) had at least one oral extraintestinal manifestation. Despite no significant differences in plaque scores between the two groups, the gingival evaluation showed a much higher mean value of gingival index scores in the IBD group than in the control group (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Although the number of patients included in the study is small, we can conclude that oral extraintestinal manifestations and periodontal disease are more prevalent in paediatric patients with IBD than in healthy populations.

Relationship between dental anxiety levels and oral health among dental patients in Turkey: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health in adult patients who applied to the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry at Suleyman Demirel University. METHODS: The study included 500 subjects. The dental anxiety levels of the patients were determined using a modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS). Information on sociodemographic details, oral hygiene and nutritional habits were recorded. Intraoral examinations of the subjects were performed. Caries prevalence of individuals was determined using the decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) and decayed, missing, or filled surfaces (DMFS) indices. Gingival health was evaluated using the gingival index (GI). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: The ages of the 276 female and 224 male participants ranged from 18-84 years. The median MDAS value was 9.00. The median DMFT and DMFS values were 10.00 and 23.00, respectively. The median MDAS values ​​of women were higher than those of men. Individuals who postponed their appointment had a higher MDAS median value than those who did not (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between dental anxiety level (MDAS) and GI, DMFT and DMFS index scores (Spearman correlation analysis, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MDAS values of individuals who did not remember the reason for their dental visit were higher than those who visited the dentist for routine control. Based on the findings of this study, further research on the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health is necessary to determine the factors that pose a risk for dental anxiety and to ensure the regular benefits of dental services.

A tangible prospect for the treatment of gingivitis using a potentially probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum MK06 isolated from traditional dairy products: a triple blind randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Frequent bacterial plaque buildup at the gingival margin and crevice can provoke an inflammatory reaction in gingival tissues which manifests as gingivitis. Probiotics could serve as a beneficial complementary therapy for treating gingival inflammation. The main aim of this research was to investigate the effect of the Lactobacillus plantarum MK06 probiotic strain on the treatment of gingivitis. METHODS: Patients with gingivitis, who were referred to a private clinic and were systematically healthy, were included in this randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. They were instructed to use either placebo or Lactobacillus plantarum suspensions for one minute two times a day after tooth-brushing for four weeks. Then, the clinical parameters of gingivitis, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and oral hygiene index (OHI-s), were measured in the first, second, and fourth weeks. A total of forty-two patients were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 21) and control (n = 21) groups. The mean age of the experimental and control groups was 29.10 and 28.48, respectively. RESULTS: The mean scores of BOP, GI, PI, and OHI-s reduced over time in both the control and test groups. However, according to the Mann-Whitney test, the difference between the two groups was not significant at the same time intervals (P ≥ 0.05) and only GI showed a significant difference in the fourth week (GI-3, P = 0.006). Nevertheless, the experimental group experienced a higher overall reduction rate than the control group. The BOP, GI, PI, and OHI-s scores decreased by 0.081, 0.204, 0.186, and 0.172 times in the second week, respectively, resulting from the interaction of time and the intervention, which considerably diminished these indices. CONCLUSION: This study shows the potential of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum MK06 suspension as a promoting therapeutic adjuvant in the treatment of gingivitis.

Effects of blue-light LED toothbrush on reducing dental plaque and gingival inflammation in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances: a crossover randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with fixed orthodontic appliances have higher plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation. Our aim was to compare the effectiveness of a light emitting diode (LED) toothbrush with a manual toothbrush in reducing dental plaque and gingival inflammation in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances, and to investigate the effect of the LED toothbrush on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) biofilm in vitro. METHODS: Twenty-four orthodontic patients were recruited and randomly assigned into 2 groups: (1) started with manual and (2) started with LED toothbrushes. After a 28-day usage and 28-day wash-out period, the patients switched to the other intervention. The plaque and gingival indices were determined at baseline and 28 days after each intervention. The patients' compliance and satisfaction scores were collected using questionnaires. For the in vitro experiments, S. mutans biofilm was divided into 5 groups (n = 6) with 15-, 30-, 60-, or 120-sec LED exposure, and without LED exposure as a control group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the gingival index between the manual and LED toothbrush groups. The manual toothbrush was significantly more effective in reducing the plaque index in the proximal area on the bracket side (P = 0.031). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups in other areas around the brackets or on the non-bracket side. After LED exposure in vitro, the percentages of bacterial viability after LED exposure for 15-120 s were significantly lower compared with the control (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Clinically, the LED toothbrush was not more effective in reducing dental plaque or gingival inflammation than the manual toothbrush in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances. However, the blue light from the LED toothbrush significantly reduced the number of S. mutans in biofilm when it was exposed to the light for at least 15 s in vitro. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20210510004). Registered 10/05/2021.

Comparative Evaluation of 0.25% Lemongrass Oil Mouthwash and 0.2% Chlorhexidine Mouthwash in Fixed Orthodontic Patients Suffering from Gingivitis.

AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the antiplaque and antigingivitis efficacy of 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, who are suffering from gingivitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment with mild-to-moderate gingivitis were selected for the study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of twenty each, that is, group I: 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash (n = 20); group II: 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash (n = 20); and group III: oral prophylaxis (n = 20). Baseline gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) were accessed followed by oral prophylaxis was done and the PI score was set to zero for all the patients. Patients were asked to swish their mouth with their respective mouthwashes and brushing (twice daily), that is, morning and before bedtime for 21 days. The PI and GI scores were recorded for all three groups on the 14th and the 21st days. The post hoc Bonferroni test was used for multiple comparisons of mean differences among variables after the application of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test for comparison within the groups. RESULTS: A lower PI and the GI were found in the lemongrass oil mouthwash group by the 14th and the 21st days, respectively, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) compared to the chlorhexidine mouthwash group. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study suggested that 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash has the potential to be used as a natural or herbal alternative to chlorhexidine mouthwash. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: It can be suggested that 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash may be a good herbal alternative to mouthwash containing 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate.

Comparison of the postoperative anti-inflammatory efficacy of chlorhexidine, saline rinses and herbal mouthwashes after mechanical debridement in patients with peri-implant mucositis: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in the post-operative anti-inflammatory efficacy of chlorhexidine (CHX), 2% saline rinses (SR) and a herbal mouthwash (MW) after non-surgical mechanical debridement (MD) for treatment of peri-implant mucositis (PiM). The aim was to compare the post-operative anti-inflammatory efficacy of CHX, 2% SR and a herbal oral rinse after non-surgical MD of PiM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present randomized controlled trial had a single-blinded parallel arm design. Patients diagnosed with PiM were enrolled. Demographic information was recorded. All patients underwent MD and were randomly divided into 4 groups: CHX-group: 0.12% non-alcoholic CHX; Sodium chloride (NaCl) group: 2% NaCl rinses; Herbal MW group: Herbal-based MW and H2 O group: distilled water with peppermint flavour. After MD, all the participants were advised to rinse twice daily (every 12 hrs) for 2 weeks with their respective MWs. In all groups, peri-implant modified plaque index (mPI), modified gingival index (mGI) and probing depth (PD) were measured at baseline and at 12 weeks of follow-up. Sample size was estimated using data from a pilot investigation; and group-comparisons were performed. Statistical significance was confirmed when P-values were below 0.01. RESULTS: Sixty individuals (15 patients/group) were included. At baseline, mPI, mGI and PD were comparable in all groups. At baseline, there was no significant difference in peri-implant mPI, mGI and PD in all groups. At 12-weeks' follow-up, there was a statistically significant reduction in peri-implant mPI (p < 0.01), mGI (p < 0.01) and PD (p < 0.01) in CHX, NaCl and herbal MW groups compared with H2 O group. There was no significant relation between implant location, duration for which, implants were functional, gender and peri-implant clinical parameters in all groups. CONCLUSION: After non-surgical MD, post-operative use of CHX and herbal and NaCl MWs is useful for the management of PiM in the short-term.

Association between oral clefts and periodontal clinical measures: A meta-analysis.

AIM: To conduct a systematic review and to evaluate the clinical parameters for periodontal diseases in individuals with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). DESIGN: The authors searched six indexed databases without any linguistic limitation through July 2021. The eligibility criteria were observational studies that compared the periodontal clinical measures of individuals with CL/P to those without CL/P. A meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models with inverse variance weighting. RESULTS: The literature search generated 1277 records, and 40 full-text articles were reviewed. Twenty-three studies comprising 3235 individuals from four continents fulfilled our selection criteria. The meta-analysis revealed a significant difference in mean plaque index scores (MD = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.22, 0.41), gingival index scores (MD = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.24, 0.77), and periodontal pocket depth (MD = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.12, 1.16) between individuals with and without CL/P. A slight increase in clinical attachment loss was detected among individuals with CL/P; however, such an increase may have little clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: As age is positively related to periodontal disease progression, and individuals with CL/P are more likely to present with more plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation, clinicians should reinforce preventive dental care from an early age.

Role of Probiotics for the Treatment of Peri-Implant Mucositis in Patients With and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This study hypothesized that probiotic therapy (PT) does not offer additional benefits to mechanical debridement (MD) for the treatment of diabetic subjects with peri-implant mucositis (PM). This study compared the influence of PT as an adjunct to MD for the treatment of PM in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients over a 12-month follow-up period. Patients with and without type 2 diabetes were included. PM patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the treatment procedure: (1) nonsurgical + PT and (2) nonsurgical MD alone. Demographics and education statuses were recorded. Gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI), crestal bone loss (CBL), and probing depth (PD) were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Significant differences were detected with P < .01. The hemoglobin A1c level was significantly higher in patients with diabetes at all time durations than in patients without type 2 diabetes (P < .001). Baseline GI, PI, PD, and CBL were comparable in all groups. In patients with type 2 diabetes, there was no difference in PI, GI, PD, and CBL at 6- and 12-month follow-up. In patients without type 2 diabetes, there was a significant reduction in PI (P < .01), GI (P < .01), and PD (P < .01) at 6-month and 1-year follow-up as compared with baseline. In patients without type 2 diabetes, MD with or without adjunct PT reduced soft-tissue inflammatory parameters in patients with PM.

Detection of soluble urokinase type plasminogen activator receptors in children with gingivitis and normal subjects.

BACKGROUND: Gingivitis is a reversible condition; however, if left untreated, it progresses to periodontitis, which a serious infection that leads to bone destruction. Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) measurement may be of value in the early assessment of gingivitis in children, thereby minimizing risk of tooth loss. OBJECTIVES: In this observational study, we assessed salivary and serum concentrations of suPAR for the diagnosis of gingivitis and correlation of salivary suPAR with the periodontal clinical parameters. METHODS: Ninety children participated in the study, with 20 healthy subjects as controls and 70 patients with gingivitis. The gingivitis group was divided into mild, moderate, and severe cases. According to the gingival index (GI), salivary and serum samples were analyzed for the suPAR and C-reactive protein levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The salivary suPAR was significantly higher in patients with gingivitis (10.8 ± 2.9 ng/mL) than in the control group (7.0 ± 1.1 ng/mL) as P < 0.001. SuPAR was correlated with gingivitis severity. It was 7.7 ± 1.5 1 ng/mL in mild cases, 10.9 ± 1.2 ng/mL in moderate cases, and 14.4 ± 0.9 ng/mL in severe cases. The difference was significantly high (P < 0.001) between the groups; however, the difference between the mild cases and the control was nonsignificant as P < 0.066. The salivary suPAR was correlated with periodontal clinical parameters, which included GI and simple oral hygiene index (SOHI). Conversely the serum suPAR was not correlated with the salivary suPAR or the periodontal clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrated that the salivary suPAR is increased in proportionate with the degree of severity of gingivitis in children. Moreover, salivary suPAR was correlated with the periodontal clinical parameters.

Effect of tongue piercing on periodontal and peri-implant health: A cross-sectional case-control study in adults.

OBJECTIVES: The authors hypothesize that periodontal and peri-implant inflammatory parameters are poorer in adult patients with tongue piercing compared with controls. The aim was to assess the influence of tongue piercing on periodontal and peri-implant health status in adults. METHODS: Test and control groups comprised of individuals with and without tongue piercing, respectively. A questionnaire was used to collect information about gender, age, duration of tongue piercing and implants in function, jaw location of the implant, reasoning for wearing the tongue ornament, and oral hygiene and ornament cleaning habits. Full-mouth and peri-implant plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD) and marginal/crestal bone loss (MBL and CBL, respectively) on mesial and distal surfaces of teeth/implants were recorded. The material (plastic or metal) from which, the bar and ball-ends of the ornament were fabricated was also recorded. A p < 0.01 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Forty-eight and 49 individuals were included in the test and control groups, respectively. There was no difference in PI, GI, PD, CAL and MBL (mesial and distal) among individuals in the test and control groups. In the test group, peri-implant PI (p < 0.01), GI (p < 0.01), PD (p < 0.01) and mesial (p < 0.01) and distal (p < 0.01) CBL were significantly higher in the anterior mandible compared with implants in other jaw locations. In the control group, there was no difference in peri-implant PI, GI, PD and CBL around implants placed in both jaws. CONCLUSION: Wearing tongue piercings could increase the risks of periodontal and peri-implant diseases particularly in the mandibular anterior segment.

THE EFFECT OF COENZYME Q10 ON PERIODONTITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL TRIALS.

OBJECTIVE: Coenzyme Q10 gel might be beneficial for periodontitis. However, the results have been controversial. We designed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in periodontitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of controlled trials (PROSPERO: CRD42020212424) was performed from 1980 to August 2020 by 2 separate investigators through the following databases: Embase, CENTRAL, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest. Hand search of reference lists of the included studies was also performed. Of 269 records, eleven trials were included in the meta-analysis using a random-effect model. RESULTS: Coenzyme Q10 could significantly reduce Plaque Index (SMD, -0.64; CI, -1.03 to -0.26, P = .002; I2 = 85.7%), Bleeding Index (SMD, -1.05; CI, -1.70 to -0.41, P = .001; I2 = 89.5%), Pocket Depth (SMD, -0.96; CI, -1.35 to -0.58, P ˂ .001, I2 = 84.7%), clinical attachment level (SMD, -0.73; CI, -1.23 to -0.22, P = .005; I2 = 87.8%), and gingival index (SMD, -0.63; CI, -0.97 to -0.28, P = .001; I2 = 72.8%) in periodontitis. Subgroup analysis showed that coenzyme Q10 had a stronger reduction effect if administered intra-pocket rather than topical. Studies with high risk of bias reported a greater positive effect of coenzyme Q10 compared to studies with unclear risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings encourage administration of coenzyme Q10 gel in periodontitis based on its meaningful effect on Plaque Index, Bleeding Index, gingival index, clinical attachment level and Pocket Depth. Future studies with better qualities are required for a better conclusion.

The Effects of Curcumin in the Treatment of Gingivitis: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.

Different modalities of treatments are available for management of gingival disease but most have adverse effects. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for management of various inflammatory processes. This systematic review evaluates the effects of curcumin as an adjuvant to oral hygiene on plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and inflammation in patients with gingivitis. A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. Based on the Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcome (PICO) model, clinical trials which tested the effects of curcumin as an adjunctive product or alone in control of gingival inflammation up until 21 February 2020 with language restrictions were selected. From the 422 papers found, 14 met the eligibility criteria. In most of these studies, curcumin treatment achieved significant reductions in PI, GI, GBI, and microbial colony count and was as effective as chlorhexidine mouthwash, with no serious adverse effects. We conclude that treatment with curcumin for gingivitis is safe as a natural herbal compound and is as effective as chlorhexidine mouthwash.

Impact of 0.1% octenidine mouthwash on plaque re-growth in healthy adults: a multi-center phase 3 randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate plaque inhibition of 0.1% octenidine mouthwash (OCT) vs. placebo over 5 days in the absence of mechanical plaque control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group, multi-center phase 3 study, 201 healthy adults were recruited. After baseline recording of plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI), collection of salivary samples, and dental prophylaxis, subjects were randomly assigned to OCT or placebo mouthwash in a 3:1 ratio. Rinsing was performed twice daily for 30 s. Colony forming units in saliva were determined before and after the first rinse. At day 5, PI, GI, and tooth discoloration index (DI) were assessed. Non-parametric van Elteren tests were applied with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: Treatment with OCT inhibited plaque formation more than treatment with placebo (PI: 0.36 vs. 1.29; p < 0.0001). OCT reduced GI (0.04 vs. placebo 0.00; p = 0.003) and salivary bacterial counts (2.73 vs. placebo 0.24 lgCFU/ml; p < 0.0001). Tooth discoloration was slightly higher under OCT (DI: 0.25 vs. placebo 0.00; p = 0.0011). Mild tongue staining and dysgeusia occurred. CONCLUSIONS: OCT 0.1% mouthwash inhibits plaque formation over 5 days. It therefore can be recommended when regular oral hygiene is temporarily compromised. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When individual plaque control is compromised, rinsing with octenidine mouthwash is recommended to maintain healthy oral conditions while side effects are limited.

The Effects of Oral Health Instruction, and the Use of a Battery-Operated Toothbrush on Oral Health of Persons with Serious Mental Illness: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

People with a diagnosis of serious mental illness (SMI) have a greater incidence of poorer oral health as compared to the general population. The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effect that a combination of the use of a battery-operated toothbrush and a related educational intervention may have on the oral health of individuals with serious mental illness. Key findings include that the battery-operated toothbrush resulted in a significant improvement in the mean change in gingival index, a common indicator of oral health. The study also found that oral home care instructions, smoking and level of negative symptoms did not have an effect on the mean change in plaque or gingival indices. This project suggests that the implementation of a relatively simple, cost effective measures such as a battery-operated toothbrush may have a positive impact on the oral health in this population.

Individual and familial factors associated with caries and gingivitis among adolescents resident in a semi-urban community in South-Western Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: We describe the prevalence, and individual and familial risk indicators for dental caries and gingivitis among 10-19-year-old adolescents in Ile-Ife, South-West Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected data through household surveys conducted between December 2018 and January 2019. Adolescents were recruited through multistage sampling. Oral health outcomes were caries, measured by the 'Decayed, Missing due to caries, and Filled Teeth' (DMFT) index, and gingivitis, measured by the Loe and Silness gingival index. Explanatory variables were individual (sex, age, oral health perception) and familial (socioeconomic status, birth rank, family size and parental living status) factors. Oral health behaviors (daily tooth-brushing, use of fluoridated toothpaste, consuming refined carbohydrates in-between meals, use of dental floss, dental service utilization in past 12 months, and smoking habits) were treated as confounders. Poisson regression models with robust estimation were constructed to determine associations between explanatory factors and oral health outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1472 adolescents were surveyed. Caries prevalence was 3.4%, with mean (standard deviation) DMFT of 0.06 (0.36) and plaque index of 0.84 (0.56). Only 128 (8.7%) adolescents brushed their teeth twice daily, 192 (16.1%) used dental floss daily, 14 (1.1%) utilized dental services in the last 12 months, and 508 (36.1%) consumed refined carbohydrates in-between meals less than once daily. The proportion of respondents who currently smoked cigarettes was 1.6%, and 91.7% of respondents used fluoridated toothpaste daily. The adjusted prevalence ratio of having caries increased by 18% for every additional age-year (APR: 1.18; 95% CI 1.004, 1.34). Additionally, participants with high socioeconomic status had significantly lower prevalence of caries compared to those with lower status (APR: 0.40; 95% CI 0.17, 0.91). Moderate/severe gingivitis was significantly associated with higher frequency of consuming refined carbohydrates in-between meals (APR: 2.33; 95% CI 1.36, 3.99) and higher plaque index scores (APR: 16.24; 95% CI 9.83, 26.82). CONCLUSION: Caries prevalence increased with increasing age and was higher among Nigerian adolescents with low socioeconomic status, while moderate/severe gingivitis was associated with frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates and higher plaque index score. While behavioral interventions may reduce the risk of gingivitis, structural interventions may be needed to reduce the risk for caries in this population.

EFFICIENCY OF TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATORY PERIODONTAL DISEASES IN PREGNANT WOMEN.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To study the clinical efficciency of the proposed scheme of gingivitis treatment in women with physiological course of pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Clinical approbation of the proposed complex of therapeutic and prophylactic measures was carried out in 32 pregnant women with gingivitis, aged 18 to 35 years. The efficiency of the treatment was assessed by the dynamics of the clinical picture, the index assessment of an oral hygiene and the periodontium condition in each trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: Results: According to the data of performed observations, the high efficiency of the proposed treatment scheme is shown: 84.4% in the main group versus 46.9% in the control group. It has been clinically proven that the proposed scheme of inflammatory periodontal diseases treatment in terms of therapeutic efficiency exceeds the generally accepted basic treatment. CONCLUSION: Conclusions:The use of the proposed complex of therapeutic and prophylactic measures in the main group of patients contributed to the elimination of the inflammatory process in the periodontal tissues, suspended the progression of existing diseases, made it possible to prevent the emergence of new nosological forms, improved the condition of the oral hygiene, which makes it possible to recommend it for treatment of periodontal diseases in pregnant women.

WhatsApp-assisted Oral Health Education and Motivation: A Preliminary Randomized Clinical Trial.

AIM: The study aimed to assess the efficacy of using WhatsApp instant messages in enhancing the oral hygiene in patients with gingivitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three systemically healthy male dental patients with gingivitis were recruited consecutively and randomly divided into two groups: WhatsApp group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 19). At baseline visit, the participants were educated and motivated about oral health and given a folio on instructions about the oral hygiene preventive measures. The participants in the study group further received WhatsApp messages about the dental care at weekly intervals throughout the study (3 months). Plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were measured at baseline and after 1 and 3 months. RESULTS: The averages of PI and GI were not significantly different between both groups at any time point of measurement (baseline, after one, and three months; p value >0.05). Intragroup comparisons revealed that the reductions in PI were highly significant after 1 and 3 months (-0.26 ± 0.26 and -0.57 ± 0.35, respectively, for WhatsApp group, and -0.24 ± 0.27 and -0.64 ± 0.4. respectively, for the control group; p value range: 0.001 to <0.001). Similar were the reductions in GI in each individual group (-0.17 ± 0.46 and -0.67 ± 0.05, respectively, for WhatsApp group, and -0.28 ± 0.29 and -0.69 ± 0.41, respectively, for the control group: p value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Implementing WhatsApp instant messages does not appear to add extrabenefit to the traditional motivation and education on oral hygiene practices in terms of changes in PI and GI over time in patients with gingivitis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although the results were not motivating, this does not preclude the dental professionals from using WhatsApp and the similar technology to deliver oral healthcare advices.

Effect of Two Implant-supported Partial Overdenture Attachment Design on the Periodontal Health.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of locator attachment and ball and socket (BS) attachment on the peri-implant and periabutment supporting structures on clinical pocket depth and gingival index in cases of limited interarch spaces in mandibular Kennedy class I implant-supported removable partial overdentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative clinical trial was conducted among twenty partially edentulous patients aged 30-60 years. The study participants were randomly divided into two study groups based on the attachment system used: group I - locator attachment, and group II - BS attachment. Two implants were positioned in the 1st or 2nd molar area following the two-stage surgical protocol. Evaluation of the peri-implant and periabutment supporting structures was done at the time of overdenture insertion and after 6, 12, and 18 months by measuring the pocket depth and gingival index. Inter- and intragroup comparisons were done using independent-samples t test and paired-sample t test respectively. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: It was observed that there was a statistically significant increase in the pocket depth around the implant as well as the abutment in both groups at 6, 12, and 18 months when compared to baseline. Intergroup comparison for pocket depth and gingival index revealed nonsignificant results. However, the values were higher in the BS group. CONCLUSION: The locator attachment group had lower, though statistically not significant, pocket depth and gingival index scores around both the dental implant and the natural abutment as compared with the BS attachment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Gingival health surrounding dental implant attachments is very crucial for the long-term success of dental implant, this could help the clinician to select the proper design for implant attachment underneath the over denture prosthesis.

The effects of different antiseptic mouthwash on microbiota around orthodontic mini-screw.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of different antiseptic mouthwash on microbiota around the mini-screw applied to patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From patients who have been undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment and who have mini-screws in their mouth, a total of 38 patients were selected for the study consisting of 4 groups, each of which has 15 mini-screws. The patients were selected from the following groups: no use of mouthwash (Group 1), use of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate-containing mouthwash (Group 2), use of essential oils-containing mouthwash (Group 3), and use of 7.5% povidone-iodine-containing mouthwash (Group 4). Plaque indices and gingival indices of the patients were measured at the beginning (T0) and at their appointments 3 weeks later (T1). In addition, biological samples were collected from the sulcus around the mini-screw with the help of sterile paper point. RESULTS: The total number of microorganisms around the mini-screw in Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 decreased significantly compared to Group 1. A significant decrease in Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis, Candida parapsilosis, total bacteria, plaque index, and gingival index count was observed in T1compared to T0. CONCLUSION: Antiseptic mouthwash in Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 can be used to reduce the number of microbial microbiota around the mini-screw and to improve oral hygiene.