Evaluation of the predictors of oral health-related quality of life among 3-5-year-old children with dental trauma

Abstract This study evaluated the influence of socio-demographic, clinical, and parental psychological factors on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and determined their predictors in preschool-aged children with traumatic dental injury (TDI). The study sample consisted of 324 dyads of children and their parents attending the Clinics of Pediatric Dentistry at Istanbul University. After clinical examination, the Sense of Coherence (SOC), Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale, and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale-MHLC questionnaires were administered to the parents. The statistical analyses included Spearman correlation coefficients, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, multiple linear regression, and confirmatory factor analysis. Having mixed TDI, a non-nuclear family, fewer children, and weak parental SOC were important predictors of worse overall OHRQoL and its sections of child and family. Lower internal health locus of control and dental pain due to TDI were predictors of worse overall OHRQoL and child impact, respectively. Consideration of these predictors may help oral health professionals to develop prevention and treatment programs for TDI and oral health literacy programs for families.

Association of socio-demographic, behavioral, and comorbidity-related factors with severity of periodontitis in Turkish patients.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of comorbidities and periodontal diseases severity in dental patients and to determine the socio-demographic, behavioral, and comorbidity-related predictors of periodontal diseases severity.Material and methods: This retrospective study sample consisted of 2458 patients who referred to faculty dentistry clinic. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and comorbidity characteristics of study participants were collected using hospital database and self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were used to analyze study data.Results: Of these patients, 55.2% had mild-to-moderate periodontitis and 44.8% had severe periodontitis. The severity of periodontal disease was significantly associated with the presence of comorbidity, the number of comorbidities, age, gender, income level, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Patients with severe periodontitis were more likely being a current smoker, to report drinking alcohol sometimes or every day, to be a male, to have a pulmonary disease, to have an endocrinological and metabolic disorder, to have a cardiovascular disorder and to have a neurological disorder than those with mild/moderate periodontitis. Having a hematological disorder, having a muscle, skeletal and connective tissue disorder, to be a current smoker and lower age were found to be predictors of moderate periodontitis whereas being a female and lower number of comorbidities were predictors of mild periodontitis.Conclusions: The severity of periodontitis was associated with socio-demographic, behavioral, and comorbidity characteristics of periodontal patients.

Variations in concerns reported on the patient concerns inventory in patients with head and neck cancer from different health settings across the world.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to collate and contrast patient concerns from a range of different head and neck cancer follow-up clinics around the world. Also, we sought to explore the relationship, if any, between responses to the patient concerns inventory (PCI) and overall quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Nineteen units participated with intention of including 100 patients per site as close to a consecutive series as possible in order to minimize selection bias. RESULTS: There were 2136 patients with a median total number of PCI items selected of 5 (2-10). "Fear of the cancer returning" (39%) and "dry mouth" (37%) were most common. Twenty-five percent (524) reported less than good QOL. CONCLUSION: There was considerable variation between units in the number of items selected and in overall QOL, even after allowing for case-mix variables. There was a strong progressive association between the number of PCI items and QOL.

Predictors of obturator functioning and satisfaction in Turkish patients using an obturator prosthesis after maxillectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors affecting obturator function and satisfaction using the obturator functioning scale (OFS) in maxillectomy patients rehabilitated with obturator prostheses. STUDY DESIGN: The study sample consisted of 41 maxillectomy patients. The OFS was translated into Turkish and adapted for assessing obturator functioning and patient satisfaction among Turkish patients. Data were collected from patients' medical records and self-completed questionnaires, including the Turkish version of the OFS, sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and backward stepwise multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.86) were acceptable for the OFS. The most frequently reported problem was "difficulty chewing." Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences in total OFS scores in terms of surgery type, defect size, and education level, except for the other clinical and sociodemographic characteristics and behavioral factors. Education level and surgery type were found to be the most important predictors of patient satisfaction and functioning of the obturator. CONCLUSIONS: The Turkish version of the OFS might be a useful tool for clinicians to identify patients who are at risk for poor functioning of the obturator, lack of satisfaction, and unmet needs.

Soft Tissue Response and Survival of Extraoral Implants: A Long-Term Follow-up.

Maxillofacial defects may be reconstructed by plastic surgery or treated by prosthetic mean rehabilitation. In case of large defects, prosthetic rehabilitation rather than surgical reconstruction is preferred due to the insufficient esthetic results of surgical interventions. However, retention of the craniofacial prosthesis is a great problem despite the satisfactory esthetic results. With the presentation of extraoral implants, the retention of maxillofacial prostheses was improved, and osseointegrated craniofacial implants have become indispensable for retention and stability. However, there are conflicting results regarding the success rates of osseointegrated implants used at the craniofacial region. A total of 24 patients with 64 implants (30 in auricular region of 13 patients, 24 in nasal region of 8 patients, and 10 in orbital region of 3 patients) ranging in age from 16 to 83 years (mean age = 45.45 years) were evaluated. One patient among 13 patients (1/13) has lost his implants in the auricular area, 1 patient among 8 patients (1/8) lost his implants, and 1 patient among 3 patients (1/3) has lost all of her implants. Peri-implant soft tissue response was evaluated for a 60-month period and a total of 654 visits/sites recorded. Grade 0 (no irritation) was present in 72.8% (476/654) of the visits/sites. Grade 1 (slight redness) was observed for 18.8% (123/654). Grade 2 (red and slightly moist tissue) was scored in 6.9% (45/654). Grade 3 (red and slightly moist tissue with granulation) was noted in 1.5% (10/654) and grade 4 (infection) could not be found. Ossseointegrated implants provide reasonable support and show successful results when used with maxillofacial prostheses.

Validation of the Turkish version of the Liverpool Oral Rehabilitation Questionnaire version 3 (LORQv3) in prosthetically rehabilitated patients with head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: The Liverpool Oral Rehabilitation Questionnaire version 3 (LORQv3) is a measure assessing the impact of oral rehabilitation on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL).The aims of the study were to adapt culturally the LORQv3 for Turkish-speaking head and neck cancer patients who had undergone prosthetic rehabilitation and to undertake an initial investigation of its psychometric properties. METHODS: The Turkish version of the LORQv3 was translated and culturally adapted into Turkish, and tested on a sample of 46 head and neck cancer patients who had undergone prosthetic rehabilitation at a university clinic. Patients were categorized into three groups: Patients with maxillary obturator prostheses treated by surgery alone (n = 15); Patients with maxillary obturator prostheses treated by surgery plus radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy (n = 23); and, Nasopharyngeal cancer patients without maxillary defects wearing conventional dental prostheses who had been treated by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy (n = 8). Data were collected through clinical examinations and self-reported questionnaires, including socio-demographic characteristics, the LORQv3, and the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire version 4 (UW-QOLv4). The psychometric evaluation included validity (content, face, construct, and criterion) and reliability (internal consistency and test-retest). RESULTS: All sections of the LORQv3 showed satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha between 0.71 to 0.82. Kappa statistics showed moderate to perfect test-retest reliability for the 33 LORQv3 items. We found significant negative correlations between the LORQv3 and the UW-QOL v4 for some related items. The LORQv3 also identified differences in responses among patient groups, supporting its construct and criterion validity. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides initial evidence in support of the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of LORQv3 in prosthetically rehabilitated patients with head and neck cancer; it could be used in clinical practice in Turkey.

Factors related to sense of coherence among dental students at Istanbul University.

The salutogenic model suggests that generalized resistance resources (GRRs) promote the development and maintenance of a strong sense of coherence (SOC), which is a health-promoting factor. This study examined associations between GRRs (sociodemographic characteristics, social support, stress, health practices, and self-rated health) and a strong SOC among dental students at Istanbul University. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 566 students using questionnaires including a sociodemographic section, the SOC scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, self-rated health, and health practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, and binary multiple logistic regression. Students were classified into a low or strong SOC group by a median split procedure, based on their total score on the SOC scale (median=56, range=22 to 91). Univariate statistics showed that students with a strong SOC reported lower stress levels, higher social support levels, better self-rated health, brushing their teeth more frequently, lower sugar intake between meals, and less frequent smoking than students with a low SOC. Multivariate statistics indicated that being a nonsmoker and having better self-rated health, higher social support levels, lower stress levels, and lower sugar intake between meals were the most important predictors of strong SOC. Taking into account the factors that reinforce a strong SOC may help dental educators develop health promotion programs and create supportive environments for maintaining dental students' health.

Predictors of health-promoting behaviors among freshman dental students at Istanbul University.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the predictors of health-promoting behaviors among freshman dental students at Istanbul University. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 111 students using questionnaires including a sociodemographic section, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, the Health Value Scale, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression. The overall health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among these students were at a moderate level, indicating that they engaged in health-promoting behaviors sometimes to often. They scored highest on the spiritual growth but lower on the health responsibility subscales. Females reported having engaged more in health responsibility behaviors and lower in physical activity than did males. Students from high-income families reported more physical activity. Significant correlations were found between overall health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, self-efficacy, health value, stress, and social support. Among all the related factors, self-efficacy was the most strongly predictive factor: it explained 61 percent of the variance in overall health-promoting behaviors. Thus, self-efficacy as a cognitive-perceptual factor should be considered by dental educators when planning educational interventions to promote students' healthy lifestyle.