Parent Attitudes regarding Orthodontists' Role as Potential Administrators of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccines.

Objective: To assess parent attitudes regarding orthodontists' role as potential administrators of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines. Materials and Methods: 275 parents of adolescents, aged 11-17, who attended the orthodontic clinic at an American university for orthodontic adjustment visits and met inclusion criteria were given information about HPV and HPV vaccines. A paper questionnaire was administered to assess comfort level with orthodontists as HPV vaccinators. Demographic and other potential explanatory characteristics were collected. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed with SPSS statistical software v25. Results: The majority of participants were between 31 and 40 years old, with 79.6% identifying as female. 54.3% of the subjects' children identified as female. Although 71.3% of participants identified as Hispanic, 55.3% of the total participants chose to respond to the questionnaire in Spanish. 66.7% of the participants reported education level as high school degree or less. Overall, 52.4% of parents responded that they would be comfortable with orthodontists administering HPV vaccines to their children. Bivariate analysis suggested a significant association (p < 0.05) of parents taking the survey in Spanish and parents' educational attainment with HPV vaccine administration comfort level. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression indicates that parents taking survey in Spanish (adjusted OR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.24-4.72; p < .01) and parents of male children (adjusted OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.01-2.73; p < 047) were comfortable with orthodontists administering the HPV vaccine. Conclusions: The language of the survey influenced parents' comfort level with orthodontists as HPV vaccinators, with Spanish having a positive correlation to comfort level. Parents of male children were more comfortable with orthodontists as HPV vaccinator.

Erbium-doped: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) versus scaling and root planing for the treatment of periodontal disease: A single-blinded split-mouth randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This randomized, controlled clinical trial aimed to compare the differences in periodontal clinical outcomes, duration of the procedure, and patient's experience between conventional scaling and root planing and erbium-doped: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) in the treatment of generalized moderate to severe chronic periodontitis or generalized Stages II or III, and Grade B periodontitis based on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), and European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) definitions. METHODS: Thirty subjects were initially recruited. In a split-mouth fashion, right and left sides were randomly allocated into two treatment arms: conventional scaling and root planing (C-SRP) versus laser-assisted scaling and root planing (L-SRP). A blinded examiner recorded clinical measurements at baseline and 3 months. Duration of the procedure was also recorded for each visit, and the patient's experience was assessed with a questionnaire at baseline, 1, and 3 months. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 26 subjects. Both treatments resulted in overall improvement, but no significant differences were found between modalities for clinical attachment gain or probing depth reduction. The duration of the procedure was approximately half for L-SRP, and postoperative sensitivity was greater in C-SRP. CONCLUSIONS: The low-energy protocol with Er:YAG (50 mJ) used for the non-surgical treatment of moderate-severe chronic or Stage II-III, Grade B periodontitis performed in this study population was a treatment modality that yielded similar clinical improvements when compared to conventional scaling and root planing.

Association between oral lichen planus and systemic conditions and medications: Case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between oral lichen planus (OLP) and a variety of systemic conditions, medication, and supplement usage. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A total of 156 patients diagnosed with OLP and 156 controls at Columbia University Irving Medical Center from 2000 to 2013 were selected as part of the matched (1:1) case-control study. Demographics, systemic conditions, prescription medications and supplements were extracted from the patients' medical records. A univariable conditional logistic regression (CLR) analysis was performed to calculate unadjusted odds ratio, to identify significant variables associated with OLP (p < .10). Significant variables were further tested using multivariable CLR analysis with both forward and backward selection to calculate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and further distinguish variables associated with OLP (p < .05). RESULTS: This analysis identified six significant variables: thyroid disorder (aOR:5.1,95%CI:2.3-11.2), any form of cancer (aOR:3.4,95%CI:1.4-8.4), type 2 diabetes (aOR:2.8,95%CI:1.2-6.3), hyperlipidemia (aOR:2.3,95%CI:1.3-4.1), oral sedative usage (aOR:6.3,95%CI:1.8-22.5), and vitamin D supplementation (aOR:2.7,95%Cl:1.3-6.0). CONCLUSION: Thyroid disorders, cancer, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, sedatives, and vitamin D supplementation were found to be associated with OLP. Additional investigation is required to explore these associations, which could shed light on the potential mechanism of OLP and reinforce the idea that oral lesions could be predicative of previously undetected systemic conditions.

Incidence and Determinants of Dental Implant Failure: A Review of Electronic Health Records in a U.S. Dental School.

The aim of this study was to use electronic health care records (EHRs) to examine retrospectively the incidence of and attributes associated with dental implant failures necessitating implant removal in a large cohort of patients treated in the student clinics of a U.S. dental school over three and a half years. EHRs were searched for all patients who received dental implants between July 1, 2011, and December 31, 2014. Characteristics of patients and implants that were actively removed due to irrevocable failure of any etiology ("failure cohort") during this period were compared to those of all other patients who received dental implants during the same time frame ("reference cohort"). Differences in the frequency distribution of various characteristics between the failure and reference cohorts were compared. Of a total 6,129 implants placed in 2,127 patients during the study period, 179 implants (2.9%) in 120 patients (5.6%) were removed. In the multivariate analysis, presence of a removable (OR=2.86) or fixed temporary prosthesis (OR=3.71) was statistically significantly associated with increased risk for implant failure. In contrast, antibiotic coverage (pre- and post-surgery OR=0.16; post-surgery only OR=0.38) and implants of certain manufacturers were associated with lower risk of implant failure. In this sizeable cohort of patients receiving care in dental student clinics, the review of EHRs facilitated identification of multiple variables associated with implant failure resulting in removal; however, these findings do not suggest causative relationships. The adopted analytical approach can enhance quality assurance measures and may contribute to the identification of true risk factors for dental implant failure.

Relationship Between Frequent Recreational Cannabis (Marijuana and Hashish) Use and Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: Recreational use of cannabis, following its legalization in some countries, poses emergent oral and periodontal health concerns. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between frequent recreational cannabis (FRC) (marijuana and hashish) use and periodontitis prevalence among adults in the United States. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011 to 2012 were analyzed. Primary outcome (periodontitis) was defined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology classification as well as continuous measurements of probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (AL). Exposure of interest was self-reported cannabis use, defined as "FRC use" versus "non-FRC use." Bivariate and multivariable regression models were performed using the entire analytical sample (model 1) as well as those who had never used tobacco (never-users) (model 2). RESULTS: Of 1,938 participants with available cannabis use data and essential covariates, 26.8% were FRC users. Mean number of sites per participant with PD ≥4, ≥6, and ≥8 mm and AL ≥3, ≥5, and ≥8 mm was significantly higher among FRC users than among non-FRC users (mean difference in number of PD sites: 6.9, 5.6, and 5.6; P <0.05; mean difference in number of AL sites: 12.7, 7.6, and 5.6; P <0.05). Average AL was higher among FRC users than among non-FRC users (1.8 versus 1.6 mm; P = 0.004). Bivariate analysis revealed positive (harmful) association between FRC use and severe periodontitis in the entire sample (odds ratio [OR]: 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3 to 2.4; P = 0.002) as well as in never-smokers (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.5; P = 0.01). This association was retained in multivariable models adjusted for demographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income level), alcohol and tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, and past periodontal treatment (model 1: adjusted OR [aOR]: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.9; P = 0.07; model 2: aOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.2; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: FRC use is associated with deeper PDs, more clinical AL, and higher odds of having severe periodontitis.