Effect of Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin (A-PRF) on Postoperative Level of Pain and Swelling Following Third Molar Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain and swelling following third molar (M3) removal can be debilitating, and there is interest in using advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) to reduce their severity. PURPOSE: This study compared postoperative pain and swelling between A-PRF and gelatin dressing in extraction sockets following mandibular M3 removal. METHODS, SETTING, SAMPLE: This split-mouth, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was completed at the Oral Surgery clinic of University of Otago between November 2020 and July 2021. Patients aged between 16 and 40 years with bilaterally impacted mandibular M3 of similar Pederson index difficulty and deemed to be American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I or II comprised the study sample. PREDICTOR/EXPOSURE/INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The exposure variable was M3 socket management. One socket received A-PRF and 1 gelatin dressing, while the other received 2 gelatin dressings. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE(S): The outcome variables were postoperative pain and swelling over 7 days. Pain was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS), and swelling using stereophotogrammetry. COVARIATES: Demographic characteristics (gender, ethnicity, and age), dental anxiety, smoking status, Pederson index, and intraoperative surgical time were the covariates. ANALYSES: The two sides were compared using cross-tabulations and the McNemar test for categorical and paired t-tests for continuous variables. Statistical analysis used IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (version 28).The Alpha level was 0.05. RESULTS: 76 (87.3%) of 87 patients who met the eligibility criteria participated in the study, and 70 patients (65.7% female; age range 16-30 years) were included in the analysis. Mean visual analog scale scores showed no statistically significant difference between the A-PRF and control sides, being 29.6 (95% CI 23.9, 35.3) and 29.5 (95% CI 23.5, 35.5) on day 2, and falling to 12.6 (95% CI 8.7, 16.5) and 14.2 (95% CI 10.0, 18.4) by day 7. Likewise, mean peak facial swelling on day 2 was recorded as 6.3 cm3 (95% CI 4.9, 7.7) and 6.6 cm3 (95% CI 5.5, 7.7), and by day 7 they were 1.1 cm3 (95% CI 0.5, 1.7) and 1.0 cm3 (95% CI 0.3, 0.7) on the A-PRF and control sides, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A-PRF placement in M3 sockets did not reduce postoperative pain and swelling over gelatin dressing alone.

Effectiveness of a theory-driven mHealth intervention in promoting post-surgery rehabilitation adherence in patients who had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A randomized clinical trial.

RATIONALE: Patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction often have poor adherence to post-surgery rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: This study applied the integrated model of self-determination theory and the theory of planned behavior to examine the effects of a smartphone-delivered intervention on the recovery outcomes of patients with an ACL rupture during post-surgery rehabilitation period. Additionally, we explored the effects of the intervention on participants with different beliefs toward rehabilitation at baseline. METHODS: The randomized control trial recruited 96 eligible participants (M age = 27.82 years, SD = 8.73; female = 39%) who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 41), which received standard post-surgical treatment (usual-care) and smartphone application ("ACL-Well"), or a usual-care control group (n = 55). The primary outcomes were recovery outcomes from ACL surgery measured by knee muscle strength and laxity, and subjective knee evaluation completed 4-month post-intervention. Secondary outcomes were the psychological and behavioral outcomes measured at baseline, at 2- and 4-month post-intervention. RESULTS: ANCOVA indicated no significant between-group differences in primary outcomes: knee muscle strength, knee laxity and subjective knee evaluation, Fs(1, 27 to 55) = 0.01 to 1.36, p = .25 to .99, η2 = 0.01 to 0.03. For the secondary outcomes, growth mixture modelling revealed self-determined treatment motivation declined significantly over the intervention period in the control group (M slope = -0.39 to -0.12, p = .01 to .04), but not in the intervention group (M slope = -0.19 to -0.08, p = .06 to .38). CONCLUSIONS: The smartphone application fell short in promoting orthopedic outpatients' recovery outcomes. Yet, it shows some promises as a mean to maintain patients' motivation and adherence to treatment.

Putative role of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in cancer pathology and immunotherapy: Can this be a hidden treasure, especially for the elderly?

Cancer is globally a disease of significant public health concern owing to its prevalence, and association with morbidity and mortality. Thus, cost-effective treatments for cancer are important to help reduce its significant morbidity and mortality. However, the current therapeutic options for cancer such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery may produce serious adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and peripheral neuropathy, especially in the long term. In addition, these therapeutic options may not be well tolerated by the elderly especially those who are frail. The current article is aimed at discussing an alternative therapeutic option, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and the roles it plays in cancer pathology and immunotherapy. The VNS does this by reducing oxidative stress via silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1); inhibiting inflammation via both hypothalamic-pituitary-axis (HPA) and the release of corticosteroid from the adrenal gland, and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP), and increasing vagal activity which helps in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism, and increase chance of survival. Furthermore, it helps with reducing complications due to cancer or its treatments such as postoperative ileus and severity of peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy, and improves cancer-related fatigue, lymphopenia, and quality of life. These suggest that the importance of non-invasive VNS in cancer pathology and immunotherapy cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, considering the safety of non-invasive VNS and its cost-effectiveness, it is a therapeutic option worth trying for these patients, especially in combination with other therapies.

Time to complain about pain: Children's self-reported procedural pain in a randomised control trial of Hall and conventional stainless steel crown techniques.

BACKGROUND: Children's pain in dentistry has undesirable short- and long-term consequences; therefore, less invasive treatments merit consideration. AIM: To investigate procedural pain scores for two treatments for carious primary molars in New Zealand primary care. DESIGN: This study was a split-mouth randomised control trial, with secondary outcome analysis. Children (4-8 years) with proximal carious lesions on matched primary molars had one tooth treated with the Hall technique (HT) and one treated with a conventional stainless steel crown (CT); treatment type and order of treatment were randomly allocated (allocation concealment). The Wong-Baker self-report pain scale measured pretreatment dental pain, procedural pain at each treatment and post-operative pain. RESULTS: Data were analysed for 103 children: 49 children had the HT first and 54 children had the CT first. Procedural pain scores did not differ by treatment type, with 71.8% and 76.7% of children reporting low pain for the HT and the CT, respectively. Fewer children reported low procedural pain for the second treatment than the first (p = .047). Most children reported low procedural pain for both treatments (58.3%), although 41.7% experienced moderate-high procedural pain with at least one treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The HT caused pain for as many children as the CT. There is an opportunity for better dental pain management in this setting.

Does having children affect women's oral health? A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Many believe women's oral health deteriorates as a result of having children. If so, such associations should exist among women but not among men. The aims of this study were to investigate whether number of children is associated with experience of dental disease and tooth loss among both men and women and to examine whether this association is affected by other variables of interest. METHODS: This study used data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development study, a longitudinal study of 1037 individuals (48.4% female) born from April 1972 to March 1973 in Dunedin, New Zealand, who have been examined repeatedly from birth to age 45 years. RESULTS: Data were available for 437 women and 431 men. Those with low educational attainment were more likely to have more children and began having children earlier in life. Having more children was associated with experiencing more dental caries and tooth loss by age 45, but this association was dependent on the age at which the children were had. Those entering parenthood earlier in life (by age 26) had poorer dental health than those entering parenthood later in life, or those without children. There was no association between number of children and periodontal attachment loss (PAL). Low educational attainment, poor plaque control, never routine dental attendance, and smoking (for PAL) were associated with PAL, caries experience, and tooth loss. CONCLUSIONS: Social factors associated with both the timing of reproductive patterns and health behaviors influence the risk of dental disease and its management.

Associations of sex, oral hygiene and smoking with oral species in distinct habitats at age 32 years.

The oral microbiome is ecologically diverse, complex, dynamic, and little understood. We describe the microbiota of four oral habitats in a birth cohort at age 32 and examine differences by sex, oral hygiene, and current smoking status, dental caries, and periodontal health. Oral biofilm samples collected from anterior labial supragingival, posterior lingual supragingival, subgingival, and tongue sites of 841 Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study members were analysed using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization; focusing on 30 ecologically important bacterial species. The four habitats exhibited distinct microbial profiles that differed by sex. Streptococcus gordonii was more dominant in supragingival and tongue biofilms of males; Porphyromonas gingivalis exhibited higher relative abundance in subgingival biofilm of females. Males had higher scores than females for periodontal pathogens at supragingival sites. The relative abundance of several putative caries and periodontal pathogens differed in smokers and non-smokers. With poor oral hygiene significantly higher proportions of Gram-negative facultative anaerobes were present in subgingival biofilm and there were higher scores for the principal components characterised by putative cariogenic and periodontal pathogens at each site. Distinctive microenvironments shape oral biofilms and systematic differences exist by sex, oral hygiene, and smoking status.

Tooth Loss and Dementia: A Critical Examination.

Dementia is a major contributor to dependence and disability in older people, with aging societies characterized by growing numbers of people living with the condition. Dementia rates are highest in those with low education early in life, midlife hypertension, midlife hearing loss, depression, obesity, loneliness, a sedentary lifestyle, or sustained exposure to smoking or diabetes. Tooth loss is a putative risk factor for dementia which has received increasing research attention, but systematic review findings are mixed. Three main mechanisms have been proposed, involving 1) tooth loss leading to compromised nutrition and then leading to poorer central nervous system (CNS) function; 2) tooth loss resulting in fewer interocclusal contacts and so less somatosensory feedback to the CNS, leading to impaired cognition; and (3) chronic periodontitis resulting in tooth loss, but not before the inflammation has affected the CNS, impairing cognition. None of these is supported by compelling empirical evidence. Here, we use the life course approach to propose a plausible, empirically supported explanation for the associations between missing teeth and poorer cognitive function in older people. Evidence from longstanding cohort studies demonstrates that the putative association arises from cognitive function much earlier in life, in childhood. People with better childhood cognitive function have better oral health and access to routine dental care as they go through life, losing fewer teeth along the life course. They are also much more likely to have better cognitive function in old age. Their less cognitively able childhood counterparts will experience higher disease rates and poorer access to care, resulting in greater incremental tooth loss. Comparison of the 2 groups at any age from the mid-20s on will show greater numbers of missing teeth in the group who were less cognitively able in childhood. Those differences will be most pronounced in old age.

The New Zealand oral and maxillofacial surgeon workforce in 2017-18: characteristics, practice and prospects.

AIM: To describe and consider the findings of a workforce survey of New Zealand Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMS) which was conducted in 2017-18, and to compare those to findings from a similar survey undertaken in 2001. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to obtain information on the qualifications, sociodemographic characteristics and and practising circumstances of all practising OMS in New Zealand. Data were analysed using SPSS (version 24). After the computation of descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations were used to identify differences in proportions (with those tested for statistical significance using Chi-squared tests), and analysis of variance was used to examine differences in means. RESULTS: All 39 OMS took part. There were 17 medically qualified surgeons who also held a surgical fellowship, comprising just under half of the workforce. Overall, one in eight surgeons worked solely in the public sector, while just under one-quarter worked solely in private; the remainder worked in both sectors. Dentoalveolar procedures were by far the most common undertaken (with considerably more done by older surgeons than younger ones), followed by implants, the treatment of facial trauma, skin lesions and surgery for malignancy. Orthognathic surgery and dentoalveolar trauma procedures were the least commonly reported. Only two-thirds of surgeons participated in public on-call work. While 95% of surgeons were indeed satisfied with their work, the lowest rate was observed among those working solely in the public sector, where it was 80%; among those working exclusively in private, it was 100%. Between 2001 and 2017-18, the proportion of medically qualified surgeons rose from just over one-quarter to more than two-thirds. The proportion of surgeons working solely in private practice rose from one in seven to almost one-quarter. There were marked increases in the mean number of malignancies dealt with and implants provided. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight a number of problems-some long-standing, others emerging-in New Zealand's OMS system. Fewer surgeons are participating in public sector provision and there is stress on those who remain. Workforce planners should be aware that more resources need to be put into training surgeons who will take up hospital appointments and provide essential after-hours emergency services.

Medication taking in a national sample of dependent older people.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is associated with inappropriate medication use, and subsequently increasing older persons' risk of drug-related harm and health-related costs to individuals and society. OBJECTIVE: To examine and describe, using a national sample of patient-level medication data, the prevalence of older people's polypharmacy and medication use across dependency levels. To examine oral and general pain prevalence and associated analgesic usage. METHODS: Medication data from the 2012 New Zealand Older People's Oral Health Survey, a nationally-representative, cross-sectional study of dependent older people's oral health, were analysed descriptively, comparing classes and sub-classes of drugs and nutrient supplements taken across four categories of dependency: very low (own homes receiving in-home support), low, high and psychogeriatric (all receiving aged residential care). Self-reported current general pain and frequency of orofacial pain data were cross-tabulated by sub-classes of analgesics taken. RESULTS: All participants were taking at least one medication overall, 53.2% (95% CI: 50.4, 56.0) took between five and nine (polypharmacy), and 13.9% (95% CI: 17.4, 22.5) took 10 or more (hyperpolypharmacy). Antihypertensives, analgesics, antiulcer drugs, aspirin, laxatives, statins and antidepressants were the most common drug classes taken, the proportions differing between psychogeriatric level care and all other dependency groups. Overall, simple analgesics were taken (34.5%; 95%CI: 30.8, 38.4) more commonly than other analgesics; the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was low (3.6%; 95% CI: 2.7, 4.7). Of those reporting experiencing extreme general bodily pain, 63.3% (95% CI: 56.6, 69.4) took an analgesic, more than those experiencing mouth pain occasionally or often. Fat-soluble vitamins were the most common vitamin supplement taken (32.0%; 95%CI: 27.0, 37.4). CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy are common among older people, regardless of dependency level, and pain may be undertreated.

Clinical efficacy of a simplified approach to managing chronic temporomandibular disorders: evidence from a 1-year case series.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic temporomandibular disorder (cTMD) produces orofacial pain and limited jaw function and impacts on quality of life. A clinical case series of patients referred to a hospital specialist service is described here. STUDY DESIGN: In a 1-year consecutive case series of 162 patients with cTMDs, each patient had been managed with self-awareness and jaw exercises, as well as oral appliances. Pain severity and chewing function were scored by using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and quality of life was assessed by using the Oral Health Impact Profile-Temporomandibular Dysfunction (OHIP-TMD). RESULTS: Females comprised 87% (average age 49 years). Treatment time averaged 20.8 months, and the average pain duration was 2.8 years. The mean VAS pain score fell from 6.9 (standard deviation [SD] 1.6) to 2.0 (SD 1.9) after treatment, giving a "large" effect size of 3.1. Chewing difficulty improvement also showed a "large" effect size (2.5). For the 33 patients for whom longitudinal OHIP-TMD data were available, the mean pretreatment and posttreatment scores of 51.2 (SD 20.9) and 26.2 (SD 17.7) showed a "large" effect size of 1.2. CONCLUSIONS: A simple noninvasive protocol for managing cTMD with self-help, exercises, and oral devices resulted in clinically and statistically meaningful improvements in pain, function, and quality of life.

Establishing a generalized polyepigenetic biomarker for tobacco smoking.

Large-scale epigenome-wide association meta-analyses have identified multiple 'signatures'' of smoking. Drawing on these findings, we describe the construction of a polyepigenetic DNA methylation score that indexes smoking behavior and that can be utilized for multiple purposes in population health research. To validate the score, we use data from two birth cohort studies: The Dunedin Longitudinal Study, followed to age-38 years, and the Environmental Risk Study, followed to age-18 years. Longitudinal data show that changes in DNA methylation accumulate with increased exposure to tobacco smoking and attenuate with quitting. Data from twins discordant for smoking behavior show that smoking influences DNA methylation independently of genetic and environmental risk factors. Physiological data show that changes in DNA methylation track smoking-related changes in lung function and gum health over time. Moreover, DNA methylation changes predict corresponding changes in gene expression in pathways related to inflammation, immune response, and cellular trafficking. Finally, we present prospective data about the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and epigenetic modifications; these findings document the importance of controlling for smoking-related DNA methylation changes when studying biological embedding of stress in life-course research. We introduce the polyepigenetic DNA methylation score as a tool both for discovery and theory-guided research in epigenetic epidemiology.

Commonality of Risk Factors for Mothers' Poor Oral Health and General Health: Baseline Analysis of a Population-Based Birth Cohort Study.

Objective The association between and commonality of risk factors for poor self-rated oral health (SROH) and general health (SRGH) among new mothers has not been reported. The purpose of this paper is to assess the commonality of risk factors for poor SROH and SRGH, and self-reported obesity and dental pain, among a population-based sample of new mothers in Australia. It also investigated health conditions affecting new mothers' general health. Methods Data collected at baseline of a population-based birth cohort was used. Mothers of newborns in Adelaide were approached to participate. Mothers completed a questionnaire collecting data on socioeconomic status (SES), health behaviours, dental pain, SROH, self-reported height and weight and SRGH. Analysis was conducted sequentially from bivariate to multivariable regression to estimate prevalence rate (PR) of reporting poor/fair SROH and SRGH. Results of the 1895 new mothers, some 21 and 6% rated their SROH and SRGH as poor/fair respectively. Dental pain was associated with low income and smoking status, while being obese was associated with low SES, low education and infrequent tooth brushing. SROH and SRGH was associated with low SES, smoking, and dental pain. SROH was also associated with SRGH [PR: 3.06 (2.42-3.88)]. Conclusion for practice There was a commonality of factors associated with self-rated oral health and general health. Strong associations between OH and GH were also observed. Given the importance of maternal health for future generations, there would be long-term societal benefit from addressing common risk factors for OH and GH in integrated programs.

Efficacy of Codeine When Added to Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) and Ibuprofen for Relief of Postoperative Pain After Surgical Removal of Impacted Third Molars: A Double-Blinded Randomized Control Trial.

PURPOSE: The use of opioids in combination with nonopioids is common practice for acute pain management after third molar surgery. One such combination is paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine. The authors assessed the efficacy of codeine when added to a regimen of paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief after third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted in patients undergoing the surgical removal of at least 1 impacted mandibular third molar requiring bone removal. Participants were randomly allocated to a control group (paracetamol 1,000 mg and ibuprofen 400 mg) or an intervention group (paracetamol 1,000 mg, ibuprofen 400 mg, and codeine 60 mg). All participants were treated under intravenous sedation and using identical surgical conditions and technique. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) every 3 hours (while awake) for the first 48 hours after surgery. Pain was globally assessed using a questionnaire on day 3 after surgery. RESULTS: There were 131 participants (36% men; control group, n = 67; intervention group, n = 64). Baseline characteristics were similar for the 2 groups. Data were analyzed using a modified intention-to-treat analysis and, for this, a linear mixed model was used. The model showed that the baseline VAS score was associated with subsequent VAS scores and that, with each 3-hour period, the VAS score increased by an average of 0.08. The treatment effect was not statistically meaningful, indicating there was no difference in recorded pain levels between the 2 groups during the first 48 hours after mandibular third molar surgery. Similarly, the 2 groups did not differ in their global ratings of postoperative pain. CONCLUSION: Codeine 60 mg added to a regimen of paracetamol 1,000 mg and ibuprofen 400 mg does not improve analgesia after third molar surgery.

Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy Is Associated with Offspring Hypodontia.

Little is known about environmental risk factors for hypodontia. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between hypodontia and common environmental risk factors, such as maternal smoking and alcohol and caffeine consumption during pregnancy. Eighty-nine hypodontia cases with 1 or more missing permanent lateral incisors and/or 1 or more missing premolars were enrolled in this clinic-based case-control study. Some 253 controls with no missing teeth were frequency matched to cases by age and sex. Hypodontia was diagnosed using panoramic radiographs. Sociodemographic data were collected from both the participants and their mothers, with maternal self-reported active and passive smoking, as well as alcohol and caffeine consumption during pregnancy, assessed by a questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with logistic regression to assess the strength of association between risk factors and hypodontia. OR estimates were then adjusted for possible confounders, such as maternal age at delivery, sex and gestational age of the child, and household socioeconomic background. Significant associations were found between hypodontia and maternal cigarette use during pregnancy, as well as the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The consumption of 10 or more cigarettes per day during pregnancy was associated with greater odds of having a child with hypodontia (adjusted OR, 4.18; 95% CI, 1.48-11.80; P = 0.007). Observed associations between hypodontia, second-hand smoke, and alcohol and caffeine consumption were not statistically significant. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with hypodontia. Larger samples and prospective observational study designs, however, are needed to investigate this association further.

Periodontitis is not associated with metabolic risk during the fourth decade of life.

AIM: To examine associations between periodontitis and developmental trajectories of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) during the third and fourth decades in an initially healthy sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HbA1c data collected at ages 26, 32 and 38 in the prospective Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study were used to assign study members (n = 893) to trajectories applying group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM). The model allowed the statistical linking of baseline demographic, smoking and waist-height ratio covariates to group membership probability; and added a time-varying covariate (periodontitis) to the trajectories themselves to examine whether events that occurred during the course of the trajectory altered its course. RESULTS: Three HbA1c trajectory groups were identified: "Low" (n = 98, 11.0%); "Medium" (n = 482, 54.0%); and "High" (n = 313, 35.0%) with mean HbA1c of 29.6, 34.1 and 38.7 mmol/mol, respectively, at age 38. Having periodontitis at 32 and 38 was associated with an upward shift in the trajectories. However, none of the associations were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis was not found to be associated with dysglycaemia over 12 years from early adulthood into early middle age. This suggests that any influence periodontitis may have on dysglycaemia develops later in life.

High-risk glycated hemoglobin trajectories established by mid-20s: findings from a birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the natural history of glycemia (as measured by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) over 12 years using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM), and to examine baseline predictors of trajectory. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: HbA1c data collected at ages 26, 32 and 38 in the long-running, prospective Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study were used to assign study members (n=893) to trajectories applying GBTM. A generalization of the model allowed the statistical linking of baseline demographic, smoking and anthropometric characteristics to group membership probability. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c increased with age, as did prevalence of prediabetes, diabetes and dysglycemia. The greatest increase occurred between ages 26 and 32. Glycemic health status at age 26 predicted glycemic health status at age 38. 3 HbA1c trajectory groups were identified: 'low' (n=98, 11.0%); 'medium' (n=482, 54.0%); and 'high' (n=313, 35.0%) with mean HbA1c of 29.6, 34.1, and 38.7 mmol/mol, respectively, at age 38. High waist circumference (≥880 mm for women and ≥1020 mm for men), high waist-height ratio (≥0.50), and being a smoker at age 26 predicted membership of the least favorable trajectory over the next 12 years. High body mass index (≥30) at age 26 did not predict of trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: Trajectories of HbA1c are established relatively early in adulthood. HbA1c levels, waist circumference, waist-height ratio, and smoking status at age 26 are valid clinical predictors for future dysglycemic risk. The identification of HbA1c trajectories and their predictors introduces the possibility of an individualized approach to prevention at an earlier stage than is currently done.

Associations Between Cannabis Use and Physical Health Problems in Early Midlife: A Longitudinal Comparison of Persistent Cannabis vs Tobacco Users.

IMPORTANCE: After major policy changes in the United States, policymakers, health care professionals, and the general public seek information about whether recreational cannabis use is associated with physical health problems later in life. OBJECTIVE: To test associations between cannabis use over 20 years and a variety of physical health indexes at early midlife. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants belonged to a representative birth cohort of 1037 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1972 and 1973 and followed to age 38 years, with 95% retention (the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study). We tested whether cannabis use from ages 18 to 38 years was associated with physical health at age 38, even after controlling for tobacco use, childhood health, and childhood socioeconomic status. We also tested whether cannabis use from ages 26 to 38 years was associated with within-individual health decline using the same measures of health at both ages. EXPOSURES: We assessed frequency of cannabis use and cannabis dependence at ages 18, 21, 26, 32, and 38 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We obtained laboratory measures of physical health (periodontal health, lung function, systemic inflammation, and metabolic health), as well as self-reported physical health, at ages 26 and 38 years. RESULTS: The 1037 study participants were 51.6% male (n = 535). Of these, 484 had ever used tobacco daily and 675 had ever used cannabis. Cannabis use was associated with poorer periodontal health at age 38 years and within-individual decline in periodontal health from ages 26 to 38 years. For example, cannabis joint-years from ages 18 to 38 years was associated with poorer periodontal health at age 38 years, even after controlling for tobacco pack-years (ß = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05-0.18; P <.001). Additionally, cannabis joint-years from ages 26 to 38 years was associated with poorer periodontal health at age 38 years, even after accounting for periodontal health at age 26 years and tobacco pack-years (ß = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.05-0.16; P <.001) However, cannabis use was unrelated to other physical health problems. Unlike cannabis use, tobacco use was associated with worse lung function, systemic inflammation, and metabolic health at age 38 years, as well as within-individual decline in health from ages 26 to 38 years. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Cannabis use for up to 20 years is associated with periodontal disease but is not associated with other physical health problems in early midlife.

Validity of self-reported periodontal questions in a New Zealand cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the validity of four self-reported questions for measuring periodontitis in a birth cohort. METHODS: Full-mouth periodontal examinations (three sites/tooth) were undertaken at age 38 in a complete birth cohort born in 1972/1973 in New Zealand. Four self-reported periodontal screening questions were included ("Do you think you have gum disease"; "Has a dental professional ever told you that you have lost bone around your teeth"; "Have you ever had scaling, root planing, surgery, or other treatment for gum disease" and "Have you ever had any teeth that have become loose by themselves without some injury"), and the sensitivity and specificity of those self-reported items were calculated for individual questions and using a multivariable binary logistic regression model. Generalised linear models were used to compare relative risks for periodontitis and smoking, using the (a) clinical measures and (b) self-reported questions. RESULTS: Among the 895 who had periodontal examinations, the prevalence of periodontitis was 43.7, 22.8 and 12.0 %, respectively, for one or more sites with ≥4, ≥5 and ≥6 mm clinical attachment loss (AL). The specificity of the four self-reported questions was high (82-94 %), but the sensitivity was low for all, except the question: "Do you think you have gum disease". The four questions' highest combined sensitivity + specificity value was 1.33 for one or more sites with ≥4 mm AL, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve being greatest for one or more sites with ≥6 mm AL, at 0.84. For the smoking-periodontitis association, the estimates of relative risk for periodontitis among smokers were as follows: (a) 1.81, 2.88 and 5.79, respectively, clinically determined to have one or more sites with ≥4, ≥5 and ≥6 mm AL and (b) 2.19, 2.17, 1.23 and 1.89, respectively, for the four self-reported questions. CONCLUSION: The four self-reported periodontal screening questions performed adequately in identifying clinically determined periodontal disease, and they showed moderate validity when used together as a set. However, the strength of the association between smoking and periodontitis was underestimated when they were used instead of clinically determined periodontal disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that clinical examinations remain to be the desired approach for periodontal surveys, but where resource constraints preclude those, self-reported methods can provide useful information; after all, some periodontal information is better than none at all.

A qualitative study of orthodontic screening and referral practices among dental therapists in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate screening and referral is important in delivering effective and timely orthodontic treatment. In New Zealand, dental therapists are usually the initial contact for oral health care (including the assessment of malocclusion) in child and adolescent patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the orthodontic screening and referral practices of dental therapists in New Zealand. METHODS: Ten registered dental therapists from Auckland and Dunedin were interviewed using a semi-structured approach. Participants were selected based on years of work experience, where they practised, their educational background, and their sector of work (private/public). Resu/ts: Three main themes were identified: (I) the orthodontic screening and referral process; (2) the factors affecting orthodontic referral; and (3) their attitudes towards orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic screening and referrals were uniform among public dental therapists but varied for private dental therapists with regard to the type of malocclusions referred, the frequency of the referrals and to whom they referred. Factors that affected orthodontic referrals included participants' orthodontic educational background, work experience, Continuing Professional Development courses attended, and the opinions of orthodontists and/ or dentists. Dental therapists found that most patients were receptive to the idea of orthodontic treatment, but that cost was a major concern. Dental therapists were enthusiastic about the development and use of resources that could aid in the orthodontic screening and referral process. Conc/usions: This study has provided valuable insights into the current orthodontic referral process of New Zealand dental therapists. Variations among public and private therapists were identified. The implementation of an orthodontic referral guideline was viewed favourably by dental therapists.