ASSESSMENT OF THE SEVERITY OF GINGIVITIS IN CHILDREN WITH DISORDERS OF TEETH FORMATION SUFFERED AFTER THE CHORNOBYL NPP ACCIDENT. / OTsINKA STUPENIa TIaZhKOSTI GINGIVITU U DITEI Z PORUShENNIaMY FORMUVANNIa ZUBIV, POSTRAZhDALYKh VNASLIDOK AVARIÏ NA ChORNOBYL'S'KII AES.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the severity of gingivitis in children with teeth formation disorders - residents of the ter-ritories contaminated with radionuclides as a result of Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) accident. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The object of the study is 1470 children aged 6-14 years with dental malformations, 528 amomg them are residents of areas contaminated with radionuclides as a result of the ChNPP with the identified types of disorders of teeth formation (DTF) (systemic enamel hypoplasia (SEH) and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH)), and different stages of the severity of gingivitis. RESULTS: Determining of the degree of severity of gingivitis in children with DTF indicates the presence of its lesion of a moderate degree of the severity with a prevalence in persons with SEH or MIH and chronic diseases of internal organs suffered after the ChNPP accident. CONCLUSIONS: In irradiated children with DTF, an average degree of severity of gingivitis was established (РМА = (43.03 ± 19.64) %, p > 0.001), which may be due to the effect of a complex of negative factors, in particular the influence of low doses of ionizing radiation, the peculiarities of the social status of the examined persons (imbalanced nutrition), unsatisfactory oral hygiene. In children suffered after the ChNPP accident with SEH, the indicators of the PMA index were reliable (p > 0.05) higher compared to individuals with MIH, which indicates a more pronounced degree of periodont damage. Revealed damage to periodont, in particular gingivitis, in children with DTF residents of the contaminated territories, probably caused by the action of a complex of negative environmental factors, in particular the influence of low doses of ionizing radiation, and the peculiarities of the social status of children, which requires a comprehensive approach to the prevention of complications of defects of hard tissues of the teeth.

Risk indicators for dental caries, and gingivitis among 6-11-year-old children in Nigeria: a household-based survey.

BACKGROUND: There is little is known about the factors associated with caries experience and gingivitis among 6-11-year-old children in Nigeria. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and preventive oral health behaviors associated with caries and gingivitis among 6-11-year-old children in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The dependent variables were caries and gingivitis. The dmft/DMFT index was used to assess dental caries experience (present or absent) and caries severity. The gingival index was used to assess the prevalence (present or absent) and severity of gingivitis (healthy gingiva/mild gingivitis versus moderate/severe gingivitis). The independent variables were preventive oral health behaviors (frequency of daily tooth brushing, frequency of consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between-meals, use of fluoridated toothpaste, and use of dental floss, history of dental service utilization). A series of logistic regression analysis models were constructed to determine the associations between the dependent and independent variables after adjusting for confounders (age, sex, and socioeconomic status). RESULTS: There were 69 (5.2%) children with caries. The mean (standard deviation) dmft was 0.08 (0.457) and the mean DMFT was 0.02 (0.159). There were 839 (63.3%) children with gingivitis with a mean (SD) gingival index score of 0.503 (0.453). Children who seldom or never used fluoride toothpaste had significantly higher odds of developing moderate to severe gingivitis (AOR; 1.671; 95% CI: 1.003-2.786; p = 0.049). Children with middle socio-economic status had significantly lower odds of developing moderate to severe gingivitis (AOR: 0.573; 95%CI: 0.330-0.994; p = 0.048). There were no risk indicators identified for caries. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dental caries was low while the prevalence of gingivitis was high in the study population. The daily used of fluoridated toothpaste seem to reduce the risk for moderate/severe gingivitis. Further studies are needed to understand these findings.

[Assessment of changes in the parameters of the quality of life of children aged 14-15 years with chronic catarrhal gingivitis after a complex of therapeutic and preventive measures]. / Otsenka izmenenii parametrov kachestva zhizni detei 14­15 let s khronicheskim kataral'nym gingivitom posle realizatsii kompleksa lechebno-profilakticheskikh meropriyatii.

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To assess changes in the parameters of the quality of life of children aged 14-15 years with chronic catarrhal gingivitis after the implementation of a complex of therapeutic and preventive measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 2 groups of children aged 14-15 years: group 1 - 60 children with chronic catarrhal gingivitis, group 2 - 60 children without signs of periodontal tissue damage. In 1 group of children, a complex of therapeutic and preventive measures was carried out for a month. A CPQ questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of children. The survey of children of group 1 was conducted before and 1 month after the complex of therapeutic and preventive measures. Children of group 2 were interviewed once at the initial examination. RESULTS: The worst indicators of quality of life were revealed in children aged 14-15 years with chronic catarrhal gingivitis compared with a group of healthy children. The most pronounced effect of periodontal diseases was noted on the sections of the questionnaire devoted to physical discomfort in the oral cavity, functional disorders, and emotional well-being. After carrying out a complex of therapeutic and preventive measures for 1 month, there was an improvement in the quality of life in general and its individual components. At the same time, the scores of answers to most of the questionnaire questions decreased to the level of indicators in healthy children.

Periodontal disease distribution, risk factors, and importance of primary healthcare in the clinical parameters improvement / Distribución de la enfermedad periodontal, factores de riesgo e importancia de la atención primaria en salud en la mejora de los parámetros clínicos

The objective of this study is to show the distribution of periodontal disease, risk factors, and importance of primary healthcare, for the improvement of clinical parameters. Two phases study transversal and nonrandomized trial (before - after), with educational intervention and conservative treatment, were carried out at Dental School of the Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero México, in 161 subjects who met the inclusion criteria. Oral healthcare education was carried out as well as conservative periodontal treatment, with six months follow up. Clinical measurements were performed with a Williams probe, O'Leary plaque index, calculus index and dental mobility Miller method. Periodontal disease was found on 82 % of all participants. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed an odds ratio of 14.3 (95 % CI: 2.5, 82.1), 13.4 (95 % CI: 1.7, 103.5), 29.2 (95 % CI: 3.2, 260.9) and 68 (95 % CI: 6.6, 711.0) plaque in gingivitis, mild, moderate and severe chronic periodontitis, respectively. The longitudinal panel data analysis showed a significant effect (p <0.001) in the mean decrease of the clinical parameters after intervention, probing depth 0.4 mm (95 % CI: -0.5, -0.3), pockets depth 1.1 mm (95 % CI: -1.3, -0.9), amount of pockets 4.5 (95 % CI: -5.2, -3.7), bleeding 5.2 (95 % CI: -5.9, -4.5) and dental mobility 0.6 degrees (95 % CI: -0.7, -0.5). Primary healthcare is still the best option to improve the periodontal health in population who do not have access to specialty services. Dentists can achieve significant clinical improvement at very low cost, if they are aware of primary health care.

El objetivo del estudio fue mostrar la distribución de la enfermedad periodontal, los factores de riesgo y la importancia de la atención primaria de salud, para la mejora de los parámetros clínicos. Material y método: Estudio de dos fases transversal y no aleatorizado (antes - después), con intervención educativa y tratamiento conservador, realizado en la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero México, en 161 sujetos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Se llevó a cabo una educación sanitaria oral, así como un tratamiento periodontal conservador, con un seguimiento de seis meses. Las mediciones clínicas se realizaron con una sonda Williams, el índice de placa O'Leary, el índice de cálculo y el método Miller de movilidad dental. Resultados: se encontró enfermedad periodontal en el 82 % de todos los participantes. El análisis de regresión logística multinomial mostró un odds ratio de 14.3 (IC 95 %: 2.5, 82.1), 13.4 (IC 95 %: 1.7, 103.5), 29.2 (IC 95 %: 3.2, 260.9) y 68 (IC 95 %: 6.6, 711.0) placa en gingivitis, periodontitis crónica leve, moderada y grave, respectivamente. El análisis de datos del panel longitudinal mostró un efecto significativo (p <0.001) en la disminución media de los parámetros clínicos después de la intervención, profundidad de sondeo 0.4 mm (IC 95 %: -0.5, -0.3), profundidad de bolsillos 1.1 mm (IC 95 %: -1.3, -0.9), cantidad de bolsillos 4.5 (IC 95 %: -5.2, -3.7), hemorragia 5.2 (IC 95 %: -5.9, -4.5) y movilidad dental 0.6 grados (IC 95 %: -0.7, - 0.5). Conclusiones: la atención primaria de salud sigue siendo la mejor opción para mejorar la salud periodontal en la población que no tiene acceso a servicios especializados. Relevancia clínica: los dentistas pueden lograr una mejora clínica significativa a un costo muy bajo, si conocen la atención primaria de salud.

Periodontal disease and its impact on general health in Latin America: LAOHA Consensus Meeting Report.

Periodontal diseases are considered a worldwide public health problem, owing to their high prevalence in developed and developing countries. Periodontitis may lead to tooth loss, which can impact oral health-related quality of life. Gingivitis and periodontitis have been extensively studied regarding their etiopathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention and treatment outcomes. However, most of these aspects are studied and discussed globally, which may hamper a clear interpretation of the findings and the design of effective plans of action for specific regions or populations. For example, in Latin America, epidemiological data about the distribution of periodontal diseases is still scarce, mainly when it comes to nationwide representative samples. This Consensus aimed to address the following topics related to periodontal diseases in Latin America: a) The impact of the global burden of periodontal diseases on health: a global reality; b) Periodontal diseases in Latin America; c) Strategies for the prevention of periodontal diseases in Latin America; d) Problems associated with diagnosis of periodontal conditions and possible solutions for Latin America; e) Treatment of Periodontitis. This consensus will help to increase awareness about diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases, in the context of Latin American countries.

Periodontal disease and its impact on general health in Latin America: LAOHA Consensus Meeting Report

Abstract: Periodontal diseases are considered a worldwide public health problem, owing to their high prevalence in developed and developing countries. Periodontitis may lead to tooth loss, which can impact oral health-related quality of life. Gingivitis and periodontitis have been extensively studied regarding their etiopathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention and treatment outcomes. However, most of these aspects are studied and discussed globally, which may hamper a clear interpretation of the findings and the design of effective plans of action for specific regions or populations. For example, in Latin America, epidemiological data about the distribution of periodontal diseases is still scarce, mainly when it comes to nationwide representative samples. This Consensus aimed to address the following topics related to periodontal diseases in Latin America: a) The impact of the global burden of periodontal diseases on health: a global reality; b) Periodontal diseases in Latin America; c) Strategies for the prevention of periodontal diseases in Latin America; d) Problems associated with diagnosis of periodontal conditions and possible solutions for Latin America; e) Treatment of Periodontitis. This consensus will help to increase awareness about diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases, in the context of Latin American countries.

MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF A COMPLEX OF THERAPEUTIC-PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR CHRONIC CATARRHAL GINGIVITIS IN CHILDREN WITH DIABETES MELLITUS.

Dysbacteriosis of the oral cavity is known to complicate the course of chronic catarrhal gingivitis resulting from functional disorders of the macroorganism ecosystem, decreased amount of probiotic and increased amount of opportunistic and pathogenic microflora. And natural immune response is activated first in this case. It differentiates pathogens by TLR. The aim - to enhance the efficacy of treatment of chronic catarrhal gingivitis in children suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus by means of improving the methods of pharmacological correction on the basis of investigation of the indices of local natural immune response and microbiological properties of the disease. We formed 2 group of the study. Children received basic insulin therapy. The treatment of chronic catarrhal gingivitis in children from the main group were suggested the antiseptic solution "Decasan"; pill of a probiotic action "BioGaia ProDentis" and the immune modulator "Imupret". Children from the comparative group were treated according to the common scheme. Oral microflora of children after treatment was decreased by 69,42% of general microbial number in children from the main group. Natural immunity state was also indicative of the improved protective mechanisms of the oral cavity in children from the main subgroup in the dynamics of treatment: twice as less level of mRNA TLR-2 expression was found in the main subgroup and mRNA TLR-4 - 45,44%. Therefore, the initiated course of treatment concerning chronic catarrhal gingivitis promoted a considerable improvement of the periodontal tissue state in children.

A longitudinal assessment of periodontal disease in Yorkshire terriers.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease of dogs and has been associated with systemic disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent of periodontal disease in a population of Yorkshire terrier dogs with and without a tooth brushing regimen. Each dog was assessed under general anaesthesia two to five times between 37 and 78 weeks of age. The extent of gingivitis and periodontitis was ascertained for every tooth in the mouth. Gingivitis was measured using time to bleeding on probing, and periodontitis was based on extent of clinical attachment loss (probing depth, gingival recession and furcation exposure). RESULTS: Of the 49 dogs assessed at 37 weeks of age, 98% had at least one tooth or aspect with early periodontitis (PD2, < 25% attachment loss). The average percentage of teeth with periodontitis in the mouth was 29.6% with 95% confidence interval (23.6, 36.4). The odds of early periodontitis was 2.74 (2.23, 3.37) times higher at 78 weeks of age compared to 37 weeks of age. The canine teeth had a significantly higher probability of periodontitis compared to all other tooth types at both 37 and 78 weeks of age (p < 0.001). In addition, at the same time points, the incisors had a significantly higher probability of periodontitis compared to the molars and premolars (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Breeds of dog that are susceptible to developing periodontitis, such as Yorkshire terriers, require effective treatments for the prevention of periodontal disease from a young age. Although tooth brushing is one of the most effective methods when it comes to preventative homecare, this is not always realistic, as was found in this study. Therefore alternative ways to retard or prevent plaque accumulation that are practical for both dogs and their owners are required.

Chronic kidney disease in children: Assessment of oral health status.

BACKGROUND: Oral disease may be more prevalent in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to the underlying pathology and its treatment. In children, it can elicit a wide spectrum of oral manifestations, including saliva changes, mucosal lesions, oral infection, gingivitis, and dental anomalies (mostly hypoplasia). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the oral health status in a group of children with CKD and to compare with that from healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A clinical cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2016 and September 2017 on 126 pediatric patients. Oral findings in a group of 65 children suffering from CKD were compared with a control group consisting of 61 individuals, free of any disease. We obtained an assessment of the oral health status by collecting carious, debris, calculus, gingival conditions, hypoplasia, and salivary flow rate data by using specific indexes. Medical and dental history was obtained for each subject. RESULTS: We found that children with CKD have a lower prevalence of caries for both permanent dentition (p = 0.019) and primary dentition (p = 0.008), while the prevalence of calculus, debris, gingivitis and enamel hypoplasia seems to be higher (all p < 0.005). A significantly reduced salivary flow rate was also noted in the CKD children, both in unstimulated (p = 0.037) and stimulated (p = 0.026) conditions. CONCLUSIONS: CKD pediatric patients are more likely to present oral and dental changes than healthy children, so proper oral care and preventive measures should be taken to avoid potentially severe dental problems.

A longitudinal assessment of periodontal health status in 53 Labrador retrievers.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and rates of progression of gingivitis and periodontitis in Labrador retrievers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three dogs, aged 1·1 to 5·9 years, had their periodontal health assessed every 6 months for up to 2 years. The extent of gingivitis and periodontitis was measured around the whole gingival margin of every tooth under general anaesthesia. RESULTS: All dogs had gingivitis at the initial assessment. The majority (64·2%) of tooth aspects had very mild gingivitis. The palatal/lingual aspect of all tooth types was most likely to show bleeding when probed: 63·0% of these aspects had mild or moderate gingivitis. Over 2 years, 56·6% of dogs developed periodontitis and dogs as young as 1·9 years were affected. There was a significant positive correlation between the proportion of teeth with periodontitis and age. In total, 124 teeth (5·7%) developed periodontitis; 88 (71·0%) of these were incisors. The palatal/lingual aspect of the incisors developed the disease first (2·8% of incisor aspects). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Periodontitis developed in regions that are difficult to see in conscious dogs implying that detection and treatment of disease requires periodic sedation or anaesthesia.

Optical coherence tomography assessment of gingival epithelium inflammatory status in periodontal - Systemic affected patients.

INTRODUCTION: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging tool used in various medical fields (ophthalmology, dermatology), which allows the observation of morphological particularities on the surface of tissues or internal constructive details of about 2-3mms in depth. In periodontology, it has been used as an experimental tool for periodontal pocket analysis (depth, calculus deposits) but not for the assessment of periodontal inflammation in the gingival tissues, which has been the subject of our in-vitro study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Gingival samples were collected from three types of patients: patients with periodontal disease; patients with periodontal disease and a systemic comorbidity; periodontal and systemic healthy patients. The samples were scanned with an OCT light beam, resulting two-dimensional images of the gingival tissue (full thickness epithelium and partial connective tissue). The images were assessed using dedicated software, which allowed the quantification of pixels on a given segment in the epithelium. The average pixel densities were then calculated for each patient group and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The resulted pixel densities were highest for the control group samples, while the lowest pixel densities were found in samples originating from periodontal patients with diabetes mellitus. For the other possible periodontal comorbidity, chronic hepatitis C, image assessment also exhibited lower pixel densities than those of the periodontal group, suggesting that this condition could also have an added effect on the tissular changes induced by periodontal disease. CONCLUSION: OCT has proven that in an in-vitro environment it can be a useful tool for the assessment of periodontal inflammation in gingival samples of periodontal patients. In terms of inflammatory tissular changes observed by OCT analysis, chronic hepatitis C could be regarded as possible periodontal disease's comorbidity.

Development of a self-report questionnaire designed for population-based surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents: assessment of content validity and reliability.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and assess the content validity and reliability of a cognitively adapted self-report questionnaire designed for surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten predetermined self-report questions evaluating early signs and symptoms of gingivitis were preliminary assessed by a panel of clinical experts. Eight questions were selected and cognitively tested in 20 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from Santiago de Chile. The questionnaire was then conducted and answered by 178 Chilean adolescents. Internal consistency was measured using the Cronbach's alpha and temporal stability was calculated using the Kappa-index. RESULTS: A reliable final self-report questionnaire consisting of 5 questions was obtained, with a total Cronbach's alpha of 0.73 and a Kappa-index ranging from 0.41 to 0.77 between the different questions. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed questionnaire is reliable, with an acceptable internal consistency and a temporal stability from moderate to substantial, and it is promising for estimating the prevalence of gingivitis in adolescents.

Development of a self-report questionnaire designed for population-based surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents: assessment of content validity and reliability

Abstract The major infectious diseases in Chile encompass the periodontal diseases, with a combined prevalence that rises up to 90% of the population. Thus, the population-based surveillance of periodontal diseases plays a central role for assessing their prevalence and for planning, implementing, and evaluating preventive and control programs. Self-report questionnaires have been proposed for the surveillance of periodontal diseases in adult populations world-wide. Objective This study aimed to develop and assess the content validity and reliability of a cognitively adapted self-report questionnaire designed for surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents. Material and Methods Ten predetermined self-report questions evaluating early signs and symptoms of gingivitis were preliminary assessed by a panel of clinical experts. Eight questions were selected and cognitively tested in 20 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from Santiago de Chile. The questionnaire was then conducted and answered by 178 Chilean adolescents. Internal consistency was measured using the Cronbach's alpha and temporal stability was calculated using the Kappa-index. Results A reliable final self-report questionnaire consisting of 5 questions was obtained, with a total Cronbach's alpha of 0.73 and a Kappa-index ranging from 0.41 to 0.77 between the different questions. Conclusions The proposed questionnaire is reliable, with an acceptable internal consistency and a temporal stability from moderate to substantial, and it is promising for estimating the prevalence of gingivitis in adolescents.

Natural history of periodontitis: Disease progression and tooth loss over 40 years.

OBJECTIVES: To assess long-term attachment and periodontitis-related tooth loss (PTL) in untreated periodontal disease over 40 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data originated from the natural history of periodontitis study in Sri Lankan tea labourers first examined in 1970. In 2010, 75 subjects (15.6%) of the original cohort were re-examined. RESULTS: PTL over 40 years varied between 0 and 28 teeth (mean 13.1). Four subjects presented with no PTL, while 12 were edentulous. Logistic regression revealed attachment loss as a statistically significant covariate for PTL (p < .004). Markov chain analysis showed that smoking and calculus were associated with disease initiation and that calculus, plaque, and gingivitis were associated with loss of attachment and progression to advanced disease. Mean attachment loss <1.81 mm at the age of 30 yielded highest sensitivity and specificity (0.71) to allocate subjects into a cohort with a dentition of at least 20 teeth at 60 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of treating early periodontitis along with smoking cessation, in those under 30 years of age. They further show that calculus removal, plaque control, and the control of gingivitis are essential in preventing disease progression, further loss of attachment and ultimately tooth loss.

Prevalence, severity, and risk indicators of gingival inflammation in a multi-center study on South American adults: a cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVES:: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and severity of gingival inflammation and associated risk indicators in South American adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS:: Multi-stage samples totaling 1,650 adults from Porto Alegre (Brazil), Tucumán (Argentina), and Santiago (Chile) were assessed. The sampling procedure consisted of a 4-stage process. Examinations were performed in mobile dental units by calibrated examiners. A multivariable logistic regression model was utilized for associating variables as indicators of gingival inflammation (GI) (Gingival Index ≥0.5). Statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS:: A total of 96.5% of the adults have GI. Regarding the severity of GI, 22.5% of participants examined have mild GI, 74.0% have moderate GI, and 3.6% have severe GI. The multivariate analyses identify the main risk indicators for GI as adults with higher mean of Calculus Index (OR=18.59); with a Visible Plaque Index ≥30% (OR=14.56); living in Santiago (OR=7.17); having ≤12 years of schooling (OR=2.18), and females (OR=1.93). CONCLUSIONS:: This study shows a high prevalence and severity of gingival inflammation, being the first one performed in adult populations in three cities of South America.

Prevalence, severity, and risk indicators of gingival inflammation in a multi-center study on South American adults: a cross sectional study

ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and severity of gingival inflammation and associated risk indicators in South American adults. Material and Methods: Multi-stage samples totaling 1,650 adults from Porto Alegre (Brazil), Tucumán (Argentina), and Santiago (Chile) were assessed. The sampling procedure consisted of a 4-stage process. Examinations were performed in mobile dental units by calibrated examiners. A multivariable logistic regression model was utilized for associating variables as indicators of gingival inflammation (GI) (Gingival Index ≥0.5). Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 96.5% of the adults have GI. Regarding the severity of GI, 22.5% of participants examined have mild GI, 74.0% have moderate GI, and 3.6% have severe GI. The multivariate analyses identify the main risk indicators for GI as adults with higher mean of Calculus Index (OR=18.59); with a Visible Plaque Index ≥30% (OR=14.56); living in Santiago (OR=7.17); having ≤12 years of schooling (OR=2.18), and females (OR=1.93). Conclusions: This study shows a high prevalence and severity of gingival inflammation, being the first one performed in adult populations in three cities of South America.

Risk of Allergic Rhinitis, Allergic Conjunctivitis, and Eczema in Children Born to Mothers with Gum Inflammation during Pregnancy.

PURPOSE: Despite links between maternal and child health status, evidence on the association between gum infection in pregnant mothers and childhood allergies is scarce. We aim to evaluate the risk of developing allergy in children born to periodontal mothers in a nationwide study. METHODS: We conducted a 9-year population-based, retrospective cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance database. A study cohort of 42,217 newborns born to mothers with periodontal disease during pregnancy was identified in 2001 and matched with 42,334 babies born to mothers without any infection (control) by mother's age at delivery and baby sex. With a follow-up period from 2001 to 2010, we observed the incidence of allergic rhinitis (AR), allergic conjunctivitis (AC), and eczema in these children. Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed with premature deaths as competing risk for the estimation of allergic disease risks. RESULTS: Nine-year cumulative incidences were the highest among children born to periodontal mothers; they reached 46.8%, 24.2%, and 40.4% (vs. 39.5%, 18.3% and 34.8% in control) for AR, AC, and eczema, respectively. Our results showed moderately increased risks for the allergies in children born to periodontal mothers relative to their matched non-inflammatory control (adjusted HRs: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.15-1.20; 1.27, 1.24-1.31; 1.14, 1.12-1.17, respectively). Because the impact of food consumption and living environment cannot be considered using insurance data, we attempted to control it by adjusting for parental income and mother's residential area. CONCLUSIONS: Overall cumulative incidence and risks of children born to periodontal mothers for AR, AC, and eczema are significantly higher than those born to non-inflammatory mothers. Gum infection in women during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for allergic diseases in children, thus its intergenerational consequences should be considered in gestational care.

Oral health status and treatment needs of hearing impaired children attending a special school in Bhimavaram, India.

BACKGROUND: Children with hearing impairment (CHI) have special accessibility issues to meet their health care needs. Their oral health status is deprived and has wide ranging treatment needs to attend. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral health status and treatment needs of CHI attending a special school in Bhimavaram Town, India. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in November 2012 at SVS special school for deaf, Bhimavaram, India. This study involved 180 CHI of both genders, aged 6-16 years, divided into Group-I (6-8 years), Group-II (9-12 years), and Group-III (13-16 years). Oral health status and treatment needs were recorded using methods and standards recommended by the WHO for Oral Health Surveys, 1997. Dental caries prevalence (decayed, missing, and filled teeth [DMFT/dmft]), gingivitis levels (Lφe, Silness Gingival Index), plaque levels (Silness, Lφe Plaque index), and treatment needs were the parameters recorded and analyzed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Z-test for proportion, one-way analysis of variance, and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Prevalence of dental caries in the sample was found to be 65% with a mean level of caries prevalence (DMFT) of 1.6 ± 1.3 in Group-I, 1.9 ± 1.2 in Group-II, and 2.2 ± 1.2 in Group-III. About 91.7% of the total children examined needs treatment. The mean plaque and gingivitis scores of the sample were 1.70 ± 0.61 and 1.59 ± 0.58, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings imply the overwhelming situation of CHI in oral health perspective. Hence, prevention-based educational and motivational programs should be targeted to this vital group to achieve adequate oral hygiene levels.

Chemical salivary composition and its relationship with periodontal disease and dental calculus

Aim: To determine the relationship between the chemical composition of saliva, periodontal disease and dental calculus. Methods: An observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with patients over 55 years of age. Ethical principles of autonomy and risk protection were applied according to the international standards. Sociodemographic and diagnosis variables (presence of dental calculus and periodontal status) were considered to measure salivary concentrations of glucose (by the glucose oxidase/peroxidase method, amylase (by the colorimetric test), urea (by the amount of indophenol), total protein (by the Bradford method) and albumin (by the nephelometric method). Patients chewed a sterile rubber band and 3 mL of stimulated saliva were collected. The samples were stored at -5 °C, centrifuged at 2,800 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was removed and stored at -20 °C. Data were presented as frequencies and proportions for qualitative variables and measures of central tendency and dispersion for quantitative variables. Data were analyzed by either analysis of variance or Kruskal Wallis test . A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Significant relationships were observed between the concentration of salivary urea and periodontal status (p = 0.03) and the presence of dental calculus and urea (p = 0.04) was demonstrated. Conclusions: A relationship between the salivary urea concentration and the presence of periodontal disease and dental calculus is suggested.

Presence of gingivitis and periodontitis significantly increases hospital charges in patients undergoing heart valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and impact of gingivitis and periodontitis in patients having heart valve surgical procedures. METHODS: Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2004-2010 was used. All patients who had heart valve surgical procedures were selected. Prevalence of gingivitis/periodontitis was examined in these patients. Impact of gingivitis/periodontitis on hospital charges, length of stay, and infectious complications was examined. RESULTS: 596,190 patients had heart valve surgical procedures. Gingivitis/periodontitis was present in 0.2 percent. Outcomes included: median hospital charges ($175,418 with gingivitis/ periodontitis versus $149,353 without gingivitis/periodontitis) and median length of stay (14 days with gingivitis/periodontitis versus 8 days without gingivitis/periodontitis). After adjusting for the effects of patient- and hospital-level confounding factors, hospital charges and length of stay were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in those with gingivitis/periodontitis compared to their counterparts. Further, patients with gingivitis/periodontitis had significantly higher odds for having bacterial infections (OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 2.33-4.98, p < 0.0001) when compared to those without gingivitis/periodontitis. CONCLUSION: Presence of gingivitis and periodontitis is associated with higher risk for bacterial infections and significant hospital resource utilization.