Analysis of Health Profile and Treatment Needs of Patients with Special Health Care Needs at a Malaysian Teaching Hospital: A 6-Year Observation.

Aims and Objectives: Special care dentistry (SCD) provides oral health care to disabled individuals in an environmental, cultural or social setting that supports their oral health. This study aimed to analyze the profiles of patients managed at an SCD clinic in a teaching hospital based on their sociodemographic background, medical condition or disability, dental diagnosis and treatment provided. Materials and Methods: This retrospective audit study included patients seen from the clinic's inception in January 2017 until June 2022, retrieved from the faculty's record management system. The pattern of patients seen was arranged on an Excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS. Quantitative data were analyzed via descriptive analysis (frequency) and chi-square test (P < 0.05). Results: A 220% surge in the number of patients treated between January 2017 and June 2022, from two to 91 years old, with more male patients seen. Most patients had an intellectual disability (49.7%), followed by medical compromised (16.4%) and genetic conditions or syndromes (12.0%). 43% of had caries, which is more prevalent in women, and 31.6% had periodontal disease, with the majority being between the ages of 21 and 40. Periodontal treatment accounted for most of the dental treatment (76.1%). Even though only a small percentage of endodontic therapy was performed (2.4%), a significant association was found between the treatment, gender and age group of patients seen in the clinic. Conclusion: Considering their health profile, oral diagnosis and therapy, this study demonstrated the varied sorts of patients encountered in an SCD specialist clinic. This useful information will be beneficial in the development of a comprehensive care dentistry center for this community.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the comparative effectiveness of Salvadora persica - extract mouthwash with chlorhexidine gluconate in periodontal health.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Salvadora persica L., also known as miswak, is an indigenous plant most prevalent in the Middle Eastern, some Asian, and African countries. It has medicinal and prophylactics function for numerous illnesses, including periodontal disease. Various trials, apart from World Health Organization encouragement have contributed to the production and use of S. persica in extract form in the formulation of mouthwash. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical effect of Salvadora persica-extract mouthwash and chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash for anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis functions. METHODS: Using the PRISMA 2020 Protocol, a systematic search of the publications was undertaken from the MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholars for randomized control trials published through 31st January 2022 to determine the effectiveness of Salvadora persica-extract mouthwash relative to chlorhexidine gluconate as anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis properties. RESULTS: A total of 1809 titles and abstracts were screened. Of these, twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review while only sixteen were selected for meta-analysis. The overall effects of standardized mean difference and 95% CI were 0.89 [95% CI 0.09 to 1.69] with a χ2 statistic of 2.54, 15 degrees of freedom (p < 0.00001), I2 = 97% as anti-plaque function and 95% CI were 0.12 [95% CI -0.43 to 0.67] with a χ2 statistic of 0.68 with 10 degree of freedom (p < 0.00001), I2 = 89% as anti-gingivitis. CONCLUSION: This review suggests that Salvadora persica-extract mouthwash causes a significant reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation. While the improvement is inferior to chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, S. persica-extract mouthwash may be considered as a herbal alternative to the user pursuing periodontal care with natural ingredients.

Salvadora persica L. chewing stick and standard toothbrush as anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis tool: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Salvadora persica L. chewing stick, commonly known as miswak is still being used as an oral hygiene tool for plaque control and prevention against gingivitis. Various studies have reported on the therapeutics and prophylactic effects particularly on periodontal disease. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of S. persica chewing stick compared to the standard toothbrush for anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant systematic search of literature was done from the MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar. Literature that fulfilled eligibility criteria was identified. Data measuring plaque score and bleeding score were extracted. Qualitative and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. RESULTS: From 1736 titles and abstracts screened, eight articles were utilized for qualitative analysis, while five were selected for meta-analysis. The pooled effect estimates of SMD and 95% CI were -0.07 [-0.60 to 0.45] with an χ2 statistic of 0.32 (p = 0.0001), I2 = 80% as anti-plaque function and 95% CI were -2.07 [-4.05 to -0.10] with an χ2 statistic of 1.67 (p = 0.02), I2 = 82%. CONCLUSION: S. persica chewing stick is a tool that could control plaque, comparable to a standard toothbrush. Further, it has a better anti-gingivitis effect and can be used as an alternative.