Case-control study for assessment of factors associated with periodontitis among adults attending a university hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the physiological and biochemical markers in healthy and periodontitis subjects, and to relate these markers with the periodontal health condition. METHOD: The case-control study was conducted at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from April 2017 to March 2018, and comprised systematically healthy controls and periodontitis cases. Periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment loss, oral hygiene indices, educational status and body mass index were recorded for all the subjects. Serum levels of biochemical markers, including calcium, phosphate and interleukin-6, were also measured. Data was analysed using SPSS 16. RESULTS: Of the 150 subjects, 75(50%) each were in the case and control groups. The overall mean age was 31.23±3.7 years (range: 22-42 years). The cases had relatively poor oral hygiene indices and educational status compared to the controls (p<0.05). Serum calcium level was lower, whereas mean body mass index was higher in the cases compared to the controls (p<0.05). No significant difference was found in interleukin-6 and phosphate levels (p>0.05). Clinical attachment loss showed significant correlation (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low serum calcium and educational levels, higher body mass index and poor oral hygiene were found to be the risk factors for the progression of periodontitis.

The relationship of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and Vitamin D binding protein in periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to explore the relationship between 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) and Vitamin-D binding protein (DBP) in patients with periodontitis and healthy controls. METHODS: Seventy-five periodontitis cases were recruited from the dental OPD of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. Diagnostic criteria of periodontitis were followed according to the probe pocket depth and clinical attachment loss. Seventy-five periodontal healthy controls were selected from the faculty and students of same university. Serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D and DBP were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Significantly low levels of 1,25(OH)2D and high levels of serum DBP were observed in periodontitis patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.05), with levels of DBP increasing significantly with the severity of periodontitis (p=0.005). Concentrations of DBP correlated positively with 1,25(OH)2D, especially in cases with periodontitis (r =0.780; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the study, we conclude that low 1,25(OH)2D levels and high DBP levels are associated with periodontitis.

Impact of Oral Health Educational Interventions on Oral Hygiene Status of Children with Hearing Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Oral health is considered as one of the essential components of the overall health of every individual. Maintaining oral health is a gradual process that requires commitment. Children who require special care such as hearing impairment experience difficulty in maintaining oral health primarily due to communication difficulties. This study is aimed at using different interventions to evaluate the improvement of oral hygiene in hearing impaired children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine children were recruited in this study that were allocated randomly into each group with twenty children as follows: group 1: pictorial, group 2: video, and group 3: control. Mean plaque and gingival scores were noted before and after the use of different interventions. Oral hygiene was categorized as "excellent," "good," and "fair." Gingival health was categorized as "healthy," "mild gingivitis," and "moderate gingivitis." RESULTS: Thirty-four children (57.6%) were from 12-13 years of age bracket, and 25 (42.4%) belonged to 14-16 years of age. Regarding gender, there were 37 (62.7%) males and 22 (37.3%) females. About comparison of mean gingival and plaque scores before and after interventions in each group, a significant difference was found in group 1 (p < 0.001) and group 2 (p < 0.001), as compared to group 3 where the difference in scores was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Maintaining oral health requires the compliance of individuals to perform different methods of preventive dentistry, such as tooth brushing and use of dental floss. The use of different oral hygiene educational interventions such as pictorial and video methods have been proven and useful for hearing impaired children in improving oral health.