Prevalence of periodontitis in obese patients in Bahrain: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Adult obesity has been associated with various systemic diseases and is an increasing problem in Bahrain. Recent evidence indicates a correlation between adult obesity and periodontitis. Hence the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of periodontitis in overweight/obese adults in Bahrain and to determine the factors associated with periodontitis in these obese adults. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted in overweight subjects attending Ministry of Health (MOH) Nutrition Clinics at primary health centers in Bahrain. After obtaining the institutional ethics approval, the demographic and anthropometric data, including Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) using World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds for severity of obesity, were recorded. Periodontal status was measured using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and the extent and severity of periodontal disease were categorized according to the number of sextants with CPI codes 3 and 4. RESULTS: A total of 372 participated with a mean age 44.0 (± 10.5) years for males, and 42.5 (± 11.2) years for females. Periodontitis was present in 361 (97%) of participants. Hypertension and diabetes were the most prevalent co-morbidities at 23.4% and 16% respectively. Mean WC was significantly greater in males at 114 cm (± 15.6) compared to females 109.5 cm (± 12.5) (p < 0.001). BMI was not associated with severity or extent of periodontitis but WC was weakly correlated in males but not in females (Spearman rho = + 0.2, p < 0.05). In the logistic regression model using overall WC to predict the severity of periodontitis, the adjusted OR was 1.02 (95% CI 1.00-1.04) and for age it was 1.05 (95% CI 1.00-1.07). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of periodontitis was high in this sample of overweight Bahrainis. BMI was not correlated with periodontitis but WC had a weak positive correlation. Implementation of periodontal health screening as a routine part of a nutrition clinic program is recommended.

Three-dimensional computed tomography analysis of airway volume in growing class II patients treated with Frankel II appliance.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the airway volume changes associated with the use of Frankel appliance (FR II) in Class II malocclusion patients using three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography (3D CBCT) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 31 Class II malocclusion patients (mean age 9.24 ± 1.93 years old, 17 males (54.8%) and 14 females (45.2%)) treated with FR II appliance by the same orthodontist for an average of 9 months ± 20 days. CBCT images were taken before and after treatment and upper airway volume changes were measured using Dolphin 3D software version11.0 (Dolphin Imaging, Chatsworth, CA) and statistically compared. RESULTS: Airway volume of nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx and the total airway volume significantly increased after the use of FR II appliance. In addition, significant increase was reported in maxillary base, inter-molar, inter-premolar and inter-canine width. Significant increase in soft tissue thickness was only recorded opposite to CV2. CONCLUSION: The use of the FR II appliance in growing subjects with Class II malocclusion led to a significant increase in the upper airway volume in addition to the anticipated dental and skeletal transverse expansion effects.

How Do Schoolchildren View Other Children Who Have Discolored Teeth?

OBJECTIVES: Facial look and expression affect how people are viewed by others. This study aimed to evaluate how schoolchildren in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates view their peers who have discolored teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study using randomized cluster sampling of Sharjah public schools was conducted. A previously developed and validated social attribute questionnaire was utilized to determine children's dental appearance-related judgments. Children aged 11-14 years were given photographs of subjects either with discolored teeth or without, and they were asked to rate them using six positive and five negative signifiers. The total attribute score (TAS) ranged from 11 (most negative) to 44 (most positive). A linear regression analysis and t-tests were performed to determine the effects of gender and age in mean TAS. RESULTS: TAS was significantly lower among discolored teeth photographs when compared with photographs without teeth discoloration (P = 0.004). TAS was found to be significantly higher with increased age (P = 0.035), but gender had no significant effect. CONCLUSION: Teeth discoloration resulted in more negative social judgment between Sharjah schoolchildren and their peers.

Enamel defects and caries prevalence in preterm children aged 5-10 years in Dubai.

Background: Enamel defects (EDs) are commonly reported dental findings in preterm/low birthweight children. EDs potentially increase caries susceptibility.Aim: To assess the prevalence of EDs and dental caries in a group of preterm children (aged 5-10 years) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methodology: A retrospective cohort study of medical records of 62 preterm children (mean age 8.1 ± 1.54) and 62 full-term children (mean age 8.1 ± 1.73) of both genders born in a UAE children's hospital were studied. These children were dentally assessed for EDs and caries by a calibrated examiner.Results: EDs were 4.34 times more prevalent among preterm children [odd ratio (OR) = 4.338, CI 95% [2.010-9.366]. The prevalence of EDs in the pre-term group was 58.15%, significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the full-term control group (24.2%). Birth weight, intubation and type of delivery were statistically significant factors contributing to EDs. In the primary dentition, the mean dmft was 4.61 ± 4.30, while in the permanent dentition DMFT was 0.38 ± 0.99. There was a statistically significant difference in permanent teeth caries experience amongst pre-term children compared to the full-term control as measured by DMFT (P = 0.008).Conclusion: EDs and dental caries in permanent dentition in the pre-term group were significantly higher than the full-term group.

Changes in preschool children's oral health-related quality of life following restorative dental general anaesthesia.

Background Early childhood caries is the most common childhood disease in preschool children which often requires dental treatment under restorative dental general anaesthesia (RDGA).Aim To assess the effect of RDGA on preschool children and their families' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).Methods A cross-sectional study using a RDGA pre- and post-operative survey to evaluate changes in OHRQoL. Parents completed the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) survey before and after their children underwent specialist paediatric RDGA in the United Arab Emirates from 1 March 2017 to 28 February 2018. The ECOHIS and its effect size (ES) served to evaluate children's OHRQoL status and changes, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank and the Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analyses.Results The mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) of the children (N = 173, mean age 4.6 years) before the treatment was very high (13.8 ± 3.07). Children's pain and eating problems, and parents feeling upset and guilty, were the most frequently reported impacts at baseline. The ECOHIS scores decreased significantly (p <0.001) after RDGA, revealing a large ES for the child (2.19) and family (2.79) sections of the ECOHIS.Conclusions Preschool children's RDGA resulted in significant improvement in all child and family physical, psychological and social aspects of OHRQoL.

A single-centre investigator-blinded randomised parallel-group study protocol to investigate the influence of an acclimatisation appointment on children's behaviour during N2O/O2 sedation as measured by psychological, behavioural and real-time physiological parameters.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe a study protocol of a randomised control trial (RCT) assessing the effectiveness, in reducing dental anxiety, of an acclimatising nitrous oxide sedation (N2O) session prior to actual dental treatment with N2O. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre investigator-blinded parallel-group RCT conducted in a postgraduate dental hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Anxious children requiring N2O (aged 5-15 years) will be randomly assigned to; a study group: children who will have a preparatory N2O trial experience or; a control group: children who will only have N2O explained to them. Treatment with N2O for both groups will start at the second visit. The following outcomes will be recorded: completion of dental treatment, anxiety scores at baseline and after treatment (using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale faces), behaviour of the child (using Frankl Rating Behaviour Scale) and the acquisition of real-time physiological anxiety-related parameters (using E4® electronic wrist devices). RESULTS: The data will be analysed statistically. DISCUSSION: There is a paucity of research regarding dental N2O acclimatising appointments. This RCT will supplement existing literature. CONCLUSIONS: This RCT will report whether prior acclimatising of a child to N2O sedation is effective, or not, in improving dental treatment behaviour.

The Prevalence and Severity of Molar Incisor Hypomineralization and Molar Hypomineralization in Dubai, UAE.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) among schoolchildren in Dubai, UAE.Methods: A randomized cluster sample of 342 eight to 12-year-old schoolchildren had their permanent first molars and incisors evaluated for prevalence and severity of MIH using the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry criteria.Results: The prevalence of MIH in Dubai was found to be 27.2 percent and was significantly higher in girls (32.6%) compared to boys (18.1%;P=0.002). The prevalence of molar hypomineralization (MH) was higher than MIH: of the 27.2 percent diagnosed children, 65.6 percent had only MH while 34.4 percent had MIH. MH prevalence in maxillary molars was 20.8 percent, significantly higher than 14.6 percent in mandibular molars (P≤0.005). Almost nine percent of maxillary incisors were affected by MIH compared to 0.9 percent of mandibular incisors (P≤0.001). The presence of demarcated opacities was significantly higher in females than males (P =0.002). Fifty-three percent of the children with MIH had mild defects, 17 percent had moderate defects, and 30 percent had severe defects.Conclusions: Despite the high prevalence of MIH in schoolchildren in Dubai, the severity was mild. The prevalence of MIH and MH was significantly related to sex and location of tooth in the oral cavity.

Oral manifestations and dentofacial anomalies in ß-thalassemia major children in Dubai (UAE).

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to identify special oral and dentofacial manifestations of ß-thalassemia major (ΒTM) in Emarati children in Dubai (UAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 38 (ΒTM) and 76 healthy Emirati children were recruited. An oral examination was conducted to determine dmft/DMFT indices, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, occlusal anomalies, dentofacial, and soft-tissue abnormalities. RESULTS: ΒTM children had significantly higher DMFT compared to the healthy controls (p-value, 0.017). The Met Need Index (MNI) and the Restorative Index (RI) were lower in the ΒTM group but without statistical significance. Calculus Index (CI) was found to be significantly higher in ΒTM children (p-value, 0.002). The proportion of gingivitis was significantly lower in the ΒTM group (p-value, 0.009). ΒTM children had significantly higher proportion of retained primary teeth (p-value, 0.001) and gingival pigmentation compared with healthy controls (p-value, 0.001). BTM children did not have any statistically significant difference in the Angle molar classiication compared to the control. Interestigly, a significantly higher proportion of transverse cross bite was found in the control subjects compared to the BTM group (p-value, 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly higher DMFT, retained primary teeth, gingival pigmentation, and CI was found in the BTM group compared to the controls while significantly lower gingivitis index and transverse cross bite was seen in the BTM group.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Sharjah Mothers of Preschool Children, United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVE: The improvement of children's oral health, a world global health target, is essential to general health and quality of life. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers toward their children's oral health in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional interview-based study was conducted among 383 mothers of preschool children (average age 3.49 [+1.63 years]) attending Sharjah Dental Center, UAE. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software for Windows, version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Adequate knowledge was found among 58.2% of mothers, 99% exhibited excellent attitude, and only 20% followed good practices toward their children's oral health. Poor knowledge and practice of mothers were significantly associated with mothers' occupation and education. Employed mothers had a significantly higher score of knowledge. Mothers with secondary education and university qualifications had significantly higher scores of practice compared with mothers with primary education. CONCLUSIONS: Although mothers had better than average knowledge and excellent attitude toward their children's oral health issues; most of them carried out improper practices. Mothers' educational and employment backgrounds were significant influencing factors.

Oral Health Status among Children with Cerebral Palsy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health status of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four CP and 125 healthy children were recruited from special needs centers and private/public schools in Dubai. A dental examination for decayed-missing-filled teeth in primary dentition (dmft)/Decayed-Missing-Filled teeth in permanent dentition (DMFT) indices, simplified oral hygiene index, calculus index (CI), and oral debris index was conducted. In addition, assessments of occlusal, dentofacial, soft tissue anomalies and erosion were conducted. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS for Windows, version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: DMFT/dmft scores were comparable in both groups. CI was significantly higher among children with CP. CP patients had a significantly higher proportion of anterior open bite, anterior spacing, Class II molar Angle malocclusion, trauma, high-arched palate, tongue thrust, lymphadenopathy, angular cheilitis, macroglossia, drooling, and erosion as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlighted peculiar characteristics and needs for the CP patients in Dubai, UAE.