Preventative dental practices and cardiometabolic health in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between preventative dental practices and cardiometabolic health in adolescents. METHODS: Analysis included children aged 13-17 years enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011-2018 who completed an Oral Health Examination and Questionnaire. Deferred dental care was defined as not having a dental visit in the past year. Financial barriers to seeking dental care (vs. no financial barriers) were assessed among those with deferred dental care in the past year. Primary cardiometabolic outcomes included obesity, elevated blood pressure and hypertensive blood pressure. Secondary outcomes included dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, uric acid, glomerular hyperfiltration, and albuminuria. Regression models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, household income, food insecurity, health insurance status, household education, and body mass index z-score examined associations using complex survey design procedures. RESULTS: Of 2,861 adolescents, 17.6% (SE 0.9%) did not receive dental care in the past year and 20.2% (SE 1.9%) had a financial barrier to accessing dental care. In adjusted regression models, adolescents with deferred dental care had higher odds of dyslipidemia (OR= 1.51, 95% CI 1.07, 2.11 p = 0.020). Having a financial barrier was associated with a lower odd of dyslipidemia (OR=0.35, 95% CI 0.14, 0.89 p = 0.03). Financial barriers were associated with lower non-HDL (b=-7.95, 95% CI -14.87, -1.05 p=0.03) and higher HDL (b=3.06, 95% CI 0.37, 5.75 p=0.03) in adjusted models. Deferred dental care and financial barriers were not associated with any other cardiometabolic parameters. CONCLUSION: In this nationally representative cohort of adolescents, there was an association between lack of preventative dental care and the cardiometabolic health marker of dyslipidemia. However, financial barriers to dental care were surprisingly associated with higher HDL levels and lower odds of dyslipidemia.

Craniofacial disorders and dysplasias: Molecular, clinical, and management perspectives.

There is a wide spectrum of craniofacial bone disorders and dysplasias because embryological development of the craniofacial region is complex. Classification of craniofacial bone disorders and dysplasias is also complex because they exhibit complex clinical, pathological, and molecular heterogeneity. Most craniofacial disorders and dysplasias are rare but they present an array of phenotypes that functionally impact the orofacial complex. Management of craniofacial disorders is a multidisciplinary approach that involves the collaborative efforts of multiple professionals. This review provides an overview of the complexity of craniofacial disorders and dysplasias from molecular, clinical, and management perspectives.

Oral health outcomes in an HIV cohort with comorbidities- implementation roadmap for a longitudinal prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) perpetually suppresses HIV load and has dramatically altered the prognosis of HIV infection, such that HIV is now regarded as a chronic disease. Side effects of ART in Patients With HIV (PWH), has introduced new challenges including "metabolic" (systemic) and oral complications. Furthermore, inflammation persists despite great viral load suppression and normal levels of CD4+ cell count. The impact of ART on the spectrum of oral diseases among PWH is often overlooked relative to other systemic complications. There is paucity of data on oral complications associated with ART use in PWH. This is in part due to limited prospective longitudinal studies designed to better understand the range of oral abnormalities observed in PWH on ART. METHODS: We describe here the study design, including processes associated with subject recruitment and retention, study visit planning, oral health assessments, bio-specimen collection and preprocessing procedures, and data management and statistical plan. DISCUSSION: We present a procedural roadmap that could be modelled to assess the extent and progression of oral diseases associated with ART in PWH. We also highlight the rigors and challenges associated with our ongoing participant recruitment and retention. A rigorous prospective longitudinal study requires proper planning and execution. A great benefit is that large data sets are collected and biospecimen repository can be used to answer more questions in future studies including genetic, microbiome and metabolome-based studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: National Institute of Health Clinical Trials Registration (NCT) #: NCT04645693.

Oral Health Outcomes In An HIV Cohort With Comorbidities- Implementation Roadmap For A Longitudinal Prospective Observational Study.

Long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) perpetually suppresses HIV load and has dramatically altered the prognosis of HIV infection, such that HIV is now regarded as a chronic disease. Side effects of ART in Patients With HIV (PWH), has introduced new challenges including "metabolic" (systemic) and oral complications. Furthermore, inflammation persists despite great viral load suppression and normal levels of CD4+ cell count. The impact of ART on the spectrum of oral diseases among PWH is often overlooked relative to other systemic complications. There is paucity of data on oral complications associated with ART use in PWH. This is in part due to limited prospective longitudinal studies designed to better understand the range of oral abnormalities observed in PWH on ART. Our group designed and implemented a prospective observational longitudinal study to address this gap. We present a procedural roadmap that could be modelled to assess the extent and progression of oral diseases associated with ART in PWH. We described here the processes associated with subject recruitment and retention, study visit planning, oral health assessments, bio-specimen collection and preprocessing procedures, and data management. We also highlighted the rigors and challenges associated with participant recruitment and retention.

A Patient with Hypothyroidism in Need of Periodontal Connective Tissue Graft Surgery.

Hypothyroidism is a condition characterized by thyroid hormone deficiency and can be caused by a variety of factors. Untreated or chronic hypothyroidism can present in adult patients as myxedema, which is characterized by symptoms including fatigue, generalized slower metabolism, weight gain, depressed mood, dry skin, and brittle hair. Hypothyroidism can have various oral manifestations, particularly in children, in whom it can delay the eruption of the dentition. Dental management of patients with hypothyroidism depends on the etiology and status of the disease and requires the consideration of other organ systems affected.

A Diabetic Patient with Acute Osteomyelitis Presenting with Jaw Pain and Submandibular Swelling.

This case scenario shows the value of applying relevant imaging and the selection of appropriate antibiotic via culture and sensitivity before prescribing especially when dealing with a patient with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. When confronted with a diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis, it is always better to refer the patient to a hospital for admission where the management and any other intervention is easily accomplished. Admission to the hospital, culture and sensitivity, and appropriate intravenous antibiotics may have limited the progress of the infection and ultimately may have prevented the sequestration in this patient, limiting the degree of morbidity. Monitoring and control of blood glucose levels is an important part of the management in a patient from this scenario.

A Female Patient Recently Diagnosed with Sjogren Syndrome Presents to the Dental Office Seeking Upper and Lower Complete Dentures.

Sjogren syndrome (SS) is a common autoimmune disease associated with the immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands, primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands. As a result, patients have xerophthalmia and xerostomia (Sicca syndrome). The diagnosis of SS can be difficult due to its multifactorial nature and often insidious symptoms, and there is no one test for its diagnosis. The many oral manifestations in SS stemming from the xerostomia present challenges to the treating dentist. Dentists should be knowledgeable about SS and its palliative care to help improve their patients' quality of life.

A Patient with a History of Multiple Myeloma Presents for the Evaluation of Oral Lesion and Burning Sensation of the Mouth.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy belonging to a class of disorders known as plasma cell dyscrasias. Common oral manifestations of MM include osteolytic lesions in the mandible and maxilla that can present as painful bony swellings, epulis formation, or sudden teeth movement. MM treatment is coordinated by a multidisciplinary team and is dependent upon the age and physical fitness of the patient, as well as the staging of the disease. A large proportion will be treated with intravenous bisphosphonates, such as pamidronate and zoledronic acid, which places the patients at high risk for developing medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).

A Patient Presenting for Dental Extraction After Completion of Chemotherapy.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presents several oral manifestations, including gingival hyperplasia, pale mucosa, poor wound healing, petechiae, ecchymoses, candidiasis, recurrent herpes infection, and ulcerations in the oral mucosa. Chemotherapy is the first-line treatment of AML. Common dental complications of chemotherapy include mucositis, infections secondary to profound bone marrow aplasia, and gingival bleeding. When treating patients with AML, preparing a comprehensive treatment plan is essential to help minimize their risks for developing these oral complications.

A Patient Presents for Dental Extraction and Goes into Sickle Cell Crisis in the Dental Chair.

Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy associated with multiorgan damage. This single gene disorder involves one DNA base pair alteration, producing HbS. The sickle-shaped cells form when deoxygenated in the capillaries. The resulting RBC stasis leads to ischemia and pain, and acute and chronic organ damage. Patients with SCD presenting to a dental office need careful examination to rule out any current infections, neurologic deficits, or other organ involvement before formulating a dental treatment plan to avoid prolonged and complicated procedures. Early intervention and dental anxiety management are key to the dental treatment of patients with SCD.

A Patient with Herpes Zoster of the Maxillary Division of Trigeminal Nerve Presents for Oral Evaluation and Toothache.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute and painful neurocutaneous infection caused by the reactivation of a latent varicella-zoster virus in the dorsal root or cranial nerve ganglia. It is characterized by 3 stages: prodromal, acute, and chronic. During the prodromal stage, reactivation in the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve closely mimics odontalgia, and HZ should be in the differential diagnosis. Patients with HZ develop painful lesions following the affected dermatome. Laboratory testing confirms the diagnosis; treatment is with antiviral agents. Early detection and treatment shorten the course of the infection and lessen the severity of the associated postherpetic neuralgia.

A Patient Diagnosed with Bulimia Reports to the Dental Office Seeking Cosmetic Dental Work.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious psychiatric illness that typically occurs in adolescents and young adults. It is characterized by recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food with an inappropriate compensatory behavior of purging to prevent weight gain. The purging behavior results in oral manifestations such as dental erosion, dental caries, sialadenosis, and oral mucosal trauma. Medical complications include electrolyte imbalances, esophageal rupture, and renal and cardiovascular failure. Treatment of BN involves psychosocial and psychopharmacologic approaches. Dentists are in a unique position to recognize patients with BN and help patients with BN and other eating disorders.

A Pregnant Patient (First Trimester) Reporting for Pain in Relation to the Maxillary Left First Molar Was Prescribed a Full Mouth Series Radiographs in the Dental Office.

This case scenario shows the value of conducting a thorough clinical examination that will direct appropriate radiographic selection and prescription criteria to be able to arrive at a diagnosis. Proper management of a patient's chief complaint and imaging needs during pregnancy is of utmost importance. It is prudent to limit ionizing radiation during the first trimester to what is minimally needed and defer elective imaging until after the birth of the baby. It is important for dental health care providers to do what is necessary for the patient for the emergent situation and postpone all elective imaging and follow the published FDA/ADA radiographic selection criteria.

Application of Panoramic Radiography in the Detection of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis-Current State of the Art.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Osteoporosis ranks high among morbidities in the elderly as it is a natural process to lose bone, making them susceptible to fractures from minor falls. The cost of managing these patients is staggering. The fractures can be prevented with better care of the elderly, and by treating the major predisposing factor, osteoporosis. Clinicians and scientists, in general, constantly look for early diagnostic and prognostic indicators for osteopenia and osteoporosis to proactively prevent fractures. Dental panoramic radiography (DPR) is a rotational pantomography used for identifying dental pathology in patients. Early signs of osteopenia and osteoporosis can be identified in DPR. The usefulness of notable jaw changes in DPR to predict osteopenia and osteoporosis is still evolving as more studies continue to delve into this concept. The purpose of this review is to present advances made in the practical application of DPR for predicting early onset of osteopenia and osteoporosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Dental panoramic radiography, a form of tomography commonly used by dental practitioners, has been the standard of care for decades for detecting dento-alveolar pathology. Several technological advancements have taken place with respect to the use of DPR. These include conversion from plain film to digital radiography, advancements in the manufacture of flat panel detectors, and accurate imaging of the layers of mandible and maxilla that has become possible with appropriate patient positioning within the focal trough of the machine. Improvements in the software infrastructure make it easier to view, enhance, and save the radiographic images. The radiographic appearance of the trabecular bone within the mandible and indices measured from the dental panoramic radiographs focusing on the inferior cortex of the mandible are considered useful tools for identifying asymptomatic individuals with osteoporosis or at risk for developing osteoporosis. These indices apparently correlate with risks of fragility fractures of osteoporosis in other parts of the body. Dental panoramic radiography (DPR) is a commonly used radiographic procedure in dentistry for evaluation of teeth and associated maxillofacial structures. The evaluation of the inferior border of the mandible for reduction or loss of cortical thickness and evaluation of the trabecular bone within the mandible are helpful markers for early signs of osteopenia to identify patients at risk for osteoporosis. This review focused on research advancements on practical application of DPR in early identification of osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Dental Management of the Human Papilloma Virus-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Patient.

Human papilloma virus (HPV)-attributable head and neck cancers (HNCs) are on the rise, impacting younger patients compared with HPV (-) HNC. Fortunately, HPV (+) HNCs are associated with favorable prognoses and tend to be radiosensitive. However, radiation therapy for the treatment of HNC is associated with acute and chronic normal tissue toxicity to salivary glands, muscles, bone, and the oral cavity and presents a treatment challenge. Thus, the prevention of normal tissue injury and optimization of oral health are key. Dental teams are important members of the multidisciplinary cancer team.

An Adolescent Patient Reports to Dental Office for Pain in Relation to Mandibular Molar with an Incidental Palpable Thrill in the Submandibular Region.

A young female patient presents to a dental clinic for treatment of swelling and pain. Clinical examination and testing are completed revealing concomitant, suspected vascular pathology of the head and neck area. An endodontic diagnosis is made, but an unusual clinical finding of a vascular entity, not typically considered by dentists, requires interdisciplinary assessment and management with vascular surgery before surgical intervention of the oral cavity.

Mönckeberg Medial Arteriosclerosis in a Geriatric Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease and Poorly Controlled Diabetes Reporting for a Dental Recall Visit.

Mönckeberg medial arteriosclerosis is a condition characterized by the calcification of the tunica media layer of the blood vessels that are visible on plain radiography or sectional tomography. In dentistry, a properly acquired panoramic radiograph may show the condition incidentally. It is also known as medial arterial calcinosis and can be associated with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. This condition is different from the more common atherosclerosis where the tunica intima remains unaffected, and the diameter of the vessel lumen is preserved. Dental treatment can be performed when the patient is stable with medically controlled diabetes.

A Patient with Severe Anxiety and Episodes of Fainting in Need of Dental Restoration.

Patients with extreme dental anxiety and dental phobia are candidates for syncope attacks in a dental chair. Early recognition and management of these episodes is important. Vasovagal syncope is often preceded by prodromal signs and symptoms like facial pallor, diaphoresis, fainting, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. If any element of the patient's airway, breathing, or cardiovascular system is no longer intact, the provider should commence emergency basic life support protocols and notify emergency medical services immediately.

A Patient with a History of Myocardial Infarction and a Stent Presenting for Full Mouth Extractions.

The scenario presented is of a patient in the dental chair who had history of myocardial infarction and history of stent placed in the left anterior descending coronary artery who now presents with acute chest pain, chest tightness, and extreme dizziness. Confirming cardiopulmonary arrest and beginning basic life support are the first steps in the management followed by defibrillation, advanced cardiac life support, post-resuscitation care, and long-term management.