Effect of calcium and Vitamin D supplementation on residual ridge resorption in edentulous patients: An open-label randomized study.

AIM: Complete dentures (CDs) are fabricated to rehabilitate the edentulous. Severe residual ridge resorption (RRR) compromises CD functionality, adversely affecting function, appearance, systemic health, and quality of life. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The purpose of this study was to assess the benefit, if any, of calcium and Vitamin D supplementation on the rate of RRR. Retarding RRR would improve treatment prognosis and make CD fabrication less demanding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This longitudinal, parallel, open-label randomized study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics of the institute. One hundred and fifty edentulous subjects underwent bone mineral density (BMD) assessment followed by CD fabrication to measure RR height and width with computerized tomographic (CT) scans. Subjects were randomized to oral supplementation group - S, given combined Vitamin D and calcium daily, and nonsupplementation group - NS. Subjects from both the groups were followed up with repeat BMD test and CT scan after 12 months. Mean BMD, RR height and width, and RRR values were collected, analyzed, and compared for the two groups using STATA 17. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED AND RESULTS: Baseline mean T-score, RR height, and RR width were - 1.84, 22.30 mm, and 4.25 mm, respectively, for the sample. In both Groups S and NS, a statistically significant decrease in mandibular RR height (P = 0.000 for both) and width (P = 0.027 and 0.003, respectively) was observed at 1-year follow-up. There was a statistically insignificant difference between Groups S and NS for mean BMD, T-score, RR height and width, and RRR at both baseline and 12-month follow-up. One-year RRR rate for Group S (1.30 mm) was insignificantly lesser than for group NS (1.33 mm). CONCLUSION: Short-term oral calcium and Vitamin D supplementation was ineffective in reducing RRR and improving BMD.

The effect of food supplements on completely edentulous women rehabilitated with complete dentures: A randomized controlled trial.

Aim: Neglected oral health is a major issue, especially in women of developing countries, leading to early loss of teeth which may further lead to malnutrition, degradation of overall health, and increased chances of osteoporosis. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of food supplement on masticatory performance, nutritional status, electromyography (EMG) (masseter and temporalis), and bone mineral density (BMD) among women rehabilitated with complete denture. Settings and Design: Hospital based randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial with 106 women of 45-65 years rehabilitated with complete denture (56 received food supplement and 50 did not receive food supplement) and 52 healthy control was conducted. The outcomes were assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 months of follow up (after complete denture fabrication). Outcomes were measured via masticatory performance, nutritional status (hemoglobin, serum calcium, albumin, and Vitamin D level), EMG of masseter and temporalis muscles, and BMD. Statistical Analysis Used: Friedman's analysis of variance test was used as a nonparametric test, and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.0 at a significance level of 0.05 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A statistically significant change was observed during follow up for the group with food supplement for BMD, EMG, and masticatory performance. When biochemical parameters were assessed during follow up, no statistically significant change was observed for both groups (with and without food supplement), except for serum calcium level in group which received food supplement. Conclusion: It was found that the magnitude of effect was remarkably meager in food supplement group which could be perhaps due to less time given for follow up period. Longer duration of trials would yield better results.

A single-blinded assessment of the effect of communication on psychological burden among oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorder patients.

Objective: Lack of communication begets distress in patients and often hampers patient care. This study aims to assess the effect of communication on psychological distress among patients with Oral Cancer (OC) and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder (OPMD). Methods: This is a prospective single-arm study wherein the psychological burden in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress was evaluated in 120 patients through Beck's anxiety inventory, Beck's depression inventory, and perceived stress scale respectively when they were diagnosed with OPMD or OC. All patients were then communicated and informed about their disease through an audiovisual mode and their queries were resolved. Their psychological status was re-evaluated 15 min after this communication. Results: Wilcoxon signed ranks test revealed a statistically significant decline in the scores of each domain for both OC and OPMD post communication. When OC and OPMD were compared, a statistically significant difference was observed for only depression and anxiety domains. Conclusion: Audiovisual communication by healthcare professionals reduces the psychological burden of patients and is immensely useful in providing tailored information to the patients and their families. It is recommended to initiate such communication set ups at the waiting area of all outpatient departments as a good practice, where detailed tailored information can be provided to the patients. Practice implications: The intervention used in this study was not time-consuming and expensive, and can be used by the clinicians or health professional in their clinical practice to improve upon their treatment outcome. However, it should not be considered as a substitute to treatment.

Quality of life among Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder (OPMD) patients: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of life among the Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder (OPMD) patients during diagnosis, at one month and 3 months after intervention (surgical or conservative). METHODS: The University of Washington Quality of Life version (4UWQOL v4) and World Health Organization (WHO-BREF) were repeatedly administered on 54 OPMD patients. RESULTS: The results of Friedman's ANOVA showed a statistically significant change in the mean scores for pain, activity, speech, shoulder, taste, saliva, mood, and anxiety domains of UWQOL with time, (p-value <0.05); while physical health, social relationships, environment domains of WHO- BREF have shown significant changes in their respective mean scores. CONCLUSION: The assessment of Quality of Life (QOL) should routinely be done by the clinicians. If the clinicians start considering the QOL as the primary outcome of a treatment protocol, it will enhance patients' identity, well-being, and personality.