Hepatitis B Immunization Analysis: Tracking of Antibody Levels among Dental Patients.

AIM: To verify the immunization status of dental students against HBV using an immunochromatographic rapid test and explore its associated protective and preventive effects against the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This transversal epidemiological study was conducted in a public dental school in Brazil. A total of 263 dental students who were at clinical practice were invited to participate in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire that investigated the issues related to the theme was created for data collection. An immunochromatographic test for the detection of anti-Hepatitis B surface antigen was used to verify the immunization status. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: Approximately 59.2% of the participants did not know the etiological agent of hepatitis B infection, and 36.6% did not know the number of doses of hepatitis B vaccines. Further-more, 53.2% of the participants were immunized against HBV. Logistic regression showed that those who received less than three doses of the vaccine (OR = 2.539) or did not know how many doses they received (OR = 3.022) had higher risks of not developing the immunity. Moreover, age (OR = 0.834) was a protective factor against non-immunization. CONCLUSION: There was a low prevalence of dental students who were immunized against HBV. The number of vaccine doses received and the participants' age had significant associations with the immunization status. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Deals with an issue of major impact on the public health because of the high rates of hepatitis B in the general population, as well as the lack of knowledge of the subject by a large part of dental surgeons and dental students.

Influence of oral health on quality of life in pregnant women.

This study evaluated the relationships between oral conditions and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), as well as related factors. A crosssectional study was performed on 119 postnatal women who had sought prenatal care during pregnancy in the public health system of São Paulo State, Brazil. The women received oral clinical exams and were interviewed using the questions on the OHIP14. A second survey with information about their socioeconomic status, pregnancy and health habits was administered. The highest OHIP14 scores were found in the area of physical pain, with an average score of 10.6. Average DMFT rate for the population was 12.2 (±6.1), with the majority having DMFT ≥4.5 (89.9%). Most of the women needed some type of dental prosthesis (59.7%), had some type of periodontal disease (90.8%), tooth decay (73.9%), missing teeth (64.7%) and were in need of oral treatment (68.1%). The OHIP14 scores were significantly associated with age (p=0.02), first pregnancy (p<0.001), need for dental prosthesis (p<0.001), presence of dental caries (p<0.001) and missing teeth (p=0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the worst OHRQoL was significantly associated with the presence of caries (p=0.03). The results suggest an association between the worst oral condition and poorer quality of life during pregnancy. This risk group should be prioritized in the health services in order to treat and recover the oral health of pregnant women, promoting better oral health conditions and better quality of life for their children.

O presente estudo avaliou as relações entre condições bucais e o impacto da saúde bucal na qualidade de vida de gestantes, bem como fatores relacionados. Um estudo transversal foi realizado em 119 mulheres que, durante a gravidez, tinham procurado atendimento prénatal no sistema público de saúde do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram realizados exames clínicos bucais e as gestantes foram entrevistadas utilizando o questionário OHIP14, forma abreviada, e um segundo inquérito, com informações sobre os seus hábitos de status sócioeconômico, gravidez e saúde foi administrado. As maiores pontuações OHIP14 foram encontrados na área de dor física, com uma pontuação média de 10,6. A taxa média de CPOD para a população foi de 12,2 (± 6,1), com a maioria tendo um CPOD de ≥4.5 (89,9%). A maioria das mulheres precisava de algum tipo de prótese dentária (59,7%), tiveram algum tipo de doença periodontal (90,8%), apresentaram cárie dentária (73,9%), falta de dentes (64,7%) e estavam na necessidade de tratamento odontlógico (68,1% ). Os escores do OHIP14 estiveram significativamente associados com a idade (p = 0,02), primeira gravidez (p <0,001), necessidade de prótese dentária (p <0,001), presença de cárie dentária (p <0,001)) e falta de dentes (p = 0,01). Na análise multivariada, o pior impacto da saúde bucal sobre a qualidade de vida de gestantes esteve significativamente associada com a presença de cárie (p = 0,03). Os resultados sugeriram que a pior condição bucal esteve relacionada com pior qualidade de vida durante a gravidez. Este grupo de risco deve ser priorizado nos serviços de saúde, a fim de tratar e recuperar a saúde bucal destas grávidas, promovendo melhores condições de saúde bucal e da qualidade de vida de seus filhos.