Periodontal diseases in Greek adults between 1985 and 2005--risk indicators.

AIM: This study provides data on the periodontal status of Greek adults aged 35-44-years-old in relation to socio-demographic and behavioural parameters and compares these data with those of 1985. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A stratified cluster sample was selected according to WHO guidelines for national pathfinder surveys. Periodontal and oral hygiene status were assessed using the CPI index and the OHI-S index respectively. Socio-demographic and behavioural data were collected through face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: In 2005, 9.5% of the participants had healthy periodontium, 16.2% bleeding on probing, 46.8% calculus, 24.2% shallow pockets and 3.3% deep pockets. Half of the individuals (52.1%) had good oral hygiene status, 39.8% fair and 8.1% poor. Most of them (79%) brushed their teeth at least once a day, but only 25.4% used dental floss. Higher CPI scores were associated with living in rural areas, having a lower educational attainment and brushing and flossing teeth less frequently. Better oral hygiene status was associated with having a higher educational attainment and income, as well as brushing and flossing teeth more frequently. Comparisons with the 1985 findings indicate that severe periodontal diseases may be declining in Greece, whereas gingivitis may be increasing. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of severe periodontal diseases in Greek adults is not high and their periodontal health has improved since 1985. As long as their oral hygiene status and preventive dental behaviour cannot be considered as satisfactory, there is room for further improvement.

Greek dental students' attitudes toward tobacco control programmes.

AIM: To explore the preparedness of Greek dental university students for advising patients to quit smoking; how the awareness of the students is modified from the beginning of university studies to graduation; and how it is associated with their smoking habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Officially registered dental students (n=165) participated in the study by completing anonymously a 16-item questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted with the use of standard univariate statistical methods, whereas multivariate analysis relied on logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: Students showed significant knowledge attainment on tobacco health effects from the beginning of their studies to graduation, although 54% of graduating students were not aware of an association between smoking and implant failure. More than 80% considered tobacco cessation counselling a duty of every dentist, although 32% believed it to be ineffective. Almost half of the students felt unprepared to provide tobacco counselling. Students' attitudes towards tobacco cessation counselling did not change from the beginning of their studies to graduation, although they were modified by personal smoking habits. Non-smokers were significantly more optimistic than smokers about the effectiveness of tobacco cessation activities. CONCLUSIONS: Dental school students represent a promising baseline for education on tobacco control protocol development and clinical tobacco cessation intervention techniques.

Fluoride ingestion from toothpaste: conclusions of European Union-funded multicentre project.

An important challenge encountered in this multicentred project was the need to take account of the different cultural and legal differences between the seven sites when agreeing the protocol. Examples such as access to registers of births and subject consent dictated that there were some differences in the methods used in the different sites. The data presented showed that it was possible to train and calibrate a number of examiners in a standardized photographic method for recording enamel fluorosis. This method has a number of important advantages for the objective monitoring of enamel fluorosis over time. There were considerable differences between the seven sites in the formulations of the toothpaste used and in the pattern of their use. The results indicate that it is possible to agree and adopt a standardized method for measuring fluoride ingestion from toothpaste. The aesthetic impact of enamel fluorosis seemed low in the populations included in this project, but further work is required on this issue.