The impact of systemic administration of polyphenols on periodontitis associated with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to explore the potential of polyphenol supplement consumption in enhancing the treatment of periodontitis and diabetes mellitus in both diabetic animals and humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search across eight databases (MEDLINE, EBSCO, Taylor & Francis, PRIMO, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, ScienceDirect, and SAGE Journals) and two registers (ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library Trials) was conducted. Methodological quality assessment employed the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for randomised controlled trials and the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation Risk of Bias Tool for experimental animal studies. RESULTS: Ten articles meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Three clinical studies demonstrated significant reductions in probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Ginger supplementation showed a decrease in CAL (-0.57 ± 0.50 vs. -0.14 ± 0.35, p = 0.003) and PD (-0.52 ± 0.51 vs. -0.19 ± 0.51, p = 0.04), while resveratrol supplementation exhibited a reduction in PD (-1.1 ± 0.58 vs. -0.6 ± 0.47, p < 0.001). Additionally, cranberry juice supplementation led to a decrease in PD (-0.56 ± 0.03, p < 0.001). However, there was no significant improvement in inflammation status. Although polyphenol supplementation did not impact fasting blood glucose levels, it did result in improved insulin resistance (3.66 ± 0.97 vs. 4.49 ± 1.56, p = 0.045). In diabetic animals, six studies reported a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in bone loss along with marked improvements in inflammation status. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the promising results observed in the included studies, the overall evidence supporting the positive effects of polyphenols on periodontal and diabetes mellitus status, along with their anti-inflammatory properties, remains inadequate.

Parental Attitudes towards Child Oral Health and Their Structural Analysis.

The relationship between parental attitudes towards health and child development has been a topic of interest for many years; however, research results in this field are still inconsistent. This study aimed to develop a structural equation model of the Parental Attitudes toward Child Oral Health (PACOH) scale, using this model to analyse the relationship between parental attitudes with demographic variables and the oral health-related behaviour of parents and children. A total of 302 parents (87% mothers) answered questions regarding their own and their children's, aged 4-7 years, oral health-related actions and completed the 38-item PACOH scale. The structural equation model indicated that parental attitudes captured by the PACOH scale can be fitted to a second-order factorial model, even with the scale shortened to 21 items. The model demonstrated good fit characteristics (CFI = 0.925; IFI = 0.927; GFI = 0.915; RMSEA = 0.049), making it a reliable tool for examining the structure of parental attitudes. This model was employed in the multi-group analysis, revealing the close relationship between positive parents' attitudes towards their child's oral health and oral health-promoting behaviour both in parents and children, such as regular tooth brushing (p < 0.001), visiting the dentist (p = 0.027), and parents helping their child brush his/her teeth (p < 0.001). In light of these findings, it was concluded that Parental Attitudes towards Child Oral Health should be considered an essential factor influencing the development of oral health-promoting behaviour in children.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Oral Health Status and Behavioral Risk Indicators among Non-Smoking and Currently Smoking Lithuanian Adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health status, behavioral risk indicators, and the impact of smoking on oral health among Lithuanian adolescents. This representative cross-sectional study was conducted among 15-year-old Lithuanian adolescents. The method of multistage cluster sampling was used. A total of 1127 adolescents met the inclusion criteria. Two originally created self-reported questionnaires were used in this study. Dental caries, periodontal status, and oral hygiene status were evaluated by four trained researchers. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was set to indicate statistically significant differences. Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests. Out of all the participants, 9.6% self-reported being a current tobacco smoker. The mean PI value was 1.14 ± 0.69 among all the participants. Currently smoking adolescents had more active caries lesions (D-S) than those who did not smoke (13.2 ± 16.4 vs. 9.8 ± 10.7, p = 0.023). Considering periodontal status, non-smoking adolescents had significantly lower mean PSR index scores than current smokers (0.52 ± 0.51 vs. 0.61 ± 0.50, p = 0.0298). Tobacco smoking and the consumption of energy drinks were significantly associated (OR = 3.74, 95% CI 2.66-5.26, p < 0.001) among participants. Currently smoking adolescents tended to have improper dietary habits, especially a higher consumption of energy drinks; thus, they were more likely to have active dental caries lesions, as well as poorer periodontal status, than their non-smoking peers.

Peculiarities of Dental Treatment among Paediatric Oncological Patients: a Case Report.

OBJECTIVES: According to the National Cancer Institute of Lithuania, cancer is diagnosed for almost 100 children each year. Oncological patients suffer from complications during and after treatment. Radiation therapy also affects dental hard tissues. Many oncological patients lose motivation to take care of their oral hygiene because they are focused on cancer diagnosis. This case report discusses prevention and dental treatment severity after radiation therapy treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 9-year-old boy with cancer diagnosis visited a dentist in 2017. The patient was complaining about poor aesthetic quality of the teeth, but there were no complaints about teeth sensitivity or pain. Different stages of active caries, poor oral hygiene, visible abundant plaque, swollen, red and bleeding gums were observed during appointment. A motivational interview explaining the importance of oral hygiene was conducted. Non-surgical caries treatment was prescribed during the first visit. Restorative treatment was performed after 1 month. RESULTS: The motivational interview explaining the importance of oral hygiene was conducted during every appointment per 3-year period. Unfortunately, oral hygiene is still poor due to the lack of motivation. Active-cavitated caries lesions were restored with glass ionomer cement and composite resin. The aesthetics of teeth was improved. CONCLUSIONS: Oncological and recovered patients after radiation therapy should be assigned to a high risk of caries. These patients should be treated individually by the algorithm. Psychological or psychotherapeutic assistance is necessary for patients due to motivation for treatment and oral care.

Assessment of the Depth of Clinically Detected Approximal Caries Lesions Using Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic Transillumination in Comparison to Periapical Radiographs.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of present prospective clinical trial was to assess the depth of clinically detected approximal caries lesions using digital imaging fiber-optic transillumination in comparison to periapical radiographs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One calibrated examiner diagnosed 31 approximal carious lesions in 10 patients with a mean age of 21.8 (SD 1.1) years. The lesions were assessed using digital imaging fiber-optic transillumination (DIFOTI) and digital periapical radiographs (PA). Depending on the depth of the lesions, scores for demineralisation in PA (R) and DIFOTI (F) images were given by two examiners: R0/F0 - no demineralisation, R1/F1 - demineralisation confined to the outer half of the enamel, R2/F2 - into the inner half of the enamel, 3/3 - along the amelodentinal junction, R3/F3 - into the outer half of dentine, R4/F4 - into the inner part of the dentine. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and kappa were calculated. RESULTS: Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between DIFOTI and PA was 0.031 (P > 0.05), kappa was 0.077. In 26% of the cases, DIFOTI showed higher scores of demineralisation, relative to PA. In 36% of the cases, PA showed higher scores of demineralisation than DIFOTI. PA showed demineralisation into the outer and inner half of the dentine in 89% of the cases with underlying shadow and in 70% of the cases with opacities. CONCLUSIONS: Digital imaging fibre optic transillumination and periapical radiographs produce evaluations of the depth of approximal caries lesions that do not match.

The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to disclose parental attitudes toward their children's dental care and preventive measures used as well as to evaluate their associations with parental education and socioeconomic status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1248 parents of 7-, 9-, and 12-year-old children from 5 largest Lithuanian cities were enrolled in the study. The questionnaire comprised 34 items, which were grouped into 4 clusters. RESULTS: The parents with a high educational level scored better than those who had a low educational level (2.13 [SD, 0.39] vs. 2.2 [0.43], P=0.002). The parents who reported sufficient-family income scored their child's and their own health significantly better than those reporting insufficient-family income (2.02 [SD, 0.37] vs. 2.27 [SD, 0.41], P<0.001). The parents cared about their child's health more than about their own (1.53 [SD, 0.51] vs. 2.15 [0.61], P<0.001). The parents with a high educational level and those receiving sufficient income cared about education on oral hygiene and regular preventive dental check-ups more than those with a low educational level and insufficient income (36.7% and 40.8% vs. 30.2% and 28.7%, P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). The children whose parents had a high educational level brushed their teeth 2 times a day more frequently than those of the parents with a low educational level (48.5% and 42.4%, respectively, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Greater attention to children's dental care as well as keeping their teeth healthy was paid by the parents with a high educational level and sufficient income.

Changes in caries prevalence and oral hygiene skills among preschool-aged children in Lithuania between 2000 and 2010.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the factors associated with the prevalence and severity of dental caries as well oral hygiene habits among 4- to 6-year-old children in Kaunas (Lithuania) in 2000 and 2010. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional study was carried out to reveal the changes in dental caries prevalence in 2000 and 2010. The study population comprised 4- to 6-year-old children living in Kaunas city and attending kindergartens. The study consisted of two parts: questionnaires on oral health behavior and clinical examination of children's teeth by the World Health Organization methodology. RESULTS: A total of 941 4-6-year-old children were examined in 2000 and 2010. The prevalence of dental caries increased from 85.4% in 2000 to 88.4% in 2010; however, the difference was not significant (P=0.28). A significant increase in the dmf-t index, describing the severity of dental caries, was observed (from 7.42 in 2000 to 12.03 in 2010, P<0.001). The percentage of 4- to 5-year-old girls and 5-year-old boys brushing their teeth regularly decreased in 2010. During the period of the study, a significant change in the accumulation of plaque on children's tooth surfaces was documented (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing 2000 and 2010, no significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries among 4- to 6-year-old children in Kaunas was observed; however, the severity of dental caries differed significantly. A significant decrease in regular toothbrushing skills was documented for 4- and 5-year-old girls and 5-year-old boys. The Silness-Loe oral hygiene index was assessed as satisfactory.

Severe early childhood caries and behavioral risk factors among 3-year-old children in Lithuania.

UNLABELLED: The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of early childhood caries (ECC) and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) in 3-year-old Lithuanian children. The impact of selected behavioral risk factors on the development of S-ECC was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 950 children were examined in kindergartens. Diagnosis of dental caries followed the WHO criteria. Questionnaires were delivered to mothers of the children with S-ECC and caries-free children. The questions were related to the children's dietary habits, temperament, oral hygiene, and the use of fluoride toothpaste. RESULTS: The prevalence of ECC was 50.6% with a mean dmft of 2.1 (SD, 0.1) and a mean dmfs of 3.4 (SD, 0.2). The prevalence of S-ECC was 6.5% with a mean dmft of 7.8 (SD, 0.1) and dmfs of 18.1 (SD, 0.6). A significantly higher percentage of children developed S-ECC when they were breast-fed for a period longer than one year, were sleeping with a bottle containing carbohydrates during the night, or were allowed to sip from a bottle either going to sleep or during the day. A significantly higher percentage of mothers having caries-free children knew about risk factors of S-ECC and started tooth brushing after the eruption of the first tooth. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste. CONCLUSIONS: Improper infant bottle-feeding habits and no tooth brushing were found to be significant for the development of S-ECC among 3-year-old Lithuanian children.