Predictors of stress among dentists during the COVID-19 epidemic.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between personality traits, self-esteem and life satisfaction, and also the stress level, among dentists during the COVID-19 outbreak. In order to confirm our hypotheses, 310 active dentists aged 25-64 years who were practising during the first wave of COVID-19 in Poland were examined. The IPIP-BFM-20 self-report questionnaire was used to measure personality traits, the popular Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to assess self-esteem, the five-item Satisfaction with Life Scale was used to measure life satisfaction and the four-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale was used to measure stress. The dependent variable-stress-correlates negatively with traits in relation to the dimensions of extraversion (r = -0.17, p < 0.01), emotional stability (r = -0.35, p < 0.01) and intellect (r = -0.16, p < 0.01); it also has a negative correlation with self-esteem (r = -0.37, p < 0.01) and life satisfaction (r = -0.35, p < 0.01). Among the analysed variables, the highest correlations are observed for the following: self-esteem and emotional stability (r = 0.51, p < 0.01); self-esteem and life satisfaction (r = 0.49, p < 0.01); extraversion and intellect (r = 0.47, p < 0.01). Considering the measures of mediation relevance and pathway relevance, it can be assumed that both self-esteem and life satisfaction have a mediating function in the relationship between agreeableness, emotional stability and stress: the relationship between emotional stability and stress is negative whereas that between agreeableness and stress is positive.

Vitamin D3 and Dental Caries in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency is a common risk factor for multifactorial diseases, and it seems to be associated with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Vitamin D could prevent dental caries. The goal of this study was to identify whether there is an association between hormonal therapy with growth hormone (GH), vitamin D3 supplementation, vitamin D3 levels, and the occurrence of caries among children affected by GHD. The study group consisted of patients from the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology of the University Paediatric Hospital at the Medical University of Lublin treated with recombinant human GH for pituitary GHD. It was conducted between October 2014 and June 2015. The study group included 121 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years, with 56 children from rural areas and 65 from urban areas. The study group was stratified by the area of residence. We found the statistically significant impact of vitamin D3 concentration on the average value of the DMFT (decayed, missed, and filled teeth) index and its component-DT (decayed teeth), which was noted in subjects from rural areas. Among patients from urban areas, we found a statistically significant correlation between duration of therapy and the DMFT index. An increase in duration of GH therapy by 10 months leads to a mean increase in DMFT index by 0.70. Based on multiple regression analysis, we developed the following model: value of DT = 3.10 - 0.73∗category of vitamin D3 concentration - 0.07∗duration of supplementation (in months). In this model, variables with a significant impact on the value of DT in the group of patients from rural areas include time of vitamin D3 supplementation and category of vitamin D3 concentration. Greater emphasis should be placed on promoting vitamin D3 as a potentially effective agent reducing the number of dental caries, especially among patients with GHD.

The dependence of dental caries on oral hygiene habits in preschool children from urban and rural areas in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is considered to be a modern civilization disease;however, the state of oral health negatively influences psychological and sociological relations in children which leads to feelings of discomfort from early age. OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was evaluation of the association between incidence of dental caries (d3ft index) in preschool children from urban and rural areas, and determining the relationship between dental caries intensity and hygienic habits. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 844 children aged 3-6 years from the city and the countryside were examined. The survey was conducted among parents/care givers regarding dental care of children. With parents' consent, the children had a dental examination. RESULTS: The incidence of caries was recorded at the level of 52.61%, with an average value of 4.31 on the d3ft index; however, for the children from the urban area this ratio amounted to 4.15, and in the countryside it reached the value of 4.7. A correlation was found between age and area of residence of the children and various components of hygienic behavior model. CONCLUSIONS: More than a half of the children had dental caries in combination with a high frequency of unsatisfactory hygiene needs. There is a relationship between oral hygiene habits and age of the children, depending on the place of residence.

Analysis of vector models in quantification of artifacts produced by standard prosthetic inlays in Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)--a preliminary study.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a relatively new, but highly efficient imaging method applied first in dentistry in 1998. However, the quality of the obtained slices depends among other things on artifacts generated by dental restorations as well as orthodontic and prosthetic appliances. The aim of the study was to quantify the artifacts produced by standard prosthetic inlays in CBCT images. The material consisted of 17 standard prosthetic inlays mounted in dental roots embedded in resin. The samples were examined by means of a large field of view CBCT unit, Galileos (Sirona, Germany), at 85 kV and 14 mAs. The analysis was performed using Able 3DDoctor software for data in the CT raster space as well as by means of Materialise Magics software for generated vector models (STL). The masks generated in the raster space included the area of the inlays together with image artifacts. The region of interest (ROI) of the raster space is a set of voxels from a selected range of Hounsfield units (109-3071). Ceramic inlay with zirconium dioxide (Cera Post) as well as epoxy resin inlay including silica fibers enriched with zirconium (Easy Post) produced the most intense artifacts. The smallest image distortions were created by titanium inlays, both passive (Harald Nordin) and active (Flexi Flange). Inlays containing zirconium generated the strongest artifacts, thus leading to the greatest distortions in the CBCT images. Carbon fiber inlay did not considerably affect the image quality.

Life style and risk of development of dental caries in a population of adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Oxygen is an essential element for sustaining the life of aerobes; however, in certain conditions it may be toxic for these organisms. This is due to so-called reactive oxygen species - ROS. Factors which cause the production of free radicals include ionizing radiation, UV radiation, high temperature, and hazardous substances, such as phenols, carbon monoxide, e.g. in smokers, also air pollution and drugs. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was analysis of the total antioxidant status (TAS) in stimulated and unstimulated saliva, according to the number of active carious lesions in generally healthy non-smokers aged 15-17. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study covered 113 adolescents aged 15-17 in whom the state of dentition was evaluated using the DMFT (Decayed-Missing-Filled) index, and oral hygiene assessed based on the OHI-S (Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified) index. TAS in saliva was determined by means of a Randox Labolatories Ltd. test kit, by the spectrophotometric method. RESULTS: Based on the results of the study, it was found that in the population examined an increase in the number of carious lesions was accompanied by a significant decrease in the TAS, both in stimulated and unstimulated saliva. CONCLUSIONS. A health-promoting life style, maintenance of basic principles of oral hygiene and care of general health through the elimination of harmful habits decrease the risk of dental caries.

Incidence of abnormalities in temporomandibular joints in a population of 1,100 urban and rural patients lacking teeth and other parafunctions in 2003-2008. An international problem.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: A hectic lifestyle and everyday stress are direct causes of parafunctions. The objective of the presented study was to examine the relation of sleep disorders, distant pain symptoms, symptoms of pathological tooth wear in rural and urban patients with parafunctions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient group consisted of 836 women and 274 men aged 9-82, and divided into groups taking into account the following criteria: number of patients in certain age groups, number of women and men, place of residence, presence of missing teeth problem, presence of occlusal and non-occlusal parafunctions, symptoms of tooth wear, distant pain symptoms, and sleep disorders. RESULTS: 354 (31.89%) of the patients came from the rural environment. Distant pain symptoms were more frequent in patients performing parafunctions than in those who did not perform parafunctions (n = 1110, RR = 1.10, CI = from 1.04 to 1.16). Sleep disorders were more frequent in patients performing parafunctions than in those who do not perform parafunctions (n = 1110, RR = 1.06, CI = from 1.00 to 1.12). Symptoms of pathological tooth wear were more frequent in patients performing parafunctions than in those who did not perform parafunctions (n = 1110, RR = 1.08, CI = from 1.02 to 1.13). CONCLUSIONS: It is extremely important (as it is international problem) to introduce prophylactic care to prevent the occurrence of parafunctional activity in patients from the rural environment. Parafunctions, therefore, should be taken into account in the diagnosing procedure of such disorders and pathological symptoms as pathological tooth wear, sleep disorders, cervicalgia, neck myalgia, shoulder girdle myalgia, and dorsalgia.

Correlation between eye and ear symptoms and lack of teeth, bruxism and other parafunctions in a population of 1006 patients in 2003-2008.

INTRODUCTION: Parafunctions (harmful habits) play a crucial role in the formation of temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction syndrome with disc displacement. Disorder symptoms in temporo-mandibular joints manifest themselves in the eye and ear but are usually not associated with the dysfunction of temporo-mandibular joints and that might lead to errors in diagnosis. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of missing teeth and parafunctions on the occurrence of ear and eye symptoms in patients treated in the Department of Prosthodontics of the Medical University of Lublin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patient group consisted of 753 women and 253 men aged 10 to 82 years who had been treated in the Department of Prosthodontics, Medical University of Lublin in the years 2003-2008 due to various symptoms associated with temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction. RESULTS: Eye (24.84%, n = 785) and ear (33.38%, n = 785) syndromes occur on average more often in patients with parafunctions than without them (15.98%, n = 219 and 23.29%, n = 219). However, only parafunctions involving tooth contact should be taken into consideration when diagnosing eye and ear syndromes. The data presented here show that the number of missing teeth does not have a significant influence on the frequency of occurrence of parafunctions. Parafunctions have become a very important factor in the diagnosis of diseases and pathological symptoms of eye and ear as the rate at which they occur is growing. CONCLUSIONS: The kind of parafunction is very important. Only those involving tooth contact should be taken into consideration when diagnosing eye and ear syndromes.

Diagnostic abilities of three-dimensional electronic axiography on the basis of ARCUSdigma device.

The ARCUSdigma is an electronic facebow enabling presentation and graphic analysis of mandibular movements on the computer screen. A kinematic hinge axis of the mandible can be determined using this device. The paper presents the diagnostic potential of the ARCUSdigma in relation to programming an articulator according to individual parameters of mandibular movements of the patient and its application in the diagnosis of temporo-mandibular joints.

Iatrogenic pain dysfunction syndrome of the masticatory system--case study.

A female patient, age 71, came to The Department of Prosthetic Dentistry University School of Medicine in Lublin with pain dysfunction syndrome after treatment by extensive prosthesis of upper and lower dental arches. After examination many abnormalities of prosthetic restorations were ascertained. After 21 months of repositioning occlusal splint treatment the symptoms of pain dysfunction were gone, which permitted final prosthetic restoration. This case proves that using repositioning occlusal splint should be the first choice procedure in the treatment of iatrogenic pain after prosthetic treatment.