Social Habits and Other Risk Factors that Cause Tooth Loss: An Associative Study Conducted in Taiz Governorate, Yemen.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between tooth loss, age, gender, and its correlation with several local habits that affect oral health, especially the khat, and Shammah use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study included 580 participants. They were divided into five age groups15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64-years-old. Clinical and radiographic examinations were done for each subject. Reasons for teeth loss, age, gender, khat chewing, Shammah use, smoking, and use of oral hygiene aids were recorded. The data were statically analyzed using Chi-square tests of the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) program. The p value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Caries was the most cause of tooth loss in the young age groups 15-34 years-old and was significantly more common compared to the older groups (p < 0.001). The periodontal diseases increased with age and progressively became the main cause of tooth loss of 100% in the 55-64 years-old group. Orthodontic reasons for tooth extractions were limited to the young age group 15-24 years old. Third molars were the highest extracted teeth in the maxillary arch, while the first molars were the highest in the mandibular arch. Anterior teeth were the lowest extracted teeth ranging from 9; 1.6% in maxillary teeth and 9-29; 1.6-5% in the mandibular teeth. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of local habitual use of khat 52.9% and Shammah 8.1% besides smoking in tooth loss. Caries was the main cause of tooth loss in the young age groups, followed by the periodontal disease in the older age. Molars were frequently extracted followed by maxillary first premolars. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Limited number of epidemiological surveys were carried out in Taiz Governorate to investigate the reasons of tooth loss and its relationship with social habits like Khat chewing, Shammah use, smoking, using of Miswake and toothbrush. The results of this study will guide us to develop a preventive program which may minimize tooth loss and its adverse effects.

Prevalence and Severity of Temporomandibular Disorders among Undergraduate Medical Students in Association with Khat Chewing.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) among undergraduate medical students in the presence of khat chewing over a period of time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 186 medical college students (age < 20 years) were randomly selected for the present study. The study subjects were divided into two groups according to age, under 20 and above 20 years. The study was based on Fonseca's anamnestic index and its questionnaire, which is composed of 10 questions and classifies the severity of TMDs. The obtained data were coded and entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program for analysis using chi-square test at significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Most of the participants were male (68.8%) students and older than 20 years (63%). Those who reported with khat chewing comprised 31.7%. From the total samples, only 38.0% was classified as having mild TMD and 0.50% were classified as having severe TMD. Poor dental articulation, grinding of teeth, headaches, tense personalities, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) clicking were the most common clinical findings. The mean scores showed no significant difference among gender (p < 0.29) and the khat chewing (p < 0.531) groups for the 10 questions. However, it showed significant difference among age groups (p < 0.025). CONCLUSION: The majority of subjects complained of mild TMD, while only a few cases showed a moderate TMD among different age groups. The most frequently reported dysfunctions were related to poor dental articulation and grinding of the teeth, frequent headaches, the clicking of joint, and tense personalities. No significant difference was found between gender and khat and nonkhat chewing groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Khat chewing is a parafunctional habit and affects dental occlusion (especially cuspal wear) in terms of anterior guidance. Such alterations in occlusion are known to be one of the causative (predisposing) factors of TMD.