Illness perception amongst individuals with periodontal diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe illness perception among patients with periodontal diseases in relation to socio-demographic predictors, oral signs and symptoms. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytical study. PARTICIPANTS: Stratified quota sample of 353 consecutive adults with periodontal diseases attending university dental clinics in Iran. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The illness perception of periodontal diseases measured using the Brief-Illness Perception Questionnaire. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 38.7 years and 53% were female. The most frequent symptoms were tooth sensitivity, inflamed and painful gingiva, and halitosis. The symptoms that participants associated with periodontal diseases were inflamed and painful gingiva, bleeding while brushing, flossing or eating, and gingival recession. Illness perception was associated with education level, the patient's experience of periodontal symptoms, individuals' attitudes about an association between oral signs and symptoms with periodontal diseases and clinical attachment loss. CONCLUSION: Understanding how patients perceive their disease is a crucial step to motivating and engaging them in periodontal therapy and in the healthcare process.

Dental pain and its determinants in an adult population in Tehran, Iran, Urban HEART-2.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of dental pain in the past year among adults in Tehran-Iran, and its determinants. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional population study. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 20,322 adults (18-64 years old). METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted across the 22 districts using the multi-stage random sampling method. Data were analysed applying the complex samples method. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust the effects of other variables on the outcome variable as dental pain in the past year. RESULTS: Overall, 19,645 individuals with a mean age of 39.9 (SD=12.5) years responded. Dental pain in the past year was reported by about one sixth (14%) of subjects and associated with being widowed/divorced (OR 1.45, 95%CI 1.07-1.97, p=0.016), married (OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.04-1.47, p=0.016), Azari minority (OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.05-1.37, p=0.009) and having dental visit in the past year (OR 2.6, 95%CI 2.29-2.95,p⟨0.001). Older subjects (OR 0.76, 95%CI 0.59-0.97, p= 0.029), those with a high economic status (OR 0.84, 95%CI 0.72-0.98, p=0.03), good (OR 0.75, 95%CI 0.58-0.96, p=0.023) or moderate oral health behaviour (OR 0.79, 95%CI 0.62-0.99, p=0.042), and good self-perceived oral health (OR 0.52, 95%CI 0.45-0.61, pp⟨0.001) were less likely to report dental pain. CONCLUSIONS: Dental pain in the past year was associated with being married/widowed, being a minority, and visiting a dentist in the past year. Older subjects and those with a high socio-economic status, good/moderate oral health behaviour, and good self-perceived oral health were less likely to report dental pain.

Tooth loss and prosthodontic rehabilitation among 35- to 44-year-old Iranians.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of tooth loss and the magnitude of prosthodontic rehabilitation based on socio-demographic information among 35- to 44-year-old Iranians. Data (n = 8240) were collected by 33 examiners as part of a national survey using WHO criteria for sampling and clinical diagnosis. Gender, age, place of residence and level of education served as socio-demographic information. The number of teeth, functional dentition (subjects with 20 or more teeth) and prosthodontic rehabilitation were used as clinical variables. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were the methods of statistical evaluation. Of all subjects, 3% were edentulous. Of dentate subjects, 3% had 1-9 teeth, 21% had 10-19 teeth, 37% had 20-24 teeth and 39% had 25-28 teeth. In total, 76% of dentate subjects enjoyed a functional dentition. Among dentate subjects, 11% of the men and 16% of the women had prosthodontic rehabilitation with higher figures (P < 0.001) among women, older subjects and urban residents. Having a functional dentition was more likely among those with higher levels of education [odds ratios (OR) = 1.8, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.6-2.1]. Women (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.8-3.0) and urban residents (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.8-3.3) were the most likely groups to have prosthodontic rehabilitation. Having prosthodontic rehabilitation was more likely among those lacking a functional dentition (OR = 6.0, 95% CI = 4.8-7.6). The greatest unmet treatment needs were found among those without a functional dentition. Functional dentition should be set as a primary oral health goal among working-age adults.