Relationship between Behavior and Periodontal Health Self-Perception in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients from Transylvania, Romania-A Self-Report Study, including The Desire to Use a Mobile App for Oral Care Improvements.

The study aimed to assess self-reported symptoms of periodontal disease (gingival bleeding, tooth mobility and halitosis) among diabetic and non-diabetic patients from Transylvania, Romania. Using statistical analysis methods, correlation between the aforementioned symptoms and diet, oral hygiene habits, stress, physical activity, and BMI (body mass index) were researched. Another secondary objective was to assess the impact of self-reported oral health, aesthetics, and halitosis on their life. Patients' willingness to use a mobile app for generating awareness of oro-dental complications, improving their knowledge of oro-dental health, and reminding them to visit the dentist based on an awareness-raising function, was also assessed. Methods: The study was based on an original self-administered questionnaire, applied to 182 subjects, in an unselected, randomized manner. A total of 110 questionnaires were applied in two dental offices and 72 questionnaires were applied in a public clinic for diabetic patients from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Results: Warning signs and symptoms relevant to periodontal disease were identified by respondents, having statistically significant associations with the declared oral health-care habits, including interdental aids, vicious habits (nail biting, bruxism), etc. Some of these periodontal signs could be correlated with a certain lifestyle, such as the perceived stress, smoking status, practicing maintenance sports, and alcohol consumption. A total of 66% of the non-diabetics and 68% of the diabetics of the surveyed subjects consider a software application for generating awareness of oro-dental complications useful, and are willing to pay around EUR 6 for it. Conclusions: Having a medical condition such as diabetes makes patients pay more attention to dental health compared with non-diabetic patients. Patients expressed their desire to use a software application to help them to be aware of their condition and for improving their self-report capabilities, including their oral-health-related status.

Oral health, the patients' perspective during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Background and aims: On March 16, 2020, the state of emergency was established with drastic measures of isolation and quarantine. Among the measures taken in the context of the state of emergency was the closure of dental offices throughout the country. The aim of our questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was to identify the psycho-affective implications of the Romanian citizens induced by the COVID-19 pandemic period as well as their opinion related to the self-perceived oral health status during this period. Methods: An original questionnaire was designed consisting of 41 questions, which were distributed to the general population via the Internet. The first part of the questionnaire investigated the respondents' opinion regarding the impact of this COVID-19 pandemic period of isolation on their oral health and the attention paid by the subjects to oral hygiene during restrictions. The second part refers to their addressability to the dental services during this pandemic and the third part interrogates different characteristics, namely the presence of comorbidities, possible anxiety, and stress. Results: A total of 769 participants answered the questionnaire online. Conclusion: According to their responses most of the respondents were not afraid of the possibility of contracting Sars-Cov-2 during dental treatments, but were in certain periods deprived of accessing dental services due to lockdown restrictions. They are aware of their oral health problems and pay more attention to oral hygiene so that they do not get worse during restrictions.

Photodynamic Therapy with Natural Photosensitizers in the Management of Periodontal Disease Induced in Rats.

This study aims to investigate the effect of new natural photosensitizers (PS) (based on oregano essential oil, curcuma extract, and arnica oil) through in vitro cytotoxicity and biological tests in rat-induced periodontal disease, treated with photodynamic therapy (aPDT). The cytotoxicity of PS was performed on human dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (dMSCs) and human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell lines. Periodontal disease was induced by ligation of the first mandibular molar of 25 rats, which were divided into 5 groups: control group, periodontitis group, Curcuma and aPDT-treated group, oregano and aPDT-treated group, and aPDT group. The animals were euthanized after 4 weeks of study. Computed tomography imaging has been used to evaluate alveolar bone loss. Hematological and histological evaluation showed a greater magnitude of the inflammatory response and severe destruction of the periodontal ligaments in the untreated group.. For the group with the induced periodontitis and treated with natural photosensitizers, the aPDT improved the results; this therapy could be an important adjuvant treatment. The obtained results of these preliminary studies encourage us to continue the research of periodontitis treated with natural photosensitizers activated by photodynamic therapy.