Palatal Rugae Patterns in Fars, Turkmen, and Sistani Ethnicities in the Eastern Part of the Caspian Littoral of Iran.

In forensic medicine, it is important to identify whole or fragmented bodies. This aim can be particularly challenging in mass disasters. Palatal rugae patterns can be used as a surrogate parameter in forensic medicine. This stems from the difficulty in falsifying these patterns, their resistance to trauma, to decomposition for several days postmortem, and to combustion under high-temperatures, as well as being distinguishable among different races. The present study aimed to analyze the differences in the palatal rugae patterns among three Iranian ethnicities (Fars, Turkmen, and Sistani). This retrospective study involved the use of archived materials. The study casts were selected from the database of patients who visited a private orthodontics clinic. A total of 309 dental casts (103 Fars, 103 Turkmen, and 103 Sistani) were assessed, which belonged to 181 females and 128 males aged between 12 and 30 years (mean: 16.86 ± 3.18 years). The difference in the mean number of palatal rugae in women between the three ethnicities was statistically significant. Also, the differences in the total number of straight rugae were significant between the three ethnic groups. The most common rugae shapes in the three ethnic groups were the straight and wavy shapes. The length of the palatal rugae in the primary and secondary rugae among the study subjects younger than 18-years-old was significantly different between the three ethnic groups. Thus, the present research highlighted the differences in palatal rugae patterns among three Iranian ethnicities. Therefore, palatal rugae can be used in forensic medicine as a complementary approach to human identification.

Oral health-related quality of life changes during phase 1 Class II malocclusion treatment using Frankel 2 and Twin-block appliances: A short-term follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: Orthodontic treatment procedures affect oral health-related quality of life. This study analyzed and compared the patients using the Frankel 2 Regulator (FR2) and Twin-block (TB) orthodontic appliances. METHODS: This follow-up observational study comprised adolescents aged 10-16 years with Class II malocclusion seeking orthodontic treatment, between April and December 2019, in a private orthodontic clinic. Following the finalization of orthodontic clinical decisions, 88 patients, in a 1:1 ratio, using FR2 (n = 44) and TB (n = 44) appliances, were invited to participate in this study. An Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire was answered by the participants at 5-time points: before treatment, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after wearing functional appliances. A mixed model for repeated measurements tested the OHIP-14 score mean differences over time among appliance groups and group by time interaction. RESULTS: The TB group consisted of 15 males and 29 females, and the FR2 group included 21 males and 23 females. The mean age of participants was 12.18 ± 1.29 years. The mean of OHIP-14 scores in FR2 users was significantly lower than the TB appliance group at all intervals (P <0.05). Although the total score of OHIP-14 increased 1 week after appliance wearing, it declined during the 1, 3, and 6 months after wearing appliances in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results can help orthodontists better select treatment approaches by considering their effect on oral health-related quality of life.

Association of problematic Internet use and oral health-related quality of life among medical and dental students.

BACKGROUND: The Internet as a communication tool is an essential component of daily life. Nowadays, problematic Internet use (PIU) has led to various psychosocial problems that can indirectly lead to oral diseases due to neglect of healthy behaviors. Also, college students are a large proportion of Internet users. The present study aimed to determine the association between problematic Internet use and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among medical and dental students. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on medical and dental students in the first and second years of education (basic sciences courses) at the Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between January and July 2020. The data collection process was carried out in the following sequence: questionnaire on demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, academic field, and year); Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ); and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. RESULTS: Among 268 medical and dental students, 171 students (63.81%) [95% confidence interval: 58.02%- 69.60%] had problematic Internet use. The mean PIU score in the first-year was significantly higher than the second-year students. In addition, 65% of single students and 25% of married subjects were dealing with PIU. The statistical difference between mean OHIP scores among PIU students (12.5 ± 2.9), with average Internet usage (7.39 ± 6.6), was significant. The Spearman correlation coefficient between PIU and OHIP was 0.309 and significant (P-value < 0.000001). It indicates that students with higher PIU showed higher OHIP scores. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that problematic Internet use was significantly associated with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among first and second-year medical and dental students. Thus, the students with problematic Internet use experienced a poorer oral health-related quality of life than average Internet users. Furthermore, appropriate preventive and interventional strategies need to be developed to encourage rational use of the Internet to protect the users' oral health, especially among medical and dental students.

Evaluation of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme levels in women patients with chronic periodontitis.

The authors' aim in this study was to investigate the relationship between chronic periodontitis and liver status using alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in women patients. The researchers conducted a case-control study on women patients referred to Dental School. The researchers collected 5 ml of peripheral venous blood from women for the laboratory process after performing periodontal examination. Participants were 124 women aged 25-50 years (62 cases and 62 control). The difference in serum levels of ALT and the difference in serum levels of AST between the two groups were not statistically significant. However, there was a significant correlation between liver enzymes and periodontitis parameters.

Mothers view about oral health status, oral hygiene behaviors, and dental services utilization of their children with hearing impairment attending special schools.

AIM: Parents are the principal decision-makers regarding their child's health. Awareness of mothers' view about their children's health, particularly with special health care needs (SHCN) (include hearing impaired children), is essential for health care providers. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the mothers view about oral health status, oral hygiene practices, and dental services utilization of their children with hearing impairment attending special schools. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and September 2020 among mothers of students with hearing impairment attending special schools. Also, the telephone structured interview was used to gathering mothers view. RESULTS: 57.4% of the mothers rated their children's oral health status as excellent or good, 27.9% as moderate, and 14.7% as poor. About half of the mothers (49.2%) stated that their children used toothbrushes once daily, and 15% use dental floss. Also, 54% of the children visited the dentist before this survey's conduct. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that children with hearing impairment can also have good oral health status and behaviors. These results may be attributed to the fact that the study sample was taken from two special schools. Also, only the mothers' perception assessment of students' oral health status was done. Further studies are required to increase the strength of evidence.

Impact of dental caries on oral health related quality of life among preschool children: perceptions of parents.

BACKGROUND: Childhood dental caries can affect the children's and their parents' oral health-related quality of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of oral and dental health conditions on the oral health-related quality of life in preschool children and their parents. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, samples were selected from children 3 to 6 years old enrolled in licensed kindergartens using "proportional allocation" sampling. Then, the parents of the children were asked to complete the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). RESULTS: In this study, 350 children aged 3 to 6 years were evaluated with a mean age of 4.73 years. The mean dmft index (decayed, missed, and filled teeth) was 3.94 ± 4.17. The mean score of oral health-related quality of life was 11.88 ± 6.9, which 9.36 ± 5.02 belongs to the impact on children and 2.52 ± 3.20 to parents' impact. CONCLUSIONS: The mean score of ECOHIS increased with the dmft index increase in children, indicating a significant relationship between the dmft and ECOHIS score. These outcomes can be used as proper resources to develop preventive policies and promote oral health in young children.

Evaluation of caries risk reduction following preventive programs in orthodontic patients, using Cariogram computer model: A quasi-experimental trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of preventive strategies on caries risk reduction in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, using the Cariogram program. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, samples were selected using a convenience quota sampling technique, in a public dental school. At first, caries risk profile was determined for each subject using the Cariogram before brackets bonding. The sample size consisted of 36 patients. The intervention group (n = 18) received preventive programs, and the control group (n = 18) was trained based on the routine oral health education by means of pamphlets. Then, Cariogram parameters were calculated for patients in both groups after six months. RESULTS: The age range of participants was from 12 to 29 years. The mean percentage of the "Actual chance of avoiding new cavities" section in the intervention group increased from 45.72 ± 21.64 to 62.50 ± 17.64. However, the mean percentage of other parameters - such as "Diet", "Bacteria" and "Susceptibility" - decreased after six months (p< 0.001). Besides, the differences in the mean percentage between intervention and control group at the end of the study period (T1) related to the Cariogram parameters were statistically significant (p< 0.001). Accordingly, the mean percentage of 'Actual chance of avoiding new cavities'' parameter in the intervention group (62.50) was statistically higher than in the control group (42.44) (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Implementing different preventive approaches is able to reduce the caries risk in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, which can be clearly demonstrated using Cariogram program.

Evaluation of caries risk reduction following preventive programs in orthodontic patients, using Cariogram computer model: A quasi-experimental trial

ABSTRACT Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of preventive strategies on caries risk reduction in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, using the Cariogram program. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, samples were selected using a convenience quota sampling technique, in a public dental school. At first, caries risk profile was determined for each subject using the Cariogram before brackets bonding. The sample size consisted of 36 patients. The intervention group (n = 18) received preventive programs, and the control group (n = 18) was trained based on the routine oral health education by means of pamphlets. Then, Cariogram parameters were calculated for patients in both groups after six months. Results: The age range of participants was from 12 to 29 years. The mean percentage of the "Actual chance of avoiding new cavities" section in the intervention group increased from 45.72 ± 21.64 to 62.50 ± 17.64. However, the mean percentage of other parameters - such as "Diet", "Bacteria" and "Susceptibility" - decreased after six months (p< 0.001). Besides, the differences in the mean percentage between intervention and control group at the end of the study period (T1) related to the Cariogram parameters were statistically significant (p< 0.001). Accordingly, the mean percentage of 'Actual chance of avoiding new cavities'' parameter in the intervention group (62.50) was statistically higher than in the control group (42.44) (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Implementing different preventive approaches is able to reduce the caries risk in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, which can be clearly demonstrated using Cariogram program.

RESUMO Objetivo: O presente estudo usou o software Cariogram para avaliar a eficácia de estratégias preventivas para redução do risco de cáries em pacientes sob tratamento ortodôntico. Métodos: Nesse estudo quase-experimental, as amostras foram selecionadas por meio de uma técnica de amostragem por cota de conveniência, em uma faculdade pública de Odontologia. Inicialmente, o perfil de risco de cárie foi determinado para cada indivíduo usando o Cariogram antes da colagem dos braquetes. A amostra consistiu de 36 pacientes: o grupo experimental (n = 18) recebeu programas preventivos, e o grupo controle (n = 18) recebeu orientações sobre a saúde bucal por meio de folhetos. Após seis meses, os parâmetros obtidos por meio do Cariogram foram calculados novamente para os pacientes de ambos os grupos. Resultados: A faixa etária dos participantes foi de 12 a 29 anos. A porcentagem média da seção "Probabilidade real de prevenir novas cáries" no grupo experimental aumentou de 45,72 ± 21,64 para 62,50 ± 17,64. Por outro lado, a porcentagem média de outros parâmetros - como "Dieta", "Bactérias" e "Suscetibilidade" - diminuiu após seis meses (p< 0,001). Além disso, as diferenças nas porcentagens médias entre o grupo experimental e o grupo controle ao fim do estudo (T1), relacionadas aos parâmetros do Cariogram, foram estatisticamente significativas (p< 0,001). Assim, a porcentagem média do parâmetro "Probabilidade real de prevenir novas cáries" no grupo experimental (62,50) foi estatisticamente maior do que no grupo controle (42,44) (p< 0,001). Conclusão: A implementação de diferentes abordagens preventivas pode reduzir o risco de cárie em pacientes sob tratamento ortodôntico com aparelhos fixos, o que pode ser observado claramente por meio do software Cariogram.

Oral health status in relation to socioeconomic and behavioral factors among pregnant women: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral health of women during pregnancy is an important issue. Not only it can compromise pregnancy outcomes, but also it may affect their newborn's overall health. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status and associated factors in pregnant women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 407 pregnant women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy in Varamin, Iran. Oral health status was examined, and demographic, socioeconomic status and dental care behavior data were collected. Oral health indices included periodontal pocket, bleeding on probing (BOP) and decayed, missed, filled teeth (DMFT). Regression analysis of DMFT was used to study the association between demographic, dental care behaviors indicators and outcome variables using the count ratios (CR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The mean (SD, Standard Deviation) age of participants was 27.35 (5.57). Daily brushing, flossing habit were observed in 64.1, and 20.6% of mothers, respectively. Mean (SD) of DMFT, D, M, F were 10.34(5.10), 6.94(4.40), 2.22 (2.68) and 1.19(2.23), respectively. Women older than 35 years had significantly more DMFT [CR = 1.35 (95% CI 1.13; 1.60)], less D [CR = 0.75 (95% CI 0.59; 0.94)], and more M [CR = 3.63 (95% CI 2.57; 5.14)] compared to women under 25 years after controlling for education and dental care behaviors. Women with academic education had significantly less decayed teeth [CR = 0.63 (95% CI 0.48; 0.84)], compared to women with under 12 years of education. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health status of pregnant women was not satisfactory, having an average of seven decayed teeth in their mouth.

Challenges impeding integration of oral health into primary health care.

The primary healthcare (PHC) services in the Islamic Republic of Iran have succeeded in addressing high levels of communicable diseases; however, they seem less able to deal with maternal and paediatric oral diseases. The aim of this study was to examine problems in integrating oral health services into PHC. This was a qualitative research study comprising focus group discussions and interviews. Five focus-group discussions were held with midwives, family healthcare practitioners, rural PHC workers, duty-service dentists, and public health dentists. Also, individual interviews were organized with experts of faculty members in related fields, informant managers and policy makers, and in-depth interviews were done with pregnant women in four PHC centres. Audiotapes were transcribed following each session, and then a qualitative thematic analysis was carried out on gathered data. Data analysis resulted in 4 main themes relating to the challenges: environmental, educational, organizational and school-based programme factors. This study provides a clearer understanding of the challenges of integrating oral health services into PHC.

Patient satisfaction surveys in dental school clinics: a review and comparison.

Health care is becoming more patient-centered and, as a result, patients' experiences of care and assessment of satisfaction are taken more seriously. Patient satisfaction influences treatment cooperation, and better cooperation leads to healthier patients in the long term. This generalization clearly applies in the dental school clinic setting. Furthermore, dental school clinics' administrators and clinicians should know about the dimensions of their patient satisfaction in order to provide the highest quality of care. The aim of this study was to review studies published between 1980 and March 2014 to identify the dimensions used to measure patients' satisfaction when they receive services in dental school clinics. The PubMed database was used to access published studies using patient satisfaction surveys in dental school clinics, and the dimensions used in these surveys were then categorized. Through several stages of searching in PubMed, the authors selected 41 articles from a total of 730; after further critical appraisal, nine articles were retained. Five dimensions included in patient surveys were identified: quality, interaction, access, environment, and cost. Determining the dimensions used in patient satisfaction surveys in dental school clinics can assist academic dental institutions in providing the highest quality of care.