Evaluation of red-complex bacteria loads in complete denture patients: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to evaluate red-complex bacteria (RCB) loads in edentulous patients, before and after dentures' insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients were included in the study. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolated from bacterial samples were obtained from the dorsum of the tongue before and 3 months after complete dentures (CDs) insertion in order to identify the presence of RCB (Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola) and quantify their loads, using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Bacterial loads were represented as "Lg (genome equivalents/sample)" and the data classified according to the "ParodontoScreen" test. RESULTS: Significant changes in bacterial loads were observed before and 3 months after the CDs insertion for: P. gingivalis (0.40 ± 0.90 vs 1.29 ± 1.64, p = 0.0007), T. forsythia (0.36 ±0.94 vs 0.87 ± 1.45, p = 0.005), and T. denticola (0.11 ± 0.41 vs 0.33 ± 0.75, p = 0.03). Before the CDs insertion, all patients had a normal bacterial prevalence range (100%) for all analyzed bacteria. Three months after the insertion, 2 (6.7%) of them had a moderate bacterial prevalence range for P. gingivalis, while 28 (93.3%) had a normal bacterial prevalence range. CONCLUSION: The use of CDs has a significant impact on increasing RCB loads in edentulous patients.

Facial Anthropometric Norms among Kosovo - Albanian Adults.

BACKGROUND: The development of an anthropometric craniofacial database is a necessary multidisciplinary proposal. AIM: The aim of this study was to establish facial anthropometric norms and to investigate into sexual dimorphism in facial variables among Kosovo Albanian adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 204 students of Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina. Using direct anthropometry, a series of 8 standard facial measurements was taken on each subject with digital caliper with an accuracy of 0.01 mm (Boss, Hamburg-Germany). The normative data and percentile rankings were calculated. Gender differences in facial variables were analyzed using t- test for independent samples (p<0.05). The index of sexual dimorphism (ISD) and percentage of sexual dimorphism were calculated for each facial measurement. RESULTS N: ormative data for all facial anthropometric measurements in males were higher than in females. Male average norms compared with the female average norms differed significantly from each other (p>0.05).The highest index of sexual dimorphism (ISD) was found for the lower facial height 1.120, for which the highest percentage of sexual dimorphism, 12.01%., was also found. The lowest ISD was found for intercanthal width, 1.022, accompanied with the lowest percentage of sexual dimorphism, 2.23%. CONCLUSION: The obtained results have established the facial anthropometric norms among Kosovo Albanian adults. Sexual dimorphism has been confirmed for each facial measurement.

Oral Health Status Related to Social Behaviors among 6 - 11 Year Old Schoolchildren in Kosovo.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current oral health status among schoolchildren in Kosovo aged 6-11 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study included 5679 schoolchildren aged 6 -11 years, from different towns of Kosovo. Dental health status was evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT index), for deciduous and permanent dentition. The observed children have answered a number of questions about their oral hygiene, eating habits, and dental visits. The analysis included frequencies and means. The differences between means were tested using the student t-test (p<0.05). The factors associated with dental caries were tested using the Spearman's rank. RESULTS: The mean dmft/DMFT of schoolchildren aged 6-11 years was 4.36 ± 3.763 and 1.20 ± 1.488, respectively. Sealant placements were found among 90 schoolchildren, amounting to 1.58%. From 8 years of age, 50% of children brush their teeth twice a day. Confectionery consumption among the observed children has increased. Forty percent of them eat sweets at least once a day, and majority of them visit their dentists only when necessary. A significant correlation between consumption of confectionery, oral hygiene, dental visits and the prevalence of caries was confirmed. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that there is a high prevalence of caries among 6-11 year old schoolchildren, thus pointing to a need for an extensive program of primary oral health care as well as utilizing preventive measures and regular dental visits.

Lightness, chroma, and hue distributions in natural teeth measured by a spectrophotometer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the distribution of color parameters, lightness (L*), chroma (C), hue (H), a* and b*, in the intercanine sector in maxilla. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients' tooth color measurements were performed using an intraoral spectrophotometer VITA Easyshade® (VITA Zahnfabrik H. Rauter GmbH and Co. KG, Bad Sackingen, Germany). The measurements were made in 255 subjects in the intercanine sector in maxilla. RESULTS: The mean values for the group of 255 subjects were as follows: L*, a*, b*, C, and H as 81.6, 0.67, 21.6, 21.7, and 92.7, respectively. For F=206.27 and P < 0.001 between L*, a*, b*, C, H, and central incisor/lateral incisor/canines, there were statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: With the statistical analysis, it was determined that there are significant color differences between the teeth of the intercanine sector, which differences are clinically significant also.

Sexual dimorphism in permanent maxillary central incisor in Kosovo: Albanian population / Dimorfismo sexual en los incisivos centrales superiores permanentes en una población albanesa de Kosovo

The aim of this study was to investigate the sexual dimorphism in permanent maxillary central incisor in Kosovo Albanian population using crown linear diameters, crown module (CM) and crown index (CI). The study sample consisted of 204 dental students, selected from the Dental School, Faculty of Medicine at University of Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo. The measurements of mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL) crown diameters of left and right permanent maxillary incisor (MCI) were taken in a dental casts using electronic digital caliper Boss, Hamburg ­ Germany, with accuracy± 0.01 mm. The descriptive statistics, t-test and percentage of sexual dimorphism in crown linear diameters and dental indexes of maxillary central incisor were calculated. The results showed a statistically significant difference in MD (p<0.01) and BL diameters (p<0.0001) of maxillary central incisor between males and females. BL diameter of maxillary central incisor showed greater sexual dimorphism (4.78 %) than mesiodistal diameter (2.76 %). CM presented with a higher level of sexual dimorphism (3.76 %) comparing to CI (1.89 %). The findings of this study demonstrated sexual dental dimorphism in crown linear diameters and dental indexes in maxillary central incisor in Kosovo-Albanian population.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el dimorfismo sexual en el diente incisivo central superior permanente en una población albanesa de Kosovo utilizando diámetros lineales de las copas, módulo de corona (MC) y el índice de la corona (IC). La muestra del estudio consistió en 204 estudiantes de odontología, seleccionados de la Escuela de Odontología, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Pristina, República de Kosovo. Se tomaron mediciones mesiodistales (MD) y diámetros bucolinguales (BL) de la corona de los dientes incisivos superiores permanentes izquierdo y derecho, en modelos dentales, utilizando un calibrador digital electrónico Boss (Hamburgo ­ Alemania) con una precisión de ± 0,01 mm. Se calculó la estadística descriptiva, t-test y porcentaje de dimorfismo sexual en los diámetros lineales de coronas dentales y los índices del diente incisivo central superior. Los resultados mostraron una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en MD (p <0,01) y diámetros BL (p <0,0001) del diente incisivo central superior entre hombres y mujeres. Se observó un mayor dimorfismo sexual (4,78 %) en el diámetro BL del diente incisivo central superior, que en el diámetro mesiodistal (2,76 %). El MC presentó un nivel mayor de dimorfismo sexual (3,76 %) en comparación con IC (1,89 %). Los resultados de este estudio demostraron la existencia de dimorfismo sexual en los diámetros lineales de la corona dental y de los índices dentales correspondientes al diente incisivo central superior en la población albanesa de Kosovo.

Psychometric properties of the Albanian version of chewing-function questionnaire CFQ-ALB.

BACKGROUND: The new Chewing Function Questionnaire (CFQ) was lately developed in Croatia to measure the chewing ability in prosthodontic patients, as a one-dimensional instrument consisting of 10-items. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop an Albanian version of the CFQ questionnaire and to test its psychometric properties in a new typical environment among the Kosovo population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original version of CFQ questionnaire was translated and cross-culturally adapted from the English language into Albanian in accordance with international guidelines. Its validity (construct, convergent and discriminative) and internal consistency (reliability) were tested in 205 participants. Test-retest reliability was evaluated in 61 subjects with natural teeth, and responsiveness was evaluated in 51 prosthodontic patients with treatment needs. RESULTS: Internal consistency of CFQ-ALB indicated excellent agreement, with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.974 and average inter-item correlation of 0.792. Intraclass correlation coeficinets for test-retest were found without significant differences by 95 % of confidence intervals (p > 0.05). Construct validity was supported by a single factor that accounted for 81.711 % of the variance observed. Convergent validity was supported by the association between self-reported general satisfactions with chewing and CFQ summary scores. Discriminat validity was supported as statistically significant differences were observed between pre-defined groups. Responsiveness was confirmed by the significant difference between baseline summary scores and the after treatment scores; the mean change was 15.57 (SD =2.49) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The obtained results suggest excellent psychometric properties of the CFQ-ALB questionnaire for determining chewing function in the Republic of Kosovo.

Psychometric properties of the Albanian version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale: OES-ALB.

UNLABELLED: The aim was to adapt the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES) and to test psychometric properties of the Albanian language version in the cultural environment of the Republic of Kosovo. METHODS: The OES questionnaire was translated from the original English version according to the accepted techniques. The reliability (internal consistency), and validity (construct, convergent and discriminative) were tested in 169 subjects, test-retest in 61 dental students (DS), and responsiveness in 51 prosthodontic patients with treatment needs (PPTN). RESULTS: The corrected item correlation coefficients of OES-ALB ranged from 0.686 to 0.909. The inter-item correlation coefficient ranged between 0.572 and 0.919. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.961 and IIC 0.758. Test- retest was confirmed by good ICCs and by no significant differences of the OES scores through the period of 14 days without any orofacial changes (p > 0.05). Construct validity was proved by the presence of one-factor composition that assumed 79.079% of the variance. Convergent validity showed significant correlation between one general question about satisfaction with orofacial esthetics and the OES summary score, as well as between the sum of the 3 OHIP-ALB49 questions related to orofacial aesthetics and the OES summary score. Discriminative validity was confirmed with statistically significant differences between DS, prosthodontic patients without treatment need and PPTN (p < 0.01). Responsiveness was confirmed by a significant increase of OES scores after PPTN patients received new fixed partial or removable dentures (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results proved excellent psychometric properties of the OES-ALB questionnaire in the Republic of Kosovo.

Cephalic and facial indices among kosovo-albanian population / Índices cefálico y facial en la población kosovar-albanesa

Cephalic and facial indices are used to estimate the racial and sex differences. This study was carried out to establish standards for craniofacial variables and distribution of cephalic and facial indices in Kosovo - Albanian population. The study population consisted of 204 dental students (101 males and 103 females, aged 18 to 30). Four basic craniofacial variables (head length, head breadth, morphological face height and face breadth) were measured to obtained cephalic and facial indices. All measured craniofacial variables are considerably higher in males than in females (p<0.0001). In the Kosovo ­ Albanian population brachycephalic type of head (44.61 percent) and hyperleptoprosopic type of face (63.34 %) prevail.

Los índices cefálicos y faciales se utilizan para estimar las diferencias raciales y de sexo. Este estudio se llevó a cabo para establecer estándares para las variables y la distribución de los índices cefálicos y faciales en la población de Kosovo- Albanesa. Se examinaron 204 estudiantes de odontología (101 hombres y 103 mujeres entre 18 y 30 años). Se midieron cuatro variables craneofaciales básicas (longitud de la cabeza, ancho de la cabeza, altura facial morfológica y ancho facial) para obtener los índices cefálicos y faciales. Todas las variables medidas craneofaciales fueron considerablemente más altas en los hombres que en las mujeres (p <0,0001). En la población Kosovo-Albania predomina la braquiocefalia (44,61 por ciento) y la hiperleptoprosopía (63,34 %).