General health and oral health status in elderly dental patients in Isparta, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to describe the oral health, general health status and medication use of elderly dental patients 709 voluntary patients, aged 60 years and over, who attended Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry for routine dental treatment between March 2008 and April 2009 in Isparta, Turkey, were interviewed for demographic data, systemic diseases, and lists of medications. The majority of the patients (84.4%) had poor oral hygiene according to the Oral Hygiene Index (OHI). The mean level of the study population's decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index score was 19.1 ± 7.3. The prevalence of systemic diseases was high (90%). Women were affected by a significantly higher incidence of systemic diseases than men (96.4% vs. 84.3%; P < 0.001). The percentage of the elderly taking medication regularly was 72.6%. Drug adverse effects were determined in 25.5% of the study population, with more adverse effects observed in women (53.3%) than men (46.7%) (P < 0.001).Dentists must be aware of the dental implications that may arise from systemic diseases and medications and should properly modify elderly patients' treatment accordingly.

General health and oral health status in elderly dental patients in Isparta, Turkey

The aim of this study was to describe the oral health, general health status and medication use of elderly dental patients 709 voluntary patients, aged 60 years and over, who attended Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry for routine dental treatment between March 2008 and April 2009 in Isparta, Turkey, were interviewed for demographic data, systemic diseases, and lists of medications. The majority of the patients [84.4%] had poor oral hygiene according to the Oral Hygiene Index [OHI]. The mean level of the study population's decayed, missing, and filled teeth [DMFT] index score was 19.1 +/- 7.3. The prevalence of systemic diseases was high [90%]. Women were affected by a significantly higher incidence of systemic diseases than men [96.4% vs. 84.3%; P < 0.001]. The percentage of the elderly taking medication regularly was 72.6%. Drug adverse effects were determined in 25.5% of the study population, with more adverse effects observed in women [53.3%] than men [46.7%] [P < 0.001]. Dentists must be aware of the dental implications that may arise from systemic diseases and medications and should properly modify elderly patients' treatment accordingly

La présente étude avait pour objectif de décrire la santé bucco-dentaire de patients dentaires âgés, leur état de santé général et leur recours aux médicaments; 709 patients volontaires, âgés de 60 ans et plus, qui avaient consulté à la Faculté de Dentisterie de l'Université de Suleyman Demirel pour des soins dentaires de routine entre mars 2008 et avril 2009 à Isparta, en Turquie, ont été interrogés pour obtenir des données démographiques, ainsi qu'au sujet des maladies systémiques et des listes de médicaments qui les concernaient. La majorité des patients [84,4%] avaient une mauvaise hygiène bucco-dentaire selon l'indice d'hygiène buccale. Le niveau moyen de l'indice CAO [dent cariée, absente ou obturée] de la population étudiée était de 19,1 +/- 7,3. La prévalence des maladies systémiques était élevée [90%]. Les femmes étaient significativement plus affectées par les maladies systémiques que les hommes [96,4% contre 84,3% ; p < 0,001]. Le pourcentage de personnes âgées pregnant des médicaments sur une base régulière était de 72,6%. Les effets secondaires provoqués par les medicaments ont été déterminés pour 25,5% de la population étudiée, avec davantage d'effets secondaires observés chez les femmes [53,3%] que chez les hommes [46,7%] [p <0,001]. Les dentistes doivent avoir connaissance des implications dentaires pouvant être causées par des maladies systémiques et des traitements médicamenteux, et devraient modifier les soins apportés aux personnes âgées en conséquence

Early diagnosis of oral cancer.

Survival rates for oral cancer are very poor, at approximately 50% overall, and have not improved markedly in recent decades despite advances in therapeutic interventions. Detecting oral cancer at an early stage is believed to be the most effective means of reducing rates of death, morbidity and disfigurement from this disease. Tobacco and alcohol consumption and pre-malign lesions are the most common aetiological factors. The proportion of patients presenting with oral cancer at an advanced stage is troubling. Early diagnosis is the most effective way of reducing the individual burden of the disease, decreasing morbidity and mortality and improving quality of life. For early diagnosis, healthcare providers should perform oral cancer examinations as part of their patient care regime, and need to be knowledgeable about early signs of oral carcinoma. Oral cancer awareness among the public should also be improved.

A non-syndrome case with bilateral supernumerary canines: report of a rare case.

Supernumerary teeth are described as the teeth formed in excess of the normal dental formula. Prevalence of supernumerary teeth varies between 0.1% and 3.8% in general Caucasian population. They have been reported in both the primary and the permanent dentition. Supernumerary teeth may occur in any region of the dental arch. However, a supernumerary tooth in the canine region is a rare condition and to our knowledge, a non-syndrome case with bilateral supplemental maxillary canines did not exist in the literature. It was the aim of this report to evaluate this rare case in view of both oral radiology and orthodontics.

Prevalence of tooth transpositions and associated dental anomalies in a Turkish population.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of tooth transposition in a Turkish population, possibly associated dental anomalies and whether side laterality, gender expression or genetic influence exist or not. METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 5486 patients referred to Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, University of Suleyman Demirel between April 2003 and March 2004 were examined retrospectively. All patients with tooth transpositions were recalled for detailed clinical examination and medical history. Age, sex, history (trauma), location of transposition, and associated congenital dental anomalies were recorded with details. RESULTS: 22 transpositions were found in 21 of 5486 (0.38%) patients. The most frequently seen transposition was maxillary canine-lateral incisor (1.64/1000), secondly maxillary canine-first premolar (0.91/1000) and maxillary canine-second premolar (0.18/1000) was the least frequently seen one. The frequencies of right and left side occurrence were equal (11/11). Each sex was affected similarly (11 males, 10 females). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tooth transposition was 0.38% in a Turkish population. Maxillary canine-lateral incisor transposition was found to have a higher frequency than maxillary canine-first premolar transposition. Maxillary canine-second premolar transposition that had not been previously reported in the literature was observed in one of our cases. Transpositions had similar frequencies in both sexes.

Incidence of canine impaction and transmigration in a patient population.

In this study, 4500 consecutive panoramic radiographs were prospectively reviewed. The incidence of canine impaction was found to be 3.58% and the incidence of canine transmigration was 0.31%. There were six maxillary and eight mandibular transmigrant canines. The incidence of impacted canine teeth and transmigration of maxillary and mandibular canines may be more frequent than was previously thought, at least in some populations.

Multiple impacted permanent and deciduous teeth.

Multiple impacted teeth may be related to syndromes and metabolic disorders. In some cases, however, impaction of multiple teeth is not accompanied by a fixed complex of symptoms. A 55-year-old woman attended our clinic, as she was not comfortable with her prosthetic appliances because of erupted teeth. Panoramic and occlusal radiographs revealed 13 impacted teeth (12 permanent and 1 deciduous) in the maxilla and 15 impacted teeth (11 permanent and 4 deciduous) in the mandible. In total the patient had 28 impacted teeth. In our case, medical and family history and extraoral examination were not suggestive of any syndrome or metabolic disorder. In conclusion, radiographic examination may reveal multiple impactions in clinical absence of teeth. Lack of eruptive force and rotation of tooth buds may cause multiple impactions and additional examinations may be necessary to exclude systemic and metabolic conditions.

Transmigration of impacted canines.

Pre-eruptive migration of a tooth across the midline is termed "transmigration". This condition has not been reported for teeth other than mandibular canines. Bilateral transmigration is extremely rare, and associated pathological lesions are also reported. The aim of this report is to present the first case of maxillary canine transmigration as well as additional cases of transmigrated mandibular canines, with special emphasis on their classification.