Orofacial trauma awareness among sports teachers in Southern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Dental trauma is a major public oral health problem owing to its high prevalence. The school sports teachers who observe children when they participate in sports have a key role in the prevention and management of traumatic injuries. The present study aims to determine the awareness of sports teachers on the occurrence and prevention of oral-facial trauma in southern Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The present study was a cross-sectional study design among sports teachers in a southern subpopulation of Saudi Arabia. A draft questionnaire with 11 items was constructed under three domains: occurrence pattern, prevention, and management of dental trauma. RESULTS: A total of 191 sports teachers from various schools participated in the survey. The majority (88%) of the teachers had encountered orofacial trauma among children during sporting activity in schools. The most common orofacial structure involved in injury was the teeth (33.5%) and lips (25.2%). Only 50.8% of subjects knew stock tray as a type of mouthguard and 27.7% of teachers responded that they do not recommend mouthguards for children during sporting activities. Nearly 80.6% teachers were aware of the possibility of reimplanting an avulsed tooth. About 72.8% teachers had poor knowledge of immediate action necessary for successful outcomes of reimplanted teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Orofacial trauma was commonly encountered by sports teachers among children during sporting activities in the school. There was poor awareness regarding types of mouth guards and its significance among the sports school teachers. The knowledge related to the management of emergency oral injuries was inadequate.

A novel perspective for predicting gingival biotype via dentopapillary measurements on study models in the Saudi population: Cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Gingival biotype (GB) is a crucial factor in predicting the success of soft tissue periodontal and peri-implant surgical interventions. Consequently, contemplating noninvasive, less time-consuming procedure to anticipate it has become a part and parcel of the current practice. This article presents a novel algorithm to detect GB in the Saudi population based on the dentopapillary measurements taken on laboratory models. In addition, it targets to allocate a range of values for thick and thin biotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Model analysis was done on 160 patients to measure eight gingival parameters, and an algorithm was developed according to the results of multiple and linear regression analyses. Applying the dentopapillary parameters to the algorithm revealed a prediction of the biotype. Finally, the resultant values and the exact thickness were reassessed directly in a sample of patients using a modified caliper. RESULTS: The regression analysis revealed an algorithm predicting biotypes among patients based on their measured dentopapillary values. Discriminant analysis was used to allocate the values to thin and thick biotypes to further demystify that they coincide with <0.7 mm and >1.5 mm, respectively. However, gingival thickness between 0.7 and 1.5 mm was considered intermediate biotype. CONCLUSION: GB could be predicted based on the dentopapillary measurements taken on laboratory models, which may further reduce the chairside time and increase the success rate of the surgical procedures. Significant variations in the range of values of the thick and thin biotype were detected in the Saudi population compared to other races. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The escalating invasion of interventional procedures in the dental practice necessitates measuring the GB as a predictor of procedure success. This study introduces an algorithm for detecting the GB and updates the range of values for thick and thin biotypes in the Saudi population that would consequently reduce chairside time.

Self-perception of personal oral health in Saudi population: a social media approach.

Subjective perceptions and perceived needs for dental care in a population can provide important information for policy-makers. This study aimed to assess self-perceived personal oral health status among the Saudi Arabia population who could be accessed through social media. A pre-tested questionnaire for completion online was designed to assess self-perceived oral health via 13 items in 4 domains with weighted scores from 1-3. The questionnaire was uploaded to the Internet and the link to it was made available through popular social networking sites in Saudi Arabia. With respondents recruited by snowball methods a total of 4618 people (57.2% males, 42.8% females) completed the questionnaire. The total mean score for the participants was 23.0 (SD 5.0) (scale range 13-39). Self-perceived oral health was rated as poor by 24.2% of respondents, average by 50.6% and good by 25.2%. Educational level, age and region but not sex were significantly associated with self-perceived oral health.

Dermatoglyphics--a marker for malocclusion?

INTRODUCTION: Dermatoglyphics is the study of dermal ridge configurations on palmar and plantar surfaces of hands and feet. Dermal ridges and craniofacial structures are both formed during 6-7th week of intra-uterine life. It is believed that hereditary and environmental factors leading to malocclusion may also cause peculiarities in fingerprint patterns. OBJECTIVE: To study and assess the relationship between fingerprints and malocclusion among a group of high school children aged 12-16 years in Dharwad, Karnataka, India. DESIGN: A total of 696 high school children aged 12-16 years were randomly selected. Their fingerprints were recorded using duplicating ink and malocclusion status was clinically assessed using Angle's classification. RESULTS: Chi-square analysis revealed statistical association between whorl patterns and classes 1 and 2 malocclusion (p < 0.05). However, no overall statistical association was observed between fingerprint patterns and malocclusion (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dermatoglyphics might be an appropriate marker for malocclusion and further studies are required to elucidate an association between fingerprint patterns and malocclusion.

Caries preventive practices and dental caries among boys aged 6-15 in Saudi Arabia.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess caries preventive practices and dental caries among boys aged 6-15 in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included a sampling frame of all male school students aged 6-15 years in a subpopulation of Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed to collect information from mothers on the use of recommended caries preventive practices (RCPP) by the child. Children were examined clinically for dental caries status using DMFT index. RESULTS: A total of 722 children and respective mothers participated in the study. The mean DMFT scores were significantly greater in children with no RCPP than those who used at least a single RCPP and a combination of RCPP (p<0.05). Regression analysis revealed that all RCPP were significantly associated with dental caries (p<0.05). Children not using any RCPP tool had higher risk of developing dental caries (OR 8.69; 95% CI 6.38-11.83). CONCLUSION: Brushing teeth at least twice a day, use of fluoridated toothpaste and consumption of sugary snacks less than once a day have significant influence in occurrence of dental caries. Using all RCPP tools were more effective in caries prevention than used individually.

Hypertension and stroke in a young man with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

In the case reported here, a 34-year-old man with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had arterial hypertension and had had a stroke that caused right hemiplegia. A review of the literature reveals a surprisingly high occurrence of arterial hypertension in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, including children. The cause of hypertension in these patients is not clear. Surgical procedures and a new nonsurgical treatment have been successful in relieving the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Our patient's symptoms resolved completely after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tonsillectomy. However, his arterial hypertension persisted.

Efficacy of two commercially available dentifrices in reducing dentinal hypersensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: A parallel design clinical study evaluated reduction in hypersensitivity after brushing for 12 weeks with Anchor toothpaste (containing potassium citrate, zinc citrate, triclosan and sodium monofluorophosphate) (test) and Colgate Total (sodium fluoride, silica, triclosan and copolymer) (control) dentifrices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty adults with sensitivity to hot and cold stimulus in at least two tooth surfaces were stratified at the baseline examination by tactile, hot and cold stimuli scores in two balanced groups. Subjects were randomly allocated the test and control dentifrices and evaluated after 6 and 12 weeks of dentifrice use for hypersensitivity. RESULTS: The two teeth that were selected in each patient were designated as two different sets. The 12th-week scores as compared to baseline scores for tactile, heat and cold tests in the test group showed a reduction in tooth hypersensitivity by 36.67% (P < 0.01), 20.35% (P < 0.01) and 53.64 % (P < 0.01), respectively, in the first set of teeth and 43.75% (P < 0.01), 24.48% (P < 0.01) and 59.78% (P < 0.01), respectively, in the second set of teeth. The 12th-week scores as compared to baseline scores for tactile, heat and cold tests in the control group showed a reduction in tooth hypersensitivity by 42.86% (P < 0.01), 13.02% (P < 0.01) and 45.14% (P < 0.01), respectively, in the first set of teeth and 40% (P < 0.01), 16.59% (P < 0.01) and 44.16% (P < 0.01), respectively, in the second set of teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Both the products reduced dentinal hypersensitivity in the study subjects at the end of the 12-week period. However, there was no statistically significant difference in reduction in hypersensitivity between the two products.