Oral health status of low-income, middle-aged to elderly Hong Kong Chinese with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To study oral health conditions, diabetic medical complications and their association in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 364 type 2 DM patients (63.6 +/- 10.1 years, 54% female) and 161 controls (64.1 +/- 10.6 years, 53% female) with or without essential hypertension, predominantly low-income, attending a hospital were recruited. Periodontal disease (Community Periodontal Index [CPI]) and dental status (decayed, missing and filled teeth [DMFT]) were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose and, for DM patients, HbA1C and DM complications were recorded on enrolment and follow up, respectively. RESULTS: Many DM subjects had fair diabetic control. Both groups (control/DM) had poor oral health: DMFT = 14.5/16.8, CPI 4 = 36%/50%, (P < 0.02) while DM subjects had less DT(adjusted) = 2.1/1.4 (P < 0.01). Of the follow-up DM individuals, 294 (81%) had medical complication(s). Regression analyses showed association between advanced periodontal attachment loss (ALoss) and age, male gender, smoking and DM; MT and DMFT were associated with age, female gender, smoking, DM and hypertension. ALoss and DMFT were not associated with DM complications. CONCLUSIONS: The oral health of the surveyed Chinese subjects was poor. Type 2 DM subjects were affected more by ALoss and MT but less DT. Subjects with hypertension had higher odds for MT.

Efficacy of a novel lubricating system in the management of radiotherapy-related xerostomia.

A comparison was made of Oral Balance gel delivered by slow release via a novel intra-oral device versus an oral bolus of gel on the oral health condition and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients who had received standard head and neck irradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Twenty-two participants took part in a randomized single-blind crossover clinical study. Each treatment lasted 4 weeks with an intervening 4 weeks washout period. The GOHAI, Xerostomia Inventory and patient satisfaction measures were self-completed and oral health condition assessed objectively at baseline (week 0) and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Oral Balance gel, in bolus and slow-release forms, was effective in improving aspects of oral health, notably a reduction in oral cariogenic micro-organisms. Slow release of gel via the intra-oral device did not appear to improve OHRQoL whereas gel alone reduced the severity of xerostomia symptoms and was the treatment of choice.

Identification of cultivable microorganisms from primary endodontic infections with exposed and unexposed pulp space.

This study was aimed at comparing the cultivable microorganisms in canals with periapical radiolucencies with exposed and unexposed pulp space. Microbiological samples were taken and analyzed from 45 canals with exposed pulp space, and 43 canals with unexposed pulp space. The canal contents were analyzed by aerobic/anaerobic culture, and conventional identification techniques. There were 211 isolates of bacteria belonging to 28 genera and 55 species recovered from exposed canals. In the unexposed group, 185 isolates of bacteria were recovered, of which 54 species of 28 genera were identified. Among the four most common genera, Prevotella was significantly more common in the exposed group (51/211 in the exposed group versus 30/185 in the unexposed group) (p = 0.049), while there were no differences in prevalence of Actinomyces, Peptostreptococcus, and Campylobacter between two groups of canals. In addition, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Propionibacterium acne were significantly more common in the unexposed canals (p = 0.047 and p = 0.0051, respectively). Similarity in bacterial species in these two groups suggests that pulp space exposure may not be a significant factor in determining the type of bacteria present in infected canals.