School academic climate and oral health (tooth loss) in adolescents

Measures of oral health-related quality of life in patients with bone graft and implant prosthetic rehabilitation at the anterior of mandible/maxilla among young and middle-aged adults: a retrospective pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Dental implants are believed to contribute to improved masticatory function and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL), but the details remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of dental implant prosthetic rehabilitation after bone graft at the anterior mandible/maxilla based on OHRQOL, particularly in young and middle-aged patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 11 patients who received bone grafts at the anterior mandible/maxilla and dental implant surgery. Chewing function score and OHRQOL (using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire) were evaluated before and after completion of an implant-retained bridge or removable implant-supported denture.

RESULTS

Chewing function score tended to improve slightly after dental implant prosthetic rehabilitation, but none of the observed differences were significant. In the assessment of OHRQOL, relatively worse domain scores before completion of dental implant prosthetic rehabilitation were seen for Functional limitation, Psychological discomfort, and Psychological disability. Conversely, Social disability seemed relatively unaffected by tooth loss. All domain scores and total scores for items other than Physical disability and Social disability were significantly improved after completion of dental implant rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Tooth loss in the anterior region may not significantly affect chewing function score, but can have a significant impact on OHRQOL. Bone grafts and dental implant prosthetic rehabilitation can resolve these problems, and the results of this study will benefit both patients and medical professionals in terms of treatment planning and informed consent.

Impact of oral health literacy and psychoactive substances on tooth loss in adolescents

The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between tooth loss, and oral health literacy, the use of multiple psychoactive substances, and the reason for the last dental appointment in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 746 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a sociodemographic questionnaire. The adolescents answered the Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30), the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, and an oral health questionnaire from the National Oral Health Survey. The adolescents were then examined by two examiners who had undergone training and calibration exercises for the diagnosis of tooth loss due to caries (K> 0.80). Associations between variables were investigated using robust logistic regression analysis for complex samples (α = 5%). The prevalence of tooth loss was 17.4%. Oral health literacy (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.97) was inversely associated with tooth loss, while multiple psychoactive substance use (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.09-3.69) and last dental visit for treatment/symptoms (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.73-5.36) were directly associated with tooth loss. Oral health literacy, multiple psychoactive substance use, and reason for last dental appointment exerted an influence on tooth loss among adolescents.