Length of tooth survival in older adults with complex medical, functional and dental backgrounds

A meta analysis for evaluation of marginal bone level changes at dental implants

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the marginal bone level changes at dental implants after 1 year in function.

Methods

Detailed searches from PubMed databases were made. A MEDLINE search (PubMed) published in the English language from 1980 to December 2018 was included in this study.

Results

The electronic database research (MEDLINE) produced 166 corresponding articles. One hundred and twenty studies were excluded on the basis of abstract while the 46 researches were used chosen for full-text examination after the title and abstract testing, and 41 studies were excluded that did not meet the requirements of our inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 5 studies for a quantitative analysis were taken into account.

Conclusion

Within the limits of the study, the mean marginal bone loss (MBL) was found to be 0.56 mm. A statistically significant difference in the MBL was found between the various studies.

The Efficacy of Physics Forceps for Exodontia: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to investigate the efficacy of physics forceps compared with conventional forceps for routine exodontia.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, Cochrane databases and Google Scholar. Primary outcomes investigated were buccal cortical plate fracture and gingival laceration and secondary outcomes included bleeding, delayed healing, ease of technique, pain, tooth fracture, operating time, and postoperative infection.

RESULTS

Eight randomized controlled trials were included in the review. One study identified a significant difference in buccal cortical plate fracture (P = .001), and 3 studies reported a significant reduction in gingival laceration (all P ≤ .032) from using physics forceps, compared with conventional forceps. Secondary outcomes of bleeding (K = 2) and pain (K = 3), on day 1, were significantly reduced when using the physics forceps (P ≤ .001 and P ≤ .03, respectively). There were no significant differences or inconclusive results found for tooth fracture, operating time, ease of technique, postoperative infection, and delayed healing.

CONCLUSIONS

The review identified that only a limited number of included studies were reported to provide a more atraumatic approach for routine exodontia in terms of buccal cortical plate fracture, gingival laceration, postoperative pain, and bleeding, when compared with conventional forceps. Most studies reported no significant differences. However, studies were associated with a high risk of bias and selective outcome reporting.

Dental Caries Prediction Based on a Survey of the Oral Health Epidemiology among the Geriatric Residents of Liaoning, China

Background

Dental caries is one of the most common chronic diseases observed in elderly patients. The development of preventive strategies for dental caries in elderly individuals is vital.

Objective

The objective of the present study was to construct a generalized regression neural network (GRNN) prediction model for the risk assessment of dental caries among the geriatric residents of Liaoning, China.

Methods

A stratified equal-capacity random sampling method was used to randomly select 1144 elderly (65-74 years) residents (gender ratio 1 : 1) of Liaoning, China. Data for the oral assessment, including caries characteristics, and questionnaire survey from each participant were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was then performed to identify the independent predictors. GRNN was applied to establish a prediction model for dental caries. The accuracy of the unconditional logistic regression and the GRNN early warning model was compared.

Results

A total of 1144 patients fulfilled the requirements and completed the questionnaires. The caries rate was 68.5%, and the main associated factors were toothache history, residence area, smoking, and drinking. We randomly divided the data for the 1144 participants into a training set (915 cases) and a test set (229 cases). The optimal smoothing factor was 0.7, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the GRNN model was 0.626 (95% confidence interval, 0.544 to 0.708), with a P value of 0.002. In terms of consistency, sensitivity, and specificity, the GRNN model was better than the traditional unconditional multivariate logistic regression model.

Conclusion

Geriatric (65-74 years) residents of Liaoning, China, have a high rate of dental caries. Residents with a history of toothache and smoking habits are more susceptible to the disease. The GRNN early warning model is an accurate and meaningful tool for screening, early diagnosis, and treatment planning for geriatric individuals with a high risk of caries.

Periodontal health in shortened dental arches: A 10-year RCT

PURPOSE

This analysis focused on periodontal health in shortened dental arches (SDAs).

METHODS

In a randomized controlled clinical trial, patients with missing molars in one jaw and at least one premolar and canine on both sides were eligible for participation. In the partial removable dental prosthesis (PRDP) group (n = 79), molars were replaced with a precision attachment retained PRDP. In the SDA group (n == 71), the SDA up to the second premolars was either left as is or restored with fixed dental prostheses. Outcome variables were vertical clinical attachment loss (CAL-V), pocket probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and plaque index (PLI). For CAL-V and PPD, the changes at six measuring points per tooth were analyzed. For BOP and PLI, patient related rates were calculated for each point in time. Statistical methods included linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

In the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis for CAL-V in the study jaw, the 10 year patient related mean changes were 0.66 mm in the PRDP group and -0.13 mm in the SDA group. The resulting mean patient related group difference of 0.79 mm (95% CI: 0.20 mm-1.38 mm) was significant (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences in the ITT analyses for PPD. For BOP and PLI, significant group differences with more favorable results for the SDA group were found.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of lacking substantial differences for CAL-V and PPD, the overall differences were considered of minor clinical relevance. The results add confirmatory evidence to the shortened dental arch concept and its clinical viability (controlled-trials.com ISRCTN97265367).

Prediction of Early Childhood Caries via Spatial-Temporal Variations of Oral Microbiota

Microbiota-based prediction of chronic infections is promising yet not well established. Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common infection in children. Here we simultaneously tracked microbiota development at plaque and saliva in 50 4-year-old preschoolers for 2 years; children either stayed healthy, transitioned into cariogenesis, or experienced caries exacerbation. Caries onset delayed microbiota development, which is otherwise correlated with aging in healthy children. Both plaque and saliva microbiota are more correlated with changes in ECC severity (dmfs) during onset than progression. By distinguishing between aging- and disease-associated taxa and exploiting the distinct microbiota dynamics between onset and progression, we developed a model, Microbial Indicators of Caries, to diagnose ECC from healthy samples with 70% accuracy and predict, with 81% accuracy, future ECC onsets for samples clinically perceived as healthy. Thus, caries onset in apparently healthy teeth can be predicted using microbiota, when appropriately de-trended for age.

Factors contributing to tooth loss among the elderly: A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

The present study evaluates the influence of several demographic, health, personal, and clinical factors on the number of missing teeth in old age sample.

METHODS

The number of patients included was 259; they received a full mouth examination and answered a questionnaire provided by one examiner. All the variables related to teeth loss based on the literature were included. These variables focused on age, gender, race, marital status, clinical attachment level, pocket depth, year of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, number of medications, root decay, coronal decay, health status, and year of education. Statistical analysis involved stepwise multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

Teeth loss was statistically associated with clinical attachment level (CAL)(p value 0.0001), pocket depth (PD) (0.0007) and education level (0.0048). When smoking was included in the model, age was significantly associated with teeth loss (0.0037). At least one of these four factors was also related to teeth loss in several specific groups such as diabetes mellitus, male, and White. The multiple linear regressions for all the proposed variables showed that they contributed to teeth loss by about 23%.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that less education or increased clinical attachment level loss may increase number of missing teeth. Additionally, age may cause teeth loss in the presence of smoking.

Geriatric prosthodontic care

The geriatric population (age 65 and older) is the fastest growing segment nationally and globally. The large population will continue to increase because of baby boomers that have recently turned 65 years old. Within this cohort, there is much diversity in health, socioeconomic levels, education, and health beliefs. There is a decline in edentulism yet still there are oral health conditions that persist with age, such as caries, tooth loss, and increased needs for prosthodontic dental treatment. Several factors should be taken into account in geriatric prosthodontic care, including quality of life and psychosocial needs.