Associations between Malocclusion and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Mongolian Adolescents

Prevalence and factors influencing bullying among Egyptian schoolchildren

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of bullying among schoolchildren and to study the correlation between bullying and a specific type of malocclusion, self-esteem, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), the need for orthodontic treatment and socioeconomic status.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Low, middle and high socioeconomic-class schools in the same educational district in Cairo, Egypt.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 324 Egyptian schoolchildren aged 11-14 years.

METHODS

Validated questionnaires were used to assess self-reported bullying frequency and intensity, self-esteem and OHRQoL. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) was used to assess the orthodontic treatment need and the participants' occlusion was classified according to the British Standard Incisors (BSI) classification.

RESULTS

Bullying was found to be prevalent in 61.7% of the sample. Regression analysis revealed that participants with a Class II division 1 incisor relationship had the highest odds ratio (OR) for predicting bullying (OR = 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-2.15). Being bullied was significantly associated with lower self-esteem (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.13-0.78), worse OHRQoL (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.95-3.15) and a high need for orthodontic treatment, as determined by the IOTN Dental Health Component score (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.05-1.95) and IOTN Aesthetic Component score (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.12-1.88). Moreover, participants in high and middle socioeconomic-class groups had a lower OR for predicting bullying than those in the low socioeconomic-class group (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.13-0.54).

CONCLUSION

The bullying prevalence among Egyptian schoolchildren aged 11-14 years was very high. The prevalence of bullying was higher in schoolchildren with higher orthodontic treatment need and Class II division 1 incisor relationship. Bullying was correlated to poor self-esteem as well as poor OHRQoL. In addition, low socioeconomic status was found to be a potential predictor for bullying.

Breastfeeding Protects from Overjet in Adolescence by Reducing Pacifier Use: A Birth Cohort Study

Increased dental overjet in adolescence is a clinically relevant outcome associated with the complexity and high cost of treatment, indicating the need for prevention strategies. We investigated the long-term impact of breastfeeding and pacifier use on increased overjet (IOVJ) in permanent dentition. A prospective cohort nested in a randomized controlled trial was conducted from birth to 12 years of age (n = 214). Breastfeeding and pacifier use were recorded monthly until 12 months. Overjet was assessed at age 12 years. We employed a causal mediation analysis using parametric regression models assuming no interaction between breastfeeding and pacifier usage. We found a total protective effect of breastfeeding on IOVJ (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.28-0.96), where 63.1% were mediated by pacifier use (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.44-0.87). Breastfeeding directly decreased the odds of IOVJ by 20%; however, the confidence interval included the null estimate (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.41-1.60). In conclusion, breastfeeding protects by half of the IOVJ in adolescence through reducing pacifier use. Oral and general health professionals should collaborate to support WHO breastfeeding guidelines during individual patient counseling. Guidelines for practice, policy or public information require messages that include a common risk approach to oral and general health.

Gender differences in the association between malocclusion traits and oral health-related quality of life in Finnish adults

We aimed to evaluate the gender-specific associations of malocclusion traits with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Finnish adults. Data were obtained from the Health 2000 Survey, Finland. Included participants (n = 3993) were ≥30 years old with OHRQoL and occlusion data. OHRQoL was measured using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). OHIP-14 severity mean score, prevalence of impacts, and means of seven dimensions were outcomes. Explanatory variables were any malocclusion trait, increased overjet, negative overjet, open bite, deep bite, and crossbite/scissor bite. Logistic (prevalence) and cumulative (severity) regression models were adjusted for age, decayed teeth, deep periodontal pocket, occluding pairs, orthodontic treatment, and self-perceived health. Gender modified the association between any malocclusion trait and OHRQoL, with the association being stronger in females. Females without any malocclusion trait (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.14-2.28) or without crossbite/scissor bite (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.16-2.43) had better OHRQoL (lower prevalence) than those with malocclusions. Males without increased overjet (OR 1.50, 95% CI = 1.04-2.17) had lower mean OHIP-14 severity score than males with increased overjet, after adjustments. The association between psychological and physical disability and malocclusion traits was different between males and females. Gender differences in the impact of malocclusion traits should be considered when assessing orthodontic treatment need.

Relationship between index of orthodontic treatment need dental health component (IOTN-DHC) and caries prevalence in school-age children

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the study were to investigate the relationship between caries prevalence and the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need Dental Health Component (IOTN-DHC) in school-age children who live in the dentistless area and to consider the effective way to reduce the potential progression of malocclusion with the growth through the dental survey in Arbulag district, Khövsgöl province, Mongolia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 95 school-age children (49 males, 46 females) who participated in the study were born in and were residents of Arbulag district, Khövsgöl province, Mongolia. The mean ages of the participants were 8.3 years (y) ± 1.7 y for males and 8.8 y ± 1.7 y for females. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to determine the sex difference for the dmf/DMF index. The relationship between the IOTON-DHC and the dmf/DMF index was statistically examined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Regarding the dmf/DMF index, no sex difference was observed. There were significant, fair positive correlations between the IOTON-DHC grade and F; between the IOTON-DHC grade and DMF index in males. There were significant, fair positive correlations between the IOTON-DHC grade and M; between the IOTON-DHC grade and DMF index in females.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant, fair positive correlations were found between the caries prevalence and the grade of malocclusion. Thus, prevention and early treatment of dental caries in a mixed dentition may be effective to reduce the potential progression of malocclusions in dentistless area.

Association between Child Abuse and Poor Oral Habits in Mongolian Adolescents

(1) This study aimed to investigate the association between child abuse and oral habits in adolescents in Mongolia. (2) A cross-sectional survey was conducted with children and their caregivers in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Parents of 770 children enrolled in two public schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, completed questionnaires regarding the physical and psychological abuse that their children were subjected to and the presence of poor oral habits (biting nails/lips/pens and bruxism). Multivariable Poisson regression models were fitted with adjustment for age, gender, age of the mother, parental education, family income level, birth order, and living status with grandparents. (3) Biting nails/lips/pens and bruxism were reported by 39.0% and 17.5% of the respondents, respectively. Biting nails/lips/pens was significantly associated with physical abuse but was not significantly associated with psychological abuse (prevalence ratio, PR [95% confidence interval, CI]: 1.44 [1.07-1.95] and 1.34 [0.98-1.83], respectively). However, bruxism was not associated with physical or psychological abuse (PR [95% CI]: 1.16 [0.77-1.77] and 1.04 [0.68-1.61], respectively). (4) Child abuse was associated with biting habits among Mongolian adolescents.

Prevalence of Orthodontic Malocclusions in Healthy Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the prevalence of malocclusion and different orthodontic features in children and adolescents. Methods: The digital databases PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Open Grey, and Web of Science were searched from inception to November 2021. Epidemiological studies, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, and comparative studies involving subjects ≤ 18 years old and focusing on the prevalence of malocclusion and different orthodontic features were selected. Articles written in English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese were included. Three authors independently assessed the eligibility, extracted the data from, and ascertained the quality of the studies. Since all of the included articles were non-randomized, the MINORS tool was used to score the risk of bias. Results: The initial electronic database search identified a total of 6775 articles. After the removal of duplicates, 4646 articles were screened using the title and abstract. A total of 415 full-text articles were assessed, and 123 articles were finally included for qualitative analysis. The range of prevalence of Angle Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusion was very large, with a mean prevalence of 51.9% (SD 20.7), 23.8% (SD 14.6), and 6.5% (SD 6.5), respectively. As for the prevalence of overjet, reversed overjet, overbite, and open bite, no means were calculated due to the large variation in the definitions, measurements, methodologies, and cut-off points among the studies. The prevalence of anterior crossbite, posterior crossbite, and crossbite with functional shift were 7.8% (SD 6.5), 9.0% (SD 7.34), and 12.2% (SD 7.8), respectively. The prevalence of hypodontia and hyperdontia were reported to be 6.8% (SD 4.2) and 1.8% (SD 1.3), respectively. For impacted teeth, ectopic eruption, and transposition, means of 4.9% (SD 3.7), 5.4% (SD 3.8), and 0.5% (SD 0.5) were found, respectively. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to clearly define orthodontic features and malocclusion traits as well as to reach consensus on the protocols used to quantify them. The large variety in methodological approaches found in the literature makes the data regarding prevalence of malocclusion unreliable.

Impact of malocclusion severity on the quality of life of non-white adolescents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of malocclusion severity on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of non-white adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 585 non-white Brazilian adolescents (12-15 years). The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) was used for the clinical assessment of malocclusion and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) on OHRQoL. Deep bite and transverse occlusal relationships were assessed in association with the DAI. The adolescents with DAI 3 and 4 were distributed into 4 groups: G1 - individuals without transverse occlusal relationships or deep bite; G2 - individuals with only posterior crossbite; G3 - individuals with only deep bite; and G4 - individuals with Brodie bite. The backward stepwise procedure was used to select variables on each level, eliminating variables with a p≤0.20. From the logistic regression analyses, the adjusted odds ratios were estimated with the respective 95% confidence intervals. The adolescents with severe malocclusion divided into the G2, G3 and G4 showed p-value of 0.0501, 0.1475, and 0.5407, respectively, but did not remain in the final model. Malocclusion severity had no impact on the OHRQoL of non-white adolescents.

Association between Smoking during Pregnancy and Short Root Anomaly in Offspring

Short root anomaly (SRA) is a dental anomaly with short dental roots and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. This study investigated the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and SRA in offspring. A survey was conducted on 558 children aged 8–16 years from two public schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. SRA was diagnosed using cases with a root-crown ratio of maxillary central incisors of ≤1.0. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess maternal lifestyle habits. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and SRA in offspring after adjusting for possible confounders. The prevalence of SRA in these children was 14.2%. Children whose mothers smoked from pregnancy to date were found to be 4.95 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65–14.79) more likely to have SRA than those whose mothers never smoked, after adjusting for possible confounders. Additionally, children whose mothers had been exposed to passive smoking during pregnancy were found to be 1.86 times (95% CI: 1.02–3.40) more likely to have SRA than those whose mothers had not been exposed to passive smoke. Our population-based study suggests that maternal and passive smoking exposure during pregnancy can affect tooth root formation in children.

Cross-cultural adaptation of oral health-related quality of life measures used to assess the impacts of malocclusion and dentofacial deformities in Saudi Arabia: A literature review

Since the World Health Organization broadened its definition of health, beyond biological boundaries, to include physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) became common outcome measure in clinical trials and epidemiological studies in Dentistry and Medicine. It is not surprising, therefore, to see quality of life as one of the programs of the Saudi 2030 vision. That said, it can be difficult to interpret the findings of OHRQoL research if the measures used were not appropriately adapted and validated in the population being studied. In this review article, the concept of cross-cultural adaptation of OHRQoL and its use in the Saudi context, as applied to orthodontic research, was discussed. An electronic search in PubMed and MEDLINE databases was conducted. A second search was conducted to locate methodological papers discussing cross-cultural adaptation and translations. Appraisal of relevant research was conducted to provide a better understanding of the process of adapting OHRQoL measures to assess the impact of malocclusion and dentofacial abnormalities on quality of life. This review pointed out important methodological concerns that warrant considerations during the translation and adaptation of OHRQoL measures.

The effects of bracketless invisible orthodontics on the PLI, SBI, SPD, and GI and on the satisfaction levels in children with malocclusions

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bracketless invisible orthodontics on the plaque index (PLI), the sulcus bleeding index (SBI), the gingival sulcus probing depth (SPD), and the gingival index (GI) in children with malocclusions and on their families' satisfaction with the orthodontic treatment.

METHODS

The baseline data of 113 children with malocclusions were retrospectively collected and divided into two groups according to the orthodontic mode each child underwent. Group A was treated with traditional fixed braces, and Group B was treated with bracketless invisible orthodontics. The clinical efficacy, the satisfaction, the PLI, the SBI, the SPD, and the GI, the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels, the occurrence of adverse reactions, the COHIP (oral health-related quality of life scale, Chinese Version), and the changes in oral chewing function were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The total effective rate in group B was 96.49%, higher than the 69.64% in group A (P<0.05). The total satisfaction rate in group B was 98.25%, higher than the 69.64% in group A (P<0.05). Compared with group A, group B had higher PLI, SBI, SPD, and GI levels after the treatment (P<0.05), lower of TNF-α and IL-6 levels, and higher IL-2 levels (P<0.05). The quality of life and the chewing function scores in group B were higher than they were in group A (P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse events in group B was 5.26%, lower than the 17.86% in group A (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of bracketless invisible orthodontic treatment in children with malocclusions is higher than it is using traditional fixed orthodontic treatment, as it helps improve their chewing function, periodontal health, and quality of life, and helps reduce the inflammatory factor levels and improves their satisfaction with the orthodontic treatment.

Association Between Malocclusion and Academic Performance Among Mongolian Adolescents

Objective: Malocclusion has been reported to affect the daily lives of schoolchildren adversely, but little is known regarding the association between malocclusion and academic performance. We aimed to investigate the association between malocclusion and academic performance among adolescents in Mongolia.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 767 students aged 7–16 years from two public schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Three orthodontists evaluated the need for malocclusion treatment in the participants and determined the type of malocclusion using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and dental casts. The academic scores of study participants in 20 subjects were provided by their schools. Z-scores within subjects were calculated and aggregated into both overall and in six groups of subject categories comprised of mathematics, science, social science, language, arts, and physical education. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the association between malocclusion, malocclusion type, and academic score adjusted for gender, age, school, and family income.

Results: Of the 767 students, 32.6% had malocclusion, and dental crowding was the most prevalent type (162 cases, 21.1%). Malocclusion was not significantly associated with the z-score of overall academic score [coefficient: 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.11 to 0.19]; however, dental crowding was significantly associated with the overall academic score (coefficient: −0.19, 95% CI: −0.35 to −0.03), after adjusting for covariates. Other types of malocclusion were not associated with academic scores. Among the six subject categories, arts (coefficient: −0.20, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.04) and physical education (coefficient: −0.24, 95% CI: −0.42 to −0.07) were significantly associated with dental crowding.

Conclusions: Schoolchildren in Mongolia with dental crowding may be prone to poor academic performance, particularly in arts and physical education classes. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether the treatment of crowding boosts academic performance.

The Consumption of Sweets and Academic Performance among Mongolian Children

The regular consumption of sweets has been shown to have an adverse association with the academic performance of children in developed countries; however, the situation in developing countries is less clear. Therefore, we examined the association between the consumption of sweets and academic performance among Mongolian children via a cross-sectional study employing data from 787 children aged 8–16 from two public schools in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The frequency of the consumption of sweets by the children was captured using a questionnaire and then linked to their academic scores; the association between the consumption of sweets and scores in mathematics and the Mongolian language was evaluated using multiple linear regression adjusted for other covariates. It was found that out of 787 students, 58.6% ate sweets every day. After adjusting for covariates, no significant association was observed between the consumption of sweets and mathematics scores (coefficient: 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.02–0.32), while a higher consumption of sweets was significantly associated with higher scores in the Mongolian language (coefficient: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.09–0.41). The associations established in this study are inconsistent with the reports of other studies.

Relationship between the Normative Need for Orthodontic Treatment and Oral Health in Mexican Adolescents Aged 13-15 Years Old

This cross-sectional study aimed to establish a relationship between the Normative Need for Orthodontic Treatment (NNOT) and oral health among Mexican adolescents aged 13–15 years old. A convenience sample of 424 subjects in Mexico City participated in the study. The dependent variable used was NNOT, which was determined via the dental health component (grades 4 and 5) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). The variables for oral health were as follows: caries experience, oral hygiene, self-reported temporomandibular joint pain, and self-reported bruxism. Logistic regression models were fitted to determine the association between NNOT and oral health. The prevalence of NNOT was 66.0% (280/424), and the crowding was the most prevalent occlusal anomaly with 36.1% (n = 135). Multivariate models showed that subjects with NNOT were more than twice as likely to present poor hygiene (OR = 2.56; p = 0.001) as subjects presenting crowding (>4 mm) (OR = 1.99; p = 0.004) and increased overjet (>6 mm) (OR = 1.74; p = 0.046). Those schoolchildren who presented anterior guidance were 72% less likely to present NNOT (OR = 0.28; p < 0.001). In conclusion, the risk of presenting NNOT in Mexican adolescents is high, with a prevalence of over 50% of which the most prevalent occlusal anomaly was crowding. On the other hand, poor oral hygiene was associated with crowding and increased overjet.

How is orthodontic treatment need associated with perceived esthetic impact of malocclusion in adolescents?

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the esthetic impact of orthodontic treatment need in adolescents.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed with 1172 adolescents aged 12 (n = 638) years and 15 (n = 534) years from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The esthetic impact was the following outcome variables: Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and the Oral Aesthetic Subjective Impact Scale. The normative orthodontic treatment need was assessed by the Dental Health Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN-DHC) and by the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Logistic regression models were adjusted, estimating crude odds ratio with the respective 95% confidence intervals. The variables with P ≤0.20 in the individual analyses were tested in multiple logistic regression models, remaining the variables with P ≤0.05.

RESULTS

The results showed a statistically significant association for the esthetic impact (Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and the Oral Aesthetic Subjective Impact Scale) when assessing the normative orthodontic treatment need by the DAI (P <0.05). However, there was no significant association between subjective esthetic impact and normative needs when using the IOTN-DHC (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

DAI was more associated with the adolescents' esthetic concern than IOTN-DHC and should be the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need to be selected to complement the patient's self-perception.

Do malocclusion and orthodontic treatment impact oral health? A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Currently, there is limited evidence on the effects of malocclusion on oral health and whether the correction of malocclusion results in an improvement in oral health. In this review, we examined the evidence from randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies to provide information on any association between malocclusion and oral health and the effects of orthodontic treatment.

METHODS

We conducted this review in 2 parts: (1) we looked at the impact of malocclusion on oral health, and (2) we reviewed the evidence on the effect of orthodontic treatment on oral health. We searched for randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies. The searches were completed for articles published between January 1, 1990 and October 8, 2018 and covered Medline via Ovid, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. References of included articles and previous systematic reviews were hand-searched. No language restrictions were applied. Two members of the study team assessed the quality of the studies using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies to appraise the quality of studies in part 1. The assessment was performed at the study level. Two authors assessed each study independently, with a third author consulted when a disagreement occurred. For studies in part 2, we used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess the risk of bias. When studies were included in a Cochrane review, we incorporated the risk of bias assessment. We developed data extraction forms for each area of oral health under investigation (trauma, quality of life, caries, and periodontal disease). Each author piloted the form, and we held discussions to inform any necessary refinements. We extracted data from studies into 2 × 2 tables, which provided a binary analysis of malocclusion vs the outcome of interest. If these data were not available from the published paper, then studies were not included in the meta-analysis. The authors were contacted when possible to request data in this format.

RESULTS

For part 1 of the study, we identified 87 studies. The overall quality was low. We could not include any of the data into an analysis because of a large variation in the nature of the studies, data collected, and outcome measures that were selected. For part 2 of the study, we found 7 studies; however, there were similar deficiencies in the data as in part 1, and thus, we could not reach any strong conclusions.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, there is an absence of published evidence regarding the effects of malocclusion on oral health and the impact of orthodontic treatment on oral health.

Gender-specific associations of malocclusion traits with oral health-related quality of life in a Finnish adult population

AIM

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate gender-specific associations of different malocclusion traits with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Finnish adults.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study material comprised 1885 subjects from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. A clinical oral examination including registration of occlusion was carried out in connection with a 46-year follow-up examination. The 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure OHRQoL. Subgroups with increased/decreased overjet, deep bite, open bite, lateral crossbite, and scissor bite were selected for further analysis. Subjects with normal occlusion were selected to form the normal occlusion group. Differences between subgroups and the normal occlusion group were evaluated for both genders separately. Education, number of teeth, caries, and orthodontic treatment history were chosen as confounding variables. Multivariate Poisson regression analyses were conducted to assess the effect of independent variables on OHRQoL.

RESULTS

After adjustments, decreased overjet, open bite, and scissor bite were associated with higher OHIP severity in women (P < 0.01). In men, deep bite was associated with higher OHIP severity (P = 0.007). Different malocclusion traits had associations with some OHIP dimension either in men or women. Orthodontic treatment history had a positive effect on OHRQoL in both genders.

CONCLUSION

The associations of malocclusion traits with OHRQoL differed between genders, with women reporting more impacts. Deviations from normal occlusion were generally found to have a negative impact on OHRQoL, but most of the adults with malocclusion seem to adapt to their condition.

Family Affluence Based Inequality in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in a Population of Lithuanian Adolescents

Background: The social inequalities in oral health have had increasing attention in recent years. The present study aimed to explore the impact of family affluence on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) among Lithuanian adolescents aged 11–18 years. Methods: The cross-sectional, population-based study included a representative sample of 881 adolescents aged 11–18 years (mean = 15.55; SD = 1.51) randomly selected from 20 schools in Lithuania. The schoolchildren completed questionnaires to evaluate their OHRQoL using a Lithuanian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ). The adolescents’ family affluence was indirectly assessed by inquiring whether they possessed various modern life items. In dental examination, the severity of malocclusion was predetermined by the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON). The relationship among variables was examined employing the negative binomial regression and the path analysis. Results: The sum score of CPQ as a whole and the sum scores of all four domains were significantly associated with family affluence, indicating higher OHRQoL among adolescents from more affluent families. The severity of malocclusion had a significant association with emotional and social well-being domains of OHRQoL only. Conclusion: This study evidences the family affluence based inequality in OHRQoL among Lithuanian adolescents.

Functional dysbiosis within dental plaque microbiota in cleft lip and palate patients

BACKGROUND

Dental caries is a polymicrobial disease and prevalent among cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients, although their oral hygiene is well maintained. Dysbiosis, the state of imbalance within the dental plaque microbiota, may cause caries prevalence among these patients. However, little is known about how dysbiosis occurs and affects cariogenicity. To find dysbiotic signs, here we conducted a metatranscriptomic analysis for the plaque microbiota in six CLP patients and four controls.

METHODS

Total bacterial RNA was extracted from each sample and sequenced. Bacterial composition and functional profiles were estimated from 16S rRNA and mRNA reads, respectively. The mRNA reads were further used for estimating bacterial composition. Species listed in both rRNA-based and mRNA-based bacterial composition were identified as viable taxa with in situ function (VTiF), and the VTiF with a high mRNA-to-rRNA ratio were considered to be transcriptionally active. A network was constructed for each group by connecting two VTiF if their mRNA abundances were positively correlated.

RESULTS

The bacterial composition and functional profiles themselves did not provide remarkable signs of dysbiosis in the CLP group. However, the group-specific active taxa were identified, including streptococcal and Prevotella species in the CLP group. Moreover, the network structure was different between groups; Actinomyces johnsonii and several species in the CLP group were the active taxa, which were connected based on positive correlations with statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional dysbiosis within the plaque microbiota was observed such as difference of the network structure between groups, and may be associated with cariogenicity. The observed functional dysbiosis was an invisible change within the microbiota in the oral cavity of CLP patients. This may emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene of the patients with cleft anomalies.

Child Perceptions Questionnaire in Croatia: Two Domains for Measuring Oral Health

OBJECTIVE

To perform cross-cultural adaptation and to test psychometric properties of the 8-item CPQ in 11-14 year-olds: stepwise-regression (RSF:8) and item-impact (ISF:8) short-forms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sample included 237 orthodontic patients aged 11-14 at two University Dental Clinics in Croatia. Structural and construct validity, reliability and responsiveness were assessed. Intraoral examination included an assessment of dental caries and malocclusion severity.

RESULTS

Two domains instead of originally suggested four are more appropriate for the assessment of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in both ISF:8 and RSF:8 (60.05% and 52.24% variance; α=0.56-0.85). Oral symptoms and functional limitations from the original instrument were grouped in one dimension that defines oral function, while emotional and social well-being was grouped in a dimension of psychosocial well-being. Instruments are able to detect differences between subjects with low and high caries and malocclusion severity. They were stable when there were no changes in oral conditions, while it was possible to detect differences induced by correction of malocclusion following orthodontic treatment (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

A 8-item CPQ demonstrated good psychometric properties but points to the fact that two domains instead of four are more appropriate for the assessment of OHRQoL in 11-14 year-olds.

Oral health-related quality of life in children using the child perception questionnaire CPQ11-14: a review

OBJECTIVES

The Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ11-14) is the most common and effective indicator of paediatric oral health-related quality of life. The aim of this review was to verify if CPQ11-14 can be considered a valid instrument for assessing the impact of oral health on the quality of life of adolescents for the paediatric population aged between 11 and 14 years old and which dental conditions mainly affect it.

STUDY DESIGN

A literature research from Pubmed Medline database was adopted to identify the eligible studies among the published articles related to CPQ 11-14 using keyword search strategy. From 170 initial articles, a total of 128 articles were included for the full text reading.

RESULTS

Conditions that mainly interest the oral health-related quality of life are untreated dental caries, dental trauma, increased dental protrusion, wearing orthodontic appliances, and severe periodontal disease.

CONCLUSION

CPQ 11-14 seems to be a solid and valid indicator to measure oral health-related quality of life, because it has been widely tested and validated in several states including developed, developing and underdeveloped countries.

Relationship Between Orthodontic Treatment Need and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among 11⁻18-Year-Old Adolescents in Lithuania

The aim was to examine the relationship between orthodontic treatment need and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) among Lithuanian adolescents aged 11–18 across gender and age groups. A representative cross-sectional study of 911 adolescents aged 11–18 (mean (M) = 15.53; Standard Deviation (SD) = 1.52) was conducted in 26 public schools. The schoolchildren completed the Child Perceptions Questionnaire to evaluate their OHRQoL. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) was used to evaluate the severity of malocclusion. The strength of association between variables was evaluated via negative binomial regression estimating the ratio of sum score means (RSSM). A worse OHRQoL score was associated with a higher grade of IOTN; however, only the Emotional and Social wellbeing domains were significantly affected by malocclusion (RSSM = 1.158; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.083–1.237 and RSSM = 1.205; 95% CI: 1.114–1.304, respectively). The significant association was identified only among females (RSSM = 1.264; 95% CI: 1.176–1.359). A significant association was observed in all age groups for Emotional and Social well-being domains but only in the oldest age group for Oral Symptoms and Functional Limitations domains. Conclusions: Malocclusion has a negative impact on the OHRQoL of young people with emotional and social aspects being the most affected. Girls and older adolescents suffered from malocclusion more than boys and their younger counterparts.