The Association of Oral Function with Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

The association between social isolation and oral health of community-dwelling older adults-A systematic review

AIM

Social isolation and oral health problems commonly exist in older populations and can influence each other. However, evidence on this bidirectional correlation is scarce. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of literature in which social isolation and oral health were associated with each other separately.

METHODS

Electronic searches were performed through six databases. Original cross-sectional and longitudinal prospective studies that evaluated the associations between social isolation and oral health as either exposure or outcome were included.

RESULTS

In total, 282 articles were retrieved. Of these, 10 cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study were included in the analysis. The level of evidence reported was generally moderate to strong. Most studies found that both stronger objective and perceived social isolation were associated with worse oral health in both directions. The frequency of meeting friends had an inconsistent association with oral health.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our systematic review showed a bidirectional association between social isolation and oral health in independent community-dwelling older adults. Both objective and perceived social isolation are associated with oral health. As objective social isolation indicators, quality of social connectedness appears to play a more important role in the association with oral health.

Dynamic 3D images fusion of the temporomandibular joints: A novel technique

OBJECTIVES

To demonstrate a procedure for fusing images from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical positioning tracking system to dynamically evaluate the relative motion of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

METHODS

CBCT data was collected from a patient wearing a fixation device with markers in the intercuspal position. The patient's mandibular movements were recorded using an optical positioning tracking system. The CBCT data were imported into a virtual simulation system to reproduce the mandibular movement. Five jaw positions were selected for 3D printing of the occlusal plate that the patient wore to undergo MRI. MRI scans were registered with the CBCT image for fusion and reconstruction.

RESULTS

The anatomical structures of the articular fossa, articular disc, and condyle were clearly displayed in the CBCT-MRI fused images. The spatial posture and relative position of the fossa-disc-condyle during mandibular movement could be reproduced dynamically using the 3D reconstruction model.

CONCLUSIONS

This method can visually display mandibular motion trajectories and the relative TMJ positions. Virtual reproduction provides a comprehensive understanding of the articular disc's morphology and position in different states from a 3D perspective.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This method can be used in clinical studies of TMJ as an adjunct to the 3D dynamic diagnosis and assessment for complex patients with TMD and provide relevant data for doctors.

Effect of Isometric Tongue Lifting Exercise on Oral Function, Physical Function, and Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION

It is known that oral frailty is one of the risk factors for physical frailty. Therefore, early detection, appropriate treatment, and prevention of oral frailty are really important. Tongue lifting exercise has been identified as a well-known method for improving decreased tongue pressure, one of the factors for oral frailty. However, few reports have investigated how tongue-strengthening exercises affect physical function and body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of isometric tongue lifting exercises on oral function, physical function, and body composition.

METHODS

Participants were 49 elderly people aged 68-79 years, who had previously participated in the "Itoshima Frail Study." Participants performed isometric tongue lift exercises for 3 months. Oral function (tongue pressure and oral diadocokinesis), physical function (grip strength, open-eyed one-leg standing, sit-to-stand motion time, 5-m gait speed, and 3-m Timed up and go [TUG]), and body composition were measured at baseline and post-intervention, and the extent of changes in each item was statistically analyzed. Furthermore, participants were divided into physical frailty/pre-frailty and robust groups based on the Japanese version of the frail scale proposed by [BMC Geriatr. 2015 Apr;15:36] and were compared in terms of the extent of changes in each item baseline and the post-intervention.

RESULTS

After the intervention, oral function increased significantly together with a significant improvement in physical function, open-eyed one-leg standing time, sit-to-stand motion, and 3-m TUG. For body composition, visceral fat level and basal metabolic rate decreased significantly. Although no significant change in body composition was observed in the physical frailty/pre-frailty group after the intervention, significant improvements in several items were observed in the robust group.

CONCLUSION

Isometric tongue lifting exercise can effectively improve oral function. Furthermore, it might affect physical function and body composition.

Changes in oral and cognitive functions among older Japanese dental outpatients: A 2-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between oral and cognitive functions among older people is highly debated.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether oral functions are related to changes in the levels of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) biomarkers in older Japanese outpatients.

METHODS

This observational study included 52 outpatients aged ≥65 years who underwent dental examinations at the Fukuoka Dental College Hospital. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed, and MCI blood biomarker levels were assessed at baseline and after 2 years. The present dental and periodontal conditions and the oral functions (tongue pressure and masticatory performance) were evaluated. Changes in parameters from baseline to follow-up were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, McNemar test or chi-squared test. Associations among changes in the parameters were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

The follow-up rate in this study was 67%. The masticatory performance was improved (p < 0.001), whereas gingival inflammation was decreased (p < 0.001) over the 2-year period. A significant increase in the MMSE score (p < 0.001) and a decrease in MCI risk (p < 0.001) were noted. The decrease in MCI risk was correlated with the increase in both masticatory performance (ρ = -0.34; p < 0.05) and MMSE score (ρ = -0.56; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

A decrease in MCI risk, as demonstrated by the levels of the blood biomarkers, was correlated with an increase in the masticatory performance in Japanese outpatients.

Body mass index and self-care behaviors related to oral health-related quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma within three months posttreatment

PURPOSE

Oral dysfunction is a common adverse event of treatment and may affect oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to identify factors associated with OHRQoL in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) within the first three months posttreatment.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study examined OSCC patients who received treatment from the outpatient radiation department of a single cancer center in northern Taiwan. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and patients were assessed using the Self-Care Behaviors Scale (SCB), Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) questionnaires.

RESULTS

Among 148 OSCC patients, 11.5% reported being underweight and 70.3% reported normal weight. The most common self-care factors associated with adverse effects were decreased appetite and fatigue. Psychological disability, functional limitation, and physical pain were the most negative OHRQoL factors. Poor OHRQoL was associated with more severe adverse effects after self-care behaviors, using feeding tubes during treatment, and having BMI less than 25, which together explained 33.5% of the variance in OHRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of adverse effects after self-care behaviors and using feeding tubes during treatment strongly influenced overall OHRQoL and seven specific dimensions of OHRQoL.