Relationship between Malocclusion and Periodontal Disease in Patients Seeking Orthodontic Treatment in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Prevalence and Symmetry of Positional Anomalies in Second Permanent Molars: Study of Romanian Patients

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of positional anomalies in second permanent molars among Romanian patients. These molars play a crucial role in occlusion but can exhibit positional issues such as tilting, rotation, infraocclusion, and impaction.

METHODS

This retrospective study examined the digital models of 103 patients aged 12-40, which were obtained by using the Medit i500 intraoral scanner. Positional anomalies were categorized by tilting, rotation, infraocclusion, and impaction.

RESULTS

The results showed a high prevalence of anomalies, particularly infraocclusion and buccal tilting in upper molars and oral tilting and mesio-buccal rotations in lower molars. The significant symmetry of anomalies within the same dental arch was noted. Gender and malocclusion type did not significantly influence anomaly frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings emphasize the need for the vigilant monitoring of second permanent molars to maintain functional occlusion and suggest potential common etiological factors within dental arches. Despite this study's limitations, including sample size and retrospective design, this study underscores the clinical importance of the early detection and management of molar anomalies. Future research should expand on these findings, considering genetic and environmental influences on dental development.

Impact of Malocclusions on Periodontopathogenic Bacterial Load and Progression of Periodontal Disease: A Quantitative Analysis

BACKGROUND

(1) Periodontal disease (PD) is a globally prevalent chronic inflammatory condition, exacerbated by the dysbiosis of the oral microbiota. This study aims to evaluate the bacterial load of specific periodontopathogenic bacteria in patients with malocclusions (MAL) compared to those without. (2) Methods: Conducted at the "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, this pilot study involved two groups: patients with MAL and PD, and patients with PD but without MAL. We included 20 patients: 10 with MAL (9 with crowding and 1 with an open bite) and 10 without MAL. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected for bacterial DNA extraction and quantified bacterial load using real-time PCR, focusing on 12 periodontopathogenic bacteria across different complexity classes. (3) Results: The study identified significantly higher concentrations of Treponema denticola (p = 0.023, median = 4.32, IQR = 2.76-5.53 vs. median = 1.93, IQR = 0-3.19), Tannerella forsythia (p = 0.020, mean = 6.04 ± 0.72 vs. mean = 4.4 ± 1.89) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (p = 0.002, median = 5.64, IQR = 4.94-5.98 vs. median = 2.48, IQR = 0-4.05) in patients with MAL compared to those without. This suggests that MAL contributes to an environment conducive to the proliferation of specific pathogens, potentially accelerating PD progression. Additionally, Eikenella corrodens (p = 0.040, mean = 4.55 ± 1.02 vs. mean = 3.23 ± 1.56), Campylobacter rectus (p < 0.001, mean = 4.2 ± 0.56 vs. mean = 1.8 ± 1.51), Prevotella intermedia (p = 0.043, median = 5.04, IQR = 0-5.49 vs. median = 0, IQR = 0-3.39), Capnocytophaga sputigena (p = 0.011, median = 5.91, IQR = 5.47-6.17 vs. median = 4.63, IQR = 3.83-5.64), and Capnocytophaga gingivalis (p = 0.007, median = 5.87, IQR = 5.34-6.03 vs. median = 4.4, IQR = 3.5-5.71) also showed elevated concentrations, indicating the broad impacts of MAL on oral microbial profiles. (4) Conclusions: The findings demonstrate a significant relationship between MAL and increased bacterial loads, underscoring the need for its integration in managing PD. Future research should expand demographic diversity and employ longitudinal designs to better understand the causative mechanisms at play.

Perception of Periodontitis Patients about Treatment Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Patient compliance following periodontal therapy is extremely important in predicting the prognosis of the disease and maintaining treatment outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the perception of periodontitis patients about treatment outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted among periodontitis patients in a single dental center through a pre-validated questionnaire that was distributed to each participant in the waiting area of periodontal clinics by utilizing a convenience sampling technique. Median and interquartile ranges were used in addition to frequency and percentages. Bivariate analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis test. Among the 300 male and female participants, the median score (interquartile range) of the current level of pain revealed that males experienced more pain than females, with a median score of 5 (0-7) for males and 4 (0-6) for women. However, the median (interquartile range) for desired and expected pain levels in both genders was 0 (0-1), 0 (0-4). There were significant differences in median score ratings between males and females for expected, distress, success, and importance levels (p-value < 0.05). Patients with periodontitis provided valuable insights into the experiences of individuals undergoing treatment for periodontal disease, indicating overall patient satisfaction with the expected levels of periodontal outcomes.

Awareness and Periodontal Health Practices of Fixed Orthodontic Appliance Patients: A Questionnaire-Based Survey

A well-aligned dentition is more conducive to periodontal health, which is necessary for successful orthodontic therapy. Maintaining good dental hygiene is crucial for effective treatment, and patient cooperation, education, motivation, and attitude are all important components. Orthodontists must routinely check in with their patients to see whether they are maintaining their oral hygiene and if they are using any additional assistance. Negligence on the part of the patient may be the cause of poor treatment outcomes. This study aims to show how patient education can affect treatment outcomes and the development of a functional, aesthetically pleasing, and healthy dentition. Aim This study aims to investigate awareness, attitude, and periodontal health knowledge among orthodontic patients. Objectives The study explores the level of awareness and knowledge regarding periodontal health among orthodontic patients, examining its correlation with factors such as age, attitude, and duration of orthodontic treatment. Additionally, it aims to gauge the extent of education received by orthodontic patients regarding proper oral hygiene practices and the potential repercussions of neglecting them. Methods A questionnaire-based study with a cross-sectional design was performed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 428 participants were randomly selected from several private orthodontic clinics and hospitals. The participants in the study were individuals currently undergoing treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances. Information was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Results The patients undergoing orthodontic treatment have a moderate understanding of periodontal disease about dental plaque. The level of awareness of periodontal health was 41%, and the level of knowledge about periodontal health was 51%. When it came to periodontal health, adult orthodontic patients had a positive attitude toward fixed orthodontic treatment (mean score = 0.75). Subjects' attitudes regarding fixed orthodontic treatment were significantly impacted by the patient's consistency with his/her dental checkups (p value = 0.02). Conclusion The patients' periodontal health awareness was moderate, while their periodontal health knowledge was fair. Orthodontic patient's awareness levels, as well as knowledge levels, showed significant differences in age and duration but not sex. Results showed no significant difference among the attitude levels of orthodontic patients and age, sex, and duration.

Knowledge, attitude, and awareness toward orthodontic treatment among patients: A questionnaire survey

The current study's objective is to learn more about how patients, depending on their gender, perceive, feel, and know about orthodontic therapy.There was a cross-sectional survey among 100 patients to evaluate their knowledge and attitude toward orthodontic treatment. The questionnaire was prepared and circulated among patients using online google forms. The online responses were collected and tabulation of the data was done in excel sheets. Data was analysed using statistical software. Chi square test to compare the association of gender and patients knowledge regarding orthodontic treatment. In the current study 53% of the study population had visited an orthodontist. 79.6% of the patients are conscious that their teeth can be aligned properly by an orthodontist. 73.5% think that teeth should be properly positioned for a better facial appearance. According to the findings in the present study, it is evident that there is awareness and understanding regarding the orthodontic treatment among patients.

Comparison of Salivary IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and CTX with Periodontal Status among Patients Belonging to Various Skeletal Maturity Groups

PURPOSE

To compare the levels of salivary IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and CTX with periodontal status among patients belonging to various skeletal maturity groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 participants 6 to 25 years of age. Based on skeletal maturity, the participants were categorised into 3 different stages: prepubertal, pubertal, and post-pubertal stages. The periodontal status of the participants was assessed using the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and community periodontal index (CPI). The saliva samples were examined for IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and CTX using the respective ELISA kits. One-way ANOVA was used to determine statistically significant differences of means across the study groups for continuous variables.

RESULTS

The study demonstrated statistically significant differences for the parameters OHI-S, bleeding on probing, PPD, CPI, and CAL (p < 0.05) depending on skeletal maturity stage. ANOVA test showed a statistically significant difference by stage in IGF-1, IGFPB3, and CTX (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

An association exists between periodontal status and levels of salivary IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and CTX in patients belonging to various skeletal maturity groups.

Close Association between Awareness of Teeth-Alignment Disorder and Systemic Disorders in Late Adolescence

Background: Oral diseases are associated with various systemic disorders. Our previous research revealed new insights into the close relationship between occlusal disorder (functional disorder) and systemic disorders (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and arrhythmia) in late adolescence. Here, we investigated whether there was an association between the awareness of teeth-alignment disorder (morphological disorder) and common systemic disorders. Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of the mandatory medical questionnaire that is required for the freshman medical checkup in Japan. We collected the data of all students who completed the questionnaire between April 2017 and April 2019. The data were analyzed using the χ² test, and a multivariate analysis was performed with a binomial logistic regression model. Results: The subjects were 8903 students aged 17–19 who had no awareness of occlusal disorder. The rate of awareness of teeth-alignment disorder was 20.43% (1819 of 8903 eligible subjects), and the aware students had significantly greater rates of gum bleeding (p < 0.001), pollinosis (n = 0.007), and atopic dermatitis (n = 0.042). The multivariate analysis revealed significant rates of gum bleeding (odds ratio (OR) 1.540, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.386–1.711, p < 0.001), pollinosis (OR 1.197, 95% CI: 1.040–1.378, p = 0.012), and female gender (OR 1.141, 95% CI: 1.002–1.299, p = 0.046) among the students with awareness of teeth-alignment disorder. Conclusion: We identified close associations between the awareness of teeth-alignment disorder and both gum bleeding and pollinosis in a late-adolescent population. The systemic disorders that are targeted by teeth-alignment disorder were found to be different from those targeted by occlusal disorder.

Influence of angles occlusion in periodontal diseases

It is of interest to document the known relationship between periodontal status and Angle's malocclusion types. We used 26092 case records of patients between 16 to 50 years of age with no gender restrictions. Variables such as age, gender, periodontal diagnosis and type of Angle's occlusion were extracted and tabulated. Statistical analysis was completed using chi square test in the SPSS software version 20. Data shows that the majority (95.27%) had Angle's class I occlusion and less than 5% had class II and Class III occlusion. Statistical analysis of class II and Class III cases with 1000 randomly selected cases of class I occlusion show a significant difference in the periodontal status between different types of Angle's occlusion. Chronic periodontitis was more in class I (10.4%) and it was the lowest in Class II Div 2 (4.3%) occlusion. Class II Div 1(23.8%) and Class III (17%) had the highest and lowest proportion of clinically healthy periodontium, respectively. Thus, we report that angles occlusion types had significant influence on periodontal status along with the other determinants.