Salivary Nitric Oxide Levels in Adults with Different DMFT Scores in a Selected Iranian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives

Due to the emphasis on the protective and antimicrobial role of Nitric Oxide against gastrointestinal diseases, investigating its relationship with dental caries is a right topic. Therefore, this research has investigated the amount of saliva Nitric Oxide in different volumes of DMFT indicator in adults.

Material and Methods

In this descriptive- analytical cross-sectional study, 80 participants (20-35 years old), without a history of systemic disease and drug use participated as research samples, (53.8% of the participants in the study were women). Participants were selected from patients who had visited dental Department. The participants were divided in four groups based on DMFT (DMFT=0, 1≤DMFT≤3, 3<DMFT<10, DMFT≥10). Non-stimulating saliva was collected from all participants between 9-11 am in a calibrated tube. Saliva Nitric Oxide was measured using a Nitrous Oxide test, based on the Griess reaction. We used a correlation test to analyze quantitative variables, and t-test or ANOVA for qualitative and quantitative variables.

Results

A significant relationship between DMFT and age was identified. At different levels of DMFT, significant relationship between DMFT and sex was not found. In different groups of DMFT, no significant relationship between Nitric Oxide and DMFT exist.

Conclusion

The level of Nitric Oxide saliva was not affected by the amount of DMFT.

Comparison of the pharyngeal airway in snoring and non-snoring patients based on the lateral cephalometric study: A case–control study

BACKGROUND

Normal airways are a key factor during the craniofacial growth of the young. Therefore, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) without treatment can have harmful consequences for development and health.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the cephalometric characteristics in non-snoring individuals and snoring subjects, and investigate differences in the pharyngeal airway space between the 2 groups.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This case-control study included 70 patients aged over 18 years, selected from a radiology center. The patients were divided into 2 groups: case (35 patients with a history of habitual snoring); and control (35 healthy patients). The Berlin sleep questionnaire was administered to the parents of the patients. The nasopharyngeal airway was measured according to the analysis of Linder-Aronson (1970), and 4 indices were measured and analyzed in each of the lateral cephalometric radiographs.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed in the pharyngeal measurements between the 2 groups, although all means in the control group were higher than in the experimental group. However, there was a significant relationship between gender and the Ba-S-PNS and PNS-AD2 indices.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the patients with nocturnal snoring had smaller airway dimensions, their pharyngeal measurements were not significantly different from the control group.

Relationship between Posterior Permanent Dentition Pattern and Radiographic Changes of the Mandibular Condyle

This study assessed the relationship between posterior permanent dentition and radiographic changes of the mandibular condyle. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 panoramic radiographs of patients over 40 years of age (188 females and 112 males). Panoramic radiographs were evaluated for condylar changes such as flattening, subcortical sclerosis, subcortical cyst, erosion, osteophytes, and generalized sclerosis. Presence of muscle pain and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and sounds, and history of TMJ trauma were also assessed. The occlusal scheme of posterior teeth was analyzed according to the Eichner's index. The frequency of condylar changes was calculated in the right and left sides, and their association with posterior permanent dentition was analyzed by the Chi-square test (alpha = 0.05). The frequency of flattening, muscle pain, TMJ sounds, and erosion was 11.7%, 9.7%, 5.7%, and 3.7% in the right side, respectively. The frequency of flattening, muscle pain, erosion, and subcortical cyst was 12%, 9.3%, 5%, and 5% in the left side, respectively. The frequency of bilateral muscle pain, flattening, TMJ sounds, and TMJ pain was 18%, 16.7%, 11.7%, and 9.3%, respectively. Cases with TMJ trauma, generalized sclerosis, and osteophytes were few. According to the Eichner's index, most patients with condylar changes had classes A and B, and a smaller percentage had class C. No significant difference was noted between healthy individuals and those with condylar changes regarding dentition patterns. No relationship existed between condylar changes and posterior permanent dentition pattern.

Comparison of Fluoride Ion Concentration in Black, Green and White Tea

Back ground: Tea is one of the most commonly used drinks in the world. Drinking too much tea might affect the health. Tea is known for its fluoride resources; hence, consuming tea especially together with other fluoride resources can increase the risk of appearance of dental fluorosis. Considering the unspecified concentration of fluoride in white tea in Iran, the current study has carried out to evaluate the concentration of fluoride in different types of black tea, green tea and white tea of Refah Factory of Lahijan. Method and Material: In this study, the content of the fluoride of the black, green and white teas were measured. One gram samples of each type of tea were provided. Each time, the samples were placed in 200 milliliters of boiling distilled water, then it was moved to 80 degrees of Celsius incubator to be brewed. After 5 and 15 minutes, the solution was filtered. Concentration of the fluoride was measured through chromatography method and was recorded by measure of milligrams per liter. Data were analyzed using SPSS21 software. And significant level of less than 0.05 was considered. Findings: The concentration of the fluoride of the black, green and white solutions at the time of 5 minutes of brewing were respectively 1.38, 1.07 and 0.18 milligrams per liter and significantly increased he concentration of fluoride in all three types of tea with increasing drainage time (p value<0.05). Conclusion: The concentration of the fluoride of the three tea types were significantly different, to the extent that the least fluoride concentration belonged to the white and the most concentration belonged to black tea at both brewing times. By increasing the time of brewing the tea, its concentration was increased.  

The Frequency of Normal Variations of Oral Mucosa in Patients Referred to Qazvin School of Dentistry, Spring, 2015

Background: Oral mucosa which covers inside of the mouth is a complex structure that has been adapted for its particular function and anatomical location. Some oral conditions, despite their different physical features, are not pathological; rather, they are considered normal such as Linea Alba, Parotid Papilla, Geographic Tongue and Fissured Tongue. Materials and Methods: in this cross-sectional study 692 patients were registered through clinical examination and fulfillment of predesigned questionnaire. Diagnostic criteria in this study included the normal changes of the oral mucosa (including geographic tongue, fissured tongue, scalloped tongue, parotid papilla, palatal and mandibular torus, Lina Alba, frenal tag, leukoedema, Fordyce granules). Results: 692 people with an average age of 35years participated in this study. The overall sum of oral cavity normal variations was 806, 542 cases of which were female and 264 cases male. Conclusion: In this study 692 patients were examined by specialists; 494 cases, a sum of 71% had oral cavity normal variations. Linea Alba had the highest frequency among normal variations.

The Study of Prescribing Errors Among General Dentists

INTRODUCTION

In dentistry, medicine often prescribed to relieve pain and remove infections .Therefore, wrong prescription can lead to a range of problems including lack of pain, antimicrobial treatment failure and the development of resistance to antibiotics.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the aim was to evaluate the common errors in written prescriptions by general dentists in Kermanshah in 2014. Dentists received a questionnaire describing five hypothetical patient and the appropriate prescription for the patient in question was asked. Information about age, gender, work experience and the admission in university was collected. The frequency of errors in prescriptions was determined. Data by SPSS 20statistical software and using statistical t-test, chi-square and Pearson correlation were analyzed (0.05> P).

RESULTS

A total of 180 dentists (62.6% male and 37.4% female) with a mean age of 8.23 ± 39.199 participated in this study. Prescription errors include the wrong in pharmaceutical form (11%), not having to write therapeutic dose (13%), writing wrong dose (14%), typos (15%), error prescription (23%) and writing wrong number of drugs (24%). The most frequent errors in the administration of antiviral drugs (31%) and later stages of antifungal drugs (30%), analgesics (23%) and antibiotics (16%) was observed. Males dentists compared with females dentists showed more frequent errors (P=0.046). Error frequency among dentists with a long work history (P>0.001) and the acceptance in the university except for the entrance examination (P=0.041) had a statistically significant relationship.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the written prescription by general dentists examined contained significant errors and improve prescribing through continuing education of dentists is essential.

Digital radiography with computerized conventional monitors compared to medical monitors in vertical root fracture diagnosis

INTRODUCTION

Vertical root fracture (VRF) is a complication which is chiefly diagnosed radiographically. Recently, film-based radiography has been substituted with digital radiography. At the moment, there is a wide range of monitors available in the market for viewing digital images. The present study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of medical and conventional monitors in detection of vertical root fractures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this in vitro study 228 extracted single-rooted human teeth were endodontically treated. Vertical root fractures were induced in 114 samples. The teeth were imaged by a digital charge-coupled device radiography using parallel technique. The images were evaluated by a radiologist and an endodontist on two medical and conventional liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitors twice. Z-test was used to analyze the sensitivity, accuracy and specificity of each monitor. Significance level was set at 0.05. Inter and intra observer agreements were calculated by Cohen's kappa.

RESULTS

Accuracy, specificity and sensitivity for conventional monitor were calculated as 67.5%, 72%, 62.5% respectively; and data for medical grade monitor were 67.5%, 66.5% and 68% respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in detecting VRF between the two techniques. Inter-observer agreement for conventional and medical monitor was 0.47 and 0.55 respectively (moderate). Intra-observer agreement was 0.78 for medical monitor and 0.87 for conventional one (substantial).

CONCLUSION

The type of monitor does not influence diagnosis of vertical root fractures.