Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology
Volume:12 Issue: 4, Autumn 2023

Considering the high rate of dentoalveolar trauma, especially in the anterior teeth, the lack of a specialty center with trained personnel and adequate information on trauma in the large and populous city of Kerman is an important concern. The  aim of this study was to evaluate the opinions of general dentists and specialists who provide treatment for dentoalveolar trauma patients on the status of the associated medical services in Kerman province.  The present qualitative study analyzed the current data on dental trauma to interpret the published data on the subject.  This study was conducted using face-to-face interviews with general practitioners and specialists who had done dental work in  Kerman province for at least one year. Participants were selected purposefully and with maximum diversity. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. To extract the data, the interviews were transcribed, and the extracted data were coded and classified.   Most of the dentists believed that the treatment quality for trauma patients depended on where and which dentist (a specialist or a general dental practitioner) rendered the treatment. Moreover, the patient’s knowledge, awareness, and culture are important factors. Concerning suitable treatment centers for trauma patients, all the dentists believed that there are no suitable round-the-clock treatment centers in Kerman province and the existing centers do not treat minor traumas adequately.  Due to lack of adequate knowledge among dentists, parents, and teachers of the associated guidelines, it is recommended that meetings be held to inform dentists of these guidelines. Posters of these guidelines can also be put up in dental schools and treatment centers. It is also highly recommended that a round-the-clock treatment center be established for dentoalveolar injuries.  Keywords: Awareness, Knowledge, Alveolar trauma

Alveolar bone resorption may complicate dental implantation of the edentulous area. The quantity of residual bone depends on the region, and it is uncertain which region may present more difficulties before implantation. In this study, the alveolar bones of patients who had cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) before dental implantation were examined, and residual bone was evaluated based on age, gender, and the location of the missing tooth.  

In this observational study, the patients with CBCT were divided into two age groups: 18 to 35 and 36 and older. Also,  the edentulous regions were divided into incisor, premolar, and molar regions. Radiographic measurements were performed with a cross-sectional aspect in the single-tooth deficiency regions of the patients; bone height and width measurements were made.  

This study included 164 CBCT scans from individuals (99 females and 65 males). There was no statistically significant difference between the bone heights and between bone widths at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th mm according to age or gender  (P>0.05). Bone height in the incisor tooth region (ITR) and bone width at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th mm in the molar tooth region  (MTR) were significantly larger (P<0.01).  

This study revealed that the bone width at the 1st mm of the ITR was insufficient for dental implant placement and that horizontal bone augmentation was needed.

The aim of this study is to examine the general behavioral status of individuals who apply to the Periodontology clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, to evaluate their health anxiety levels and to compare their anxiety score averages in terms of various factors. Our study was carried out using the face-to-face survey method. Participants were asked to fill out a demographic data form, a survey form questioning pandemic-related behaviors, and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). The effects of factors such as age, gender, marital status, educational status, working in a health institution and having had COVID-19 disease on health anxiety levels were investigated. Kolmogorov-Smirnow test, Shapiro-Wilk test, Indepedent Samples T-Test, ANOVA, and Tukey HSD tests were used for statistical analysis (p<0.05.). A total of 400 volunteer participants were included (252 females, 148 males). Anxiety score averages showed a statistically significant difference in terms of gender and education groups (p=0.023; p=0.001, respectively). Accordingly, female's mean SHAI score (17.45±7.053) was found to be higher than male's (15.69±8.161). The SHAI mean scores of primary school graduates (20.86±6.105) were higher than those of high school (15.95±8.197) and university graduates (16.11±6.367). There was no significant difference in terms of marital status, working in a health institution and being diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, 48.2% of the participants only used surgical masks. Most participants declared that their confidence in healthcare workers (HWs) increased during the epidemic. Females and individuals with low educational status had higher health anxiety in this study. Moreover, it can be emphasized with this study that the pandemic has increased the confidence in HWs.

Dental Jumanji is a self-designed game where the participants have to roll dice demonstrate the task assigned to  them on the game board. The aim and objective of the study was to assess and evaluate the additional effect of the Dental Jumanji  game along with conventional lectures in the improvement of oral health knowledge among 10–12 years old school children.   This was a school setting and experimental study. A sample of 120 school participants aged 10 to 12 years were  randomly assigned to two groups. A self -designed assessment form was used, and assessment was done at baseline, after  conventional lecture alone and with Dental Jumanji and after three months follow-up in both groups. The missing data during  follow-up was managed using the multiple imputation model. Comparison between groups was analyzed using the MannWhitney U test and within group comparison was done using Friedman’s test followed by post-hoc Mann-Whitney U test.   The comparison between groups showed statistical significant difference between the Lecture and Lecture Game group  in post-test and 3-month follow-up with mean values of 7.4±2.5 and 8.8±1.8 post test, 6.9±2.3 and 8.7±1.8 at 3-month follow up respectively. Intragroup comparison shows a significant increase in the mean values from baseline to post-test, and a slight decrease in the 3-month follow-up in both groups. Post hoc comparison in both groups showed that in each group the baseline,  was significantly different from the post-test and 3-month follow-up (P<0.05)., but the difference between the post-test and  follow-up was not significant.   Oral health knowledge increased using the Dental Jumanji game in combination with conventional lecture. Dental  Jumanji can be used as a positive reinforcement tool during oral health education.

During the 2019-nCoV pandemic, many health institutions stopped providing services, thus causing disruptions in  the health system. This study aimed to examine the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of individuals during the  post-pandemic normalization period.   This cross-sectional study included 640 adult patients aged more than 18 years, who applied to Health Science  University Gulhane Faculty of Dentistry for dental treatment between July 20, 2021, and December 31, 2021. The information  forms were filled by the dentist of the patients during their first examination, which included the demographic data of the patients  (age, sex, educational status, occupation, and income status), oral hygiene habits of the patients (patients’ frequency of tooth  brushing, floss use, and mouthwash use) and frequency of going to the dentist. In addition, the patients were examined by the  same dentist using only mirrors and probes, and their DMFT index data (number of decayed, missing and filled teeth) were  recorded. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (P<0.05).   The mean age of the individuals participating in this study was 40.94±22.89 years, and the DMFT index was 10.38±5.47.  When the DMFT index was examined according to age ranges, the lowest DMFT index was in the 18–30 years (6.15±3.5)  (P<0.05). The group that used daily brushing, flossing, and mouthwash showed the lowest DMFT ratio of 6.56±3.75.   This study showed that the group that used tooth brushing, flossing, and mouthwash had the lowest DMFT index  when health services were disrupted, such as during the pandemic period.

Due to the complexity of health services, evaluating the aspects of quality in the healthcare sector is very important. Measuring the quality of dentistry school services of Kerman Medical Sciences University (KMU) in 2019–2020 is the main  purpose of the present study.   This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 200 patients at KMU Dentistry School during  the 2019–2020 academic year. The data collection was done by using the SERVQUAL standardized questionnaire, which evaluates the service quality in six dimensions. The data were analyzed by implementing three non-parametric tests, including the  Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the Mann-Whitney test using SPSS 26.   the participants’ perceptions and expectations concerning the six-fold dimensions of service quality in the KMU Dentistry  School indicated significant differences (P < 0.001). In other words, the entire dimensions showed a positive gap, meaning the  perceptions exceeded expectations.   The consequences showed a meaningful relationship between the perceived service quality and the satisfaction of  participants which can be enhanced by paying more attention to the service quality so that participants are satisfied and the motivation to continue using the services of such medical centers increases.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency and variation of dental malformations in a subgroup of the Turkish population.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images taken for various reasons were scanned retrospectively. The presence of dental anomaly, type of dental anomaly, subtype of dental anomaly, occurrence of pathology due to the dental anomaly, and type of pathology were recorded. Dental anomalies were divided into five subgroups, including anomalies in shape, number, structure, position, and size. Data analysis was performed with SPSS, and statistical significance was defined as a P value below 0.05.

The study utilized a dataset of 1942 images for analysis. Four hundred thirty-five dental anomalies were detected in 414 patients (21.3%), with at least one dental anomaly in each patient. The most common anomaly type was position anomalies (n=271, 62.3%), and the least observed anomaly type was structural anomalies (n=3, 0.7%). The most common dental anomaly subtype was impacted teeth (n=214, 49.2%), and the least common were odontodysplasia, fusion/gemination, and accessory root (n=1, 0.2%). Pathology due to dental anomaly was detected in 26 patients (6%), and the most common pathology was cystic lesion formation (n=13, 3%).

The prevalence and types of dental anomalies may differ between and within populations. The prevalence of dental anomaly was 21.3% in this study, and the most common type was position anomaly.

Stomatitis is one of the most important acute complications of chemotherapy. Due to the problems and complications of stomatitis, it is very important to prevent it during chemotherapy. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of oral hygiene education to mothers on chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in children with cancer.

This quasi-experimental study performed on 69 mothers of children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy hospitalized in a pediatric oncology ward. All mothers were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Oral hygiene education was face to face. The severity of stomatitis was assessed using the WHO checklist once at the first day of intervention and then on the seventh and fourteenth day after intervention in both groups. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and t-test.

The mean degree of stomatitis on the seventh and fourteenth days after the intervention was 0.71 ± 0.52 and 0.32 ± 0.63 in the experimental group and 1.46 ± 0.61 and 2.74 ± 0.92 in the control group, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between severity stomatitis after education to mothers in the two groups (P = 0.001).

Oral hygiene education to mothers has an effect on the severity of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in children with cancer and reduces it on the seventh and fourteenth days after the intervention. It is necessary for nurses to check the oral hygiene status of these children and the severity of stomatitis every day.