Oral Health in the Naval Armed Forces: A Scoping Review

@#Naval armed forces are commonly prone to stressors during military activities which are associated with their working environment. This can adversely impact the oral health of these personnel. This scoping review aimed to explore the literature concerning oral health among naval personnel. Relevant articles that reported oral health among naval armed forces published from 1990 to December 2022 were retrieved from five main databases. Of the 641 articles searched, 15 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Occurrences of caries, periodontal disease and barodontalgia were high among the naval armed forces, with a significant number of dental emergencies during deployment and training operations. The dental diseases and emergencies experienced by the naval personnel on duty may influence their performance during missions. Given the far-reaching effects of dental diseases among personnel in the naval armed forces, further prospective studies with standardised report investigating oral health and dental diseases are recommended. Oral health services in the naval armed forces can also be improved by increasing the dentist-to-navy personnel ratio both at the military bases and on board the vessels during missions, as well as designing preventive strategies to improve oral health among the naval personnel.

An Insight into the Role of Periodontitis as a Potential Risk Factor for Development of Erectile Dysfunction

ABSTRACT@#Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the common sexual disorders affecting many men worldwide. Owing to shared common risk factors, periodontitis is related to ED. However, the prevalence of periodontitis among Malaysian patients with ED is currently unknown. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of periodontitis in patients with ED in Malaysia and the factors associated with this relationship. Forty-one subjects aged 27–59 years old were recruited to participate in this study. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was used in assessing the presence of ED. Their periodontal health was assessed through comprehensive periodontal examination including plaque index, bleeding on probing and clinical attachment level. The subjects were categorised according to the severity of their periodontal health and ED. A questionnaire on general health and oral habits was administered. The prevalence of periodontitis (95.5%) among subjects with ED was significantly higher than those without ED (52.6%). Subjects with ED had the worst periodontal health, as indicated by the mean clinical attachment loss and percentage of sites with bleeding on probing. No differences in oral hygiene habits were found between subjects with and without ED. The prevalence of periodontal disease among Malaysian patients with ED was high. Periodontitis was positively associated with the severity of ED, supporting a dose-dependent association between the two diseases. Oral hygiene habits were not significantly related to any periodontitis parameters nor were significantly different between subjects with and without ED.

Comparison between Periodontal Self examination and Self-reported Periodontal Disease among Selected Adults in Kuala Lumpur

ABSTRACT @#Periodontal disease, generally known as a silent disease, is one of the major global oral health burdens that contributes to tooth loss in adults. This study was to compare findings and agreement between periodontal self-examination (SE) and self-reported (SR) assessments in detection of periodontal disease among selected adult patients in Kuala Lumpur. The subjects were patients who attended the periodontic clinics in Faculty of Dentistry, UKM. Periodontal patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into two groups, SE and SR groups. Patients in the SE group performed a periodontal SE using illustrated written manual with questionnaire, while those in the SR group answered questionnaire. Both groups were given similar content of questionnaire. Clinical oral examinations were carried out on all patients by a single trained calibrated examiner. A total of 172 patients (86 in each group) participated in the study with the mean age of 48 years (SD 12.6). Majority of them had severe periodontal disease. Only item “total number of teeth” had showed good agreement (p < 0.01) between groups. SR group showed higher sensitivity for all items (mobility, colour, recession and bleeding). Meanwhile, the SE group demonstrated higher specificity for items on mobility, recession and bleeding. Both SR and SE assessment areas were reliable in measuring total number of teeth in periodontal patients. SR assessment is more sensitive in detecting periodontal disease in terms of items for mobility, colour, recession and bleeding.

Antibacterial Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Olive Oil Extracts on Periodontopathogenic Oral Bacteria

ABSTRACT@#Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites of plants metabolism and can be found in olive oil. They exhibit antimicrobial activity towards both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However, little is known about the antibacterial activity of the compounds towards periodontopathogens. The study aimed to investigate the potential of these compounds as antibacterial agents towards pathogens, specifically Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Phenolic compounds were extracted from extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) through liquid-liquid separation using methanol:water (70:30), and hexane. It was then prepared in various concentrations to determine its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against the periodontopathogens. The anti-adhesion activity was quantified using crystal violet staining while the effects on the morphology were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MICs of the phenolic compounds on A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were 31.25 mg/mL, 62.5 mg/mL and 125 mg/mL, respectively. The MBCs of the phenolic compounds on A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum were 62.5 mg/mL and 125 mg/mL, respectively suggesting this compound can eradicate these bacteria. There was no bactericidal effect on P. gingivalis. The adhesion of all the bacteria was interrupted by the compounds at the lowest concentration (1.95 mg/mL). SEM findings showed disruption of bacterial cell surfaces such as blebs and disintegration of cells after exposure to this extract. Phenolic compounds of olive oil exhibited antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens, with bactericidal effects on A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum and bacteriostatic effects on P. gingivalis.

Electronic Cigarette Vapour and the Impacts on Oral Health: A Review

ABSTRACT@#Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been in demand among young generations as a modern way of smoking since last decade. E-cigarette devices generate the vapour through the heating process and the inhalation of vapour through the mouth which is known as vaping directly exposed the oral cavity to potentially toxic chemicals in the vapour. The e-cigarette vapour has been reported with potential systemic and oral health impacts though it is to a lesser extent than the conventional cigarette. The toxicity of the chemicals in e-cigarette vapour has been highlighted by various in-vitro studies and currently being explored by many researchers. Nicotine content in e-cigarette vapour not only causes addiction but has deleterious effects on the oral mucosa. E-cigarette vapour is commonly associated with oral health-related problems such as irritation to the oral mucosa, periodontal disease, and possibly the initiation of dental caries. As a marketing strategy, e-cigarette has been promoted as a safer way of smoking habit and use as a smoking cessation tools. Non-scientific assertions regarding e-cigarettes are causing public misunderstanding, leading people to assume that they are safe while the truth is yet unclear. This narrative review aims to emphasise the hazard of e-cigarette vapour and the outcome to oral health by summarising the evidence gathered from previous studies and the potential role of e-cigarette for smoking cessation aids considering the widespread usage of e-cigarettes and public concerns.

Graduates’ and Employers’ Perceptions on Competencies Obtained from An Undergraduate Dental Curriculum Persepsi Graduan dan Majikan terhadap Kompetensi yang Diperolehi dari Kurikulum Program Pergigian Prasiswazah / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

@#The effectiveness of a dental curriculum as reflected by the competencies of the graduates is paramount in ensuring its relevance in the rapidly evolving field of dentistry. This work aimed to assess the competencies of dental graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as perceived by the graduates and their employers on the basis of the core competencies listed in the undergraduate dental curriculum. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 43 questions based on eight competency domains were sent to all UKM dental graduates of years 2012 to 2015 and to senior dental officers who represented their employers. The eight domains assessed were as follows: 1) gathering information at chair-side, 2) diagnosis, 3) treatment planning, 4) treatment and prevention, 5) communitybased, 6) management and administrative, 7) communication and 8) personal management and professional development. a total of 132 graduates (75%) and 18 employers (55%) responded. Only domain E on community-based skills was collectively rated ‘satisfactory’ while the rest of the seven domains had an ‘excellent’ rating by all respondents. With regard to individual skill, basic life support was rated very low for both groups (38.6% graduates and 23.5% employers). A strong association was found between the scores given by the graduates and their employers (p= 0.00). Generally, no difference was found between the scores of graduates from different years. The findings allow an evaluation of the curriculum in a myriad of angles. Although the graduates reported a good level of competency in most domains, the employers were reserved on the community-based skills. Poor competency in the key skill of basic life support in medical emergencies was highlighted and must be addressed in the curriculum or during training at the workplace.