Tooth Loss and Caries Experience of Elderly Chileans in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Five Regions of Chile.

Risk factors associated with tooth loss have been studied; however, the current status of the epidemiological profiles and the impact of the pandemic on the oral health of the elderly is still unknown. This study aims to determine the experience of caries and tooth loss among elderly Chilean citizens in five regions and to identify the risk factors associated with tooth loss. The sample includes 135 participants over 60 years old assessed during COVID-19 lockdown. Sociodemographic variables such as education and RSH (Social Registry of Households) were obtained through a teledentistry platform called TEGO. The history of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, depression and dental caries reported by DMFT index scores were incorporated. The statistical analysis included Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) to assess risk factors associated with the lack of functional dentition. Multivariate hypothesis testing was used to compare the mean equality of DMFT and its components between regions (p-value < 0.05). Individuals with RSH ≤ 40% were at higher risk of having no functional dentition with OR 4.56 (95% CI: 1.71, 12.17). The only mean difference between regions was the filled tooth component. Tooth loss was associated with multidimensional lower income, where the elderly belonging to the 40% most vulnerable population had a higher prevalence of non-functional dentition. This study highlights the importance of implementing a National Oral Health Policy that focuses on oral health promotion and minimally invasive dentistry for the most vulnerable population.

Assessment of Changes in the Microbiological Parameters of the Oral Fluid in Patients Who Underwent Sovid-19 with Complete Edentulism before and after Prosthetics

Organs such as the mouth, nose and eyes are the gateway for the coronavirus. If favorable conditions for the increase of infection are created in the oral mucosa with a decrease in immunity, the virus binds to the ACE-2 molecule (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 membrane protein) and affects the epithelium. In the future, if the oral cavity is not protected, not only the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, but also the tissues around the teeth and the throat, as well as petechiae and stomach ulcers, can be observed [1, 2, 6, 7]. The process of development of ulcers in the oral cavity: painful inflammation of the papillae of the tongue (day), then the appearance of an erythematous spot (day), which turns into irregular and asymptomatic ulcers;therefore, many patients may be unaware of an oral ulcer due to the absence of pain (Chaux-Bodard et al., 2020). The burning sensation in the mouth (22.4%) could be due to several causes (eg, candida infection, dry mouth, mouth ulceration, or medications). A viral infection can weaken the immune system, causing secondary infections such as oral thrush. Candidiasis is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV (Nokta, 2008) and has also been reported in Covid-19 (dos Santos et al., 2020). The manifestation of oral lesions in patients with Covid-19 may be related to the direct or indirect effect of SARSCoV-2 on the oral mucosa, hypersensitivity to drugs taken during Covid-19 infection, the patient's susceptibility to the disease itself, or the duration of hospitalization. The SARS-CoV-2 virus infects human cells through angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE-2) receptors, since ACE-2 acts as the primary host cell receptor for this virus [4, 5, 8]. The oral cavity is an open biological system, in which there is a constant balance between pathogenic factors, such as viruses, bacteria, and the body's defenses. However, such an important balance is often attacked, both due to the multiplication and accelerated development of microorganisms and viruses, and due to the weakening of the very factors of general and especially local immune defense [3]. Immunoglobulins and lytic enzymes play an important role in the body's defense system;they are a component of immunity that-provides protection against pathogens (a wide range of bacteria, fungi, viruses), and also participate in the development of inflammation processes, maintenance and regulation of the adaptive immune system. One of the important components of the complex mechanism of innate immunity are neutrophils, when activated by pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms, a wide range of anti-inflammatory cytokines is secreted. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.

Special Issue: Oral health in China. (Special Issue: Oral health in China.)

This special section includes 7 articles discussing oral health in China. Topics discussed are: socioeconomic-related inequality in dental care utilization among preschool children in China;ten-year changes in children's oral health disparities;Prevalence of toothache in Chinese adults aged 65 years and above;edentulism and select chronic diseases among adults aged 45 years in China, 2011-2018;temporomandibular disorder subtypes, emotional distress, impaired sleep, and oral health-related quality of life in Asian patients;validation of the Chinese version of the Short-Form Health Literacy in Dentistry (HeLD) scale;impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic on the department of stomatology in a tertiary hospital.