Effect of different framework materials of resin-bonded bridges on load to fracture values and stress distribution.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare in vitro fracture strengths (FSs) of metal- and fiber-reinforced frameworks of resin-bonded bridges and to evaluate stress distribution with finite element analysis (FEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally 80 extracted maxillary central and maxillary canine teeth were used for in vitro part of this study as two groups; metal-reinforced framework (n = 20) [(metal-supported resin-bonded bridge (MR-RB)] and fiber-reinforced frameworks (n = 20) [fiber-reinforced resin-bonded bridge (FR-RB) were prepared for three unit resin-bonded bridges. All bridges were loaded from lateral pontic at 1 mm/min crosshead speed and fracture values were recorded. Mann-Whitney U-test was used for statistical analysis, and fracture patterns were evaluated visually. FEA was carried out in the second part of the study, and stress distribution of MR-RB and FR-RB structures was analyzed using one of the models from in vitro specimens as main model. RESULTS: The mean FSs of MR-RB and FR-RB were 637.47 ± 151.91 N and 224.86 ± 80.97 N, respectively. Fiber-reinforced specimens were found to distribute stress more homogeneous and connectors in each framework were the regions where stress concentrated mostly. CONCLUSION: In vitro FSs of MR-RB and the stress concentration of the point that the forces were applied were higher as compared to other parts of the restoration. Furthermore, in contrast to FR-RB specimens, retainer tooth fractures were observed in MR-RB specimens.

A possible association of idiopathic osteosclerosis with excessive occlusal forces.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between idiopathic osteosclerotic lesions and occlusal forces using the T-Scan II computerized occlusal analysis device, and to test the sensitivity of the system in occlusal analysis. METHOD AND MATERIALS: The study was conducted with 21 volunteers with idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO; 14 women, 7 men) aged between 17 and 62 years (mean 29.95). For every patient, seven or eight recordings were made with the T-Scan II occlusal analysis device in maximum intercuspation, and the last two (excluding any with technical problems) were chosen for evaluation. For each lesion-related area, the distribution of high occlusal forces from two different movies was analyzed. RESULTS: In 18 patients (85.71%), lesions were observed in an area of high occlusal force, and in 13 patients (61.9%), the lesions were located at the first area subjected to high occlusal forces. The percentage distribution of high forces at a lesion related area ranged from 0% to 88%. On average, the high forces at an osteosclerotic lesion area accounted for 20% of the maximum total force. No statistical differences were observed between the measurements of the two selected recordings (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest a possible relationship between IO and occlusal forces and primary contacts. T-Scan II was found to be a successful diagnostic device for detecting primary contacts and excessive occlusal forces.

Self-reported problems before and after prosthodontic treatments according to newly created Turkish version of oral health impact profile.

The aim of the study was to assess patients' socio-demographic factors with their removable prosthesis in general, as well as to assess their problems with the functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, social disability, and handicap investigate impaired oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patient treated with removable dentures before treatment and at 1 and 12 months after treatment. The first part of the questionnaire was comprised of 20 questions. It was designed in four different sections as: (i) general socio-demographic factors, (ii) general health, (iii) experience and use of dental and denture care, and (iv) anamnestic sign and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). A statistical analysis system (SAS) was used for data management and analysis. Patient-reported problems were studied using the item list contained in the Turkish version of the oral health impact profile (OHIP) in a convenience sample of 136 prosthodontic patients before (m(0)), 1 month after (m(1)), and 12 months (m(2)) after treatment were then examined by using two-way ANOVA with repeated measurement. Differences in OHRQoL were present when item-specific prevalence was stratified by time of total scores; gender, residential area, working status, self-reported general health, smoking status, denture type, importance of the convenient dental care, trauma story, self-reported TMD/pain, and self-reported TMD/difficulty opening mouth wide. At baseline, the most prevalent frequently reported problems "difficulties chewing" (49.3%), "digestion worse" (40.4%), "take longer to complete a meal" (36%), "food catching" (30.9%), and "dentures not fitting" (29.4%), and m(2) the most prevalent frequently reported problems were "avoid going out" (25%), "difficulties chewing" (17.6), "sore jaw" (15.5%), and "take longer to complete a meal" (14%). The study confirmed that denture status is by far the strongest predictor of impaired OHRQoL compared to socio-demographic factors. Subjects with strong or moderate values had significantly fewer oral health-related problems (OHIP-extent) of time of total scores. The number of problems decreased substantially after prosthodontic treatment. The profile of pretreatment and post-treatment problems differed substantially, but in general, only a few problems remained after adaptation to new dentures.

Self-reported denture hygiene habits and oral tissue conditions of complete denture wearers.

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of denture hygiene on the development and intensity of denture stomatitis and traumatic ulcers and their relationship to age, gender, educational level, smoking status, age of the denture, denture hygiene habits and denture-wearing behavior. The study population comprised 310 complete denture (CD) wearers (159 males and 151 females) aged 60-85 living in Kirikkale, Turkey. Denture hygiene habits were assessed and recorded, and any relationships between denture hygiene habits and the condition of oral tissue were assessed. The majority (48.4%) of participants reported cleaning their dentures with a toothbrush and toothpaste and 45.2% with a toothbrush only. Less than half (44.8%) removed their dentures overnight. Stomatitis was observed in 35.8% and traumatic ulcers in 29% of patients. A positive relationship was observed between poor denture hygiene habits and the presence of denture-related stomatitis and traumatic ulcers. The degree of denture hygiene was significantly associated with age, sex, education, general health status, smoking status, self-perception of halitosis, overnight denture removal and denture immersion habits.

Oral malodor and removable complete dentures in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to assess oral malodor in patients with removable complete dentures and analyze its association with age, sex, subjective oral dryness, burning mouth, tongue coating, and overnight denture wear in elderly subjects. STUDY DESIGN: The study comprised 105 complete denture wearers (56 male, 49 female) between the ages of 50 and 78 from the province of Kirikkale in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Oral malodor was assessed using a portable sulfide monitor. Participants were given a self-administered, structured questionnaire. Baseline and final volatile sulfur compound (VSC) levels and tongue-coating scores (TCS) were measured. Analysis included frequency, cross-tabulations, ANOVA, and independent sample and paired t tests. Odds ratios of VSC-related factors were also calculated. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation found between age, gender, smoking, existence of a medical condition, or regular use of medication and VSC levels in mouth air (P > .05). However, educational level (P < .05), oral dryness (P < .05), burning mouth (P < .05), overnight denture wear (P < .01), and TCS (P < .001) were found to be significantly correlated with VSC levels. Significant differences were also found between baseline and final measurements of both VSC levels and TCS (P < .01). CONCLUSION: This study found the accumulation of bacterial plaque on the tongue, oral dryness, burning mouth, overnight denture wear, and lower educational levels to be significantly related to oral malodor. Following tongue care maintenance and overnight removal of dentures, patients' oral malodor levels decreased significantly.

Factors associated with self-reported halitosis (SRH) and perceived taste disturbance (PTD) in elderly.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self-reported halitosis (SRH) and perceived taste disturbance (PTD) and analyze their association with age, gender, subjective oral dryness, burning mouth, tongue coating, number of teeth remaining, and type of dentures and wear duration in healthy elderly. Subjects who neither reported systemic disorders nor medication use were included in the study. The participants of this study were 254 healthy subjects, 116 males (mean age: 63.2+/-7.2 years) and 138 females (mean age: 61.9+/-6.8 years), all aged 55 years and above. A self-administered structured questionnaire on SRH and PTD was given to the participants. Each subject underwent a comprehensive dental examination by one of the examiners. The number of carious teeth, number of restorations, type of dentures (fixed-partial, removable-partial or complete dentures) and wear duration, and tongue coating status were recorded. Associations of the categorical background variables (age, gender, smoking status, tooth brushing frequency) with SRH and PTD were examined using the chi(2)-test. Spearman's rho correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship between taste disturbance and SRH with relevant variables (p<0.05). The prevalence of SRH was 28.3% and the prevalence of PTD was 8.3%. Use of the toothbrush less than once daily was the factor most strongly associated with SRH. Of the individuals with SRH, 73.6% reported subjective oral dryness (p<0.001) and 9.7% had burning mouth (p=0.008). Of the individuals with PTD, 71.4% reported subjective oral dryness (p=0.003) and 14.3% had burning mouth (p=0.019). Age (p<0.05), denture type (p<0.001), tongue coating (p<0.001), frequency of tooth brushing (p<0.000 for SRH and p<0.05 for PTD) were significantly associated with SRH and PTD. Educational level of the participants was significantly different for SRH (p<0.05). Gender was not found to be associated with either SRH or PTD (p>0.05). We concluded that the factors most strongly associated with SRH and PTD were subjective oral dryness, tongue coating, inadequate oral hygiene practice and partial and/or complete denture wear. Other factors with significant associations included older age and lower education levels. Smoking was found to be associated with SRH.

Socio-demographic and economic factors affecting the acceptance of removable dentures.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between the socio-demographic and economic factors of patients and the reasons of admission, usage periods of the two types of clinics, frequencies of denture changes, satisfaction levels and preferences of prosthetic dental treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 510 partially and/or totally edentulous patients were studied using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of questions; age, gender, education level, income status, problems with dentures, necessity for new dentures. Also asked was the place that the subjects would prefer to get their denture treatment, irrespective of their income level. In this study, Z-test was used to analyze two-sample proportions, T-test was used to determine two-sample means and Chi-square test was used to determine relationship between two classified variables. RESULTS: The number of male patients with complete dentures was more than the number of females, with an opposing trend for partial dentures. Irrespective of gender, each patient had had nearly two dentures by the time of questioning. It was also observed that the university clinics were generally preferred by patients from higher income levels with a higher educational level (x2=25.206, P<.00). When patients were asked where they would prefer denture treatment, regardless of cost, private practice was the preferred-choice. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to dental condition and the acceptance of removable dentures, there were differences among gender, educational level and income status.

Evaluation of the oral health status of the people aged 65 years and over living in near rural district of Middle Anatolia, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status of aged 65 years and over, and evaluate the level of edentulousness and study the factors that could have an influence on edentulism. The participants of this study were 215 patients; 94 males (47.3%) and 121 females (56.3%), aged 65 years and over. Each subject underwent a comprehensive dental and radiographic examination by one examiner. Periodontal attachment loss observed in the panoramic radiographs was divided into three diagnostic categories: infrabony defects, horizontal bone loss, and furcation lesions. The number of teeth with apical periodontitis lesions, the number of carious teeth, and restorations, type of dentures and wear duration, intrabony root remains, impacted teeth, smoking status, educational level and self-reported medical history of the participants were recorded. Extent of tooth loss was significantly higher in females than males and increased with increasing age (p<0.05). Tooth loss was significantly associated with educational levels; lower literacy level was found to be associated with a higher number of missing teeth (p<0.01). Also, as the educational levels of the participants increased, the number of infrabony defects, furcation lesions and number of carious teeth decreased (p<0.05). Low literacy level and female gender are found to be high-risk groups for tooth loss. Community-based oral disease prevention programs should be implemented to reduce the risk for tooth loss in this population.