ABSTRACT
AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of carious, restored, and missing teeth among diabetic and non-diabetic patients who visited dental clinics in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. METHOD: This retrospective study was conducted between April and November 2018. The data collection procedure was conducted in two steps: (1) review of patient records for the demographic variables and (2) screening of digital panoramic radiographs (OPGs). The patients who visited the restorative and prosthetic clinics in the period of 2016-2017 were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 1186 patient records and OPGs were reviewed to extract the data. The average age of the patients in the study sample was 40.96 (±16.29). The sample included 751 (63.3%) female and 435 (36.7%) male patients. Among the patients, 192 (16.2%) had diabetes mellitus and 994 (83.8%) were non-diabetic. The average numbers of fixed partial dentures and missing teeth were significantly high among diabetic patients (P < 0.001). Conversely, the average numbers of carious lesions and restored teeth were higher among the non-diabetic patients. Only the number of restored teeth was found to be significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The diabetic patients were found to be at high risk of losing teeth compared with the non-diabetic patients. The prevalence of fixed partial dentures was also higher among diabetic patients. The oral health status of dental patients with diabetes needs urgent attention to prevent these patients from having teeth loss, and it can be done by improving their oral health.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oral and systemic problems are common among pregnant women. Routine dental visits are important for the maintenance of optimal oral health which is linked with systemic health. AIM: To evaluate dental care utilization and related factors among pregnant women in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals and healthcare centers in the cities of Khobar, Dammam, and Qatif in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A piloted tested self-administered questionnaire available in Arabic and English languages was distributed among a calculated sample of 341 pregnant women. Pearson's chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In the study, 270 questionnaires were analyzed giving a response rate of 79.2%. Mean age of the participants was 29 ± 5.9 years. There were 43.7% pregnant women who received dental treatment when they have a dental problem and only 13.7% performed routine dental visit. Half the sample (52.6%) avoided dental visits during pregnancy and dental treatment being unsafe was the most common reason for avoiding dental visits. After adjustment, routine dental visits during pregnancy were 7.38 times higher among Saudis compared with non-Saudis women (p 0.05). The participants who had a negative perception about the safety of dental treatment had significantly lower odds (OR 0.31, p 0.036) of dental attendance for routine dental visits. CONCLUSION: Routine dental visits were low among pregnant women and many visited dentists when they had a dental problem. Negative perception about the safety of dental treatment was associated with reduced regular dental visits during pregnancy. Pregnant women should be educated about the importance of receiving dental care for the maintenance of optimal oral health.
