Oral health behavior as a risk factor for high urinary sodium among Korean women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between urinary sodium, urinary sodium/creatinine, and urinary sodium/urine specific gravity and oral health behavior using nationally representative data. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used; the sample analyzed in this study consisted a total of 15,013 respondents over 19 years old who had no missing values for the urinalysis or outcome variables. Urinary sodium was significantly lower in fem ales (p<0.05). RESULTS: The rate of hypertension and diabetes was significantly lower in women (p<0.05). Adjusted odds ratios of urinary sodium and their 95% confidence intervals in relation to the frequency of tooth brushing (≤1, 2, and ≥3 times per day, respectively) were 1, 0.898 (0.704, 1.145), and 0.734 (0.573, 0.939) for women (p<0.05). This association between sodium uptake and oral health behavior was independent of various potential confounding factors such as age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, exercise, diabetes, and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Poor oral health behavior was associated with higher sodium consumption in women. Oral health behavior may be considered an independent risk indicator for high urinary sodium in Korean women.

Instrumentation With Ultrasonic Scalers Facilitates Cleaning of the Sandblasted and Acid-Etched Titanium Implants.

Mechanical instrumentation is widely used to debride dental implants, but this may alter the surface properties of titanium, which in turn may influence bacterial adhesion and make it more difficult to remove the biofilm. This in vitro study was performed (1) to assess the amount of biofilm formation on a sand-blasted and acid-etched titanium fixture treated with ultrasonic scalers with metal, plastic, and carbon tips and (2) to evaluate how this treatment of titanium surfaces affects implant cleaning by brushing with dentifrice. The titanium fixtures were treated with various ultrasonic scaler tips, and surface roughness parameters were measured by confocal microscopy. Biofilm was formed on the treated fixtures by using pooled saliva from 10 subjects, and the quantity of the adherent bacteria was compared with crystal violet assay. The fixture surfaces with biofilm were brushed for total of 30 seconds with a toothbrush with dentifrice. The bacteria remaining on the brushed fixture surfaces were quantified by scanning electron microscopy. Surface changes were evident, and the changes of the surfaces were more discernible when metal tips were used. A statistically significant decrease in roughness value (arithmetic mean height of the surface) was seen in the 2 metal-tip groups and the single plastic-tip group. After brushing with dentifrice, the treated surfaces in all the treatment groups showed significantly fewer bacteria compared with the untreated surfaces in the control group, and the parts of the surfaces left untreated in the test groups. Within the limits of this study, treatment of titanium fixture surfaces with ultrasonic metal, plastic, or carbon tips significantly enhanced the bacterial removal efficacy of brushing. Thorough instrumentation that smooths the whole exposed surface may facilitate maintenance of the implants.

Evaluation of root anatomy of permanent mandibular premolars and molars in a Korean population with cone-beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the root/number of roots and morphology of mandibular premolars and molars in a Korean population, and to evaluate the prevalence of three-rooted mandibular first molars having distolingual (DL) roots, three-rooted mandibular second molars, and C-shaped roots in mandibular second molars. METHODS: Serial axial cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of the mandibles were collected from 430 Korean patients. The total number of roots in the mandibular premolars and molars was counted, and the incidence and the correlations between left- and right-side occurrences and between males and females were analyzed. RESULTS: The majority of mandibular first premolars and second premolars had one root (99.9% and 99.4%, respectively). Three-fourth of first molars (77.4%) had one mesial and one distal root, and the incidence of a three-rooted tooth having DL root was 22.3%. A little more than half the number of mandibular second molars (54.5%) were two-rooted. Finally, 2.3% of the second molars had three roots having one DL root, and 41.3% had C-shaped roots. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of three-rooted mandibular first molars and C-shaped roots in mandibular second molars among a Korean population, detected using CBCT, and the results showed similarities with previous reports about other Asian populations. It may be suggested that CBCT is a practical method of evaluating the number and shape of teeth. Data regarding the occurrence and morphology of the roots may provide useful information to dental practitioners.

Evaluation of number of roots and root anatomy of permanent mandibular third molars in a Korean population, using cone-beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphology and number of roots of Korean mandibular third molars, and to evaluate the prevalence of C-shaped, two-rooted, and three-rooted mandibular third molars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serial axial CBCT images of the mandibles were gathered from 137 Korean patients. The total number of roots in the mandibular third molars of these patients was measured, and both the incidence and the correlations between left- and right-side occurrences, as well as between males and females, were analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the mandibular third molars either had two roots (56.5%) or one root (37.9%). There was no significant difference regarding the incidence of the different types of roots according to gender (female versus male) or topology (right versus left side). A higher percentage (80.5%) of the patients had similar root morphology on both sides. CONCLUSION: The morphology and number of 214 mandibular third molars were examined using CBCT. There was a high prevalence of two-rooted mandibular and one-rooted mandibular third molars from this Korean population. Even though the anatomical variations in the mandibular third molars may not be high, these data regarding the occurrence and morphology of the roots will provide useful information to dentists performing these procedures.

The thickness of alveolar bone at the maxillary canine and premolar teeth in normal occlusion.

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to investigate bone thickness on the buccal and palatal aspects of the maxillary canine and premolars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The differences between left- and right-side measurements and between males and females were also analyzed. METHODS: The sample consisted of 20 subjects (9 males and 11 females; mean age, 21.9±3.0) selected from the normal occlusion sample data in the Department of Orthodontics, The Catholic University of Korea. The thickness of the buccal and palatal bone walls, perpendicular to the long axis of the root were evaluated at 3 mm and 5 mm apical to cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and at root apex. RESULTS: At the canines and first premolars regions, mean buccal bone thickness of at 3 mm and 5 mm apical to CEJ were less than 2 mm. In contrast, at the second premolar region, mean buccal bone thickness at 3 mm and 5 mm apical from CEJ were greater than 2 mm. Frequency of thick bone wall (≥2 mm) increased from the canine to the second premolar. CONCLUSIONS: This result should be considered before tooth extraction and planning of rehabilitation in the canine and premolar area of maxilla. Careful preoperative analysis with CBCT may be beneficial to assess local risk factors and to achieve high predictability of success in implant therapy.

Effects of ultrasonic scaler tips and toothbrush on titanium disc surfaces evaluated with confocal microscopy.

PURPOSE: Instrumentation to remove plaque from dental implants may cause damage to the implant surface, and previous studies that have evaluated the effects of the ultrasonic scalers and brushing in experimental settings reported that substantial changes were seen on implant surfaces after mechanical plaque removal. There is limited information on changes of the surface profile and roughness of sandblasted acid-etched (SLA) and machined titanium surfaces after treatment with different instruments in simulated clinical situations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral hygiene instruments including various types of ultrasonic tips in simulated clinical settings and brushing with dentifrice on machined and SLA titanium surface with confocal microscopy. METHODS: Both SLA and machined discs were treated with various ultrasonic scaler tips and brushing. Discs were either instrumented with 4 different ultrasonic scaler tips or brushed with dentifrice. The entire top surface of the discs was instrumented for a total of 40 seconds (20 seconds, 2 cycles). Brushing with dentifrice was done for 40 seconds. Roughness measurements were performed using a confocal microscope. RESULTS: The change of surface structure after different treatment modalities could be observed with the naked eye when compared with the untreated surface (SLA and machined groups). In case of SLA surfaces, the 2 metal tips produced greater changes on the titanium surfaces when compared with the plastic ultrasonic tips and brushing. On the machined discs, scratch lines over the original surfaces could be observed from all ultrasonic metal and plastic tips, but 2 metal tips produced significant and definite scratches on the original disc surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the effects of different types of ultrasonic tips and brushing with dentifrice on both SLA and machined titanium surfaces in simulated clinical setting. Within the limits of our study, we suggest that metal or plastic ultrasonic scaler tips may be applied as usual to treat the SLA surface of dental abutment or fixture surfaces without increasing the irregularities on the titanium surfaces. However, in case of machined surfaces, ultrasonic metal tips cannot be recommended because the surface becomes rougher after treatment. In addition, brushing of titanium, regardless of surface treatment (SLA and machined surfaces), resulted in reduction of surface roughness. Meticulous oral hygiene with brushing must be reinforced for the patients with dental implants to maintain the exposed implant surface clean. Brushing with dentifrice may facilitate maintaining the exposed fixture surface clean by smoothening the surface.

Use of Artelon(®) Cosmetic in soft tissue augmentation in dentistry.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue augmentation is a widely used procedure in partially and fully edentulous patients to increase soft tissue volume. Polyurethanes have been used for scaffolds in a variety of implantable devices. Artelon(®) is a degradable polyurethane that has been manufactured as fibers, films, and porous scaffolds to be used for various purposes. In this review, the characteristics of Artelon are described, and its clinical applications in orthopedics, dermatology, cardiovascular medicine, and dentistry are also discussed. METHODS: A Medline (PubMed) search was conducted, and articles published in English were included. Keywords, including "Artelon", "polyurethanes", "soft tissue augmentation", "biocompatibility", "resorption", "mechanical stability", and "complications" were used in different combinations. Titles and abstracts were screened, and full text article analyses were performed. RESULTS: Most of the studies reported orthopedic, dermal, and myocardial applications. There were only a few reports related to dental and implant applications. Artelon has been successfully used for reinforcement of soft tissues, including the rotator cuff, Achilles, patellar, biceps, and quadriceps tendons in orthopedic surgery, and is used clinically for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the hand, wrist, and foot. One type of Artelon material, Artelon Cosmetic, has been used in the dental field to increase soft tissue volume, and stable results are achieved for up to 6 months. This material is reported to be easily handled when cut to the desired shape, with little additional time needed for manipulation during surgery, eliminates the need for connective tissue autografts, and thereby decreases patient morbidity and postoperative discomfort, with increased likelihood of a positive subjective outcome. CONCLUSION: Artelon may be applied in the dental field to increase soft tissue volume. Further studies of various applications in dentistry with long-term results are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of this material before it can be used on a routine basis in dentistry.