Impact of Sjögren's syndrome on oral health and quality of life: an observational cross-sectional study.

Sjögren's Syndrome is a complex disease, due to an autoimmune physiopathology, that strongly impacts both patients' primary needs (nutrition and speaking), and patients' relationship life related factors (psychological health and quality of life). In Literature, few studies had investigated oral health status in Sjögren's syndrome and its impact on patients' quality of life, so the aim of this study was to analyse that issue. 30 patients were enrolled, within the Department of Rheumatology (University of Pisa), both first diagnosis patients' and both patients who had been diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome in the past. For each patient, a medical record was filled out together with the compilation of the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire. Then, during a specialistic rheumatologic visit, Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Damage Index Score (SSDDI) was determined. Results showed a direct proportion between years from diagnosis and severity of oral health issues. It was found that these issues were related to soft tissue damage and an overall worse, reported quality of life and psychological health.

Relationship between molar deciduous teeth infraocclusion and mandibular growth: A case-control study.

AIM: As the effects of infraocclusion on mandibular growth could have a significant impact on the treatment planning made by the orthodontist, the aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between infraocclusion and mandibular growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study design: A total of 42 healthy Caucasian patients with no history of dental trauma or orthodontic treatment were selected for this study from the same paediatric dentistry department. These patients were divided in two groups based on the presence or absence of infraocclusion: Group A, 22 patients (12 males and 10 females) suffering from infraocclusion of at least one inferior deciduous molar, and Group B, 20 patients (9 males and 11 females) who did not suffer from infraocclusion but had to be treated for dental overcrowding. Each patient was examined through an orthopantomography scan and lateral cephalogram. All measurements were made before the start of the treatment, and they were analysed in order to show cephalometric correlation between the skeletal class, the vertical dimension and cranio-maxillo-mandibular divergence. RESULTS: According to Student's t-test, the only measurements which had a statistically significant difference between Group A and Group B were the SNB angle (p-value <0.01), the ANB angle (p-value <0.05) and the PC-GO-GN angle (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSION: From the data collected in this study, it is possible to conclude that patients suffering from infraocclusion of the mandibular deciduous molars show mandibular post-rotation and an increased total Gonial angle, compared to patients who do not suffer from infraocclusion. Despite the absence of a longer-term evaluation of these patients, thanks to this data it is possible to state that early diagnosis of infraocclusion is fundamental in order to apply a well-planned and thought-out orthodontic treatment.