Predictive value of dental readiness and psychological dimensions for oral health-related quality of life in Croatian soldiers: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To determine the predictive value of dental readiness and psychological dimensions for oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Croatian soldiers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 402 consecutive soldiers aged 21 to 54 years classified into the following groups according to dental readiness: Class 1 - not requiring dental treatment (N=54), Class 2 - unlikely to need emergency treatment within 12 months (N=205), and Class 3 - very likely to need treatment within 12 months (N=143). OHRQoL was assessed by the Oral Health Impact Profile and psychological dimensions by the Brief Symptom Inventory and Dental Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that Class 3 soldiers had higher frequency of psychological discomfort, psychological disability, and physical pain and handicap than Class 1 soldiers (P=0.019). Multiple linear regression showed that longer military experience, higher level of dental anxiety, and dental unreadiness were significant predictors of lower OHRQoL (P<0.050) but accounted for low variability. None of the single psychological symptomatic dimensions was a significant predictor of OHRQoL. CONCLUSION: Although this study found a moderate association between OHRQoL and clinical, military, demographic˝, and psychological variables, the significant predictors could be used as a basis for further research of clinical and psychosocial factors of OHRQoL.

In-vitro assessment of oxidative stress generated by orthodontic archwires.

INTRODUCTION: Several metals undergo redox cycling, producing free radicals and generating oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate in-vitro oxidative stress of orthodontic archwires made of various alloys. METHODS: Mouse fibroblast cells L929 were exposed to 6 types of archwires, and the concentration of the oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA was evaluated. Trypan blue dye was used in the determination of cell viability and numbers. RESULTS: Standard nickel-titanium archwires generated the highest oxidative stress, significantly higher than all other wires and the controls (P <0.05), and coated nickel-titanium, copper-nickel-titanium, and cobalt-chromium were lower than nickel-titanium (P <0.05), but higher than titanium-molybdenum and the negative and absolute controls (P <0.05). Titanium-molybdenum and stainless steel generated the lowest stress. Nickel-titanium induced the lowest viability, lower than the negative and absolute controls and all other wires (P <0.05) except titanium-molybdenum. Stainless steel showed the highest viability. Nickel-titanium produced the highest inhibition of cell growth, higher than all samples (P <0.05) except the positive control and cobalt-chromium. The lowest inhibition was observed in stainless steel and titanium-molybdenum, lower than nickel-titanium, cobalt-chromium, and the positive control (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All orthodontic archwires generate oxidative stress in vitro. Stainless steel archwires have the highest and nickel-titanium the lowest biocompatibility.