ABSTRACT
Although fluoride (F) products are widely used for caries prevention, the safest and most effective modes of application, in particular for young children, remain to be elucidated. The limitations associated with the detection of ultra-low F ion concentrations are the major obstacles in accurately assessing the salivary F ion concentrations in children. This study aimed to measure accurate salivary-free F ion concentrations in children using a flow-injection analysis device and highlight the conditions or substances that influence changes in salivary content. Subjects were 4-6-year-old children, and we statistically compared the data involving the number of decayed, missing, or filled surfaces (dmfs), the levels of Mutans streptococci (MS) and Lactobacilli (LB) cariogenic bacteria, and oral hygiene habits. The information on the latter was obtained using a parent/guardian questionnaire. The average free F ion concentration measured was 0.421 ± 0.158 µmol/L (0.008 ± 0.003 ppm), which was considerably lower than that obtained in previous studies using the conventional F electrode method. No significantly different correlations were seen between salivary-free F ion concentrations and dmfs, MS and LB levels. With regard to salivary-free F ion concentrations and oral hygiene habits, only finishing brush of subjects' teeth by guardians showed a significant difference. In summary, the frequency of brushing was shown to correlate with free F ion concentration in saliva of children. Further studies are needed to circumstantially evaluate some other substances in saliva and oral hygiene habits.
Subject(s)
Fluorides/administration & dosage , Fluorides/analysis , Saliva/chemistry , Child , Child, Preschool , DMF Index , Dental Caries/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Ions/analysis , Lactobacillus/isolation & purification , Male , Oral Hygiene , Streptococcus mutans/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of various factors on the use of protective stabilization (PS) in patients with cognitive disabilities during dental treatment. An observational, case-control design was used with a case (protective stabilization group or PS group) and a control (usual management group or UM group) to assess a sample of subjects. Forty-eight dental patients were selected from the two groups. Various factors were compared between the groups. The prevalence of patients with profound cognitive disabilities was higher in the PS group (68.7%) than in the UM group (6.2%) (p<0.0001). The odds ratio of using protective stabilization was 6.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.20-31.72) for patients who were prescribed antipsychotic agents. Our results suggest that patients with profound cognitive disabilities and/or prescriptions for antipsychotic medications have more behavioral disturbances during dental treatments and require protective stabilization.
Subject(s)
Dental Anxiety/complications , Dental Care for Disabled/methods , Immobilization/methods , Mental Disorders/complications , Adult , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Case-Control Studies , Dental Anxiety/therapy , Dental Care for Chronically Ill/methods , Female , Humans , Immobilization/instrumentation , Immobilization/statistics & numerical data , Male , Matched-Pair Analysis , Mental Disorders/drug therapy , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to identify and compare the attitudes of dental students toward their career choice and dental education in three different countries. Three hundred thirty-six dental students from the University of British Columbia, Canada; Mahidol University and Chiang Mai University, Thailand; and Nippon Dental University, Japan, participated in this study. Information was derived from a questionnaire consisting of career choice items and dental education items. Significant differences in the responses of the participants from each of the three countries were detected for each of the questionnaire items (P<0.001). Regarding factors that may have served as motivations for career choice, the majority of dental students from each country indicated positive reasons such as interpersonal motives, caring for other people, and academic interest. For future career options, the majority of Japanese and Canadian students planned to work as general dentists. Thai students were more likely than Japanese or Canadian to prefer specialization than practicing general dentistry. Nearly three-quarters of the Canadian and Thai students were satisfied with the teaching faculty of their schools, while only a quarter of the Japanese students indicated satisfaction. The findings from this study enhance our understanding of differences and/or similarities among dental students in three nations; this information may help to define strategies to improve the quality of international student exchange programs.
