Efficacy and Safety of Probiotics for Dental Caries in Preschool Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Early childhood caries is one of the most serious and high-priced oral health conditions among young children. With advancing dental sciences, the focus of dental caries treatment is shifted from restorative procedures to preventive measures, and a modality grabbing attention is probiotics. Probiotics exert their effects in many ways as chemical inhibition of pathogenic bacteria and stimulation of the immune response through the production of immunoglobulin A and many more. Objective: This systematic review aims to explore the efficacy and safety of probiotics in dental caries in preschool children. Methodology: The study was registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration number: CRD42020159058). The search was done for randomized control trials in electronic databases such as Cochrane, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Medline, and Embase. It has further included manual searches of journals, conference abstracts, and books. Three reviewers done the selection of the study as per the criteria and also did the risk of bias assessment independently and wherever required, a fourth reviewer resolved the discrepancy in case of disagreement. Results: The nine randomized control trials were included in the study, and the pooled analysis revealed probiotics as an effective intervention in preschool children with dental caries. Conclusion: The results about the efficacy of probiotics in the prevention of dental caries are very encouraging, though the level of evidence is still inadequate.

Dental Caries among the Elderly in Iran: A Meta-analysis.

Background: The prevalence of dental caries among the elderly is high worldwide, and dental caries cause the major burden of oral diseases. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the dental caries experience among the elderly in Iran. Methods: A systematic review of the published and grey literature on Iranians aged 65 years or older was performed. Six international and local databases provided the most comprehensive population-based studies. National oral health surveys and national disease and health surveys were considered other primary data sources. The quality of remained studies was assessed by a modified tool designed based on the STROBE statement checklist to evaluate the cross-sectional studies. R Version 3.6.0 was used for statistical analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and F statistics. Subgroup analysis was performed to detect the source of heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger's regression intercept test were used to assess publication bias and selective reporting. Results: Overall, 3099 sources were found. After excluding ineligible studies, 46 data points with 10411 people ≥65 years were included in the meta-analysis. The mean pooled decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) among older people was 26.84 (range, 26.41-27.28). The DMFT was 26.78 (range, 26.12-27.43) in women and 26.91 (range, 26.32-27.50) in men. The mean number of decayed teeth was 1.48 (range, 1.32-1.65). The mean pooled missing teeth was 24.83 (range, 24.20-25.46), and the mean pooled filled teeth was 0.14 (range, 0.12-0.17). The majority (92%) of the DMFT was related to missing teeth. Conclusion: Iranian elderly have almost 5 sound teeth in their mouth on average. The Iranian oral health policymakers should address this considerable burden of dental caries in designing and implementing better oral health policies for the population, especially older Iranian adults.

Dental caries prevalence in relation to the cardiovascular diseases: cross-sectional findings from the Iranian kurdish population.

OBJECTIVE: Oral and dental health (ODH) is a significant public health concern globally, affecting billions of people. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence of dental caries using the DMFT index and investigate its relationship with cardiovascular diseases in the Iranian Kurdish population. METHODS: A total of 3,996 individuals aged 35-70 years were included from the Dehgolan prospective cohort study (DehPCS). Clinical examinations were performed to assess decayed (DT), missing (MT) and filled (FT) teeth (DMFT index). Data on demographics, socioeconomic status, medical history, oral hygiene practices were also collected. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) history was self-reported via questionnaires assessing heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between oral health indicators and self-reported CVD, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The mean DMFT score was 18.18 ± 19, indicating a high oral disease burden. Specifically, 60.04% had DT, 37.82% had more than 16 MT, and 38.83% had FT. Only 13.21% reported flossing regularly and 43.17% brushed less than daily, showing suboptimal oral hygiene. The overall CVD prevalence was 9.21%. Individuals with high DMFT (≥ 14) scores had approximately two times higher CVD prevalence than those with low DMFT. DMFT decreased by 10.23% with increase in education level, and by 5.87% as economic status increased In adjusted analyses, high DMFT scores (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.2-1.9) and MT (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1-2.1) were associated with 50-150% increased odds of CVD, though associations weakened after adjusting for age. Among men, DMFT remained a significant predictor for CVD after age adjustment, with an odds ratio of 2.37 (95% CI: 1.22-4.60). CONCLUSION: This population had substantial oral disease and poor oral hygiene. Higher DMFT scores and MT positively correlated with increased CVD prevalence. Promoting preventive oral care and health education could help reduce dental issues and potentially lower CVD risk. Further research is needed to clarify biological mechanisms linking oral and systemic health.

Carotid Artery Calcification Detected on Panoramic Radiography Is Significantly Related to Cerebrovascular Accident, Coronary Artery Disease, and Poor Oral Health: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Panoramic radiography imaging modality is widely used by dentists for diagnosing dental and jaw conditions. It can also detect carotid artery calcification (CAC), indicative of calcified atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries. This cross-sectional retrospective study at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center investigated the link between CAC identified on panoramic radiograph (PR) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA), coronary artery disease (CAD), and poor oral health. Data from 314 CAC patients collected from 2014 to 2023 included age at diagnosis, gender, and clinical histories of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, CVA, CAD, and the decay, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index. These patients were age- and gender-matched with non-CAC patients for analysis. The findings revealed high prevalences of hypertension (86.2%), hyperlipidemia (57.6%), diabetes mellitus (30.7%), CVA (15.5%), and CAD (28.7%) amongst CAC patients and the average DMFT index was 26.6. A comparative analysis of 276 matched controls demonstrated significant differences in hypertension (85.9% vs. 57.6%), hyperlipidemia (58.3% vs. 33.7%), diabetes (32.6% vs. 22.1%), CVA history (14.9% vs. 5.1%), CAD (26.1% vs. 9.8%), and DMFT scores (26.3 vs. 23.7), all indicating strong associations between CAC and these health conditions. The adjusted analysis showed that hypertension (aOR: 3.20 [95% CI: 2.06-5.07]), hyperlipidemia (aOR: 1.70 [95% CI: 1.14-2.50]), CVA (aOR: 2.20 [95% CI: 1.13-4.30]), and CAD (aOR: 2.10 [95% CI: 1.28-3.60]) were significantly associated with CAC. Notably, only 41.7% of the patients received a medical consultation after CAC detection on PR. It is crucial for dentists to refer patients for further evaluation.

Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study.

Background: The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020 led to the suspension of several clinical practices globally, including dentistry. This study investigates the impact of these restrictions on dental caries experience. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Egas Moniz University's dental hospital in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area from June 2019 to June 2021. The study involved 3380 participants who were divided into two cohorts: after and before COVID-19 restrictions. Data collection included a questionnaire, full-mouth clinical examinations, and radiographs (panoramic X-rays, bitewings). Results: Before the COVID-19 restrictions, the prevalence of dental caries was 91.8%, with an average DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index of 12.13. Post-restrictions, the prevalence decreased to 84.5%, with a DMFT index of 10.99. There was an increase in missing teeth and a decrease in decayed and filled teeth. Additionally, the frequency of toothbrushing declined among participants. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have significantly impacted dental caries experiences and oral health, highlighting a decrease in dental caries, but also a concerning reduction in oral hygiene practices. These results emphasize the importance of customized dental healthcare during public health emergencies to reduce impacts and maintain oral health.

Association between DMFT and primary headaches: a study based on the Rafsanjan cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although primary headaches are common disorders, there is little research on the possible relationship between primary headaches and oral health (decayed, missing, and filled teeth: DMFT). The present study aims to investigate the relationship between the DMFT index and primary headaches. METHOD: This descriptive study was performed on 8682 cases from the Rafsanjani cohort population based on the Rafsanjani cohort study (RCS) and Oral Health Branch of the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (OHBRCS). Episodic primary headache (EPH) and chronic primary headache (CPH) of RCS patients who participated in OHBRCS were studied according to their DMFT score in comparison to nonprimary headache patients. Demographic characteristics and risk factors were compared in different groups. We used crude and multiple logistic regression analyses in this study. RESULTS: The missing teeth were significantly higher in the CPH group than in the no CPH group (P < 0.001), and filled teeth were significantly higher in the EPH group than in the no EPH group (P < 0.001). In the crude model, there was a direct significant association between the prevalence of EPH and filled teeth total and > 5 filled teeth, and after adjusting for confounders, this relationship remained significant. The odds ratios of CPH were not associated with DMFT or its components in the adjusted models. CONCLUSION: Our study found a correlation between filled teeth and EPH cases, but no correlation between CPH and DMFT or its components.

Dental radiographic changes in individuals with COVID-19: a controlled retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 dental radiological findings of individuals with positive rRT-PCR test results and with healthy controls using the apical periodontitis grade scale (APGS), radiographic-based periodontal bone loss (R-PBL), and radiographic DMFT indices, and to investigate the relatively long-term dental effects of COVID-19. METHODS: This study included people who had two panoramic radiographs taken between 2018 and 2022. There are 52 patients with positive rRT-PCR tests in the study group. The control group included 50 individuals. Study and control groups were compared using the apical periodontitis grade scale (APGS), radiographic-based periodontal bone loss (R-PBL), and radiographic DMFT indices. RESULTS: Although results showed a significant difference in percentage R-PBL value and R-PBL types in the study group, there was no significant difference in percentage R-PBL value and R-PBL types in the control group. Also, both groups showed a significant difference in the DMFT index. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, it can be said that COVID-19 increases the incidence of periodontitis, and it can be interpreted that the pandemic may adversely affect the general oral health of all people.

The impact of dentition status and barriers to dental care services on perceived oral health of medicare beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association among barriers to dental care services, dentition groups, and self-reported oral health status for Medicare beneficiaries. METHODS: We used data from the 2017 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included participants aged ≥65 years who were enrolled in Medicare and had completed the oral health exam. We created a dentition group variable using the detailed dental examination data to account for the presence of natural, replaced, removable, or missing teeth. Through bivariate and logistic analyses, we explored the relationship between barriers to receiving dental care services, dentition groups, and reported oral and general health statuses, along with other control variables. RESULTS: For the total Medicare population as well as in the four subgroup analyses, we showed that those with barriers to dental care services were more likely to report fair or poor oral health status. Those who were edentulous, had complete dentures, or had less than a full mouth of teeth had greater barriers and worse oral and general health than did those with all-natural teeth. Among those who reported fair or poor general health, those with less than a full mouth of teeth showed similar levels of barriers to dental care services and worse perceived oral health than did those without any teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Helping the 65 years and older population retain their teeth in good condition will improve their overall health. Investment in oral hygiene and health for the current and future Medicare populations could improve their overall health.

A Cross-Sectional Study to Find the Correlation between the Level of Fluoride in Drinking Water, Dental Fluorosis and Associated Risk Factors- A Original Research.

Background: The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between drinking water fluoride (F) levels, dental fluorosis dental caries, and associated risk factors in the elderly population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 50 patients aged 25-60 years, selected by stratified random sampling from different areas with different levels of naturally occurring F in drinking water. The patients were assessed for dental fluorosis according to WHO basic survey guidelines. The overall oral health status of the patients was assessed by decayed missing filled teeth DMFT index and the bacterial count of saliva was calculated using the Caries Risk Test (CRT). Statistical analysis was done using mean, standard deviation, standard error, Z-test, Mann-Whitney U Test, and Chi-square test. Results: The results of the present study revealed that the prevalence of fluorosis was 24%. The number of patients with dental fluorosis was highest in those who consumed water with high groundwater fluoride levels irrespective of the source of drinking water. Caries prevalence in the study population was about 5.56 ± 1.95. Conclusion: There was a moderate prevalence of fluorosis in patients, and caries prevalence is high in areas below optimal F areas. Caries prevalence and mean DMFT scores were least common in patients with optimal fluoride levels in drinking water and highest in those with below optimal fluoride in drinking water.

Oral health and smoking in Bandare-Kong cohort study: a cross-sectional population-based study (findings from PERSIAN cohort study).

Considering the harmful effects of smoking on oral and dental health, our aim was to investigate the oral and dental health status of people in the city of Bandare-Kong, Iran, and its relationship to smoking. This cross-sectional population-based study used baseline data from the Bandare-Kong Cohort Study. A total of 4063 participants aged 35-70 years were included in this study. Using Stata17 software, negative binomial regression was employed to identify factors related to the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. The association between smoking status and DMFT was assessed by the adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR). Of the 4063 participants, 987 (24.29%) used cigarettes, hookahs, or both. The mean ± standard error (SE) DMFT index in all subjects was 11.08 ± 0.15; it was 14.17 ± 0.53 for cigarette smokers and 12.39 ± 0.37 for hookah users (p < 0.001). After adjusting for other variables, the rate of DMFT for cigarette smokers was 0.33 (IRR: 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22, 1.44), which was higher than for those who did not use cigarettes. The rate of DMFT for those who used cigarettes, hookahs, or both was 0.11 (IRR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.18), which was also higher than for those who did not smoke. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for oral health complaints. Although the rate of DMFT was increased in hookah smokers, it was not a predictor of dental problems. However, we suggest that hookah use be included in educational policies to control oral and dental diseases.

Oral Health Survey in Burundi; Evaluation of the Caries Experience in Schoolchildren Using the DMFT Index.

Background and objectives: There are no data on oral health in the population of Burundi. This study aimed to describe the oral health status of schoolchildren in Burundi using the dmft/DMFT index for the first time. Materials and methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological survey. The survey was designed according to the WHO methodology for oral health surveys. Oral examinations were conducted in school rooms using a dental mirror, probe, and headlight. The following characteristics of primary dentition status were recorded: decayed (d/D), missing (m/M), and filled (f/F) teeth, and the dmft/DMFT (d + m + f t/D + M + F T) index was calculated for each subject. Quantitative and qualitative variables were represented by measures of position and variability. One-way ANOVA was used to assess differences between parametric variables. Logistic regression was performed for total caries experience and gender, age groups, living area, and geographical provinces. Results: A total of 1902 children were examined, 1007 (52.94%) six-year-olds and 895 (47.06%) in the older group. The dmft/DMFT and subgroups were statistically significantly different in terms of age groups, living areas, and geographical regions (dmft/DMFT d-subgroup and D-subgroup p < 0.01), but only for DMFT for sex. The ORs estimated by logistic regression by total caries experience showed a protective effect for 12 year old subjects and those living in southern provinces, an OR of 0.52 (95%CI 0.43-0.64) and an OR of 0.26 (95%CI 0.21-0.32), respectively. Conclusions: Dental caries in African countries, including Burundi, remains a major problem affecting the general health and wellbeing of the population. Tackling untreated caries requires a multifaceted approach, including strengthening oral health infrastructure, promoting oral health education, providing affordable dental services, and encouraging healthier eating habits.

Association Between Oral Health and Airflow Limitation: Analysis Using a Nationwide Survey in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although poor oral health is a common comorbidity in individuals with airflow limitation (AFL), few studies have comprehensively evaluated this association. Furthermore, the association between oral health and the severity of AFL has not been well elucidated. METHODS: Using a population-based nationwide survey, we classified individuals according to the presence or absence of AFL defined as pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity < 0.7. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we evaluated the association between AFL severity and the number of remaining teeth; the presence of periodontitis; the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index; and denture wearing. RESULTS: Among the 31,839 participants, 14% had AFL. Compared with the control group, the AFL group had a higher proportion of periodontitis (88.8% vs. 79.4%), complete denture (6.2% vs. 1.6%), and high DMFT index (37.3% vs. 27.8%) (P < 0.001 for all). In multivariable analyses, denture status: removable partial denture (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04-1.20) and complete denture (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.01-2.05), high DMFT index (aOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24), and fewer permanent teeth (0-19; aOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.12-1.52) were significantly associated with AFL. Furthermore, those with severe to very severe AFL had a significantly higher proportion of complete denture (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.11-3.71) and fewer remaining teeth (0-19; aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.57-3.01). CONCLUSION: Denture wearing, high DMFT index, and fewer permanent teeth are significantly associated with AFL. Furthermore, a reduced number of permanent teeth (0-19) was significantly related to the severity of AFL. Therefore, physicians should pay attention to oral health in managing patients with AFL, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Association Between Tobacco Smoking and Dental Caries in the Indonesian Population: Results of a National Study in 2018.

OBJECTIVES: The 2018 Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS), conducted by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia showed a high prevalence of dental caries (88.8%) in Indonesia and suggested that smoking tobacco was associated with an increased risk of dental caries. This study analyzed the association between tobacco smoking and dental caries in the Indonesian population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of secondary data collected from RISKESDAS 2018. The study population included 35 391 Indonesians aged ≥10 years from all 34 provinces. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index was used to measure dental caries. Smoking status was assessed qualitatively based on smoking activity, and the level of smoking exposure was assessed based on the Brinkman index. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the relationships of smoking status and smoking exposure levels with the DMFT index. RESULTS: Of the population aged ≥10 years, 36% had a DMFT≥8 (females: 37.5%, males: 33.9%). Almost one-fourth (23.4%) were current smokers, and 4.1% were ex-smokers. Furthermore, 26.4% had a Brinkman index ≥400, indicating heavy smoking. According to the multivariate analysis, current smoking status was associated with the risk of DMFT≥8 in males (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.40; 95% CI, 1.27 to 1.55; p<0.001) and overall (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.14; p=0.037). In females, ex-smoking was associated with a 41% higher risk of DMFT≥8 (aOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.84; p=0.014). Heavy smoking was associated with a higher risk of DMFT≥8 in males (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.52; p<0.001) and females (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.50; p=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco smoking was associated with dental caries in the Indonesian population.

Dental Caries Experience in Children in Public Kindergartens of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Objectives: Dental caries first occurs within primary dentition in toddlers and preschool children, in a form of early childhood caries (ECC). In every day's busy and employment burdened parenting, caretakers and institutions have become important even more nowadays, not only for forming child general behavior and character, but also for maintenance of their general and oral health as well. Aims: To evaluate the presence and severity of ECC in children who attended public kindergartens in Sarajevo, and to offer basic information for the maintenance and improvement of child oral health to their parents and kindergarten teachers. Methods: The study included 1722 preschool children aged 3-6 years who attended kindergartens within Sarajevo public kindergarten institution, together with their parents and kindergarten teachers. Dental team members gradually visited all kindergartens situated in four Sarajevo city municipalities and examined kindergarten children according to the WHO Oral Health Survey Manual. Oral health promotion material for parents and kindergarten teachers was also distributed simultaneously during sequential visits. Results: ECC was present in preschool kindergarten children in Sarajevo, with its high prevalence (67.71%); dmft-value (3.97) and severity (SiC index 8.79). There was also a significant lack of dental healthcare to examined children mostly related to lack of visiting dental offices by children's parents (CI=10.55%, RI=10.80%, TI=12.98%). Conclusion: Parental role in preserving and improving of their children oral health should be systematically and profoundly improved. Kindergarten officials and staff should recognize the importance of anticariogenic diet menus and oral hygiene maintenance within their institutions.

Assessment of Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and DMFT Scores among Patients at King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa.

Background and Objectives: Oral health is one of the most significant issues in public health. The Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index is a useful tool for assessing and measuring the state of oral health in a community. This study aimed to evaluate oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among participants who visited a dental clinic at King Faisal University and to evaluate their DMFT scores. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted at the King Faisal University dental complex, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, using a simple random sampling technique. The data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire in English and Arabic. All statistical analyses were carried out using the SPSS 20 software. A chi square and ANOVA test were used to assess the association. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were a total of 260 participants, of whom 193 (74.2%) were male and 67 (25.8%) were female. Most participants, 173 (66.5%), were between the ages of 18 and 28. The majority of the participants 191 (73.5%) believed that bad oral hygiene led to gum disease. Additionally, major issues while visiting dental clinics, the importance of routine dental clinic visits, the existence of a connection between oral and general health, brushing time and frequency of change of used brush were significantly influenced by gender (p < 0.05). In terms of the DMFT index, mean numbers of decaying teeth (D) were 4.82 ± 4.15, mean numbers of missing teeth (M) were 1.56 ± 2.94, mean numbers of filled teeth (F) were 5.17 ± 5.28 and mean DMFT score was 11.56 ± 6.32, with a statistically significant difference observed (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study concluded that, although some of the study participants neglected oral hygiene practices, the majority of participants had good knowledge and attitudes regarding the significance of oral hygiene. Owing to inadequate practices, the decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores increased with increasing age. Additionally, gender had no significant impact on the mean scores for decayed, missing, and filled teeth, although there were significant differences between age groups.

Microbial characteristics of dental caries in HIV positive individuals.

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that affects many people. Even though microorganisms play a crucial role in causing dental caries, diagnosis is routinely macroscopic. In order to improve early detection especially in HIV patients who are disproportionately affected, there is need to reconcile the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of dental caries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the oral microbiota profile along the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index using amplicon sequencing data. Methods: Amplicon sequencing of the V6-V8 region of the 16S rRNA gene was done on DNA recovered from whole unstimulated saliva of 59 HIV positive and 29 HIV negative individuals. The microbial structure, composition and co-occurrence networks were characterized using QIIME-2, Phyloseq, Microbiome-1.9.2 and Metacoder in R. Results: We characterized the oral microbiota into 2,093 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 21 phyla and 239 genera from 2.6 million high quality sequence reads. While oral microbiota did not cluster participants into distinct groups that track with the DMFT index, we observed the following: (a) The proportion of accessory microbiota was highest in the high DMFT category while the core size (∼50% of richness) remained relatively stable across all categories. (b) The abundance of core genera such as Stomatobaculum, Peptostreptococcus and Campylobacter was high at onset of dental caries, (c) A general difference in oral microbial biomass. (d) The onset of dental caries (low DMFT) was associated with significantly lower oral microbial entropy. Conclusions: Although oral microbial shifts along the DMFT index were not distinct, we demonstrated the potential utility of microbiota dynamics to characterize oral disease. Therefore, we propose a microbial framework using the DMFT index to better understand dental caries among HIV positive people in resource limited settings.

Prevalence of Dental Caries With Salivary Assessment in Six to Twelve Years Old School-Going Children in Shahpura Tehsil, Jaipur.

Introduction Dental caries is a chronic, infectious, and irreversible disease of the calcified tissues of teeth, which demineralises the inorganic portion and destroys the organic substance of the tooth, which often leads to cavitation. Epidemiological studies measuring the prevalence and severity of dental caries have used modified versions of Klein and colleagues' decayed, missing, and filled (DMF) or Gruebbel's decayed, extraction indicated, and filled (def) indexes; however, these indexes only capture cavitated lesions. Saliva plays a vital role in caries prevention; significant reduction or deterioration of salivary function can aggravate the development of dental caries. Saliva affects the incidence of dental caries in four ways: as a mechanical cleansing agent that results in less accumulation of plaque, by reducing enamel solubility using calcium, phosphate, and fluoride, by buffering and neutralising the acids produced by cariogenic organisms, or by introducing directly through diet and by antibacterial activity. The study aims to assess the prevalence of dental caries and salivary parameters such as salivary pH, flow, and buffering capacity in six to 12 years old children of a rural tehsil of Jaipur. Materials and methods The study was done on a population consisting of 400 school-going children in the age group of six to 12 years. Oral examination was undertaken by a single examiner, who is the study's principal investigator, to avoid inter-examiner variability. Testing of resting saliva was done for evaluation of visual inspection of the level of hydration, saliva consistency, pH measurement, saliva quantity, and buffering capacity. Statistical analysis The data were analysed using the chi-square test, t-test, and statistical software SPSS version 17.00 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The chi-square test was used to compare and analyse qualitative data, whereas the unpaired t-test was used to analyse and compare quantitative data. Quantitative data were summarised as mean and standard deviation. A p-value of 0.001 or less was considered for standard significance. Results There was no significant difference in resting salivary flow rate between children with decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) scores less than 5 and DMFT scores of 5. The mean buffering capacity of stimulated saliva was found to be significantly more among children with DMFT scores less than 5 than children with DMFT scores of 5 or more. The mean pH of resting saliva was found to be significantly higher among children with DMFT scores less than 5 than children with DMFT scores of 5 or more. Conclusion The prevalence of caries based on age was maximum in mixed dentition and minimum in primary dentition. In contrast, the difference in severity based on age was maximum in permanent dentition. The prevalence of caries was higher in children whose parents were aware of dental health; the difference was more significant in children with primary and mixed dentition. This study showed that salivary parameters such as salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and salivary buffering capacity among school-going children correlated with the prevalence of caries.

The Assessment of Early Server Childhood Caries Status in Abandoned Institutionalized Children.

Oral health is a critical indicator of children's quality of life, which at this early age, depends exclusively on the attention, involvement, and guidance of parents or caregivers. Assessing carious damage and measuring the prevalence of early severe tooth decay in temporary teeth in children is obtained by calculating the dmft index, giving the sum of an individual's decayed, missing, and filled teeth. The aim of our study was to conduct a clinical examination of the oral status of institutionalized children from Romania. We selected and included in the study 144 children, both boys and girls in equal number, with ages of five or six years old, from which 110 were eligible for the study and met the inclusion criteria. Of all children, 20.90% were five years old girls, 27.27% five years old boys, 26.36% six years old girls, and 25.46% six years old boys. Of all, 10,45% had more than three incisors presenting decays, equally affected by gender. Of the boys' group, 20% of age six had more de two canines affected, and 26.7% of five years old girls had more than three affected canines. Of the five years boys' group, 24.3% had more than three affected temporary molars, 44.9% of six years boys had more than five. Of the five years old girls, 33.3% had more than four temporary molars affected and, 56.6% of the six years old girls' group had more than five molars presenting carious lesions. The dental status and dmft values were similar for five years old and six years old children and similar boys and girls. Due to the vulnerability of young children that consists not only in their inability to identify, express, and address their own needs but also the lack of parental support, lack of an optimal diet for age, and proper hygiene, they reach adolescence with an impaired dental status, inappropriate for their age.

Prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries in fluoride endemic areas of Rohtak district, Haryana.

Objectives: This study investigates the estimation of the fluoride concentration in drinking water in Rohtak district, Haryana, and quantifies its effect on the prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1262 school children in endemic fluoride areas of Haryana. Using simple random sampling, thirty villages from five blocks of Rohtak districts were selected, and children 6-12 years of age were examined. A questionnaire survey form was filled out to record the demographic details of the samples. Dental caries was recorded according to DMFT (D = Decayed, M = Missing due to caries only, F = Filled, T = Teeth)/deft index (d = decayed, e = extracted due to caries, f = filled, t = teeth). Assessment of Dental Fluorosis was done according to Dean's Fluorosis index, modified in 1942. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 19, and nonparametric tests were used to assess the significance. Results: The study participants included 615 males and 647 females among which Mean DMFT in the area of study ranged from 0.32 to 1.90. Mean deft in the area of study ranged from 0.34 to 1.91. The fluoride concentrations in groundwater are in the range of 0.532-8.802. Out of 1262 children examined, 655 (51.90%) children were having dental fluorosis. 607 (48.10%) of the subjects were free from fluorosis. 16.09%, 13.39%, 9.11%, and 8.16% and 5.15% were having questionable, very mild, mild, moderate, and severe form of fluorosis, respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that in Rohtak district, the fluoride levels in drinking water and the prevalence of dental fluorosis are high, so requiring an urgent need to improve the quality of water and institute de-fluoridation of drinking water in affected areas to lower the burden of dental fluorosis in the community.

Varying Manpower Alters Dental Health in a Developing Health Care System.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed relationships between oral health care workforce and dental health in 12-year-olds in a developing health care system in Iran from 1992 to 2014 and compared these findings with the most recent corresponding findings in selected countries. METHODS: Data regarding oral health care workers from 1962 to 2014 were extracted from the comprehensive human resource data bank of the Shahid Beheshti Research Institute of Dental Sciences. Data regarding decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) of 12-year-olds, extracted from official statistics, described dental health. Comparisons with other countries utilised the database of the World Health Organization. Changes in the DMFT index with fluctuations in the number of oral health care workers were investigated using exploratory data analysis methods. Associations of DMFT with the density of the oral health care workforce were evaluated using a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: The trend in supply of dental workforce in Iran began to expand in the 1970s and, after a reduction in 2003 to 2007, reached a peak by 2014. Means of DMFT indices of 12-year-olds in Iran fluctuated between 1.50 and 2.40 from 1992 to 2014. The relationship between the dentist to population ratio and the DMFT index of 12-year-olds showed a downwards trend (r = -0.994; P < .001) until 1998 and afterwards an upwards trend (r = 0.887; P < .001). Globally, the DMFT index decreased in countries with a preventively-oriented oral health care workforce. CONCLUSIONS: Increased numbers of dentists have no significant impact on improving dental health in 12-year-olds. To promote dental health, the system providing health services should implement a preventively-oriented approach when planning for the oral health workforce.