Oral processing behavior and dental caries; an insight into a new relationship.

INTRODUCTION: Previous evidence suggests an individual variation in the preferred oral processing behavior. Individuals can be classified as firm processing(FPL) or soft processing likers(SPL). FPL(crunchers and chewers) prefer using their teeth while SPL(smooshers and suckers) prefer using the tongue and the palate when processing different food items. Variation in the preferred oral processing behavior has been associated with differences in food texture preference and eating time. Time is one of the factors directly related to the development of dental caries(tooth decay). Oral retention and eating times are associated with greater caries experience. This study aims to explore if a relationship exists between the preferred oral processing behavior and the individual's caries experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, dental center-based study conducted at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Five hundred participants consented to fill out the preferred oral processing behavior(POPB) questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (including weight, height, and waist circumference) were recorded. A single trained and calibrated dentist registered each participant's caries experience and plaque levels using the DMFS index and plaque index of Silness and Loe. RESULTS: A total of 351(70.2%) and 149(29.8%) participants were typed as FPL and SPL, respectively. SPL demonstrated higher levels of dental caries experience compared to FPL. The mean DMFS score for SPL was 28.8(±25.43) while for FPL was 18.71(± 18.34). This difference remained significant after adjustment for confounders(P<0.001). SPL exhibited a significantly higher mean score for the "M" component(P <0.001) while no significant difference in the mean score of the "D"(P = 0.076) and "F"(P = 0.272) components was observed when compared to FPL. CONCLUSION: The current findings provide new insight into a possible relationship between the preferred oral processing behavior and an individual's caries experience. A relationship in which the preferred oral processing behavior can potentially affect and/or be affected by the dental caries experience.

The expression of salivary EGF, VEGF, endothelin, and transferrin in waterpipe and cigarette smokers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two forms of tobacco smoking, cigarettes and water pipe smoking (WPS), on the expression of a panel of salivary proteins in healthy adults. Three groups of age and gender-matched participants were enrolled in the study: never-smokers, cigarette smokers and WPS (N = 55 per group). Expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin and transferrin in unstimulated whole saliva was estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Statistical analysis consisted of one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests, in addition to bioinformatics analysis. VEGF expression was the least in WPS (51.1 ± 14.5 pg/ml) compared to both controls (150.1 ± 13.8 pg/ml) and cigarette smokers (93 ± 9.9 pg/ml), with a significant difference in WPS (p < 0.001) and cigarette smokers (p < 0.01) compared to controls. Furthermore, transferrin showed the weakest expression in the WPS group (1238 ± 261.4 pg/ml) compared to controls (2205.6 ± 298.6 pg/ml) (p = 0.05) and cigarette smokers (1805.4 ± 244 pg/ml). Neither EGF nor endothelin expression showed any statistical difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Gene-gene interaction network demonstrated that FLT1, TFRC, KDR, VEGFB and PGF genes had the highest potential for interaction with the studied proteins. Further functional annotations on the identified markers in the interaction network were performed to identify HIF-1 pathways among the most relevant pathways. In conclusion, smoking habits alter the expression of salivary VEGF and transferrin, which may correspond to early sub-clinical changes in the oral mucosa. The clinical relevance of these salivary changes requires further research.

Diabetes mellitus risk among Jordanians in a dental setting: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Dental offices can be useful to screen and identify patients at risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM) using risk prediction tools. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) is a validated, questionnaire-based tool used to predict the 10-year risk of developing type II DM. OBJECTIVES: To determine the 10-year DM risk among Jordanians using the FINDRISC questionnaire in a dental setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants attending two university dental teaching centres between March 2017 and February 2018 were interviewed using an Arabic translated version of the FINDRISC questionnaire. Anthropometrics including weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Random capillary blood glucose level was measured for each participant. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square and independent t-tests. RESULTS: A total of 1,247 (436 males and 811 females) participants were included. As defined by BMI, 1,012 (81.2%) participants were either overweight or obese. Abdominal adiposity as determined by WC was seen in 738 (59.2%) participants. The mean (±â€…SD) FINDRISC score for females (11.3 ± 4.3) was significantly higher (P = 0.001) than males (10.4 ± 4.9). After age adjustment, more females were in the high-risk categories (FINDRISC ≥ 15) compared with males. This trend was seen among all age groups, but was statistically significant in the older age groups; 55-64 years (P = 0.037) and ≥ 65 years (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: In a developing Middle Eastern country such as Jordan, almost half of Jordanians attending university dental clinics are at a moderate to high risk of developing type II DM in 10 years. The risk of DM should be considered in dental patients, particularly older females.

Career perspectives of senior dental students from different backgrounds at a single Middle Eastern institution.

BACKGROUND: Differences between dental students in terms of social, economic and cultural backgrounds are likely to impact their professional career plans. The aim of this study was to explore the professional career plans among final year dental students from different backgrounds at a single Middle Eastern institution (Jordan university of Science and Technology-JUST). METHODS: Fifth year dental students at JUST were invited to fill out a paper based self-administered questionnaire. Data was collected on students` demographics, their future career plans and the impact of social and economic changes on such plans, their interest in postgraduate studies and the specialty of choice in addition to the influence of a group of factors on that choice. Data was also collected on the value of non-academic workshops, guidance regarding career plans, participants` preferred pattern of work (full-time versus part-time) and retirement plans. Students were categorized according to their nationalities. Pearson's chi squared test, one way ANOVA and post hoc tests were used to measure statistical significance between measured variables and backgrounds of participants. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 227 students completed the survey (response rate = 84%). 47% of the participants were Jordanians, 27% were Malaysians, 11% were from Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar), 10% were from conflict zones in the Middle East (Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Yemen) and 5% comprised students from other nationalities. Significant differences were found between students from different backgrounds in their funding sources (Chi square = 132, P < 0.01), practice plans (Chi square = 43, P < 0.01), the impact of social and economic changes on their career choices (Chi square = 34, P < 0.01), planned work pattern within the first 10 years post-graduation (chi square = 18, P < 0.05) and 10-20 years after graduation (69%, Chi square = 22, P < 0.01) and retirement plans (Chi square = 25, P < 0.05). Students from different nationalities agreed on most factors affecting their choice of a specialty, except for the reputation of the specialty (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Several differences in career plans were found between dental students from variable backgrounds studying a single institution. Many of these disparities could reflect variations in socioeconomic backgrounds.