Effect of Dysphagia on the Older Adults' Nutritional Status and Meal Pattern.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Dysphagia is a widespread clinical condition among older adults. Although known as a risk factor for nutritional status and dehydration, dysphagia also affects meal patterns. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dysphagia and undernutrition, as well as dietary consumption patterns in older adults. METHODS: 268 older adults (144 women, 124 men) were included in the study. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), dysphagia assessment (EAT-10), oral examination, and Semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ) were used for collecting data. Odds ratio and Chi square were used to compare independent variables in subjects with and without undernutrition as well as those who intake texture modified and non-texture modified diet. RESULTS: Mean age of the undernutrition and normal nutrition groups was 68.9 ± 6.1 and 68.8 ± 6.0 years, respectively. The undernutrition group's activities of daily living (ADL) were 19.7 ± 0.9, and the normal nutrition group was 19.8 ± 0.7. Older adults with dysphagia were 4.8 times more likely to experience undernutrition than older adults without dysphagia (95% CI = 1.75-13.13, P = .002). There was a statistically difference between the meal patterns among the dysphagic older adult group and the normal-swallowing older adults' group at the .05 level. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, dysphagia was associated with the nutritional status of older adults and dietary patterns. The study results suggested some recommendations for dental health personnel on oral care related to dietary consumption and dietary patterns in older adults.

Estimate of Impact on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Older Thai People by the Provision of Dentures through the Royal Project.

Purpose. To estimate the impact of the provision of dentures to Thai older people by the Royal Project on their oral health-related quality of life. Methods. A purposive cross-sectional study of a sample of 812 subjects was conducted. The Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) measure was used to assess the oral health-related quality of life. Results. Four groups of older people with different tooth types were studied. 216 (26.6%) had natural teeth (NT). 189 (23.3%) had natural and replaced teeth (NRT). 167 (20.6%) had below the minimum number of teeth but had no dentures (Edent) and 240 were edentate with complete dentures provided by the Royal Project (ECD) (29.6%). Overall, 36.5% had at least one oral impact. Eating was the most affected oral impact. When compared to the group with natural teeth (NT), the Edent group was significantly more likely to report having impacts on eating OR = 6.5 (3.9-10.9), speaking clearly OR = 43.7 (12.7-15.07), emotional stability OR = 16.5 (6.0-45.6), and social contacts OR = 4.6 (2.2-9.5) (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Those who are edentulous are much more likely to have an oral impact on their daily performances than those provided dentures. Provision of dentures may lead to improvement of considerable oral impacts.

Accuracy of an equation for estimating age from mandibular third molar development in a Thai population.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the accuracy of age estimates produced by a regression equation derived from lower third molar development in a Thai population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first part of this study relied on measurements taken from panoramic radiographs of 614 Thai patients aged from 9 to 20. The stage of lower left and right third molar development was observed in each radiograph and a modified Gat score was assigned. Linear regression on this data produced the following equation: Y=9.309+1.673 mG+0.303S (Y=age; mG=modified Gat score; S=sex). In the second part of this study, the predictive accuracy of this equation was evaluated using data from a second set of panoramic radiographs (539 Thai subjects, 9 to 24 years old). Each subject's age was estimated using the above equation and compared against age calculated from a provided date of birth. Estimated and known age data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Ages estimated from lower left and lower right third molar development stage were significantly correlated with the known ages (r=0.818, 0.808, respectively, P≤0.01). 50% of age estimates in the second part of the study fell within a range of error of ±1 year, while 75% fell within a range of error of ±2 years. The study found that the equation tends to estimate age accurately when individuals are 9 to 20 years of age. CONCLUSION: The equation can be used for age estimation for Thai populations when the individuals are 9 to 20 years of age.

Associations between social inequality and tooth loss in a household sample of elderly Thai people aged ≥60 years old.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between social inequality and the number of remaining teeth in an elderly Thai population. BACKGROUND: Having twenty or more remaining teeth is an important indicator of optimal oral health in the elderly. METHODS: The data for this study were derived from the Survey of Older Persons in Thailand, conducted by the National Statistical Office, based on face-to-face interviews with people aged ≥60. The total sample was 30 427. The oral health measure was self-reported remaining number of teeth. Income, education and possession of durable goods were utilised as measures of social inequality. RESULTS: More than half of the sample (57.0%) was women. The majority (73.2%) was in the age range 60-74 years old. Less than a fifth (15.5%) had 7 or more years of education. A third earned <20 000 Thai Baht (THB) per annum (defined as poor). More than half (52.8%) of the sample had <20 remaining teeth. There was a link between social inequalities and tooth loss. In the adjusted model, elderly people, who were older than 75, who were not under a married status, had a lower level of education, had a lower income, and who did not own luxury goods, were 2.84 (CI 95% 2.66-3.03), 1.31 (CI 95% 1.21-1.41), 1.44 (CI 95% 1.34-1.56), 1.12 (CI 95% 1.13-1.29) and 1.21 (CI 95% 1.13-1.29) times more likely to have 19 or fewer teeth remaining, respectively. CONCLUSION: Social inequality is related to the number of remaining teeth in elderly Thai people.

Dental fluorosis in populations from Chiang Mai, Thailand with different fluoride exposures - paper 2: the ability of fluorescence imaging to detect differences in fluorosis prevalence and severity for different fluoride intakes from water.

BACKGROUND: To assess the ability of fluorescence imaging to detect a dose response relationship between fluorosis severity and different levels of fluoride in water supplies compared to remote photographic scoring in selected populations participating in an observational, epidemiological survey in Chiang Mai, Thailand. METHODS: Subjects were male and female lifetime residents aged 8-13 years. For each child the fluoride content of cooking water samples (CWS) was assessed to create categorical intervals of water fluoride concentration. Fluorescence images were taken of the maxillary central incisors and analyzed for dental fluorosis using two different software techniques. Output metrics for the fluorescence imaging techniques were compared to TF scores from blinded photographic scores obtained from the survey. RESULTS: Data from 553 subjects were available. Both software analysis techniques demonstrated significant correlations with the photographic scores. The metrics for area effected by fluorosis and the overall fluorescence loss had the strongest association with the photographic TF score (Spearman's rho 0.664 and 0.652 respectively). Both software techniques performed well for comparison of repeat fluorescence images with ICC values of 0.95 and 0.85 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the potential use of fluorescence imaging for the objective quantification of dental fluorosis. Fluorescence imaging was able to discriminate between populations with different fluoride exposures on a comparable level to remote photographic scoring with acceptable levels of repeatability.

Dental fluorosis in populations from Chiang Mai, Thailand with different fluoride exposures - paper 1: assessing fluorosis risk, predictors of fluorosis and the potential role of food preparation.

BACKGROUND: To determine the severity of dental fluorosis in selected populations in Chiang Mai, Thailand with different exposures to fluoride and to explore possible risk indicators for dental fluorosis. METHODS: Subjects were male and female lifetime residents aged 8-13 years. For each child the fluoride content of drinking and cooking water samples were assessed. Digital images were taken of the maxillary central incisors for later blind scoring for TF index (10% repeat scores). Interview data explored previous cooking and drinking water use, exposure to fluoride, infant feeding patterns and oral hygiene practices. RESULTS: Data from 560 subjects were available for analysis (298 M, 262 F). A weighted kappa of 0.80 was obtained for repeat photographic scores. The prevalence of fluorosis (TF 3+) for subjects consuming drinking and cooking water with a fluoride concentration of <0.9 ppm was 10.2%. For subjects consuming drinking and cooking water >0.9 ppm F the prevalence of fluorosis (TF 3+) rose to 37.3%. Drinking and cooking water at age 3, water used for infant formula and water used for preparing infant food all demonstrated an increase in fluorosis severity with increase in water fluoride level (p < 0.001). The probability estimate for the presentation of aesthetically significant fluorosis was 0.53 for exposure to high fluoride drinking (≥0.9 ppm) and cooking water (≥1.6 ppm). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of drinking water with fluoride content >0.9 ppm and use of cooking water with fluoride content >1.6 ppm were associated with an increased risk of aesthetically significant dental fluorosis. Fluoride levels in the current drinking and cooking water sources were strongly correlated with fluorosis severity. Further work is needed to explore fluorosis risk in relation to total fluoride intake from all sources including food preparation.

Quantitative light fluorescence (QLF) and polarized white light (PWL) assessments of dental fluorosis in an epidemiological setting.

BACKGROUND: To determine if a novel dual camera imaging system employing both polarized white light (PWL) and quantitative light induced fluorescence imaging (QLF) is appropriate for measuring enamel fluorosis in an epidemiological setting. The use of remote and objective scoring systems is of importance in fluorosis assessments due to the potential risk of examiner bias using clinical methods. METHODS: Subjects were recruited from a panel previously characterized for fluorosis and caries to ensure a range of fluorosis presentation. A total of 164 children, aged 11 years (±1.3) participated following consent. Each child was examined using the novel imaging system, a traditional digital SLR camera, and clinically using the Dean's and Thylstrup and Fejerskov (TF) Indices on the upper central and lateral incisors. Polarized white light and SLR images were scored for both Dean's and TF indices by raters and fluorescence images were automatically scored using software. RESULTS: Data from 164 children were available with a good distribution of fluorosis severity. The automated software analysis of QLF images demonstrated significant correlations with the clinical examinations for both Dean's and TF index. Agreement (measured by weighted Kappa's) between examiners scoring clinically, from polarized photographs and from SLR images ranged from 0.56 to 0.92. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that the use of a digital imaging system to capture images for either automated software analysis, or remote assessment by raters is suitable for epidemiological work. The use of recorded images enables study archiving, assessment by multiple examiners, remote assessment and objectivity due to the blinding of subject status.

Education of dentists in Thailand.

Thailand is geographically located in southeast Asia and its population is 63 million. Little has been published on dental education in Thailand. This paper provides information about Thailand regarding its dental history, dental school system including curriculum and dental licensure. There are eight public and one private dental school in Thailand. A six-year dental education leads to the DDS degree. On graduation from the public dental schools, dentists are required to work in the public system for three years. Currently, there are approximately 8000 active dentists, with a dentist: population ratio of approximately 1:7000.

Albendazole therapy for eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

Eosinophilic meningitis in humans is commonly caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis. A severe headache is the most common presenting symptom. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo, controlled study was conducted to determine if albendazole was efficacious in relieving such headaches. Seventy-one patients (36 and 35 in the treatment and control groups) were enrolled in the study. Five patients (two and three in the treatment and control groups) were excluded from the study because of being lost to follow-up, and the clinical data were incomplete. Therefore, 34 and 32 patients in the treatment and control groups were studied, respectively. Albendazole was administered at 15 mg/kg/day or identical placebo for 2 weeks. The number of patients with persistent headaches after 2 weeks was 7 and 13 in the albendazole and placebo groups (p = 0.08), respectively. The mean duration of a headache was 8.9 and 16.2 days in the albendazole and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.05). No serious drug events were observed. A 2-week course of albendazole appeared to reduce the duration of headache in eosinophilic meningitis.

Assessing prosthodontic dental treatment needs in older adults in Thailand: normative vs. sociodental approaches.

The authors compared the estimated prosthodontic treatment needs of edentulous older adults when using normative and sociodental approaches. This cross-sectional study involved a non-random sample of 158 edentulous adults, aged 60 to 74 years, who were living independently in metropolitan Chiang Mai, Thailand. Each subject was given an oral examination and was interviewed. The dental questionnaire and the clinical criteria were adapted from the National Diet and Nutritional Survey for People Aged 65 and Older and included the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances sociodental indicator. Of the 158 subjects, we found using a normative assessment that 79.7% had a treatment need for complete dentures; 60.5% of those adults had impact-related treatment needs. Estimated treatment need dropped by about 40% when subjects were assessed using the sociodental approach. We concluded that large reductions in normative need estimates for complete dentures were apparent using a sociodental approach to assess prosthodontic dental treatment needs of older people.