CORRELATION OF ORAL HEALTH STATUS WITH GENERAL HEALTH IN ELDERLY LIVING AT RESIDENTIAL HOMES IN GEORGIA.

The aim of the study was to assess oral health status and its correlations with the general health in older adults living in residential houses in Georgia. The study was conducted in 2017-2018 years based on WHO recommendations. The study got approval from bioethical council of National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, protocol #2017-039, 28.06.2017y. 300 voluntary residents from various residential houses for older people (aged 65 years and more) were observed in regions of Georgia: "Basiliada" (Tbilisi), residential home of municipality of Samtredia, (Imereti), residential home "Carefree old age" (Kakheti). Age groups were divided as following: 65-74; 75-84; 85<. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. DMFT was assessed to be 28.74. Significantly high prevalence of needs of prosthetic treatment 91.1% (p=0.0005), full edentulism 36.2% (p=0.0049), participants with the extraction of more than 20 teeth 81.3% (p=0.0000) and unsatisfactory oral hygiene 39.3% (p=0.0003) were observed. Prevalence of systemic diseases was assessed as the following: cardiovascular disease - 56%, gastroenterologycal diseases - 6%, diabetes - 2.9%, respiratory disease - 8.4%, oncological disease - 6.7%, dementia - 24.2 %.( p<0.005). Cardiovascular system diseases appeared to be one of the most commonly encountered diseases in dental practice. Based on the study results new program was created "Improve of oral hygiene of older adults living in residential homes in Georgia" in order to increase their access to the dental care, including preventive dental care and improve oral health related quality of life.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL HEALTH, ORAL HEALTH AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IN ELDERLY POPULATION (REVIEW).

This literature review aims to investigate how a poor oral health impacts on general health and healthy lifestyle of elderly people. The literature review was performed using ScienceDirect, Scopus and PubMed databases to identify relevant published studies. The year of publication was limited to over the past 5 years and the language was limited to English. Having considered the relevant articles' abstracts the 36 articles were selected. Systematical literature revision shows that recently, the older population has increased worldwide and it is being predicted to keep growing in near future. As age-related changes are observed in oral cavity, geriatric dentistry becomes more relevant to investigate oral disorders and to take relevant measures in elderly population. There is an urgent need to clarify the correlations between oral and general health. Unsatisfactory oral conditions lead to serious systemic diseases. Based on the currently available evidence, better collaboration between medical and dental fields is required in order to create and maintain healthy elderly population. A special association with professional group is important for implementation of new programs, in order to enhance and maintain satisfactory oral hygiene, oral health and oral health related quality of life.

The prevalence of periodontal diseases among adult population in Georgia.

The present research was conducted to estimate the prevalence of periodontal diseases in the adult population of Georgia, to study the peculiarity of their distribution within population in different regions of the country. The survey was carried out based on cluster- stratified method derived by WHO. 2370 adults including 1289 women and 1081 men distributed in 4 age groups: I - 20-34, II - 35-44, III - 45-64, IV - 65+ the residents of the city, town and village in 9 regions of Georgia and the capital Tbilisi were examined. The assessment of periodontal status and oral hygiene was based on WHO-'s recommendation. (WHO 1997 '˜Oral Health Assessment Form') Examination was done under good natural light using a mouth mirror and a periodontal index (CPI) probe for measurements of periodontal pockets depth. Questionnaires comprised questions for revealing the following risk factors: social status and family income, existence of common diseases, people'S attitude towards oral hygiene(tooth brushing, using dental floss, mouth rinsing) acceptability of dental service, sugar consumption rate, tobacco use, consumption of dairy products. The reliable statistical data received from the study relieved high prevalence of periodontal diseases in all regions: in Achara - 71.7, Mtskheta-Mtianeti - 70.8%, Imereti - 64.9%, Qvemo Qartli - 61.6%, Tbilisi - 61.8% and Shida Qartli - 60.5%, Guria - 55.9%, Samtskhe-Javakheti - 56.0%, Kakheti - 59.1%, Samegrelo - 55.2%. Despite the variability of risk factors high prevalence of inflammatory periodontal diseases in regions of Georgia was related to more extent to the low educational medical background, less dental acceptability due to not very positive attitude towards dental service and oral hygiene skills though financial problems also played substantial role. The study confirmed that periodontal diseases represent an actual problem in Georgia and need caring out serious preventive measures to enhance peoples' referral to dental service and improve medical educational background of the population.

Dental caries among children in Georgia by age, gender, residence location and ethnic group.

OBJECTIVE: To provide prevalence data for dental caries in Georgia. METHODS: This World Health Organization pathfinder survey was conducted among 1,351 (6, 12 and 15 year-old) Georgian children, representing the main ethnic groups in urban and rural locations. Caries was analysed at univariate and multivariate levels, according to age, gender, urban/rural locality and ethnic group. RESULTS: Caries experience levels among 6-year-olds were dmft = 4.57, sd 3.42 (14.8% caries-free); DMFT = 2.04 (sd 2.02) among 12-year-olds (31.1% caries-free); and DMFT = 3.51 (sd 3.14) for the 15-year-olds (17.7% caries-free). Urban children at ages 6 and 12 years were more likely to be caries-free and have both lower levels of caries-experience and higher levels of filled or restored teeth. In multivariate regression analyses, most age groups showed a significant contribution from residence location. No differences were found by age and no consistent differences were detected by ethnic group. CONCLUSION: These data should provide the baseline for formulating and conducting public oral health efforts in Georgia, with emphases on rural residence locations.

The prevalence of dental caries among adult population of different regions of Georgia.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in adult population of Georgia according to their regional distribution. The survey was carried out by pathfinder survey, based on cluster- stratified method derived by WHO. 2370 adults including 1289 women and 1081 men distributed in 4 age groups: I - 20-34 years, II - 35-44, III - 45-64, IV - 65+ years, the residents of the city, town and village in 9 regions of Georgia and the capital Tbilisi were examined. The assessment of dental status and oral hygiene was based on WHO-'s recommendation. (WHO 1997 'Oral Health Assessment Form') Examination was done under good natural light using a mouth mirror and an explorer. Questionnaires comprised questions for revealing the following risk-factors: social status and family income, existence of common diseases, people's attitude towards oral hygiene (tooth brushing, using dental floss) accessibility and acceptability of dental service, sugar consumption rate, tobacco use, consumption of dairy products. The study revealed the high prevalence of dental caries in Georgia's adult population (96-100%) Caries intensity and severity was seen as the highest in Mtskheta- Mtianeti - 13.26±5.97, Guria - 12.79±8.92, Samtskhe-Javakheti - 12.62±8.44, Shida Qartli - 12.03±7.22 and Achara - 12.23±7.89 regions, relatively lower in Tbilisi - 11.64±7.8; Qvemo Qartli - 10.96±7.07; Imereti - 10.79±7.63 Samegrelo - 10.54±7.95 and in Kakheti - 9.86±7.02. By the mean number of caries decayed teeth Mckheta-Mtianeti - 4.26±3.51, Samckhe-Javakheti - 3.52±3.51 and Imereti - 3.05±3.1 were distinguished. The mean number of caries missing teeth was noted to be highest in Guria - 5.49±7.42, Samckhe-Javakheti - 5.31±6.97 and Achara - 5.32±6.73. Mckheta-Mtianeti - 2.62±3.05, Shida Qartli - 2.39±2.8 and Tbilisi - 2.28±2.09 were the leading regions by the mean number of filled teeth, the lowest value of filled teeth variable was seen in Imereti - 0.67±1.39. In summary behavioral factors (unsatisfactory oral hygiene and less acceptability of dental service due to low medical educational background) play substantial role in occurrence and prevalence of dental caries among adult population of Georgia in all regions, though the financial problem seems to be a considerable contributor in caries prevalence. Reliable statistical data obtained in the study allowed to conclude that in spite of small differences in prevalence in different regions of Georgia dental caries is very widespread throughout the country (96-100%). It represents a major problem in Georgia and needs serious attention and preventive measures to be carried out to enhance peoples' referral to dental service and improve medical educational background of the population.

Bond strength to unground enamel and sealing ability in pits and fissures of a new self-adhering flowable resin composite.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the applicability as a sealant of a new self-adhering flowable resin composite (Vertise Flow, Kerr, VF) by assessing shear bond strength (SBS) to unground enamel and microleakage (microLKG) in sealed pits and fissures. STUDY DESIGN: Marketed sealants to be used in combination with phosphoric acid (Guardian Seal, Kerr, GS) or with a self-etch adhesive (Adper Prompt-L-Pop/Clinpro Sealant, 3M ESPE, CS) were compared to VF. For SBS testing on unground enamel 10 molars per group were used. For microLKG assessment, pits and fissures sealing was performed in 12 molars per group. The sealed teeth were immersed in a 50% weight silver nitrate solution for 24 hours and the extent of interfacial leakage was measured. Between-group differences in SBS were assessed using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey test (p < 0.05). microLKG data were analyzed with Kruskall-Wallis ANOVA (p > 0.05). RESULTS: SBS of VF was statistically similar to that measured by CS and higher than that of GS. Interfacial leakage was similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of satisfactory bond strength and sealing ability of VF when compared to the marketed sealants encourages the use of VF in pit and fissure sealing.

[The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in subjects with type 2 diabetes of one year and less duration].

Cases of diabetic retinopathy (DR) at the preclinical stage of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2) can't be explained considering the conventional theory on etio-pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy. The present research aimed to study the prevalence of DR among the patients with the newly diagnosed DMT2 and to analyze the possible causes of formation of this complication in the period preceding the period of hyperglycemia. According to the data of the present study the DR prevalence in the patients with newly diagnosed DMT2 equals to 16,4%. The chance of the existence of DR among the patients over 45 is 2,6 times higher than among those of 45 and younger. Proceeding from the results of the present study the assumption is made on the presence of pathogenic mechanisms conditioning initiation of diabetic microvascular pathology before stabilization of hyperglycemia at the stage of the impaired glucose tolerance.