Frequency of Four-dimensional Oral Health Problems across Dental Fields - a Comparative Survey of Slovenian and International Dentists.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the frequency of patients' oral health problems and prevention needs among Slovenian and international dentists with the aim to validate the four oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) dimensions across six clinical dental fields in all World Health Organization (WHO) regions. METHODS: An anonymous electronic survey in the English language was designed using Qualtrics software. A probability sampling for Slovenia and a convenience sampling strategy for dentist recruitment was applied for 31 countries. Dentists engaged in six dental fields were asked to categorize their patients' oral health problems and prevention needs into the four OHRQoL dimensions (Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact). Proportions of patients' problems and prevention needs were calculated together with the significance of Slovenian and international dentists' differences based on dental fields and WHO regions. RESULTS: Dentists (n=1,580) from 32 countries completed the survey. There were 223 Slovenian dentists (females: 68%) with a mean age (SD) of 41 (10.6) years and 1,358 international dentists (females: 51%) with a mean age (SD) of 38 (10.4). Pain-related problems and prevention needs were the most prevalent among all six dental fields reported by dentists; Slovenian (37%) and 31 countries (45%). According to Cohen, differences between Slovenia, the broader European Region, and 31 countries were considered non-significant (<0.1). CONCLUSION: According to the dentists' responses, the frequency of patients' oral health problems and prevention needs are proportionate between Slovenia and 31 countries, regionally and globally. The four OHRQoL dimensions can be considered universal across all dental fields.

Prevalence of TMD among Children Provided with Fixed Orthodontic Treatment.

BACKGROUND: According to available scientific references and textbooks, there are contradictory views concerning the etiology of signs and symptoms of TMD. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine a correlation between the incidence of signs and symptoms of TMD in children aged 12-18 who do not wear a fixed orthodontic appliance and the incidence of signs and symptoms of TMD in children who wear a fixed orthodontic appliance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The total number of 120 subjects were included in this survey and divided into two groups. There were 60 respondents in the experimental group that consisted of 30 boys and 30 girls with different types of malocclusion, who were treated with a fixed orthodontic straight wire technique. The remaining 60 respondents, which was a group that also consisted of 30 boys and 30 girls, were patients with neutroclusion. RESULTS: The results of the study have shown that the TMJ clicking sound symptom, the most common symptom of TMD, occurs with almost equal prevalence in both groups of respondents; specifically, 56.4% in orthodontic patients, and 46.6% in the control group respondents. A statistically significantly higher percentage of female respondents in both groups have experienced headache problems (p <0.03). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the statistics obtained as a result of this research, we can come to the conclusion that there is no correlation between the fixed orthodontic treatment and the development of signs and symptoms of TMD.

Pediatric patients' reasons for visiting dentists in all WHO regions.

BACKGROUND: Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact are the four oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) dimensions (4D) or areas in which oral disorders impact pediatric patients. Using their dentists' assessment, the study aimed to evaluate whether pediatric dental patients' oral health concerns fit into the 4D of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) construct. METHODS: Dentists who treat children from 32 countries and all WHO regions were selected from a web-based survey of 1580 international dentists. Dentists were asked if their pediatric patients with current or future oral health concerns fit into the 4D of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) construct. Proportions of all pediatric patients' oral health problems and prevention needs were computed. FINDINGS: Data from 101 dentists treating children only and 523 dentists treating children and adults were included. For 90% of pediatric patients, their current oral health problems fit well in the four OHRQoL dimensions. For 91% of oral health problems they intended to prevent in the future were related to these dimensions as well. Both numbers increased to at least 96% when experts analyzed dentists´ explanations of why some oral health problems would not fit these four categories. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed the four fundamental components of dental patients, i.e., the four OHRQoL dimensions (Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact) are also applicable for pediatric patients, regardless of whether they have current or future oral health concerns, and should be considered when measuring OHRQoL in the pediatric dental patient population.

Why Patients Visit Dentists - A Study in all World Health Organization Regions.

OBJECTIVE: The dimensions of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact are the major areas where patients are impacted by oral diseases and dental interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dental patients' reasons to visit the dentist fit the 4 OHRQoL dimensions. METHODS: Dentists (N = 1580) from 32 countries participated in a web-based survey. For their patients with current oral health problems, dentists were asked whether these problems were related to teeth, mouth, and jaws' function, pain, appearance, or psychosocial impact or whether they do not fit the aforementioned 4 categories. Dentists were also asked about their patients who intended to prevent future oral health problems. For both patient groups, the proportions of oral health problems falling into the 4 OHRQoL dimensions were calculated. RESULTS: For every 100 dental patients with current oral health problems, 96 had problems related to teeth, mouth, and jaws' function, pain, appearance, or psychosocial impact. For every 100 dental patients who wanted to prevent future oral health problems, 92 wanted to prevent problems related to these 4 OHRQoL dimensions. Both numbers increased to at least 98 of 100 patients when experts analyzed dentists' explanations of why some oral health problems would not fit the four dimension. For the remaining 2 of 100 patients, none of the dentist-provided explanations suggested evidence against the OHRQoL dimensions as the concepts that capture dental patients' suffering. CONCLUSION: Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact capture dental patients' oral health problems worldwide. These 4 OHRQoL dimensions offer a psychometrically sound and practical framework for patient care and research, identifying what is important to dental patients.

Evaluation of Solubility of Luting Cements in Different Solutions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the solubility of three luting cements in three different solutions: distilled water and artificial saliva with different pH values (7.4 and 3.0). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (GC Fuji Plus) and two resin cements (Multilink Automix and Variolink II) were used. A total of 45 specimens, 15 specimens (15x1 mm) for each cement, were prepared according to ISO standard 4049:2009. The solubility of the cements was calculated by weighing the specimens before and after immersion and desiccation. Values of solubility in water (Wsl) in microgram/mm3 for each of the five specimens were calculated using the following formula (ISO 4049:2009): Wsl=(m1-m3)/V. The Mann-Whitney U nonparametric statistical method and Post hoc sample comparisons were applied. RESULTS: GC Fuji Plus showed statistically significant higher solubility in comparison with Variolink II and Multilink Automix in all three solutions. In acidic artificial saliva (pH 3.0) Multilink Automix showed significantly higher values of solubility compared to Variolink II (P<0.016). By studying the effect of pH value on the solubility of GC Fuji Plus cement, significantly higher values of solubility in pH 3.0 artificial saliva were confirmed (P<0.009). The influence of the surrounding pH value on the solubility of the resin cements Multilink Automix and Variolink II was researched. No statistically significant difference was found. CONCLUSION: Solubility values were mainly influenced by the proportion of hydrophilic matrix, the type and composition of filler, and the pH value of the solutions.

The Influence of Gender on the Cortical Width of the Lower Border of the Mandible and the Mandibular Cortical Index.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of gender on the mental index (MI) and the mandibular cortical index (MCI). METHODS: In this study, there were 120 subjects (43 male and 77 female subjects), who had undergone a dental panoramic radiograph examination for the needs of diagnosis and future treatment planning. MI and MCI were determined by orthopantomograph. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in MI dependent on gender. Male patients demonstrated significantly higher values for MI than female patients (right: t=4.127; P=0.0001, left: t=3.110; P=0.002). No statistically significant difference was observed for MCI dependent on gender (right: χ²=2.36 P=0.308, left: χ²=3.85 P=0.146). CONCLUSION: MI is affected by gender, but MCI is not.

Evaluation of the water sorption of luting cements in different solutions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the water sorption of three luting cements in three different solutions: distilled water and artificial saliva with different pH values (7.4 and 3.0). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (GC Fuji Plus) and two resin cements (Multilink Automix and Variolink II) were used. A total of 45 specimens - 15 specimens (15x1 mm) for each cement were prepared according to ISO standard 4049:2009. The water sorptions of the cements were calculated by weighing the specimens before and after immersion and desiccation. RESULTS: . Nonparametric statistic methods were applied. GC Fuji Plus cement showed significantly higher values of water sorption in all three solutions of both resin cements (p<0.009) and significantly higher values of sorption in artificial saliva pH 3.0. Multilink Automix showed significantly higher values of water sorption compared with Variolink II in artificial saliva pH 7.4, and higher values of sorption in this solution compared with pH value 3.0. CONCLUSION: Water sorption values are mainly influenced by the proportion of hydrophilic matrix, the type and composition of filler, and the pH value of solutions.