Evaluating a single dental anxiety question in Finnish adults

Objective. To evaluate the psychometric properties (criterion validity, construct validity, sensitivity, and specificity) of a single-item question screening for dental anxiety in a Finnish adult population. Material and methods. A total of 823 subjects, ranging in age from 18 to 87 years, answered a questionnaire comprising sections assessing the respondents’ demographic profile and dental attendance patterns. A single dental anxiety question and the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) were included. The final response rate was 85%. Results. Eight percent of the sample was highly dentally anxious using the MDAS cut-off point of 19 or above. Twelve percent of the respondents rated themselves as “very scared” on the single-item question. The percentage agreement between the single-item question and the MDAS was 93; the Kappa coefficient was 0.63. Specificity of the single question was 0.95 while sensitivity was 0.80 using the MDAS dichotomous classification. The single-item question related to age (p<0.001), gender (p<0.001), and dental attendance (p<0.001), as predicted. Conclusions. The single question has good validity, specificity, and sensitivity and may be used with confidence to assess dental fear in such situations as national health surveys or in routine dental practice where a multi-item dental anxiety questionnaire is not feasible.     

Decreased levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in root-canal exudates during root canal treatment

ObjectiveTo determine the matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) levels in root-canal exudates from teeth undergoing root-canal treatment.Material and methodsThe root-canal exudates from six teeth with normal pulp and periradicular tissues that required intentional root canal treatment for prosthodontic reasons and from twelve teeth with pulp necrosis and asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP) were sampled with paper points for bacterial culture and aspirated for the detection of proMMP-2 and active MMP-2 by gelatin zymography and the quantification of MMP-2 levels by ELISA.ResultsBy gelatin zymography, both proMMP-2 and active MMP-2 were detected in the first collection of root-canal exudates from teeth with pulp necrosis and AAP, but not from teeth with normal pulp, and their levels gradually decreased and disappeared at the last collection. Consistently, ELISA demonstrated a significant decrease in MMP-2 levels in the root-canal exudates of teeth with pulp necrosis and AAP following root canal procedures (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the MMP-2 levels were significantly lower in the negative bacterial culture than those in the positive bacterial culture (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe levels of MMP-2 in root-canal exudates from teeth with pulp necrosis and AAP were gradually reduced during root canal procedures. Future studies are required to determine if MMP-2 levels may be used as a biomolecule for the healing of apical lesions, similar to the clinical application of MMP-8 as a biomarker.     

Dental care utilization: a study of 50- to 75-year-olds in Southern Sweden

This study investigates dental care utilization in an adult population in Southern Sweden in relation to dental and social conditions, attitudes to costs, and perceived need to obtain dental services. The study was based on responses to a questionnaire sent in 1998 to a random sample, 1974 persons, aged 50-75 years. The response rate was 66%. A significantly higher probability of dental care utilization less than once a year was found for men, for those with few remaining teeth, and for those with removable dentures. A higher probability of dental care utilization less than once a year was found for those who stated perceived need to obtain dental care with no possibility because of the cost and for those who stated that the cost had influenced their attendance for dental care. The results showed that there were differences for sex and dental conditions in dental care utilization and that dental care utilization was related to attitudes towards costs of dental care.     

Dental management of unilateral multiple impacted primary teeth

Impacted primary teeth can be caused by odontogenic tumors such as odontomas, cystic diseases such as dentigerous and eruption cysts, and fibrous hyperplasia of the gingiva, while elimination of those causes reportedly results in normal eruption of primary teeth. We describe the course of a child from the age of 1 year until 4 years 10 months who had primary tooth eruption failure and was treated with dental methods. Although primary teeth expected to spontaneously erupt were followed, there were several on the left side that remained unerupted. We performed a left maxillary and mandibular gingivectomy to closely examine the cause of eruption delay and tooth germ dislocation, as well as attempt to induce eruption of the primary teeth. Based on histopathological results, the diagnosis was fibroma. Surgical procedures did not result in clear improvement of eruption failure. In order to improve masticatory function and aesthetics, the child was fixed with an artificial denture for all primary teeth not expected to erupt.     

Outcome of Partial Pulpotomy in Cariously Exposed Posterior Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IntroductionThe current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the success rate of partial pulpotomy in treating permanent posterior teeth with carious vital pulp exposure. A secondary aim was to assess the prognostic factors using a meta-regression.MethodsAn electronic search was performed for studies from January 1950 to November 2018 in the following databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane. All searches were performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Clinical studies evaluating the success rate of cariously exposed vital human permanent posterior teeth treated with a partial pulpotomy were selected. Only randomized clinical trials and prospective clinical studies were included for evaluation. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool were used to evaluate risk assessment.ResultsFrom the 218 studies identified through the initial search, 11 studies qualified for the final analysis (5 randomized clinical trials and 6 prospective studies). The results of the meta-analysis indicate a success rate of 98% (confidence interval [CI]: 0.94–1), 96% (CI: 0.92–0.99), and 92% (CI: 0.83–0.97) after 6 months and 1 and 2 years of follow-up. Examining the probable prognostic factors using meta-regression analysis, only preoperative pulp status (P = .001) was identified as a significant factor, with studies including teeth with the presumptive diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis displaying significantly lower results. The final solution, pulp capping material, apex closure, and the age of the patient did not affect the treatment success rate (P > .05).ConclusionsThe available data suggest that a partial pulpotomy results in high success rates in treating cariously exposed permanent posterior teeth up to 2 years. Six months of monitoring can be considered an appropriate period when evaluating the success of a partial pulpotomy although more clinical and radiographic controls are essential to ensuring success.     

Acquisition and analysis of 3D mandibular movement using a device based on electromagnetic sensors and a neural network

In dental medicine, the study of mandibular movement has an important role in oral rehabilitation as it allows diagnosis of pathologies in the temporomandibular joint and the definition of adequate treatment plans. In this paper, a new device specially developed for the acquisition and analysis of 3D mandibular movement is presented. A facial arc is adopted as its main support structure and electromagnetic sensors are employed to acquire the mandibular movement. A neural network is used to transform the electrical signals output by the sensors into 3D Cartesian coordinates. A custom-made computer application is developed to display and analyse the movement acquired. The device is shown to be easy to use, comfortable for patients and capable of being produced at an affordable price.     

Does non-surgical periodontal treatment influence on rheumatoid arthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy on rheumatoid arthritis activity.Material and methodsArticles published until April 2019 were electronically searched and screened using PubMed / MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). This study was recorded in the international PROSPERO database (CRD42019132205). The PICO question (population, intervention, comparison, results) was: in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis (P), does non-surgical periodontal treatment (I), as compared to no treatment (C), provides better outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis activity (O).ResultsAfter searching the databases, seven articles were selected for qualitative and five for quantitative analysis. The total number of participants included was 292, with an average age of 50.5 years. All patients had rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease. Non-surgical periodontal treatment significantly reduced Disease Activity Score 28 (P = 0.004; I² = 92%) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.01; I² = 78%), but with no significant effect on C-reactive protein (P = 0.34; I² = 92%).ConclusionsIt can be concluded that non-surgical periodontal treatment can benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis.     

Effect of leukocyte and platelet rich fibrin (L-PRF) on stability of dental implants. A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the impact, if any, of L-PRF application in an implant bed prior to implant placement, focusing on stability by means of implant stability quotient (ISQ) values. The literature was searched in a systematic way by means of the main databases and hand searching of the most relevant journals. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to determine the eligible studies included in this review. Only randomised controlled trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials (CCT) were included. A total of four RCTs were included for data extraction. The risk of bias was deemed moderate to unclear. Meta-analysis was performed to assess the effect of L-PRF, on implant stability, immediately post-insertion in three studies, after one week from the implant placement in three studies and after four weeks for all the included studies. The fixed effects model has shown Hedges g statistic for the one week varying from 0.380 to 1.401 with a pooled figure of 0.764 (95% CI 0.443 to 1.085) and for four weeks varying between 0.74 and 1.1 with a combined effect of 0.888 (95% CI 0.598 to 1.177). The results for both intervals were in favour of the use of L-PRF while the statistical difference immediately post-insertion was not statistically significant. The present systematic review, though acknowledging its limitations, suggests that L-PRF has a positive effect on secondary implant stability and that needs to be correlated to the clinical practice to measure the actual clinical effect by means of reducing treatment times.