Tooth Loss and Periodontitis in Older Individuals: Results From the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care

Background: Due to the increasing number of older people, there is a need for studies focused on this population. The aims of the present study are to assess oral and systemic conditions in individuals aged 60 to 95 years with access to dental insurance. Methods: Probing depths (PDs), tooth loss, alveolar bone levels, and systemic health were studied among a representative cohort of older individuals. Results: A total of 1,147 individuals in young‐old (aged 60 or 67 years), old (aged 72 or 78 years), and old‐old (aged ≥81 years) age groups were enrolled, including 200 individuals who were edentulous, in this study. Annual dental care was received by 82% of dentate individuals. Systemic diseases were common (diabetes: 5.8%; cardiovascular diseases: 20.7%; obesity: 71.2%; elevated C‐reactive protein [CRP]: 98.4%). Serum CRP values were unrelated to periodontal conditions. Rates of periodontitis, defined as ≥30% of sites with a distance from cemento‐enamel junction to bone of ≥5 mm, were 11.2% in women in the young‐old age group and 44.9% in men in the old‐old age group. Individuals in older age groups had a higher likelihood of periodontitis defined by bone loss and cutoff levels of PD ≥5 mm (odds ratio: 1.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 2.5; P <0.01). A total of 7% of individuals in the old‐old age group had ≥20 teeth and no periodontitis. Systemic diseases, dental use, or smoking were not explanatory, whereas age and sex were explanatory for periodontitis. Conclusions: The prevalence of periodontitis increased with age. Sex seems to be the dominant explanatory factor for periodontitis in older individuals. Despite frequent dental visits, overall oral health in the oldest age cohort was poor.     

Association Between Edentulism and Angina Pectoris in Mexican Adults Aged 35 Years and Older: A Multivariate Analysis of a Population‐Based Survey

Background: The possible association between oral infection and chronic inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk has been studied intensively. The present study is designed to determine the strength of association between edentulism and angina pectoris in Mexican adults aged 35 years and older. Methods: Using the tools and sampling strategies of the World Health Survey of the World Health Organization, cross‐sectional data were collected in Mexico in the National Performance Assessment Survey (probabilistic, multistage, and cluster sampling). Dental information was available for 20 of the 32 states of Mexico. Angina and edentulism are self‐reported in this study. Statistical analysis was performed using binary logistic regression adjusting for complex samples. Results: A total of 13,966 participants, representing a population of 29,853,607 individuals, were included. Of the complete study population, 3,052,263 (10.2%) were completely toothless, and 673,810 (2.3%) were diagnosed with angina pectoris. After adjusting for smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, body mass index, and sex, the effect of edentulism on angina was modified by age (interaction), being more marked in the younger age group (odds ratio [OR] = exp^2.5597 =12.93) than in the older individuals surveyed (OR = exp^{2.5597 + (?0.0334)} =12.51). Additionally, low physical activity (OR = 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03 to 2.22) and higher socioeconomic status (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.90) were more likely to be associated with angina pectoris. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study, conducted in a representative sample of Mexican adults, suggest that an association exists between edentulism and angina pectoris. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanism for this association.     

Association Between Asthma and Periodontitis: Results From the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the association between asthma and periodontitis in a representative sample of Korean adults from the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) in 2014. Methods: This study conducts a cross‐sectional evaluation using 2014 KNHANES data to describe the association between current asthma condition and chronic periodontitis while adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. Presence of periodontitis is evaluated by community periodontal index defined by the World Health Organization, and current asthma condition is defined as “currently suffering from asthma condition.” Results: The study population comprises a total of 5,976 patients aged 19 years and older, representing 40.7 million Koreans. A multivariable logistic regression analysis with weighted observations reveals patients with current asthma condition are ≈5 times more likely to be associated with periodontitis (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 5.36; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.27 to 22.68). In addition, 83% of patients who regularly receive scheduled antiasthmatic medications are less likely to have a diagnosis of periodontitis than individuals who do not receive medication regularly (adjusted OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.57). However, the association is not significant if treatment with antiasthmatic medication is delivered on an “as‐needed” basis (adjusted OR:1.80; 95% CI: 0.87 to 3.74). Conclusions: Findings from the current study show a positive association between periodontitis and current asthma condition. In addition, patients taking scheduled antiasthmatic medications are less likely to be diagnosed with periodontitis. Due to limitations of study design and available data from the national survey, well‐designed follow‐up studies are needed to confirm these findings.     

Occlusal Changes Following Posterior Tooth Loss in Adults. Part 1: A Study of Clinical Parameters Associated with the Extent and Type of Supraeruption in Unopposed Posterior Teeth

PURPOSE: One of the barriers to restoring an edentulous space may be the supraeruption of an unopposed tooth to occupy some or all of the space needed for prosthetic replacement. The aim of this study was to determine the extent and type of supraeruption associated with unopposed posterior teeth and to investigate the relationship between these and oral and patient factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnostic casts of 100 patients with an unopposed posterior tooth and of 100 control patients were scanned and analyzed to record the extent of supraeruption, together with other clinical parameters. The type of eruption present was defined for each subject as Periodontal Growth, Active Eruption, or Relative Wear. Generalized Linear Models were developed to examine associations between the extent and type of supraeruption and patient or dental factors. The extent of supraeruption for an individual was modeled to show association between the degree of supraeruption and clinical parameters. Three models were produced to show associations between each type of supraeruption and clinical parameters. RESULTS: The mean supraeruption for subjects was 1.68 mm (SD 0.79, range 0 to 3.99 mm) and for controls, 0.24 mm (SD 0.39, range 0 to 1.46 mm). The extent of supraeruption was statistically greater in maxillary unopposed teeth than in mandibular unopposed teeth. Supraeruption was found in 92% of subjects' unopposed teeth. CONCLUSIONS: A Generalized Linear Model could be produced to demonstrate that the clinical parameters associated with supraeruption are periodontal growth, attachment loss, and the lingual movement of the tooth distal to the extraction site. Three types of supraeruption, which may be present singly, or in combination, can be identified. Active eruption has an association with attachment loss. Periodontal growth has an inverse association with attachment loss, is more prevalent in younger patients, in the maxilla, in premolars, and in females. Relative wear has an association with increasing age and is more prevalent in unopposed mandibular teeth.     

Association of current employment status with oral health‐related behaviors: findings from the Finnish Health 2000 Survey

The aim of this study was to compare the oral health‐related behaviors of unemployed people with those of employed people and to assess whether they differ according to the length of unemployment. This study is part of the Health 2000 Survey in Finland. The cross‐sectional data were based on interviews and questionnaires. The present study comprised dentate participants, 30–63 yr of age (n = 4,670). Current employment status (employed vs. unemployed) and length of current unemployment (≤1, >1–2, >2–5, and >5 yr) were used as exposures. Binary logistic regression models were fitted separately for the oral health‐related behaviors, and latent class analysis (LCA) was used to form behavioral clusters. Current unemployment and being unemployed for longer than 5 yr were inversely associated with regular use of dental services. Current unemployment indicated non‐regular dental attendance, infrequent use of xylitol, daily smoking, and risky use of alcohol. Findings from the LCA supported the assumption that unemployed people could be considered as a risk group for poor oral health‐related behaviors.     

Factors Affecting the Decision-making of Direct Pulp Capping Procedures among Dental Practitioners: A Multinational Survey from 16 Countries with Meta-analysis

IntroductionDirect pulp capping (DPC) procedures require the placement of a bioactive material over an exposure site without selective pulp tissue removal. This web-based multicentered survey had 3 purposes: (1) to investigate the factors that affect clinicians’ decisions in DPC cases, (2) to determine which method of caries removal is preferred, and (3) to evaluate the preferred capping material for DPC.MethodsThe questionnaire comprised 3 sections. The first part comprised questions regarding demographic features. The second part comprised questions on how treatment plans change according to factors such as nature, location, number and size of the pulp exposure, and patients’ age. The third part composed of questions on the common materials and techniques used in DPC. To estimate the effect size, the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a meta-analysis software.ResultsA tendency toward more invasive treatment was observed for the clinical scenario with carious-exposed pulp (RR = 2.86, 95% CI: 2.46, 2.32; P < .001) as opposed to the clinical scenario with 2 pulp exposures (RR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.53; P < .001). Complete caries removal was significantly preferred to selective caries removal (RR = 4.59, 95% CI: 3.70, 5.69; P < .001). Among the capping materials, calcium silicate-based materials were preferred over calcium hydroxide-based materials (RR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.76; P < .05).ConclusionsWhile carious-exposed pulp is the most important factor in clinical decisions regarding DPC, the number of exposures has the least impact. Overall, complete caries removal was preferred over selective caries removal. In addition, the use of calcium silicate-based materials appears to have replaced calcium hydroxide-based materials.     

Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes and Bone Loss around Titanium Implants with Oxidized Surface: Six‐Year Follow‐Up Results from a Prospective Case Series Study

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to assess long‐term clinical outcomes and peri‐implant bone level changes around oxidized implants supporting partial fixed rehabilitations. Materials and Methods: Twenty‐two partially edentulous patients were included in the study. A total of 33 fixed rehabilitations were placed, supported by 54 titanium implants with oxidized microtextured surface. Prostheses were delivered after 3 and 6 months of implant placement in the mandible and maxilla, respectively. Patients were scheduled for follow‐up at 6 and 12 months and then yearly. At each follow‐up, plaque level and bleeding scores were assessed and periapical radiographs were taken. The main outcomes were prosthesis success, implant survival, implant success, and marginal bone level change. Results: Three patients were excluded from the study because they did not attend the 1‐year follow‐up. Nineteen patients, accounting for 49 implants, were followed for at least 6 years after prosthesis delivery. The mean follow‐up duration was 81.8 months (range 75–96 months). One mandibular single‐tooth implant failed after 1 year in a smoker woman. Cumulative implant survival and success at 6 years were 98.0% and 95.9%, respectively. Prosthesis success was 96.7%. The mean peri‐implant bone loss at 6 years was 0.76 ± 0.47 mm. Not significantly (p = .75) greater bone loss was found in the maxilla (0.78 ± 0.14 mm, n = 19) as compared with the mandible (0.74 ± 0.59 mm, n = 30). In the maxilla, bone loss was significantly greater around implants supporting partial prostheses as compared with single‐tooth implants (p = .03). Full patient satisfaction was reported. Conclusion: Implants with oxidized microtextured surface may achieve excellent long‐term clinical outcomes in the rehabilitation of partial edentulism.     

Prevalence and associated factors of periodontal conditions among 55- to 74-year-old adults in China: results from the 4th National Oral Health Survey

Clinical Oral Investigations - The purpose of this study was to assess periodontal health conditions among 55- to 74-year-old Chinese people and to analyze the factors associated with periodontal...     

Clinical course and survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary alveolus and hard palate: Results from a single-center prospective cohort

ObjectivesOperative management of squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary alveolus and hard palate (MHSCC) is still a controversial issue, especially for cN0 cases. We report the survival outcomes in patients with MHSCC, including the rate of cervical occult metastasis for UICC stages I/II and survival after elective neck dissection (END).Methods77 patients with primary MHSCC were followed-up from 2 months to 14.6 years within a prospectively obtained patient cohort. Factors influencing overall survival (OS), oral cancer-specific survival (OCSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed. We estimated survival probabilities using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis by histology and stage. We used Cox's proportional hazard regression model to estimate adjusted hazard ratios for OS, OCSS and DFS.ResultsInitially, 22 patients presented with stage I, 13 with stage 2, 11 patients with stage 3 and 31 with stage 4 tumors. The presence of nodal disease rose with increased tumor size. 66.2% were treated with surgery only, 26.0% received adjuvant radiotherapy, and 7.8% received primary radiotherapy. Median overall survival was 10.9 years, and survival probabilities at 2, 5 and 10 years were 68.2%, 61.1% and 61.1%, respectively. Five-year overall survival was 72.4% in the END group and 88.9% in the non-END group. Factors influencing OS, OCSS and DFS were tumor size, the presence of metastatic disease and positive resection margins.ConclusionsMHSCC seems to show a better overall survival compared to OSCC of other locations and is less likely to develop regional and distant metastasis; END might not be necessary in early stage tumors.