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Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Oct 2019Scientific research in the medical field shows this constantly: health starts from the mouth. Having good oral health nowadays is not only aimed at tooth health, but as...
Scientific research in the medical field shows this constantly: health starts from the mouth. Having good oral health nowadays is not only aimed at tooth health, but as amply demonstrated in the literature, it is a starting point for the general health and well-being of our body. Retracing the latest scientific findings that demonstrate an interpolation between oral health, oral diseases, and systemic complications, literature support was brought to this manuscript. Oral health, as demonstrated, has potentially multi-organ systemic implications, and as the results of the recent literature demonstrate, these implications range from an insulin resistance, due to a periodontal disease, up to far more complex multi-organ systemic complications involving the cardiovascular system or even neurodegenerative pathology. Therefore, being able to improve oral health could have great systemic implications for the organism, for the prevention of pathologies, and therefore for society and for the quality of life in individuals.
Topics: History, 16th Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Hygiene; Mouth Diseases; Oral Health; Quality of Life
PubMed: 31591341
DOI: 10.3390/medicina55100676 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2020Dementia is one of the main causes of disability among elderly people. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects elderly people's ability to perform... (Review)
Review
Dementia is one of the main causes of disability among elderly people. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects elderly people's ability to perform daily living activities. Alzheimer's disease is the main subtype of dementia and causes declining memory, reasoning, and communication skills. They also have behavioural and psychological symptoms, such as depression and aggression. It is essential for them to maintain good oral health, as oral health is an important and integral part of their general health. Neglecting oral health allows dental diseases to develop, and these diseases are difficult and costly to treat. However, dental diseases can be treated with ambulatory care rather than hospitalisation and emergency care. Elderly people should establish daily oral hygiene care routines during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. They should have regular dental examinations and early minimal interventions to prevent the need for extensive and complicated procedures. Maintaining oral health becomes challenging, however, when Alzheimer's disease progresses to the middle and late stages. Because elderly people might forget or lose interest in keeping their teeth healthy, caretakers and community health workers may need to take over this task. Dentists should provide guidance on the maintenance of oral health, as the techniques used to provide this support vary depending on the elderly people concerned. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of oral health and the importance of oral care for elderly people with Alzheimer's disease. The paper also discusses appropriate dental interventions and techniques for maintaining good oral health and helping people with Alzheimer's to enjoy a satisfactory quality of life.
Topics: Aged; Alzheimer Disease; Humans; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Quality of Life
PubMed: 32784777
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165713 -
American Journal of Public Health May 2017
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Dental Care; Geriatric Dentistry; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Oral Health; Periodontal Diseases
PubMed: 28661797
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303835 -
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and... 2016Oral health is crucial to overall health. Because of normal physiologic changes, pregnancy is a time of particular vulnerability in terms of oral health. Pregnant women...
Oral health is crucial to overall health. Because of normal physiologic changes, pregnancy is a time of particular vulnerability in terms of oral health. Pregnant women and their providers need more knowledge about the many changes that occur in the oral cavity during pregnancy. In this article we describe the importance of the recognition, prevention, and treatment of oral health problems in pregnant women. We offer educational strategies that integrate interprofessional oral health competencies.
Topics: Attitude to Health; Dental Care; Female; Humans; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Periodontal Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Primary Prevention
PubMed: 27281467
DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2016.04.005 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2019The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs) aiming to improve children's... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs) aiming to improve children's knowledge of favorable oral health behavior to lower decayed/-missing/-filled teeth (DMFT) while reducing the financial cost on health institutions. An electronic search was performed in seven databases. Studies were restricted to human interventions published in English. The search study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and the risk of bias was assessed based on the Drummonds Checklist. A total of 1072 references were found. Among these, 19 full texts were included. Most studies had a strong quality. The overall pooled impact of OHPPs estimates children suffering from DMFT/S to have 81% lower odds of participating in OHPP (95% CI 61-90%, I: 98.3%, = 0). Furthermore, the program was shown to be effective at lowering the cost in 97 out of 100 OHPPs (95% CI 89-99%, I: 99%, = 0). Three subgroups analyses (age groups, study countries, studies of the last five years) were performed to evaluate the influence modification on the pooled effect. A comprehensive analysis of the OHPPs confirmed a reduction effect on child DMFT, hence, lowering the financial burden of dental-care treatment on health institutions.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Dental Care; Dental Caries; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Infant; Male; Oral Health; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31349691
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16152668 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2019The oral health of an ageing population, especially that of the institutionalized elderly population, constitutes a significant concern because it is closely linked to...
The oral health of an ageing population, especially that of the institutionalized elderly population, constitutes a significant concern because it is closely linked to general health and the quality of life. Shared common risk factors drive the development and worsening of poor oral health and non-communicable diseases, which eventually lead to self-care inability. Several studies have reported on the poor oral health of the institutionalized elderly population. However, few comprehensive reports exist regarding the relationship between poor oral health, the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and the associated factors in this specific population. The objective is to describe recently reported oral health levels, the OHRQoL and the associated factors among older institutional residents. Studies published between July 2009 and June 2019 in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched. The population, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) strategy was used as a guide. The reported factors related to poor oral health were identified (i.e., age, gender, educational level, acquired systemic conditions or dementia/cognitive impairment). Twenty-five surveys (or study series) from 19 countries were included. The level of evidence reported by these studies was generally moderate to strong. The reported oral cleanliness and health of the surveyed institutionalized elderly were poor (>50% of residents had calculus; denture hygiene index > 80%). Gum (approximately 30% of dentate residents had moderate to severe periodontitis), teeth (decayed, missing or filled teeth >20), mucosa (>10% had mucosal lesions) and denture problems (up to 40%) were prevalent and were associated with a poor OHRQoL, especially in females, socially deprived residents or those with mild or above cognitive impairment. Those with a poor OHRQoL might show signs of poor nutrition. This report reviewed evidence-based knowledge on oral health, the OHRQoL and the associated factors among elderly institutional residents. Further research is needed to confirm these observations. For improved oral health, a better OHRQoL and the general well-being of older residents, clinical trials are needed, targeting modifiable factors, such as social inequality, oral healthcare accessibility, and/or nursing home service quality. The relationship between oral health, the OHRQoL and nutrition in this at-risk population also warrants exploration.
Topics: Aged; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Nursing Homes; Oral Health; Quality of Life
PubMed: 31717812
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16214132 -
Community Dentistry and Oral... Jun 2017(i) Quantify the relative association between child dental caries experience and maternal-reported child oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL); (ii) examine...
OBJECTIVES
(i) Quantify the relative association between child dental caries experience and maternal-reported child oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL); (ii) examine whether that association differed according to family socioeconomic status (SES); and (iii) explore whether absolute OHRQoL varied by family SES at similar levels of child caries experience.
METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional analysis of children in southern Brazil (n=456, mean age: 38 months) participating in an existing health centre-based intervention study. OHRQoL impact was quantified as mean score on the Brazilian Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and compared over categories of caries experience (dmft: 0, dmft: 1-4, dmft: ≥5). Adjusted ECOHIS ratios between caries categories were calculated using regression modelling, overall and within socioeconomic strata defined by maternal education, social class and household income.
RESULTS
Caries prevalence (dmft >0) was 39.7%, mean ECOHIS score was 2.0 (SD: 3.5), and 44.3% of mothers reported OHRQoL impact (ECOHIS score >0). Increasing child caries experience was associated with worsening child and family quality of life: ECOHIS scores were 3.0 times greater (95% CI: 2.0, 4.4) for children with dmft ≥5 vs dmft=0, a pattern that persisted regardless of family socioeconomic status (P for interaction: all >0.3). However, adjusted for dental status and sociodemographic characteristics, mean ECOHIS scores were lower when reported by mothers of less educational attainment (ratio: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5, 1.0), lower social class (ratio: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5, 1.0) or in lower income households (ratio: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6, 1.3).
CONCLUSION
Dental caries was associated with negative child and family experiences and lower OHRQoL across all social groups; yet, families facing greater disadvantage may report lesser quality-of-life impact at the same level of disease experience. Thus, subjective quality-of-life measures may differ under varying social contexts, with possible implications for service utilization, evaluating oral health interventions, or quantifying disease morbidity in low-SES groups.
Topics: Adult; Brazil; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Caries; Female; Humans; Male; Maternal Age; Mothers; Oral Health; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Social Class
PubMed: 28083880
DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12279 -
Critical Care (London, England) Oct 2021The link between oral bacteria and respiratory infections is well documented. Dental plaque has the potential to be colonized by respiratory pathogens and this, together... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The link between oral bacteria and respiratory infections is well documented. Dental plaque has the potential to be colonized by respiratory pathogens and this, together with microaspiration of oral bacteria, can lead to pneumonia particularly in the elderly and critically ill. The provision of adequate oral care is therefore essential for the maintenance of good oral health and the prevention of respiratory complications.
MAIN BODY
Numerous oral care practices are utilised for intubated patients, with a clear lack of consensus on the best approach for oral care. This narrative review aims to explore the oral-lung connection and discuss in detail current oral care practices to identify shortcomings and offer suggestions for future research. The importance of adequate oral care has been recognised in guideline interventions for the prevention of pneumonia, but practices differ and controversy exists particularly regarding the use of chlorhexidine. The oral health assessment is also an important but often overlooked element of oral care that needs to be considered. Oral care plans should ideally be implemented on the basis of an individual oral health assessment. An oral health assessment prior to provision of oral care should identify patient needs and facilitate targeted oral care interventions.
CONCLUSION
Oral health is an important consideration in the management of the critically ill. Studies have suggested benefit in the reduction of respiratory complication such as Ventilator Associated Pneumonia associated with effective oral health care practices. However, at present there is no consensus as to the best way of providing optimal oral health care in the critically ill. Further research is needed to standardise oral health assessment and care practices to enable development of evidenced based personalised oral care for the critically ill.
Topics: Aged; Critical Illness; Dental Care; Humans; Oral Health
PubMed: 34598718
DOI: 10.1186/s13054-021-03765-5 -
La Clinica Terapeutica 2019the study has the purpose to evaluate the association between clinical data collected from dental screening carried out on children and their eating habits. Materials...
AIM
the study has the purpose to evaluate the association between clinical data collected from dental screening carried out on children and their eating habits. Materials and methods: The dental screening was carried out on a sample of eight-year-old children attending the third grade of the elementary schools of Gaeta (Latina). Clinical data and periodontal status indexes were recorded. The descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency) of all data were calculated and anova analysis and chi square test have been performed.
RESULTS
On the sample of 70 children the results showed an average of 1.4 decayed teeth per child (sd ± 2.3) with a slightly higher average in females. More than 68% of the sample had poor or insufficient oral hygiene conditions with plaque presence in 64% of cases. Moreover, 57% of children had class II malocclusion with increased overjet and oral breathing respectively in 37% and 30% of cases. Only 24% were breastfed in the first months of life and more than 40% maintained a bad habit for over two years of age. About eating habits, more than 80% of the sample consumed sweets or sweet drinks every day. The analysis of the data showed as children consume several snacks throughout the day, and 47% eat them watching TV.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study showed how prevention program carried out through the School is more effective on children for learning of content especially when the acquisition of knowledge follows the application and verification of theoretical and practical skills in terms of oral health.
Topics: Child; Dental Caries; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Male; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene
PubMed: 30789195
DOI: 10.7417/CT.2019.2105 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2020The aim of the present study is to verify the knowledge of risks and complications of oral piercings, and to observe the main complications associated with piercings,...
The aim of the present study is to verify the knowledge of risks and complications of oral piercings, and to observe the main complications associated with piercings, using a sample from central Italy of patients wearing intraoral piercings. Through piercing and tattoo studios selected randomly in Rome, Latina and Campobasso, and a tattoo and piercing convention in Latina, a group of 387 individuals with oral piercings were selected and asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. After filling in questionnaires, 70 individuals of the 387 selected agreed to be visited to allow the observation of the integrity of their teeth and gums (especially close to the oral piercing), oral hygiene conditions, piercing cleaning, bad habits and gingival recession. Among the respondents, 46.8% said they had not been informed about these risks, 48.5% claimed not to clean the piercing, 70.6% stated that they had not been made aware of gingival problems that can arise, 60.4% subjects stated that they were not informed about the complications of piercings concerning teeth, 52.8% had insufficient oral hygiene conditions, 42% showed signs of generalised gingivitis, 20% had 3-4 mm recessions and 22% had tooth fracture(s) due to piercing. From this study, it emerged that oral piercings can represent a risk to oral health and that there is a widespread lack of awareness of the complications and correct methods of maintaining oral piercings. Periodic checks by both dentists and dental hygienists, for patients with oral piercings, could play a decisive role in preventing, intercepting and treating the complications that they can cause.
Topics: Adult; Body Piercing; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Italy; Male; Oral Health; Rome; Young Adult
PubMed: 31963636
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17020613