Associated Factors of Dental Caries among Intellectually Disabled Persons in Specialized Centers of Ouagadougou

Introduction: Several studies have reported a high prevalence of dental caries among the people with intellectual disabilities. In order to identify the sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral factors associated with it, we conducted a study in specialized centers welcoming subjects with intellectual disabilities in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with it among intellectually disabled in the specialized centers of Ouagadougou. Methods: The study was cross-sectional analytical. The survey took place between November 2020 and January 2021 among people with intellectual disabilities in reception centers receiving a grant from the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity, Family and Humanitarian Action. Data collection was done with a questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) and dental caries was recorded according to WHO criteria in decayed, missing or filled teeth generating a DMF index. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the presence of dental caries. Results: A total of 193 participants were included in the study with an average age of 12.4 years ± 7.9. The overall prevalence of caries measured with the DMF index was 58.6% 95% CI [51.2 - 65.8]. It was significantly associated with female gender (OR = 4.2;95% CI [1.4 - 12.5], p = 0,01), the clinical form of mental illness (epilepsy OR = 3.8 95%;CI [1.2 - 12.7], p = 0,02, trisomy OR = 5.0;95% CI [1.1 - 22.9], p = 0,03, motor autonomy OR = 0.2 95%;CI [0.1 - 0.7], p = 0,01) and at use of toothpaste OR = 9.33;95% CI [1.05 - 82.7], p = 0,04. Conclusion: Dental caries remains a very present pathology in most people living with an intellectual disability. Also, it is necessary to put in place prevention strategies to reduce its prevalence and improve access to oral care for these people.

Specific RNA m6A modification sites in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from the jawbone marrow of type 2 diabetes patients with dental implant failure

The failure rate of dental implantation in patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is higher than that in nondiabetic patients.This due,in part,to the impaired function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)from the jawbone marrow of T2DM patients(DM-BMSCs),limiting implant osseointegration.RNA N6-methyladenine(m6A)is important for BMSC function and diabetes regulation.However,it remains unclear how to best regulate m6A modifications in DM-BMSCs to enhance function.Based on the“m6A site methylation stoichiometry”of m6A single nucleotide arrays,we identified 834 differential m6Amethylated genes in DM-BMSCs compared with normal-BMSCs(N-BMSCs),including 43 and 790 m6A hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes,respectively,and 1 gene containing hyper-and hypomethylated m6A sites.Differential m6A hypermethylated sites were primarily distributed in the coding sequence,while hypomethylated sites were mainly in the 3’-untranslated region.The largest and smallest proportions of m6A-methylated genes were on chromosome 1 and 21,respectively.Maz F-PCR and real-time RTPCR results for the validation of erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 like 3,activity-dependent neuroprotector homeobox(ADNP),growth differentiation factor 11(GDF11),and regulator of G protein signalling 2 agree with m6A single nucleotide array results;ADNP and GDF11 m RNA expression decreased in DM-BMSCs.Furthermore,gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses suggested that most of these genes were enriched in metabolic processes.This study reveals the differential m6A sites of DM-BMSCs compared with N-BMSCs and identifies candidate target genes to enhance BMSC function and improve implantation success in T2DM patients.

Effect of Different Titanium Surface Treatments on the Adhesion Test Result:Dental Application

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different surface treatment of titanium(Ti)on the adhesion test results for dental application.Ti substrates roughened by 400 to 1500-grit SiC polish papers and alumina blasting,alkali treated by 5 molar(M)NaOH and KOH solutions and heat treated at the temperature range of 400-800℃were used in this study.The treated samples were subjected to the adhesion test.According to the results of the adhesion test,the adhesive strength showed the highest value for the blasted titanium among all polished and blasted samples.The Ti samples heated at 650℃showed the highest adhesive strength among all heat-treated samples.Further,the adhesion test results indicated the higher adhesive strength of chemically treated samples treated by NaOH rather than that by KOH.The polished and heated Ti samples showed the highest adhesive strength among all samples.

Effects of interleukin-10 treated macrophages on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway

BACKGROUND Alveolar bone defects caused by inflammation are an urgent issue in oral implant surgery that must be solved.Regulating the various phenotypes of macrophages to enhance the inflammatory environment can significantly affect the progression of diseases and tissue engineering repair process.AIM To assess the influence of interleukin-10(IL-10)on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)following their interaction with macrophages in an inflammatory environment.METHODS IL-10 modulates the differentiation of peritoneal macrophages in Wistar rats in an inflammatory environment.In this study,we investigated its impact on the proliferation,migration,and osteogenesis of BMSCs.The expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)and its activated form,phos-phorylated-STAT3,were examined in IL-10-stimulated macrophages.Subsequently,a specific STAT3 signaling inhibitor was used to impede STAT3 signal activation to further investigate the role of STAT3 signaling.RESULTS IL-10-stimulated macrophages underwent polarization to the M2 type through substitution,and these M2 macrophages actively facilitated the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.Mechanistically,STAT3 signaling plays a crucial role in the process by which IL-10 influences macrophages.Specifically,IL-10 stimulated the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway and reduced the macrophage inflammatory response,as evidenced by its diminished impact on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.CONCLUSION Stimulating macrophages with IL-10 proved effective in improving the inflammatory environment and promoting the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.The IL-10/STAT3 signaling pathway has emerged as a key regulator in the macrophage-mediated control of BMSCs’osteogenic differentiation.

Electrochemical behavior of Co-Cr and Ni-Cr dental cast alloys

The cast structures influencing the electrochemical corrosion behavior of Co-Cr and Ni-Cr dental alloys were studied using potentiodynamic polarization and AC impedance in 0.9% (mass fraction) NaCl solution at (37±1) ℃. The phase and microstructure of the alloys that were fabricated using two different casting methods viz. centrifugal casting and high frequency induction casting, were examined using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The roles of alloying elements and the passive film homogeneity on the corrosion resistance of Co-Cr-Mo and Ni-Cr-Mo dental cast alloys were reviewed. The results of electrochemical study show that the dependence of corrosion resistance on the microstructure associated with the casting methods is marginal. The Co-Cr alloy exhibits more desirable corrosion resistance properties than the Ni-Cr alloy. There is severe preferential dissolution of Ni-rich, Cr and Mo depleted zones in the Ni-Cr alloy.

Current perspectives of nanoparticles in medical and dental biomaterials

Nanotechnology is gaining tremendous impetus due to its capability of modulating metals into their nanosize, which drastically changes the chemical, physical and optical properties of metals. Nanoparticles have been intro- duced as materials with good potential to be extensively used in biological and medical applications. Nanoparticles are clusters of atoms in the size range of 1-100 nm. Inorganic nanoparticles and their nano-composites are applied as good antibacterial agents. Due to the outbreak of infectious diseases caused by different pathogenic bacteria and the development of antibiotic resistance, pharmaceutical companies and researchers are searching for new antibacterial agents. The metallic nanoparticles are the most promising as they show good antibacterial properties due to their large surface area to volume ratios, which draw growing interest from researchers due to increasing microbial resistance against metal ions, antibiotics and the development of resistant strains. Metallic nanoparticles can be used as effective growth inhibitors in various microorganisms and thereby are applicable to diverse medical devices. Nanotechnology discloses the use of elemental nanoparticles as active antibacterial ingredient for dental materials. In dentistry, both restorative materials and oral bacteria are believed to be responsible for restoration failure. Secondary caries is found to be the main reason to restoration failure. Secondary caries is primarily caused by invasion of plaque bacteria （acid-producing bacteria） such as Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates. To make long-lasting restorations, antibacterial materials should be made. The potential of nanoparticles to control the formation of biofilms within the oral cavity is also coming under in- creasing scrutiny. Possible uses of nanoparticles as topically applied agents within dental materials and the appli- cation of nanoparticles in the control of oral infections are also reviewed.

Frequency and Profile of Severe Periodontitis in Kinshasa Dental Hospitals, DR Congo

Purpose: Severe periodontitis (SP) is the sixth most prevalent disease world-wide. Prevalence and incidence are poorly reported in DR Congo. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SP and to compare its profile with that of mild to moderate periodontitis (MMP). Materials and Methods: Four hundred and four patients from four hospitals of Kinshasa City Capital participated in this study. Probing pocket depth (PPD) at six sites per tooth, bleeding on probing (BoP) and plaque index (PIl) were the main clinical parameters assessed. Results: Out of 404 patients examined in this study, 92 (22.8%) had severe periodontitis and 276 (68.3%) had mild to moderate periodontitis. Among patients with SP, 48 (52%) were female, 44 (48%) were male and 63% of them had a PPD of 6 mm. SP was significantly different from MMP according to patients age, 47.3 ± 18.6 versus 32.87 ± 14.40 years old, p < 0.001;plaque index, 1.153 ± 0.39 versus 0.90 ± 0.39, p < 0.001;BoP, 26.65 versus 17.04, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The Frequency of SP is relatively high in patients attending dental services in Kinshasa City and SP is significantly different from MMP.

Extrapolating neurogenesis of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells on electroactive and electroconductive scaffolds to dental and oral-derived stem cells

The high neurogenic potential of dental and oral-derived stem cells due to their embryonic neural crest origin,coupled with their ready accessibility and easy isolation from clinical waste,make these ideal cell sources for neuroregeneration therapy.Nevertheless,these cells also have high propensity to differentiate into the osteo-odontogenic lineage.One strategy to enhance neurogenesis of these cells may be to recapitulate the natural physiological electrical microenvironment of neural tissues via electroactive or electroconductive tissue engineering scaffolds.Nevertheless,to date,there had been hardly any such studies on these cells.Most relevant scientific information comes from neurogenesis of other mesenchymal stem/stromal cell lineages(particularly bone marrow and adipose tissue)cultured on electroactive and electroconductive scaffolds,which will therefore be the focus of this review.Although there are larger number of similar studies on neural cell lines(i.e.PC12),neural stem/progenitor cells,and pluripotent stem cells,the scientific data from such studies are much less relevant and less translatable to dental and oral-derived stem cells,which are of the mesenchymal lineage.Much extrapolation work is needed to validate that electroactive and electroconductive scaffolds can indeed promote neurogenesis of dental and oral-derived stem cells,which would thus facilitate clinical applications in neuroregeneration therapy.

Risk aspects of dental restoratives: From amalgam to tooth-colored materials

Dental materials' choice of patients has considerably changed. Whereas cast gold and amalgam have been the predominant biomaterials for decades, today toothcolored materials like resin-based composites and ceramics are more and more successful. However, are we going to replace a good but biologically questionable material(amalgam) with an equal material(resin composite) being more esthetic but also biologically questionable? For amalgam, long-term clinical studies reported some significant hints that in single cases amalgam may be a health hazard for patients, finally Norway banned amalgam completely. The main advantage of a resin-based composite over amalgam is its tooth-like appearance and more or less absence of extensive preparation rules. For many years it was believed that resin-based composites may cause pulpal injury. However, pulpal injury associated with the use of resin-based composites is not correlated with their cytotoxic properties. Nevertheless, resin-based composites and other dental materials require rigorous safety evaluation and continuous monitoring to prevent adverse events similar like with amalgam. Because of nonbiocompatible pulp responses to resin-based composites and amalgam, they should not be placed in direct contact with the dental pulp. The less dentin remaining in the floor of preparations between resin-based composites or other dental materials is more likely to cause pulpitis. Percentage of patients and dental practitioners who display allergic reactions is between 0.7% and 2%. The release of cytotoxic monomers from resin-based materials is highest after polymerization and much lower after 1 wk. Substances released from resin-based composites have been shown to be toxic in cytotoxicity tests. Nevertheless, in vitro cytotoxicity assays have shown that amalgam has greater toxic effects than resin-based composites, sometime 100-700-fold higher. Altogether, the risk of side-effects is low, but not zero, especially for dental personnel.

Electrochemical behavior of dental implant system before and after clinical use

Electrochemical behavior of dental implant system before and after clinical use(in vivo and in vitro) was researched by using abutment and titanium fixture.To simulate an oral environment,the samples of clinically used and non-used implant systems as a working electrode were exposed to artificial saliva at(36.5±1) ℃.Electrochemical tests were carried out using a potentiostat.After electrochemical test,the corrosion morphology of each sample was investigated by FE-SEM and EDS.The corrosion potential and pitting potential of clinically used implant system are lower than those of non-used implant system,and clinically used implant system exhibits a lower range of passivation,indicating a less degree of inherent resistance against chloride ion.The polarization resistance decreases in the case of clinically used implant system,whereas,Rp for clinically non-used implant system increases compared with clinically used implant system.

PHOTOCURING STUDY OF NEW DENTAL RESINS BASED ON MULTIFUNCTIONAL ACRYLIC ISOCYANURATE BY PHOTOCALORIMETRY

Photocuring of new dental resins composed of tri(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate triacrylate (THITA) alone and its mixtures with trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) or pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) initiated by camphorquinone/amine system was studied by photocalorimetry. Among several different amines as coinitiators, 2-ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (AM-3), N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (AM-5) and 2,4,6-[tri(dimethylaminomethyl)]phenol (AM-6) are most effective. Upon irradiation, photopolymerization can occur immediately and no induction period appears in N-2 nor in air. Comparing the THITA/TMPTA and THITA/PETA mixtures, the parameters of photopolymerization and hardness of photocured samples show a small difference and only change slightly with varying molar ratios of mixture. In the presence of inorganic filler, the hardness of photocuring resins is almost the same as that for commercial products.

The bioelectrical properties of bone tissue

Understanding the bioelectrical properties of bone tissue is key to developing new treatment strategies for bone diseases and injuries,as well as improving the design and fabrication of scaffold implants for bone tissue engineering.The bioelectrical properties of bone tissue can be attributed to the interaction of its various cell lineages(osteocyte,osteoblast and osteoclast)with the surrounding extracellular matrix,in the presence of various biomechanical stimuli arising from routine physical activities;and is best described as a combination and overlap of dielectric,piezoelectric,pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties,together with streaming potential and electro-osmosis.There is close interdependence and interaction of the various electroactive and electrosensitive components of bone tissue,including cell membrane potential,voltage-gated ion channels,intracellular signaling pathways,and cell surface receptors,together with various matrix components such as collagen,hydroxyapatite,proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans.It is the remarkably complex web of interactive cross-talk between the organic and non-organic components of bone that define its electrophysiological properties,which in turn exerts a profound influence on its metabolism,homeostasis and regeneration in health and disease.This has spurred increasing interest in application of electroactive scaffolds in bone tissue engineering,to recapitulate the natural electrophysiological microenvironment of healthy bone tissue to facilitate bone defect repair.

Surface treatment of titanium dental implant with H2O2 solution

The surface treatment is important for titanium and its alloys as promising candidates for dental implantation due to their bioinert surface.Titanium surface samples were modified using H2O2 solution at different times up to 72 h to boost their bioactivity.According to the results of the field emission scanning electron microscopy test,some nanostructures are formed on the surface of treated titanium samples and increased in size by increasing the time of treatment up to 24 h.After 24 h of application,the sharpness of nanostructures decreased and the micro-cracks and discontinuity in the coating surface increased.The results of the X-ray diffraction study and Raman spectroscopy revealed that anatase(TiO2)was formed on the surface of treated titanium samples.The peak intensity of Raman spectroscopy increased with an improvement in treatment time of up to 24 h and then decreased due to the discontinuity of the coating.Full wettability and ability to form apatite were reached at 6 h of treatment.It is clear that the treatment time has a significant effect on the surface treatment of titanium using the H2O2 solution.

MLL1 inhibits the neurogenic potential of SCAPs by interacting with WDR5 and repressing HES1

Mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)-based therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for spinal cord injury(SCI),but improving the neurogenic potential of MSCs remains a challenge.Mixed lineage leukemia 1(MLL1),an H3K4me3 methyltransferases,plays a critical role in regulating lineage-specific gene expression and influences neurogenesis.In this study,we investigated the role and mechanism of MLL1 in the neurogenesis of stem cells from apical papilla(SCAPs).We examined the expression of neural markers,and the nerve repair and regeneration ability of SCAPs using dynamic changes in neuron-like cells,immunofluorescence staining,and a SCI model.We employed a coimmunoprecipitation(Co-IP)assay,real-time RT-PCR,microarray analysis,and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)assay to investigate the molecular mechanism.The results showed that MLL1 knock-down increased the expression of neural markers,including neurogenic differentiation factor(NeuroD),neural cell adhesion molecule(NCAM),tyrosine hydroxylase(TH),βIII-tubulin and Nestin,and promoted neuron-like cell formation in SCAPs.In vivo,a transplantation experiment showed that depletion of MLL 1 in SCAPs can restore motor function in a rat SCI model.MLL1 can combine with WD repeat domain 5(WDR5)and WDR5 inhibit the expression of neural markers in SCAPs.MLL1 regulates Hairy and enhancer of split 1(HES1)expression by directly binds to HES1 promoters via regulating H3K4me3 methylation by interacting with WDR5.Additionally,HES1 enhances the expression of neural markers in SCAPs.Our findings demonstrate that MLL1 inhibits the neurogenic potential of SCAPs by interacting with WDR5 and repressing HES1.These results provide a potential therapeutic target for promoting the recovery of motor function in SCI patients.

Effects of inorganic ions,organic particles,blood cells,and cyclic loading on in vitro corrosion of Mg–Al alloys

Recently,magnesium(Mg)alloys have attracted extensive attention as biodegradable implant materials.However,cyclic loading and the corrosive environment of the body are significant challenges for the practical use of alloys,and there are few studies on this topic.In this study,we conducted a four-point bending fatigue test for 86,400 cycles(12 h)in simulated body fluid(SBF),plasma,and whole blood with an AZ series alloy Mg-9Al-0.5Zn-0.27Mn-0.12Ag,to examine the effects of inorganic ions,organic particles,blood cells,and cyclic loading on Mg alloy corrosion.The Mg^(2+)concentration and solution pH were measured before and after experimentation,and the sample surfaces were characterized by 3D digital microscopy,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),Fourier-transform infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).Our results showed that in the non-loading condition,a porous and weak inorganic product layer(mainly Mg/Ca phosphate and carbonate)formed on the surface of the Mg alloy sample immersed in SBF,which hardly had a protective effect on Mg alloy corrosion.For the samples immersed in plasma,the organic particles promoted the formation of an organic and more compact product layer,which protected the Mg alloy from severe corrosion.For the sample immersed in whole blood,the blood cells affected organic particle deposition on the product layer and thus interfered with the formation of an organic compact product layer,which slightly accelerated the corrosion process.Furthermore,cyclic loading damaged the layer integrity and significantly increased the corrosion rates of all the studied materials compared to the samples not subjected to cyclic loading.Nonetheless,under cyclic loading,blood cells adsorbed on the Mg alloy surfaces,and formed films,which protected the Mg alloy substrate and delayed Mg alloy corrosion.

Prevalence of Dental Disease and Risk to Oral Health in Oke-Ogun Rural Communities

The importance of oral health and the general health of an individual are interwoven such that if the oral health is poor, the general health would also be poor. There has been an increase in the interest of researchers in the state of the oral health because of the deleterious effects a poor oral health can have on the general health. While the prevalence of oral diseases has been reported to be on the increase worldwide, this paper presents a report on the prevalence of oral diseases in 10 rural communities known as Oke-ogun communities in Oyo State of Nigeria. Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation (CFDF), an indigenous non-governmental organization (NGO) organized an outreach program, with permission from the State Health Ministry, to examine, diagnose dental diseases, and carry out free surgeries for patients in the visited communities. The program was for two weeks and was divided in phases with the first phase done in May 2019 and second phase in September 2019. Among 1396 respondents, 43.6% complained of toothaches with more female than male presenting with that complain. Also, 511 (36.6%) were reported to have gingivitis and 51 (3.7%) had dental caries. Furthermore, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis were more common in males 776 (55.6%) than females 620 (44.4%) and this was statistically significant at ≤0.002. Periodontal disease was found to be more prevalent in Oke-ogun communities in Oyo state, and this called for urgent intervention strategies by the federal government of Nigeria, non-governmental organizations (NGO) and the international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) since the poor oral health would eventually translate to poor general health.

Awareness of Patients toward Dental Implants as an Alternative Treatment to Replace Missing Teeth in Kinshasa, D. R. Congo

Background: Dental implant is an artificial root inserted in the jawbone, which restores a lost tooth so that it looks, feels, and is fit like a natural tooth. It is considered to be the best treatment option for single or multiple missing teeth. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of patients about dental implants as an alternative treatment in Congolese patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two institutions namely, CBCO Bandal and Ngaliema Clinic, from August to December 2017. A total of 450 respondents have participated in the survey. A printed questionnaire comprised of 20 questions in order to evaluate patients dental awareness was used. Gender, level of education, awareness of dental implant and dental implants therapy, sources of information and the expectation about the sources of information were assessed. The collected data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed by SPSS (IBM SPSS 20.0, Chicago, IL, USA) software. Results: Out of 450 participants, 14.4% were aware of dental implants. The main disadvantage of dental implant was the high cost. When asked about the anchorage, 86% didn’t know where the dental implant was anchored. Ninety-two percent didn’t know for how long an implant last, 6% thought that dental implant last for a lifetime. When patients were asked about the sources of information, the dentist (5%) and media (5.5%) were the main sources of information. The majority of patients (88.4%) would like to get information about dental implants from their dentist. Conclusion: Dentists should be more involved in the promotion of information about dental implants as a treatment modality to replace missing teeth.

Mouth shield to minimize airborne transmission risk of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the dental office

Transmission of coronavirus disease(COVID-19)and other infectious diseases is a significant risk during dental procedures because most dental interventions involve aerosols or droplets that could contaminate the surrounding environment.Current protection guidelines to address the high risk of droplets,aerosols,and airborne particle transmission of COVID-19 in the dental office recommend minimizing aerosol-generating procedures.In this paper,an innovative mouth shield is presented that should minimize water backsplash from the air-water syringe during dental treatment.The mouth shield can be added to the personal protective equipment to provide the dental team with extra protection.It can be made of different materials,is straightforward,inexpensive,and safe to fabricate,and is easy to use.

High birth weight is a risk factor of dental caries increment during adolescence in Sweden

This study aimed to assess whether birth weight is associated with dental caries during the teenage period. In this register-based cohort study, all children of 13 yrs of age (n = 18,142) who resided in the county of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000 were included. The cohort was followed until individuals were 19 yrs of age. Information regarding dental caries was collected from the Public Health Care Administration in Stockholm. Data concerning prenatal and perinatal factors and parental socio-demographic determinants were collected from the Swedish Medical Birth Register and National Registers at Statistics Sweden. The final logistic regression model showed that birth weight (≥4000 g), adjusted for potential confounders, was significantly associated with caries increment (DMFT ≥ 1) between 13 and 19 yrs of age (OR: 1.29, 95% CI = 1.13 - 1.48). The relatively enhanced risk OR was further increased from 1.29 to 1.52 in sub- jects with birth weight (≥4600 g). On the contrary, subjects with birth weight (<2500 g) exhibited a sig- nificantly lower risk (OR: 0.67, 95% CI = 0.50 - 0.89) for exhibiting caries experience (DMFT ≥4) at 19 yrs of age. In conclusion, birth weight can be regarded as a predictor for dental caries and birth weight (≥4000 g) is especially a risk factor for caries increment during adolescence.

Patient Experiences of Medical Screening Performed by the Dental Services:A Qualitative Study

Objective: To explore how medical screening performed by the dental service was perceived from the patient’s perspective. Material and methods: Medical screening for high blood pressure and high plasma glucose was performed on 170 patients at a dental clinic in a small town in central Sweden. Seventeen individual interviews were conducted with a strategic sampling of these patients. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions were coded and categorized in a manifest analysis, followed by a latent, interpretive analysis. Results: The manifest analysis resulted in three categories: Positive attitude to screening and dental professionals which need to have specific knowledge of medical screening;Dental care which provides continuity but is not a neutral environment;and Feedback on the medical screening results and desired cooperation between dental and health care services. The latent analysis pointed out the importance of the patient’s feeling that the procedure is carried out properly and safely, and requests for clear feedback concerning the results of the screening. Conclusions: The interviewees experienced the dental care service as providing continuity. They would like to have regular medical screenings at their regular dental appointments to identify risks of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, they expressed that it was important for the dental care staff to have the necessary medical knowledge. They also wanted good cooperations between the dental and health care services, with clear feedback to the patients about both positive and negative results and, when appropriate, referrals to the health care service.