Project description:The recent COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity of protecting health care providers (HCPs) against the transmission of infectious agents during dental procedures. To this end, the effectiveness of several air cleaning devices (ACDs) in reducing HCPs exposure to aerosols generated during dental procedures was estimated, separately or in combination with each other. These ACDs were a chairside unit capturing aerosols at the source of generation, and four ambient ACDs: a portable ambient ACD; a negative pressure module; a custom made, fan-operated and wall-mounted air filter (WMAF); and a smaller and passive version of the latter. The last three ACDs were intended for mobile dental clinics (MDCs) only. This assessment was performed in two different environments: in a dental clinic operatory and in a MDC. Two dental personnel, acting in the roles of dentist and dental assistant, performed on simulated patient aerosol-generating and non-aerosol-generating procedures. For each 5-minute scenario, the cumulative exposure to airborne particulate matter 10 µm in size or smaller (PM10) was determined by calculating the sum of all 1 second readings obtained with personal and ambient air monitors. The effectiveness of the ACDs in capturing PM10 was estimated based on the capability of the ACDs to keep PM10 level at or below the initial background level. In all conditions assessed in the dental clinic operatory, when both the chairside and portable ambient ACDs were functioning, an estimated effectiveness of 100% in capturing PM10 was achieved. In the MDC, in all conditions where the chairside ACD was used without the negative pressure module, an estimated effectiveness of 100% was also achieved. The simultaneous operation of the negative pressure module in the MDC, which led to a room negative pressure of -0.25 inch wc, reduced the chairside ACD's effectiveness in capturing aerosols. Conversely, the use of the WMAF in the MDC in combination with the chairside ACD further reduced exposure to PM10 below the initial background level. Nonetheless, in all conditions assessed in both settings (dental clinic operatory and MDC), larger visible aerosols were produced, often landing on the surrounding environment. A fair portion of these aerosols landed on the inside of the chairside ACD flange. This assessment suggests that the use of the tested chairside ACD, by capturing aerosols at the source of generation, had the greatest impact on reducing exposure of dental personnel to PM10 produced during dental procedures. This study also indicates that such exposure is further reduced with the addition of an ambient ACD. However, creating a negative pressure room as high as -0.25 inch wc can lead to air turbulence reducing the effectiveness of ACDs in capturing aerosols at the source. Furthermore, the presence of uncaptured droplets and spatter on the surrounding environment supports the need to complement the use of engineering controls with proper administrative controls and personal protective equipment, as recommended by governmental agencies and the scientific community for preventing the transmission of infection in health care settings.
Project description:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between interdental cleaning behavior and the prevalence of caries and periodontal disease and numbers of missing teeth, with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011 to 2012 and 2013 to 2014). Analysis included the following parameters: interproximal clinical attachment level (iCAL) ?3 mm, interproximal probing depth (iPD) ?4 mm, number of coronal and interproximal caries, number of missing teeth, ?1 surfaces with coronal caries, and periodontal profile classes (PPCs). Chi-square was used for bivariate associations. Associations of interdental cleaning with outcomes were assessed with multiple linear regression and generalized logit regression, adjusting for age, race, sex, diabetes, smoking, education, dental visits, and sugar consumption. Nonusers had a significantly higher percentage of sites with iCAL ?3 mm and iPD ?4 mm as compared with individuals who used interdental cleaning devices ( P < 0.0001). Individuals with a higher frequency of cleaning (4 to 7×/wk) had a significantly lower extent of sites with iCAL ?3 mm as compared with lower-frequency cleaning (1 to 3×/wk; P ? 0.05). Interdental cleaning users showed lower numbers of coronal caries, interproximal coronal caries, and missing teeth as compared with nonusers ( P < 0.0001). Nonusers had 1.73-times (95% confidence interval, 1.53 to 1.94) higher odds for having ?1 surfaces of coronal caries as compared with interdental cleaning users, regardless of the weekly frequency. Individuals were less likely to be in diseased PPCs if they were interdental cleaning users. Low-frequency cleaners (1 to 3×/wk) had significantly greater odds (1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 1.88) to have severe disease (PPC-G) versus health (PPC-A) than were high-frequency cleaners (4 to 7×/wk). Interdental cleaning users showed lower levels of periodontal disease and caries and lower numbers of missing teeth. Higher frequency of interdental cleaning was correlated with increased periodontal health. Individuals with severe periodontal disease could show additional oral health benefits by increasing cleaning frequency. The data support the use of interdental cleaning devices as an oral hygiene behavior for promoting health.
Project description:The long-term effectiveness of powered toothbrushes (PTBs) and interdental cleaning aids (IDAs) on a population level is unproven. We evaluated to what extent changes in PTB and IDA use may explain changes in periodontitis, caries, and tooth loss over the course of 17 y using data for adults (35 to 44 y) and seniors (65 to 74 y) from 3 independent cross-sectional surveys of the German Oral Health Studies (DMS). Oaxaca decomposition analyses assessed to what extent changes in mean probing depth (PD), number of caries-free surfaces, and number of teeth between 1) DMS III and DMS V and 2) DMS IV and DMS V could be explained by changes in PTB and IDA use. Between DMS III and V, PTB (adults: 33.5%; seniors: 28.5%) and IDA use (adults: 32.5%; seniors: 41.4%) increased along with an increase in mean PD, number of caries-free surfaces, and number of teeth. Among adults, IDA use contributed toward increased number of teeth between DMS III and V as well as DMS IV and V. In general, the estimates for adults were of lower magnitude. Among seniors between DMS III and V, PTB and IDA use explained a significant amount of explained change in the number of caries-free surfaces (1.72 and 5.80 out of 8.44, respectively) and the number of teeth (0.49 and 1.25 out of 2.19, respectively). Between DMS IV and V, PTB and IDA use contributed most of the explained change in caries-free surfaces (0.85 and 1.61 out of 2.72, respectively) and the number of teeth (0.25 and 0.46 out of 0.94, respectively) among seniors. In contrast to reported results from short-term clinical studies, in the long run, both PTB and IDA use contributed to increased number of caries-free healthy surfaces and teeth in both adults and seniors.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Interdental rubber picks (IRP) have become a frequent and convenient alternative for interdental cleaning. However, only little evidence exists supporting the effectiveness of newer designs available on the market. Therefore, a new in vitro model was evaluated to measure the experimental cleaning efficacy (ECE), as well as the force needed for insertion and during the use of IRP, with high reproducibility. METHODS:Five different sizes of commercially marketed IRP with elastomeric fingers (IRP-F) (GUM SOFT-PICKS® Advanced, Sunstar Deutschland GmbH, Schönau, Germany) or slats (IRP-S) (TePe EasyPick™, TePe D-A-CH GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) were tested. Interdental tooth surfaces were reproduced by a 3D-printer (Form 2, Formlabs Sommerville, MA, USA) according to human teeth and matched to morphologically equivalent pairs (isosceles triangle, concave, convex) fitting to different gap sizes (1.0?mm, 1.1?mm, 1.3?mm). The pre-/post brushing situations at interdental areas (standardized cleaning, computer aided ten cycles) were photographically recorded and quantified by digital image subtraction to calculate ECE [%]. Forces were registered with a load cell [N]. RESULTS:IRP-F have to be inserted with significant higher forces of 3.2?±?1.8?N compared to IRP-S (2.0?±?1.6?N; p?<?0.001) independent of the size and type of artificial interdental area. During cleaning process IRP-S showed significantly lower values for pushing/pulling (1.0?±?0.8?N/0.5?±?0.4?N) compared to IRP-F (1.6?±?0.8?N/0.7?±?0.3?N; p?<?0.001) concomitant to significantly lower ECE (19.1?±?9.8 vs. 21.7?±?10.0%, p?=?0.002). Highest ECE was measured with largest size of IRP-F/IRP-S independent the morphology of interdental area. CONCLUSIONS:New interdental cleaning aids can be tested by the new experimental setup supported by 3D printing technology. Within the limitations of an in vitro study, IRP-F cleaned more effectively at higher forces compared to IRP-S.
Project description:IntroductionDental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Products of metabolism by bacteria populating the tooth surface induce development and progression of cavities.ObjectivesWe sought to determine whether a polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I; povidone-iodine) and NaF topical varnish was superior to one containing only NaF in prevention of new dental caries lesions in a single-center randomized active-controlled trial based on a double-blind, parallel-group design.MethodsThe site was Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia. The study population was healthy children 49 to 84 mo old who were enrolled in early childhood education: 284 were randomized (1:1 allocation), and 273 were included in year 1 analysis and 262 in year 2. The test varnish contained 10% PVP-I and 5.0% NaF. The comparator contained only 5.0% NaF but was otherwise identical. Varnishes were applied every 3 mo during 2 y. The primary outcome was the surface-level primary molar caries lesion increment (d2-4mfs) at 2 y. Caries lesion increments from baseline to year 1 and year 2 were compared between conditions with log-linear regression, adjusting for age and sex and whether the tooth was sound at baseline (free of caries lesions).ResultsAt year 1, the caries lesion increment for primary molars sound at baseline was 0.9 surfaces (SD = 1.5) for the test varnish versus 1.8 (SD = 2.2) for the comparator varnish with fluoride alone (adjusted rate ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.81; P = .005). At year 2, the caries lesion increment for primary molars sound at baseline was 2.3 surfaces (SD = 2.8) for the test varnish as compared with 3.3 (SD = 2.7) for the comparator (adjusted rate ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.03; P = .073). Teeth that were already cavitated at baseline did not show a preventive effect. There were no harms.ConclusionsA dental varnish containing PVP-I and NaF is effective in the primary prevention of cavities in the primary dentition (NCT03082196).Knowledge transfer statementThis study demonstrates that periodic application of a varnish containing NaF and PVP-I is effective in prevention of caries lesions and useful in assessing the potential of combined treatment.
Project description:Interdental cleaning is routinely recommended, despite limited evidence supporting efficacy to prevent advanced oral disease endpoints, such as caries and periodontal disease. We aimed to examine associations between interdental cleaning and oral health in a large, generalizable prospective cohort of adults in the United States. Data were drawn from wave 3 (2015 to 2016, n = 26,086 included in analysis) and wave 4 (2016 to 2018, n = 22,585) of the adult component (age ≥18 y) of the nationally representative Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Survey-weighted multivariable regression models estimated the associations between wave 3 weekly interdental cleaning frequency and 6 measures of self-reported oral health-overall rating, tooth extractions, gum bleeding, loose teeth, bone loss around teeth, and gum disease-cross-sectionally and prospectively, with adjustment for established periodontal disease risk factors. As compared with no interdental cleaning, interdental cleaning ≥7 times/wk was prospectively associated with greater odds of excellent self-rated oral health (adjusted odds ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.62), lower odds of bleeding gums (adjusted odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.70), but not statistically significantly lower odds of other oral health conditions in the following 12 mo. Older age, lower socioeconomic status, diabetes, and cigarette smoking were consistently associated with worse oral health across all outcome measures. Findings were largely robust to alternative model and variable specifications. Interdental cleaning is associated with better perceived oral health and less self-reported gingivitis. Prevention of more advanced disease states was not demonstrated. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the self-reported nature of the measures and relatively short follow-up period.
Project description:BackgroundThe Swedish Quality Registry for caries and periodontal disease (SKaPa) automatically collects data on caries and periodontitis from patients' electronic dental records. Provided the data entries are reliable and accurate, the registry has potential value as a data source for registry-based research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the SKaPa registry information on dental caries in 6- and 12-year-old children.MethodThis diagnostic accuracy study compared dental caries data registered at an examination with dental health status registered in the patient's electronic dental records, and with corresponding data retrieved from the SKaPa registry. Clinical examinations of 170 6- and 12-year-old children were undertaken by one of the researchers in conjunction with the children's regular annual dental examinations where the number of teeth were registered, and dental caries was diagnosed using ICDAS II. Teeth with fillings were defined as filled and were added to the ICDAS II score and subsequently dft/DFT was calculated for each individual. Cohen's Kappa, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and sensitivity and specificity were calculated to test the agreement of the 'decayed and filled teeth' in deciduous and permanent teeth (dft/DFT) from the three sources.ResultsCohen's Kappa of the dft/DFT-values was calculated to 0.79 between the researcher and the patient record, to 0.95 between patient dental record and SKaPa, and to 0.76 between the researcher and SKaPa. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to 0.96 between the researcher and the patient journal, to 0.99 between the patient dental record vs. SKaPa, and to 0.95 between the researcher and SKaPa.ConclusionThe SKaPa registry information demonstrated satisfactory reliability and accuracy on dental caries in 6- and 12-year-old children and is a reliable source for registry-based research. Trial registration The study was registered in Clinical Trials ( www.ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03039010).
Project description:BACKGROUND:The aim of our study was to perform a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis in order to investigate relationship between drug use and oral health. METHODS:We searched for studies in English published before July 1, 2019 on PsycINFO, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science. We assessed the relationship between drug use (methamphetamines, heroin; opiates; crack, cocaine and cannabis as dependent variables) and reported tooth loss, periodontal disease, or decayed, missing, and filled teeth index as an independent variable. The data were analyzed using Stata 12.0 software. RESULTS:We initially identified 1836 potential articles (with 1100 duplicates) and screened the remaining 736 titles and abstracts, comprising 54 studies. In the next step, we evaluated the full-texts; 44 studies were excluded, accordingly. In total, we included 10 publications in the meta-analysis. Drug type was associated with periodontal disease (OR 1.44; 95% CI 0.8-2.6) and pooled estimates showed that type of drug used increased the odds of the number of decayed, missed and filled teeth (DMFT) (OR 4.11; 95% CI 2.07-8.15) respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The analytical challenges of segregating the impact of individual drug types on oral health diseases mean that investigations on the direct relationship between oral health status and drug use are limited. Developing programs to improve potential confounding with various substances and addressing the dental health needs of people who use drugs is vital if we are to improve their overall quality of life.
Project description:Dental caries and periodontal disease represent a health problem and a social cost for the entire population, and in particular for socio-economically disadvantaged individuals who are less resistant to disease. The aim of this review is to estimate the prevalence and severity of the two dental pathologies, caries and periodontal disease, in the different classes of socio-economically disadvantaged subjects and to understand which of them are most affected. A systematic search of the literature was performed in MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE and Web of Science after establishing a suitable search strategy for each database, using keywords related to socio-economically vulnerable classes and health outcomes. Socio-economically disadvantaged individuals are more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal disease (with relative tooth loss) than non-vulnerable people. Additionally, when multiple vulnerabilities are combined in the same subject, these oral diseases worsen. There is no type of vulnerability more affected by caries and periodontitis than others, since overall they all have severe disease indices. The data from this systematic literature review might be useful for health policy makers looking to allocate more resources and services to socially disadvantaged individuals, resulting in making them more resilient to oral disease due to their social marginalization.