Dental pain and self-care: a cross-sectional study of people with low socio-economic status residing in rural India

Assessment of Self-Care Methods for Acute Dental Pain Among Adults During COVID-19 Dissemination and the Implementation of Teledentistry in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

AIM

This cross-sectional study aims to explore the prevalence of acute dental pain, different self-care methods done by adults to manage this pain, and the utilization of teledental platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. The study was conducted in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A total of 727 participants answered the study questionnaire, which was distributed as an online survey on different social media platforms. The modified dental pain screening questionnaire (M-DePaQ) was used to obtain dental pain-related characteristics of subjects. Also, self-care and formal-care strategies for pain relief questionnaire for most recent toothache and additional questions developed by the authors related to virtual clinics were used to determine the need for implementation of teledentistry and remote dental consultations. Data was entered in SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Around 39% out of 727 participants experienced dental pain during the COVID-19 Makkah city lockdown; 58% of them reported that the pain was related to a tooth. The majority reported that it was exaggerated with cold beverages and foods [67.1%]. A chi-square association test showed that the age group between 20-30 significantly used the Sehaty (Lean, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) application more than other age groups. Additionally, women were notably found to use home remedies more frequently than men. Furthermore, individuals with a bachelor's degree believed more in the importance of having a virtual dental clinic during the periods of lockdown.

CONCLUSION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, acute dental pain and self-medication were found common among this study population. The practice of self-medication was also documented frequently, therefore, it is important to educate the general population on the proper way to manage dental pain. However, The use of teledentistry services was found uncommon, so to improve patient care especially when accessibility to professional treatment is difficult, the implementation of teledental services need to be considered.

Profiles of sugar fermenting bacteria of the oral cavity among children with dental caries attending stomatology services at Ruhengeri referral hospital in Musanze District, Northern Rwanda

BACKGROUND

Dental caries remains a public health threat of concern among children. About 2.3 billion people are affected by dental caries, of which 530 million are children globally.

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to identify sugar fermenting bacteria in the oral cavity and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern, assess the association with sugar fermenter bacteria and dental caries and evaluate dental caries outcomes among children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted between October 2021 and February 2022 at Ruhengeri Referral Hospital. About 136 oral swab samples were collected from children with and without dental caries at 1:1 ratio. The samples were put in Stuart sterile container and transported to INES-clinical microbiology laboratory for microbial identification. Logistic regression analysis of demographic characteristics was performed to study the relationship between demographic variables and dental caries. Chi-square test was performed for the association between variables.

RESULTS

About 67.6% were male, while children of age 7-9 years (64.7%) dominated the age groups. Lactobacilli spp (15.29%) and Streptococcus mutans (12.94%) were the most predominant microorganisms observed in the oral cavity among children with dental caries. The S. mutans (x² = 27.03, P < 0.00001, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.2901-0.5785), S. aureus (x² = 34.59, P < 0.00001, 95% CI = 0.3541-0.6292), Enterobacter aerogenes (x² = 13.5, P = 0.000239, 95% CI = 0.151-0.4622), Serratia marcescens (x² = 11.64, P = 0.00645, 95% CI = 0.1275-0.4418) and Klebsiella pneumonia (x² = 13.51, P = 0.000237, 95% CI = 0.1511-0.4623) were significantly associated with dental caries. Teeth loss (x² = 51.04, P < 0.00001, 95% CI = 0.4757-0.7205), teeth pain (x² = 5.05, P = 0.0246, 95% CI = 0.0249-0.33499), and infection (x² = 4.73, P = 0.02964, 95% CI = 0.0186-0.3441) were dental outcomes associated with tooth decay. Ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, and amoxicillin were the most sensitive antibiotics, while vancomycin and chloramphenicol were the most resistant.

CONCLUSION

Sugar consumption favours the growth of sugar fermenter bacteria that cause dental caries among children. Dental caries is associated with adverse oral health outcomes among children. Oral health education is recommended for children. Parents are advised to reduce the consumption of sugary food for their children for oral health safety.

Racial variations in tooth pain and care-seeking in adolescents in Malaysia

Objective

Tooth pain among adolescents is a common event that impacts substantially on quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of race in the tooth pain experience and associated care-seeking.

Design

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 14–18 years from four different public schools in Kuala Lumpur. Socio-demographic, pain symptoms, and social impacts data were collected as well as medication use and visiting a dentist for tooth pain.

Results

Of 1473 questionnaires distributed, 1452 (98.6%) completed questionnaires were returned, with 269 (18.5%) reported having experienced tooth pain in the past 1 month. Those who identified as Indian (26.1%) were more likely to report tooth pain compared to Chinese (16.5%) and Malay (20.9%). In regression analysis, no factors were identified as independently associated with medication use, but Chinese and Indians compared to Malays, and those expressing difficulty sleeping were more likely to report visiting a dentist for treatment.

Conclusion

Racial variations in the tooth pain experience and care-seeking have been identified. This may be related to socio-economic status, but further research is needed on the role of culture-related care-seeking and accessibility of dental services.

Perceived Status and Care Practices among Complete Denture Wearers

Background:

Oral health is neglected even today. This can be evidently seen in the low utilization rates and poor oral health status. Conventional dentures are the most common treatment option in the restoration of lost teeth. Without appropriate denture care practices, there is an elevated risk of developing a multitude of problems. The aim of this study was to assess the perceived status and care practices among complete denture wearers in Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics at the Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. Patients with self-care optimum overall health who were using either single or full complete dentures for more than 1 year from the commencement of the study were requested to participate in the study. A total of 1000 study participants were given a self-administered questionnaire on their denture care practices followed by clinical examination of the denture status. Data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software for Windows, version 20.0.

Results:

Maximum denture wearers informed that they cleaned their dentures once a day, with brush and water, and had the habit of removing the dentures before sleeping at night. Almost 90% of the participants reported their denture status to be good or fair. Clinical examination revealed that slightly more than half of the participants had poor denture status.

Conclusion:

This study signifies the importance for improvement in patient oral health education and counseling with respect to the maintenance of dentures and upkeep of denture hygiene. It also emphasizes the need for educating patients on how to evaluate the status of their dentures.

Associations between dietary habits, emotional state and subjective oral symptoms in 62,276 South Korean adolescents

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between dietary habits, emotional states, and subjective oral symptoms in Korean adolescents.

METHODS

Data from 62,276 adolescents were derived from the 13th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, conducting from June 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017. Oral symptoms were assessed by asking students whether they had experienced any of following symptoms within the last 12 months: (i) have you had a crack in your teeth or had any broken teeth not caused by exercise or other accidents?, (ii) have you experienced any toothaches while drinking or eating cold or hot beverages or foods?, (iii) have you ever felt throbbing in your teeth?, and (iv) have you experienced any gum pain or gum bleeding? A multivariable Poisson regression model for prevalence ratio (PR) was conducted.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 53.1% experienced subjective oral symptoms. After adjusting for confounders, participants with consumption of sweet drinks more than five times weekly in dietary behaviors (PR: 1.17 [95% confidence interval (CI); 1.13-1.21]), feeling stress in the emotional state (PR: 1.27 [95% CI; 1.24-1.31]), and never brushing teeth (PR: 1.22 [95% CI; 1.14-1.30]) in the frequency of toothbrushing had higher risks of having oral symptoms compared to the reference group.

CONCLUSION

Many adolescents in Korea experienced oral symptoms. The consumption of sweet drinks, infrequent toothbrushing, and a negative emotional state adversely affected perceived oral symptoms. Public concern about the oral health of adolescents is warranted.

The course from tooth loss to successful rehabilitation with denture: Feelings influenced by socioeconomic status

Objective:

This study evaluated the perception of users of complete dentures (successful cases) provided by the public health service throughout the course from tooth loss to rehabilitation.

Methods:

A total of 11 individuals who received their complete dentures through the public health service were interviewed according to a qualitative approach based on three pre-established topics: (1) tooth loss, (2) living without teeth, and (3) living with dentures. The obtained material was submitted to content analysis.

Results:

Individuals associated the socioeconomic status with lifelong oral health experiences and difficulty to access oral treatment. Tooth loss was the solution to pain and sometimes perceived as a natural event of life. Living without teeth was a negative surprise that resulted in physical and psychological impairments. The period of adaptation to dentures represented suffering and required psychological efforts to be successful.

Conclusion:

The dentures represented a reward for the suffering and recovered normal function, appearance, and socialization.

High prevalence of toothache among Great East Japan Earthquake survivors living in temporary housing

OBJECTIVES

The Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami cause large-scale destruction in the north-eastern coastal areas in Japan, and forced many survivors to relocate to prefabricated temporary housing, a typical emergency accommodation. Based on the hypothesis that higher toothache prevalence among the disaster survivors is associated with postdisaster distress, we determined the impact of temporary residential environment as potential stressor on the subjective toothache prevalence.

METHODS

A repeated cross-sectional health survey based on self-reported questionnaire was conducted in 2776 disaster survivors, of whom 1446 participants underwent dental examination by dentists. Housing type was categorized into three groups including the same housing as before the earthquake, temporary housing and rented/new housing. The association of housing type with subjective toothache prevalence was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis in all subjects and subgroup analysis in dental examination applicants. Stratified analysis by survey wave was applied with inclusion of covariates such as the socio-demographic factors, and presence of insomnia and psychological distress. In subgroup analysis, presence of dental caries and gum problems in dental examination were included as factors of direct exposure to subjective toothache.

RESULTS

In the first survey wave, the participants living in the temporary housing had significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for toothache prevalence compared to the participants living in the same housing (OR: 3.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.85-7.65, P < 0.001); whereas in all other survey waves, there was no significant difference. Subgroup analysis of dental examination applicants confirmed the presence of significant association of subjective toothache prevalence in the temporary housing group alone (OR: 3.27, 95% CI: 1.38-7.76, P = 0.004), but not in the rented/new housing group (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 0.57-3.91, P = 0.411), even after adjusting for covariates related to oral findings.

CONCLUSION

Temporary housing may be a factor to increase the risk of subjective toothache among disaster survivors only at postdisaster acute phase.

Denture Care Practices and Perceived Denture Status among Complete Denture Wearers

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Considerable importance to oral health care was lacking in India, and oral health neglect continues to exist, which is evident in the low utilization rates and poor oral health status. Conventional dentures are the most common alternative in restoration of lost teeth. Without proper denture care practices, there is an increased risk of developing a multitude of problems. The aim of this study is to assess the denture care practices among complete denture wearers in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of Prosthodontics at the Konaseema Institute of Dental Sciences, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh. Patients with self-care ability and adequate overall health who were using either single or full complete dentures for more than 6 months from the time of the study were requested to participate in the study. A total of 375 study participants were given a self-administered questionnaire on denture care practices followed by clinical examination of the denture status. Statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software for windows, version 20.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp).

RESULTS

The majority of participants reported cleansing their dentures once a day, with brush and water, and had the habit of removing the dentures at night. Almost 80% of the participants reported their denture status to be good/fair. Clinical examination revealed that slightly more than half of the participants had poor denture status.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the need for improvement in patient education and counseling with respect to the maintenance of dentures and upkeep of denture hygiene. It also emphasizes the need for educating patients on how to evaluate the status of their dentures.