Periodontal conditions of Colombian university students aged 16 to 35

Assessment of Oral Hygiene in Patients Using Fixed and Removable Dentures Treated at the University Dental Clinic in Krakow

Apart from local lesions, the presence of dental plaque may also have an effect on health, especially in people with general diseases. The aim of this project was to assess the oral hygiene of patients prosthetically treated at the Dental Prosthetics Clinic of the University Dental Clinic in Krakow (Poland) using fixed and removable dentures and to determine the demographic relationships and data related to the education of the respondents. The research material consisted of 120 patients who used fixed (group I) and removable (group II) restorations. Basic dental examinations and oral hygiene examinations were carried out with the use of the API (Approximal Plaque Index) and PI (Plaque Index) plaque indices. This study presents the percentage of respondents in terms of sex, place of residence, and education. The mean PI (Plaque Index) values were 46.73% (Group I) and 50.05% (Group II). (p = 0.4839). The mean values of API (Approximal Plaque Index) amounted to 65.14% (Group I) and 68.94% (Group II) (p = 0.4695). Patients using dentures showed insufficient oral hygiene, and the hygiene status of patients did not depend on the type of dentures used. The group that is most often treated with prosthetics is women with secondary education. The most numerous group of patients at the Dental Prosthetics Clinic are people living in large cities which results from easier access to health care.

The Effect of Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Periodontal Status among Dental Students

OBJECTIVES

 The primary aim of the current study is to relate oral health knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene practice with the periodontal condition of both undergraduate and postgraduate dental students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 Data were collected through a combination of self-reported questionnaire and clinical examination. The estimated sample size was 246. Probing depths and clinical attachment loss were measured in interproximal sites, whereas the gingival index was calculated based on Ramfjord teeth. The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Periodontology classification was used for periodontal diagnosis. The subjects were divided into three groups. Group 1 was composed of undergraduate, preclinical dental students, group 2 consisted of undergraduate clinical-year dental students, whereas group 3 included postgraduate residents.

RESULTS

 A total of 296 dental students participated in this study. Significant differences were found among the groups in their oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. Gingival disease was detected among most of the participants (99.2-100%) with significant differences between different educational levels (group 1 = 1.13, group 2 = 1.16, group 3 = 0.96, p-value = 0.001). Sixty percent of dental students were diagnosed with periodontal disease regardless of its severity. A positive correlation was established between oral health knowledge and attitude and oral hygiene practice. In addition, gingival inflammation severity and the severity of periodontal disease showed a positive correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

 This study highlighted the need to improve the oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental students. Gingival and periodontal inflammation was highly prevalent among participants.

Oral health behaviour and social and health factors in university students from 26 low, middle and high income countries

Poor oral health is still a major burden for populations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was investigate oral health behaviour (tooth brushing and dental attendance) and associated factors in low, middle and high income countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 19,560 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.8, SD = 2.8) from 27 universities in 26 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that 67.2% of students reported to brush their teeth twice or more times a day, 28.8% about once a day and 4.0% never. Regarding dental check-up visit, 16.3% reported twice a year, 25.6% once a year, 33.9% rarely and 24.3% never. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, being a male, coming from a wealthy or quite well off family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, depression and PTSD symptoms, tobacco use and frequent gambling, low physical activity, and low daily meal and snacks frequency were associated with inadequate tooth brushing (<twice daily). Further, being a male, older age, coming from a not well off or poor family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, PTSD symptoms, illicit drug use, low physical activity, and low daily snacks frequency, skipping breakfast and inadequate fruit and vegetables consumption were associated with less than one annual dental care visit. Oral health behaviour among the students was found to be low. Various risk factors identified can be used to guide interventions to improve oral health behaviour among university students.