Oral health in individuals with bleeding disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Individuals with bleeding disorders have been reported to have a number of oral health issues due to varying conditions. A comprehensive evaluation of the different oral health conditions has not been carried out in the past. This systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to collate and critically analyse existing research, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on oral health.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Embase, in October 2023. No restriction on time frame or language was applied. The risk of bias for cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) tool, and case control studies were assessed using the New Castle Ottawa Scale (NOS).

RESULTS

Twenty-two articles were included in the final analysis with a total sample size of 2422 subjects. Of the 22 articles assessed, nine quantitative assessments were included in the Meta analysis. Pooled data analysis was carried out. A total of 13 studies reported medium risk whereas the remaining nine studies showed low risk of bias. The weighted mean DMFT scores in individuals with bleeding disorders were found to be 2.43 [0.62. 4.24], mean dmft was 2.79 [1.05, 4.53] and mean OHI-S was reported to be 1.79 [1.00, 2.57], respectively.

CONCLUSION

The findings emphasize that these individuals have fair oral hygiene and lower dmft/DMFT scores. Oral bleeding emerged as an important oral health component to be cautiously dealt with particularly during the stages of exfoliation/shedding.

Impact of war on oral health: a systematic review

AIM

To systematically review the evidence from published literature about the impact of war on oral health among children and adults.

METHODOLOGY

The electronic search was carried out in the following databases Pubmed, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar. In vitro studies, cross-sectional, case control studies, and randomized controlled trials conducted during the war time were included. Cross-sectional and case control studies were assessed based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, whereas randomized controlled trials were assessed based on the ROBINS-I tool. In-vitro studies included in this review were assessed using the United States national toxicology program tool.

RESULTS

The search strategy yielded a total of 5126 articles and finally 21 articles were included in the review. The influence of war on oral health was categorized among both the children and adult population. A total of 14 studies were carried out in children whereas the remaining seven studies were carried out in adults. A decrease in dental caries was observed in more war-prone areas due to the limited availability of carbohydrates and sugar. Severe periodontal disease in the adult population, mainly due to less availability of food and diminished oral hygiene habits, was also reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This review underscores the multifaceted impact of war on oral health, revealing a notable prevalence of periodontal problems, craniofacial injuries and varying rates of dental caries across affected populations.

Effect of family cohesion on oral health predictors in children and adolescents: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The family environment influences oral health conditions and the utilization of dental services. The emotional link between the family members and the degree to which they are resilient and close to each other is represented as family cohesion and adaptability. This systematic review critically appraises and synthesizes existing evidence on the effect of family cohesion on oral health predictors in children and adolescents.

METHODS

The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023453608). Databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were electronically searched in September 2023. No restriction of time frame was allowed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality tool.

RESULTS

Initially, 272 records were identified from PubMed (133), Embase (122) and Scopus (10) databases and other sources, finally leading to 12 cross-sectional studies to be included. Eleven studies were carried out in Brazil and one in USA. Only one study reported moderate risk, whereas the others all reported low risk of bias. The studies were carried out from 2013-2023. The frequency of dental visits, oral health literacy, and self-perceived need for dental treatment were reported to be higher in families with the better cohesive ties. An inconsistent direct association was reported between dental caries and family cohesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Family dynamics are important in shaping oral health behaviors and outcomes during a pivotal phase of development. Further exploration through longitudinal studies in this field can elucidate causal pathways and potential moderators.

Sign language based educational interventions vs. other educational interventions to improve the oral health of hearing-impaired individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with special needs requiring special care are more vulnerable to oral health problems. Sign language is a communication medium and language of instruction for individuals with hearing impairments. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of sign language-based educational interventions compared to other educational interventions in improving the oral health of hearing-impaired individuals.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched without any restriction on the publication date. Analytical and experimental studies that evaluated and compared the effectiveness of sign language with other educational intervention groups such as videos, posters etc were included.

RESULTS

Initially, 5568 records were identified. Three relevant publications from India were eligible and included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Differences were reported in favour of sign language over other interventions concerning plaque status, gingival health, and oral hygiene status.

CONCLUSION

Sign language-based interventions were found to be effective. However, further studies in different locations and populations are required to support their effectiveness.

Psychometric Properties of the Oral Health Values Scale and Cultural Adaptation in the Indian Population

AIM

The Oral Health Values Scale is a multidimensional instrument that identifies and measures a person's values related to oral health. This scale has been validated in American respondents. This study aims to evaluate the adaptability and validity of the Oral Health Values Scale in the Hindi language (H-OHVS).

METHODOLOGY

A total of 240 adults participated in the study that was carried out from July to November 2022. An offline one-to-one survey was carried out to collect data by an investigator blinded to the study protocol. The translation and testing of the OHVS were carried out based on the cross-cultural adaptation guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Evidence-Based Medicine Committee. The content validity was assessed by an expert panel. Construct validity was analyzed through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), utilizing principal component analysis with varimax rotation. The internal consistency of the Hindi version of OHVS was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha.

RESULTS

 The results showed that H-OHVS had an Item-level Construct Validity Index (I-CVI) ranging from 0.82 to 1.00. Two components, compliance and hesitance, were formed on H-OHVS accounting for 63.91% of the cumulative variance. The resulting model fit indices on confirmatory factor analysis presented an adequate fit to the data. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient for H-OHVS (α = 0.868) presents excellent internal consistency.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings provide a certain degree of evidence in favor of this scale and establish the Oral Health Values Scale (OHVS) as a psychometrically sound measure.

Access to dental care in individuals with disability: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review was conducted to explore the factors influencing access to oral health services and to identify and examine the strategies to improve the access.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases were searched. Studies except editorials reported in English regardless of the study design were included. Risk of Bias assessment was carried out using Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Newcastle Ottawa Scale and The Joanna Briggs Institute tool for cross-sectional, case-control and cohort and qualitative studies, respectively.

RESULTS

In total, 11,372 records were initially identified, eventually leading to 12 relevant publications to be included in the review. Individuals valued oral health but found it difficult to access oral health services. Dental care was mainly accessed during emergencies and participants felt apprehensive in visiting dentists. Caregiver's and dentist's perspective was also reported.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for provision of education, training and increasing awareness on dental hygiene and annual dental checkups to improve access.

Oral hygiene status in individuals with hearing difficulties: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Most studies focusing on oral hygiene status in hearing impaired individuals are cross-sectional and focus on specific populations. A comprehensive literature search and evidence-based analysis was carried out to assess the oral hygiene status in this special group of population.

METHODS

Searches were conducted in four databases with no restriction on publication date. Cross-sectional and comparative cross-sectional studies assessing the oral hygiene status and periodontal status of hearing impaired individuals using standardized evaluation criteria were included. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of bias were carried out by four reviewers and oral hygiene, plaque, and gingival status were assessed. The risk of bias assessment was carried out by New Castle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. 29 relevant publications that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the systematic review whereas six studies each assessing oral hygiene and plaque status and five studies evaluating the gingival status were included in the Meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Eight thousand eight hundred and ninety (8890) potentially relevant references were identified in the systematic literature search. The overall analysis of the included studies revealed a mean oral hygiene index score of 1.60 (95% CI 0.91-2.30), Gingival Index scores 1.27 (95% CI 1.02-1.51), and Plaque Index score 0.99 (95% CI 0.75-2.30) among the hearing impaired individuals.

CONCLUSION

The present study reported fair oral hygiene, fair plaque status, and moderate gingivitis among the hearing impaired individuals.

Effectiveness of Smartphone App on Oral Health Knowledge, Behavior, and Practice in Child-Parent Dyads: A Pilot Study

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an oral health mobile application on the oral health knowledge, behavior, and practices (KBP) of child-parent dyads. Methods: This was a pre-post, single-arm, hospital-based pilot study. Fifty-two dyads were assessed for KBP using a self-structured questionnaire. The oral hygiene of children was evaluated using the plaque index (PI). The Healthy-Smile Swasth-Muskaan mobile application was installed on the phones of participants, and they were encouraged to use the application regularly. After one month of the app instalation, post-KBP and PI were assessed. Results: A significant improvement was seen in the parents' total knowledge, behavior, and oral hygiene practices of the children (P<0.001). A significant reduction was observed in the mean plaque scores of the children (P<0.001). Conclusions: The Healthy-Smile Swasth-Muskaan mobile app is associated with improved oral health knowledge and behavior of the child-parent dyads and im- proved oral hygiene of children. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the impact of mobile apps on the oral health knowledge, behavior, and practices of parents and children.

Dental caries status in individuals with hearing difficulties: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

The purpose of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the dental caries status in individuals with hearing difficulties.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Searches were conducted in six databases with no restriction on publication date. The cross-sectional and comparative cross sectional studies assessing the dental caries status of hearing impaired individuals using standardized evaluation criteria were included. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Wiley Online, Lilacs, and Scopus databases were searched to identify the relevant papers published before August 1, 2021. The risk of bias assessment was carried out by New Castle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Three thousand three hundred thirty five potentially relevant references were identified in the systematic literature search. Thirteen relevant publications that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the systematic review and the meta analysis. The overall analysis of the included studies revealed pooled dental caries prevalence of 58.0% (95% CI 0.41-0.74) among the hearing impaired individuals. The overall dental caries experience of the included studies showed a mean pooled DMFT of 2.68 (95% CI 1.24-4.12).

CONCLUSION

The present systematic review and meta-analysis reported high dental caries prevalence in hearing impaired individuals.

Effectiveness of topical fluorides in prevention of radiation caries in adults: A systematic review and meta- analysis

BACKGROUND

Topical fluoride is used for prevention of dental caries. However, its effectiveness and more specifically its formulation and frequency of application in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy are still debatable. The aim of this systematic review was to pool the evidence of effectiveness of various topical fluorides in preventing radiation caries or change in bacterial growth in adult patients of head and neck cancer.

METHODS

Three databases (PubMed and Google Scholar and Cochrane) were searched for randomized controlled or uncontrolled trials or quasi randomised trials published till February 2021. Two independent reviewers screened 346 abstracts finally 14 articles were included in the current systematic review. Primary outcome evaluated was the prevention of radiation caries or change in bacterial growth in saliva. Meta-analysis was performed for the sub groups formed on the basis of fluoride formulations and adjuncts used with it.

RESULTS

Studies included were highly heterogeneous. Majority of studies found different fluoride formulations to be effective in controlling radiation caries to a variable extent up to 70% depending upon the intervention, patient compliance, rate of attrition and follow up period. Sodium fluoride was the most commonly used caries preventive agent. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference between sodium fluoride formulations and other fluoride agents. Fluoride treatment when incorporated with re-mineralising agent had no significant effect on caries prevention CONCLUSION: Fluoride prevents radiation caries. However, to delineate its exact formulation, dosage or frequency, there is need for more well conducted randomised controlled trials.

Is Malocclusion Associated with Dental Caries among Children and Adolescents in the Permanent dentition? A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between malocclusion and the severity of dental caries among children and adolescents in the permanent dentition.

METHOD

A search was conducted in Medline, Cochrane databases, Google scholar, Scopus and Web of Science through October 2020 for studies of malocclusion and dental caries among children and adolescents using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool for cross-sectional studies. Data were extracted using the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. Meta-analysis used the Cochrane Program Review Manager Version 5. A random effects model was used to assess the association among different categories of malocclusion with dental caries. GRADE analysis assessed the certainty of evidence.

RESULTS

Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Handicapping malocclusion was significantly associated with higher mean DMFT scores (Mean difference: 1.03, 95% CI, 0.61, 1.44). Participants with severe malocclusion had higher mean DMFT when compared to subjects with normal occlusion (0.32, 95% CI, 0.13, 0.51). Definite malocclusion was also associated with higher mean DMFT scores (Mean difference: 0.19, 95% CI, 0.03, -0.35).

CONCLUSION

Malocclusion is associated with dental caries in the permanent dentition. DMFT scores and the strength of the association increased with severity of malocclusion. Low to moderate certainty of evidence was observed for association between handicapping, severe, and definite malocclusion with dental caries.

Effectiveness of an oral health training program for nursing professionals in India: An interventional study

OBJECTIVES

Nursing professionals form the first line of contact and are in a unique place to provide appropriate oral advice to patients. The study assessed the effectiveness of oral health training program for nurses.

DESIGN

The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by a pre and post questionnaire assessment on 50 nurses.

RESULTS

Nursing professionals had a significant increase (p < .003) in post-training knowledge scores compared to pre-training scores.

CONCLUSION

Improvement in oral health knowledge of nursing professionals has the potential for translation into practice for oral health promotion of patients and the general population.

The effect of energy and fat content labeling on food consumption pattern: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Consumption of high-energy food has increased globally, thereby leading to an increase in many diseases. One strategy for addressing this is to make people aware of their energy intake through energy and fat labels. However, the effectiveness of this remains debatable.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to pool the mixed outcomes of recent studies assessing the effect of energy and fat content labeling on food consumption pattern.

DATA SOURCES

Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Randomized controlled and quasi-experimental controlled trials published from 2014 to 2019 were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers screened 413 abstracts independently. Qualitative and quantitative data was extracted from 10 articles; meta-analysis was carried out on 6 of those studies.

RESULTS

The majority of the included papers were conducted in the regions of America, the Western Pacific, and Europe. Overall, the 6 studies claimed that labeling did not reduce the consumption of energy or fat. However, meta-analysis showed that fat and energy content labeling of food had a statistically significant effect on consumption. Subgroup analysis showed no difference with respect to types of labels, ie, context labeling vs traffic-light labeling, but energy content labels seemed to be more effective than fat content labels in influencing healthy food choices.

CONCLUSION

Energy and fat content labeling were shown to reduce the consumption of each significantly. However, the outcome was influenced by the study setting and the population concerned. There is a need for research in other regions in order to assess the global effectiveness of nutrition labels on food consumption.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020172675.

Is aromatherapy associated with patient's dental anxiety levels? A systematic review and meta-analysis

The use of aromatherapy for the reduction of anxiety levels during dental treatment procedures has been well established in the literature; however, there is limited evidence regarding its efficacy. The present meta-analysis is an attempt to assess the association between the use of aromatherapy and anxiety levels among dental patients. A comprehensive search was conducted across Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO host, Cochrane databases, and Google Scholar for studies evaluating aromatherapy and anxiety level among dental patients. PRISMA guidelines were followed for the meta-analysis. Randomized and cluster-randomized trials comparing aromatherapy with controls were included. The random-effects model was used to assess the mean differences in anxiety levels of patients visiting dental OPD. The significance value was set at P < 0.05. Six studies were identified that met the requirements for inclusion. Aromatherapy was significantly associated with reduction in patient anxiety levels during dental treatment (pooled mean difference: −3.36 [95% CI, −3.77 – −2.95, P = 0.00001). Low heterogeneity was noted between studies (I² = 1%, P = 0.41) analyzed in the meta-analysis. High certainty of the evidence was obtained from the association between the use of aromatherapy and dental anxiety. This meta-analysis suggests that aromatherapy is effective in reducing dental anxiety. When used judiciously, the results of this work should encourage the use of aromatherapy to reduce patient anxiety levels during dental procedures

Awareness, perceptions and dental services utilization by patients a tertiary care centre during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

COVID -19 pandemic has imposed multiple questions and consideration in the minds of the patients and dental professionals. The understanding of patient's perceptions and dental services utilization can aid in modifying the pre-existing dental practices. The aim of the present study was to assess the awareness, perceptions and dental services utilization by patients visiting a tertiary care centre during COVID-19.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study on 437 patients was carried using a validated questionnaire consisting of 22 questions on three domains. Strict sterilization protocol and infection control measures were practiced to avoid any contact between the investigator and the patient.

RESULTS

Patients were aware of COVID -19 pandemic and were willing (76.7%) to inculcate preventive practices even post-pandemic. Concerns regarding the spread of infection (37.3%) and hygiene/cleanliness (28.6%) were most commonly reported. Patients visited the dental centre primarily for emergency management and preferred their queries being solved on the phone.

CONCLUSION

Patients had a positive outlook towards visiting the dental centre for treatment in the near future and did not report any anxiety before visiting a dental centre.

Global oral health course: Perception among dental students in central India

A questionnaire study was conducted among dental students in Central India. The study population included 264 dental students, who voluntarily completed a questionnaire, comprising of 16 close ended questions. There were 9 questions to judge knowledge and 5 questions for attitude assessment towards global oral health course. Two additional questions were included to assess the willingness to volunteer in international setting; and also, to assess dental student’s perspection on global oral health course. Chi Square test was used to compare between categorical variables. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare mean of knowledge and attitude scores. P value of ≤.05 was considered significant for all statistical analysis. Eighty seven percent of the surveyed students (222) stated that they would consider volunteering their dental skills as a future dentist in international setting. Majority of the students in the present study were not aware about the global oral health status (99.2%) and theoral health care systems of industrialized and emerging economies (99.2%), had not been trained to serve underserved population (68%), had not been trained in global health ethics (70.1%) and none of the students had been trained for cultural competence in addressing international oral health issues (100%). Most of the dental students were not aware, that, WHO created basic package of oral care (63%) about the primary health care strategy (59.5%) and about the role and functions of FDI (66.7%). The majority of students expressed a desire to volunteer their professional services in international settings. However few students knew about WHO’s BPOC or FDI’S role in global oral health. The findings indicate a need for global oral health course among dental students in Central India. (Eur J Dent 2012;6:295-301)

Global oral health course: Perception among dental students in central India

A questionnaire study was conducted among dental students in Central India. The study population included 264 dental students, who voluntarily completed a questionnaire, comprising of 16 close ended questions. There were 9 questions to judge knowledge and 5 questions for attitude assessment towards global oral health course. Two additional questions were included to assess the willingness to volunteer in international setting; and also, to assess dental student's perspection on global oral health course. Chi Square test was used to compare between categorical variables. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare mean of knowledge and attitude scores. P value of ⩽.05 was considered significant for all statistical analysis. Eighty seven percent of the surveyed students (222) stated that they would consider volunteering their dental skills as a future dentist in international setting. Majority of the students in the present study were not aware about the global oral health status (99.2%) and theoral health care systems of industrialized and emerging economies (99.2%), had not been trained to serve underserved population (68%), had not been trained in global health ethics (70.1%) and none of the students had been trained for cultural competence in addressing international oral health issues (100%). Most of the dental students were not aware, that, WHO created basic package of oral care (63%) about the primary health care strategy (59.5%) and about the role and functions of FDI (66.7%). The majority of students expressed a desire to volunteer their professional services in international settings. However few students knew about WHO's BPOC or FDI'S role in global oral health. The findings indicate a need for global oral health course among dental students in Central India.

Oral health status and treatment need among preschool children attending Anganwadi centres - a comparative study

PURPOSE

To assess and compare the oral health status and treatment need among the preschool children attending Anganwadi Centres associated with a special learning programme (SLP) and the control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was designed to include 3- to 5-year-old preschool children attending Anganwadis. An Anganwadi (meaning courtyard) Centre is the focal point for the delivery of services to children and mothers. The Anganwadis associated with the special learning programme and the control group Anganwadis consisted of 255 and 275 children, respectively. The special learning programme comprised general health education and growth monitoring services that were continuously reinforced to expectant and nursing mothers of children below 6 years of age by a team of members of a nearby medical college. Information on demographic and socioeconomic parameters (maternal literacy and occupation, paternal literacy and occupation, family income), oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and dental visits was obtained, and oral examination was done in the two groups.

RESULTS

The mean plaque index and mean gingival index score among the SLP Anganwadi group were 0.18 ± 0.22 and 0.15 ± 0.28, respectively, and among the control group these indices were 1.06 ± 0.50 and 0.50 ± 0.00, respectively. The mean dmft score among the SLP group was 3.40 ± 4.84 vs 4.32 ± 4.69 in the control group (p < 0.05). The distribution of children without any treatment need was 50.2% in the SLP group and 33.5% in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The SLP Anganwadi group had a better oral health status and less treatment need than the control Anganwadi group. This demonstrates that there is a beneficial effect of general health education on oral health.

Malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need measured by the dental aesthetic index and its association with dental caries in Indian schoolchildren

OBJECTIVE

To assess prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment needs among 12 year old Indians using the Dental Aesthetic Index, and to find its association with dental caries.

METHOD

927 schoolchildren were randomly selected and their DAI and dentition status scores were recorded as per 1997 World Health Organization criteria. Clinical exams were carried out by one trained and calibrated examiner. The Chi-square test, Z-test and Spearman's correlation test were carried out.

RESULTS

Mean DAI score was 19.2 (sd 6.8). Differences were found between male and female DAI scores (Z < or = 0.05). 82% of children had DAI scores < 26 with no or minor malocclusion requiring no or little treatment, 3.2% had DAI scores 31-35 with severe malocclusion requiring highly desirable treatment and 1.8% DAI scores > 35 with handicapping malocclusion requiring mandatory treatment. A mean DMFT of 1.15 (sd 1.62) was recorded. Severe and handicapping malocclusions were associated with dental caries.

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution of DAI scores among Indian schoolchildren differs from that reported in other populations. Positive correlation was found between severe and handicapping malocclusion with dental caries.

Tooth brushing, oil pulling and tissue regeneration: A review of holistic approaches to oral health

Even though dentistry was not a specialized branch of Ayurveda, it is included in its Shalakya Tantra (system of surgery). Problems such as deformities of the oral cavity, plaques and infections were managed in ancient India. Traditional medicine can treat various infectious and chronic conditions. Research has shown that all kinds of chewing sticks described in ancient Ayurveda texts have medicinal and anti-cariogenic properties. Its oil pulling (Kaval, Gandush) practice is claimed to cure about 30 systemic diseases. Amla (Emblic myrobalan), is a general rebuilder of oral health. Bilberry fruit (Vaccinium myrtillus) and hawthorn berry (Crateagus oxycanthus) stabilize collagen, strengthening the gum tissue. Liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabral) promotes anti-cavity action, reduces plaque, and has an antibacterial effect. Use of safe, quality products and practices should be ensured based on available evidence if traditional medicine is to be acknowledged as part of primary health care. Scientific validations of the Ayurveda dental health practices could justify their incorporation into modern dental care. Publicity of these techniques using appropriate media would benefit the general population by giving more confidence in the ancient practices, thus preventing tooth decay and loss.

Efficacy of pre-procedural rinsing in reducing aerosol contamination during dental procedures

Our objective was to determine the efficacy of pre-procedural rinsing with chlorhexidine in reducing bacterial aerosol contamination during use of ultrasonic scaler and high speed air turbine handpiece. Twenty patients, ten each for the two groups who were found to satisfy the inclusion criteria were selected for the study. Four predesignated locations of the dental clinic were chosen to be evaluated for each patient using blood agar plates. Aerosols were collected during treatment procedures for control and experimental quadrants. Results showed that a regimen of 30-seconds pre-procedural rinsing with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate before dental procedures consistently reduced colony-forming units than without rinsing due to the ability of antiseptic mouthwash to inhibit microbial growth. There was more aerosol contamination during scaling procedures than during the use of a high speed air turbine handpiece. The conclusion is that chlorhexidine is an effective primary measure in reducing aerosol cross-contamination when using dental devices in a dental set up.