Relationship of skin complexion with gingival tissue color and hyperpigmentation. A multi-ethnic comparative study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The most frequently seen intra-oral soft tissue is the gingiva. Most often, it is seen as coral-pink tissue that surrounds the neck of the teeth. Gingiva that encircles the tooth necks and covers the alveolar processes of the jaws is an intra-oral tissue that exhibits biomimetic features. The wide range of colors of the gingiva depends on the configuration of gingival vascularity, the degree of epithelial cornification, level of melanogenesis, and the depth of epithelialization. However, the color of the gingiva varies depending on the degree of melanin pigmentation. The current study aimed to identify the different distribution patterns of gingival color and determine the correlation between skin color, gender, and geographical area of origin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 839 subjects were involved in the study where the gingival color and skin tone were measured using the Dummett-Gupta Oral pigmentation Index (DOPI) combined with VITA VMK MASTER and skin shade method developed by Revlon (USA) and L'Oreal (France) for makeup foundation shades. One investigator was calibrated for the examination of the colors after being tested for normal color vision and color aptitude using the line test.

RESULTS

A significant association was found between skin color and gingival pigmentation (χ2 value (6) = 114.48; P = 0.001). It was also found that females (67.1%) significantly had darker gingiva than males (58.3%). The study statistics display that location of the individual was also statistically associated with melanin pigmentation of the gingiva (χ2 value (57) = 559.33; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that gender, skin color, and individual location are significantly associated with gingival melanin pigmentation.

Assessment of knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccinations within the adult population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

The most cost-effective measure for preventing the infectious disease, influenza, is vaccination. The purpose of this research was to evaluate knowledge levels, familiarity, and attitude toward influenza and influenza vaccination of the Riyadh adult population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Riyadh and data was collected between December 2017 and March 2018. Five hundred participants were interviewed in person using a closed-ended questionnaire. Participants comprised the general population, students, and healthcare workers (HCWs), and were recruited from shopping malls, parks, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, and King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital. A pilot study was conducted among 15 participants from the general population, students, and HCWs who gave verbal consent. Participants were asked if they comprehended the questionnaire and whether they felt comfortable participating. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Statistical significance was determined using t-test for quantitative variables and Chi-square test for qualitative variables.

RESULTS

Most participants in all groups had poor knowledge. The least informed was the general population (8.8%), followed by the students (11.8%), and the most aware were the HCWs (18.5%). The social media (35%) was the main source of participants' knowledge, followed by doctors and health educators in hospitals (33%). Only 15.6% of participants had been vaccinated this year. Even fewer (8.8%) stated that they took the vaccination every year. The most important reasons for getting vaccinated were the recommendations by the Ministry of Health or by their doctors (77.8% for each). The key barrier to vaccination was a lack of perceived benefit (the participants did not usually get influenza so they felt vaccination was unnecessary [66.2%]). About 34% of participants reported that they had the children in their families vaccinated. The main reason given was to protect their children from influenza complications (80.6%).

CONCLUSION

Within the Riyadh adult population, there was both low compliance to take the influenza vaccinations owing to a lack of perceived benefit and insufficient knowledge of the risks of influenza.