Gender differences among professionals dedicated to Oral Implantology in Spain: An observational study

Background

Despite the development of society and the educational progress achieved at the university education level, women continue to face obstacles that hinder their professional development. This study aims to determine whether there are gender differences in a representative sample of professionals dedicated to Oral Implantology in Spain.

Material and Methods

This is a cross-sectional observational study based on the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. An electronic survey consisting of two blocks of questions was sent to members of the Spanish Society of Implants. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis.

Results

A total of 303 participants (20.8%) responded to the questionnaire, of which 219 were men (72.3%) and 84 women (27.7%). Up to the age of 40 years, women predominate, whereas men predominate from the age of 51 years onwards, which is influenced by a greater number of years of experience in implant placement and a higher number of implants placed per year. Despite this, women have a higher level of training in Oral Implantology, as a greater proportion are trained through master’s degrees.

Conclusions

The greater representation of men in the study is associated with the ageing of the sample. The results obtained from the present study anticipate the trend of a greater presence of the female gender in Oral Implantology in Spain in the coming years.

Key words:Sex differences, dentistry, oral implantology, feminism, gender.

Survival rates and bone loss after immediate loading of implants in fresh extraction sockets (single gaps). A clinical prospective study with 4 year follow-up

Background

The aim of this prospective study was to report the outcome of treatment with implants inserted after tooth extraction and immediately loaded.

Material and Methods

Fifty-six patients with single tooth loss were treated with 116 IPX Galimplant® implants with internal connections and a sandblasted, acid-etched surface. All implants were placed after tooth extraction using a flapless approach without bone regeneration, and they were then immediately loaded with cemented acrylic prostheses. After a period of three months, definitive cemented ceramic prostheses were placed. Patients were examined throughout a total of 4 years of follow-up. Marginal bone loss and survival rates were evaluated using digital periapical radiographs, taking into account clinical variables such as age, gender, smoking, history of periodontitis, etiology of extraction, placement site, diameter, and implant length. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests were used to compare differences between subgroups created based on the different clinical variables identified.

Results

Clinical results indicate an implant survival and success rate of 97.4%. Three implants were lost. Of the 116 immediate acrylic single crowns initially placed, 113 were replaced with definitive ceramic crowns after 3 months. A total of 77.8% of implants were inserted in the maxilla, while 22.2% were inserted in the mandible. No further complications were reported after the follow-up period (4 years). The mean marginal bone loss was 0.67 mm ± 0.40 mm. No differences were found among the subgroups of study patients.

Conclusions

This study indicates that dental implants that are inserted after tooth extraction and immediately loaded may constitute a successful and predictable alternative implant treatment.

Key words:Dental implants, post-extraction implants, fresh sockets, immediate loading, immediate prostheses, implant dentistry.

Dental caries status of patients with schizophrenia in Seville, Spain: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the dental status (DMFT) in patients with schizophrenia compared with a control group.

MATERIAL

In this case-control study, 50 patients with schizophrenia attended in the Psychiatric Unit at the Virgen Macarena University Hospital of Seville were compared with 50 people (without systemic diseases and not taking psychotropic drugs) in a control group attended in the School of Dentistry of Seville. Decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) were assessed according to the World Health Organization WHO criteria.

RESULTS

Patients with schizophrenia showed a decayed teeth (DT) score of 7.26 ± 5.69 compared with 6.50 ± 4.37 for patients the control group. These differences were significant and suggest that dental caries are most prevalent in patients with schizophrenia. People who smoked showed significantly higher DT scores in both groups. Among patients with schizophrenia, smokers scored 9.34 ± 5.42 compared with 4.38 ± 4.82 for non-smokers. Among the healthy controls, smokers scored 6.88 ± 4.85 compared with 6.12 ± 3.85 for non-smokers (p < 0.05). Patients with schizophrenia showed a missing teeth (MT) score of 9.10 ± 8.56 compared with 5.38 ± 5.14 in control patients. MT scores increased significantly with age and with smoking in both groups of patients (p < 0.05). Patients with schizophrenia showed a filled teeth (FT) score of 1.38 ± 2.70 compared with 2.34 ± 3.48 in control patients. FT differences in gender and smoking habits between patients with schizophrenia and healthy control subjects were statistically significant (p < 0.05). This data, along with the DT scores, suggests that patients with schizophrenia have extensive untreated dental disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with schizophrenia constitute a high risk population for dental health. This group showed a greater prevalence of decayed and missing teeth and more extensive treatment needs.