Purpose: The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitam in D [25(OH)D] levels and dental caries in children remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between current serum 25(OH)D levels and dental caries experience in children. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included children aged 3 to 15 years without systemic disease who presented to the Department of Pediatrics, Ordu University Training and Research Hospital, Ordu, Turkey, between November and December 2023. Serum 25(OH)D levels obtained from routine blood tests and intraoral examinations performed on the same day were evaluated retrospectively. Dental caries experience was assessed using dmft and DMFT indices according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and caries experience. Results: A total of 326 children were included (172 girls, 52.8%; 154 boys, 47.2%). The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 50.08 +/- 16.68 nmol/l, and the mean combined caries index (decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth [dmft] and decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth [DMFT]) was 3.66 +/- 3.44. No statistically significant relationship was observed between serum 25(OH)D levels and caries experience (P> 0.05). Girls had statistically significantly lower serum 25(OH)D levels than boys (46.03 +/- 15.21 nmol/l vs. 54.63 +/- 17.10 nmol/l, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this cross-sectional study, no statistically significantly relationship was found between current serum 25(OH)D levels and dental caries experience in children. Further longitudinal studies with comprehensive assessment of potential confounding factors are needed to better clarify this relationship.
PURPOSE:Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disorder that presents with various orofacial manifestations, which may influence oral health status and complicate dental management. This review sought to identify the oral and periodontal signs linked to systemic sclerosis, examine the specific oral health challenges faced by individuals with this condition, and outline their potential oral healthcare requirements. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A review of the available literature was undertaken to evaluate the reported oral and periodontal manifestations associated with systemic sclerosis and to assess their clinical implications. RESULTS:Orofacial manifestations of systemic sclerosis include skin fibrosis, reduced mouth opening, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing, as well as a potential increased risk of tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. These oral and periodontal characteristics, along with their associated complications, improve the understanding and anticipation of oral healthcare requirements for affected patients. CONCLUSION:Recognition of the oral and periodontal features of systemic sclerosis emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among dental professionals to enhance treatment planning and improve the quality of dental care delivered to this patient population.
PURPOSE:Dental anxiety is a multidimensional factor that influences treatment compliance and periodontal outcomes. This investigation evaluated how gender, educational level, and their combined interaction relate to dental anxiety in a sample of patients receiving initial non-surgical periodontal therapy (Phase I), minimizing potential confounding effects from procedural differences. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional study included 200 volunteers (100 females, 100 males) who received Phase I periodontal therapy. The required sample size was estimated using G*Power analysis to achieve a statistical power of 95%. Dental anxiety was assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Age homogeneity between genders was confirmed using the independent samples t-test. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, the Games-Howell post-hoc test, and simple effects analysis. Effect sizes were determined via partial eta squared (partial η²). RESULTS:No statistically significant difference in mean age was found between genders (p = 0.890). Two-way ANOVA revealed no statistically significant main effect for gender (p = 0.683) or educational level (p = 0.315). However, a statistically significant interaction effect with a large effect size was observed between gender and educational level (F(3,192) = 13.237; p 0.001; partial η2= 0.171). Simple effects analysis demonstrated that anxiety levels statistically significantly decreased as educational level increased in females (partial η² = 0.197), whereas in males, anxiety levels paradoxically increased with higher education (partial η² = 0.175). CONCLUSION:The impact of education on dental anxiety is not uniform but is statistically significantly modulated by gender. These findings emphasize the necessity of moving beyond standardized communication toward a customized, gender- and education-tailored chairside approach to optimize compliance during non-surgical periodontal therapy.
PURPOSE:The objective was to determine whether toothpastes marketed across the Dominican Republic provide fluoride levels that consistently meet internationally recommended benchmarks for caries prevention. METHODS AND MATERIALS:A total of 22 toothpaste products representing 11 brands were sampled from four of the country's most populated provinces. Six tubes per toothpaste were analysed using standardised fluoride measurement protocols. Total soluble fluoride (TSF) concentrations were evaluated against two internationally recognised benchmarks: ≥ 90% of labelled content and the 1000 ppm threshold for effective caries prevention. The proportion of toothpastes meeting these benchmarks was calculated, and Welch's ANOVAs assessed regional variability in TSF. RESULTS:Results showed that while 68.2% of toothpastes met both fluoride benchmarks, 31.8% failed to do so by containing insufficient TSF relative to labelled content, falling below the 1000-ppm threshold, or both. Toothpastes with sodium monofluorophosphate (SMFP) exhibited the highest non-soluble fluoride levels, averaging up to 44.1%. Significant variability in TSF concentrations was observed across provinces, with Greater Santo Domingo consistently showing lower TSF levels than other regions. Locally manufactured toothpastes and products with incompatible abrasives demonstrated the greatest fluoride losses. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings provide market-wide surveillance evidence from a low- and middle-income country directly supporting WHO's Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023-2030). They highlight quality assurance gaps in fluoride toothpaste that undermine population-level caries prevention. These results underscore the global need for routine market monitoring, ISO-concordant standards, and fiscal policies to ensure effective, affordable fluoride toothpaste is reliably available worldwide.
