METHODS: A multi-staged cluster sampling method was employed. A total of 598 16-year-old adolescents participated in this study. Participants' demographic profile was assessed through a self-administered questionnaire. Clinical examinations were carried out under standardized conditions by a single examiner. The level of GTW was recorded using the modified Smith and Knight's Tooth Wear Index (TWI) whilst ETW were recorded using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index. This index was developed to record clinical findings and assist in the decision-making process for the management of erosive tooth wear. Dental caries was recorded using the D3MFT index whereby D3 denotes obvious dental decay into dentine detected visually.
RESULTS: The prevalence of GTW, ETW and dental caries, i.e. percentage of individuals found to have at least one lesion, was 99.8%, 45.0% and 27.8% respectively. Two thirds of affected teeth with GTW were observed to have a TWI score of 1 whereas almost all of the affected teeth with ETW had a BEWE score of 2. The mean D3MFT was 0.62 (95% CI 0.50, 0.73) with Decayed (D) teeth being the largest component, mean D3T was 0.36 (95% CI 0.30, 0.43). There was no significant association between socio-demographic factors and prevalence of ETW. Logistic regression analysis also showed no significant relationship between the prevalence of ETW and D3MFT (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Almost all adolescents examined had GTW but they were mainly early lesions. However, nearly half were found to have ETW of moderate severity (BEWE score 2). No significant relationship between the occurrence of erosive tooth wear and caries was observed in this population.
METHODS: L-arginine (2 % w/v.) was added to five commercial fancy waters: Oasis-Lemon, Oasis-Lemon Mint, Perrier-Lemon, Perrier-Grapefruit, Pellegrino-Lemon; and deionized water served as a negative control. The pH, buffer capacity of added Arg, and F- concentrations were measured. Tooth specimens were prepared and baseline volumetric assessment (T0) was conducted using micro-CT. Subsequently, the specimens were immersed in fancy waters for 72 h, kept in an incubator (37 ℃) and solutions were changed every 24 h. After the experimental cycle (T1), 3D volumetric analysis was performed, and 3D structural images were reconstructed for qualitative assessment.
RESULTS: The pH and F- concentrations of fancy waters with Arg were significantly higher than the control (p < 0.001). The buffer capacity of added Arg with Perrier-Grapefruit was significantly higher than Oasis-Lemon, Oasis-Lemon Mint & Pellegrino-Lemon (p < 0.05), except for Perrier-Lemon (p > 0.05). At T1, the specimen volume in Oasis-Lemon Mint (+/- Arg) and Pellegrino-Lemon (control) was significantly lower than T0 (p < 0.05). At T1, the specimen volume of Oasis-Lemon Mint and Pellegrino-Lemon (control) was significantly lower than Arg-containing fancy waters (p < 0.05). Surface contrast indicating wear was evident from T0 to T1 in specimens from the Oasis-Lemon Mint (+/- Arg) and Pellegrino-Lemon (- Arg).
CONCLUSION: Incorporating Arg in fancy waters reduces the potential of erosive tooth wear associated with these beverages.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Consuming fancy water beverages (flavoured sparkling/carbonated) can lead to erosive tooth wear in young people. Incorporating Arg in fancy water beverages can prevent the erosive wear potential of these beverages while alleviating the burden of oral care on individuals at risk to erosive wear.
METHODS: A subset of elderly (≥65year) participants from the UK Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 data was used. OHRQoL was assessed by means of the OHIP-14 additive score. The number of missing teeth; presence of active caries, dental pain, root caries, tooth wear, periodontal pockets>4mm, loss of attachment>9mm; having PUFA>0 (presence of severely decayed teeth with visible pulpal involvement, ulceration caused by dislocated tooth fragments, fistula and abscess); and wearing a denture were used as predictor variables. Age, gender, marital status, education level, occupation and presence of any long standing illness were used as control variables. Multivariate zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis was performed using R-project statistical software.
RESULTS: A total of 1277 elderly participants were included. The weighted mean(SE) OHIP-14 score of these participants was 2.95 (0.17). Having active caries (IRR=1.37, CI=1.25;1.50), PUFA>0 (IRR=1.17, CI=1.05;1.31), dental pain (IRR=1.34, CI=1.20;1.50), and wearing dentures (IRR=1.30, CI=1.17;1.44), were significantly positively associated with OHIP-14 score. Having periodontal pockets>4mm, at least one bleeding site, and anterior tooth wear were not significantly associated with the OHIP-14 score.
CONCLUSION: Whereas previous research has suggested a moderate relationship between oral disease and quality of life in this large scale survey of older adults, the presence of active caries and the presence of one or more of the PUFA indicators are associated with impaired oral health related quality of life in older adults, but not indicators of periodontal status. The implication of this is that whilst focussing on prevention of disease, there is an ongoing need for oral health screening and treatment in this group.