Oral health & preventive dentistry最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of Dental Anxiety, Demographic Characteristics, and Oral Health Profiles Among Non-Physician Healthcare Undergraduate Students.","authors":"Gülçin Bulut, Pınar Güvenç, Hülya Erten, Bilge Cansu Uzun","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2482","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2482","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To assess the relationship between dental anxiety and sociodemographic factors, oral health status, and oral health behaviors among non-physician healthcare (NPH) undergraduate students.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This study included students from the Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (PTR), the Faculty of Nursing, and the Vocational School of Healthcare (VSH). Dental anxiety levels were measured using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Spielberg's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The students completed a questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics, living, and oral hygiene habits. Oral health status was evaluated through clinical examination using the DMFT Index and the Oral Hygiene Index (OHI). Statistical analyses were performed using χ2, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests (p 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 844 students were included in the study. The average MDAS, STAI-1 and STAI-2 scores were 10.80±4.35, 41.04±6.42, and 47.06±6.75, respectively. Seven percent of the students experienced high anxiety. Females had higher MDAS and STAI-2 scores (p0.01; p0.01, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found in MDAS levels based on DMFT and OHI scores. Non-smokers have higher MDAS anxiety levels (p=0.002), however, lower STAI-1 scores (p.001). MDAS and STAI-1 scores regarding family income exhibited statistically significant differences (p0.005; p0.005, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between first- and final-year students regarding anxiety levels (p=0.324). Students who had regular dental visits had lower MDAS scores (p0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Female students and those from low-income families tend to have higher dental anxiety. Regular dental visits help reduce anxiety among NPH students. Smoking also contributes to dental anxiety.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"165-173"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12959093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147355793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Periodontitis Prevalence in a West African Sub-Population Using Two Definitions: A Cross-Sectional Study in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).","authors":"Abdoulaziz Diarra, Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwindé Ouédraogo, Estelle Flore Bandré, Olivier Huck, Estelle Noëla Hoho Youl, Kevimy Agossa","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2520","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2520","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study evaluated prevalence, severity and risk indicators of periodontitis among urban West African adults using CDC/AAP 2012 and EFP/AAP 2018 criteria.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study among adults attending four public dental centers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso was conducted. Sociodemographic and risk factors were collected by interview, and full-mouth periodontal exams were performed at six sites per tooth. Both CDC/AAP 2012 and EFP/AAP 2018 definitions were applied. The performance of the EFP/AAP criteria was compared with CDC/AAP as the reference.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 749 participants (mean age: 34.32 ± 11.51 years; 52.34% female) were included. The prevalence of periodontitis was 71.83% using EFP/AAP criteria (stage I: 16.02%; stage II: 24.57%; stage III/IV: 31.25%) and 56.21% with CDC/AAP (mild: 6.28%; moderate: 38.45%; severe: 11.48%). Compared with CDC/AAP, EFP/AAP showed high sensitivity (99.29%) but low specificity (28.96%), with a positive predictive value of 64.21% and negative predictive value of 96.94%. Increasing age (CDC/AAP: OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, p = 0.001 | EFP/AAP: OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.07, p = 0.040) and smoking (CDC/AAP: OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.12-6.89, p = 0.028 | EFP/AAP: OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.03-4.86, p = 0.040) were consistently associated with higher odds of periodontitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Periodontitis was highly prevalent in this urban West African population, with advanced disease affecting up to one-third of adults. The EFP/AAP classification identified more cases but showed lower specificity, potentially overestimating disease burden in settings with high prevalence but predominantly moderate disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"175-188"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12959096/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147355736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of Empathy in Dental Education: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Measurement Using the Jefferson Scale.","authors":"Faisal Ali Bin Abbooud AlQhtani, Meer Zakirulla, Zuhair Motlak Alkahtani, Bandar Yahya Alshehri, Malaz M Mustafa, Sana Mofleh Alshahrani","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2537","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2537","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Empathy is a vital attribute for effective patient care in dentistry, yet studies indicate a concerning decline in empathy levels during academic training. This research addresses the influence of gender and academic progression on dental students' empathy levels. This study aimed to investigate variations in empathy levels among dental students at King Khalid University and to examine the associations between gender, academic year, and empathy levels.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May 2024. The study included 204 dental students (122 males, 82 females) with a mean age of 21.18 (± 2.43) years, representing an 81.6% response rate. Empathy was assessed using the validated Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students (JSE-HPS). Statistical analysis was performed using independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA to compare the mean scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A statistically significant difference in overall empathy was observed between genders (p = 0.002), with female students (mean = 108.34, SD = 14.23) reporting higher scores than male students (mean = 101.20, SD = 13.30). Additionally, empathy scores varied statistically significantly across academic years (p = 0.001), indicating a general decline from the first year (mean = 108.37, SD = 13.97) to the fifth year (mean = 98.33, SD = 15.12). Females outperformed males on all three subscales: perspective taking, compassionate care, and walking in patients' shoes. The trajectories of the subscales exhibited variability, with 'compassionate care' peaking in the first year, while 'perspective taking reached' its highest point in the third year.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Empathy in dental students is statistically significantly influenced by both sex and academic progression. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted educational strategies to foster and sustain empathy throughout dental training, thereby ensuring the development of patient-centered practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"155-163"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12959094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147355752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between Dysgeusia and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study With Propensity Score-Matched Analyses.","authors":"Peng Zhou, Xiaofeng Zhou, Su Tang, Defeng Liang, Donglei Wu","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2528","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2528","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Dysgeusia impairs quality of life and nutrition, and may be linked to cardiovascular disease risk, but its direct association with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains understudied. This study aimed to investigate the independent association between dysgeusia and ASCVD.</p><p><strong>Methods and materials: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using a nationally representative population sample. The association between dysgeusia and ASCVD was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet quality, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, periodontitis, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to further control for confounding and to validate the findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the unadjusted model, dysgeusia was significantly associated with higher odds of ASCVD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-2.55; P 0.01). After full adjustment, the association remained significant (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01-2.13; P = 0.05). PSM analysis further confirmed this relationship, showing that individuals with dysgeusia had 87% greater odds of ASCVD compared to matched controls (OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.08-3.23; P = 0.03).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Dysgeusia is independently associated with increased odds of ASCVD, even after comprehensive adjustment and PSM. Dysgeusia may serve as a novel and clinically relevant potential indicator for ASCVD, warranting further investigation in prospective studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"137-144"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12933192/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147284709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between Live Dietary Microbes and Root Caries: A Cross-Sectional Study with a Predictive Risk Model.","authors":"Donglei Wu, Zhengshen Lin, Peng Zhou, Hongxia You, Weixuan Chen, Yuyan Zheng","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2532","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2532","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the association between medium‑to‑high (MedHi) levels of live dietary microbe intake and the prevalence of root caries, and to develop a predictive model for estimating root caries risk.</p><p><strong>Methods and materials: </strong>This cross‑sectional study analysed data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2020. Dietary intake was assessed using 24‑h dietary recalls, and root caries status was determined via standardised oral examinations. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with root caries, including live dietary microbe intake. Participants were randomly divided into training and testing data sets. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to construct a predictive model, which was visualised using a nomogram and evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 7,839 participants, MedHi live dietary microbe intake, age, education level, smoking status, dental floss frequency, and systemic conditions were significantly associated with root caries (P 0.05). The predictive model incorporating these variables demonstrated good discrimination and calibration in both the training and testing data sets.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher intake of live dietary microbes was associated with a lower prevalence of root caries. Although the cross‑sectional design precludes causal inference, the findings suggest a potential link between dietary microbes and oral health. The proposed model may aid clinicians in identifying individuals at high risk and in developing targeted preventive strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"145-154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12933191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147284668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioinformatics Identification and Functional Analysis of Key Genes of Nucleotide Metabolism in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.","authors":"Feng Wei, Hong Fan","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2470","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a typical hypoxic and metabolically heterogeneous adult invasive oral malignant tumour. Nucleotide metabolism-related genes (NMRGs) have been identified as therapeutic targets for various cancers. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of NMRGs in OSCC and identify potential biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Based on the the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO data, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in OSCC were screened and intersected with NMRGs to obtain DE-NMRGs. Key genes were selected through the protein interaction (PPI) network combined with MCC and MCODE algorithms, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and survival curves were drawn. Genes with an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.7 and statistically significant differences were selected as hub genes. Further analysis of the immune infiltration characteristics, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) enrichment, potential drug effects of hub genes, and construction of the ceRNA network were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three hub genes related to nucleotide metabolism (ADA, NT5E, and TYMS) were identified, showing good diagnostic performance (AUC > 0.7). Immune analysis showed that cytotoxic lymphocytes, B lineage, and monocytic lineage had increased infiltration in OSCC (P 0.05). The ceRNA network showed that hsa-miR-30a-5p, hsa-miR-30b-5p interacted with NT5E, and hsa-miR-192-5p, hsa-miR-215-5p interacted with TYMS. Drug prediction suggested that denileukin difitox ontak, STREPTOZOCIN, and nitrogen mustard may be potential therapeutic drugs for OSCC.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ADA, NT5E and TYMS can serve as potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for OSCC. The study has reference value for early diagnosis and the development of individualised treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"119-136"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12951043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147284614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Traditional Oral Hygiene Practices and Their Effectiveness: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.","authors":"Muhammad Shahzad, Habab Ali Ahmad, Sriram Ambadi, Shenita Peterson, Irene Yang","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2475","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2475","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Given the increasing interest in natural and sustainable oral hygiene options, this systematic review evaluates the efficacy of traditional oral hygiene practices, specifically miswak and oil pulling, in maintaining oral health compared with conventional practices, addressing the question: how do these practices affect plaque and gingival outcomes relative to toothbrushing and standard rinses? We hypothesized non-inferiority for short-term plaque/gingivitis control, with limited evidence for longer-term outcomes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive literature searches were performed in PubMed, Embase.com, Global Health (CABI), Scopus, and Web of Science up to April 2024 using predefined inclusion criteria, focusing on randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs that evaluated traditional oral hygiene methods against conventional practices. Data extraction, quality assessment, and risk bias analysis were conducted independently by two reviewers. Preliminary pilot searches (targeted scoping) were undertaken to refine concepts, eligibility criteria, and keywords. No formal scoping review was registered.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Miswak statistically significantly reduced plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation, performing comparably to or better than conventional toothbrushes. Herbal dentifrices and mouthwashes containing neem, clove, turmeric, and ginger exhibited antimicrobial properties and were as effective as fluoridated products in reducing plaque and gingival inflammation. Oil pulling with sesame or coconut oil showed moderate reductions in microbial load and improved gingival health, though findings varied compared to chlorhexidine mouthwash. Indigenous methods, (e.g., finger brushing, twigs, charcoal) offered accessibility and sustainability benefits but lacked extensive clinical validation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Traditional oral hygiene practices may offer benefits similar to conventional methods. Nonetheless, methodological limitations and variability among studies necessitate cautious interpretation of these findings. Further thorough research is required to confirm their efficacy and integration into modern oral care.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"107-118"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12895338/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146158093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Immediate vs Delayed Dental Implants on Survival, Patient Satisfaction, and Quality of Life.","authors":"Yi Yang, Shuncheng Zhou, Yihui Ma, Xiang Wang, Jinfang Chen, Qingshan Dong","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2438","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2438","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This randomised controlled trial investigated whether immediate placement confers any advantage over delayed placement with respect to implant survival (primary outcome), peri-implant health, patient-reported satisfaction (VAS) and oral-health-related quality of life (OHIP-14).</p><p><strong>Methods and materials: </strong>This study included 220 patients with missing teeth, randomly divided into a control group (n = 110) and an observation group (n = 110) using a random number table (block = 10, concealed allocation). Baseline variables (age, sex, BMI, tooth site, aetiology and oral hygiene habits) showed no statistically significant between-group differences (all P > 0.05). The control group received delayed implants, while the observation group received immediate implants. Outcomes measured included implant survival rate, periodontal indexes (PD, mPLI, mSBI), aesthetic evaluation (PES, WES), quality of life (OHIP-14), and patient satisfaction (VAS). Attachment level in the satisfaction assessment refers to the perceived gingival margin position relative to the restoration, evaluated subjectively by patients using a visual analogue scale rather than clinical probing measurements.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 1 year, implant survival rates were 95.45% (105/110) in the immediate group versus 92.73% (102/110) in the delayed group, with no statistically significant difference (χ2 = 0.736, P = 0.391). The observation group demonstrated significantly lower mean values compared to the control group for PD (3.16 ± 0.51 mm vs 3.39 ± 0.59 mm), mPLI (0.95 ± 0.38 vs 1.21 ± 0.54), and mSBI (0.85 ± 0.47 vs 1.01 ± 0.35) (all P 0.05). The PES total scores were significantly higher in the observation group than the control group (12.18 ± 1.13 vs 11.34 ± 1.30, P 0.001), as were WES total scores (7.78 ± 0.99 vs 7.23 ± 1.10, P 0.001). After 1 year of implantation, OHIP-14 total scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (3.20 ± 1.33 vs 4.15 ± 1.23, P 0.001). The satisfaction scores for Attachment Level (8.12 ± 1.05 vs 7.45 ± 1.18), Colour (8.67 ± 0.89 vs 8.15 ± 1.12), and Chewing Function (8.89 ± 0.94 vs 8.23 ± 1.08) were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (all P 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Based on the primary outcome of 1-year implant survival, there was no significant difference between immediate and delayed implantation. However, immediate implantation demonstrated superior secondary outcomes, including periodontal-related indexes, aesthetic effects, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. These findings suggest that immediate implantation may offer clinical advantages in early functional and aesthetic outcomes without compromising implant survival, providing patients with reduced treatment duration and improved peri-implant tissue preservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"77-88"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12888209/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146150134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Causal Association Between Transferrin Saturation and Periodontitis: A Mendelian Randomization Study.","authors":"Jie Gao","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2421","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2421","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Iron deficiency anemia may influence the development of periodontitis bidirectionally. This study aimed to examine the causal association of iron deficiency anemia and iron status on the occurrence of periodontitis predicted through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This two-sample MR study used summary data from large-scale genome-wide association studies of iron deficiency anemia (obtained through the meta-analysis of two large datasets), iron status, and periodontitis. Analysis was conducted using inverse variance weighted (IVW) as the main analysis and with weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-Egger regression methods as complementary analyses. Sensitivity analyses were evaluated using Cochran's Q-test, MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO analysis, and leave-one-out analysis to assess the robustness and consistency of the results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Genetic predictions indicated a statistically significant association between transferrin saturation as the exposure and periodontitis as the outcome (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.08-1.41, p=0.002). No causal associations were observed between the other exposures (iron deficiency anemia, serum iron, serum ferritin, and TIBC) (all p>0.05). Cochran's Q-test showed no statistically significant heterogeneity, and the MR-Egger regression results suggested that this analysis was not influenced by horizontal pleiotropy. The MR-PRESSO results indicated that there were no outliers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results suggest the presence of a positive causal association between transferrin saturation and periodontitis, but not iron deficiency anemia, serum iron, serum ferritin, and TIBC as exposures. Hence, the findings provide genetic evidence that anemia may be a potential cause for periodontitis, suggesting that attention to and management of patients' systemic hematological status may be important in the prevention and comprehensive treatment of periodontal disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"94-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12888854/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146150157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Removable Space Maintainer Use on Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Fatma Saraç, Fatıma Nuran Kiran, Shokoufeh Ranjbarsisan, Feride Aktaş","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2504","DOIUrl":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2504","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children aged 8-10 years using removable space maintainers (RSMs) and to compare their outcomes with caries-free healthy peers.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 51 children who had been using RSMs for at least six months and 51 systemically healthy and caries-free children as controls. All participants were aged 8-10 years. Demographic data were recorded, and the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) was administered. The regular use of RSM was determined based on statements from both children and parents. Group comparisons of CPQ8-10 scores were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the independent samples t-test, with the level of significance set at P 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children using RSMs had significantly higher total CPQ8-10 scores (26.88 ± 11.94) compared to the control group (12.24 ± 7.31) (P 0.001). Additionally, RSM users demonstrated significantly higher scores in all subscales, including oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and social well-being (P 0.05), showing poorer OHRQoL. No significant differences were observed between regular and irregular RSM users in any CPQ8-10 domain (P > 0.05). Gender and age did not significantly affect total CPQ8-10 scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The use of RSMs was associated with lower oral-health-related quality of life among children aged 8-10 years when compared with caries-free peers. RSM use could have exerted a deleterious effect on functional limitations, emotional and social well-being. Clinicians may need to consider psychosocial adaptation in addition to clinical indications when planning treatment with RSMs and provide supportive, child-centred approaches during follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"24 ","pages":"89-93"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12892132/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146150123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}