{"title":"Salivary Calcium and Albumin as Biomarkers of Oral Dryness in Postmenopausal Women: A Case-Control Analysis.","authors":"Prakash Shetty Tripthi, Konchady Ashwini, Ranjitha Acharya, Padmanabha Poojary Ganeshkodi Roopashree","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_182_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_182_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Menopause-associated hypoestrogenism significantly alters oral homeostasis, often leading to xerostomia. Although salivary calcium and albumin are indicators of mineral turnover and mucosal permeability, their specific correlation with subjective and objective oral dryness in postmenopausal cohorts requires further elucidation. The aim was to evaluate salivary calcium and albumin levels in postmenopausal women with and without oral dryness and to compare these findings with the clinical symptoms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case-control study included three groups (<i>n</i> = 40 in each group): Group I (premenopausal), Group II (postmenopausal without oral dryness), and Group III (postmenopausal with oral dryness). An unstimulated flow rate of less than 0.1 mL/min was used to measure oral dryness. The estimation of salivary calcium via colorimetric spectrophotometry (612 nm), and albumin was quantified using standard biochemical assays. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and Pearson's correlation, with sample size justified by power analysis (80% power).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Group III (postmenopausal women with oral dryness) had significantly higher salivary calcium and albumin levels than both Group II and Group I (<i>P</i> < 0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between salivary albumin and calcium level. Multiple regression suggested that these biomarker elevations are associated with menopausal status, although age remains a potential confounding factor.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Elevated salivary calcium and albumin levels serve as significant biochemical markers for oral dryness in postmenopausal women. These findings suggest that increased mucosal permeability and altered mineral transport are key physiological features of the menopausal oral cavity, necessitating targeted preventive dental care.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"405-415"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568713/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Congenital Heart Diseases, Associated Malformations, and Syndromes in Thai Children with Orofacial Clefts: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.","authors":"Krispijyakorn Sangharn, Poonsak Pisek, Araya Pisek, Buddhathida Wangsrimongkol, Waranuch Pitiphat, Agnès Bloch-Zupan, Supawich Morkmued, Khunton Wichajarn","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_52_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_52_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The study aimed to determine the distribution of congenital heart diseases (CHDs), associated congenital malformations, and syndromes among children with orofacial clefts (OFCs) at Tawanchai Cleft Center, Khon Kaen, Thailand from 2011 to 2020.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The retrospective study reviewed medical records of 1187 children with OFCs at a tertiary cleft center from 2011 to 2020. A total of 95 eligible cases met the following inclusion criteria: diagnosis of cleft palate (CP), cleft lip (CL), or cleft lip and palate (CLP); age from birth to 3 years; confirmed CHD diagnosis by a cardiologist; confirmed diagnosis of congenital malformations or syndromes by a geneticist; and complete medical records. Distributions were described using frequencies and percentages. Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression (unadjusted and sex-adjusted) were used for inferential analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 95 patients, CP was the most frequent OFC type (48.4%), followed by CLP (44.2%) and CL (7.4%). The sex distribution was 48.4% male and 51.6% female, and all patients were of Thai ethnicity. The observed proportion of CHDs (8.0%) fell in the mid-range of prior studies. The most common CHDs were atrial septal defect (ASD, 25.3%), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, 20.0%), and ventricular septal defect (VSD, 18.9%). Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) was the most common associated congenital malformation (10.4%). Syndromic clefts occurred in 38 cases (40.0%), predominantly involving 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (18.4%), vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities association (13.1%), and Down syndrome (7.9%). Binary logistic regression revealed significantly lower odds of VSD in patients with unilateral CLP compared to those with CL (sex-adjusted odds ratio = 0.07, 95% confidence interval = 0.01-0.61, <i>p</i> = 0.02).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ASD, PDA, and VSD are the most common CHDs among patients with OFCs. These CHDs frequently co-occur with PRS and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive cardiac screening in children with OFCs to support interdisciplinary cleft care management.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"364-377"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568707/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K Ushanandhini, Maheshwari Sandhya, Anjum Arbab, Owais Mohammad, G Aiswareya, P Jagan
{"title":"The Impact of Intraoral Exposure on Elemental Composition and Cytotoxicity of Commonly Used Orthodontic Archwires: A Cross Sectional Study.","authors":"K Ushanandhini, Maheshwari Sandhya, Anjum Arbab, Owais Mohammad, G Aiswareya, P Jagan","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_185_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_185_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate and compare the surface elemental composition and cytotoxicity of round and rectangular nickel-titanium (NiTi) and stainless steel (SS) archwires before and after 4 and 8 weeks of intraoral exposure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Four groups of archwires (0.018 NiTi, 0.018 SS, 0.019 × 0.025 NiTi, and 0.019 × 0.025 SS), with five samples in each group, were used as as-received controls from the manufacturer. Each of the eight study groups included five samples, and the wires were retrieved after intraoral exposure of 4 weeks in four groups and 8 weeks in four other groups. The surface elemental composition and cytotoxicity of all samples were assessed using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cytotoxicity test using human gingival fibroblasts. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to evaluate the effects of wire shape (round vs. rectangular) and time (0, 4, and 8 weeks), as well as their interaction, separately for NiTi and SS wire types. Cell viability was analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by <i>post hoc</i> tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All the rectangular wires showed greater alterations than the round wires. Wires exposed intraorally for 8 weeks exhibited greater changes than those exposed for 4 weeks. NiTi wires showed significant reductions in nickel and titanium, whereas SS wires showed significant reductions in nickel, chromium, and iron, particularly in rectangular wires at 8 weeks. Rectangular NiTi wires exhibited the highest cytotoxicity, followed by round NiTi, rectangular SS, and round SS wires.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Prolonged intraoral exposure of various orthodontic archwires alters surface elements but has minimal impact on cytotoxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"388-396"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568710/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148957033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Liang Chen, Wenhui Kong, Xiao Luan, Shengnan Zhang, Hui Li, Yi Du, Jing Sun
{"title":"The 100 Most-Cited Articles on Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerosis: A Bibliometric Study (1989-2025).","authors":"Liang Chen, Wenhui Kong, Xiao Luan, Shengnan Zhang, Hui Li, Yi Du, Jing Sun","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_214_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_214_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The association between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis has gained significant attention, yet the intellectual structure and most influential works in this interdisciplinary field have not been systematically mapped. This study aimed to identify and analyze the characteristics, collaborative networks, and evolving research trends of the 100 most-cited articles concerning the relationship between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search was performed in the Web of Science Core Collection on January 24, 2025. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the \"bibliometrix\" R package. Metrics included total citations, h-index, and keyword burst detection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 100 articles garnered a total of 13,968 citations (average: 195.6 citations per article). The United States was the leading contributor (<i>n</i> = 40), with the University of North Carolina identified as the most productive institution. The <i>Journal of Periodontology</i> and <i>Circulation</i> were the primary publication venues. Keyword clustering identified six research hotspots: risk factors, inflammatory responses, infection, confounding variables, <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>, and related cardiovascular conditions. Burst analysis revealed a paradigm shift in research focus from mechanistic \"infection\" (2004-2005) to clinical \"therapy\" (2013-2020).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study delineates the foundational literature and thematic evolution of the periodontal-atherosclerosis link. The observed shift in the literature from mechanistic to interventional studies may correlate with an increase in publications on periodontal treatment for cardiovascular prevention. These findings provide a data-driven roadmap for future longitudinal trials and clinical guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"423-434"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568716/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148957036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Early Marginal Bone Loss as a Determinant Factor of the Prognosis Rate of Dental Implants: A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Study.","authors":"Abdulhadi Al-Hilali, Ahmed Tawfig","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_27_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_27_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Early marginal bone loss (MBL) influences the prognosis of dental implants. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of early MBL and its relationship with keratinized tissue width (KTW), bleeding on probing (BoP), and other clinical parameters to determine its prognostic significance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective, longitudinal, observational study was conducted on 50 single dental implants placed in partially edentulous patients at Riyadh Elm University. Standardized intraoral periapical radiographs were obtained immediately after implant placement (T0) and 3 months later, before prosthetic loading (T1). Measurements of mesial and distal MBL were performed using Digimizer software (v6.4.0). Clinical parameters, such as KTW and BoP, were recorded, and the prognosis was classified as good, fair, poor, or hopeless. Paired <i>t</i> tests and Pearson's correlation tests were applied with significance set at <i>P</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A significant difference in MBL was observed between T0 and T1 on both the mesial (-0.886 ± 0.944 mm, <i>t</i> = -6.632, <i>df</i> = 49, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and distal (-0.825 ± 0.923 mm, <i>t</i> = -6.315, <i>df</i> = 49, <i>P</i> < 0.001) surfaces. The mean and standard deviation values of KTW were 4.10 ± 1.09 mm, ranging from 2 to 6 mm. The prognosis distribution was as follows: good (2%), fair (74%), poor (22%), and hopeless (2%). The prognosis score showed a significant correlation with KTW and BoP.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Significant early MBL occurred within 3 months of implant placement, representing physiological bone remodeling. Early MBL, KTW, and BoP may serve as early clinical markers. Regular radiographic monitoring during the healing period is essential for ensuring long-term stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"378-387"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568706/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sowmya Srinivas, Madhumita Raju Pillai, Smashekara Ganesh, Vidya G Doddawad, Koodalakuppe N Raghavendra Swamy, Sushma Rudraswamy
{"title":"A Case Report of Interdisciplinary Prosthodontic Rehabilitation and Voice Restoration in a Diabetic Professional Singer with Complex Dental Failure.","authors":"Sowmya Srinivas, Madhumita Raju Pillai, Smashekara Ganesh, Vidya G Doddawad, Koodalakuppe N Raghavendra Swamy, Sushma Rudraswamy","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_211_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_211_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dental pathology in professional singers can compromise the oral resonance chamber, jeopardizing their vocal performance and career longevity. Complex cases involving systemic diseases, psychological distress, and advanced oral deterioration require integrated multidisciplinary management. This report describes the interdisciplinary rehabilitation of a professional singer with severe oral structural compromise and significant systemic and psychological challenges. The management plan combined psychological counseling, medical optimization, surgical reconstruction, prosthetic rehabilitation, and targeted voice retraining. An 8-month program of structured psychological counseling reduced dental anxiety and restored treatment confidence in the patient. Medical optimization through coordinated endocrinology care achieved glycemic stability before the surgical intervention. Guided bone regeneration and staged implant placement ensured stable osseointegration, despite the presence of systemic risk factors. Prosthetic rehabilitation with a screw-retained metal-ceramic prosthesis restored gingival function and white and pink esthetics, while specialized vocal rehabilitation facilitated the recovery of resonance and projection. The integrated approach yielded complete restoration of oral function, resolution of psychological distress, stable implant integration, optimal prosthetic performance, and full return to professional vocal activity. This case demonstrates that with meticulous planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and comprehensive psychological support, even high-risk patients with diabetes can achieve successful fixed prosthodontic rehabilitation, restoring both function and professional identity.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"435-441"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568714/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emotional Intelligence and Stress Coping Strategies among Dental Professionals in Chennai, India: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Hemani Kirubagaran, Arthi Balasubramaniam","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_8_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_8_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to assess the association between EI and stress coping strategies among dental professionals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted among 588 dental professionals, including undergraduate and postgraduate students and qualified dentists, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from May to July 2024. Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations-21 and Schutte Self-Report EI Test questionnaires were administered to dental professionals using a convenience sampling method. Pearson's correlation test and multivariable linear regression were carried out to evaluate the relationship between EI and stress coping strategies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall mean EI score for undergraduate students (141.6 ± 38.49) was higher compared with that of qualified dentists (137.6 ± 40.96; <i>P</i> = 0.033). The mean task-oriented coping was found to be higher among qualified dental professionals (4.358 ± 1.963) compared with undergraduate students. EI showed a moderate positive correlation with task-oriented coping (<i>r</i> = 0.319; <i>P</i> = 0.000) and a weak positive correlation with avoidance coping (<i>r</i> = 0.198; <i>P</i> = 0.020), whereas a moderate negative correlation was observed with emotion-oriented coping (<i>r</i> = -0.600; <i>P</i> = 0.000).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EI demonstrated significant associations with specific coping domains among dental professionals. Higher EI was associated with greater task-oriented coping and lower emotion-oriented and avoidant coping after adjusting for gender and professional category.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"416-422"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568711/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oral Adverse Effects of Semaglutide Therapy: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Abeer S Al-Zawawi","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_5_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_5_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1-receptor agonist, is widely used for the management of type-2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Despite its increasing clinical use, the drug's oral adverse effect profile remains inadequately characterized. This narrative review aimed to analyze the current evidence on semaglutide-associated oral adverse effects, with emphasis on mechanistic pathways, integration of pharmacovigilance and clinical data, and emerging implications for oral health and dental practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Keywords related to semaglutide and oral adverse effects were used. Eligible studies included clinical trials, pharmacovigilance analyses, observational studies, case reports, and preclinical research reporting oral adverse effects or relevant mechanistic insights. Studies lacking oral health correlates were excluded. Findings were narratively reviewed in accordance with Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Xerostomia or hyposalivation is the most consistently reported oral adverse effect, although its prevalence varies across studies. However, xerostomia often occurs secondarily to gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, reduced oral intake, and delayed gastric emptying. Additional manifestations included dysgeusia, dry throat, oral paresthesia or hypoesthesia, halitosis, frothy saliva, and increased dental caries. Pharmacovigilance data show significant signals for dry mouth and altered taste. Case-series confirm semaglutide-associated hyposalivation. Limited evidence suggests increased susceptibility to oral candidiasis. Early experimental and observational data indicate potential modulatory effects on inflammation, tissue repair, and bone metabolism.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Semaglutide therapy is associated with oral adverse effects, mainly xerostomia and sensory disturbances, which may compromise oral health. Awareness of these outcomes highlights the need for interdisciplinary oral health monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"331-340"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568709/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lilian R N Cantarelli, Luiz A B Cabral, Raí F Valadares, Maria Aline M Souza, Jaqueline V Bulgareli, Debora Souto-Souza, Ana Paula Turrioni
{"title":"Effects of Dental Follow-up on Oral Health, Antibiotic Prescriptions, and Hospitalizations in Pediatric Home Care Patients: A Single-Group Quasi-Experimental Study.","authors":"Lilian R N Cantarelli, Luiz A B Cabral, Raí F Valadares, Maria Aline M Souza, Jaqueline V Bulgareli, Debora Souto-Souza, Ana Paula Turrioni","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_200_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_200_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate oral health, antibiotic prescriptions, and hospitalizations before and after dental follow-up among children assisted by the Home Care Service (HCS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-group quasi-experimental, nonrandomized study was conducted at the HCS of the Clinical Hospital, at a Federal University in Brazil. This study involved 29 children undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation and gastrostomy. Oral healthcare data were collected at two time points: T1 (December 2021) and T2 (December 2022). Dental interventions and oral health education activities were conducted between January and December 2022. Monthly data on hospitalizations and antibiotic prescriptions were collected for 2021 and 2022. Oral health assessment was based on the simplified oral hygiene index, gingival bleeding, and gingival hyperplasia.Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon paired test, with a 5% significance level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was a reduction in gingival bleeding (47.4%, <i>P</i> = 0.044) and the presence of dental plaque (50.0%, <i>P</i> = 0.011) and calculus (50.0%, <i>P</i> = 0.024). The number of antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 51.5% (<i>P</i> = 0.043). No significant difference was observed in the hospitalization rates (<i>P</i> > 0.050).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Over the course of the dental follow-up, homebound pediatric patients showed a reduction in dental plaque, calculus, gingival bleeding, and antibiotic use. This is particularly relevant given that children with disabilities who are homebound often lack access to dental care. Regular dental checkups can reduce plaque accumulation, gingival bleeding, calculus formation, and the need for antibiotic prescriptions. Therefore, integrating dentists into home care teams may strengthen the relationship between improved oral health, reduced antibiotic use, and lower hospitalization rates in vulnerable pediatric populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 4","pages":"341-347"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13568708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Proposed Clustering Model to Predict Autism Spectrum Disorder in Toddlers.","authors":"Abdulelah G F Saif","doi":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_196_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_196_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To introduce a robust clustering model for the early prediction of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in toddlers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five parametric and five non-parametric clustering algorithms were employed using all available features of a dataset obtained from Kaggle.com. The performance of these algorithms was evaluated through a comparative analysis based on several metrics, including the Silhouette Score (SS), Davies-Bouldin Index (DBI), adjusted rand index (ARI), Fowlkes-Mallows index (FMI), normalized mutual information (NMI), standard deviation (SD), and processing time (PT).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results demonstrate that the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) achieved superior performance compared with the other algorithms on this dataset. The best results were observed in terms of both clustering performance (SS = 0.1952, DBI = 1.8038, ARI = 0.9730, FMI = 0.9884, NMI = 0.9439) and time efficiency (an average of 4.1998 s over five runs) when training and testing were conducted on the entire dataset. When the dataset was split into training and testing sets, GMM achieved the following performance: SS = 0.2108, DBI = 1.6722, ARI = 1, FMI = 1, NMI = 1, and SD=0.0818.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ASD is a long-term neurological condition that requires early, rapid, accurate, and effective diagnosis to ensure appropriate healthcare intervention. Traditional diagnostic methods are often time-consuming and costly. Consequently, machine learning approaches have emerged as faster and more cost-effective alternatives for ASD diagnosis. In this study, GMM showed superior performance among the algorithms compared within this dataset, but should not be interpreted as a diagnostic tool without further validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":47247,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry","volume":"16 3","pages":"249-264"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13397206/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148585472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}