Adnan Tezel

Musculoskeletal Disorders in Left- and Right-Handed Turkish Dental Students

The purpose of this study was two-fold: first, to find out the musculoskeletal disorders between left- and right-handed dentists and second, to describe the prevalence and distribution of symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders among Turkish students who are practicing general dentistry. The investigation was carried out on 221 dental students; group I consisted of 24 left-handed students (18 male, 6 female), aged 24.2 ± 2.24 years; group II comprised 24 right-handed students (14 male, 10 female), aged 25.1 ± 3.14 years; and group III included 173 right-handed students (102 male, 71 female), aged 24.3 ± 1.45 years. The study consists of a questionnaire to identify work tasks and working conditions, and a field study to assess the pain of the neck, shoulders, and other disorders during the dental practice. Data were analyzed through tests for the difference between two population proportion, percentage, and Chi-square. Left- and right-handed students had headaches (34%, 22%), pins and needles (35%, 22%), weakness (42%, 40%), numbness (23%, 19%), neck pain (67%, 43%), back pain (56%, 47%), upper limp pain (46%, 43%) and shoulder pain (78%, 58%), respectively (Table ). Female students were not significantly different from males in musculoskeletal symptoms (p > .05). The position adopted by the student was significantly related to the intensity of pain. Left-handed students especially suffered from neck and shoulder pain when compared with right-handed students (p < .06). The authors think that a modification of work practices appears to be effective in decreasing the prevalence of symptoms. The best ergonomic working principles should be taught to the students, dental schools should provide a comfortable working environment, and further study is required to identify factors that will reduce the prevalence of symptoms among those practicing general dentistry. TABLE 3. Distribution of symptoms in left and right handedSymptomsLeft-handed (Group I)Right-handed (Group II)n%n%Headache834522*Numbness623419Weakness10421040Neck pain16671143*Shoulder pain19781458*Back pain13561247*Pain in trunk and upper limb12461143Pain in trunk and lower limb625522 Percentages do not total 100 as they are proportion of all the groups. Statistical evaluation by the difference between two population proportion. *p < .05.

An Evaluation of Different Treatments for Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis and Patient Perceptions: Nd:YAG Laser versus Medication

OBJECTIVE The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to determine the anxiety levels of patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) prior to therapy with the Nd:YAG laser or medication, and to compare the effects of these different treatment methods on the degree of post-treatment pain, discomfort, and functional complications (eating and speech) experienced. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty patients with RAS-related oral problems were included in the study. Levels of pre- and post-treatment pain and functional complications were assessed at patient visits on days 1, 4, and 7. RESULTS The results indicated that patients treated with the Nd:YAG laser had less post-treatment pain and fewer functional complications, and reported immediate relief of pain and faster healing (p +/- 0.05). However, only after 5 d was there a significant reduction in the pain levels of the patients treated with medication. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the Nd:YAG laser has better patient acceptance, shorter treatment time, and lower rates of pain and post-treatment adverse events among patients with RAS.

Effect of tongue brushing on oral malodor in adolescents

Abstract Background : Halitosis is a common problem in humans, and is a social and psychological handicap for those affected by it. Halitosis has a positive correlation with the accumulation of bacterial plaque in the oral cavity.

RIGHT- AND LEFT-HANDED DENTISTS USING RIGHT- AND LEFT-SIDED DENTAL CHAIRS IN TREATMENT OF CALCULUS

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of hand preference of dentists and the position of dental chairs in treatment of dental calculus. The dentists were last-class students from the School of Dentistry (Erzurum, Turkey). They were directed to dental chairs designed for right- and left-handers (right-sided and left-sided chairs) to remove calculus from the lower anterior teeth in volunteer patients having similar amounts of calculus, which was measured by Calculus index (CI). The right-handed dentists were more successful in right-sided (traditional) chairs than left-sided chairs; the left-handed dentists were more successful on left-sided chairs than right-sided chairs. The highest posttreatment CI (lowest success) was due to the right-handed dentists on the left-sided chairs. The lowest posttreatment CI (highest success) belonged to the left-handers working on the left-sided chairs. The left-handed dentists were better than right-handed dentists in the treatment of the mesial and distal surfaces of teeth, whereas the right-handers were successful only in the treatment of the distal parts of teeth. These results were explained by a better coordination between right and left hands and with higher skill in both hands in left-handers than right-handers.

The Effect of Right or Left-Handedness on Oral Hygiene

It has been shown that there is a strong relation between periodontal diseases and bacterial plaque with clinical and experimental studies. According to scientific data, the best way to protect against the periodontal diseases is to remove bacterial plaque from tooth surface mechanically. To remove bacterial plaque from tooth surface completely, the patient must have good hand skill and motivation in addition to professional treatment. The aim of our study was to examine whether there is a difference between the left-handed who are known as skilful at drawing, geometry, and graphics and the right-handed at oral hygiene check. The study included 28 persons, 12 female and 16 male, ranging in age from 19 to 26. Subjects were divided into two groups according to their right or left hand use. Being right- or left-handed was determined with Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oidfield). Both groups were given oral hygiene education with a systematic treatment at the beginning of the study. At the beginning of the study, GI (Silness-Löe) and PI (Quigley-Hein) scores were taken from all subjects. Then, those scores were repeated in the 1st and 3rd month. Received scores were evaluated statistically with Wilcoxon test. While there was no statistical difference between both groups initially p <. 05, there was a statistical difference between them in the 1st and 3rd month in favour of the left-handed p <.05. Consequently, it was found that the left-handed were more successful at oral hygiene check than the right-handed.

The influence of smoking and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus on periodontal disease

The periodontal health of smokers and non-smokers with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and non-smokers with periodontitis who were not suffering from a systemic disease was assessed. The investigation was carried out on 60 adult subjects. Levels of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and immunoglobulins G, A and M were determined, together with the plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depths and clinical attachment level. Periodontitis was more severe in smokers and non-smokers with NIDDM than non-smokers without NIDDM, and the periodontal condition (clinical attachment level, probing pocket depth and gingival bleeding) was better in non-smokers with NIDDM than smokers with NIDDM. The results suggest that diabetes and smoking are high-risk factors for periodontal disease.

The changes in the T-lymphocyte subsets in a population of Turkish children with puberty gingivitis

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate the number of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, analyse subjects with gingivitis and those without, and determine the role of T lymphocytes in the pathobiology of puberty gingivitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty individuals with and without puberty gingivitis were recruited for this study. The CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-lymphocyte counts were determined using flow cytometry on the biopsy samples, and the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio was calculated. At the same time, periodontal index scores were recorded to assess the periodontal status. Acquired data were analysed statistically using a paired t-test to compare laboratory values obtained before and after the treatment in individuals with puberty gingivitis and disease-free individuals. In addition, Pearsons correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relation between laboratory values and clinical measurements. RESULTS The CD4(+)/CD8 ratio in gingival tissues obtained from test group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that found in the gingival tissue obtained from control group. We found that the CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocyte counts continued to increase significantly (P < 0.001) and the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio continued to drop significantly (P < 0.05) after treatment in test group. CONCLUSIONS T lymphocytes could play a significant role in the pathobiology of puberty gingivitis.

Evaluation of pain levels after Nd: YAG laser and scalpel incisions: an experimental study in rats.

BACKGROUND Postoperative pain is a recognized sequel of periodontal surgery. The pain experience has been shown to peak in the first 24 hours following the procedure, and to decrease rapidly in subsequent days. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pain levels following scalpel- and laser-incision of rat hind paws. METHODS The study was carried out on 10 albino Wistar male rats. Rats were randomly assigned to two groups: Group I (n = 5, laser surgery), or Group II (n = 5, conventional surgery with scalpel). For measuring mechanical hyperalgesia, the nociceptive threshold of the hind paw after mechanical stimulation was quantified using a Basile algesimeter. The measurements were done before the surgery and on the postoperative 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), and 7(th) days. RESULTS While the pain levels of the groups were similar before the surgical procedures, the laser-applied rats had significantly fewer nociceptive thresholds of the hind paw after mechanical stimulation compared with the scalpel-incised rats on the postoperative 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), and 7(th) days. Functional complications were not observed in the laser groups at three days after the surgery. CONCLUSION The results suggested that, for soft tissue surgery, Nd: YAG lasers have often led to shorter operative times, less pain, and fewer postoperative adverse events.