Krisztina Márton

Anatomical changes in the structure of the temporomandibular joint caused by complete edentulousness.

BACKGROUND The posterior slope of the articular eminence of completely edentulous patients compared to patients with maintained occlusion shows significant flattening. OBJECTIVE The aim of this present study was to reveal a possible correlation between edentulousness and the flattening of the eminence and to find out whether this deformation is connected to age. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty patients were examined in three groups, each consisting of 10 persons (group I: 18- to 25-year-old patients with maintained occlusion, group II: patients over 60 with maintained occlusion, group III: edentulous patients over 60). The three groups were compared according to dental status, age, sex and side. Measurements were carried out on orthopantomographic images taken with Kodak 8000 Digital Panoramic System. The angle of the posterior slope of the articular eminence relative to the Frankfort plane was measured on both sides. Data were analysed statistically with the one-way anova test (α = 0.05). RESULTS The highest values were measured in group I (right side: 39.8 ± 5.4°, left side: 43.0 ± 5.9°), values were somewhat lower in group II (right side: 38.9 ± 4.7°, left side: 39.5 ± 7.4°) and were the lowest in group III, which was significantly lower on both sides than the results of group I and group II (right side: 29.8 ± 6.0°, left side: 31.9 ± 5.2°, p < 0.01). The correlation coefficient between age and the flattening of the eminence in group I, II and III was 0.23, 0.35 and 0.92, respectively. CONCLUSION The flattening of the articular eminence could be correlated with age; however, the rate of deformation is significantly higher in completely edentulous patients than in patients with maintained occlusion.

Late Effects of Multiagent Chemotherapy on Salivary Secretion in Children Cancer Survivors

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the later oral consequences of chemotherapy on the oral health of children with emphasis on the cariological status and the major and minor salivary gland function. Method: Thirty-eight 12-year-old children (mean age 12.3 ± 0.58 years) who underwent chemotherapy were evaluated after 5 years of treatment. Forty age- and sex-matched healthy children with similar socioeconomic backgrounds served as controls. Subjects’ cariological status was explained by the number of decayed, filled, missing permanent teeth (DMF-T), and unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva flow rates were measured by the spitting method. Palatal saliva flow rate using a Periotron meter (Oraflow Inc., Plainview, NY) and salivary buffer capacity using CRT buffer (Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan, Lichtenstein) were also investigated. Results: Children who underwent chemotherapy had significantly more decayed teeth than healthy controls (3.97 ± 3.58 vs 0.84 ± 1.75, respectively, p < 0.001). Recipients of chemotherapy had significantly lower stimulated whole saliva flow rate (0.84 ± 0.35 vs 1.13 ± 0.46 ml/min, p < 0.05) compared to the controls. Palatal saliva flow rate was at the same time significantly higher in the test group compared to the controls (1.64 ± 0.87 vs 0.46 ± 0.32 ml/min/cm2, respectively, p < 0.001). High levels of buffer capacity of the saliva could be detected in a significantly higher prevalence in the patient group compared to the controls (high: 81.6% vs 40%). Conclusions: According to these results, chemotherapy in children might result in a decreased stimulated whole saliva flow rate, hyposalivation, and, consequently, increased caries risk. Although these processes might be compensated to a limited extend by the increased minor saliva flow rate, resulting in a higher buffer capacity, nutrition and oral hygiene control of children obtaining cancer therapy is essential in the preservation of the oral tissues.

Ebola virus disease: Awareness among dental students in Hungary

INTRODUCTION The Ebola epidemic has claimed thousands of lives in Africa, and there has been a mounting pressure on the healthcare systems around the globe to prepare for the showing up of patients infected with this virus. Junior clinicians are at the forefront of medical teams, often coming into contact with patients first, during clerking and admissions. This study assesses the level of knowledge of Ebola virus disease (EVD) among dental students at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 257 dental students was carried out across five different courses. Each of the students was asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire comprising of 11 questions, to assess their knowledge about signs and symptoms, investigations, management, and sequelae of the virus and the outbreak. FINDINGS This study highlighted that there is an overall lack of knowledge about critical aspects of EVD among dental students. We found that the participating students scored less than 60% for 8 of the 11 questions, including those assessing their recognition and subsequent management of EVD. CONCLUSION These results are concerning and the medical universities and dental schools need to act fast to prepare the Hungarys dental (and medical) students and junior doctors for an inevitable influx of infected patients.