Melissa Adiatman

Functional tooth units and nutritional status of older people in care homes in Indonesia

OBJECTIVES To investigate the relationship between functional tooth units (FTUs) and nutritional status. METHODS One hundred females (mean age: 72.4 ± 8.2 years) at four private care homes in Jakarta, Indonesia were interviewed and clinically examined. The oral examination included the assessment of teeth, prosthetic status, and number of FTUs. The total number of FTUs was further divided by tooth composition: natural tooth against natural tooth (NN-FTUs), natural tooth against denture (ND-FTUs), and denture against denture (DD-FTUs). Nutritional status was evaluated using the body mass index (BMI) and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). RESULTS The mean numbers of teeth present, NN-FTUs, ND-FTUs, DD-FTUs, and total FTUs were 13.1 ± 10.4, 1.7 ± 3.0, 1.2 ± 3.3, 0.4 ± 1.2 and 3.3 ± 4.4, respectively. The mean BMI and MNA scores were 24.8 ± 5.0 and 22.6 ± 2.8, respectively. Subjects with a normal BMI had a significantly higher total number of FTUs (3.6 ± 4.6) compared with underweight subjects (0.1 ± 0.3). Subjects with a normal MNA had a significantly higher number of NN-FTU (2.6 ± 3.7) compared to those who were at risk or in a state of under-nutrition (1.2 ± 2.4). CONCLUSION This study revealed significant relationships between the number of FTUs and nutritional status. Keeping the posterior occlusion should be emphasized in order to maintain good nutritional status in older subjects.

Fluoride concentration in urine after silver diamine fluoride application on tooth enamel

Silver Diammine Fluoride (SDF), which contains fluoride, is known to inhibit tooth enamel demineralization and increase fluoride concentrations in saliva and urine. The aim of this study is to analyze the fluoride concentration in urine after application of SDF on tooth enamel. Urine from four subjects was collected prior to, 30 minutes after, and two and three hours after the application of SDF, and an ion-selective electrode was used to measure the fluoride concentrations. There was no significant difference between time 1 and time 2, time 1 and time 3, time 1 and time 4, time 2 and 3 (p > 0.05), and there was a significant difference between time 2 and time 4 as well as time 3 and time 4 (p < 0.05). There was a decrease in the concentration of fluoride ions in urine from the baseline to 30 minutes after application, and an increase from baseline to two and three hours after the application of SDF.

Relationship between oral health status and masticatory performance with nutritional status in the elderly

The greatest component in the decay–missing–filled teeth index is tooth loss, which occurs mostly in the elderly. Tooth loss can affect the ability to chew food, resulting in a lack of nutritional intake. A cross-sectional study was performed at four community health centers in Central, South, and East Jakarta of 93 elderly (age ≥60) subjects who underwent intraoral examination, anthropometric measurement (body mass index [BMI]) and interview using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Of the subjects, 53.8% had ≥20 natural teeth and 55.9% were at risk for malnutrition. Correlation testing showed that the total number of natural, decayed, missing, and filled teeth and masticatory performance (p > 0.05) were not significantly correlated with nutritional status (BMI and MNA). There is no relationship between oral health status, masticatory performance, and nutritional status in the elderly.

Effect and impact of silver diamine fluoride application in primary teeth caries on children’s quality of life

Caries is the greatest oral health problem in children aged 3–5 years in Indonesia. Early caries treatment can heal toothache and increase quality of life. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is used to treat primary teeth caries. Herein, we evaluated the quality of life of 59 children aged 3–5 years 3 months after SDF application. Mothers were given a quality of life questionnaire before and after application. After SDF application, 89.36% of caries were arrested and the quality of life of the children had significantly increased (p < 0.05). SDF was effective in treating primary teeth caries and increasing childrens quality of life.

Efficacy test of a toothpaste in reducing extrinsic dental stain

This clinical trial compared the external dental stain reduction achieved by tested toothpaste versus placebo in adult patients. In this double-blind, parallel, randomised clinical trial, 45 female volunteers with a mean age of 20 years old were included. All study subjects front teeth were topically applicated with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) to create external dental stains. Subjects were randomized into test (n=22) and control (n=23) groups. Toothpastes were used for two days to analyse the effects of removing external stains on the labial surfaces of all anterior teeth. VITA Easyshade Advance 4.0 was used to measure dental extrinsic stains changes. The analysis showed statistically significant efficacy of the tested toothpaste in reducing external dental stain caused by SDF, comparing to the placebo toothpaste, after one and two days of usage. The tested toothpaste was effective in reducing dental stain.

The evaluation of root fracture with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT): an epidemiological study

Background The aim of this study was evaluation of the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image of 50 patients at the ages of 8-15 suspecting root fracture and root fracture occurred, exposed to dental traumatic. In additionally, this study was showed effect of crown fracture on root fracture healing. Material and Methods All of the individuals included in the study were obtained images with the cone-beam computed tomography range of 0,3 voxel and 8.9 seconds.(i-CAT®, Model 17-19, Imaging SciencesInternational, Hatfield, Pa USA).The information obtained from the history and CBCT images of patients were evaluated using chi-square test statistical method the mean and the distribution of the independent variables. Results 50 children, have been exposed to trauma, was detected root fracture injury in 97 teeth. Horizontal root fracture 63.9% of the 97 tooth, the oblique in 31.9%, both the horizontal and oblique in 1.03%, partial fracture in 2.06% ,and both horizontally and vertical in 1.03% was observed.The most affected teeth, respectively of, are the maxillary central incisor (41.23% left, right, 37.11%), maxillary left lateral incisor (9.27%), maxillary right lateral incisor (11.34%), and mandibular central incisor (1.03%). Conclusions Crown fractures have negative effects on spontaneous healing of root fractures. CBCT are used selected as an alternative to with conventional radiography for diagnosis of root fractures. In particular, ıt’s cross-sectional image is quite useful and has been provided more conveniences seeing the results of diagnosis and treatment for clinician. Key words:Root fracture, CBCT, Epidemiolog.

Association of a visual oral health literacy instrument with perceived and clinical oral health status in Japanese adolescents

A visual oral health literacy instrument is a newly developed tool to assess health literacy level in dentistry. To use the visual oral health literacy instrument effectively, it is essential to understand how the instrument is associated with the subjects’ perceived and clinical oral health status. The purpose of this study was to examine which factor of subjects’ perceived and clinical oral health status affected the visual oral health literacy instrument. A self-administered questionnaire inquiring about concern about teeth and gums, self-rated oral health and oral observation, as well as a mouth drawing as a visual oral health literacy instrument were evaluated in 162 Grade 1 Japanese senior high school students. Students were instructed to freely draw a picture of their anterior teeth and gingiva while observing their mouth with a hand mirror. Mouth drawings were performed before (first) and after (second) an oral health education session. Drawing scores were calculated for both tooth and gingival aspects. In female subjects, those who observed their mouth every day had a significantly higher first tooth-recognition score than those who did not (p < 0.05). First and second gingival-recognition scores were significantly related with clinical gingival condition (p < 0.05). Subjects who observed their mouth daily and those who had occlusal or gingival problems significantly improved their second drawing scores (p < 0.05). The changes of oral health literacy had an association with their oral observation habit and actual oral health status. Therefore, it is necessary to provide self-related oral health education in order for students to correctly understand their own oral health status.