Preetha P. Kanjirath

A qualitative examination of patient awareness and understanding of type 2 diabetes and oral health care needs.

AIMS The study examined awareness and understanding of the bidirectional relationship between type 2 diabetes and oral health care in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS Focus groups were held with 30 participants with type 2 diabetes. Groups were comprised of African Americans (n=16), Hispanics (n=6), and Caucasians (n=8). A grounded theory approach was used to analyse and interpret findings. RESULTS Participants were unaware of the relationship between type 2 diabetes and oral health but were concerned about the influence of poor oral health on quality of life. Having diabetes was reported as a potential challenge for the coordination and receipt of dental care. Patient-provider communication of diabetes and oral health needs were perceived to be inadequate. CONCLUSIONS Patients with type 2 diabetes are at-risk for poor oral health, yet have limited awareness and understanding of the specific oral health care needs and risks associated with type 2 diabetes. This lack of awareness and understanding of the relationship between diabetes and oral health may be an indicator of inadequate oral health literacy. Addressing the relationship between diabetes and oral health with patients may improve dental outcomes, increase quality of life, and promote oral health literacy in at-risk populations.

Recognition and Management of Common Acute Conditions of the Oral Cavity Resulting From Tooth Decay, Periodontal Disease, and Trauma: An Update for the Family Physician

This article presents an overview of common and/or significant diseases of the oral cavity that the family physician is likely to encounter, with an emphasis on pathogenesis, recognition, complications, and management. Topics reviewed include the sequelae of dental caries, periodontal disease, and trauma. Prevention and early intervention strategies are emphasized. Recent updates and practical issues for the family physician are highlighted.

Head and Neck Pathology and Radiology 2011

Beyond an examination of the dentition and surrounding periodontal tissues, one of the most important tasks of the dental clinician is the accurate diagnosis and management of patients with nontooth-related conditions of the head and neck. For patients with these conditions, it is imperative that the dental clinician performs a comprehensive evaluation and assessment on patients to increase the potential for a successful outcome. The skills of a myriad of specialists will be involved, including those in oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, oral medicine, head and neck anatomy, and the primary care provider. In this special issue dedicated to head and neck pathology and radiology, the manuscripts selected for publication further demonstrate the significance of the relationship described between the specialists and primary care provider. The article by D. C. Lorenzoni et al. highlights radiology and discusses the radiation doses that are associated with plain radiographs, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and conventional computed tomography (CT), placing a special emphasis on orthodontics. A. Sharma and V. P. Singh thoroughly summarize a study detecting supernumerary teeth in Indian children in 300 cases using clinical and radiographic examination. In one of their two articles in this special issue, L. Feller and J. Lemmer provide an extensive review on oral leukoplakia and its relationship to human papillomavirus (HPV). P. Bhirangi et al. elaborate on the technical steps for the prosthetic rehabilitation of an edentulous glossectomy patient. In the other article, L. Feller and J. Lemmer critically review cell transformation and the evolution of a field of precancerization as it relates to oral leukoplakia.

Contemporary Issues in Head and Neck Pathology and Radiology

The comprehensive evaluation, assessment, and management of patients with non-tooth-related conditions of the head and neck area are essential aspects of the practice of dental medicine. The manuscripts selected for publication in this special issue serve to illustrate the importance of close cooperation between oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, oral medicine, and head and neck anatomy in both the initial diagnostic and subsequent treatment phases when evaluating and treating patients with non-tooth-related conditions of the oral and maxillofacial complex. I would like to genuinely thank my Guest Editors, Dr. Neil S. Norton from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb, USA Dr. Preetha P. Kanjirath, from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich, USA and Dr. Tarnjit Saini, Brooke Army Medical Center Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Tex, USA for their assistance. Without their involvement and thoughtful discussions, this special issue would not have been possible. I also extend my thanks to the authors who have contributed to this special issue, as well as to the many reviewers who graciously volunteered with the peer-review process. In the lead article in this special edition, “Bone Diseases of the Jaws”, by P. J. Slootweg, provides an overview of the more common and/or important lesions occurring in the oral and maxillofacial complex, while emphasizing the considerable overlap in clinical, histological, and radiological features among these entities. Y. Morimoto and colleagues review the usefulness of ultrasound imaging for the detection of noninvasive and soft tissue-related diseases and introduce three new potential applications of ultrasonography: guided fine-needle aspiration, measurement of tongue cancer thickness, and diagnosis of metastasis to cervical lymph nodes. Subsequent manuscripts explore the relationship between craniofacial pathology and anatomy. L. Sonnesen summarizes recent studies on the link between morphological deviations of the cervical vertebral column and craniofacial morphology, while Guest Coeditor Neil S. Norton and colleagues employ volumetric tomography to review the anatomy of the greater palatine canal and also to rule out a statistically significant association between the prevalence of maxillary sinus disease and the presence of concha bullosa and/or nasal septal deviation. R. A. Mesquita and colleagues critically review the available literature on the nonsurgical treatment of oral leukoplakia, while E. de S. Tolentino and colleagues present a well-documented case of an ameloblastic fibroma that illustrates the need to integrate radiology, oral and maxillofacial pathology, and head and neck anatomy in both the initial diagnosis and subsequent treatment of lesions of the maxillofacial complex. On behalf of my Guest Coeditors and myself, I hope that you will find the manuscripts that comprise this special issue both interesting and informative. Paul C. Edwards Preetha P. Kanjirath Tarnjit Saini Neil S. Norton