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So far Geier DA, Geier MR. has created 991 blog entries.

Reported asthma and dental amalgam exposure among adults in the United States: An assessment of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objective: Mercury (Hg)-based amalgam is a dental restorative material in common use. This hypothesis-testing study evaluated the relationship between dental amalgam exposure and the risk of reported asthma diagnoses in American adults. Methods: A total of 97,861,577 weighted-persons with one or more dental amalgam surfaces (exposed group) and 31,716,558 weighted-persons with one or more other dental surfaces (no dental amalgams, unexposed group) were examined in the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. All persons were 20-80 years old and with known reported asthma status (only newly diagnosed asthma cases were examined). Survey logistic regression and survey frequency modeling in SAS were employed to evaluate the relative incidence rate of reported asthma diagnoses among those in the exposed group compared to the unexposed group. Covariates of gender, race, socioeconomic status, educational status, country of birth, and tobacco exposure were considered. Results: Survey logistic modeling revealed a significantly increased incidence rate of reported asthma in the exposed group as compared to the unexposed group in unadjusted (4.46-fold) and adjusted (4.84-fold) models. A dose-response relationship was observed for the risk of reported asthma per dental amalgam filling surface in unadjusted (1.073) and adjusted (1.076) models. Survey frequency modeling revealed that the frequency of reported asthma (per 10,000 weighted-person years) was 3.66-fold significantly increased in the exposed group (2.06) as compared to the unexposed group (0.56). Conclusion: Increased dental amalgam exposure was associated with an increased risk of reported asthma diagnoses in American adults, but future studies should further evaluate this relationship.

By |2023-06-18T23:37:31+00:00January 1st, 2023|Mercury|

Critical review and research needs of ozone applications related to virus inactivation: potential implications for SARS-CoV-2.

Ozone disinfection has demonstrated high efficacy against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including viruses similar in morphology to SARS CoV-2. Due to this efficacy, numerous gaseous and aqueous phase ozone applications have emerged to potentially inhibit virus persistence in aerosols, surfaces, and water. This review identifies the exposure requirements for virus inactivation and important safety considerations for applications within the built environment (i.e. occupied/unoccupied spaces, air/water/wastewater treatment) and healthcare settings (i.e. ozone therapy, dentistry, handwashing, treatment of personal protection equipment (PPE)). Current research needs are presented to advance the utilization of ozone as a mitigation strategy.

Periodontal Disease and Other Adverse Health Outcomes Share Risk Factors, including Dietary Factors and Vitamin D Status.

Abstract: For nearly a century, researchers have associated periodontal disease (PD) with risks of other adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory diseases, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes. Those findings have led to the hypothesis that PD causes those adverse health outcomes either by increasing systemic inflammation or by the action of periodontopathic bacteria. However, experiments largely failed to support that hypothesis. Instead, the association is casual, not causal, and is due to shared underlying modifiable risk factors, including smoking, diet, obesity, low levels of physical activity, and low vitamin D status. Diabetes mellitus is also considered a risk factor for PD, whereas red and processed meat are the most important dietary risk factors for diabetes. Because PD generally develops before other adverse health outcomes, a diagnosis of PD can alert patients that they could reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes with lifestyle changes. In addition, type 2 diabetes mellitus can often be reversed rapidly by adopting an anti-inflammatory, nonhyperinsulinemic diet that emphasizes healthful, whole plant-based foods. This review describes the evidence that proinflammatory and prohyperinsulinemia diets and low vitamin D status are important risk factors for PD and other adverse health outcomes. We also make recommendations regarding dietary patterns, food groups, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. Oral health professionals should routinely inform patients with PD that they could reduce their risk of severe PD as well as the risks of many other adverse health outcomes by making appropriate lifestyle changes.

By |2023-07-11T22:37:37+00:00January 1st, 2023|Periodontal Disease|

Antimicrobial effect of ozonated water on bacteria invading dentinal tubules.

Removal of dental plaque and local application of local chemical adjuncts, such as chlorhexidine (CHX), have been used to control and treat peri-implant disease. However, these methods can damage the surface properties of the implants or promote bacterial resistance. The application of ozone as an adjunctive treatment represents a new approach in the management of peri-implantitis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of ozonized physiological saline solution in different concentrations against oral biofilms developed on titanium surface.

Amalgam and alternatives-discussions on mercury reduction in the environment.

The presence of periodontal diseases (PDs) often strongly correlates with other severe chronic inflammatory conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and arthritis. However, the mechanisms through which these diseases interact are unclear. In PD, tissue and bone destruction in the mouth is driven by elevated recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), which are primed and recruited from the circulation to sites of inflammation. We predicted that systemic effects on PMN mobilization or priming could account for the interaction between PD and other inflammatory conditions. We tested this using a mouse model of ligature-induced PD and found elevated PMN counts specifically in bone marrow, supporting a systemic effect of periodontal tissue inflammation on PMN production. In contrast, mice with induced peritonitis had elevated PMN counts in the blood, peritoneum, and colon. These elevated counts were further significantly increased when acute peritonitis was induced after ligature-induced PD in mice, revealing a synergistic effect of multiple inflammatory events on PMN levels. Flow cytometric analysis of CD marker expression revealed enhanced priming of PMNs from mice with both PD and peritonitis compared to mice with peritonitis alone. Thus, systemic factors associated with PD produce hyperinflammatory PMN responses during a secondary infection. To analyze this systemic effect in humans, we induced gingival inflammation in volunteers and also found significantly increased activation of blood PMNs in response to ex vivo stimulation, which reverted to normal following resolution of gingivitis. Together, these results demonstrate that periodontal tissue inflammation has systemic effects that predispose toward an exacerbated innate immune response. This indicates that peripheral PMNs can respond synergistically to simultaneous and remote inflammatory triggers and therefore contribute to the interaction between PD and other inflammatory conditions. This suggests larger implications of PD beyond oral health and reveals potential new approaches for treating systemic inflammatory diseases that interact with PD.

By |2023-06-14T22:22:02+00:00January 1st, 2023|Mercury|

Salivary microbiota and host-inflammatory responses in periodontitis affected individuals with and without rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two widespread chronic inflammatory diseases with a previously suggested association. The objective of the current study was to compare the oral microbial composition and host´s inflammatory mediator profile of saliva samples obtained from subjects with periodontitis, with and without RA, as well as to predict biomarkers, of bacterial pathogens and/or inflammatory mediators, for classification of samples associated with periodontitis and RA. Methods: Salivary samples were obtained from 53 patients with periodontitis and RA and 48 non-RA with chronic periodontitis. The microbial composition was identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared across periodontitis patients with and without RA. Levels of inflammatory mediators were determined using a multiplex bead assay, compared between the groups and correlated to the microbial profile. The achieved data was analysed using PCoA, DESeq2 and two machine learning algorithms, OPLS-DA and sPLS-DA. Results: Differential abundance DESeq2 analyses showed that the four most highly enriched (log2 FC >20) amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in the non-RA periodontitis group included Alloprevotella sp., Prevotella sp., Haemophilus sp., and Actinomyces sp. whereas Granulicatella sp., Veillonella sp., Megasphaera sp., and Fusobacterium nucleatum were the most highly enriched ASVs (log2 FC >20) in the RA group. OPLS-DA with log2 FC analyses demonstrated that the top ASVs with the highest importance included Vampirovibrio sp. having a positive correlation with non-RA group, and seven ASVs belonging to Sphingomonas insulae, Sphingobium sp., Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Delftia acidovorans, Aquabacterium spp. and Sphingomonas echinoides with a positive correlation with RA group. Among the detected inflammatory mediators in saliva samples, TWEAK/TNFSF12, IL-35, IFN-α2, pentraxin-3, gp130/sIL6Rb, sIL-6Ra, IL-19 and sTNF-R1 were found to be significantly increased in patients with periodontitis and RA compared to non-RA group with periodontitis. Moreover, correlations between ASVs and inflammatory mediators using sPLS-DA analysis revealed that TWEAK/TNFSF12, pentraxin-3 and IL-19 were positively correlated with the ASVs Sphingobium sp., Acidovorax delafieldii, Novosphingobium sp., and Aquabacterium sp. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the combination of microbes and host inflammatory mediators could be more efficient to be used as a predictable biomarker associated with periodontitis and RA, as compared to microbes and inflammatory mediators alone.

Improved oral health knowledge in a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner program.

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are a significant workforce in primary care and are uniquely positioned to improve oral health in children through ongoing surveillance in the well-child visit. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PNP student satisfaction and knowledge gained with the integration of the Strategic Partnership for Interprofessional Collaborative Education in Pediatric Dentistry (SPICE-PD) oral health education program into the first-year primary care curriculum. A descriptive, comparative design examined dental test scores across the pre-SPICE-PD (2013-2014; n = 26) and post-SPICE-PD (2015-2020; n = 55) cohorts. An electronic survey was completed (n = 47; 67%), and focus group (n = 12) audio-recordings were analyzed using Atlas.ti 8.0. Chi-square test and independent samples t-test were used to assess differences between groups. The SPICE-PD students reported improved knowledge and skill in clinical practice. Focus group themes were oral health education was beneficial, impact of coronavirus disease 2019, and suggestions for improvement. Mean dental test scores improved pre- and post-SPICE-PD (83 vs. 93; p < .001). The SPICE-PD oral health education improved knowledge and was highly satisfying for students. Pediatric nurse practitioners are ideally positioned to integrate oral health into primary care services, thereby improving access to care and ultimately reducing or mitigating early childhood caries. Evaluation of PNP postgraduation practices in the primary care setting is needed to assess whether improved knowledge results in practice change.

Antibiofilm effect of ozonized physiological saline solution on peri‐implant–related biofilm

Removal of dental plaque and local application of local chemical adjuncts, such as chlorhexidine (CHX), have been used to control and treat peri-implant disease. However, these methods can damage the surface properties of the implants or promote bacterial resistance. The application of ozone as an adjunctive treatment represents a new approach in the management of peri-implantitis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of ozonized physiological saline solution in different concentrations against oral biofilms developed on titanium surface.

Activity of Ozonated Water in Sterilising and Disinfecting Dental Unit Water Pipelines System: A Comparative Study.

Purpose: A number of disinfectants and sanitisers are used in dentistry, and there are numerous commercial solutions available. Nonetheless, because each cleaning solution has its own set of indications and limits, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for processing all types of dental equipment. Functional water, such as electrolysed hypochlorite microbubbled water, efficiently eliminates and sterilises biofilms. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether ozonated water could be used to sterilise and disinfect dental-unit water pipelines (DUWP) that had been contaminated with micro-organisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacilli and cocci.

Materials and methods: Three different groups were formed: group A – ozonated water (Cantoosh); group B – 1% povidine iodine; and group C: conventional distilled water. Group A was the test group, group B the control group, and group C was the positive control group. The water sterilising system was replaced with the appropriate sterilising agent as per the allocated group classification, with 2 min of purging, so that the complete DUWP was filled with the water sterilising system. Samples were collected and analysed, along with a 2-min purge after 24 h, 7 days and 21 days, at the 3 outlet (OL) points: the 3-way syringe at the dental tray(OL1), the cup filler (OL2), and the 3-way syringe of the assistant zone (OL3). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for statistical significance between colony-forming units of control and experimental groups (p < 0.05).

Results: The cup filler yielded higher counts than did the 3-way syringe at the dental tray (OL1) (6.40 and 8.05 on the log scale, respectively). A statistically significant difference in the CFUs was also observed between samples taken after 24 h vs 21 days between groups A, B and C.

Conclusion: The findings showed that exposing DUWP tube systems to ozonated water for an extended length of time drastically lowered the number of microorganisms adhering to their surfaces.

Periodontal inflammation primes the systemic innate immune response.

The presence of periodontal diseases (PDs) often strongly correlates with other severe chronic inflammatory conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and arthritis. However, the mechanisms through which these diseases interact are unclear. In PD, tissue and bone destruction in the mouth is driven by elevated recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), which are primed and recruited from the circulation to sites of inflammation. We predicted that systemic effects on PMN mobilization or priming could account for the interaction between PD and other inflammatory conditions. We tested this using a mouse model of ligature-induced PD and found elevated PMN counts specifically in bone marrow, supporting a systemic effect of periodontal tissue inflammation on PMN production. In contrast, mice with induced peritonitis had elevated PMN counts in the blood, peritoneum, and colon. These elevated counts were further significantly increased when acute peritonitis was induced after ligature-induced PD in mice, revealing a synergistic effect of multiple inflammatory events on PMN levels. Flow cytometric analysis of CD marker expression revealed enhanced priming of PMNs from mice with both PD and peritonitis compared to mice with peritonitis alone. Thus, systemic factors associated with PD produce hyperinflammatory PMN responses during a secondary infection. To analyze this systemic effect in humans, we induced gingival inflammation in volunteers and also found significantly increased activation of blood PMNs in response to ex vivo stimulation, which reverted to normal following resolution of gingivitis. Together, these results demonstrate that periodontal tissue inflammation has systemic effects that predispose toward an exacerbated innate immune response. This indicates that peripheral PMNs can respond synergistically to simultaneous and remote inflammatory triggers and therefore contribute to the interaction between PD and other inflammatory conditions. This suggests larger implications of PD beyond oral health and reveals potential new approaches for treating systemic inflammatory diseases that interact with PD.

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