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OBJECTIVES:

With a growing interest in the mother-infant dyad and the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis among biological and medical anthropologists, this study set out to provide all the information required to evaluate if mineralization defects in dentine might be caused by vitamin D deficiency in the critical first 1000 days of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Information was compiled on dentine formation in utero to approximately 18 years, and a method for determining the location of the neonatal line in dentine was devised, allowing the assessment of the prenatal and early life period. Re-evaluation of previously analyzed teeth (n = 61) was undertaken with detailed examination of n = 5/22 first permanent molars forming in the prenatal and critical early life periods.

RESULTS:

First permanent molars and all deciduous teeth give information on intrauterine development and on the first 1000 days postnatally providing a direct window on maternal and fetal health. Three archaeological individuals had interglobular dentine that formed prenatally suggesting that their mothers experienced vitamin D deficiency at the time dentine was forming and all other individuals had a deficiency during the first 1000 days of life. Conditions that could cause systemic mineralization defects were determined, and in each, case they were found to be consistent with vitamin D deficiency.

DISCUSSION:

The neonatal line serves as a clear baseline for determining prenatal and postnatal events, particularly those related to vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate metabolism, and can be used to investigate the maternal-infant dyad for both past and present communities.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) to temporomandibular disorder with clinical symptoms such as pain, joint sounds, and mouth opening limitation by analysis of the level of these molecules in the synovial fluid.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Twenty-four patients with chief complaints of pain, mouth opening limitation, and clicking sounds were selected as the experimental group and compared with 5 healthy subjects. After joint lavage with arthrocentesis, diluted synovial fluid was collected and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was done for analysis of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in 24 experimental patients and 5 healthy subjects.

RESULTS:

The synovial levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were elevated in the experimental group compared with the healthy control group, but no significant correlation was established. The synovial levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were elevated in the acute pain group compared with the chronic pain group, but no significant correlation was established.

CONCLUSION:

In our analysis of 2 proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha and IL-6, in the synovial fluid of temporomandibular disorder patients with symptoms of pain, mouth opening limitation, and clicking, both were elevated without statistical significance.

INTRODUCTION:

Oral health is an important component of general health. The World Health Organization has highly recommended the integration of oral health promotion into general health care. In majority of the cases, patients visit their physicians with simultaneous oral and systemic complaints, and primary oral complaints are more frequently encountered. Therefore, primary care physicians can play an expanded role within oral health care to raise the overall health of the patients.

AIM:

This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of family physicians regarding oral health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

An observational (cross-sectional) study was conducted among 250 family physicians who are practicing in Tricity. A self-structured questionnaire (close-ended) prepared by a panel of oral health experts in English language (close-ended) was administered to the study participants. The questionnaire which was divided into two parts, A and B, contained 15 questions on knowledge and awareness regarding oral health. Categorization of knowledge scores was done at three levels: low, medium, and high. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and Student’s t-test.

RESULTS:

Males comprised 72.8% (182) of the study population and 55.2% (138) of the participants were doing combined practice (academic and private both). Low knowledge scores were reported in 47.2% (118) of the participants whereas only 22.4% (56) of participants had a high score. The mean knowledge score according to educational level and working profile was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The results of our study showed a considerable lack of knowledge among family physicians regarding connection of oral health with general health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase their knowledge by various continued medical education and training programs.

BACKGROUND:

The link between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and the number of amalgam fillings in older people was investigated. Restless legs syndrome decreases the quality of life and impairs normal functioning. Mercury (in amalgam) may be toxic to nerve cells and may account for the incidence of RLS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The relationship between RLS and the presence of amalgam in the teeth of 104 people aged 60-97 years old was determined. By using 4 questions, together with the diagnostic criteria from the internationally used questionnaire produced by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG), authors assessed the extent of the symptoms and occurrence of RLS. Careful medical history and medical examination were used for ascertaining each subject’s type of restorative materials (i.e., amalgam or other metal) and the number of such fillings.

RESULTS:

Subjects who answered “yes” (indicating presence of RLS) to the 4 subsequent questions had a significantly higher number of amalgam dental fillings as compared to the subjects without RLS symptoms. Presence of other metal dental restorative materials and the number of amalgam dental fillings reported in the past had no significant influence on RLS symptomatology.

CONCLUSIONS:

Authors conclude that while examining the correlates of the appearance of restless legs syndrome the use of amalgam in the dentition should be taken into account. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):9-16.

Oral lichenoid reactions (OLR) can be caused by systemic drug exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report describing a case of OLR induced by rituximab administration in a patient with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. After 5 doses of rituximab, a typical pattern of OLP was identified with bilateral and symmetrical lesions on the buccal mucosa and on the right lingual margin. This temporal relationship suggested a probable association between oral lesions and drug therapy. The clinical diagnosis of a rituximab-induced OLR was confirmed by an incisional biopsy reporting a histopathological result of lichenoid mucositis consistent with oral lichen planus. Because of the increasing use of rituximab, it is necessary to know and recognize this uncommon side effect.

In our article, we described a clinical case of a patient with an acute periostitis of the maxilla with a comorbidity (primary immune thrombocytopenia, resistant form) who was treated using laser technology allowing us to provide good results: an intensive regeneration process and a decreased risk of developing infection complications and unpleasant signs for the patient, such as postoperative edema and intraoperative and postoperative pain syndrome.