Oral Health Status of Healthcare Workers in Ilembula/Tanzania during the COVID-19 Condition.

The challenge of reduced dental treatment and education infrastructure in the Tanzanian highlands affects the oral health situation of both the general population and local healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the oral health status of healthcare workers at Ilembula Lutheran Hospital (ILH), Tanzania, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 134 healthcare workers (62 women, 72 men; mean age 36.48 ± 9.56 years, range 19-59 years; median age 35.00 years) participated in this cross-sectional study, conducted from 12 February to 27 February. A dental examiner trained in oral health screening performed the oral health data collection. Data collection was performed by probability sampling using the Ilembula Data Collection Form-Oral Health (IDCF-Oral Health) questionnaire distributed in paper form. Ethical approval was obtained from the National Institute for Medical Research/Tanzania. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMF/T) index proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used with the associated caries measurement method and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Details regarding edentulism, nutritional habits, and socio-economic factors were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression (α = 0.05). The average DMF-T index was 3.33 ± 0.82, with age, gender, meal frequency, and soft drink consumption significantly influencing the index. No evidence of dental plaque was detected in 43.3% of the participants. Of the participants, 32.8% required prosthetic treatment (Kennedy Class III), while 16.4% needed it for acute malocclusions. Oral hygiene products were used in 97% of cases. A total of 35.8% of the participants had an OHI-S score of up to 1.0, with (p < 0.001) age and (p < 0.001) sex having a significant influence on the index. The current oral health situation of healthcare workers at ILH shows a moderate need for restorative and prosthetic treatment in rural Tanzania. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no change in the need for dental treatment, which may be explained by the generally restricted access to dental healthcare in the investigated region. The development of an interdisciplinary oral health prophylaxis system could help to reduce the need for future treatments

In Vitro Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of Hypoallergenic Denture Base Resins

The development of hypoallergenic denture resins is key to the treatment of patients with allergies to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). In this study, the in vitro mechanical properties of hypoallergenic and PMMA denture base resins were compared. Ninety-six test specimens of hypoallergenic denture base resins (Polyan Plus®, Sinomer, TMS Acetal Dental, Erkocryl) and 72 test specimens of PMMA-based denture base resins (Paladon 65, PalaXpress, SR-Ivocap) were fabricated. The flexural strength, elastic modulus, compressive strength, macro- and microhardness, average roughness, water absorption, and water solubility of the resins were measured. None of the hypoallergenic denture resins matched all the mechanical properties of the PMMA resins. Polyan Plus® and TMS Acetal Dental were closest to matching the mechanical properties of the PMMA resins, and TMS Acetal Dental had some superior properties. Consequently, Polyan Plus® and TMS Acetal Dental hypoallergenic resins are recommended for further investigation as potential alternatives to PMMA resins for the fabrication of removable dentures

Variability of sleep bruxism—findings from consecutive nights of monitoring

Objectives!#!To determine sleep bruxism (SB) behavior during five consecutive nights and to identify correlations between SB episodes per hour (SB index) and sleep-time masseter-muscle activity (sMMA).!##!Material and methods!#!Thirty-one participants were included in the study. Of these, 10 were classified as sleep bruxers (group SB-1) and nine as non-sleep bruxers (group non-SB). The bruxism status of these 19 patients was identified by means of questionnaires, an assessment of clinical symptoms, and electromyographic/electrocardiographic data (Bruxoff® device). The remaining 12 participants were also identified as bruxers, but based exclusively on data from the Bruxoff device (group SB-2). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and Spearman's correlation to assess the relationship between the SB index and sMMA.!##!Results!#!Participants in group SB-1 showed an overall mean SB index of 3.1 ± 1.6 and a mean total sMMA per night of 62.9 ± 38.3. Participants in group SB-2 had an overall mean SB index of 2.7 ± 1.5 and a mean total sMMA of 56.0 ± 29.3. In the non-SB group, participants showed an overall mean SB index of 0.8 ± 0.5 and a mean total sMMA of 56.8 ± 30.3. Spearman's correlation yielded values of - 0.27 to 0.71 for the correlation between sMMA and SB index.!##!Conclusions!#!The data revealed variable SB activity and the absence of a reliable correlation between sMMA and the SB index.!##!Clinical relevance!#!The high variation in SB activity and lack of correlation between sMMA and the SB index should be considered when diagnosing SB.!##!Trial registration!#!Clinical Trials [NIH], clinical trial no. NCT03039985

The Digital Abutment Check: An Improvement of the Fully Digital Workflow

By using modern digitalization techniques, an existing denture can be digitized and aid the provision of a new implant-supported denture according to a fully digital workflow. This includes fully navigated implant surgery and results in an immediately provided prosthetic restoration. However, even with the current digital workflow, it is challenging to achieve a definitive prosthetic restoration in a single treatment session. In order to achieve a definitive denture in as few treatment sessions as possible, we have implemented the digital abutment test. This test modified the existing data set and determined the final restoration. In the present case, the preexisting maxillary removable complete denture was converted into a fixed immediate restoration using the fully digital workflow. The workflow is divided into two treatment phases, each with three treatment sessions, where part of the second phase involves an innovative digital abutment check. The illustrated case shows an effective use of current digital possibilities. Special attention was also paid to a minimally invasive course of therapy

Early failures when using three different adhesively retained core build-up materials—a randomized controlled trial

Objectives!#!To compare the failure rates for three different adhesively retained core build-up composites up to the incorporation of a permanent fixed dental prosthesis (FDP), and to identify potential failure risk factors.!##!Material and methods!#!A randomized controlled trial of 300 participants in need of a core build-up to restore a vital abutment tooth before prosthetic treatment was conducted. Participants were assigned by stratified block randomization to one of three study groups: Rebilda DC (RDC), Clearfil DC Core (CDC), or Multicore Flow (MF). Test teeth were prepared by use of the respective manufacturer's adhesive system. The total-etch technique was used for RDC and MF, and the self-etch technique for CDC. Participants were treated by dentists (n = 150) or dental students (n = 150). Failure rates of core build-ups before incorporation of FDPs were investigated using univariate and multiple logistic regression.!##!Results!#!The overall failure rate was 8% (n = 23). Rate differences between the three investigated groups did not reach statistical significance (p &amp;gt; 0.05). The mean time between placement of core build-ups and placement of fixed dental prostheses was 12.2 (SD: 14.2) weeks. Conversely, larger cavities (&amp;gt; 3 surfaces) and treatment by dental students were independently associated with an increased failure risk (p &amp;lt; 0.05).!##!Conclusions!#!The main risk factors for early failure seem to be the size of the core build-up and clinical experience of the operator, whereas failure rates of core build-up materials combined with a self-etch approach seem to be similar to the rates of materials combined with the total-etch technique.!##!Clinical significance!#!This research article should give clinicians an impression of the short-term performance of different adhesively retained core build-ups using different adhesive techniques/materials. Moreover, predominant influencing factors for the success or failure should be pictured

Correlations between sleep bruxism and temporomandibular disorders

The aim of this study was to identify correlations between sleep bruxism (SB) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) as diagnosed by means of the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD). Sleep bruxism was diagnosed on the basis of I) validated questionnaires, II) clinical symptoms, and III) electromyographic/electrocardiographic data. A total of 110 subjects were included in the study. Fifty-eight patients were identified as bruxers and 52 as nonbruxers. A psychosocial assessment was also performed. An RDC/TMD group-I diagnosis (myofascial pain) was made for 10 out of 58 bruxers, whereas none of the nonbruxers received a diagnosis of this type. No significant differences were found between bruxers and nonbruxers with regard to RDC/TMD group-II (disc displacement) and group-III (arthralgia, arthritis, arthrosis) diagnoses. Somatization was significantly more common among bruxers than nonbruxers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that somatization was the only factor significantly correlated with the diagnosis of myofascial pain. The results of this study indicate a correlation between myofascial pain, as diagnosed using the RDC/TMD, and somatization. It seems that somatization is a stronger predictor of an RDC/TMD diagnosis of myofascial pain than sleep bruxism is

Ceramic Crowns and Sleep Bruxism: First Results from a Randomized Trial

Background: This randomized clinical trial was conducted to assess whether sleep bruxism (SB) is associated with an increased rate of technical complications (ceramic defects) in lithium disilicate (LiDi) or zirconia (Z) molar single crowns (SCs). Methods: Adult patients were classified as affected or unaffected by SB based on structured questionnaires, clinical signs, and overnight portable electromyography (BruxOff) and block randomized into four groups according to SB status and crown material (LiDi or Z): LiDi-SB (n = 29), LiDi-no SB (n = 24), Z-SB (n = 23), and Z-no SB (n = 27). Differences in technical complications (main outcome) and survival and success rates (secondary outcomes) one year after crown cementation were assessed using Fisher’s exact test with significance level α = 0.05. Results: No technical complications occurred. Restoration survival rates were 100% in the LiDi-SB and LiDi-no SB groups, 95.7% in the Z-SB group, and 96.3% in the Z-no SB group (p > 0.999). Success rates were 96.6% in the LiDi-SB group, 95.8% in the LiDi-no SB group (p > 0.999), 91.3% in the Z-SB group, and 96.3% in the Z-no SB group (p ≥ 0.588). Conclusions: With a limited observation time and sample size, no effect of SB on technical complication, survival, and success rates of molar LiDi and Z SCs was detected