A pilot study combining individual-based smoking cessation counseling, pharmacotherapy, and dental hygiene intervention

BACKGROUND: Dentists are in a unique position to advise smokers to quit by providing effective counseling on the various aspects of tobacco-induced diseases. The present study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of integrating dentists in a medical smoking cessation intervention. METHODS: Smokers willing to quit underwent an 8-week smoking cessation intervention combining individual-based counseling and nicotine replacement therapy and/or bupropion, provided by a general internist. In addition, a dentist performed a dental exam, followed by an oral hygiene treatment and gave information about chronic effects of smoking on oral health. Outcomes were acceptability, global satisfaction of the dentist's intervention, and smoking abstinence at 6-month. RESULTS: 39 adult smokers were included, and 27 (69%) completed the study. Global acceptability of the dental intervention was very high (94% yes, 6% mostly yes). Annoyances at the dental exam were described as acceptable by participants (61% yes, 23% mostly yes, 6%, mostly no, 10% no). Participants provided very positive qualitative comments about the dentist counseling, the oral exam, and the resulting motivational effect, emphasizing the feeling of oral cleanliness and health that encouraged smoking abstinence. At the end of the intervention (week 8), 17 (44%) participants reported smoking abstinence. After 6 months, 6 (15%, 95% CI 3.5 to 27.2) reported a confirmed continuous smoking abstinence. DISCUSSION: We explored a new multi-disciplinary approach to smoking cessation, which included medical and dental interventions. Despite the small sample size and non-controlled study design, the observed rate was similar to that found in standard medical care. In terms of acceptability and feasibility, our results support further investigations in this field. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN67470159

Long-term effects of tongue piercing — a case control study

The aim of this study was to evaluate tooth and periodontal damage in subjects wearing a tongue piercing (TP) in comparison to matched control subjects without tongue piercing. Members of the German Federal Armed Forces who had TP (group TP) and a matched control group (group C) volunteered to take part in the study. The time in situ, localization and material of TP were documented. Dental examinations included DMF-T, oral hygiene, enamel fissures (EF), enamel cracks (EC) and recessions. Statistical analysis was determined by χ2 test and the t test. Both groups had 46 male subjects (mean age 22.1 years). The piercings had been in situ for 3.8 ± 3.1 years. Subjects in the TP group had a total of 1,260 teeth. Twenty-nine subjects had 115 teeth (9.1%) with EF (67% lingual). In group C (1,243 teeth), 30 subjects had 60 teeth with EF (4.8%, 78% vestibular) (p < 0.01). Thirty-eight subjects belonging to group TP had EC in 186 teeth (15%). In group C, 26 subjects with 56 teeth (4.5%) were affected by EC (p < 0.001). Twenty-seven subjects in group TP had 97 teeth (7.7%) with recessions. Lingual surfaces of anterior teeth in the lower jaw were affected most frequently (74%). In group C, 8 subjects had 19 teeth (1.5%) with recessions (65% vestibular). Differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Tongue piercing is correlated with an increased occurrence of enamel fissures, enamel cracks and lingual recessions. Patients need better information on the potential complications associated with tongue piercing

Diffusion of peroxides through dentine in vitro with and without prior use of a desensitizing varnish

Different bleaching regimens are used in dentistry possibly penetrating the dentine and affecting the pulp. The aim of the present study was to investigate peroxide diffusion through dentine pre-treated with a desensitizing varnish (Vivasens®) in a standardized in vitro setup during application of different bleaching materials. The penetration was tested using 1.3-mm-thick bovine dentine slabs. The following bleaching materials were tested with and without prior application of the desensitizing varnish on the external side of the dentine slabs: Vivastyle, Whitestrips, Simply White, Opalescence (external bleaching), and sodium perborate (internal bleaching, only tested without varnish; n = 8 samples per subgroup). The penetration of peroxides was measured photometrically using 4-aminoantipyrin as a substrate, the penetration of peroxides was monitored over 240 min. All bleaching agents yielded a diffusion of peroxides through the dentine, the kinetics of penetration were approximately linear for all materials tested. The significantly highest diffusion of peroxides was observed with Opalescence, the lowest with sodium perborate. The adoption of the desensitizing varnish reduced the diffusion of peroxides significantly for all external bleaching materials. Peroxides penetrated the dentine during application of bleaching materials; the penetration of peroxides can be reduced by application of a desensitizing agent

Klinische Untersuchung zur Auswirkung einer Botulinumtoxin-Injektionstherapie bei oromandibulären Dysfunktionen auf das stomatognathe System

Einleitung: Ziel der Untersuchung war, bei Patienten mit oromandibulären Dysfunktionen die Auswirkung einer Botulinumtoxin-Injektionstherapie auf das stomatognathe System zu untersuchen. Zudem sollte der Mundgesundheitszustand erfasst werden.Methoden: 20 Patienten mit diagnostizierter oromandibulärer Dystonie (OMD=6), Meige-Syndrom (MS=11) und craniomandibulärer Dysfunktion (CMD=3) unter Botulinumtoxin-Injektionstherapie wurden einbezogen. Alle Patienten wurden Baseline (BL: Botulinumtoxin-Injektion) zahnärztlich untersucht: Befund (kariöse, fehlende, gefüllte Zähne (n=28): DMF-T), Funktions- (RDC/TMD) sowie Parodontalstatus. Zudem wurde die mundgesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität (MLQ) erfasst (OHIP). Nach 2 (t1) und 8 Wochen (t2) erfolgte eine Nachuntersuchung von RDC/TMD und OHIP. Ergebnisse: Durchschnittlich waren 22,2±7,6 Zähne kariös, fehlend oder gefüllt; Anteil fehlender Zähne: 12,0±9,7. 19 Patienten hatten eine Parodontitis. Gesichtsschmerzen waren BL bei 10 Patienten festzustellen. Das Schmerzempfinden konnte von BL: 4,9±0,6 (n=10) zu t1: 2,6±3,4 (n=5, p<0,01) und t2: 3,8±2,3 (n=5, p=0,72) reduziert werden. Die aktive Mundöffnung ohne Schmerzbeteiligung (n=7) konnte von BL (41,7±9,6 mm) zu t1 (45,4±8,7 mm) gesteigert werden; zu t2 (40,3±11,3 mm) war eine erneute Reduktion festzustellen (p=0,35). Die MLQ aller Patienten betrug durchschnittlich 10,8±10,4; bei den nachuntersuchten Patienten war eine Reduktion des OHIP von BL: 12,1±10,8 zu t1: 7,0±5,5 detektierbar (p=0,06).Schlussfolgerung: Eine Botulinumtoxin-Injektion führt bei Patienten mit oromandibulären Dysfunktionen zu einer besseren und schmerzreduzierten Funktion des stomatognathen Systems. Die aktive (max.) Mundöffnung ist dabei ohne Schmerz kurzfristig vergrößert. Zudem wird die MLQ positiv beeinflusst.Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenkonflikt an