BMC Oral Health最新文献

Background: Armed conflict disrupts healthcare access and exacerbates oral diseases. Ukraine had high baseline caries prevalence prior to the 2022 conflict. This pilot study aimed to describe oral health status and associated factors among residents of conflict-affected Ukrainian communities during a humanitarian mission.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2025 at mobile dental clinics in three communities (Korosten, Medzhybizh, Ternopil). Fifty-four participants (6 children aged 7-12, 2 adolescents aged 13-17, 46 adults aged ≥ 18) underwent oral examinations using the DMFT index (WHO criteria) by a single calibrated examiner. Intra-examiner reliability was assessed through re-evaluation of 30 consecutive patients within a one-month period (86.7% agreement rate). A translated questionnaire assessed oral hygiene practices and lifestyle factors. Descriptive and regression analyses explored factors associated with caries experience.

Results: Mean DMFT was 12.65 (SD 8.10), predominantly affecting posterior teeth (9.61 vs. anterior 3.04). Age-specific analysis showed marked differences: children 3.67 (SD 2.88), adolescents 4.00 (SD 5.66), adults 14.20 (SD 7.69). The high missing teeth component among adults (mean 7.10) indicates substantial accumulated disease burden. Age was the only significant predictor of DMFT (β = 0.23, p < 0.001). Oral hygiene behaviors showed no significant association with caries outcomes.

Conclusions: This pilot study documented high caries burden among conflict-affected Ukrainian residents, with adults bearing the greatest accumulated burden. The predominance of missing teeth suggests cumulative damage reflecting both endemic disease and conflict-related care disruptions. These preliminary findings may inform targeted oral health interventions in humanitarian settings.

Background: Aberrant DNA methylation is a cancer hallmark with diagnostic and prognostic potential. This study aimed to investigate the methylation status of SOX1 and PAX1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and explore their associations with clinicopathological features and patient prognosis.

Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort of 164 OSCC patients was analyzed. Methylation levels of SOX1 and PAX1 were detected using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (Q-MSP) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues and 88 matched normal tissues. Associations with clinicopathological parameters (tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage) and survival outcomes.

Results: OSCC tumor tissues exhibited significantly higher methylation indices (M-index) for both SOX1 (273.32 vs. 93.57, P = 0.039) and PAX1 (720.92 vs. 108.52, P < 0.0001) compared to adjacent normal tissues, with methylation positivity rates of 56.71% and 73.78%, respectively. Stratified analysis revealed SOX1 methylation positivity was strongly associated with larger tumor size (T stage, χ²=8.04, P = 0.045), lymph node metastasis (N stage, χ²=4.27, P = 0.039), and advanced clinical stage (χ²= 8.33, P = 0.040). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed patients with SOX1-methylated tumors had significantly shorter DFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31-0.92, P = 0.03), whereas PAX1 methylation status did not correlate with DFS or OS. Combined detection of SOX1 and PAX1 methylation improved sensitivity to 81.71% for OSCC diagnosis.

Conclusion: Promoter hypermethylation of SOX1 and PAX1 was a frequent event in OSCC, with SOX1 methylation specifically linked to aggressive clinicopathological features and poorer disease-free survival. These findings highlighted SOX1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and PAX1 as a candidate diagnostic marker, warranting further validation in multi-center cohorts to inform epigenetic-targeted strategies in oral oncology.

Statement of problem: Moderate coronal destruction cases have recently been repaired using minimally invasive adhesive overlays with varying cavity depths and occlusal preparations. The optimal cavity preparation (criteria and dimensions) varies according to clinical crown length, patient age and inter occlusal space. Consequently, design and thickness of restoration will affect esthetics, function and fracture resistance necessitates the employment of new materials capable of meeting their full potential. However, there are numerous available materials and different preparation designs. However, there is insufficient data on the selection of appropriate material, preparation thickness and their effect on fracture resistance.

Objective: To evaluate the fracture resistance of chairside (CAD/CAM) lithium disilicate using two diverse overlay restoration designs for premolars.

Materials and methods: Specimens were prepared using a CNC milling machine, according to two different overlay designs: (A) overlay with 2 mm cavity depth & 1.5 mm occlusal thickness, (B) overlay with 1.5 mm cavity depth & 2 mm occlusal thickness. 42 restorations were designed and fabricated with a chairside CAD/CAM system (Mc XL, Dentsply Sirona) using 3 CAD/CAM lithium disilicate blocks (IPS e.max CAD, Amber Mill, CEREC Tessers) (14 specimens/group). Restorations were luted to 3D printed resin dies using standard resin luting cement (Breeze, Pentron) and then loaded with a steel indenter until fracture. The group findings were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, and the medians were assessed independently using Kruskal-Wallis. The null hypothesis states that there will be no significant difference in the fracture resistance between the three CAD/CAM lithium disilicate materials and the two preparation designs.

Results: The fracture force of CAD/CAM lithium disilicate restorations varied significantly based on the restoration design. Among the two overlays, the restorations with design A showed significantly higher fracture force than the restorations with design B (p < 0.001). Within design A: there was no significant difference between the materials. Within design B: there was a significant difference in fracture resistance between materials.

Conclusions: Design A, including more cavity depth (2 mm) related to less occlusal reduction(1.5 mm) provides more fracture resistance values than design B using lithium disilicate overlay preparation design. Preparation design has a great effect on fracture resistance values of overlay restorations, while material type has negligible effect. Despite the presence of additional virgilite crystals in CT, it did not produce any increase in fracture resistance.