Smoking and tooth discolouration: findings from a national cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a risk factor of a number of oral diseases; the extent to which tobacco products influence dental aesthetics has not been widely investigated. The aim of this study was to determine satisfaction with own tooth colour of smokers and non-smokers and to investigate whether smokers have higher levels of self-assessed tooth discolouration compared to non-smokers METHODS: A cross sectional national study was conducted on sample of 6,000 UK adults. A total of 3,384 adults was interviewed. Smoking behaviour was recorded together with satisfaction with own tooth colour. Prevalence of perceived discolouration was measured by asking respondents to match their own tooth colour to one of a set of seven photographs of differing severities of discolouration. RESULTS: Twenty eight percent of smokers reported having moderate and severe levels of tooth discolouration compared to 15% in non-smokers. As well as more often perceiving discolouration smokers were also more likely to be dissatisfied with their own tooth colour compared to non-smokers. CONCLUSION: The study provides further evidence of the negative impact of tobacco smoking on dental aesthetics in the general public. The evidence provided by the study may be of value in short interventions for smoking cessation in the dental setting

Are there good reasons for the fluoride labelling of food and drink?

It is important to control systemic fluoride intake from food and drink in early childhoodto minimise risk of dental fluorosis whilst maximising caries prevention. A study of commercially-available food and drinks found a wide range of fluoridecontent (μg fluoride per 100 g of the product). Comprehensive fluoride labelling is needed on food and drink products in the UK, particularly those used by infants and young children

Disparities in self reported oral health problems among a young Syrian adult population

Objective: To describe the prevalence of dental pain and other oral health problems among a young Syrian adult population and to identify socio-demographic factors associated with these experiences. Subjects: An industrial sample of 400 men and women aged 18-34 years from Damascus, Syria. Methods: Study participants were interviewed about their experience of oral health problems in the previous year (1998). Socio-demographic information was collected. Results: 93% (369) of the interviews were completed. The prevalence of oral health problems was high, with 96% (353) of respondents claiming that they experienced one or more problems in the previous year. Two thirds of participants (65%, 239) claimed they had dental pain in the previous year. Analysis revealed that dental pain experience was significantly associated with age and gender. Analysis considering all factors revealed that the odds of experiencing dental pain were higher amongst the younger age group (18-24 compared to 25-34 year-olds). Conclusion: The prevalence of oral health problems was high among the population studied. Socio-demographic variations in experience of dental pain were apparent, with young men of lower education having the greatest odds of dental pain experience in the previous year.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Perception and expectation. What do patients really want from the dental treatment?

ABSTRACTObjective The aim of this study was to investigate the subjective aspects related to the perception of dental appearance and expectations of patients who receive dental treatment in graduation clinics of the Araçatuba Dental School.Methods It was evaluated 362 patients of both gender aged over 18. The questionnaire included questions of demographic data, questions to assess facial and dental aesthetics, dental satisfaction and treatments considering patients notion to improve dental esthetics. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test.Results The factor teeth for facial analysis and factor positioning in the arch for smile analysis were considered the most important subjects regarding the esthetic according to the respondents. 67.5% of patients were dissatisfied with the appearance of their teeth, and dissatisfaction with the color was the most important factor (66.8%). The treatment most desired was tooth whitening and 85.0% of patients said yes to it.Conclusion Respondents place great value on the teeth on the face appearance, and it can be seen that aesthetic treatments are highly valued in all age groups. There is a need for treatments to restore the function, but treatments to improve dental appearance were the most requested.RESUMOObjetivo Avaliar os aspectos subjetivos relacionados à percepção da aparência dental e expectativas de pacientes que recebem tratamento odontológico nas clínicas de graduação da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba.Métodos Foram avaliados 362 pacientes de ambos os sexos com idade superior a 18. O questionário incluiu perguntas sobre dados demográficos, perguntas para avaliar a estética facial e dentária, a satisfação dental e tratamentos considerando a noção dos pacientes de melhorar a estética dental. Os dados coletados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e o teste do qui-quadrado.Resultados O fator dentes para análise facial e o fator posicionamento no arco para análise sorriso foram considerados os temas mais importantes a respeito da estética, de acordo com os entrevistados. 67,5% dos pacientes estavam insatisfeitos com a aparência de seus dentes, a insatisfação com a cor foi o fator mais importante (66,8%). O tratamento mais desejado foi o clareamento dental e 85,0% dos pacientes disse sim a ele.Conclusão Os pacientes dão grande valor aos dentes sobre a aparência rosto, e ele pode ser visto que os tratamentos estéticos são altamente valorizados em todos os grupos etários. Há uma necessidade de tratamentos para restabelecer a função, mas os tratamentos para melhorar a aparência dentária foram os mais solicitados