No abstract

Dental caries is considered a diet-mediated disease, as sugars are essential in the caries process. However, some gaps in knowledge about the sugars-caries relationship still need addressing. This longitudinal study aimed to explore 1) the shape of the dose-response association between sugars intake and caries in adults, 2) the relative contribution of frequency and amount of sugars intake to caries levels, and 3) whether the association between sugars intake and caries varies by exposure to fluoride toothpaste. We used data from 1,702 dentate adults who participated in at least 2 of 3 surveys in Finland (Health 2000, 2004/05 Follow-up Study of Adults' Oral Health, and Health 2011). Frequency and amount of sugars intake were measured with a validated food frequency questionnaire. The DMFT index was the repeated outcome measure. Data were analyzed with fractional polynomials and linear mixed effects models. None of the 43 fractional polynomials tested provided a better fit to the data than the simpler linear model. In a mutually adjusted linear mixed effects model, the amount of, but not the frequency of, sugars intake was significantly associated with DMFT throughout the follow-up period. Furthermore, the longitudinal association between amount of sugars intake and DMFT was weaker in adults who used fluoride toothpaste daily than in those using it less often than daily. The findings of this longitudinal study among Finnish adults suggest a linear dose-response relationship between sugars and caries, with amount of intake being more important than frequency of ingestion. Also, daily use of fluoride toothpaste reduced but did not eliminate the association between amount of sugars intake and dental caries.

Enzymes and end-products of type I collagen degradation have different associations with each other and with periodontal status that may reflect their roles in the cascade leading to alveolar bone loss. MMP-8 is a strong biomarker candidate for detecting alveolar bone destruction.

There was similar support for the lifecourse models of critical period, accumulation and social trajectories. They collectively contribute to a better understanding of oral health inequalities.

In the present study, we propose a novel diagnostic approach, using 3 different salivary markers, representing periodontal pathogen burden, inflammation, and tissue degradation, for detecting periodontitis. The salivary concentrations of Porphyromonas gingivalis, interleukin-1β, and matrix metalloproteinase-8, available from salivary specimens of 165 subjects (84 subjects with advanced periodontitis and 81 controls), were calculated together to obtain a cumulative risk score (CRS). In the calculation of CRS, the concentrations of each marker were divided into tertiles, and cumulative sub-score per each subject were calculated by the multiplication of the tertile values. Three CRS groups, indicating the lowest, medium, or highest risk, were formed with the cumulative sub-scores. Logistic regression analysis and ROC curves were performed to study the association of CRS with periodontitis. The results indicate that CRS, calculated from the 3 salivary biomarkers, is associated with advanced periodontitis more strongly than any of the markers individually. CRS offers a novel, non-invasive model for advanced periodontitis risk categorization that is especially useful in large population surveys where a periodontal examination is not feasible.

No abstract

AP occurred principally in subjects and teeth with root fillings. Inadequate root fillings doubled the risk of AP. An improvement in the technical quality of root canal treatment is essential.

The carriage of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis is the strongest determinant of the systemic antibody response to these pathogens, and the extent of periodontitis has at most a modest modifying effect.