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The aim of the present study was to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) impairment in patients seeking care for their hypersensitive teeth in comparison with general population subjects and to investigate the influence of gender and age on OHRQoL in these populations. Study participants were 656 patients without removable prosthodontics who sought treatment for their hypersensitive teeth in German dental offices. These patients were asked to complete the German form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G) prior to treatment. The sum of OHIP-G item responses (OHIP-G49, 0-196) characterized the OHRQoL impairment. Patients' OHIP summary scores were compared with those in a sample of the German general population (n = 1541). The influence of population (patients vs. general population subjects), gender and age was investigated using a multivariable linear regression model. Age presented a curvilinear association with OHRQoL, with lower OHIP scores associated with younger and older adults and higher OHIP scores (indicating impaired OHRQoL) associated with middle-aged adults in both the patient and general populations. Gender influence depended on the population, i.e. female general population subjects had lower OHIP scores than male general population subjects and female patients had higher OHIP scores than male patients. Mean OHIP summary scores indicated that patients with hypersensitive teeth reported considerably more impaired OHRQoL (approximately 22 OHIP units) than subjects in the general population. The present study suggests that the oral condition of hypersensitive teeth is significantly associated with impaired OHRQoL.

The aims of this study were to develop a German version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14, a measure of oral health-related quality of life in 11-14-year-old children) and to assess the instrument's reliability and validity in German children ages 11-14. The English original version of the CPQ11-14 questionnaire was translated into German (CPQ-G11-14) by a forward-backward translation method. Reliability was investigated in 1,061 subjects aged 11-14 years from a regional sample (Wernigerode, Saxonia-Anhalt, Germany) who were recruited during the annual dental public health examination. The subjects completed the CPQ-G11-14 and were clinically examined for the presence of dental caries, plaque accumulation, and malocclusion. In the reliability assessment, questionnaire summary score test-retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83, 0.73-0.94) and internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha, lower limit of CI = 0.87, 0.86). Validity of the CPQ-G11-14 questionnaire was supported by correlations with global ratings of oral health and overall well-being that were moderate in magnitude and met expectations (r = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.30-0.40 and r = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.24-0.35, respectively). In conclusion, the German version of the CPQ11-14 was reliable and valid in a general population of 11-14-year-old German children.

Even in the 21st century, dental caries is considered a global burden, severely upsetting the health and quality of life of those affected. Apart from the usage of fluoride and regular oral hygiene, one of the most important prophylactic approaches against the occurrence of caries is the sealing of pits and fissures. However, the rapid progress of new materials and applications for sealing pits and fissures also raises new questions about their correct application. Recent literature on pit and fissure sealing, caries prevention, as well as caries risk assessment for both children and adults was reviewed. This report provides a general overview of pit and fissure sealing, the materials used for sealing occlusal surfaces, as well as indications and possible side effects. The conclusions are that sealing pit and fissures of primary and permanent teeth is an effective method for preventing and arresting caries. However, regular checkups must be conducted to avoid advanced tooth decay attributable to leakages in the sealing.

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