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To evaluate limitations in jaw function, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and nutritional status during extensive oral rehabilitation procedures. Fourteen participants (mean age ± SD: 70 ± 3.8) undergoing major oral rehabilitation involving the restoration of a minimum of eight teeth were recruited in the study. Jaw function limitations scores (JFLS), oral health-impact profile (OHIP), and nutritional status were measured at different time points during, six months, and one year after the rehabilitation procedures. Nutritional status was evaluated by measuring the body weight and arm and calf muscle circumference. The effect of time points on the measured variables was evaluated with Friedman's test. Trends in nutritional status were evaluated with linear regression analysis. The results of the analysis showed significant main effects of time points on the JLFS (p <.001) and OHIP scores (p =.005). However, there was no effect of time points on the body weight (p =.917) and calf muscle circumference (p =.424), but a significant effect on arm circumference (p =.038). Further, there was a decreasing trend for body weight (64.3%), arm (71.4%), and calf circumference (64.3%) in the majority of the patients. The results of the preliminary study suggest that people undergoing extensive oral rehabilitation procedures show improvement in jaw function and an increase in OHRQoL after the rehabilitation procedure. Despite no major changes in the nutritional indicators, most patients showed a negative trend in their body weight, arm circumference, and calf circumference, suggesting that they may be susceptible to nutritional changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim was to retrospectively evaluate the frequencies of different complications, as well as the number of visits to dentists because of such complications, after treatment with implant-supported fixed prostheses. Materials and Methods: The study group comprised 75 patients who had been treated with implant-supported fixed prostheses 3 years earlier. All case records were scrutinized, and notes of complications in association with implants and superstructures were registered. Results: The most common intervention made was occlusal adjustment/selective grinding of the prostheses. Complications in association with both implants and superstructures were fairly common. The most frequent complication was fractures of the acrylic resin matrix, including artificial acrylic resin teeth. Consultations because of periimplant mucosal inflammation were much more common among women compared to men, while complications that could be attributed to heavy loading tended to be more common in men. Conclusion: Complications with both implants and superstructures are fairly common after treatment with implant-supported fixed prostheses. Regular follow-ups to maintain optimal function in these patients are thus mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to compare data on dental care habits and knowledge of oral health in four cross-sectional epidemiological studies carried out in 1973,1983,1993, and 2003. The 1973 study constituted a random sample of 1,000 individuals evenly distributed in the age groups 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 years. The same age groups with addition of a group of 80-year-olds were included in the 1983, 1993 and 2003 studies, which comprised 1,104, 1,078, and 987 individuals, respectively. A questionnaire about dental care habits and knowledge of oral health was used in connection with a clinical and radiographic examination. The same questions were used in all the four studies. An addition to the 1993 and 2003 investigations were questions concerning ethnic background. In 2003 approximately 90-95 per cent of all individuals were visiting the dentist on a regular basis every or every second year. The 30- and 40-yea r-olds, however, did not visit a dentist as regularly in 2003 as in 1993. In these age groups 21-24 per cent of the individuals, respectively, reported that they had not visited a dentist in the last 2 years. Almost all children 3-15 years old received their dental care within the Public Dental Service (PDS). During the period 1973-2003 an increase in percentage of individuals aged 20-50 years treated by the PDS was seen compared to private practice, while among 60-80 year-olds there were only minor changes. Most so-year-olds and older received their dental care by private practitioners. About 70-80 per cent of all adults in 2003 were enrolled in a recall system on the dentist's initiative while in 1973 most appointments were based on the patient's own initiative. The number of individuals who were frightened, 5-17 per cent, or felt discomfort at the prospect of an appointment with the dentist was more or less the same during the whole period. The knowledge of the etiology of dental diseases did not changed much between 1973 and 2003. The frequency of toothbrushing increased since 1973 and in 2003 more than 90 per cent of all individuals brushed their teeth twice or once a day. The use of dental floss and toothpicks decreased in 2003 compared to 1983 and 1993. Almost all individuals in 2003 used fluoride toothpaste. It was obvious that the dental team constituted the main source of dental health information. For the age groups 20 and 30 years information from friends and relatives was also important. In the age groups 3-20 years up to 45 per cent of the individuals were consuming soft drinks every day or several times a week.

The aim of this epidemiological study was to analyze various clinical and radiographic data on oral health and compare the results to those of three cross-sectional studies carried out in 1973 and 1983, and 1993. In 1973, 1983, 1993, and 2003 a random sample of 1,000; 1,104; 1,078; and 987 individuals, respectively, were studied. The individuals were evenly distributed in the age groups 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 years. In 1973 80-year-olds were not included. All subjects were inhabitants of the City of Jönköping, Sweden. The clinical and radiographic examination assessed edentulousness, removable dentures, implants, number of teeth, caries, restorations and overhangs, oral hygiene, calculus, periodontal status, endodontic treatment, and periapical status. The number of edentulous individuals in the age groups 40-70 years was reduced from 16 per cent in 1973 to 8 per cent in 1993, and to 1 per cent in 2003. The mean number of teeth increased, and up to the age of 60 years, individuals had more or less complete dentitions. During the 30-year period,the number of carious lesions and restorations decreased in general. In the 15-year-olds the decrease in number of restored tooth surfaces was 900 per cent and the corresponding figure for 30-year-olds was 79 per cent. The age groups 60-800 years showed an increase in number of restored tooth surfaces and had as a mean 50 filled tooth surfaces. The oral health among 3-5-year-olds improved markedly between 1973 and 1993. In 2003, however, there was no further improvement in 3- and 5-year-olds compared to 1993. Generally, restorations in 2003 exhibited a high quality and 90-95 per cent had no proximal overhangs. In 1973 this figure was about 60 per cent. In the age groups 20-50 years there were continuously fewer teeth fitted with crowns or bridges during the 30-year period. In 1973 the 50-year-olds had a mean of 24.5 per cent of the teeth crowned and in 2003 6.8 percent. Compared to data from 1973 there was a reduction by half concerning occurrence of plaque and gingivitis in 2003. The frequency of individuals with one or more periodontal pockets (> or = 4 mm) increased with age. In 2003 the bone level at the age of 60 years corresponded to the bone level at the age of 40 years in 1973. The percentage of endodontically treated teeth was lower in 2003 in all age groups compared to 1973, 1983, and 1993. The percentage of endodontically treated teeth with periapical orjuxtaradicular destructions was generally lower in 2003 than in the earlier surveys, about 20 per cent in 2003 compared to 25-30 per cent in 1973,1983, and 1993. The comparison of the four studies shows that there has been a great overall improvement in oral health over this 30-year period.