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Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health

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A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 8314

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. José João Mendes

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Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal
Interests: oral health; public dental health; periodontitis; periodontal disease; noncommunicable disease burden
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to extend an invitation for you to contribute to a Special Issue on clinical advances in dental medicine and oral health. This field has witnessed remarkable progress due to cutting-edge research and technological innovations. Dental medicine and oral health play a critical role in overall well-being, impacting speech, nutrition, and systemic health. The significance of this research area lies in its potential to enhance patient outcomes, develop preventive strategies, and transform treatment modalities.

The goal of this Special Issue is to explore current developments in dental medicine and oral health, with the aim of connecting research with clinical application. By examining a diverse range of topics within this domain, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current trends and future directions. Our goal is to assemble a collection of at least 10 articles that highlight innovative insights, methodologies and interventions, fostering dialogue among researchers, clinicians and educators. The subject matter aligns seamlessly with the scope of our journal, ensuring relevance and impact within our scholarly community.

We welcome original research articles and reviews that explore various aspects of dental medicine and oral health. Potential topics for submission may encompass, but are not confined to, emerging diagnostic methods and imaging technologies; innovative therapeutic approaches and biomaterials; advancements in periodontology and implantology; breakthroughs in orthodontics and oral surgery; precision medicine and customized treatment strategies; integrated approaches to oral healthcare delivery; research on the oral microbiome and its implications; public health initiatives and community-based interventions; patient-centered outcomes and assessments of the quality of life; and meta-research studies within this field.

We encourage contributions that showcase interdisciplinary collaborations, cross-cutting methodologies and translational research endeavors. Together, let us explore the frontiers of dental medicine and oral health, driving innovation and excellence in patient care.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Warm regards,

Prof. Dr. José João Mendes
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

dental medicine
periodontal medicine
oral health
oral–systemic axis
public health
epidemiology
translational medicine
one health

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 996 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oral Health and Quality of Life in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Key Findings from a Romanian Study

by Ramona Dumitrescu, Vanessa Bolchis, Simona Popescu, Adriana Ivanescu, Adrian Bolos, Daniela Jumanca and Atena Galuscan

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(2), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14020400 - 10 Jan 2025

Viewed by 527

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with various oral health complications that can negatively impact quality of life. Despite evidence of the relationship between diabetes and oral health issues, limited research exists on the perceptions, behaviors, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of diabetic patients in Romania. This study aims to evaluate self-reported oral health, knowledge, behaviors, and OHRQoL among diabetic patients in western Romania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in early 2024 at Pius Brinzeu County Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, involving 121 patients with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires that assessed oral health status, behaviors, and OHRQoL, with the OHIP-14 instrument employed for quality-of-life measurement. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and correlation analyses to identify the predictors of oral health knowledge and OHRQoL. Results: Participants (mean age: 63.24 years; 52.1% female; 60.5% urban residents) reported significant oral health challenges. Over half (56.2%) did not visit a dentist regularly, with financial constraints identified as the primary barrier (23.5%). Oral hygiene practices were suboptimal: only 38.0% brushed twice daily, while 78.5% used fluoride toothpaste. Auxiliary hygiene tools, such as mouthwash and toothpicks, were rarely used (13.22% and 11.57%, respectively). Regression analyses identified the significant predictors of oral health knowledge, including tooth mobility (β = 0.33, p < 0.01) and brushing frequency (β = −0.18, p < 0.05). The mean OHIP-14 score (0.55) indicated a moderate impact on OHRQoL, with domains such as psychological discomfort and social disability revealing nuanced challenges. Conclusions: Diabetic patients in Romania face oral health challenges and care barriers, emphasizing the need for preventive strategies, oral health education, and integrated diabetes care. Addressing these gaps can improve oral health outcomes and overall quality of life in this vulnerable population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health)

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12 pages, 261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Elderly Romanian Edentulous Patients: Implant-Supported Versus Conventional Complete Dentures

by Denisa Tabita Sabău, Abel Emanuel Moca, Raluca Iulia Juncar, Teofana Bota and Mihai Juncar

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(22), 6865; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13226865 - 14 Nov 2024

Viewed by 661

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The integration of quality of life (QoL) assessments into dental health evaluations acknowledges the profound impact of oral health on overall well-being. This study aims to compare the impact of implant-supported complete dentures versus conventional complete dentures on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in elderly Romanian edentulous patients. Methods: This longitudinal study involved 93 initially recruited edentulous patients, with 52 completing the study over an 18-month period. Data collection utilized the OHIP-5 questionnaire, assessing the OHRQoL at baseline with conventional dentures and three months post-implant-supported denture placement. Ethical approval was secured from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy University of Oradea, adhering to the Helsinki Declaration principles. A statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 and included non-parametric tests for score comparisons and Fisher’s exact test for categorical data. Results: The comparative analysis of the questionnaire responses revealed significant improvements in all five OHRQoL dimensions post-treatment with implant-supported dentures. For instance, the proportion of patients reporting “never” experiencing difficulty chewing any foods increased from 1.9% at baseline to 57.7% post-treatment. Similarly, those reporting “never” experiencing painful aching rose from 3.8% to 76.9%. There was also a notable reduction in discomfort regarding the appearance of mouth, dentures, or jaws from 3.8% reporting “never” at baseline to 75% post-treatment. The improvements in sense of taste and difficulty in performing usual activities saw comparable increases. Conclusions: The findings support the hypothesis that implant-supported complete dentures significantly enhance OHRQoL among elderly edentulous patients compared to conventional dentures, with improvements noted in mastication ability, pain reduction, aesthetics, taste perception, and activity performance. These results underscore the value of prosthetic interventions in dental care to substantially improve patients’ OHRQoL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health)

9 pages, 1046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area by Salivary Lactate Dehydrogenase Level Using a Test Kit

by Koichiro Irie, Satsuki Sato, Yohei Kamata, Yuki Mochida, Takahisa Hirata, Motohiro Komaki and Tatsuo Yamamoto

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(19), 5904; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13195904 - 3 Oct 2024

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Abstract

Background: Salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels are a feasible and useful parameter for screening periodontal diseases. The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) is useful to clinically assess periodontal diseases. However, PISA is difficult to calculate and PISA-compatible screening kits are required. We aimed to investigate the association between salivary LD levels, using a test kit, and PISA and PISA-Japanese and determine the feasibility and reliability of the salivary LD test kit for evaluation of periodontal status. Methods: This study included 110 patients (66.4% female, median and 25–75 percentiles of age were 66.5 and 53.0–75.0 years, respectively) who visited the Dental University Clinic in Japan. Resting saliva samples were collected from each participant and LD levels were evaluated in real time using a kit featuring an integer scale ranging from 1 to 10. PISA and PISA-Japanese were calculated using periodontal parameters. Results: The median salivary LD level was 4.0. The medians of PISA and PISA-Japanese were 46.9 and 61.0, respectively. Salivary LD levels were positively correlated with the bleeding on probing rate (r = 0.626, p < 0.001), PISA (r = 0.560, p < 0.001), and PISA-Japanese (r = 0.581, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that salivary LD levels assessed using the salivary LD kit showed a significantly positive correlation with PISA and PISA-Japanese. In addition, we developed the PISA estimation formula using salivary LD levels measured with a test kit, sex, and age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health)

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8 pages, 246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Child Oral Health Impact Profile—Short Form 19 Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validity for the Portuguese Pediatric Population

by Fanny Laborne, Vanessa Machado, João Botelho and Luísa Bandeira Lopes

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(16), 4725; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13164725 - 12 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1119

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To better understand the impact of different oral conditions on children, several instruments are available to measure oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). To adapt and validate cross-culturally the Child Oral Health Impact Profile—Short Form 19 (COHIP-SF19) questionnaire to the Portuguese language. Methods: The COHIP SF-19 was translated and back-translated, and tested for its reliability and for psychometric properties in children who were aged between 8 and 17 years old. The COHIP-19-PT was tested for its internal consistency, construct validity, content validity, and test–retest reliability. Results: The COHIP-19-PT revealed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88) and test–retest reliability (interclass correlation = 0.78). The CFA analysis confirmed the structure of COHIP-19-PT. The first-order model showed an adequate fit: GFI = 0.878; CFI = 0.812; RMSEA = 0.083 (90% CI: 0.077–0.090). No invariance was found for the gender-based groups. The correlation between the sub-scales was also assessed, confirming significant correlations between all subdomains. Conclusions: The COHIP-19-PT is a valid and reliable scale for measuring children’s oral health-related quality of life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health)

12 pages, 1634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy’s Influence on Alpha-Synuclein and Inflammatory Marker Levels: A Pilot Study

by Patrícia Lyra, João Botelho, Silvia Rota, Karolina Poplawska-Domaszewicz, Vanessa Machado, Daniela Guerreiro, Luís Proença, Helena Barroso, José João Mendes and Kallol Ray Chaudhuri

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(12), 3586; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13123586 - 19 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 882

Abstract

Background: Microbial dysbiosis may contribute to alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) homeostasis disruption, yet the burden of inflammatory periodontal infection and its treatment have never been studied in this regard. We aimed to compare the cytokine and α-Syn levels in the saliva and blood of patients with periodontitis who underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) and those of their healthy counterparts. Methods: Periodontal examination and saliva and blood sample collection were carried out in incoming patients at a university clinic. The periodontitis group (PG) received NSPT. The sample collection and periodontal observation were repeated 30 days after. IL-6, IL1-β and total α-Syn were quantified using immunoassay methods. The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) was calculated as a proxy for periodontal inflammation. Results: Eleven participants formed the PG, and there were fifteen healthy controls (HC). At baseline, no correlation between salivary and plasma α-Syn was found. The salivary α-Syn levels revealed a tendency to decrease 30 days after, particularly in the PD cases. The variation in PISA and α-Syn showed significant correlation. Salivary α-Syn correlated negatively with salivary IL-6 levels at both timepoints in the total sample (rho = −0.394 and rho = −0.451) and in the HC (rho = −0.632 and rho = −0.561). Variations in plasma IL-6 and α-Syn were negatively correlated (rho = −0.518) in the healthy participants. Baseline plasma IL1-β negatively correlated with plasmatic α-Syn at 30 days in the HC (rho = −0.581). Conclusions: Salivary and plasma α-Syn bioavailability operate independently, and periodontal diagnosis was not a confounding factor. Salivary α-Syn levels were significantly affected by NSPT, contrary to plasma levels. These results should be confirmed in future larger and prospective studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health)

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Review

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12 pages, 2362 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dental Hygiene Challenges in Children with Autism: Correlation with Parental Stress: A Scoping Review

by Pablo López Alegría, Síbila Floriano Landim, Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco, Florencia Carmine, Katherine Birditt, Cristian Sandoval and Manuel Martín González

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(16), 4675; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13164675 - 9 Aug 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

Background: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders are shown to have poor periodontal health and dental hygiene habits. Extensive research has revealed that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently encounter heightened levels of stress, despair, and anxiety in comparison to parents of neurotypical children. The aim was to understand the relationship between the dental hygiene of children with ASD and the stress generated in their parents. Methods: A scoping review was carried out to identify any gaps or research opportunities for clinical practice concerning oral care and stress levels in parents in the PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. Results: A total of 139 articles were reviewed. Of these, only 10 met the selection criteria for inclusion. Our results reveal a lack of studies presenting evidence on the topic of poor dental hygiene in children with ASD and high stress levels in their parents. Discussion: There is ample evidence that children with ASD have poor dental hygiene, as well as higher levels of stress in their parents. However, little or no evidence links these two variables. Future studies should focus on this link, which could have practical implications for improving dental care for children with ASD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health)

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24 pages, 779 KiB

Open AccessReview

Evaluating the Quality of Systematic Reviews on Pediatric Sedation in Dentistry: An Umbrella Review

by Carolina Marques, Mafalda Dinis, Vanessa Machado, João Botelho and Luísa Bandeira Lopes

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(12), 3544; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13123544 - 17 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1704

Abstract

Sedation is a depression of a patient’s state of consciousness, induced by medications, that can reach different levels of intensity during a medical procedure. Conscious sedation produces a minimally depressed level of consciousness without impairment of the ability to maintain an open airway, of protective reflexes or of responses to verbal and physical stimulation. This umbrella review is aimed at critically assessing the available systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MA) on sedation in children/adolescents. An electronic database search was conducted that included Pubmed-Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, Scielo, Embase, LILACS and TRIP and the scope of which extended until January 2023. The risk of bias (RoB) of SRs was analyzed using the Measurement Tool to Assess SRs criteria 2 (AMSTAR2). Of 998 entries, 37 SRs were included. In terms of methodological quality, eight studies were assessed as having critically low quality, four studies had low quality, nine studies had moderate quality, and sixteen were considered to be of high quality. Based on the current guidelines, the most employed drugs in pediatric dentistry for sedation are nitrous oxide and midazolam; however, the available evidence supporting their use is insufficient and of low/critically low quality. The combined technique is recommended (nitrous oxide (30–50%) + midazolam). The optimal dose of oral midazolam is 0.75 mg/kg. The level of methodological quality of SRs is expected to increase according to the results and future directions of this umbrella review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health)

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