Oral health may serve as an indicator of overall systemic health, with each disease or condition manifesting differently in the oral cavity. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder in which sickled red blood cells cause blood vessel occlusion and potentially bleeding in specific sites (e.g., gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding). With SCD being one of the most common hereditary diseases in the world, it is essential to understand the disease and improve awareness to better treat this population. While studies have been done to evaluate the oral health of persons with SCD, few have explored the occurrence of gingival bleeding and their experience with dental care. Due to this gap in the literature, the present study investigates the potential relationship between SCD, gingival bleeding, and certain other oral manifestations. Adults with and without SCD responded to an online questionnaire regarding oral health and dental care. The data was collected and analyzed during the 2022 spring semester. The data collected from Qualtrics was downloaded into JASP for statistical analysis. While there was a greater prevalence of gingival bleeding and caries in those with SCD, analysis of the sample showed no significant association between the oral manifestations and SCD. A deeper subgroup analysis suggested that those with SCD and no employment may be at higher risk for dental caries, orofacial pain, and gingival bleeding. Further investigation is necessary to determine the direct effect of the disease. The findings may justify further studies to include clinical evaluations by oral health care providers and larger quantity of participants. A better understanding of the relationship between SCD and oral health may lead to oral hygiene improvement strategies geared explicitly toward persons with SCD.

Background: Studies of gingival bleeding and the effects of antioxidants on extracellular matrix and immunologic and inflammatory responses provide a rationale for hypothesizing that antioxidants reduce the risk for gingival bleeding.Methods: This study evaluated the role of antioxidants as contributing risk factors for gingival bleeding utilizing the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NAHNES III). A sample of 18,825 adults (20 to ≥ 90 years of age), with dental measurement and assessment of serum levels of antioxidants were included in the study. Gingival bleeding was defined as those who had more than 30 percent of gingival bleeding in 28 sites examined. SPSS version 11.0 software and Epi-info 2000 were used to perform the statistical analysis.Results: Using multiple logistic regression in five separate antioxidants, the study showed an association between increased plasma levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and decreased risk for gingival bleeding (OR= 0.33; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.72). An inverse relationship was also found between gingival bleeding and serum levels of beta carotene (OR=1.93; 95% CI 1.05 to 3.54). However, negative association was found between gingival bleeding and vitamin A (OR=2.60; 95% CI 1.04 to 6.50). No statistically significant association was observed between gingival bleeding and serum levels in vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) and selenium.Conclusion: Antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta carotene, were significant risk factors for gingival bleeding. This should be emphasized for improving the oral health of the U.S. adult population.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a relação da gengivite, através da prevalência de sangramento gengival e de cálculo dentário, com fatores associados, em estudantes de 12 anos de escolas públicas da zona urbana de Quito (Equador). Para tanto, selecionou-se uma amostra representativa dessa população, e constituiu-se uma equipe para a avaliação. Tal equipe era composta por três grupos contemplando dois examinadores, dois anotadores e dois monitores de campo. Estes foram reorganizados segundo a divisão geográfica de Quito - regiões Norte, Central e Sul -, e pelas respectivas escolas. A prevalência de sangramento gengival, ajustada pelo desenho do estudo, foi de 92%, enquanto a prevalência de cálculo dentário foi de 69,9%. Dos estudantes examinados, 49% apresentavam sangramento gengival nos seis sextantes, e 5,6% apresentavam cálculo dentário também em todos os sextantes. Em contrapartida, 6,8% dos estudantes apresentavam saúde periodontal, ou seja, não apresentavam nenhum sextante com sangramento, e 26,5% não apresentavam cálculo dentário. Os resultados obtidos permitiram as seguintes conclusões: Dos fatores associados com a gengivite, podemos observar que houve associação significativa entre sangramento gengival e escolaridade dos pais, bem como maloclusão. Além disso, houve associação significativa entre cálculo dentário e escolaridade dos pais, bem como cárie dentária. / The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of gingival bleeding and dental calculus among 12-year-old students enrolled in public schools in the urban zone of Quito (Ecuador). A representative sample was selected. A team of examiners, scorers, and field monitors was trained for the evaluation. The teams were assigned to geographic zones of the City of Quito to assess students of the selected schools. The prevalence rate of gingival bleeding was 92% and the prevalence rate of dental calculus was 69.9%. The 49% of the students in our sample suffered from gingival bleeding in all sextants, and 5.6% presented dental calculus in all sextants. Only 6.8% of the students presented gingival health and 26.5% had no dental calculus. The results obtained allowed the following conclusions: The prevalence of gingival bleeding in students of 12 years of public schools in the urban zone of the city of Quito (Ecuador) was quite high. There was a significant association between gingival bleeding and parental schooling, as well as malocclusion. There was a significant association between dental calculus and parental schooling, as well as dental caries.

Objetivos: Estudar os diferenciais entre os indicadores de cárie dentária e alterações gengivais em escolares de áreas urbanas e rurais do Estado de São Paulo. Material e Métodos. Estudo de corte transversal analítico e ecológico foram os dois delineamentos utilizados. A população de estudo foram estudantes de escolas urbanas e rurais do Estado de São Paulo de 5 a 7 e de 10 a 12 anos; a fonte de informação foi o "Levantamento das Condições de Saúde Bucal - Estado de São Paulo, 1998". Foi estimada a prevalência de cárie dentária (índice ceo-d e CPO-D), do sangramento gengival durante a sondagem e de cálculo dental (índice CPI), para o estudo de associação com características sócio-demográficas dos escolares e indicador de desenvolvimento social (IDH-M) das cidades participantes do levantamento. Foram estimadas as odds ratios ajustadas e não ajustadas, por meio de análise de regressão logística de delineamento de modelos multivariados e multiníveis. O estudo de diferenciais de prevalência entre diferentes regiões do Estado empregou uma classificação de àreas rurais homogêneas pré-existentes. Resultados: Os indicadores de saúde bucal tiveram distibuição desigual entre os estratos, indicando pior condição para a população rural. Estudar em áreas rurais, em escolas públicas, ser negro ou pardo e ser do sexo masculino associaram com a manifestação de cárie não tratada e alterações gengivais, ao nível dos indivíduos. No modelo multinível, a presença de flúor na água de abastecimento público, o Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH-M) e o Índice de Cuidado associaram com as condições de saúde bucal estudadas ao nível das cidades participantes do levantamento. Áreas rurais cujo sistema produtivo apresentava maior implementação da economia agro-industrial tiveram os melhores indicadores de saúde bucal. Conclusões: Os escolares de área rural mostraram-se mais vulneráveis para todas as condições de saúde bucal avaliadas / Objectives: To assess differentials of prevalence of dental caries and gingival status in schoolchildren from rural and urban areas of the State of São Paulo. Material and Methods: The study population comprised schoolchildren aged 5 to 7 and 10 to 12 years old; the source of information was the “Survey of Oral Health Status – State of São Paulo, 1998". The prevalence of dental caries (dmft and DMFT indices), gingival bleeding on probing and dental calculus (CPI index) were assessed for the appraisal of association with socio-demographic characteristics of schoolchildren and indices of social development of participating towns. The estimation of adjusted and non-adjusted odds ratios used logistic regression analysis, and the fitting of multivariate multilevel models. The study of prevalence differentials among regions of the State used a previous classification of homogeneous rural areas. Results: Indices of oral health had an unequal distribution among strata, indicating a poorer profile for rural population. Studying in rural areas, in public schools, being black and being a boy associated with the odds of presenting untreated dental caries and gingival status at the individual level. Fluoride addition to tap water and the human development index associated with these outcomes at the town level. Rural areas whose productive system presented enhancements associated with the agro-industry had an improved profile of oral health. Conclusion: Schoolchildren in rural areas had a poorer profile for all outcomes of oral health. These findings should instruct health services for programming specific interventions aimed at this stratum.

Objetivos: Estudar os diferenciais entre os indicadores de cárie dentária e alterações gengivais em escolares de áreas urbanas e rurais do Estado de São Paulo. Material e Métodos. Estudo de corte transversal analítico e ecológico foram os dois delineamentos utilizados. A população de estudo foram estudantes de escolas urbanas e rurais do Estado de São Paulo de 5 a 7 e de 10 a 12 anos; a fonte de informação foi o "Levantamento das Condições de Saúde Bucal - Estado de São Paulo, 1998". Foi estimada a prevalência de cárie dentária (índice ceo-d e CPO-D), do sangramento gengival durante a sondagem e de cálculo dental (índice CPI), para o estudo de associação com características sócio-demográficas dos escolares e indicador de desenvolvimento social (IDH-M) das cidades participantes do levantamento. Foram estimadas as odds ratios ajustadas e não ajustadas, por meio de análise de regressão logística de delineamento de modelos multivariados e multiníveis. O estudo de diferenciais de prevalência entre diferentes regiões do Estado empregou uma classificação de àreas rurais homogêneas pré-existentes. Resultados: Os indicadores de saúde bucal tiveram distibuição desigual entre os estratos, indicando pior condição para a população rural. Estudar em áreas rurais, em escolas públicas, ser negro ou pardo e ser do sexo masculino associaram com a manifestação de cárie não tratada e alterações gengivais, ao nível dos indivíduos. No modelo multinível, a presença de flúor na água de abastecimento público, o Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH-M) e o Índice de Cuidado associaram com as condições de saúde bucal estudadas ao nível das cidades participantes do levantamento. Áreas rurais cujo sistema produtivo apresentava maior implementação da economia agro-industrial tiveram os melhores indicadores de saúde bucal. Conclusões: Os escolares de área rural mostraram-se mais vulneráveis para todas as condições de saúde bucal avaliadas / Objectives: To assess differentials of prevalence of dental caries and gingival status in schoolchildren from rural and urban areas of the State of São Paulo. Material and Methods: The study population comprised schoolchildren aged 5 to 7 and 10 to 12 years old; the source of information was the “Survey of Oral Health Status – State of São Paulo, 1998”. The prevalence of dental caries (dmft and DMFT indices), gingival bleeding on probing and dental calculus (CPI index) were assessed for the appraisal of association with socio-demographic characteristics of schoolchildren and indices of social development of participating towns. The estimation of adjusted and non-adjusted odds ratios used logistic regression analysis, and the fitting of multivariate multilevel models. The study of prevalence differentials among regions of the State used a previous classification of homogeneous rural areas. Results: Indices of oral health had an unequal distribution among strata, indicating a poorer profile for rural population. Studying in rural areas, in public schools, being black and being a boy associated with the odds of presenting untreated dental caries and gingival status at the individual level. Fluoride addition to tap water and the human development index associated with these outcomes at the town level. Rural areas whose productive system presented enhancements associated with the agro-industry had an improved profile of oral health. Conclusion: Schoolchildren in rural areas had a poorer profile for all outcomes of oral health. These findings should instruct health services for programming specific interventions aimed at this stratum.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to examine associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D[(1,25(OH)2D]—the circulating and active forms of vitamin D—and periodontal infection. The data were gathered from a case-control study (63 periodontitis patients and 30 periodontally healthy controls) and an intervention study among individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM, 80 patients at the baseline and 65 after periodontal treatment). The periodontal data and the levels of serum 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were available. A third data set included periodontal data and the serum level of 25(OH)D of 1262 non-smoking and non-diabetic 30–49-year-old individuals (Health 2000 Survey). Serum 25(OH)D analyses were done using enzyme-linked immunoassay and radioimmunoassay, 1,25(O)2D analyses using enzyme-immunoassay after purification of 1,25(OH)2D by immunoextraction and PTH analyses using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. In the case-control study individuals with a low serum 1,25(O)2D level were more likely to belong to the periodontitis group than to the periodontally healthy group and an inverse association was observed between serum 1,25(OH)2D and severity of periodontitis at the baseline of the intervention study. Serum 1,25(OH)2D increased significantly after periodontal treatment in the T1DM patients; a finding that was considered suggestive of a causal relationship between serum 1,25(OH)2D and periodontal infection. Also, serum PTH increased after periodontal treatment; this increase, which was statistically significant (p = 0.016) in patients with moderate or severe periodontitis, may partly account for the earlier observed post-treatment increase in serum 1,25(OH)2D level. Possible explanations for low serum 1,25(OH)2D in periodontal infection may be increased degradation of 1,25(OH)2D, increased use of 1,25(OH)2D, or decreased hydroxylation of 25(OH)D The association between serum 25(OH)D level and periodontal infection was weak, if existent. An inverse association between serum 25(OH)D and the severity of periodontal infection was observed only in the T1DM patients. Among individuals with low plaque level, those in higher 25(OH)D quintiles tended to have fewer teeth with deepened periodontal pockets than those in lower quintiles; a finding which was interpreted to mean a slight protective role of 25(OH)D against periodontal infection. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää seerumin 25-hydroksivitamiini D:n [25(OH)D, D-vitamiinin varastomuoto] ja 1,25-dihydroksivitamiini D:n [1,25(OH)2D, D-vitamiinin aktiivinen muoto] tasojen yhteyttä parodontiumin alueen infektiosairauksiin. Tulokset perustuvat kolmeen tutkimusasetelmaan: tapaus-verrokki-tutkimus (63 parodontiitti-potilasta, 30 verrokkia), interventio-tutkimus [80 tyypin 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) potilasta, joista 65 osallistui seurantaan parodontologisen hoidon jälkeen] ja poikittaistutkimus Terveys 2000 tutkimuksen osa-aineistossa (1262 30-49 vuotiasta tupakoimatonta ei-diabeetikkoa). Tapaus-verrokki- ja interventiotutkimuksissa tutkittiin myös seerumin parathormoonin (PTH) yhteyttä parodontaali-infektioon sekä PTH:n vaikutusta seerumin 1,25(OH)2D tasoon infektion hoidon jälkeen. D-vitamiinin ja PTH:n tasot määritettiin immunologisin menetelmin. Yhteyksiä tutkittiin käyttäen vakioituja monimuuttujamalleja. Tapaus-verrokki-tutkimuksessa yksilöt, joilla seerumin 1,25(OH)2D taso oli alhainen, kuuluivat todennäköisemmin parodontiitti- kuin verrokkiryhmään. Interventiotutkimuksen alkutilanteessa seerumin 1,25(OH)2D:n ja parodontaali-infektion vaikeusasteen välillä vallitsi tilastollisesti merkittävä käänteinen yhteys ja taso nousi merkittävästi infektion hoidon jälkeen. Myös seerumin PTH taso nousi parodontaali-infektion hoidon jälkeen; nousu oli tilastollisesti merkittävä (p = 0.016) pitkälle edennyttä parodontiittia sairastavilla. Interventiotutkimuksen tulokset viittaavat kausaaliseen yhteyteen 1,25(OH)2D:n ja parodontaali-infektion välillä. Alhainen seerumin 1,25(OH)2D pitoisuus infektion vallitessa voi selittyä sen suurella käytöllä immuunipuolustukseen infektion aikana tai lisääntyneellä hajoamisella. Tason nousu hoidon jälkeen tukee edellä mainittua. PTH on 25(OH)D:n hydroksylaation pääsäätelijä ja 1,25(OH)2D:n nousua hoidon jälkeen voi osittain selittää myös seerumin PTH tason kohoaminen. Seerumin 25(OH)D:n ja parodontaali-infektion välillä havaittu yhteys oli heikko, mutta ei täysin sulje pois 25(OH)D:n suojaavaa vaikutusta. Käänteinen yhteys löytyi vain interventiotutkimuksen alkutilanteessa T1DM potilailla. Infektion hoito ei vaikuttanut 25(OH)D tasoon. Terveys 2000 tutkimuksen osa-aineistossa havaittiin hyvän suuhygienian omaavilla jonkin verran alhaisempi määrä syventyneitä ientaskuja ylemmissä kuin alemmissa 25(OH)D kvintiileissä.