Enji Ahmed Mahmoud

BACKGROUND: Gingival recession (GR) is a common oral health condition characterized by the exposure of the tooth's root which affects diverse populations worldwide. Thus, this study aimed to analyze data from adult dental patients at the outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, to assess the prevalence of GR among Egyptian adults and to identify associated risk factors and clinical characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study that included 3773 individuals to detect the prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics of GR. All participants were examined for presence of GR, and their demographic data was collected by electronic form, while only participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were then subjected to a full professional periodontal examination. GR was categorized following the 2018 World Workshop Cairo classification system (RT1, RT2, RT3). The statistical tests used were Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's post hoc with Bonferroni correction, as well as Fisher's exact test followed by pairwise comparisons using multiple z-tests with Bonferroni correction.

RESULTS: Out of 3773 participants only 901 subjects had GR with a prevalence of 23.88%. The prevalence of localized recession (63.93%) was higher than generalized recession (36.07%) with RT1 (43.8%) being the most prevalent followed by RT2 (37.29%), and RT3 (18.87%). The most affected teeth were lower anterior teeth (46.53%) followed by upper left premolars (13.02%), then upper right premolars (11.11%), and upper anterior teeth (10.76%). The prevalence of GR was higher in males (59.6%) more than in females (40.4%), and in smokers (61.49%) more than non-smokers (38.51%). The most common medical conditions were diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Higher severity of the GR was associated with males, middle aged and old age, periodontal diseases, higher plaque and bleeding scores, medical conditions, smoking, and uneducated patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GR in Egyptians is 23.88% with the most prevalent class of was RT1. Higher severity of the GR was associated with periodontal diseases, higher plaque and bleeding scores, presence of underlying medical conditions and smoking suggesting that regular dental assessments as well as dentists' awareness of the prevention, and treatment of GR has to be increased.

BACKGROUND: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) receiving radiation therapy (RT) have complications affecting both general and dental health. While RT is effective against HNC, it negatively impacts oral tissues, including changes in periodontal attachment. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of periodontal disease among HNC patients after RT in a sample of the Egyptian population, as well as to assess the associated risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 189 HNC patients attending a radiation center in Cairo, Egypt. Eligible patients underwent a full periodontal examination including plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), clinical attachment level (CAL), and probing pocket depth (PPD). Subsequently, Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS), salivary flow rate and body mass index (BMI) were assessed to examine associations with periodontal health.

RESULTS: Periodontal disease was diagnosed in 183 (96.8%) HNC patients. Among them, 174 (95.08%) cases were diagnosed as periodontitis and 9 (4.9%) as gingivitis. The distribution of periodontitis different stages was as follows: Stage I was found in 21 (12.07%) cases, Stage II in 30 (17.24%), Stage III in 55 (31.61%), and Stage IV in 68 (39.08%). The correlation between the number of RT fractions and periodontal disease severity was not statistically significant (p = 0.837). However, there was a strong negative correlation between periodontitis stage and both body mass index (BMI) and salivary flow rate. In contrast, strong positive correlations were observed between periodontitis severity and RT dose, plaque percentage, and Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS).

CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of periodontitis in the studied sample of HNC patients post RT was 95.08%, reflecting a notably high burden. The most prevalent periodontitis stage was the severe form (Stage IV). Higher periodontitis severity was found to be positively associated with RT dose, plaque percentage, and CODS, suggesting factors to plan future investigation on preventive care in HNC patients. While causality cannot be inferred due to the study design, these findings could be useful in developing more effective clinical management strategies in future research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered on 29/10/2024 at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06667362).

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread over the globe, and several oral symptoms have been documented. However, it is unclear whether these lesions are the result of coronavirus infection or are secondary symptoms of the patient's systemic illness. The aim of this study was to collect data from various hospitals on COVID-19 patients with oral involvement in order to highlight different oral changes that may be manifested in those patients.

METHODS: This observational cross-sectional multicenter study used an online questionnaire covering oral signs and symptoms that were believed to be related to COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in different hospitals in Egypt.

RESULTS: 94.3% of the 210 patients who participated in the current study developed oral symptoms. Altered taste sensation (56.2%), burning sensation (43.3%), and oral candidiasis (40%) were the most prevalent oral symptoms (34.4%) that were found in the studied sample.

CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has a major influence on the oral cavity, with numerous oral symptoms that may impair quality of life. Thus, considering the need for support, pain control, and management for a better prognosis, the clinical dental evaluation of hospitalized patients with infectious diseases like COVID-19 should be addressed.

Aim: The aim is to compare the volumetric changes between pouch technique versus the modified pouch technique in pontic site development using connective tissue graft in patients that have Seibert class I ridge defects in the maxillary esthetic zone. . This randomized, controlled, double-blinded, parallel-grouped clinical trial included sixteen patients with a single pontic site in the maxillary esthetic area presenting Seibert Class I ridge defects. Patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups: test group (n: 8) received soft tissue augmentation with connective tissue graft using the modified pouch technique and control group (n: 8) received soft tissue augmentation with connective tissue graft using pouch technique. The volumetric evaluation was carried out by taking impressions at baseline, 3 and 6 months after the surgery. Keratinized tissue thickness was also measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months after the surgery. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded by the patients at day 3, day 7, and day 14 after the surgery.

Results: The test group had more increase in soft tissue volume than the control group at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The keratinized tissue width at baseline in the test group had a higher value than that of the control group. At 3 months, both groups had the same mean value, while at 6 months, the test group had a higher value than the control group. Regarding postoperative pain, the visual analogue scale shown at day 3 in the test group had a higher value than that of the control group, while at day 7, the control group had a higher value than the test group. At day 14, both groups had the same mean value.

Conclusions: Soft tissue augmentation using both the traditional pouch technique and the modified pouch technique led to successful soft tissue volume augmentation in pontic site development in Seibert Class I ridge defects with no statistically significant difference between the two techniques.