BackgroundSmoking is currently accepted as a well-established risk factor for many oral diseases such as oral cancer and periodontal disease. Provision of smoking cessation care to patients with oral problems is a responsibility of health care professionals, particularly dentists and dental hygienists. This study examined the smoking-related perceptions and practices of dental school hospital-based health professionals in Japan.FindingsA cross-sectional study design was used. The sample was formed from dentists, dental hygienists, physicians and nurses of a dental school hospital in Tokyo, Japan (n = 93, 72%). Participants were asked to complete an 11-item questionnaire assessing demographic variables and smoking history, provision of smoking cessation advice or care, attitudes about smoking cessation, and perceived barrier(s) to smoking cessation care. Eighteen percent of participants reported being current smokers and 15% reported being ex-smokers, with higher smoking rates reported by dentists compared with other health professionals (p = 0.0199). While recognizing the importance of asking patients about their smoking status, actual provision of smoking cessation advice or care by participants was relatively insufficient. Interventions such as 'assess willingness to make a quit attempt' and 'assist in quit attempt' were implemented for less than one-quarter of their patients who smoke. Non-smokers were more likely to acknowledge the need for increased provision in smoking cessation care by oral health professionals. 'Lack of knowledge and training' was identified as a central barrier to smoking cessation care, followed by 'few patients willing to quit'.ConclusionsA need for further promotion of smoking cessation activities by the health professionals was identified. The findings also suggest that dentists and dental hygienists, while perceiving a role in smoking care, do require training in the provision of smoking cessation care to hospital patients. In order to overcome the potential barriers, it is necessary to provide staff with appropriate training and create an atmosphere supportive of smoking cessation activities.

Background: Oral hygiene education is central to every stage of periodontal treatment. Successful management of periodontal disease depends on the patient's capacity for oral self-care. In the present study, the oral self-care and perceptions of patients attending a dental school clinic in Japan were assessed using a short questionnaire referring to existing oral health models.

The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) during the early stages of healing. Sixteen patients aged 38-77 years with a clinical diagnosis of chronic periodontitis were subjected to data analysis. A total of 25 teeth with various osseous defects received regenerative therapy with EMD, and were followed for a minimum of 6 months. Post-operative healing was uneventful in the majority of cases. Treatment of the intrabony defects with EMD led to a statistically significant improvement in the mean value of probing depth at 3 months compared with that at baseline (pϽ0.001). Mean values of attachment gain at 3 and 6 months were of clinical significance: ‫8.1ע6.3‬ mm and ‫5.1ע2.3‬ mm, respectively. Reduction in probing depth was achieved with minimal recession of gingival margin and was sustained over a time course of 6 months. A progressive increase in radiopacity, suggestive of initial signs of bone-fill, was observed by 6 months. In summary, the results suggest that treatment of intrabony defect with EMD induces favorable periodontal healing with a high level of predictability.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of dental checkups incorporating tooth-brushing instruction (TBI) with that of conventional dental checkups. A team consisting of one dentist and three dental hygienists saw an average of 60 employees per day on-site at an airline company. The patient's teeth were stained with a disclosing tablet and the results recorded on a Plaque Control Record (PCR) chart. The patient was then given TBI. After recording the relevant data, including TBI given and PCR scores, the charts were stored. Checkups were performed in a total of 3,854 patients between 2001 and 2005 and changes in annual scores investigated. In addition, annual shifts in mean score in patients receiving checkups over all five years were compared with those in patients receiving checkups for the first time in each of the five years. The mean score in patients receiving a checkup in 2001 was 35.1%, declining by 2.6 points to 32.5% in 2005. Among patients receiving checkups over all five years, the mean score in 2001 was 34.0%, declining by 11.2 points to 22.8% in 2005. Over the five-year period, the mean score in patients receiving checkups was 34.1%. In patients receiving checkups over all five years, the proportion with PCR scores Ͻ30% increased each year. This was because the number of patients with PCR scores Ն60% decreased each year. These findings suggest that TBI is effective in reducing poor plaque control. When compared with in patients who had not received TBI, five consecutive years of checkups was clearly effective. These results indicate that checkups incorporating TBI are more effective than Original Article

The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate 2-year follow-up results following regenerative periodontal surgery for intrabony defects using enamel matrix derivative (EMD). Thirteen patients (mean age: 53 years) with a clinical diagnosis of chronic periodontitis were subjected to data analysis. A total of 25 sites with intrabony defects received regenerative therapy with EMD. Follow-up continued for a minimum of 2 years. Treatment of intrabony defects with EMD yielded a statistically significant improvement in the mean values of probing depth and gains in clinical attachment level (CAL) at 2 years compared with those at baseline (pϽ0.001). Sites treated with EMD demonstrated a mean CAL gain of 3.4 mm and 3.2 mm at 6 months and 2 years, respectively. No statistically significant difference in gain in CAL was found between the 6-month and 2-year results. A gain in CAL of Ն3 mm from at baseline was found in 17 sites at 2 years. This gain was achieved with minimal recession of gingival margin and was sustained over a given period of time. A trend toward a progressive increase in radiopacity, suggestive of bone-fill, was observed. In summary, treatment of intrabony defects with EMD resulted in clinically favorable outcomes. The clinical improvements obtained with regenerative therapy with EMD were maintained over a period of 2 years.