“Early childhood caries (ECC) is major oral health problem, mainly in socially disadvantaged populations. ECC affect infants and preschool children worldwide. The prevalence of ECC differs according to the group examined, and a prevalence of up to 85% has been reported for disadvantaged groups”. “Early childhood caries (ECC) is the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth in children aged 71 months (5 years) or younger. It begins with white-spot lesions in the upper primary incisors along the margin of the gingiva. If the disease continues, caries can progress, leading to complete destruction of the crown.” The main risk factors in the development of ECC can be categorized as microbiological, dietary and environmental risk factors. Even though it is largely a preventable condition, ECC remains one of the most common childhood diseases. The major contributing factors for the for the high prevalence of ECC are improper feeding practices, familial socioeconomic background, lack of parental education and lack of access to dental care. Oral health plays an important role in children to maintain the oral functions and are required for eating, speech development, and a positive self-image. The review will focus on the prevalence, risk factors and preventive strategies and the management of early childhood caries.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most common bacterial infections in humans. Although H. pylori may be detected in the stomach of approximately half of the world's population, the mechanisms of transmission of the microorganism from individual to individual are not yet clear. Transmission of H. pylori could occur through iatrogenic, fecal-oral, and oral-oral routes, and through food and water. The microorganism may be transmitted orally and has been detected in dental plaque and saliva. However, the role of the oral cavity in the transmission and recurrence of H. pylori infection has been the subject of debate. A large number of studies investigating the role of oral hygiene and periodontal disease in H. pylori infection have varied significantly in terms of their methodology and sample population, resulting in a wide variation in the reported results. Nevertheless, recent studies have not only shown that the microorganism can be detected fairly consistently from the oral cavity but also demonstrated that the chances of recurrence of H. pylori infection is more likely among patients who harbor the organism in the oral cavity. Furthermore, initial results from clinical trials have shown that H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients may benefit from periodontal therapy. This paper attempts to review the current body of evidence regarding the role of dental plaque, saliva, and periodontal disease in H. pylori infection.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and periodontitis share common characteristics, such as an exaggerated inflammatory response. As periodontal diseases were shown to be associated with respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia, it is quite possible that a relationship may exist between periodontitis and COVID‐19. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine whether periodontitis and poor oral hygiene are associated with COVID‐19.Methods: A case‐control study was conducted. Patients who had positive real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection were included in the case group (n = 79), and patients with negative results were included in the control group (n = 71). The periodontal examination involved recording the plaque scores, calculus scores, tooth mobility, gingival bleeding, probing depth, recession, and clinical attachment level (CAL).Results: Logistic regression analysis showed significant associations of mean plaque scores ≥ 1 (odds ratio (OR), 7.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.83 to 26.94), gingivitis (OR, 17.65; 95% CI, 5.95 to 52.37), mean CAL ≥ 2 mm (OR, 8.46; 95% CI, 3.47 to 20.63), and severe periodontitis (OR, 11.75; 95% CI, 3.89 to 35.49) with COVID‐19; these findings were more prevalent in the case group.Conclusion: Based on the above mentioned observations, it can be concluded that there is an association between periodontitis severity and COVID‐19. Gingival bleeding and dental plaque accumulation are also more frequent among COVID‐19 patients. Hence, it is essential to maintain periodontal health and good oral hygiene as an important measure for COVID‐19 prevention and management.

Background: The microorganism Helicobacter pylori has been closely linked to chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, and mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Despite the current treatment regimens that lead to successful management of H. pylori‐positive chronic gastritis, the reinfection rate is high. It has been suggested that one of the possible mechanisms of reinfection is the recolonization from dental plaque. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dental plaque, poor oral hygiene, and periodontal disease were risk factors for H. pylori infection.Methods: Among the 134 patients, 65 patients who had a positive H. pylori serology or positive rapid urease test or histologic evidence for the presence of H. pylori in antral biopsy specimens were categorized as cases. The remaining 69 patients who were negative for H. pylori serology, the rapid urease test, and histology were controls.Results: It was found that the association of periodontal disease and poor oral hygiene with H. pylori infection was not significant. There was a higher prevalence of H. pylori in the dental plaque of patients with gastric H. pylori infection than in controls, but both groups had a surprisingly high positive urease test for H. pylori in plaque (89% and 71%, respectively).Conclusions: H. pylori in dental plaque is seldom eliminated by H. pylori‐eradication therapy, and this may act as a source for future reinfection. Hence, eradication of H. pylori from the dental plaque should be made an important part of comprehensive management of H. pylori‐associated gastric diseases.

Dental Implant Surface Enhancement and Osseointegration | InTechOpen, Published on: 2011-08-29. Authors: S.Anil, P.S. Anand, H. Alghamdi, et