The aim of the study was to assess the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of elderly in care homes, one of Romania’s most vulnerable social categories, to correlate it to sociodemographic, oral health parameters, and prosthodontic status. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was performed on 58 geriatrics divided into 3 age groups, who were clinically examined and answered the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Very high rates of complete edentulism in the oldest-old subgroup (bimaxillary in 64.3%; mandibular in 64.3%; maxillary in 85.7%), and alarming frequencies in the other subgroups (middle-old and youngest-old), statistically significant differences between age groups being determined. The OHIP-14 mean score was 14.5. Although not statistically significant, females had higher OHIP-14 scores, also middle-old with single maxillary arch, single mandibular arch, and bimaxillary complete edentulism, whether they wore dentures or not, but especially those without dental prosthetic treatment in the maxilla. A worse OHRQoL was also observed in wearers of bimaxillary complete dentures, in correlation with periodontal disease-related edentulism, in those with tertiary education degree, and those who came from rural areas. There were no statistically significant correlations of OHRQoL with age, total number of edentulous spaces or edentulous spaces with no prosthetic treatment. In conclusion, despite poor oral health and prosthetic status of the institutionalized elderly around Bucharest, the impact on their wellbeing is comparatively moderate.

Background and Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the validity of the Romanian version of the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C⁺⁾ questionnaire. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on a convenience sample of past patients and their acquaintances through an online questionnaire administered on the Google Forms platform between May 2021 and September 2022. The sections of the survey were demographic characteristics, the dental anxiety scale questionnaire, the IDAF-4C⁺ questionnaire, a single question about dental fear, and previous dental treatments. Results: In total, 239 participants were included in the study, and the mean age was 37. The IDAF-4C questionnaire had good internal validity (Cronbach alpha was 0.945). The IDAF-4C had good convergent validity, and it was positively correlated with the dental anxiety scale (r = 0.825, p < 0.001) and the question about the fear of going to the dentist (r = 0.738, p < 0.001). The questionnaire had good reliability, and the intraclass correlation was 0.985. Lower levels of dental anxiety were associated with scaling, orthodontic treatment, and dental implants. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted after the removal of the first question from the phobia module, and residual covariance was added between items four and nine of the stimulus module, showing a good fit for the retained questions of the IDAF-4C⁺, grouped by module. Conclusions: The Romanian version of the IDAF-4C⁺ showed acceptable psychometric properties.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical impact, in terms of stress and displacement, at the level of a mandibular overdenture, on four mini dental implants (MDIs) after the loss of an implant. A three-dimensional virtual model was obtained by scanning the overdenture, and a biomechanical analysis was carried out, using the finite element method (FEM). The displacements of the overdenture and the equivalent von Mises stresses were evaluated using logarithmic scales. In the case of a mandibular overdenture on four MDIs inserted in the interforaminal area, the frontal loading generated the lowest values for the von Mises stresses, and the bilateral loading generated the least displacement when two implants were inserted in the canine area and two in the molar area. The highest von Mises stress was observed during frontal loading in the situation of the mandibular overdenture on four MDIs, two of which were inserted in the canine area and two in the molar area, following the loss of an implant in the canine area. The largest displacement was noted in the mandibular overdenture on four interforaminal MDIs during unilateral loading, following the loss of a distally inserted implant. The FEM analysis showed aspects that correlated with clinical observations, with predictive value. The concentration of von Mises stresses, and the occurrence of some displacements of the prosthodontic restoration, can explain the emergence of some complications in the overdenture’s biodynamics, and the increased risk of fracture. Complications can be prevented by choosing a certain number of implants and a topographical distribution correlated with biomechanical aspects, and by proposing a correct occlusal scheme with optimal functional loading.

Aim: To evaluate whether maximum occlusal loading and periodontal status are different between teeth presenting deflective occlusal contacts and those without such contacts, specifically adjacent and homologous teeth. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using OccluSense to detect deflective contacts and quantify occlusal load per tooth. For group comparisons, the Kruskal–Wallis, Friedman, Cochran’s Q, and chi-squared tests were used. Results: A total of 493 teeth with deflective contacts were compared to 473 adjacent (first control group) and 457 homologous teeth (second control group). Teeth with deflective contacts showed significantly higher occlusal loading (mean value: 208) than adjacent (72) and homologous teeth (97) (p < 0.05). They also exhibited more advanced periodontal damage, including deeper probing depths, greater gingival recession, alveolar bone loss, and a wider periodontal ligament space. Deflective contacts in centric relation were more strongly linked to periodontal deterioration than those in protrusive or lateral mandibular movements, despite similar occlusal forces. Conclusions: Within this study’s limitations, deflective occlusal contacts are associated with increased occlusal forces and more severe periodontal damage, suggesting a biomechanical factor in periodontal disease progression.