Increasing evidence has shown an association between periodontitis and cognitive impairment. Subgingival microbiota play a great role in periodontitis pathogenesis. However, the correlation between the subgingival microbiome and cognitive impairment remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the red and orange complex subgingival microbiome of cognitively impaired and cognitively normal elderly Indonesian subjects with periodontitis. Twenty-eight elderly subjects diagnosed with periodontitis underwent two cognitive examinations using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test and the Mini-Mental State Examination. Gingival crevicular fluid taken from the periodontal pocket, at a depth between 5 and 7 mm, using a paper point was used as the subgingival samples. The subgingival microbiome in the cognitive impairment group (n = 14) and cognitively normal group (n = 14) was compared using the 16S rRNA Metagenomic iSeq™ 100 Sequencing System. There was β-diversity in the subgingival microbiota between the cognitively impaired and cognitively normal subjects. The metagenomic analysis showed a higher abundance of Porphyromonas and Treponema bacteria in the cognitive impairment group than in the normal cognitive group (p < 0.05). The abundance of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola was higher in the cognitively impaired elderly subjects. The role of P. gingivalis and T. denticola in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment needs further investigation.

Differences in Periodontal Severity Between Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women with Chronic Periodontitis

Background: Postmenopausal women exhibit reduced bone mineralization, which causes bone resorption, including that of alveolar bone. Parathyroid hormone has been shown to play a role in alveolar bone resorption. Objective: This study aims to analyze relationships between parathyroid hormone and other factors that may contribute to alveolar bone resorption in postmenopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 82 postmenopausal women aged 50–74 years, who resided in Central and East Jakarta, Indonesia. Subjects' data were obtained through questionnaires, dental examinations, and blood collection for the examination of parathyroid hormone levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and using panoramic radiography to measure bone resorption. Results: Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between parathyroid hormone level (p = 0.005) and extent of alveolar bone resorption, but age (p = 0.292), menopausal duration (p = 0.244), and number of missing teeth (p = 0.517) were not significantly correlated with the extent of alveolar bone resorption. Conclusion: Various factors play a role in the mechanism of bone resorption, so knowing the role of each factor is expected to reduce the effects of alveolar bone resorption that occurs in postmenopause. Among the factors investigated in this study, the parathyroid hormone was the sole factor correlated with postmenopausal alveolar bone resorption.

Background: To assess oral health-related quality of life in Indonesian middle-aged and elderly women. Middle–aged women between 45-59 years old were included in this study, because this stage of life is important to prepare them entering the old age. Prevention could be done earlier in order to achieve optimum quality of life for the elderly. The purpose of writing this paper is to inform the policy maker to develop a framework in oral health prevention. Method: Cross-sectional study was done at East Bekasi district, West Java on 236 women 45-82 years of age. Measurement of health related quality of life was performed using the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) questionnaire. This questionnaire has already been translated to Indonesian language and has already been validated. Result: About 86.4% of subjects had a good oral health-related quality of life. Number of missing teeth and oral health-related quality of life have a weak correlation (correlation coeffi cient= -0.133, P= 0.041). Conclusion: Oral health-related quality of life did not depend on the number of missing teeth. These fi ndings may have implication for promoting education to middle-aged and elderly women in Indonesia about the importance of oral health.This policy frame work will be recommended to be implemented in hospitals, clinics, community care and institutional care. (Med J Indones 2011; 20:62-5) Keywords: chewimg difficulties, number of missing teeth, tooth ache

Measuring Patient’s Orofacial Estheticsin in Prosthodontics: A Scoping Review of a Current Instrument