It is still unclear whether the trabecular structure of the jaw is different in individuals with hypodontia than in those without hypodontia; this is important for clinicians. The aim was to determine whether the mandibular trabecular bone structure of children and adolescents with hypodontia differs from the control group by using the fractal analysis (FA) method in this study. A total of 138 panoramic radiographs of 69 cases and 69 control subjects (mean age 13.2 ± 10.1) were evaluated. The age and gender of subjects in the case and control groups were matched. Three regions of interest (ROIs) were selected from the panoramic radiographs. ROI1 refers to the center of the ramus rising above the mandibular foramen. ROI2 refers to the area between the apical level of the mandibular molar and the upper border of the mandibular canal. ROI3, the missing tooth region, refers to the apical third of the mesial side of the erupting or fully erupted permanent mandibular first molar. Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used. p < 0.05 was accepted for the significance value. The mean fractal dimension (FD) values of ROI1, ROI2, and ROI3 were 1,25, 1,20, and 1,13, respectively. The means FD values obtained from the ramus region were higher than the other regions (p < 0.05). The FD values did not differ significantly according to gender and age (p > 0.05). The FD values of the case group were lower than the control group for ROI3 (p < 0.05). The results of this study showed that the mandibular trabecular bone quality of pediatric patients with one missing tooth was different from the healthy group. The difference in the mean FD values from the ROIs indicates that the ramus has a denser structure than the mandibular corpus. Clinicians should factor this into their dental treatment planning process.

Preterm birth significantly elevates neonatal mortality and morbidity, often resulting in developmental challenges and severe health consequences. Risk factor identification is essential for preventative measures. This research aimed to assess maternal oral health’s effects on inflammatory blood markers and determine a possible relationship with preterm low birth weight (PLBW). This study employed a cross-sectional and case-control design. A randomized cohort of fifty women who delivered low-birth-weight infants was compared to a matched control group of fifty women who delivered full-term infants. Oral health was evaluated using the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth), DMFS (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces), Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Pocket Depth (PD), and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL). Patient history and relevant hematological data were retrieved from medical records. Logistic regression modeling was conducted on variables exhibiting statistical significance (p < 0.05) following group comparisons. The case group showed significantly higher oral health indices than the control group, with median DMFT scores of 7.14 vs. 4.74 (p = 0.013), DMFS scores of 20.58 vs. 12.08 (p = 0.026), PI values of 1.96 vs. 1.18, GI values of 2.03 vs. 1.20, and PD values of 2.61 mm vs. 2.00 mm (all p < 0.001). However, none of these parameters (DMFT, DMFS, PI, GI, or PD) were significant predictors of PLBW (p > 0.05). Weak positive correlations were observed between PI, GI, PD, and leukocyte counts (r = 0.240, p = 0.016; r = 0.248, p = 0.013; and r = 0.220, p = 0.028, respectively). Considering the study’s limitations, the principal results suggest a statistically significant difference in oral health, with women delivering low birth weight infants exhibiting poorer outcomes than control groups. Analysis of secondary outcomes indicates that oral health is not an independent predictor of preterm birth; instead, its contribution may be indirect and through systemic inflammation. Effective collaboration between obstetricians and dentists is crucial for the early detection and management of oral health issues in pregnant patients. Prioritizing the creation of public health policies designed to reduce the incidence of preterm births and strengthen maternal-fetal well-being is essential. Not applicable.

Background: The influence of maternal oral and dental health on the occurrence of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (P-PROM) and its underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. This research seeks to investigate the impact of maternal oral and dental health on the incidence of P-PROM and its association with inflammatory markers in the blood. Methods: This study adopts a prospective case-control design methodology. The study involved 70 women diagnosed with P-PROM and delivered by an obstetrician and 79 women who had healthy deliveries with no prenatal complications. The values for DMFT (Number of decayed, missing and filled teeth) index, Gingival Index (GI), Plaque index (PI), Pocket depth (PD), Clinical attachment loss (CAL) and medical history were recorded. Mann-Whitney U test and hierarchical binomial logistic regression analysis were applied. It was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results: The case group’s DMFT, PI, GI, PD values were statistically significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001). There was no relationship between DMFT, GI, PD, CAL and inflammatory blood markers (p > 0.05). In the regression analysis for possible risk factors that may be effective in P-PROM, oral and dental health parameters were the most effective. Conclusions: Oral and dental health of women with P-PROM was found to be worse than that of the control group. Oral and dental health may be a potential risk factor that may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with P-PROM.