Agata Dudzik

(1) Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by a complex clinical picture where oral discomfort and psychological well-being are intertwined. This study examined the psychological correlates of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with primary BMS, evaluating associations between perceived stress, trait anxiety, depressive symptoms, and OHRQoL. (2) Methods: An observational cross-sectional study included 28 consecutively recruited primary BMS patients. Psychological status and quality of life were evaluated using validated Polish adaptations of self-report questionnaires: OHIP-14, PSS-10, STAI (Form X-2), and BDI. To account for multiple testing, the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (p_FDR) correction was applied. (3) Results: Significant positive correlations were observed between reduced quality of life (higher total OHIP-14 score) and the severity of perceived stress (R = 0.400; p = 0.035; p_FDR = 0.055), trait anxiety (R = 0.497; p = 0.007; p_FDR = 0.024), and depressive symptoms (R = 0.456; p = 0.015; p_FDR = 0.036). These psychological variables correlated strongly with the functional limitation and psychological discomfort subscales (p_FDR ≤ 0.050), whereas no statistically significant correlation was found with the OHIP-14 physical pain subscale in this sample (p_FDR ≥ 0.500). In an exploratory subgroup comparison, patients with treated thyroid diseases showed lower unadjusted psychological discomfort scores (p = 0.049; r_rb = 0.488); however, this difference did not remain statistically significant after FDR correction (p_FDR = 0.304). (4) Conclusions: Perceived stress, trait anxiety, and depressive symptoms are significantly associated with poorer OHRQoL in primary BMS patients. These observational findings suggest that integrating psychological screening into dental care may help identify patients experiencing high emotional distress.

Smoking is a major risk factor for a variety of oral diseases. In particular, smoking-induced dental stains have been shown to be more refractory than those in non-smokers. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a biomimetic material that has been shown to be helpful in many oral health applications; however, its efficacy in stain removal in smokers and non-smokers is uncertain. To compare the effects of HAP toothpaste on the removal/control of extrinsic tooth discoloration in smokers and non-smokers. The secondary goal was to compare smokers and non-smokers in terms of staining extent and response to HAP. A total of 100 adults (50 smokers, 50 non-smokers) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study. At baseline and 2 weeks after the intervention, the same examiner performed clinical observations, including measurements of anterior tooth stain using the approximal plaque index (API) and the Lobene stain index. Adverse events and any changes in general health conditions of the patients were monitored. Comparisons of indices at baseline and post-intervention yielded statistically significant differences. In non-smokers, the median API (IQR) at baseline was 32.5 (19.0, 63.0) which decreased to 16.5 (7.0, 42.0) after the intervention (p < 0.001). The median Lobene stain index (extension) at baseline and after the intervention was 0.9 (0.5, 1.3) and 0.3 (0.2, 0.7), respectively (p < 0.001). In smokers, the median API at baseline (IQR) was 46.0 (30.0, 86.0), which decreased to 23.0 (7.0, 43.0) (p < 0.001) post-intervention. Lobene stain indices were lower after intervention in all groups than at baseline (all, p < 0.001), and the magnitude of reduction was more prominent in the smoker group. This study demonstrates that 2-week use of a toothpaste containing HAP can effectively reduce extrinsic tooth stains in smokers and non-smokers.

Background/Objectives: Conventional periodontal treatment for patients with diabetes has shown promising results, primarily focusing on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels as an endpoint measure. The properties of hyaluronic acid (HA) have been harnessed in various periodontal therapies, and it is a promising agent also in a non-surgical approach. The aim of this clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of hyaluronic acid in a local adjunctive non-surgical treatment for periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Eighty adult participants with well-controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 7% (53 mmol/mol) or less) took part in the trial. The clinical parameters of periodontitis as well as the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were evaluated, and an analysis of the potential differences between the control (placebo) and intervention (HA) groups was performed. Results/Conclusions: A decrease in all the clinical values of periodontitis after treatment was observed in the vast majority of patients in both groups. Differences in the clinical parameters were observed 12 weeks after the intervention between the patients in the placebo and HA therapy groups. Bleeding on probing (BoP) was reduced in the control group to 15–25% and was approximately 5.5% more in the intervention group (9.5–18.25%). The clinical attachment level (CAL) decreased 1 mm more in the HA therapy group (1–2 mm) than in the no adjunctive treatment group (2–3 mm). The probing depth (PD) was reduced similarly in both groups (3–3.75 mm). Due to the bilateral relationship between diabetes and periodontitis, healthcare professionals seek advancements in managing periodontal inflammation. The results of this study indicate that non-surgical periodontal treatment with HA as an adjunctive agent is worth considering in the therapy for patients with diabetes.

Halitosis is considered to be extremely unattractive in the context of social interactions. The main research objective of this study was to evaluate whether intra-oral halitosis may impact patients’ quality of life (QOL). One hundred generally healthy adult participants complaining about oral malodor and diagnosed with intra-oral halitosis were enrolled in this study. For halitosis diagnosis, a gas chromatography (GC) analysis by the Oral Chroma portable device was used. QOL assessment was based on the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36). The respondents had the highest scores in the physical functioning (PF), activity limitations caused by emotional problems (RE) and activity limitations caused by physical problems (RP) domains, and the weakest in the general health perception (GH), vitality (VT) and emotional wellbeing (MH) ones. The total volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) level was negatively correlated with SF-36 domains. The SF-36 domains’ scores decreased the higher the level of VSC was. The respondents assessed their QOL to be at its best in physical functioning and activity limitations caused by emotional and physical problems and the worst in general health perception, vitality and emotional wellbeing. The strongest correlation between halitosis and decreased QOL was found in the social functioning (SF), vitality, emotional wellbeing and general health perception domains.

Intra-oral halitosis is defined as an unpleasant odor that comes out of the mouth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc lactate mouthwash and tongue scraping on intra-oral halitosis. The study was conducted on 60 volunteers that were divided into two groups and fol-lowed two types of 14-day oral hygiene protocols on a cross-over basis after a 7-day wash-out period. One protocol was based on tooth brushing only, while the other was based on additional mouth rinsing with a zinc lactate product and tongue scraping. Morning mouth breath was as-sessed organoleptic and by volatile sulfur compound concentrations. The highest mean organo-leptic and volatile sulfur compound measurement values were found in the tooth brushing without mouth washing and tongue scraping oral hygiene protocol (p < 0.05). The zinc lactate mouthwash combined with tongue scraping appears to be an important hygienic procedure to reduce breath odor.