The primary objective of this study is to monitor changes in oral health during a 3.5-month naval mission and once one month thereafter.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Ancillary infectious topics
- Lifestyle issues
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Bleeding of the gingiva on probing as an indicator of oral health
Secondary outcome
- Number of self-reported pain complaints. Pain is defined as a confirmative
answer to the question: Have you had any pain or discomfort from your teeth
since the last visit? Pain provoked by warm, cold, sweet, sour or tenderness to
touch or chewing.
- Presence or absence of dental plaque per site and dental plaque coverage
percentage (mS&L) to provide a general impression of the oral hygiene (good:
plaque coverage <20%, moderate: plaque coverage 20-60% and poor: plaque
coverage >60%);
- Dental pocket probing depth (in mm) and gingival recession (in mm) to
determine the total amount of attachment loss resulting in the presence or
absence of clinical attachment loss and the Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area
(PISA);
- Presence or absence of aphthous lesions, mucosal ulcerations or other forms
of mucositis;
- Presence or absence of peri-oral inflammation (herpetic ulcers or angular
cheilitis)
- Presence or absence of old / pathogenic (red fluorescent) dental plaque and
the coverage percentage of red fluorescent dental plaque (RFP) using a
dedicated single-lens-reflex-camera (Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence;
QLF-camera) and cheek retractors 35;
- Number of decayed, missing or filled surfaces (DMFS);
- Clinical Oral Dryness Score
General health
- General health questionnaire (an extensive questionnaire at visit 1 and 5
short questions during follow-up visits);
- Abdominal girth (change over time from baseline till the end of the mission);
Sleep, stress, lifestyle and diet
- Questionnaire on general living and sleeping habits: score of sleeping habits
- Validated Perceived Stress Scale, questionnaire in Dutch (PSS.nl)
- Smoking habits (smoking (yes/no) and in pack/years) etc.;
- Physical activity at home and during the mission;
- Food and drinks intake frequency questionnaire;
Oral effects of stress
- Presence or absence of arthrogenic or myogenic temporomandibular joint
problems using a validated questionnaire on TMJ pain and headache. If an
indicator of TMD-pain results from this questionnaire, standardized palpation,
dynamic joint tests and static muscle tests will be performed on the
temporomandibular joint;
- Objective and subjective assessment of bruxism (grinding and/or clenching)
with once a clinical assessment of tooth wear (Tooth Wear Evaluation System,
TWES, 38 and every visit inspection of the soft tissues (tongue/cheek
impressions). -- - Subjective assessment of bruxism by asking every visit
if the subject is aware of bruxism.
Background summary
Oral health problems are a major concern for military personnel, especially
when deployed in remote regions of the world. Prior to taking part in a
mission, military personnel is required to meet certain standards in oral
health status, as outlined in the NATO issued dental fitness protocol.
Nevertheless, military dentists frequently report mucosal inflammation (oral
ulcers), fungal oral infections and gingival bleeding among personnel during a
mission. In scientific literature, also reports can be found of non-military
expeditions, reporting increased gingival bleeding, and oral ulcers. It has
been suggested that stress, changes in diet and lifestyle along with reduced
levels of personal care during mission can lead to deterioration of oral health
status, but scientific data about the causes are largely lacking. In addition,
it has also been reported that the composition of the oral microbial community
is predictive for the development of oral disease under stress.
Study objective
The primary objective of this study is to monitor changes in oral health during
a 3.5-month naval mission and once one month thereafter.
Study design
Prospective observational cohort study
Study burden and risks
No direct benefits are expected for the subjects in joining the study. The
risks and burden related to this study are judged to be limited and comparable
with regular visits to the dentist. Determination of the oral clinical
parameters is part of standard dental care and the collection of the
microbiological samples during the research visit do not require invasive
procedures. Participation does not benefit the subjects. The risks are
negligible. The study is group-related because the research questions are
specific for the conditions on board a ship with the ultimate goal to improve
fitness and health on board.
Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004
Amsterdam 1081 LA
NL
Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004
Amsterdam 1081 LA
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
All Dutch service members are declared fit to participate in the mission Atalanta. Therefore, every service member is a potential subject.
Exclusion criteria
- carrier of removable partial denture(s)
- carrier of a removable night guard
- use of antibiotics three months prior to the mission
- use of anti-inflammatory drugs on a regular basis (NSAIDs)
- adverse medical history or long-term medication
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL62301.048.17 |
| OMON | NL-OMON21281 |