Relationship Between Submental Superficial Layer Hardness and Tongue Pressure Determined Using a Tissue Durometer.

Aging affects the tongue and suprahyoid muscles, causing dysphagia and undernutrition. We hypothesized that tongue function would affect submental superficial layer hardness. Tongue movements during water retention between the tongue and palate are the same as those required during bolus formation, involving internal and external tongue muscle movement.

Relationship between Knowledge and Attitude toward Oral Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Oral hypofunction is the stage at which recovery can be expected with proper diagnosis, management, and motivation before oral dysfunction occurs. The knowledge and attitude toward oral function can influence the maintenance and improvement of oral function. However, whether middle-aged and older adults with declining oral function have knowledge of their oral function and how this knowledge and their attitude affect their oral function are unclear.

Preoperative periodontal treatment and its effects on postoperative infection in cardiac valve surgery.

Objectives: Oral infection control is important for patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement (CVR) as prophylaxis for postoperative complications. This study examined the changes in oral health status by preoperative periodontal treatment and its effects on postsurgical complications in CVR patients.

Material And Methods: We recruited 64 patients undergoing CVR who received preoperative periodontal treatment at our hospital as the intervention group and retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 38 patients who had undergone CVR surgery without dental intervention as the control group.

Perioperative changes in oral bacteria number in patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery.

Perioperative oral care can reduce the risk of postoperative infections. This study examined 1) changes in oral bacteria counts during the perioperative period and 2) differences in bacteria counts in patients with or without endotracheal intubation. 47 patients who visited our hospital dental clinic prior to cardiac valve surgery were prospectively recruited.

Perioperative changes in knowledge and attitude toward oral health by oral health education.

Objectives: Perioperative oral health care can prevent postoperative complications, but it is also important to maintain oral health afterward to avoid later adverse events. This study examined (a) the relationship between knowledge and attitude toward oral health (KAOH) and oral/periodontal status (OPS) in patients receiving surgery, and (b) the changes in KAOH by perioperative oral health care and education.

Methods: Patients receiving surgery who visited our hospital's dental clinic beforehand were prospectively recruited.