The oral health of Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel tends to deteriorate during the training period; it is desirable, therefore, to prevent dental diseases through appropriate dental health behavior. However, factors that influence dental health behavior during the training period are not clear. This study examined the effect of dental visits within a year on dental health behavior of Ground SDF (GSDF) personnel during the training period. This study enrolled 658 male personnel who underwent dental health examination at Camp A in 2014 (mean age=35.2±9.4 years). Dental health behavior and periodontal health were assessed using questionnaires and Community Periodontal Index, respectively. Dental health behavior was examined in relation to dental visits in the past year. Personnel with a history of dental visits showed significantly higher frequencies of toothbrushing and toothpaste use during the training period than personnel without a history of dental visits (p<0.01). Path analysis revealed a significant correlation between dental examination behavior and oral hygiene behavior during the non-training and training periods (p<0.01). Oral hygiene behavior during the non-training and training periods was significantly correlated (r=0.38, p<0.01). The results suggest that the dental health behavior of GSDF personnel during the training period may be related to a history of dental visits in the past year.

 Several epidemiological studies have reported associations of dental diseases and/or poor oral health with metabolic syndrome. The present retrospective cohort investigation used dental and medical health records from checkups performed over a four-year period to evaluate the relationships of subjective oral symptoms with metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in middle-aged males. Males without metabolic syndrome (n=3,519), those overweight/obese, defined as a high body mass index (n=2,574), hypertension, defined as high systolic blood pressure and/or high diastolic blood pressure (n=2,785), dyslipidemia, defined as a high level of triglycerides and/or low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (n=2,879), or hyperglycemia, defined as a high level of fasting blood glucose (n=3,604), who underwent a checkup at the age of 42 years were separately analyzed. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its risk factors noted at the age of 46 was then compared between participants with and without subjective oral symptoms recorded at the age of 42 years. To calculate odds ratios, logistic regression models were employed, with the 95% confidence interval determined after adjustments for confounding factors. Following adjustment for lifestyle behaviors, the results showed that ‘tooth decay’ and ‘bleeding gums’ symptoms were related to hypertension, while ‘bleeding gums’ and ‘swollen and painful gums’ were related to hyperglycemia. After further adjustment for general conditions, the relationship of ‘bleeding gums’ and hypertension, as well as ‘swollen and painful gums’ and hyperglycemia remained significant. These findings show that subjective oral symptoms in middle-aged males associated with periodontal disease in particular indicate the possibility of developing conditions known as risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

Abstract in Japaneses

 Evidence linking general health and oral health suggests that poor oral health is associated with poor nutritional status and poor quality of for life. Previous studies have found that individuals with intellectual disabilities show signs of lifestyle-related diseases from an early age, and that they have poor oral health. However, few studies have quantitatively measured oral functions, such as mastication, in adults with intellectual disabilities.

 The present study aimed to determine the oral health status, including masticatory performance and a general health in adults with intellectual disabilities.

 Forty-eight subjects (median age 44.0 years) who attended a continuous-employment support center were enrolled. Study variables included physical status, dental condition, and oral functions. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine differences in variables by age group, and Mann-Whitney U test was employed to investigate the association between subjective masticatory performance and the investigated variables.

 The results showed that the median body mass index (BMI) for all subjects was 23.4 and the proportion of those with obesity was 33.3%. The median numbers of present teeth and masticatory units were 27.5 and 8.0, respectively, both of which showed a significant decreased with age.

 Median values for grip strength, objective masticatory performance, subjective mastication score, and maximum tongue pressure were 21.5 kg, 82.5 mg/dL, 91.7, and 13.4 kPa, respectively. As for oral diadochokinesis, the median values for the syllabic emissions “pa”, “ta”, and “ka” were 2.8, 2.7, and 3.1 times/second, with no significant decrease related with age. Subjective masticatory performance was found to be associated with age, BMI, grip strength, number of masticatory units, objective masticatory performance, and the “ta” sound in oral diadochokinesis results.

 It was found that many adults with intellectual disabilities tended to have poor oral functions. It is necessary to investigate this situation in more detail to clarify what problems are caused by poor oral function.

 Depression has a significant impact on the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients. Therefore, we examined the depression level using the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) in 233 patients with oral cancer who had completed active treatment and were free from recurrence. At the same time, QOL was measured by the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the association between the depression level and QOL was investigated.

 As a result, about one sixth of the patients were judged to be moderately depressed or worse. QOL of the patients was generally good, and showed a significantly negative correlation with the depression level. On the other hand, there was no association between anxiety and the depression level.

 In conclusion, if depressive symptoms are observed based on the SDS scale, psychological intervention might be necessary to maintain a good quality of life even in oral cancer patients who have completed active treatment.