Evaluating the Correlation Between Prosthodontic Interventions and Chest Infections: A Comprehensive Research Analysis

TL;DR

This study explores how prosthodontic treatments may be linked to chest infections, finding higher infection rates in certain procedures and age groups.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel analysis of prosthodontic interventions' impact on respiratory health using a prospective cohort design.

Findings

22% of participants developed chest infections after prosthodontic procedures, with higher rates in older age groups.

Complete edentulous solutions showed a higher infection risk compared to tooth restoration.

Respiratory health improved post-procedure, with reduced coughing and better oxygen saturation.

Abstract

Background: There is growing interest in the relationship between prosthodontic therapies and outcomes related to systemic health, particularly respiratory infections. Respiratory infections are a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, particularly among vulnerable populations such as immunocompromised individuals. The World Health Organization reports that lower respiratory infections are among the top causes of death worldwide, underscoring the importance of understanding their potential link to prosthodontic procedures. Dental operations, such as prosthodontic therapies, may alter the mouth flora and thus affect respiratory health.

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the relationship between prosthodontic procedures and chest infections.

Methodology: This research was an observational prospective cohort study conducted from January 2023 to December 2023 at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) located in Islamabad, Pakistan. One hundred thirty individuals in the cohort, who were at least 18 years old, had a range of prosthodontic procedures, such as total edentulous solutions and tooth restoration. Electronic health data were used for participant selection to minimize selection bias and guarantee diverse representation. Comprehensive evaluations of cardiovascular health, immunological state, pulmonary function, and medical histories were all part of the data-gathering process. Structured questionnaires and interviews were also used to get patient feedback. Using SPSS Statistics software (version 27; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), statistical analysis was performed to examine the relationships between prosthodontic treatments and chest infections using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results: PIMS hosted 130 participants in this research, which found that 29 patients, or 22% of the total, had chest infections after surgery. Chest infection rates were 15.15% (five out of 33) in the 18-39 age group, 21.21% (14 out of 66) in the 40-59 age group, and 32.26% (10 out of 31) in the 60+ age group, according to age-specific analysis. Complete edentulous solutions (38 cases, 29.23%) and tooth restoration (55 cases, 42.31%) were the most frequently performed procedures. Compared to tooth restoration (n=15; 55.17%), complete edentulous solutions (n=8; 27.59%) had increased infection risks, according to logistic regression. Following prosthodontic procedures, respiratory health measures improved: respiratory rate dropped to 17.8/min, oxygen saturation rose to 98.1%, and frequency of coughing fell to 1.9/day.

Conclusion: This research highlights the need for careful post-operative respiratory surveillance by elucidating the strong associations between prosthodontic procedures and chest infections.

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