Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in orthodontic therapy: proposal of a new data collecting protocol

Aim: To propose a new protocol for the collection of data in order to individuate recurrent clinical signs in the oral cavity of patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in orthodontic therapy. Methods: The points of the data collecting, chart for JIA patients (dental formula, plaque index, bleeding index, PSR and subdivision in dental areas (A) for the segnalation of caries, demineralizations, fillings and sealants) previously individuated, were further modified and amplified as follows: 1. Dental surface subdivision (S): - molars, from 21 to 45 S (9 A for: vestibular, lingual/palatal, distal, mesial and occlusal) plus one for Carabelli’s tubercle; - premolars, from 18 to 45 S (9 A for: vestibular, lingual/palatal, distal, mesial and occlusal); -canines and incisors, from 13 to 27 S (9 A for: vestibular and lingual/palatal; 3 A for: distal, mesial and occlusal) plus one for the cingula. Quantitative evaluation of the basal salivary flow and stimulated with lemon juice in there subsequent series of 5 minutes each, for a total of 15 minutes, in first visit (T0), in T1, in T2 and in the following Tn. Qualitative bacterial plaque analysis Quantitative bacterial plaque analysis Oral/geniena mucose zones subdivision (Z): palatal, 6 Z; vestibular upper adherent gum, 3 Z; vestibular free upper gum, 3 Z; upper vestibular-labial, 3 Z; lingual, 6 Z; oral floor, 4 Z; vestibular low adherent gum, 3 Z; Vestibular low free gum, 3 Z; inferior vestibular-labial, 3 Z; right cheek mucose, 6 Z; left cheek mucose, 6 Z; Lips subdivision (L): superior, 4 L; inferior, 4 L; corners of the mouth, right and left. Results: The further points, as individuated, allow to collect the clinical signs present in the oral cavity of JIA patients in an unambiguous and distinct way, to do a more detailed valuation of their oral health and simplify the communication between the referring doctors. Conclusion: the proposal of this new diagnostic protocol will allow to every member of the equipe to individuate in an unambiguous way the recurrent clinical signs in oral cavity of JIA