Abstract

Dental caries is a widespread infectious disease influenced by bacterial activity, dietary factors, and host

susceptibility. Community water fluoridation has been a key public health measure for caries prevention,

particularly in children. The optimal fluoride concentration in drinking water (0.7 mg/L) balances caries

reduction with minimal fluorosis risk. This study assessed fluoride levels in drinking water and their

correlation with dental caries in primary school children in Gharyan, Libya. A cross-sectional study was

conducted on 350 children (aged 7–10 years) from urban and rural schools in Gharyan. Water samples from

five stores and one groundwater source were analyzed for fluoride concentration using an ion-selective

electrode. Dental caries was assessed using the dmft/DMFT index. Fluoride levels in water stores were

negligible (0.0–0.1 mg/L), while unfiltered groundwater exhibited high concentrations (6.0–7.0 mg/L),

exceeding WHO guidelines (1.5 mg/L). The low fluoride availability in most drinking sources suggests

limited caries-preventive effects from water fluoridation in this region. The study highlights insufficient

fluoride exposure in Gharyan’s public water supply, potentially contributing to higher caries prevalence.

Further research is needed to evaluate alternative fluoride delivery methods and assess groundwater safety

to optimize oral health outcomes.

Keywords. Fluoride Concentration, Drinking Water, Dental Caries, Primary School

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of hyperdontia, hypodontia (which

includes mesiodens and fused teeth), talon cusps, microdontia (which includes peg-shaped lateral incisors), and

macrodontia in patients attending private dental clinics in Gharyan, Libya. During ordinary patient

examinations, the inquiry was undertaken clinically and radiographically. A total of 1219 participants were

included in the study (358 males and 861 females). 57 of patients had dental anomalies in the percentage of

(4.67%), 21 patients (1.72%) had missing teeth, 15 of them had one missing permanent tooth and 6 patients had

two missing permanent teeth (the lower 2nd premolar was the most tooth loss 0.49%). In addition, the study

showed that 16 patients had supernumerary teeth, 10 patients had microdontia and 7 patients had macrodontia,

whereas, two patients had talon cusp. Early detection of a treatable abnormality is critical in developing a

thorough treatment strategy for the patient. Some of the unpleasant impact should be avoidable. In some

circumstances; functional, cosmetic, and occlusal discord can be detected early enough to warrant interpret of

sessional consultation and treatment.

KEYWORDS: dental anomalies; hypodontia; microdontia; macrodontia

Abstract: Objective: The present study has been designed to evaluate the histological effects of the daily consumption of omega-3 on submandibular salivary gland of old rats. Material & methods: Forty old white male rats (12-15 month age old), weighing 300 to 350gs, were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups (20 rats/each). Control group where rats did not receive any dietary supplement. Experimental group where rats received omega-3 (60 mg/Kg) twice daily for three months through intra- gastric intubation. All rats were sacrificed after three months. Soft tissue specimens were obtained from submandibular salivary gland of the rats in all the studied groups. The sections were examined histologically and ultra-structurally. Results: Histopathological changes observed in control group included; distortion and decrease in the overall size of the acini and granular convoluted tubules increase in the amount of fatty tissue, fibrous tissue and inflammatory cell infiltration. In experimental group, the acini and ducts appeared nearly normal and there was marked decrease in the inflammatory cell infiltration. Electron microscopic examination of the control group revealed cytoplasmic vacuolization in acini and ducts, degenerated organelles and pyknotic nuclei. In experimental group, the acini and ducts appeared nearly normal in size, shape and structure. Conclusion: Omega-3 showed significant improvement in many age related changes of submandibular salivary gland.الملخص: الهدف: صممت الدراسة الحالية لتقييم التأثيرات النسيجية لليوم استهلاك أوميغا 3 على الغدد اللعابية تحت الفك السفلي للفئران القديمة. المواد والطرق: أربعون ذكرا أبيض يبلغ من العمر تم استخدام الفئران (12-15 شهرا) ، التي تزن 300 إلى 350 جراما ، في هذه الدراسة. تم تقسيم الفئران إلى مجموعتين (20 جرأ / لكل منهما). المجموعة الضابطة حيث لم تتلق الفئران أي مكمل غذائي. المجموعة التجريبية حيث الفئران تلقى أوميغا 3 (60 مجم / كجم) مرتين يوميا لمدة ثلاثة أشهر من خلال التنبيب داخل المعدة. تم التضحية بجميع الفئران بعد ثلاثة أشهر. تم الحصول على عينات الأنسجة الرخوة من الغدة اللعابية تحت الفك السفلي للفئران في جميع المجموعات المدروسة. تم فحص الأقسام من الناحية النسيجية والهيكلية الفائقة. النتائج: نسيجية مرضية وشملت التغييرات التي لوحظت في المجموعة الضابطة; تشويه وانخفاض في الحجم الكلي للأسيني والحبيبات تزداد الأنابيب الملتوية في كمية الأنسجة الدهنية والأنسجة الليفية وتسلل الخلايا الالتهابية. في المجموعة التجريبية ، بدت الأسيني والقنوات طبيعية تقريبا وكان هناك انخفاض ملحوظ في الالتهابات تسلل الخلايا. كشف الفحص المجهري الإلكتروني للمجموعة الضابطة عن تفريغ السيتوبلازمي في أسيني والقنوات والعضيات المتدهورة والنوى pyknotic. في المجموعة التجريبية ، ظهرت الأسيني والقنوات تقريبا طبيعي في الحجم والشكل والهيكل. الخلاصة: أظهرت أوميغا 3 تحسنا كبيرا في العديد من الأمراض المرتبطة بالعمر تغيرات الغدة اللعابية تحت الفك السفلي.