abstract

The present study aimed to assess the knowledge of diabetic patients regarding diabetes-related systemic and oral

complications and to evaluate their attitudes toward maintaining good oral health and their oral hygiene practices,

including regular dental visits. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Gharyan Educational Hospital, Gharyan,

Libya, between November 2025 and January 2026. A total of 134 diabetic patients attending scheduled outpatient

clinics were enrolled. The study found that 60.5% of participants were aware that diabetes increases the risk of

oral disease, with a high awareness of xerostomia (91%). However, knowledge of specific complications was lower;

only 46.2% identified dental caries and 42.6% identified oral fungal infections as related risks. Regarding systemic

health, patients showed higher awareness of diabetic foot and eye complications than of nerve or kidney

complications. While 73.9% of participants reported brushing their teeth, only 41.8% did so twice daily.

Furthermore, 44.8% visited the dentist less than once a year, and 41% could not remember their last visit. The

primary sources of information were diabetologists (52.9%) and various media (50%), with 98.5% of participants

expressing a desire for more education on this topic. Diabetic patients in Gharyan demonstrated a moderate level

of knowledge regarding diabetes-related oral health. While attitudes toward oral hygiene are generally positive,

there are significant gaps in knowledge regarding specific oral complications. The findings suggest an urgent need

to integrate oral health education into routine diabetic care and to strengthen collaboration between physicians and

dentists to improve overall patient outcomes.

Keywords. Diabetes mellitus, Oral Health, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Libya.

While most pregnant women in Gharyan city demonstrated adequate oral health knowledge, gaps persist in

preventive practices, particularly regarding fluoride use and dental visits. Education level and dental visits

during pregnancy were significant determinants of knowledge. These findings highlight the need for targeted

oral health education programs and increased access to dental services for pregnant women to improve oral

health outcomes for both mothers and their infants.

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