Olga Naka | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (original) (raw)

Papers by Olga Naka

Research paper thumbnail of The Provision of a Protocol for the Treatment With Dentures for People Diagnosed With Parkinson's Disease

Research paper thumbnail of Validation of indices for functional assessment of dentures.

AIMS: To validate an assessment of qualities of complete dentures that may relate to functional s... more AIMS: To validate an assessment of qualities of complete dentures that may relate to functional success.SUBJECTS: A consecutive sample of 131 complete denture wearers took part in the study.SETTING: a Greek department of prosthetic dentistry.INTERVENTION: All participants and their dentures underwent clinical examination.DESIGN: The Functional Assessment of Dentures (FAD) 10-item criteria' describing clinical factors of denture quality was used. The rationale for selecting these particular criteria was to include a range of clinical factors to produce an overall assessment of complete dentures. The 10-item scale was examined for Internal Consistency and Construct Validity providing a summated rating scale whose total score could be used as an index for the quality of dentures.RESULTS: Both intra- and inter-examiner agreement for all 10 dichotomous scale criteria were all good or very good; the intra-examiner Kappa values were 0.72 to 0.91 and the inter- examiner values were 0.72 to 0.99. Statistical analysis revealed that a 7-item summated rating scale could be constructed which has marginally better internal consistency (reliability) and Construct Validity with fewer questions.CONCLUSIONS: The FAD criteria' can be used to give good repeatability. The adjustments made to the original summation scale, if confirmed by new studies, would further increase the practical utility of a FAD index for general dentists. In due course with data from future studies, discrimination on weighting of items will be appropriate to relate the impact of denture quality on quality of life.

Research paper thumbnail of Association between functional tooth units and chewing ability in older adults: a systematic review

Gerodontology, 2012

Objectives: To systematically review the current evidence on the relationship between dentition s... more Objectives: To systematically review the current evidence on the relationship between dentition status and chewing ability in older adults, as the latter was subjectively perceived by questionnaires. Background: Tooth loss is associated with functional impairment regarding chewing ability, depending on the number and the location of the remaining teeth. Methods: A search of the English literature was undertaken using the appropriate electronic databases and keywords in order to answer the question of this review. Independent extraction of the related articles was carried out by two authors using predefined eligibility criteria. Results: Full-text analysis was performed for 51 articles of possible relevance. Finally, data were extracted from 18 studies, published in 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: Although there was a conflict between the studies relevant to the number of functional tooth units needed to maintain adequate oral function, it was revealed that chewing ability was closely related to the number and distribution of teeth remaining. Treatment plan should focus on the preservation of the strategic parts of the dental arch that are critical for adequate oral function. Long-term prospective studies, comprising well-defined criteria, clinical variables, methods and utilising comprehensive questionnaires, should be preferred to obtain a clearer picture on the association between masticatory ability and functional tooth units.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing oral health promotion determinants in active Greek elderly

Gerodontology, 2012

Objective: To explore older adults' patterns and risk behaviours to be invoked in the allocation ... more Objective: To explore older adults' patterns and risk behaviours to be invoked in the allocation of strategies to promote oral health. Background: Access to dental services is determined by factors that serve as barriers to or enablers of older adults' behaviour and attitudes towards oral health. Appropriate oral health promotion activities are of particular importance among the elderly in altering oral health behaviour through education, prevention and health protection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 108 dentate elderly subjects. They were attending a University Prosthetic Dentistry Clinic in Greece as patients seeking treatment. Participants underwent a clinical examination and an interview. Results: Data extracted revealed that cost and no disease awareness were the most frequently mentioned barriers to regular dental visits. Most of the participants presented low level of income and education and reduced presence of adverse dental health symptoms compared with the actual oral health status. Besides some predisposing factors, enabling and need variables significantly affected access to dental care services, participants' number of remaining teeth and as a consequence oral health status. Conclusion: Profiling older adults' demographics, economic, social and cultural status and their attitudes and beliefs could further contribute in developing universal activities and strategies for oral health promotion so as ageing challenges are favoured.

Research paper thumbnail of Management of provisional restorations' deficiencies: a literature review

Journal of Esthetic …, 2011

Provisional restorations are designed in order to protect oral structures and promote function an... more Provisional restorations are designed in order to protect oral structures and promote function and esthetics for a limited period of time, after which they are to be replaced by a definite prosthesis. They play a particular role in diagnostic procedures and continued evaluation of the treatment plan, as they should resemble the form and function of the definite rehabilitation that they precede. Therefore, interim treatment should satisfy the criteria of marginal adaptation, strength, and longevity. In complicated treatment plans that intend to last for extended periods of time, the function of provisional prostheses involves the possibility of relining, modification, or repair. These adjustments raise considerations regarding the strength of the resultant bond. Chemical composition of the base and repair material, surface characteristics of fracture parts, and time elapsed since the initial set of the rehabilitation should be considered in the decision of the appropriate repair material and technique. Proper pretreatment of the provisional components' surfaces is essential to ensure bonding as well.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating dental status and prosthetic need in relation to medical findings in Greek patients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson's disease

The European journal …, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of The Provision of a Protocol for the Treatment With Dentures for People Diagnosed With Parkinson's Disease

Research paper thumbnail of Validation of indices for functional assessment of dentures.

AIMS: To validate an assessment of qualities of complete dentures that may relate to functional s... more AIMS: To validate an assessment of qualities of complete dentures that may relate to functional success.SUBJECTS: A consecutive sample of 131 complete denture wearers took part in the study.SETTING: a Greek department of prosthetic dentistry.INTERVENTION: All participants and their dentures underwent clinical examination.DESIGN: The Functional Assessment of Dentures (FAD) 10-item criteria' describing clinical factors of denture quality was used. The rationale for selecting these particular criteria was to include a range of clinical factors to produce an overall assessment of complete dentures. The 10-item scale was examined for Internal Consistency and Construct Validity providing a summated rating scale whose total score could be used as an index for the quality of dentures.RESULTS: Both intra- and inter-examiner agreement for all 10 dichotomous scale criteria were all good or very good; the intra-examiner Kappa values were 0.72 to 0.91 and the inter- examiner values were 0.72 to 0.99. Statistical analysis revealed that a 7-item summated rating scale could be constructed which has marginally better internal consistency (reliability) and Construct Validity with fewer questions.CONCLUSIONS: The FAD criteria' can be used to give good repeatability. The adjustments made to the original summation scale, if confirmed by new studies, would further increase the practical utility of a FAD index for general dentists. In due course with data from future studies, discrimination on weighting of items will be appropriate to relate the impact of denture quality on quality of life.

Research paper thumbnail of Association between functional tooth units and chewing ability in older adults: a systematic review

Gerodontology, 2012

Objectives: To systematically review the current evidence on the relationship between dentition s... more Objectives: To systematically review the current evidence on the relationship between dentition status and chewing ability in older adults, as the latter was subjectively perceived by questionnaires. Background: Tooth loss is associated with functional impairment regarding chewing ability, depending on the number and the location of the remaining teeth. Methods: A search of the English literature was undertaken using the appropriate electronic databases and keywords in order to answer the question of this review. Independent extraction of the related articles was carried out by two authors using predefined eligibility criteria. Results: Full-text analysis was performed for 51 articles of possible relevance. Finally, data were extracted from 18 studies, published in 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: Although there was a conflict between the studies relevant to the number of functional tooth units needed to maintain adequate oral function, it was revealed that chewing ability was closely related to the number and distribution of teeth remaining. Treatment plan should focus on the preservation of the strategic parts of the dental arch that are critical for adequate oral function. Long-term prospective studies, comprising well-defined criteria, clinical variables, methods and utilising comprehensive questionnaires, should be preferred to obtain a clearer picture on the association between masticatory ability and functional tooth units.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing oral health promotion determinants in active Greek elderly

Gerodontology, 2012

Objective: To explore older adults' patterns and risk behaviours to be invoked in the allocation ... more Objective: To explore older adults' patterns and risk behaviours to be invoked in the allocation of strategies to promote oral health. Background: Access to dental services is determined by factors that serve as barriers to or enablers of older adults' behaviour and attitudes towards oral health. Appropriate oral health promotion activities are of particular importance among the elderly in altering oral health behaviour through education, prevention and health protection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 108 dentate elderly subjects. They were attending a University Prosthetic Dentistry Clinic in Greece as patients seeking treatment. Participants underwent a clinical examination and an interview. Results: Data extracted revealed that cost and no disease awareness were the most frequently mentioned barriers to regular dental visits. Most of the participants presented low level of income and education and reduced presence of adverse dental health symptoms compared with the actual oral health status. Besides some predisposing factors, enabling and need variables significantly affected access to dental care services, participants' number of remaining teeth and as a consequence oral health status. Conclusion: Profiling older adults' demographics, economic, social and cultural status and their attitudes and beliefs could further contribute in developing universal activities and strategies for oral health promotion so as ageing challenges are favoured.

Research paper thumbnail of Management of provisional restorations' deficiencies: a literature review

Journal of Esthetic …, 2011

Provisional restorations are designed in order to protect oral structures and promote function an... more Provisional restorations are designed in order to protect oral structures and promote function and esthetics for a limited period of time, after which they are to be replaced by a definite prosthesis. They play a particular role in diagnostic procedures and continued evaluation of the treatment plan, as they should resemble the form and function of the definite rehabilitation that they precede. Therefore, interim treatment should satisfy the criteria of marginal adaptation, strength, and longevity. In complicated treatment plans that intend to last for extended periods of time, the function of provisional prostheses involves the possibility of relining, modification, or repair. These adjustments raise considerations regarding the strength of the resultant bond. Chemical composition of the base and repair material, surface characteristics of fracture parts, and time elapsed since the initial set of the rehabilitation should be considered in the decision of the appropriate repair material and technique. Proper pretreatment of the provisional components' surfaces is essential to ensure bonding as well.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating dental status and prosthetic need in relation to medical findings in Greek patients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson's disease

The European journal …, 2002