Assessment of physicians’ awareness and clinical practice regarding gingival enlargement caused by calcium channel blockers Banaz Jabbar Ali, Al-Hussein Safaa Hussein, Ban Karem Hassan, Ola Shakir Fadhil, Ammar Sh Ahmed Peerj, 2026 Background Gingival enlargement is a side effect of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), which are usually used to treat cardiovascular conditions. Physicians have an important role in identifying and managing the disease, but their level of awareness and ability to apply their knowledge in clinical practice remain unclear in Iraq. Objective This study aims to assess physicians’ knowledge of calcium channel blocker (CCB)-induced gingival enlargement and determine whether they apply this knowledge in their clinical practice. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 331 physicians working in Iraqi primary healthcare institutions to collect the data for this study. A Google Forms questionnaire was designed, created, and distributed via Facebook and WhatsApp (special groups for primary health centers in Iraq). The survey evaluated their understanding about gingival enlargement as a side effect of calcium channel blockers. Results The study analyzed responses to questions regarding awareness and management of gingival enlargement linked with calcium channel blocker (CCB) drugs. Only 58% of physicians reported that CCB use causes gingival enlargement as a side effect. However, fewer responders (33.5%) believed they informed patients about this risk. Furthermore, 57.7% of respondents said they do not regularly refer patients for gingival assessment related to CCB use. When asked about factors affecting the occurrence and severity of gingival enlargement, the majority (88.2%) identified a combination of individual susceptibility, dental hygiene levels, and specific medication as relevant factors for this. Most respondents (73.4%) approved that improving oral hygiene and professional cleanings assist in managing drug-induced gingival enlargement. Conclusion There is a gap between the knowledge of physicians regarding the role of calcium channel blockers in causing gingival enlargement and their clinical practice. Enhancing medical-dental collaboration and providing targeted education can lead to better management and outcomes for patients experiencing CCB-induced gingival enlargement.
The Link Between Periodontal Hygiene Status and Pregnancy: Awareness and Understanding Among Iraqi Pregnant Women Athraa Ali Mahmood, Banaz Jabbar Ali, Ban Karem Hassan International Journal of Dentistry, 2025 Objective: To evaluate oral health knowledge and habits, as well as awareness of periodontal hygiene, and its impact on pregnancy outcomes among Iraqi pregnant women.Material and Methods: An observational cross‐sectional study involved a survey of 387 pregnant women in Baghdad city. To gauge their level of awareness and knowledge, a pretested, closed‐ended questionnaire with nine items about oral health was given out.Results: A significant proportion of pregnant women surveyed appeared unaware of developing gingivitis during pregnancy. Regarding knowledge about the causes of pregnancy gingivitis, nearly half of the surveyed pregnant women (46.9%) were not aware of its origins. A majority of the surveyed pregnant women (72.7%) were unaware of the potential adverse pregnancy outcomes related to pregnant gingivitis. In addition, there was a significant difference in knowledge scores when comparing pregnant women based on their educational levels, and more than half of the women (56.25%) did not undergo their dental checkups during pregnancy. A substantial 82.7% of the surveyed pregnant women believed in the importance of receiving dental health education at the onset of pregnancy.Conclusion: The findings of this investigation supported the need for interaction between dental practitioners and gynecologists, including routine dental checkups during antenatal visits of pregnant women, as essential to develop and improve the habits of awareness of the need for periodontal hygiene during pregnancy. Furthermore, there was a significant association between educational level and awareness and knowledge among pregnant women about the relationship between periodontal health and pregnancy.
The Estimation of Cementoenamel Junction Crestal Bone Distance in Mandibular Anterior Teeth Ammar Sh Ahmed, Banaz Jabbar Ali, Ban Karem Hassan, Abbas Sabah Mohammad Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry, 2025 Purpose: The study aimed to measure the distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar bone crest on both the buccal and lingual sides of the anterior mandibular teeth utilizing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was utilized to measure the distance between CEJ and the alveolar bone crest on both the buccal and lingual sides of the mandible's anterior teeth. Results: The mean of the distance on buccal side for the central, lateral, and canine teeth were (1.6 mm), (1.6 mm), and (1.5 mm) respectively. On the lingual side, the mean for all teeth (central, lateral, and canine) was 1.7 mm. The study demonstrated a significant difference in distance across age groups (<30 and ≥30 years) for all teeth on both the buccal and lingual sides, except for the canine on the buccal side. Conclusion: The distance from the CEJ to the bone crest on both the buccal and lingual sides varies significantly by age group. This data is essential for developing orthodontic, implant, and periodontal therapies.
The assessment of MMP-8 among different stages of periodontitis in the Iraqi population Banaz Jabbar Ali, Ban Karem Hassan, Athraa Ali Mahmood Journal of Emergency Medicine Trauma and Acute Care, 2023 This research aims to explore the potential of MMP-8 as a biomarker for diagnosing periodontitis using the latest classification system for this condition. This study enrolled 63 patients with periodontitis and classified them into stage II and stage III periodontitis groups. Additionally, 18 healthy/intact periodontium individuals were included as a control group. Clinical periodontal parameters were assessed, and 3 ml of whole unstimulated saliva was collected from each participant. The results revealed that both PLI (Plaque Index) and BOP (Bleeding on Probing) were considerably elevated in both stages of periodontitis compared to the healthy/control group. There were no statistical differences between periodontitis stages for PLI, BOP, and PPD (Probing Pocket Depth); however, Clinical Attachment Level (CAL) showed a substantial difference across the different stages of periodontitis. The concentrations of MMP-8 were substantially higher in both stages than in the control group, with a significant difference between the periodontitis stages, as the mean concentration was higher in stage II than in stage III. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between aMMP-8 levels and all periodontal indices. ROC analysis showed that salivary MMP-8 had good diagnostic accuracy for differentiating between periodontal health and periodontitis. However, salivary MMP-8 was unable to distinguish between periodontitis stages.
The impact of obesity on periodontal health status in adolescent iraqi students Sarah Ihsan Al-Karawi, Athraa Ali Mahmood, Ban Karem Hassan Brazilian Dental Science, 2021 Objetive: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect and association of obesity on the periodontal health status of middle school students. Materials and Methods: This study included 180 secondary school students aged 12- 15 years from Baghdad City in the survey. BMIfor-age (body mass index for age) was utilized to detect overweight and obesity. Furthermore, periodontal screening records (PSR) index was performed to evaluate the oral hygiene and periodontal condition of the subjects. Chisquare tests and two-way ANOVA were used for statistical analyses. Results: A highly significant association of BMI-for-age with periodontal health (codes 0, 1, 2, and 3) was observed. The association of gender and periodontal health was highly significant in code 3, significant in codes 0 and 1, and it was not significant in code 2. Additionally, the ANOVA test revealed that the effects of gender and BMI-for-age on periodontal health were significant. In contrast, the effect of the interaction between gender and BMI-for-age on periodontal health was not it was not significant. Conclusions: In adolescents, bad oral hygiene was correlated with extra body fat indicators. Therefore, oral health preventive schedules should take into consideration the relationship between periodontal condition and overweight/obesity in teenagers. Keywords Obesity; Body mass index; Periodontal disease; Oral health status.
Self-reported oral health attitudes and behaviors, and gingival status of dental students Ban Karem Hassan, Banaz Jabbar Ali, Alyamama Mahmood Alwan, Raed A. Badeia Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry, 2020 AIM: The aim of this study was to assess self-reported oral health attitudes and behaviors of the Iraqi dental students and compare the variations in these attitudes and behaviors that linked to dental education level and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire depended on the English version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) was prepared, the questionnaire given to 198 dental students. RESULTS: About 91.4% of the dental students were worried about the teeth colour, and merely minor percentage of them (18.8%) thought it is not crucial to seek dental advice until they acquire a tooth pain; however, 26.3% of the students were disturbed because of their gum colour, and 75.3% of them examined their teeth after brushing. Besides, 72.2% of the students replied that gum disease could not be prevented by tooth brushing only, 60.1% of the students do not give visiting the dentist such concern, and 14.1% of dental students were smokers. The plaque and gingival indices were significantly higher in preclinical students than clinical students. CONCLUSION: Iraqi dental students had somewhat good oral health behavior and attitudes; however, extra concentrating is required on the anticipatory and behavioral aspects of oral self-care practices. Female dental students displayed better oral health behavior and attitudes than male colleagues on some issues.
