A dental myth bites the dust--no observable relation between the incidence of dental abscess and the weather and lunar phase: an ecological study.

Ristow, Oliver; Koerdt, Steffen; Stelzner, Ruben; Stelzner, Matthias; Johannes, Christoph; Ristow, Melanie; Hohlweg-Majert, Bettina; Pautke, Christoph

doi:10.1186/s12903-015-0001-2

2015

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Title:: A dental myth bites the dust--no observable relation between the incidence of dental abscess and the weather and lunar phase: an ecological study.
Document type:: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Author(s):: Ristow, Oliver; Koerdt, Steffen; Stelzner, Ruben; Stelzner, Matthias; Johannes, Christoph; Ristow, Melanie; Hohlweg-Majert, Bettina; Pautke, Christoph
Abstract:: Anecdotal reports assert a relationship between weather and lunar activity and the odontogenic abscess (OA) incidence, but this relationship has not been validated. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between oral pain caused by OA and a variety of meteorological parameters and cyclic lunar activity.The records of all dental emergency patients treated at the AllDent Zahnzentrum Emergency Unit in Munich, Germany during 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with oral pain who were diagnosed with OA and treated surgically (n = 1211) were included in the analysis. The OA incidence was correlated to daily meteorological data, biosynoptic weather analysis, and cyclic lunar activity.There was no seasonal variation in the OA incidence. None of the meteorological parameters, lunar phase, or biosynoptic weather class were significantly correlated with the OA incidence, except the mean barometric pressure, which was weakly correlated (rho = -0.204). The OA incidence showed a decreasing trend as barometric pressure increased (p < 0.001). On multiple linear regression, the barometric pressure accounted for approximately 4% of the OA incidence.There is no evidence supporting a correlation between the incidence of odontogenic abscess and the weather and lunar activities.
Journal title abbreviation:: BMC Oral Health
Year:: 2015
Journal volume:: 15
Pages contribution:: 21
Language:: eng
Fulltext / DOI:: doi:10.1186/s12903-015-0001-2
Pubmed ID:: http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25888138
Print-ISSN:: 1472-6831
TUM Institution:: Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie
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mediaTUM Gesamtbestand Einrichtungen Schools TUM School of Medicine and Health Departments Clinical Medicine Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie (Prof. Wolff)2015