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.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no evidence supporting a correlation between the incidence of odontogenic abscess and the weather and lunar activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany. oliristow@yahoo.de.|Medizin & Aesthetik, Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, Lenbachplatz 2a, D-80333, Munich, Germany. oliristow@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ristow
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, D-81675, Munich, Germany. steffen.koerdt@web.de.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koerdt
authors.affiliation: AllDent Zahnzentrum, Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum für Zahnheilkunde und Mund-, Kiefer-, Gesichtschiurgie, Bayerstr. 21, 80335, Munich, Germany. r.stelzner@alldent-zahnzentrum.de.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stelzner
authors.affiliation: AllDent Zahnzentrum, Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum für Zahnheilkunde und Mund-, Kiefer-, Gesichtschiurgie, Bayerstr. 21, 80335, Munich, Germany. m.stelzner@alldent-zahnzentrum.de.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stelzner
authors.affiliation: AllDent Zahnzentrum, Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum für Zahnheilkunde und Mund-, Kiefer-, Gesichtschiurgie, Bayerstr. 21, 80335, Munich, Germany. chr.johannes@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johannes
authors.affiliation: Private Statistical Consultant, Stuberstraße 16, D-80638, Munich, Germany. melliristow@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ristow
authors.affiliation: Medizin & Aesthetik, Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, Lenbachplatz 2a, D-80333, Munich, Germany. bmajert@hotmail.com.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, D-81675, Munich, Germany. bmajert@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hohlweg-Majert
authors.affiliation: Medizin & Aesthetik, Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, Lenbachplatz 2a, D-80333, Munich, Germany. christoph.pautke@gmx.net.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Lindwurmstr. 2a, D-80336, Munich, Germany. christoph.pautke@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pautke
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D055669:Ecological and Environmental Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016081:Moon; D009229:Mythology; D011891:Rain; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D013696:Temperature; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology; D014887:Weather; D055815:Young Adult