Prevalence Of Caries Research Articles

Long-term costs of dental care for thailand preschool children by using a system dynamics model

BackgroundA System Dynamics Model (SDM) is a computer simulation to alleviate the problem by comparing strategies and policies. Addressing the costs by using SDM helps in allocating the resources efficiently in managing the strategies.ObjectiveTo describe the costs of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of dental caries for 0–5-year-old children by SDM.MethodsThe SDM was developed to explore the cost of primary and secondary prevention (supervised toothbrushing, STB and fluoride varnish, FV), the treatment cost for caries (tertiary prevention), and the total cost under three scenarios; STB, FV and base case (no intervention).ResultsWhen the children aged 5 years, the treatment cost under the base case was the highest at 57.6 million baht while 53.5 million baht in FV and 51.9 million baht in STB. As a total cost, 64.1 million baht under FV, 60.9 million baht under STB, and 57.6 million baht under base case. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the effective rate of STB must be at least 30%, and FV should be a minimum of 50% to ascertain the total cost reduction relative to the base case scenario.ConclusionCaries treatment costs were lower when STB and FV were implemented than in the base case scenario. The overall cost under FV was the highest, followed by STB, with no total cost savings observed as compared to the base case situation. Despite that, carrying out the STB rather than the FV would save a total of 3.2 million baht. Treatment costs under interventions would be lower than expected, and overall cost reductions might be obtained by comparing the base case if the intervention's effective rates are higher, according to sensitivity analysis.

Evaluation of oral and dental health parameters in children with special care needs

AIM. The aim of this study is to evaluate and raise awareness of the oral and dental health parameters in children aged 6 to 16 years with special care needs who are enrolled in special education institutions located in the central districts of Diyarbakir in Turkey. Specifically, the study examines the presence of caries, plaque, malocclusions, and molar-incisor hypomineralization.METHODS. A total of 368 children with special care needs participated in the study, with ages ranging from 6 to 16 years and an average age of 9.61 years. Of the participants, 196 have intellectual disabilities, 51 have Down syndrome, and 121 have autism spectrum disorder. The clinical findings of our study include the DMFT/dmft index, plaque index, occlusal relationships, and the presence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS v21 software package.RESULTS. The mean DMFT/dmft value was found to be 5.64, and the mean plaque index value was 1.37. The occlusal relationships of the participants were as followed: 78.26% had Class I, 11.14% had Class II, and 10.6% had Class III. Additionally, 98.64% of the participants did not have molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH), while 1.36% did have MIH.CONCLUSION. In our study, it was found that children with special care needs generally have poor oral hygiene, their parents/caregivers lack sufficient awareness, and the prevalence of caries and plaque index is high in the examined population.

Exploring the Link between Xerostomia and Oral Health in Mental Illness: Insights from Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia.

The relationship between mental disorders and oral health is complex, involving behavioral, biological, and psychosocial factors. This review aims to investigate the impact of mental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, on oral health outcomes. A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted to analyze the oral health outcomes associated with each mental disorder. The focus was on examining dietary habits, oral hygiene behaviors, physiological changes, and medication side effects that contribute to oral health issues. The findings indicate that individuals with ASD often exhibit unique dietary habits and reduced oral hygiene capabilities due to sensory sensitivities, leading to a higher prevalence of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Depression and bipolar disorder are associated with physiological changes such as reduced saliva production and poor oral hygiene behaviors, increasing the risk of oral health problems. Medications used for these conditions exacerbate issues like xerostomia, further elevating the risk of dental diseases. Schizophrenia poses additional challenges, including cognitive impairments and medication side effects that hinder effective oral care, heightening susceptibility to oral diseases. This review highlights the specific oral health challenges associated with different mental disorders and emphasizes the need for tailored dental care strategies that integrate mental health considerations. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the unique oral health impacts of these disorders. However, the findings are limited by the scope of available cross-sectional data and the absence of longitudinal studies. Future research should focus on longitudinal and intervention-based studies to explore causal relationships and develop effective treatments.

Black Phosphorus Nanosheets-Loaded Mussel-Inspired Hydrogel with Wet Adhesion, Photothermal Antimicrobial, and In Situ Remineralization Capabilities for Caries Prevention.

The main features of early caries are the massive colonization of cariogenic bacteria and demineralization of tooth enamel by the acids that they produce. Owing to the lack of effective treatments, the development of anticaries therapeutics with both antimicrobial and remineralizing properties is urgently required. Black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNs) are ideal therapeutics for the treatment of early caries because they can mediate photothermal antibacterial activity and subsequently promote remineralization by generating PO4 3-. However, the dynamic and wet environment of the oral cavity prevents the long-term adhesion of BPNs to the tooth surface. In this study, using catechol-modified chitosan and PLGA-PEG-PLGA as raw materials, a mussel-inspired versatile hydrogel, BP@CP5, is presented that can be used to physically load BPNs. BP@CP5 has exceptional injectability and can firmly adhere to tooth surfaces for up to 24h. Upon irradiation, BP@CP5 can quickly eliminate ≈99% of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis; furthermore, the PO4 3- generated via degradation also promotes rapid remineralization of enamel slabs. Importantly, the vivo rodent caries modeling results further confirm the excellent caries-prevention properties of BP@CP5. This study demonstrates that BP@CP5 is a promising anticaries material for caries management.

Behavior Change Techniques to Reduce Sugars Intake by Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

The adolescent diet is high in sugars compared with other age groups. Effective approaches to support sugar reduction by adolescents are needed as part of caries prevention. To systematically review peer-reviewed evidence (1990 to 2023) to identify effective behavior change techniques (BCTs) for sugars reduction in adolescents aged 10 to 16 y. Nine databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, Dental and Oral Sciences Source, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched. Identified articles were screened independently in duplicate for eligibility. Interventions were eligible if they aimed to change adolescent dietary behavior(s) and reported pre- and postsugar-relevant outcome measures. Interventions from included studies were coded using a 93-item BCT Taxonomy (Michie Taxonomy v1). Risk of bias was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Evidence synthesis by vote counting (number of studies showing positive versus null or negative effects) was applied to BCTs that were present in more than 5 interventions. Of 16,271 articles identified, 764 were screened in full, yielding 35 studies (in 43 papers), of which 3 were uncodeable. BCTs coded in interventions covered 11 of 16 BCT clusters and 25 of 93 individual BCTs in the BCT taxonomy. The median number of BCTs applied per study was 3 (interquartile range 2-6). Evidence synthesis indicated that the BCTs most positively associated with a positive reduction in sugars were (with the percentage of strong-/moderate-quality studies applying these techniques that successfully reduced sugars intake in brackets) feedback on behavior (100%), information on social and environmental consequences (100%), problem solving (75%), and social comparison (75%). Notwithstanding limitations in available data, the current evidence most strongly supports the use of BCTs relating to feedback on behavior, providing information on the social and environmental consequences, include problem solving and making social comparisons, to lower sugars intake in adolescents. The results of this study will enable clinicians to provide more effective dietary advice when supporting dietary behavior change to reduce sugars intake in adolescents. The results may also be used by researchers to guide future directions for research into effective sugars reduction in adolescents.

Clinical study of pit and fissure sealant combined with light-cured flowable resin in prevention of dental caries in children.

Clinical study of pit and fissure sealant combined with light-cured flowable resin in prevention of dental caries in children.

Ultrastructural evaluation of adverse effects on dentine formation from systemic fluoride application in an experimental mouse model.

Fluoride is widely used in dentistry for its caries prevention. To reduce dental caries, the optimal fluoride concentration of public water supplies in the United States is 0.7 ppm. However, excessive systemic fluoride consumption can lead to dental/enamel fluorosis. Numerous studies have explored the effects of fluoride on enamel and enamel-forming cells. However, research on systemic fluoride's impact on dentine is limited, particularly the effect of fluoride on the structure of the dentine-pulp complex. Therefore, this study aimed to identify how excessive fluoride affects dentine microstructure using an experimental mouse model. C57BL6/J male mice (6-9 weeks old) were randomized into four groups (Fluoride at 0, 50, 100, or 125 ppm in drinking water) (n = 4/group). Mice were provided water adlibitum for 6 weeks along with fluoride-free food. Thereafter, mandibular incisors were analysed. Enamel phenotypes were evaluated using light microscopy and quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) to measure fluorosis levels. Dentine morphology was evaluated using micro-CT, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), SEM-EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray), microhardness test and histological imaging. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA with Dunnett's multiple comparisons as a post hoc test and the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's multiple comparisons post hoc test (p < .05). Mice treated with fluoride at 50-125 ppm developed enamel hypoplasia in their erupting incisors and micro-CT imaging revealed that fluoride 125 ppm caused external resorption of the growing incisor. Dentine mineral density, dentine volume decreased compared with the 0 ppm control, while pulp volume increased compared with the 0 ppm control group. SEM showed wider predentine layer and abnormalities in calcified matrix vesicles derived from odontoblasts in fluoride 100 and 125 ppm groups. Vickers microhardness of dentine significantly decreased in the high-dose group. Fluoride-induced dentine hypoplasia in a dose-dependent manner. Histological evaluation showed excessive fluoride 125 ppm induced micro abscess formation and inflammatory cell infiltration. Fluoride induced dentine dysplasia with a dentine microstructure resembling hypophosphatasia. High doses of systemic fluoride can cause dentine dysplasia. Both three-dimensional and microstructural analyses showed the structural, chemical and mechanical changes in the dentine and the mineralized tissue components, along with external resorption and pulp inflammation.

Social Inequalities and Geographical Distribution in Caries Treatment Needs among Schoolchildren Living in Buenos Aires City: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Caries experience in Argentine children is quite high and no national data are present. This cross-sectional observational survey aimed to assess the oral health status of schoolchildren in Buenos Aires (CABA) using CTNI and to evaluate the ecological association between health inequalities and caries prevalence. Data were collected, via a clustered procedure, during the 2016-2018 school years. Children were examined at school to determine dental status according to the CTNI performed under standardized conditions, using light, dental mirrors, WHO probes and magnification (2.5×). Secondary sources were used to acquire socio-demographic and epidemiological data. A hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out with the municipalities of the CABA as the dependent variable and the socio-demographic factors. The study population consisted of 62,904 schoolchildren, 43,571 of whom were enrolled into the study. Total caries prevalence was 67.78% while severe caries prevalence was 28.29%, which was statistically associated with the year of the survey (p < 0.01). Four territorial conglomerates from a socio-epidemiological standpoint outline homogeneous areas of social risk; cluster 1 had the highest social risk. The prevalence of severe caries (CTNI 7-14) was highest in cluster 1 (44.7-53.2% of the population). The social inequalities between municipalities of the CABA were statistically associated with high inequalities in oral health needs.

Altered Surrogate Markers of Inflammation in Perinatal HIV-Exposed Children with Caries.

Dental caries is associated with immunologic response, yet its association with hematologic parameters and inflammatory markers is unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between some surrogate markers of inflammation and dental caries in the context of perinatal exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This cross-sectional study involved 2 groups of children aged 4 to 11 y who were (1) HIV exposed but uninfected (HEU) and (2) HIV unexposed/uninfected (HUU) and recruited from HIV pediatric and child outpatient clinics, respectively, at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Medical records were reviewed, and trained dentists conducted oral and dental examinations. Five milliliters of EDTA blood was obtained and used for CD4 and CD8 and complete blood analysis, from which other inflammatory markers such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), CD4/CD8 ratio were calculated using referenced formulas. In total, 245 (125 HEU and 120 HUU) children with a mean (standard deviation) age of 7 (2) y were included in this study. No differences in caries experience were observed in both groups of children (38 children [16%] were caries affected; 19 [16%] and 19 [15%] from the HEU and HUU groups, respectively). Examining the relationship between studied inflammatory markers and caries showed that leucocyte counts were slightly lower in caries-affected children compared with their caries-free counterparts (P = 0.05). Lower levels of neutrophils (P = 0.04) and higher levels of lymphocytes (P = 0.02) were associated with caries prevalence. Although not significant, NLR, PLR, and SII were lower in caries-affected children. Caries is associated with leucocytes and some of its subsets in both groups of children and independent of perinatal HIV exposure, highlighting the potential of evaluating inflammatory markers in caries prevention, treatment, and research. This study provides evidence that a relationship exists between dental caries, HIV exposure, and inflammation using affordable methods and advocates the inclusion of these markers in caries care in resource-limited settings.

Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Professionals Regarding the Role of CPP-ACP in Caries Prevention – A Questionnaire study

Background The goal of modern dentistry is to manage non- cavitated caries lesions non-invasively through remineralization in an attempt to prevent disease progression and improve aesthetics, strength, and function. CPP-ACP provides a new direction to preventive dentistry.  Aim To assess the knowledge and attitude among the dentists regarding CPP-ACP as a preventive paradigm.  Material and methods 250 dentists were included in the questionnaire survey. The questionnaire contained 21 close-ended questions. Validated questionnaire on google forms was circulated among the participants via social media. Data from Google forms was entered into excel sheets and SPSS 23 software was used for inferential analysis.  Results Among the 250 dentists, 123 were postgraduates, 83 were general practitioners and 44 were interns. The Postgraduate practitioners (49%) had better knowledge about the basics of CPP-ACP followed by general practitioners (33%) and interns (18%).  Conclusion Most of the dentists are aware about CPP-ACP as a remineralizing agent, but its use is limited in their practice.CPP-ACP should be integrated in the dental practice and newer protocols should be formulated to include CPP-ACP as a preventive strategy in caries prevention.

Preventive oral healthcare for children: towards appropriate care

In recent decades, oral healthcare has shifted from curation to prevention. Preventive oral healthcare for children consists mainly of oral health education to improve health behaviors and clinical prevention such as fissure sealants, application of fluoride varnish, removal of supragingival plaque and dental polishing. In addition, the periodic clinical examination is an important preventive instrument. These 5 preventive interventions for children up to 12 years of age can be discussed using the principles of 'appropriate care'. Appropriate care is an approach of the Dutch government to ensure the accessibility, quality and affordability of care in the Netherlands. Central to the approach are the effectiveness, efficiency and patient-centeredness of care. This article describes to what extent preventive oral healthcare meets these principles based on literature, care consumption data and recommendations from the clinical guidelines 'Oral care for children: prevention and treatment of dental caries' and the 'Advice on Caries Prevention' by the Ivory Cross, a Dutch scientific association for oral health. Appropriate oral healthcare is best served by care that is tailored to both the individual oral disease burden of the patient and their risk of disease as well as to the wishes of the patient.

Is fluoride the best we've got? The most common toothpaste active ingredients and their influence on caries and oral health: A brief review of the literature

Aim of the study Toothpaste is a paste or gel to be used with a toothbrush to maintain and improve oral health and aesthetics. Nowadays there is a great variety of ingredients that might have different effects on caries development or oral health in general. Society continues to seek ways to replace fluoride or include more natural ingredients in everyday hygiene products. The aim of our study is to present current knowledge of various ingredients in toothpastes regarding their influence on teeth and intraoral soft tissues and the possibility of replacing fluoride with other substances. Material and methods Our review is based on the analysis of materials collected in„Pubmed”, „Google Scholar” and other scientific articles using keywords: „toothpaste”, „fluoride”, „ingredients”, “hydroxyapatite”, „chlorhexidine”, “triclosan”, “propolis”, “aloe vera”, “charcoal”, “oleanolic acid”, “SLS”, “xylitol” Conclusions Despite numerous studies, there is space for further research in finding substances that might improve toothpastes with or without extracting fluoride from them. Fluoride has the most proven effectiveness in caries prevention, with fluorosis as its most damaging side effect, while hydroxyapatite shows promising results. Although, there are many substances that might be useful in oral health care products.

Dental caries among over 1.5 million records of schoolchildren in Singapore, 2007 - 2019: age-period-cohort effect analyses.

This study aimed to examine the effects of age, period (historical events), and cohort (generational impact) - APC on caries prevalence and mean DMFT among Singapore schoolchildren from 2007 to 2019. Anonymized records of all 6-year-old Primary 1 (P1), 11-year-old Primary 6 (P6), and 14-year-old Secondary 3 (S3) students before the start of each school year between 2007 and 2019 were extracted from the Integrated Dental Electronic Assessment System (IDEAS), categorised by school level, ethnicity, and sex. Poisson regression and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regressions were applied to estimate APC effects. In total, 502339 P1, 535579 P6, and 496725 S3 records were included from 2007 to 2019, with 1058589 (69.0%) Chinese, 187948 (12.2%) Malay, and 152618 (9.9%) Indian students; 245447 (48.8%) P1, 259389 (48.4%) P6, and 243941 (49.1%) S3 students were girls. Overall, the APC effects on caries prevalence and mean DMFT showed a strong age effect, with the lowest prevalence in the youngest P1 group and the highest in the oldest S3 group. Period and cohort effects were identified, with the prevalence decreasing among those born after 1995 and the lowest prevalence rate in 2013. Similarly, period and cohort effects on mean DMFT were also detected, with decreased mean DMFT after period 2009 and the highest mean DMFT (0.72 in P6 and 1.13 in S3) in cohort 1995. Caries prevalence and DMFT increased with age. While both decreased in individuals born after 1995, mean DMFT began to rise again in those born after 2003.

Oral health status and factors associated with oral health of primary school children in Gulu district, northern Uganda

BackgroundGlobally, oral diseases remain a major public health problem. However, there is limited information about the oral health status and factors associated with oral disease among children in Uganda. The aim of this study was to examine the oral health status and factors associated with oral health of primary school children in urban and rural areas of the Gulu district of northern Uganda.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 356 school children aged 11–13 years attending six schools located in urban and rural areas. The children received a clinical oral examination and participated in a questionnaire survey that collected information on sociodemographic and oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices. All data were entered and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp statistical software. Logistic regression analyses examined factors associated with dental caries and gingival bleeding.ResultsOf the 356 children (11–13 years) included, the mean age was 12.2 years, 140 (39.3%) were male and 176 (49.4%) were from urban areas. The proportion of school children with dental caries was 33.6% (n = 119), with the mean decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of 0.81 (25th percentile = 0; 75th percentile = 1.00). There was no significant difference in caries prevalence between rural and urban children (31.6% versus 35.6%, p = 0.33). Of the children involved in the study, 141(39.8%) had gum bleeding. The mean oral knowledge score was 2.85 ± 1.53 (range, 0–7), while the mean attitude, hygiene practice, frequency of sweets consumption, and oral health related impact scores were 4.25 ± 1.23 (range, 1–6), 5.40 ± 1.81 (range, 0–9), 25.66 ± 4.29 (range 9–54) and 2.1 ± 1.65 (range, 0–6), respectively. Using logistic regression analyses, as oral health knowledge score increased the odds of not having dental caries increased (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.02–1.39).ConclusionThe prevalence of dental caries and gum bleeding of primary school children in Gulu district is high. Children lacked knowledge on causes of oral disease, and behaviour towards oral disease prevention. In addition, oral health knowledge scores were significantly associated with dental caries. Oral health education programs in schools should emphasise providing skills-based education.

Content analysis of fluoride-related posts on Instagram

BackgroundThe Internet and social media have become many people’s primary sources of health information. Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, and users spend a significant amount of time daily on the platform. Therefore, analyzing oral health-related information shared online can help to identify the requirements of specific groups, assisting in the planning and execution of educational public health actions. As a result, this study was carried out to conduct a qualitative evaluation of fluoride-related content on Instagram in 2022–2023.MethodsUsing hashtags associated with fluoride, a search was conducted on the Instagram application in the Persian language. All fluoride-containing posts were saved, and data was collected thrice at two-month intervals. MAXQDA software version 2020 was used to categorize the collected data content based on type, quality, and quantity.ResultsThe qualitative analysis included 1565 (9.45%) posts with fluoride-related content out of 16,475 total posts. After removing the duplicates, 400 posts remained, among which 282 posts (70.5%) and 118 posts (29.5%) were pro- and anti-fluoride, respectively. After qualitative analysis, 270 codes were examined and categorized into three main themes and eight subthemes: “fluoride sources,” “The advantages and disadvantages of fluoride,” and “Invalid beliefs about fluoride.”ConclusionThe frequency of pro-fluoride use was higher than anti-fluoride posts. However, due to the high prevalence of posts containing false information on fluoride toxicity for health, ineffectiveness on caries prevention, and conspiracy theories, there is a need to improve the quality of information on fluoride by providing scientific and unbiased explanations by professionals online or during dental visits and supervising social media content.

Why Is Caries Prevention in Children So Difficult? A Narrative Opinion.

Caries is among the most common non-communicable diseases worldwide, yet it is commonly described as preventable. Caries prevention is, however, difficult and complex, since the disease has strong social, parental, behavioral, political, medical/genetic, and psychological elements, and the payment models are targeted at traditional conservative care. The aim of this paper is to discuss some key issues that make caries prevention in children be perceived as "difficult": i) the communication gap between researchers and clinicians, creating unrealistic expectations of intervention efficacy; ii) the skewed distribution of caries and the problem of reaching children with the highest need; iii) limited access to care, which is a threat to oral health, in particular in low-socioeconomic-status, underserviced, and remote communities; and iv) the need to adopt behavior change models to affect the modifiable risk factors that are shared with other non-communicable diseases. Dentists cannot simply rely on fluoride exposure; proper education and training in caries risk assessment, behavior change models targeted at oral hygiene and sugar intake, and collaboration with primary healthcare and local school authorities are avenues that aid in caries prevention and reduce the uneven burden of the disease. Online education and mobile apps may help to promote oral health in areas with shortages of dental work force.

Unequal smiles: consequences of untreated dental caries in citizens living in vulnerable circumstances in the Netherlands: an exploratory pilot study.

The often poor oral health status of socioeconomically vulnerable adults is widely recognised. Nevertheless, research on it is scarce. To address this gap, this exploratory pilot study aimed to report on the prevalence of untreated caries and its clinical odontogenic consequences, as well as the associated Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in a marginalised adult Dutch population. The Dutch department of Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) included socioeconomically vulnerable (low socioeconomic position [SEP]) adults in the Netherlands through community organisations. The validated Deprivation in Primary Care Questionnaire (DiPCare-Q) was translated in Dutch and used to characterise the SEP of the population. To document untreated caries and severe odontogenic consequences, the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Permanent Teeth) and PUFA (Pulpal, Fistula, Ulceration, Abscess) index were used. The validated Dutch Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14) was used to document the impact of these issues on OHRQoL. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS® (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) statistics (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney-U-test) and STATA software. Data from 59 adult participants were analysed. The prevalence of untreated caries (DT ≥ 1) was 65.5%, 57.9% of which experienced severe odontogenic consequences (DT+PUFA). The prevalence of severe odontogenic consequences (PUFA ≥ 1) was 45.5%. The mean OHIP-14 score of 17.7 ± 13.4 (25th-75th percentile: 6-26) illustrated that untreated caries may have impact on OHRQoL. Individuals who experienced any severe odontogenic consequences from untreated caries reported significantly higher OHIP-14 scores (mean ± s.d.: 21.8 ± 14.8 vs.11.1 ± 7.2). The untreated caries and severe odontogenic consequences seen in a large number of the socioeconomically vulnerable adult participants seemed to have an impact on OHRQoL. These findings emphasise the urgency of including these adults in the professional oral health system for treatment and prevention, and may emphasise the necessity of improving the socioeconomic circumstances of this population. Further exploration of the exact barriers and facilitators to oral healthcare access for socioeconomically vulnerable adults is necessary.

Study Of Association Between Dental Caries And Nutritional Status Among Children Attending OPD Of A Tertiary Care Center - A Retrospective Study

Aim: The purpose is to study the association between nutritional status and dental carries in children attending outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. Materials and methods: A total of 342 children aged up to 16 years attending the department of District Early Intervention and Care (DEIC) of a Government Medical College and Hospital were selected for this study. The nutritional status was evaluated using BMI for age and converted into Z score by plotting into age and gender specific WHO growth charts. Dental caries status was recorded according to WHO criteria. The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 49.2% and prevalence of dental caries was 61.7%. Significant association between Caries and undernutrition was noted in ages between 2 to 10 years. Conclusion: Undernutrition is a risk factor for dental caries. It is important to identify and determine all the factors leading to undernutrition in children especially aged 2 to 10 and execute action plans for timely diagnosis and intervention.

OPTIMIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF CARIES TREATMENT IN THE FIELD OF PERMANENT TEETH FISSURES IN CHILDREN

Dental caries is the most common dental disease in children. The problem of timely diagnosis, prevention and adequate treatment of this pathology occupies one of the leading places in pediatric therapeutic dentistry. However, before applying the sealant, the dentist faces the difficult task of assessing the condition of the fissure, diagnosing a possible latent carious lesion, and choosing adequate tactics for therapeutic and preventive measures. Fissure caries occupies the first place in the structure of carious lesions of the teeth. Based on this, the problem of prevention and treatment of fissure caries is extremely urgent. It has been established that fissure caries occurs immediately after teething. The high incidence of fissure caries is associated with the features of the anatomical structure of the fissures, the accumulation of food residues and the formation of aggressive dental plaque in the natural recesses of the tooth and a longer period of hypomineralization compared with smooth tooth surfaces. There is a direct relationship between the initial level of mineralization of the enamel of fissure teeth and the risk of fissure caries.

The Impact of School-Based Caries Prevention Programs on DMFT Scores and Oral Health Behaviors in School Children

Oral health promotion is recognized as one of the fundamental components of health-promoting schools. However, few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of supportive school environments for school children’s Oral health. This systematic review evaluates the impact of school-based caries prevention programs on DMFT scores and Oral health behaviours in school children. Objective: To evaluate the impact of school-based caries prevention programs on DMFT Scores and Oral Health Behaviors in school children. Methods: Databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Springer, and Science Direct were searched from January 2009 to February 2024. Prisma guidelines were followed; 1, 950 studies were identified on the first search, titles, and abstracts of 500 papers were screened, 500 full-text papers were screened for eligibility, and 25 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated, relevant information was extracted, and a systematic review was conducted. Twenty-five studies were included in the systematic review. Results: These results indicate the significant role of SCPP among school-going children. Children with school-based caries prevention programs compared to those with no school-based caries prevention programs showed improved DMFT scores, reduced caries increment, healthy oral health behaviours, consistent Oral health hygienic habits, frequent use of flossing, fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinsing, and increased caries prevention knowledge. Conclusions: It was concluded that based on the pooled results, school-based caries prevention programs provide better, easily accessible, and sustainable caries prevention activities to school children to improve DMFT scores and Oral health behaviours.