Dental Facilities Research Articles

Evaluating the Diagnostic Inter-rater Reliability Between Virtual and In-person Sick-call Examinations at a Military Dental Treatment Facility.

Teledentistry, also known as "virtual" dental examinations, is an innovative approach to increasing access to care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic inter-rater reliability between virtual and in-person examinations for patients seeking emergency dental care (sick call) at a military dental treatment facility. One hundred subjects received both virtual and in-person examinations on the same day, in random order. The virtual examiner and subject were stationed in separate rooms and used only a laptop equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker to complete the virtual exam. In contrast, the in-person examiner had access to all standard care modalities in a dental treatment room. After the first encounter, the subject proceeded to the corresponding virtual or in-person exam, and both examiners determined a diagnosis. Inter-rater agreement was determined between the two encounters for both diagnosis specialty category and diagnostic code using the Kappa coefficient. The results of the inter-rater analyses showed a Kappa score of 0.644 for the diagnosis specialty category (P < .001) and a Kappa score of 0.714 for diagnostic codes (P < .001). Both analyses indicated "substantial" agreement. We conclude that teledentistry can be an effective tool for determining a diagnosis and improving access to care for dental emergencies at military dental treatment facilities.

A Relationship between Physical Infrastructure and Patient Satisfaction: A Case Study of Kantipur Dental Hospital

This study investigates the impact of physical infrastructure on patient satisfaction at Kantipur Dental Hospital, a prominent dental care facility in Nepal. With the increasing demand for high-quality healthcare services, understanding the factors influencing patient satisfaction is crucial for healthcare providers. The research aims to explore how various aspects of the hospital’s infrastructure—specifically, the use of state-of-the-art equipment, cleanliness and hygiene, sterilization practices, and convenient location—affect patients' perceptions of care quality. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire distributed to 117 patients who had received treatment at Kantipur Dental Hospital within the last six months. The questionnaire measured patients' perceptions of the clinic's infrastructure and their overall satisfaction, with a focus on two key dimensions: confidence after treatment and the acceptability of service fees. Data analysis was conducted using Spearman’s rho correlation to assess the relationships between the perceived infrastructure variables and patient satisfaction outcomes. The findings reveal significant positive correlations between perceptions of the hospital's physical infrastructure and patient satisfaction. Specifically, the use of modern equipment and a clean, hygienic environment were strongly associated with increased patient confidence post-treatment. Furthermore, the accessibility of the hospital location was also found to influence perceptions of service fee acceptability. Notably, while sterilization practices contributed positively to patient confidence, they did not significantly impact fee perceptions, suggesting that patients prioritize cleanliness and modernity in their overall evaluation of care. These results underscore the critical role of physical infrastructure in enhancing patient satisfaction at Kantipur Dental Hospital. The study recommends that healthcare facilities continue to invest in modern technology and maintain high standards of cleanliness to foster patient confidence and satisfaction. This research provides valuable insights for clinic management and policy-makers, emphasizing that improving physical infrastructure is essential for delivering quality healthcare services and ensuring positive patient experiences.

Knowledge, Attitude, And Oral Hygiene Practices Among Law Students In Chengalpatu District: A Cross‑Sectional Study

Introduction: poor oral health can have a profound effect on the quality of life. The experience of pain, endurance of dental abscesses, problems with eating and chewing, embarrassment about the shape of teeth or about missing, discoloured or damaged teeth can adversely affect people's daily lives and wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral hygiene and dental health knowledge of government law college, chengalpatu district, law students. Materials and methods: thirty questions about fundamental knowledge, mindset, and practice were given to one hundred and fifty law students at the government law college in chengalpatu district, tamilandu india. Microsoft excel was used to tabulate the data, and the statistical package for the social sciences programme was used for statistical analysis. Results: of the participants in this study, only 39.4% were aware that regular dental check-ups were necessary. 8.5% of participants made two annual visits to the dental clinic andof the individuals, 57% had never been to a dental facility. Dental health education is important, according to 65.5% of participants, and it may be important, according to 21.8%. The results indicated a statistically significant association between the participant's year of law degree and the responses, as determined by inferential statistics using the pearson chi-square test. Conclusion: the study's findings indicate that law students' understanding of oral health care and proper oral hygiene is adequate. But the learned knowledge needs to be applied in day-to-day activities. This can be accomplished by altering their perspective on maintaining good dental hygiene

Barriers and Facilitators to Dental Care Services Utilization Among Children With Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis.

This systematic review investigates barriers and enablers to dental care utilization by disabled children. Given the high global prevalence of disabilities in children, coupled with poor oral hygiene and a 45% rate of dental caries in this group, developing inclusive oral health strategies is critical. The review aims to synthesize literature on factors affecting oral healthcare improvement for disabled children, identifying barriers, facilitators and knowledge gaps. The review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute's methods and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search spanned multiple databases, considering perspectives from carers, parents, dentists and health professionals. The focus was on studies involving children up to age 17 with disabilities, as defined by WHO, using dental care services. Exclusions included non-qualitative studies, populations over 18 and nondisabled children. There were no restrictions on publication date or language. Thematic synthesis of the studies extracted themes related to barriers and enablers in oral healthcare for disabled children. Thematic synthesis identified five overarching themes: stigma, communication issues, professional development, oral health education and medical-dental collaboration. Facilitators included enhancing accessibility and availability of dental care through a holistic approach, improving dental care facility environments and ensuring skilled dental care providers. The review underscores the importance of interprofessional collaboration, improved parent/caregiver education and specialized dental facilities to support children with disabilities. It identifies key barriers and facilitators in dental care, including challenging stereotypes, improving communication between providers and parents, enhancing holistic training and addressing gaps in oral health education and integrated healthcare systems. Addressing the complex dynamics of dental care for disabled children is essential for developing inclusive and effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. This review highlights the need for tailored approaches and enhanced support systems to improve oral health outcomes in this vulnerable population. The members of the family support department, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Organization for Rare Disease and Disability who provided the disability voice and contributed to providing input to the review protocol.

Financial, Supplies, and Human Resource Preparedness in Management of Covid-19 Pandemic Among Dental Facilities in Nairobi County Kenya

Financial, Supplies, and Human Resource Preparedness in Management of Covid-19 Pandemic Among Dental Facilities in Nairobi County Kenya

Eco-friendly dentistry: Understanding the environmental impact in dental practice

Dental practices, akin to other branches of the healthcare industry, are vital for public health. However, they also play a part in environmental detriment via waste production, energy consumption, and the management of hazardous substances. This review endeavors to conduct a thorough analysis of the environmental impact stemming from dental facilities, precisely identifying main contributors to pollution and waste and will explore pragmatic approaches and remedies for fostering a greener, more sustainable dental sector focusing on waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable procurement. This article also underscores the significance of societal principles, community welfare, involving stakeholders, financial advantages, crafting policies, and demonstrating leadership to translate the idea of eco-friendly dentistry into tangible action. Green dentistry advocates for the utilization of biodegradable, non-toxic, and mercury-free materials and products to reduce both the quantity and harmfulness of dental waste. Concurrently, bio-dentistry embraces a holistic patient care approach while prioritizing environmentally conscious practices

Applications of robot-assisted UV disinfection in dentistry.

Maintaining a microbial-free environment in healthcare facilities is more widely recognized as an essential component of therapies to minimize transmission of viruses associated with healthcare sector. The global spread of COVID-19 and recent outbreaks have presented humanity with previously unheard-of challenges. The development of autonomous disinfection robots seems to be necessary given the urgent need for constant sterilization in the face of a labor shortage. Due to their automated and perceived cost advantages by eliminating cleaning staff, these robots are being advertised more and more as an easy solution to immediately disinfect rooms and operating areas. The use of these services lowers the danger of infection, and expense of traditional cleaning and, most significantly, builds trust and security in medical facilities. Currently, routine (manual) cleaning is not replaced by disinfection robots; rather, they may support it. Additional hospital and device design alterations are necessary to address the overshadowing (visibility) issue allowing Ultraviolet disinfectant (UV-D) robots move freely in the medical environment. More technical developments and clinical studies in a variety of hospitals are needed to overcome the current challenges and find ways to integrate this unique technology into hospitals now and in the future. Thus, we present a review that includes detailing all elements required for it to function, as well as both its advantages and disadvantages. To the best of our knowledge, very limited studies have collected an in- depth data on the sterilization effect using a disinfection robot in the field of dentistry. We believe that this data will work as a foundation in more advanced uses at diverse sites that require disinfection and will highlight unsolved challenges and potential research avenues for UV robot operational concerns in dental hospitals. The goal of this work is to offer a comprehensive manual for UV-D robots covering pertinent information on traditional Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system along with advancements in UV-D robots and thereby focusing on in-depth application in medical and dental facilities.

Pattern of pediatric emergency dental care during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia

ObjectiveAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was recommended to provide emergency dental care and avoid aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) when possible. This study aimed to determine how Saudi Arabian pediatric patients utilized emergency dental services at the national level at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and what situations required an AGP. MethodsData was collected from all Ministry of Health dental facilities in Saudi Arabia between March and May 2020. All pediatric dental patients who received emergency dental care during the COVID-19 lockdown were included in this study. ResultsThe majority of the 1,544 pediatric dental patients who received emergency dental care during this period received treatment for caries (77.9 %). AGPs were predominant in the treatment of urgent dental conditions (51.5 %). About 64 % of cases with pulpal inflammation and 52.4 % with abscesses underwent an AGP. ConclusionEmergency and urgent dental conditions were the main reason for seeking dental care during the pandemic (75.8 %), while only 24.2 % of cases were considered non-urgent. Despite the recommendations, AGPs were required for some urgent conditions to relieve the associated pain, and this comprised 46.8 % of dental treatment provided.

Oral health care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A statewide model.

Effective strategies and practices can assist in forming future initiatives and policies to improve oral health for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This manuscript aims to describe the Tufts Dental Facilities (TDF), a university-state collaboration providing sustained statewide access to comprehensive oral health care for individuals with IDD. The TDF program was established in 1976 as the result of a class action lawsuit to improve medical and dental care for individuals with IDD residing at state institutions in Massachusetts. TDF, A partnership, between Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a network of seven dental clinics strategically positioned across the state. These clinics are specifically designed to meet the oral health needs of individuals with IDD. TUSDM's oral health providers with expertise in special care dentistry deliver comprehensive oral health care for over 6500 individuals with IDD, incorporating supportive care services and access to general anesthesia. Additionally, the program provides training in special care dentistry for dental residents and pre-doctoral dental students. Leveraging state and university resources, TDF provides a model of a sustainable, long-term system for statewide access to oral health care for individuals with IDD.

A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Perceived Oral Health Care Needs, Barriers to Accessing Oral Health Care Services, and Utility Among the Rural Population in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

Introduction Utilization is the actual attendance of people at oral healthcare facilities to receive treatment. This study aimed to determine the perceived oral health care needs and barriers to utilizing dental services among rural populations. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire was designed to identify the perceived oral health care needs and obstacles to accessing dental facilities and their utility among rural populations. The sample size was set at 570. A data collection sheet was used to collect the required data, which included informed consent, demographic details, and the questionnaire.A pretested and validated questionnaire was used in the study. Result Among the 570 respondents, 43.3% of the population had experienced toothache, out of which 67.6% perceived the need for dental care. Only around 37.5% reported that their dental needs were met during the past year. Dental expenses were significantly related to access to the dentist. Conclusion This survey revealed that the majority of the population tends to utilize the available services only when absolutely necessary. High dental service costs and inadequate knowledge about oral problems act as major barriers.

Distribution of Private Dental Healthcare Facilities in Riyadh City: A GIS-Based Approach.

The dental healthcare private sector in Riyadh city has been growing rapidly over the past few years; however, there is a lack of information on the accessibility and spatial distribution of private dental healthcare facilities (PDHFs) in the area. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution of PDHFs in Riyadh city in relation to population density in each sub-municipality. The current information regarding the number, location, and operability of PDHFs in Riyadh city was obtained from the Ministry of Health. A total of 632 operating PDHFs were included with the precise location plotted on Quantum Geographic Information System software (version 3.32.1, Essen, Germany) using Google Earth. Four levels of buffer zones-1 km, 3 km, 5 km, and >5 km-were determined. The population statistics and mean monthly individual income per district were gathered from Zadd.910ths. Microsoft Excel (version 16.0, Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) and RStudio software (version 4.1.3, Posit Software, PBC, Boston, MA, USA) were used for additional data analysis. There was an overall ratio of one PDHF per 9958 residents in Riyadh city. Olaya and Maather sub-municipalities had the largest PDHF-to-population ratios: (1:4566) and (1:4828), respectively. Only 36.3% of the city's total area was within a 1 km buffer zone from a PDHF. There was an overall weak positive correlation between the number of PDHFs and the total area in each sub-municipality (r = 0.29), and the distribution of PDHFs was uneven corresponding to the area (G* = 0.357). There was an uneven distribution of PDHFs in Riyadh city. Some areas were underserved while others were overserved in several sub-municipalities. Policy-makers and investors are encouraged to target underserved areas rather than areas with significant clustering to improve access to care.

BARRIERS IN ACCESSIBILITY OF DENTAL AND ORAL HEALTH SERVICES FACILITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT WEST DENPASAR II PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER

Accessibility of dental and oral health service facilities is influenced by three indicators, namely availability, barriers and utilization. Barrier indicators cause delays or difficulties for people in accessing these facilities. Barrier indicators are influenced by physical barriers, economic barriers and geographical barriers. Based on preliminary data collection from the Bali Provincial Health Service, West Denpasar II Community Health Center experienced a significant decline in visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims to determine the barriers to accessibility of dental and oral health service facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic at the West Denpasar II Health Center and to determine the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on barriers to accessibility of dental and oral health service facilities at the West Denpasar II Health Center. This research uses quantitative analytical methods with a retrospective approach. The sample for this research was visitors to the West Denpasar II Community Health Center who met the inclusion criteria, totaling 134 respondents. Samples were taken using non-probability sampling techniques with consecutive sampling type. The research results stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the accessibility of dental and oral health service facilities at the West Denpasar II Health Center was in the fairly easy access category and obstacles in the accessibility of dental and oral health service facilities at the West Denpasar II Health Center were in the hampered category. Based on the results of correlation tests between barrier factors and accessibility factors for dental and oral health service facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that these two factors did not have a significant relationship. The research conclusions show that there were obstacles in the accessibility of dental and oral health service facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic at the West Denpasar II Health Center and there was no influence between the COVID-19 pandemic and obstacles in the accessibility of dental and oral health service facilities at the West Denpasar II Health Center.

The Barrier to Accessing Dental Healthcare Services Among the Institutionalized Visually Impaired Adults: A Qualitative Study.

A qualitative study design was conducted over the course of 10 months among institutionalized visually impaired individuals. A semi-structured interview was conducted among the participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and qualitatively analyzed using MAXQDA software, version 22.0 (VERBI Software, Berlin). A total of 20 participants participated in the study.Three levels were used to classify the investigated barriers: the individual's level, which pertains to the obstacles they encountered in receiving oral health care and their viewpoints on the way that care is provided;the interpersonal degree and the system level, in order to determine the broader components and their impact. This study gives insight into the problems people have in assessing the dental services and facilities available.Three levels were used to identify the barriers among the study participants. Six themes emerged in the study that described their problems, which affected their mental health directly.

Knowledge and attitudes of oral health care workers on HIV-associated oral lesions: A study at PHC facilities in Gauteng

Oral health care workers (OHCWs) are critical in providing holistic treatment and preventing the spread of HIV disease. They are uniquely placed to identify, diagnose, manage and treat HIV-related oral lesions.Aim To determine oral health clinicians’ knowledge and attitudes towards HIV-associated oral lesions. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at Gauteng’s primary health care (PHC) facilities. Data collection targeted the three categories of OHCWs – dentists, dental therapists and oral hygienists. ResultsThe response rate was 67.5% (n=110), majority of the participants, 76.4% (n=84), were female. Nearly all participants, 91.8% (n=100), agreed that oral lesions are common in people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) and that early diagnosis of HIV/treatment increases PLHIV’s life expectancy. More than three-quarters (80%) reported that they had no problem treating patients diagnosed with HIV. Almost a third, 36.4% (n=40), listed necrotising periodontal conditions and oral candidiasis 34.5% (n=38) as the most common oral manifestations. Most respondents correctly identified oral candidiasis (92.7%), Kaposi sarcoma (84.5%) and necrotising ulcerative periodontal conditions (80.9%).ConclusionAlthough OHCWs had sound knowledge of oral manifestations of HIV, training programmes must be prioritised for knowledge transfer. Dental facilities can be used as a health-promoting platform and a viable location for provider-initiated testing and counselling (PICT) and client-initiated counselling and testing (CICT), also known as voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). The use of HIV rapid testing kits is an option to be explored in the dental facility by OHCWs.

Cost-benefit analysis with return on investment of clinical pharmacists in the Military Health System.

The Defense Health Agency comprises more than 700 military medical, dental, and veterinary facilities and provides care to more than 9.6 million beneficiaries. As medication experts, pharmacists identify opportunities to optimize medication therapy, reduce cost, and increase readiness to support the Defense Health Agency's mission. The Tripler Pilot Project and the Army Polypharmacy Program were used to establish a staffing model of 1 clinical pharmacist for every 6,500 enrolled beneficiaries. No large-scale cost-benefit study within the military health care system has been done, which documents the number of clinical interventions and uses established cost-avoidance (CA) data, to determine the cost-benefit and return on investment (ROI) for clinical pharmacists working in the medical treatment facilities. To validate the patient-centered medical home staffing model across the military health care system using the Tripler Pilot Project results to provide a cost-benefit analysis with an ROI. The secondary goal is to describe the interventions, staffing levels, and US Department of Defense-specific requirements impacting the provision of clinical pharmacy. A retrospective analysis of 3 years of encounters by clinical pharmacists in which an intervention was documented in the Tri-Service Workflow (TSWF) form as part of the electronic health record was completed. The analysis used 6 steps to assign CA intervention types and to prevent duplication and overestimation of the ROI. The absolute number of clinical pharmacists was determined using workload criteria defined as at least 20 encounters per month for at least 3 months of each calendar year. The number of clinical pharmacist full-time employees (FTEs) was determined by dividing the number of total active months by 12 months. Attrition was calculated comparing the presence of a unique provider identification between calendar years. The ROI range was calculated by dividing the CA by the total cost of clinical pharmacists using the variables' raw and extrapolated CA based on percentage of documentation template usage and the active clinical pharmacist calculation (absolute and FTE-based). Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, a total of 1,069,846 encounters by clinical pharmacists were documented in the electronic health record. The TSWF Alternative Input Method form was used by pharmacists to document 616,942 encounters. Forty-three percent of TSWF documented encounters had at least 1 CA intervention. The absolute number of clinical pharmacists associated with a documented encounter in any medical treatment facility ranged from 404 in 2017 to 374 in 2018 and the clinical pharmacist FTEs ranged from 324 in 2017 to 314 in 2019. Annual attrition rates for clinical pharmacists ranged from 15% to 20% (58 to 81 clinical pharmacists) annually. The total CA range was $329,166,543-$534,014,494. The ROI range was between $2 and $4 per dollar spent. This analysis demonstrated that ambulatory care clinical pharmacists in the Military Health System bring value through a positive ROI. Our study also identified a potential shortage of clinical pharmacists within the Air Force and Navy branches impacting medication management. This can have a negative impact on the readiness of service members, one of the leading priorities of the US Department of Defense.

Challenges of Dental Material' Ordering at Governmental PHC clinics, Specialized Dental Centers, and Hospitals in KSA; Observational study

Background: Ordering of dental materials (DM) at Ministry of Health (MOH) dental facilities is restricted by many challenges in time and supply among other factors Methods: a questionnaire was distributed among dentists working at MOH dental facilities exploring the ordering way of DM and challenges if exist. Result: 53.8% of dentists still use paper slip for ordering DM. Shortage is still a major obstacle as cited by 59.8% and it may take up to two weeks to receive the ordered DM Conclusion: Atomization of DM ordering will save effort and time and enact efficient utilization of DM and reduce waste in expired or discarded materials.

Promoting the health of children exposed to armed conflicts: A dentist perspective

Lately, there has been a phenomenal change in armed conflicts, contributing to a significant rise in health concerns among victims, especially children. Currently, civilians account for up to 90% of casualties, with women and children making up a growing proportion of this group. Clinicians have reported that a few dental ailments can occur as sequelae to stresses related to psychological trauma Due to limited dental care facilities, the burden of oral illness is high among refugees. Hence, the dental community should identify the dental needs of the children residing in war-affected regions, and our whole focus should be on children’s safety and health living in war zones worldwide.

Prevalence of temporomandibular joint dysfunction among the indigenous population of India

PurposePrimary dental care facilities and awareness about temporomandibular disorders are lacking among the indigenous population of Kerala. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) disorders among the indigenous populations of Kerala. MethodologyThis cross-sectional study included adults aged 18 years and above, visiting primary health care centre in the tribal hamlet in the town of Kalpetta, Wayanad District, Kerala, India, for reasons other than dental. Axis I and II of Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) was used to screen for TMD. A local language validated screening questionnaire was used. The clinical examination was carried out as per the DC/TMD by a calibrated examiner. The data was processed using SPSS and the frequencies and proportions for signs and symptoms of TMD were estimated. ResultsAmong 198 adults screened, 23 (11.6 %) had TMD. Among these 60 % of the adults were aged 31–65 years and predominantly females (86.9 %). 39 % of these patients were dentulous. All affected adults experienced TMD related pain for more than 3 months with 90 % of them experiencing moderate-to-severe pain. Myofascial pain was the most prevalent type. Other findings included moderate anxiety levels in 34.8 % and abnormal oral behaviour and high physical symptoms in 40 % TMD patients. ConclusionTMD disorders were prevalent among the indigenous population and remained undiagnosed. The study highlights the need for screening and the availability of basic dental care for the indigenous populations.

Association of Dental Caries with Odontogenic Infections and Nutritional Status in an Orphanage of Raichur District: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the association of nutritional status and dental caries in children at an orphanage in Raichur city, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A specially designed structured questionnaire was administered to a total of 101 children of the orphanage to gather demographic details, dietary habits, sugar exposure, and oral hygiene practices. The sweet score was recorded as given by Nizel and Papas, body mass index (BMI) was assessed using the Centers for Disease Control 2000, growth charts, dental caries, and odontogenic infections were recorded using decayed missing filled teeth in deciduous dentition (dmft)/Decayed Missing Filled Teeth in permanent dentition (DMFT) and pufa/PUFA (Pulpal involvement, Ulceration, Fistula, and Abscess) index (Monse et al., 2010), respectively. Results: A total of 101 participants were enrolled in the study including children aged 6–15 years old with a mean age of 10.67 ± 2.74 years. A statistically significant relation was found between the duration of stay in an orphanage and the prevalence of dental caries (P &lt; 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the duration of stay in the orphanage and BMI (0.382) dmft/DMFT (0.203). In addition, a statistically significant positive correlation was also observed between dmft/DMFT and pufa/PUFA. Conclusion: The study showed caries to be primarily associated with the sugar exposure and dietary habits, whereas untreated dental decay was the main cause of odontogenic infections. The untreated caries PUFA ratio was 13.98% with only one filled component, indicating the unmet needs for decayed teeth and lack of awareness and access to preventive and curative dental care facilities by the children of the orphanage.

Maternal and child oral health barriers and solutions: Case studies from South Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia.

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has introduced a maternal oral health framework and launched its Global Maternal and Child Oral Health Initiative, advocating for maternal and child health as a strategic entry point for oral health to be integrated into primary healthcare systems. This article delves into maternal oral health initiatives in South Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia, exploring challenges and proposing context-specific solutions aligned with the WFPHA maternal oral health framework and its Global Maternal and Child Oral Health Initiative. The apartheid legacy in South Africa has led to the gross health inequalities, including oral health disparities characterized by maldistribution of dental facilities and dental professionals in the public sector. The proposed objectives focus on effective leadership, human resource capacity building, and integration of maternal and child oral health policy into existing health policies. Brazil faces challenges in reaching pregnant women, especially pregnant teens, due to workforce shortages. Brazil's Oral Health National Program mandates all pregnant women undergo at least one dental appointment, but a shortage of oral health teams persists and impedes timely access to dental care during pregnancy. Dental students' outreach to vulnerable pregnant teens can enhance the future oral health workforce's sensitivity to maternal oral health matters. In Indonesia, the Antenatal Care Innovative (iANC) Project has introduced a co-training model for midwives and oral health professionals addressing oral health needs of mothers and their spouses and fostering a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between oral health and maternal well-being. These country cases demonstrate the importance of tailored policies, health promotion, and care delivery interventions in maternal oral health. All cases highlight the importance of workforce training and distribution, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and future oral health workforce who can promote health beyond treatment delivery.