Dental Health Practices Research Articles

How to ensure an appropriate oral health workforce? Modelling future scenarios for the Netherlands

BackgroundCurrent methods for oral health workforce planning lack responsiveness to dynamic needs, hampering efficiency, equity and sustainability. Effective workforce planning is vital for resilient health care systems and achieving universal health coverage. Given this context, we developed and operationalised a needs-adaptive oral health workforce planning model and explored the potential of various future scenarios.MethodsUsing publicly available data, including the Special Eurobarometer 330 Oral Health Survey, we applied the model in a hypothetical context focusing on the Dutch population’s dental needs from 2022 to 2050. We compared current and future provider supply and requirement and examined, in addition to a base case scenario, several alternative scenarios. These included epidemiological transition scenarios with different oral health morbidity trajectories, skill-mix scenarios with independent oral hygienists conducting check-ups and multiple dental student intake and training duration (5 instead of 6 years) scenarios.ResultsBased on the aforementioned historical data, our model projects that provider requirement will exceed supply for the planning period. If the percentage of people having all natural teeth increases by 10% or 20% in 2032, 34 or 68 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) dentists will be required, respectively, compared to the base case scenario. In the skill-mix scenario, the model indicates that prioritising oral hygienists for check-ups and shifting dentists’ focus to primarily complex care could address population needs more efficiently. Among the student intake and training duration scenarios, increasing intake to 375 and, to a lesser extent, reducing training to 5 years is projected to most effectively close the provider gap.ConclusionsThe study underscores the importance of understanding oral health morbidity trajectories for effective capacity planning. Due to limited dental epidemiological data, projections carry substantial uncertainty. Currently, demand for FTE dentists seems to exceed supply, though this may vary with epidemiological changes. Skill-mix strategies could offer efficiency gains by redistributing tasks, while adjustments in dental intake and training duration could also help address the requirement-supply gap. Resolving dentistry workforce challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including strengthening oral epidemiology projections, addressing the root causes of dental health issues and prioritising harmonious dental public health and general practice prevention measures.

The use of precious metals in restorative dentistry

This review delves into the historical and contemporary use of precious metals in restorative dentistry, tracing the evolution from ancient practices to modern technological advancements. It underscores the critical role of metallic materials, such as gold, silver, copper, and alloys like cobalt-chromium and titanium, in dental restorations due to their superior mechanical properties, including high elastic modulus, tensile strength, and hardness. These materials are favored for their biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and adaptability to various manufacturing processes, including casting, mechanical processing, and advanced methods like CAD/CAM, laser sintering, and welding. Despite the advent of alternative materials catering to aesthetic preferences, metals maintain their relevance in dentistry for structural components in prosthetics, demonstrating significant advancements in dental material technology. The review highlights the importance of understanding the properties and behaviors of these materials within the oral cavity to ensure the quality and durability of dental restorations. Through a comprehensive literature search and analysis of metallurgy, manufacturing, and classification, this paper presents a thorough exploration of the indispensable role of precious metals in enhancing dental health and restorative practices.

Oral Microbiome Dysbiosis as a Risk Factor for Stroke: A Comprehensive Review.

Stroke represents a significant global health burden, with a substantial impact on mortality, morbidity, and long-term disability. The examination of stroke biomarkers, particularly the oral microbiome, offers a promising avenue for advancing our understanding of the factors that contribute to stroke risk and for developing strategies to mitigate that risk. This review highlights the significant correlations between oral diseases, such as periodontitis and caries, and the onset of stroke. Periodontal pathogens within the oral microbiome have been identified as a contributing factor in the exacerbation of risk factors for stroke, including obesity, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction. The alteration of the oral microbiome may contribute to these conditions, emphasizing the vital role of oral health in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The integration of dental and medical health practices represents a promising avenue for enhancing stroke prevention efforts and improving patient outcomes.

A Social Media Content Analysis of Dental Health Information Involving the Use of Miswak (Salvadora persica) Chewing Stick on YouTube™.

Background The widespread availability of Internet access and the rising popularity of social media platforms have facilitated the dissemination of health-related information, including dental health practices. However, assessing the quality and effectiveness of such information remains a challenge, particularly concerning traditional practices such as Miswak (Salvadora persica) usage. This study aims to assess the description, use, and effectiveness of the Miswak (Salvadora persica) chewing stick posted as video clips on YouTube™ and provide considerations for future interventions. Methodology YouTube videos were searched using the terms "Miswak," "Siwak," "Salvadora persica," and "Chewing stick." Each video's descriptive features, i.e., title, links, country of origin, upload date, running time, views, comments, likes, and dislikes, were recorded. Content quality was assessed using the DISCERN tool, which rates the reliability, dependability, and trustworthiness of online sources across 16 items. Scores were aggregated for analysis. The statistical analysis examined video features and associations between the speaker, video type, source, and quality, with significance set at a p-value <0.05 using SPSS Statistics Version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results A total of 45 videos were included in the study, with the majority (62%) created by the "other professionals" category. Almost three-quarters (73.3%) of the videos were educational. The quality of the video clips was correlated with the speaker source and category of "other," revealing that high-quality information was considered such when the source was other than a dentist. Further, we found that a video's source did not elicit differences in the opinion of the video's quality. Conclusions This social media analysis provides considerations and implications for future research on the potential use of YouTube as a platform for Miswak educational interventions.

Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and dental education: Implications for reflective assignments and qualitative research.

Reflections enable students to gain additional value from a given experience. The use of Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer (ChatGPT, OpenAI Incorporated) has gained momentum, but its impact on dental education is understudied. To assess whether or not university instructors can differentiate reflections generated by ChatGPT from those generated by students, and to assess whether or not the content of a thematic analysis generated by ChatGPT differs from that generated by qualitative researchers on the same reflections. Hardcopies of 20 reflections (10 generated by undergraduate dental students and 10 generated by ChatGPT) were distributed to three instructors who had at least 5 years of teaching experience. Instructors were asked to assign either 'ChatGPT' or 'student' to each reflection. Ten of these reflections (five generated by undergraduate dental students and five generated by ChatGPT) were randomly selected and distributed to two qualitative researchers who were asked to perform a brief thematic analysis with codes and themes. The same ten reflections were also thematically analyzed by ChatGPT. The three instructors correctly determined whether the reflections were student or ChatGPT generated 85% of the time. Most disagreements (40%) happened with the reflections generated by ChatGPT, as the instructors thought to be generated by students. The thematic analyses did not differ substantially when comparing the codes and themes produced by the two researchers with those generated by ChatGPT. Instructors could differentiate between reflections generated by ChatGPT or by students most of the time. The overall content of a thematic analysis generated by the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT did not differ from that generated by qualitative researchers. Overall, the promising applications of ChatGPT will likely generate a paradigm shift in (dental) health education, research, and practice.

EXPLORING THE DENTAL HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN RELATION TO SCALING AND ROUTINE DENTAL CHECK-UPS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA KPK

Background: Maintaining good oral hygiene practice and receiving routine dental check -up are crucial for preventingdental diseases. Dental scaling is a common dental procedure that involves removing the calculus and other debris fromthe teeth.Objective: This study aimed to explore the dental health beliefs and practices of college students in District Mansehraregarding scaling and routine dental checkups and identify the sociodemographic factors that influence dental healthbehaviors.Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 college students including females and males inDistrict Mansehra, and data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics is used toanalyze the data through SPSS .Result: Only 37% of college students adhere to regular dental checkups every six months, and a mere 16.5%express a positive attitude towards dental scaling. Notably, there are no statistically significant differences in dentalcheck-up rates between genders (P = 0.210), housing arrangements (own vs. rented, P = 0.494), or education levels(P = 0.598). Similarly, there is no significant variance in attitudes towards scaling based on gender (P = 0.116),urban/rural residence (P = 0.459), housing status (P = 0.531), or education level (P = 0.295). Overall, the studyunderscores the unsatisfactory dental care habits among college students and suggests a widespread negative perceptionof routine dental check-ups and scaling.Conclusion: The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the oral health needs of this population andinform the development of culturally appropriate oral health promotion programs.Keywords: Dental Health beliefs and Practice, Routine Dental Check-up, Sociodemographic factors.

Milk Consumption and Its Association with Dental Caries: Gender-Specific Insights from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015)

Background and Objectives: This study aims to bridge these gaps by utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015), examining the nuanced associations between milk consumption’s quantity, frequency, and type and the prevalence of dental caries. Materials and Methods: Utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015), this study explores the association between milk consumption and the prevalence of dental caries in a sample of 4843 subjects (weighted n = 15,581), including 2856 males and 1987 females; weighted sample sizes were 6656 and 8925 for men and women, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries was assessed by evaluating the number of decayed, filled, and missing teeth. Results: The analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between increased milk consumption and the risk of developing dental caries, with an overall odds ratio of 1.653 (95% CI: 1.153–2.370, p &lt; 0.05). The association was more pronounced in females, exhibiting an odds ratio of 1.865 (95% CI: 1.157–3.006, p &lt; 0.05), and age was identified as a significant variable, particularly among participants aged 50 and above. In contrast, the relationship among the male group, though positive (odds ratio: 1.613, 95% CI: 0.991–2.625), was not statistically significant (p = 0.054). Conclusion: These findings suggest that milk consumption may be a potential risk indicator for dental caries, particularly among women, emphasizing the need for targeted dietary recommendations in dental health practices.

Use of dental care services among adolescents living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment in Kampala, Uganda: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThe primary purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and socio-behavioral determinants of ever-use of dental care services among adolescents aged 10–18 years, living with HIV, on Antiretroviral treatment (ART), and attending selected HIV clinics in Kampala, Uganda.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out between March and September 2020. The study conveniently recruited 154 adolescents between 10 and 18 years old from 4 specific HIV clinics in Kampala. Andersen’s behavioral model guided the selection of variables, with the ever-use of dental care services as the outcome and predisposing, enabling, need-related factors and personal dental health practices as exposure variables. Data were analyzed using Fischer’s exact test for cross-tabulation and modified Poisson regression for multivariate analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of ever-use of dental care services was 12.3%. The adolescents aged 14–18 had higher odds of using dental care services (Prevalence ratio (PR) of 3.35 than those aged 10–13 years. Fear of the spread of HIV was negatively associated with ever-use of dental care services (PR of 0.06). Participants who were afraid of going to the dentist had higher odds of using dental care services (PR of 2.98) than those not afraid. Failure to receive dental treatment because it was not part of the medical appointment had a positive association with the ever-use of dental care services (PR of 4.50). Those who were satisfied with their dental condition had lower odds of using dental care services. The bad oral odor was positively associated with the ever-use of dental care services (PR of 2.80). The use of soap for toothbrushing was positively associated with the ever-use of dental care services (PR of 2.51).ConclusionThe study found a low frequency of dental care use among HIV-infected adolescents in Kampala, Uganda, with age being a predisposing factor. Enabling factors included fear of HIV spread, medical-dental appointment incoordination, and satisfaction with the dental condition and bad oral odor while under personal dental health practices. The use of soap for toothbrushing was an important association with dental care. Nevertheless, these study results cannot be generalized to the entire HIV adolescent population in Uganda.

IMPACT OF DEMONSTRATIVE TEETH BRUSHING METHOD ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND DENTAL HYGIENE

Introduction: The mastery of proper tooth-brushing techniques plays a pivotal role in upholding oral health standards. This research underscores the impact of demonstrative teeth brushing method on student behavior and dental hygiene among fourth-grade students at SDN 2 Lamcot in Kabupaten Aceh Besar. Methods: Employing a quasi-experimental design with an equivalent control group, the study conducted pre-test and post-test evaluations.The research incorporated a total of 60 children, distributed into an intervention group and a control group. Quantitative data analysis was conducted through paired samples t-test and Independent T-test. Results:The results exhibited statistically significant disparities (p &lt;0.05) in mean values of knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) scores immediately post-intervention and one month later between the treatment and control groups. Conclusion: Emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in dental health education programs, the study stresses the need for parental knowledge and resources to reinforce and monitor children's dental health practices at home.

Assessment of Dental Hygiene Practices among Patients Attending a Family Medicine

This study aims to assess dental hygiene practices among patients attending a family medicine clinic in Madinah. With the growing recognition of oral health's role in overall health, understanding patient behaviors and practices is essential. A cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from 100 patients. The results revealed significant gaps in dental hygiene practices, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. The findings emphasize the importance of educational programs to improve dental health awareness and practices among patients

Assessing Oral Health Knowledge and Practices: A Study of Mothers and Children in Northwestern Nigeria

Purpose – To explore the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding oral and dental health for mothers of children aged 6 months to 8 years and older children aged above 8 years to 15 years seeking healthcare in a tertiary health facility in the Sokoto metropolis. Design/methods/approach – A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2022. Subjects included mothers of 6 months to &lt; 8 years and children aged 8 to 15 years presenting with minor illnesses to the General outpatient clinic. A structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect the information. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Findings – Out of 238 participants, 128 children were 6 months to &lt;8 years, while 110 were above 8 to 15 years old. Less than half of mothers, 46.9%, had inadequate knowledge, while 20.3% had adequate practices. Among the older children in this study, the proportion of those with good knowledge, attitude, and practice level of oral health was 60%, 61.8%, and 32.7%. There was a significant moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores but not practice for the 2 groups. Mothers’ education and fathers’ occupation were significantly related to good scores (p=&lt;0.05). Mothers of children with primary teeth and older children with permanent teeth in this study all had poor oral and dental health practices. More awareness programs should be conducted in the community to target those with poor practices. Increasing female education and empowerment is also essential in this regard. Research implications/limitations – This research implies that from an early age, it is necessary to check oral and dental health to prevent infectious diseases. Originality/value – Oral and dental health is an essential aspect of primary health care and is a situation in which the mouth, teeth, and gums are healthy and free from any diseases. Parents, especially mothers, are responsible for maintaining good oral hygiene practices and inculcating good oral hygiene habits in children. Paper Type Research paper

Influence of parental dental health knowledge and practices on their child’s oral health

Introduction: Parents’ oral health knowledge and attitude have a direct influence on oral health care options for their children. Aim: To evaluate attitude and knowledge level of parents toward their children’s dental health practice. Materials and methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted amongst randomly selected parents having children between the ages of 2 and 12 years from Benghazi, Libya. A questionnaire was distributed and completed by the parents to assess parent’s knowledge and awareness about the primary teeth. The data was statistical analyzed and comparison of the answers from the collected information was made. Results: One hundred and seventeen of parents completed the survey. Around 54.7% of participants were mothers and 35.9% were fathers, 9.4% were guardians, and their age was between 20 and 49 years. Although more than half of parents (59%) showed knowledge and attitude, the frequency of tooth brushing was low, only less than half of their children (40%) brushed teeth twice or more per day. Even though most of the parents had medium knowledge towards the primary teeth, dental visit was low, majority (69%) reported visiting the dentist only when child experienced of pain or toothache. And only third of parents had little knowledge about the time of eruption of first permanent molar. The majority (83.8%) would prefer to have their children’s carious teeth filled. Conclusion: Generally parent’s dental health awareness and knowledge were adequate but their attitude and practice were inadequate. Educating the parents and an increase in knowledge about caring of primary teeth and their significance effect on permanent teeth will encourage parents to provide better oral health to their children.

Dental Health Knowledge Attitude and Practice Among University of Calabar Students.

Introduction Oral health has been linked to aspects of individual knowledge, attitude, and practices. In Nigeria, the increased prevalence of poor oral hygiene has been attributed behavioral factors. Behavioral aspects that include the increased intake of sugary foods and beverages, and lack of proper oral hygiene have been touted as the main causes of poor oral hygiene among university students. The knowledge of oral health is vital owing to its contribution to better oral health; however, unless students develop good oral habits and attitudes and subsequently put them into practice, very little will be realized with regard improvement in oral health and hygiene. Objective This research aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental care among the University of Calabar students. Method This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between 2016 and 2017. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data from 430 student participants in a university using a multi-stage random technique. An inferential statistical approach was adopted to test the relationships represented in the tables. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences, version 20.0. Result The study included 430 participants, 239 (55.6%) females and 191 (44.4%) males. The survey revealed that 94% of the 404 respondents agreed that poor dental care can cause dental diseases, while only 6% disagreed. Regarding excessive drinking of water, 91% of the respondents agreed that it cannot cause dental disease, 4.2% agreed it could, and 4.8% did not know. Furthermore, 60.2% of the 430 respondents acknowledged that genetic inheritance could cause dental disease, while 21.4% disagreed, and 18.4% did not know. Finally, 74.9% of the respondents knew that trauma to the teeth could cause dental disease, while only 9.3% thought that trauma could not cause illness to the teeth. Regarding attitude to dental care, 232 (54%) respondents agreed that visiting the dentist was necessary, while 164 (38.1%) strongly agreed. Only eight (1.9%) strongly disagreed, while five (1.2%) disagreed that visiting the dentist was necessary. Moreover, 82% of the respondents agreed that bad breath was associated with poor dental care, with 195 (45.3%) respondents strongly agreeing and 158 (36.7%) agreeing. However, 37 (8.6%) disagreed, and 16 (3.7%) strongly disagreed, while 24 (5.6%) were indifferent. As regards practice, most respondents used the up-down technique when brushing their teeth (62.8%), while 17.4% brushed left-right and 19.8% used both methods. Moreover, 67.4% of the respondents brushed twice daily, 26.5% brushed once daily, and only 6.1% brushed after every meal. About half of the students spent one to three minutes brushing their teeth (50.5%), while the other half spent more time. Over half of the students replaced their toothbrushes every three months (57.7%), with the most common reason for replacement being the fraying of bristles. However, the use of dental floss was found to be low. Conclusion The utilization of dental care facilities was low among most University of Calabar students, who did not see the need for dental clinic visits unless they had dental needs. The lack of dental visits was attributed to perceived high dental costs and a lack of time. Targeted interventions and educational programs that address these barriers could promote better oral hygiene practices among the students.

Knowledge and Compliance for Current Guidelines of Biomedical Waste Management among Dental Health Professionals of National Capital Region during COVID 19 Pandemic

Introduction: The highly contagious nature of the coronavirus and improper management of biomedical waste (BMW) may have severe ill effects on the ecosystem. Hence, a study was conducted to evaluate dental health professional knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding biomedical waste management (BWM) during COVID-19 in the National Capital Region of India. Materials and Methods: A structured, self-administered questionnaire was developed regarding BMW management during COVID-19 and distributed among dental health professionals in dental teaching institution. The collected data was analyzed using Chi-square test along with the one-way analysis of variance, and P &lt; 0.05 were considered significant. Results: More than half of the participants were unaware of the correct disposal of pharmaceutical waste and did not change their masks according to the guidelines given by the Central Pollution Control Board during pandemic. The mean knowledge score of faculty was found to be significantly higher when compared to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Conclusions: This study revealed that the level of knowledge regarding BMW management was inadequate among all the participants in the survey. Hence, dental health professionals should be educated regarding the hazards associated with improper waste disposal at all levels and trained in proper BMW management.

Perspectives on dental health and oral hygiene practice from US adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adolescence is a critical time for adopting health behaviors which continue through adulthood. There is a lack of data regarding perspectives of US adolescents and young adults on their dental health and oral hygiene practice. Adolescents and young adults, age 14-24, from MyVoice, a nationwide text message poll of youth. were asked five open-ended questions on the importance of dental health and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were qualitatively analyzed using thematic analysis. Chi-square test was used to examine differences in experiences by demographics. Of 1,148 participants, 932 responded to at least one question. The mean age was 19 years. Respondents were largely male (49.5%) and non-Hispanic white (62.4%). Most (92%) respondents perceived dental health as important or somewhat important and emphasized overall dental health and hygiene (38.6%) and aesthetics (18.3%). About half (49.2%) of respondents stated they have had at least one cavity since middle school. Just over half (54.8%) reported brushing and flossing to care for their dentition. 58% visited a dentist at least every 6 months, while 38% visited a dentist less frequently or not at all. Being non-cisgender, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and receipt of free or reduced lunch was associated with less frequent dental visits. 44% stated COVID-19 impacted their dental health, with many mentioning scheduling difficulties or worsened dental hygiene. Most youth in our study consider dental health important, though their oral hygiene practice may not follow ADA guidelines and self-reported dental caries are high. Dental healthcare among youth has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with interruption in regular dental visits and changes in hygiene habits. Re-engagement of adolescents and young adults by dental care providers via greater access to appointments and youth-centered messaging reinforcing hygiene recommendations may help youth improve dental health now and in the future.

Dental health and management practices of donkeys in the UK: What should we be considering?

SummaryBackgroundSeveral studies have shown dental disease to have a high prevalence and severity in donkeys. Limited studies have assessed the possible relationships between poor dental health and the management and health care of donkeys.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify relationships between dental health and current management of donkeys in the UK and to provide recommendations to improve practices to help donkey welfare.Study designObservational cross‐sectional survey.MethodsA total of 596 donkeys surrendered to The Donkey Sanctuary (TDS) over a period of 30 months were included. Analysis was performed on three categories of information: entrance information submitted by previous owners and welfare professionals, pre‐admission clinical examination records and arrival medical examination data.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were identified between dental health and provision of bedding, or diet types. Agreement between external professionals and experienced TDS staff was weak in reference to recognition of dental pathology, age and body condition score (BCS). Over 25% of donkeys with severe dental pathology also had poor BCS (1–1.5). The majority of donkeys had no indication of previous dental examination.Main limitationsEntrance information was not gathered and recorded in a structured manner.ConclusionsRegular prophylactic dental care seems to have poor uptake amongst the owners of the study population, but this is perhaps, in part, aligned to the nature of the sanctuary. Owners are yet to take dental health into consideration when allocating a diet or bedding types to their donkeys, presenting a risk of colic/choke in those fed long fibres with an inability to process them adequately. The Donkey Sanctuary should continue to offer accessible means of education to reach both professionals and owners alike, and this may be well served by the implementation of the new, online, Donkey Academy.

Identification of Teacher Ability and Implementation of Dental and Oral Health Practices in Mental Retarded Children: Pilot Study

Introduction: Empowerment of teachers in maintaining oral hygiene is urgently needed to increase the value of mentally retarded dental and oral hygiene. Objective: This study aims to identify teacher abilities and implementation of dental and oral health practices in mentally retarded children. Materials and Method. The design of this study is an observational descriptive pilot study in the context of developing a learning model for dental and oral health in mentally retarded children. The research population was teachers and mentally retarded children at Special Schools in Jambi City. The research was conducted on teachers in 4 (four) special schools (SLB). Data are presented as numbers and percentages for categorical variables. Results: Before giving the Learning Model for maintaining oral health for mentally retarded children, the respondents had medium-high level knowledge. After the intervention, their knowledge increased to a high level. The dental and oral health learning model is routinely taught in schools. The teacher routinely teaches how to brush teeth; the teacher routinely guides tooth brushing practices; the teacher routinely practices tooth brushing in children. The frequency of carrying out tooth brushing at school is at most once a week. Conclusion: Most of the teachers' knowledge of mentally retarded children in SS is Poor, and implementation of dental and mouth health practices in Mentally Impaired Children is still low. Keywords: mentally retarded, dental and oral health, teacher

Oral hygiene practices, dental experiences and dietary habits in school going children

Background: Prevalence of oral diseases is increasing with growing urbanization and changes in living conditions. Increasing consumption of sugary snacks, chocolates, sugary or aerated drinks are making children prone to develop dental problems. Regular toothbrushing, rinsing mouth with water, use of mouthwashes and inter dental brush or dental floss, a balanced diet and regular visits to dentist are associated with a decreased risk of dental diseases. Objective was to determine the oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and dental experience among children of 3-15 years.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out at a tertiary care center and dental college. Questionnaire was used to determine the dental health practices, dietary habit and dental experiences. Responses of 100 duly filled forms were included and statistically analyzed.Results: 100% of the students brushed their teeth daily with toothpaste. About 53% brushed at least twice daily. 85% children rinsed mouth with water after brushing, 42% rinsed mouth with water after every meal. Adult help required for brushing and habit of eating in between meals snacks were significantly more in children of primary section compared to children of 6th standard onwards. Only 16% children were using mouthwash regularly. 47% children visited dentist for various reason out of which 46.8% visited for routine check-up.Conclusions: In our study 100% children were brushing their teeth at least once a day, 42% were rinsing mouth after every meal. Efforts should be made to promote good oral hygiene habits among children through various educational programs.

An Assessment of Pediatric Primary Care Providers’ and Parents’ Dental Health Knowledge and Practices

One in five children aged < 5 years has experienced caries, making it the most prevalent chronic disease in childhood. The failure to address a child's dental health can lead to short-term and long-term complications and problems with permanent dentition. Primary care pediatric providers are in the position to participate in the prevention of caries because of the frequency they see young children before establishing a dental home. A retrospective chart review and two surveys were developed to collect data from health care providers and parents of children aged < 6 years about their dental health knowledge and practices. While providers report being comfortable discussing dental health with patients, review of medical records shows inconsistent discussion and documentation of dental health. There appears to be a lack of education regarding dental health among parents and health care providers. Primary care providers are not effectively communicating the importance of childhood dental health and are not routinely documenting dental health information.

Digital Health in Children's Oral and Dental Health: An Overview and a Bibliometric Analysis.

Digital health technologies can widely increase access to oral health solutions and can make them easier to use and more accessible at all primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis of published literature to identify the content, trends, and context of digital health technology use in children’s oral and dental health. After finalising the research question, the Scopus database was used to search systematically for related keywords from 1997 to 2022. The PRISMA methodology applied for systematic reviews was adopted to refine search results. VOS viewer software was applied to illustrate the topics and trends of digital health technology involved in children’s oral and dental health. An increase in use of the digital technologies was appeared in the index keywords after 2005. Computer-assisted therapy/surgery, computer simulation, computer program, image processing, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging, and audio-visual equipment were more used index keywords in children’s dental care re-search from 2005–2015. Telemedicine, mobile application, virtual reality, and medical information were reported with the index keywords of dental caries, dental procedures, and dental anxiety after 2015. The study also identified a gap in the published literature in applying newer digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and gamification, in oral and dental health research and practice. There is a growing tendency to use digital technologies in children’s oral and dental health in recent years. Although the types and categorisations of the technology are typically diverse during the timeframe and by the area of dental services and oral health, identifying and categorizing these technologies based on oral health services could familiarise oral health policymakers with the application of the technology and help them design technology-based interventions to improve children’s oral health.