Dental Visit Pattern Research Articles

Differences in Cumulative Long-Term Care Costs by Dental Visit Pattern Among Japanese Older Adults: The JAGES Cohort Study.

Long-term care (LTC) costs create burdens on aging societies. Maintaining oral health through dental visits may result in shorter LTC periods, thereby decreasing LTC costs; however, this remains unverified. We examined whether dental visits in the past 6 months were associated with cumulative LTC insurance (LTCI) costs. This cohort study of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study targeted independent adults aged≥65 years in 2010 over an 8-year follow-up. We used data from a self-reported questionnaire and LTCI records from the municipalities. The outcome was cumulative LTCI costs, and exposure was dental visits within 6 months for prevention, treatment, and prevention or treatment. A 2-part model was used to estimate the differences in the predicted cumulative LTCI costs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each dental visit. The mean age of the 8 429 participants was 73.7 years (standard deviation [SD] = 6.0), and 46.1% were men. During the follow-up period, 17.6% started using LTCI services. The mean cumulative LTCI cost was USD 4 877.0 (SD = 19 082.1). The predicted cumulative LTCI costs were lower among those had dental visits than among those who did not. The differences in predicted cumulative LTCI cost were -USD 1 089.9 (95% CI = -1 888.5 to -291.2) for dental preventive visits, -USD 806.7 (95% CI = -1 647.4 to 34.0) for treatment visits, and -USD 980.6 (95% CI = -1 835.7 to -125.5) for preventive or treatment visits. Dental visits, particularly preventive visits, were associated with lower cumulative LTCI costs. Maintaining oral health through dental visits may effectively reduce LTCI costs.

The impact of parental dental anxiety and oral health literacy on child oral health and dental-visit patterns: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIdentifying the risk indicators of parental dental anxiety (PDA) and oral health literacy (OHL) can help oral healthcare professionals recognise challenges in this field. Armed with the appropriate information, they can effectively engage with parents to build trust and promote early and regular child dental visits.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the association between PDA and OHL with the sociobehavioural characteristics of families, self-reported child oral health (presence of ≥ 1 untreated decayed teeth) and the dental visit patterns amongst children living in Al Jouf Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Subjects and methodsA total of 430 parents with children aged ≥ 14 years were invited using a systematic random sampling method. PDA was assessed using the Dental Anxiety Scale-Revised (DAS-R) scale, and parents’ OHL was measured using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 (REALD-30). The relationships amongst participant characteristics, PDA and OHL were evaluated through the Chi-square and ANOVA. Additionally, binary regression analysis was conducted to identify predictor variables associated with PDA and OHL. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsChildren with ≥ 1 untreated decayed tooth were 2.5 times more likely to have PDA (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37, 4.37). Children who visited the dentist in < 6 months had 93% lower likelihood to have PDA (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.18). Parents aged 20–25 years were 81% less likely to have OHL than those above 30 years (AOR = 0.19; P = 0.038). Similarly, parents with medium family income were 52% less likely to have OHL than the high-income group (AOR = 0.48; P = 0.013). Finally, parents of children who visited the dentist within < 6 months were 34 times more likely to have OHL than those whose children visited the dentist > 12 months ago (AOR = 34.94; P < 0.001).ConclusionPDA and OHL were significantly affected by parental age, family income, the presence of ≥ 1 untreated decaying tooth and the child dental visit patterns. During a child’s first dental visit, paediatric dentists should always assess the PDA, OHL and sociobehavioural characteristics of a family by using appropriate scales and semistructured interviews.

Athletes’ medical preventive behaviors: the case of oral health and ultraendurance trail runners

Ultra-endurance runners are particularly exposed to caries risk factors due to the continuous intake of sugars in liquid or sticky forms during long-distance exercise. The risk of caries increases due to a failure to perform oral hygiene during races. Ultra-endurance runners had good oral health status despite these particularities. Our hypothesis is that high compliance with preventive oral health recommendations (toothbrushing and preventive or regular dental visits) counterbalance the risks associated with their exposure to caries. We aimed to gain a better understanding of preventive dental behaviors in ultra-endurance runners. We then studied the determinants of two major recommendations: (1) visiting a dentist for preventive check-ups and (2) visiting a dentist during the year. 37% of the total sample reported patterns of both preventive dental visits and recent visits. Early visits (ORa = 4.8***), good oral health (ORa = 8.8**) and tooth brushing (ORa = 2.2**) were associated with preventive dental visits, but there was no significant influence of snacking or weekly work hours. The ultra-endurance race frequency was associated with early dental visits despite equal needs. Most risk-control behaviors were associated with each other, indicating that they are all-or-nothing behaviors. Individual prevention strategies implemented at the dental office may not be as effective as they predominantly target individuals who are already aware of and interested in preventive care. Instead, developing targeted primary prevention strategies that are accessible at race venues, such as stands, villages, or food supply points, could be more effective.

Exploring the Threefold Viewpoint on Children's Oral Health in a Cross-Sectional Study.

Oral health is situated within the framework of the global health agenda, addressing facets pertaining to well-being and quality of life. The research is based on the need to address variables at the community level to improve schoolchildren's oral health and promote healthy behaviors and aims to carry out an in-depth analysis from the perspective of the factors that influence children's oral health. Step 1, designed by the World Health Organization, was utilized. An easy-to-use web interface was created for data collection. The statistical analysis consisted of using multinomial and binominal logistic regression models. The level of education of the adult has a high probability of influencing the consumption of unhealthy or healthy foods, it has a significant probability of exerting influence on social or medical problems and a correlation was found between the level of academic education and the pattern of dental visits. The development of health-promoting behaviors begins in childhood and involves parents, who have an essential role in the education of their children. Oral health promotion programs in schools need to target the child-adult-teacher-dentist relationships. Taking into consideration the aforementioned, a threefold viewpoint is necessary for the development of a national program aimed at promoting the oral health of schoolchildren in Romania.

Early childhood caries risk indicators among preschool children in rural Egypt: a case control study

BackgroundEarly childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem, especially in developing countries like Egypt which has an ECC prevalence of 74%. This research aimed to assess the risk indicators associated with ECC in a rural, socially-disadvantaged population in Alexandria, Egypt.MethodsA case-control study was conducted in 8 nurseries of preschool children aged 3 to 5 years in rural, deprived areas in Alexandria, Egypt, from October 2019 till January 2020. Two groups, 93 with ECC and 93 without ECC. A validated questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data including age, sex, number of siblings, socioeconomic status, oral health practices including toothbrushing frequency, pattern of dental visits, daily frequency of sugary snacks. Also, salivary pH and buffering capacity were assessed. A trained and calibrated dentist assessed caries status clinically according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria using the dmft index and oral hygiene status using Silness and Loe Plaque Index. Chi-squared test, followed by multivariable logistic regression were performed to assess the relation between independent variables and ECC, P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.ResultsBivariate analysis showed that age, mother’s education, dental visits, dietary habits, Plaque index, salivary pH and buffering capacity were significantly associated with ECC. The significant risk indicators for ECC in multivariable regression were age (AOR = 4.73, 95% CI: 2.76–7.83), mother’s education (illiterate vs. university educated, AOR = 28.36, 95% CI: 8.51-112.92), frequency of daily sugary snacks (twice vs. once, AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.29–3.49, and three or more vs. once, AOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.72–3.27), night feeding (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.38–10.21), Plaque index (AOR = 21.34, 95% CI: 5.56–81.99), and salivary pH (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.05–0.58).ConclusionThis study suggests that sociodemographic indicators, dietary habits, plaque accumulation and salivary pH are risk indicators for ECC in the studied population.

Fairness of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Foregone Preventive Dental Care for Adults

Access to routine dental care prevents advanced dental disease and improves oral and overall health. Identifying individuals at risk of foregoing preventive dental care can direct prevention efforts toward high-risk populations. To predict foregone preventive dental care among adults overall and in sociodemographic subgroups and to assess the algorithmic fairness. This prognostic study was a secondary analyses of longitudinal data from the US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 2016 to 2019, each with 2 years of follow-up. Participants included adults aged 18 years and older. Data analysis was performed from December 2022 to June 2023. A total of 50 predictors, including demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health conditions, behaviors, and health services use, were assessed. The outcome of interest was foregoing preventive dental care, defined as either cleaning, general examination, or an appointment with the dental hygienist, in the past year. Among 32 234 participants, the mean (SD) age was 48.5 (18.2) years and 17 386 participants (53.9%) were female; 1935 participants (6.0%) were Asian, 5138 participants (15.9%) were Black, 7681 participants (23.8%) were Hispanic, 16 503 participants (51.2%) were White, and 977 participants (3.0%) identified as other (eg, American Indian and Alaska Native) or multiple racial or ethnic groups. There were 21 083 (65.4%) individuals who missed preventive dental care in the past year. The algorithms demonstrated high performance, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.84-0.85) in the overall population. While the full sample model performed similarly when applied to White individuals and older adults (AUC, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.87-0.90), there was a loss of performance for other subgroups. Removing the subgroup-sensitive predictors (ie, race and ethnicity, age, and income) did not impact model performance. Models stratified by race and ethnicity performed similarly or worse than the full model for all groups, with the lowest performance for individuals who identified as other or multiple racial groups (AUC, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.70-0.81). Previous pattern of dental visits, health care utilization, dental benefits, and sociodemographic characteristics were the highest contributing predictors to the models' performance. Findings of this prognostic study using cohort data suggest that tree-based ensemble machine learning models could accurately predict adults at risk of foregoing preventive dental care and demonstrated bias against underrepresented sociodemographic groups. These results highlight the importance of evaluating model fairness during development and testing to avoid exacerbating existing biases.

Knowledge and Attitude of Specialist Hospital Health Care Workers to Dental Services in Benin City.

Objective: To examine the knowledge and attitude to dental services among Health Care Workers in a specialist hospital setting.&#x0D; Methods: This descriptive study was carried out among all cadres of workers in Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH); a government-owned secondary health facility located in Benin City. A structured online questionnaire created using Google forms was used to collect data anonymously from participants. The online form extracted information on demographic characteristics, oral health awareness, pattern of dental visits, and utilization of dental services at Edo Specialist Hospital. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 26.0 for frequency distribution and cross tabulation. Test for statistical significance was done using chi-square statistics.&#x0D; Results: Majority of the participants had never visited a dentist before (59, 54.6%). Majority (48, 44.4%) of the respondents reported that they had not seen the need to visit. Among the respondents, the commonest reasons for previous dental visits were toothache (15, 13.9%) and Stains and deposits on the teeth (13, 12.0%). Majority (76, 70.4%) of respondents had a good or fair understanding of the causes of dental caries. All participants (108,100%) were aware that there was a dental clinic at Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH). However, majority (86, 79.6%) had never visited it. Among the respondents, the commonest reason given for not attending the dental clinic at ESH was that they never saw the need to visit (54, 50.0%). On the other hand, the commonest reasons given for visiting the dental clinic at ESH were toothache (12, 11.2%) and Stains and deposits on the teeth (5, 4.7%). There was a significant relationship between the Staff cadre and previous dental visits.&#x0D; Conclusion: Knowledge of dental care and service utilization was poor. Clinically indicated dental visit was seen among healthcare workers in a specialist healthcare facility&#x0D; &#x0D; dental clinic

Is It Mum or the Dad? Parental Factors That Influence the Use and Acceptance of Fluoride Varnish among Parents in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

To investigate parental factors that influence knowledge, use, and acceptance of fluoride varnish (FLV) application. This cross-sectional study was conducted during December 2021. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit parents with children aged 3 to 6 years and residing in Eastern Saudi Arabia, excluding those working in the dental field. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: demographics, knowledge, previous experience, and acceptance of FLV and was pilot-tested and distributed online using social media. A total of 623 parents responded to the survey. Only 36.9% of parents had good FLV knowledge with dentists being the main source of information. Gender, educational level, family income, being in the medical field, and source of knowledge were factors that significantly (P < 0.05) influenced parental knowledge. Only 24.6% of the parents applied fluoride varnish to their children before, of whom only 29% were satisfied with the experience. Parent's FLV knowledge, view of dental visits, satisfaction with previous experience, perception of children's oral health, and willingness to reapply FLV were factors that significantly (P < 0.05) influenced FLV use. Working in the medical field, perception of dental visits, and the source of knowledge were factors that significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the parent's acceptance to apply FLV. While lack of knowledge about fluoride benefits (15%) was the main reason for parental refusal to apply FLV. The current study highlights the lack of knowledge and application of FLV among parents. There were more factors influencing mothers' acceptance of FLV application compared to fathers. Age, educational level, working in the medical field, perception, and patterns of dental visits were some of the identified factors. Dentists played a major role in parental knowledge and FLV acceptance. In a country with high caries prevalence, preventive programs such as FLV education and application are crucial.

Assessing the Change in Pattern of Dental Visits and Treatment Performed at Primary Care Centre (PCC) in Selangor During the Pre-pandemic and During COVID-19 Pandemic

Emerging of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the delivery of healthcare services, including oral healthcare services. All dental procedures generate aerosol, and droplet from infected patients may lead to virus transmission [1]. Thus, dental visits and treatment during COVID-19 outbreak in primary care were restricted to only emergency cases. Dental visits provide a true picture of utilisation of dental services. Utilisation of dental services is vital for an individual life because underutilisation can lead to poor oral health. This study sought to explore and elucidate the changing pattern of dental visits and treatment performed in Primary Care Centres (PCC) during the pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic.&#x0D; &#x0D; This retrospective record review of dental visits and treatment was conducted by retrieving the Monthly Workload State Report of Dental Officer (PG 207) and Dental Therapist (PG 206) at the Oral Health Division in Selangor from January 2018 to December 2021. The data was the total number of each month’s dental visit and treatment performed. A descriptive analysis was reported in frequency, percentage, and graph. Chi-Square was used to test the association with the significance level set at p˂0.05, was carried out in OpenEpi online software.&#x0D; &#x0D; During pre and pandemic COVID-19, dental visits at the PCC were higher among schoolchildren (67.0%), followed by adults (24.3%) and antenatal mothers (2.6%). The most common dental treatment recorded during the pre-pandemic was filling (85.5%), and tooth extraction (27.3%). The changing pattern of dental visits and treatment given was observed during the pandemic. The spiking points identified were correlated with changes in policies implemented nationwide during the MCO phase, as declared by the National Security Council. The number of dental visits was low (14.4%) during MCO 2. Due to the closure of schools in MCO 2 in January 2021, the number of dental visits was found to be low. There is an association in the number of dental visits with the phase of MCO (p˂0.01).&#x0D; &#x0D; The pattern of dental visits and treatments performed changed during the pandemic. The number of dental visits and dental treatment performed at the PCC was reduced during the pandemic, particularly in the Movement Control Order (MCO) phase in Selangor.

A cross-sectional study on COVID-19-related changes in self-medication with antibiotics.

Dental treatments have been limited to emergency care in many countries worldwide due to the global rapid spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Fear of contracting the disease in dental clinics has also altered the pattern of dental visits and self-medication. The present study compared self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) and the pattern of dental visits before and after the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic in a referral dental clinic in the north of Iran. The data for the present cross-sectional study was collected from 756 patient records retrieved from the archives of the Faculty Clinic of Rasht School of Dentistry during two separate periods: before the COVID-19 pandemic from mid-November 2019 to mid-February 2020, and after the pandemic emergence from mid-April to mid-July 2020. In addition to demographic variables namely age, gender, and place of residence of patients, their smoking status, chief complaint, and SMA were also extracted from patient records. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression models with 95% confidence interval served for statistical analysis. In total, 756 patient records (412 records from the pre-pandemic period and 344 records from the post-pandemic period) were evaluated. SMA was significantly more prevalent after the pandemic compared to that before pandemic (OR = 3.39, 95% CI = 2.43-4.73, P<0.001). The number of patients who smoke significantly decreased after the pandemic by 6.6% compared to that in pre-pandemic period. Dental pain, pus discharge, and abscess as the chief complaints of patients were significantly more prevalent during the post-pandemic period; while, dental checkups, tooth hypersensitivity, and esthetic dental problems were significantly more frequent as the chief complaints of patients during the pre-pandemic period. There is indication that during the COVID-19 pandemic, SMA and prevalence of acute dental problems in patients have increased. With regard to the consequences of SMA, there is a need to raise public awareness on this matter.

Does social support predict increased use of dental services in older men?

Past research on social support and dental visits in older people has been limited by cross-sectional design, limited social support dimensions and non-representative samples. Data came from men with natural teeth completing Waves 3 and 4 of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project in Sydney, Australia. The relationship between social support at Wave 3 (2011-2012) and at least one dental visit per year at Wave 4 (2014-2016) was examined by Poisson regression. Social support was measured by structural (marital status, living arrangements, family support and social interaction) and functional (social support satisfaction) domains. About 673 men were analysed. Structural and functional social support were not associated with the pattern of usual dental visits 5 years later in univariable or multivariable analyses. The only consistent significant factor was income source, with older men who had other sources of income more likely to regularly visit the dentist than older men solely reliant on the pension for income (prevalence ratio: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13-1.52). We found no differences in the pattern of usual dental visits between older men with different levels and types of social support. For older Australian men, income source seems to be the most important determinant of regular dental visits. © 2022 Australian Dental Association.

Assessment of Dental Anxiety and Hemodynamic Changes during Different Dental Procedures: A Report from Eastern Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to investigate hemodynamic changes in healthy adult patients during different dental procedures and evaluate whether these changes were associated with patients' dental anxiety. A convenience sample of 119 patients of both genders undergoing routine dental care participated in the study. Participants responded to the Arabic version of the modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS) and a self-structured questionnaire. Each patient had their blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation measured at three points: before, during, and after the dental procedure using an electronic sphygmomanometer. MDAS scores were categorized into no anxiety, mild, moderate or severe anxiety, while readings of heart rate and blood pressure were categorized into no change, increased or decreased and either "no change" or "increased" for oxygen saturation. Chi-square test was used to investigate the association between the study variables and a p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. SPSS version 20 was used in the analysis. Mean ( ± standard deviation [SD]) of MDAS was 11.12 ( ± 3.9) an indicative of moderate dental anxiety. No changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or in oxygen saturation were observed on 39.5%, 54.6% and 97.5% among the study participants, respectively. Half of the participants avoided dental care, with dental anxiety being the main reason for that (26.1%). Pattern of dental visits was significantly associated with MDAS scores (p = 0.042). There were significant changes in blood pressure (p = 0.0003), heart rate (p = 0.01) but not in oxygen saturation (p = 0.33). Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were not associated with dental anxiety p = 0.15, 0.10, and 0.99, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the type of dental procedure may cause dental anxiety and cause hemodynamic changes. Therefore, close monitoring of patients with dental anxiety during the treatment is advised.

Effectiveness of three different types of oral health promotion programs among schoolchildren in Sakaka, Saudi Arabia: A cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: Untreated component of dental caries in Saudi Arabia is alarming even though the accessibility of dental services is at free of cost to all Saudi nationals. Aim/Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess the efficiency among three different types of school-based oral health promotion programs in Sakaka children. Materials and Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trail included 765 schoolchildren. Three different models of school-based oral health promotion programs were tested in this study. Outcome measures were evaluated after 12-month follow-up, which include difference in prevalence and mean number of untreated dental caries, annual dental service utilization rates, and difference in mean oral health-promoting behavior between baseline and at the end of the program. Results: Seven hundred and two children were available for outcome measurement. There is reduction in both prevalence and mean number of untreated dental caries in all the three groups but significant reduction observed in Model-3 group of children. Similarly, improvement in dental visit patterns was also observed more in Model-3 group compared with other two groups. Conclusion: Health education including teachers with 6-monthly reinforcement, screening, and referral to specific treatment facility with follow-up reminders was found to be an effective model.

Medo odontológico e saúde bucal: avaliação transversal do ciclo do medo entre universitários brasileiros

Aim: To evaluate the presence of dental fear among Brazilian undergraduate students and to observe whether the cycle of dental fear theory applies to this population. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study were conducted with first year students of the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil, in 2016. Sociodemographic data, dental fear, as well as the use of dental services and perception of caries and dental pain were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The exposure was dental fear, and the outcomes included dental visit pattern, experience of dental caries and dental fear and self-rated oral health (SROH). Sociodemographic characteristics were included as aconfounding factor. To test the association between dental fear and the outcomes, Poisson regression models with robust variance were used, to estimate Prevalence Rations and Confidence Intervals. Results: 2,014 undergraduate students were evaluated and 22.4% of them reported dental fear. Those who reported dental fear had a higher prevalence of not visiting the dentist in the last year and, among those who visited, to have had only a pain/problem-oriented visit. Additionally, having fear increased the presence of dental caries, dental pain and negative SROH. Discussion: Our findings suggest the presence of the vicious cycle of dental fear in this population of undergraduate students in southern Brazil. Conclusion: This study provided evidence on the association between dental fear and the lower frequency of dental visit, dental caries, dental pain experience and negative SROH, corroborating with the cycle of dental fear theory.

Oral Health and Patterns of Dental Visits Among Diabetic Patients in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

PurposeDiabetes is a big public health threat in Saudi Arabia. However, there is limited evidence about dental problems, oral hygiene practices, and dental visits among diabetic patients. The study aimed to evaluate self-perceived oral health status and patterns of dental attendance among diabetic patients in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.MethodologyThis cross-sectional study included 486 diabetic patients (mean age 50.14±13.59 years) registered with the Saudi Diabetes Society, Saudi Arabia (October–November 2020). The World Health Organization’s oral health questionnaire for adults was administered to collect information about oral health status, oral hygiene practices, and dental attendance, in addition to sociodemographic data. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed.ResultsMost participants (66.3%) reported having dental pain or discomfort during the last year. Bad breath (60.50%), tooth cavities (55.10%), difficulty in biting hard food (55.10%), tooth sensitivity (53.30%), and bleeding gums (52.90%) were common oral problems among participants. More than half the sample (55.1%) reported visiting the dental office during the last year. However, pain or trouble with teeth, gums or mouth was the most common (40.5%) reason for the last dental visit. Only 7.8% of participants visited the dentist for a routine dental check-up. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that Saudi nationality (AOR 2.68, P 0.008), family history of diabetes (AOR 1.88, P 0.022), and having pain during the last year (AOR 4.01, P <0.001) were the significant factors associated with the last dental visit due to pain.ConclusionThis sample of participants demonstrated a high prevalence of dental problems. Few participants performed routine dental visits and most visits were due to pain. Saudis and patients with family history of diabetes and dental pain were more likely to perform pain related dental visits. Multidisciplinary efforts are needed to develop and implement preventive educational and clinical care models for positive oral and general health outcomes.

Frequency and pattern of outpatient dental visits during the COVID-19 pandemic at hospital and community clinics

BackgroundThe authors aimed to measure the frequency of dental visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate whether dental visits can be predicted from demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, oral problem diagnoses, and dental service providers. MethodsParticipants for this retrospective study were patients visiting dental care providers at hospital- and community-based outpatient clinics in Alberta, Canada. Data were retrieved from electronic databases from March 12, 2020, through September 30, 2020, and from the same period for 2018 and 2019. The COVID-19 lockdown was declared for March 12 through May 14, 2020. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance test and multiple logistic regression at α = 0.05. ResultsFrom a total of 14,319 dental visits, 5,671, 5,036, and 3,612 visits occurred in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. The mean (standard deviation) frequency of daily visits was 36.69 (15.64), 32.09 (15.51), and 24.24 (14.78), respectively. Despite the overall decrease, the frequency of visits for infections, salivary problems, and temporomandibular disorders increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Dental visits during the pandemic were associated with more complicated oral diagnoses and dental services as well as higher economic status. ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of dental visits decreased specifically during lockdown. Patients with complicated problems requiring urgent treatments mainly visited dental clinics. Reduced access to care was observed primarily among socially disadvantaged groups. Practical ImplicationsAlthough guidelines and related recommendations have been effective in restoring the compromised dental system during the COVID-19 pandemic, additional modifications are needed to promote in-person visits to improve the oral health status of patients.

Dental Anxiety among Undergraduate Students of a National University in Brunei Darussalam

This study aimed to investigate the nature of dental anxiety among undergraduate students of a national university in Brunei Darussalam. Participants were undergraduate students from different faculties of a national university. It was a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire that included their personal demographics, the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) questions and questions regarding their last dental visit. The degree of anxiety was compared in relation to different factors as mentioned above. Data collected was analyzed using independent t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results showed that the frequency of dental anxiety among the undergraduate students was 70.8%. The mean total MDAS score was 12.3 ± 4.28. Females (13.5±5.12) were more dentally anxious than males (12.2±4.73) (p=0.027). There was a significant difference in the mean MDAS score (p &lt; 0.001) when comparing patterns of dental visits with dental anxiety. More students were fearful of local anesthetic injection than getting tooth drilled. (4) Conclusion: Dental anxiety still remains as one of the obstacles that clinicians face. More studies need to be done to provide a better understanding on how dental anxiety can affect the pattern of dental visits. Future studies should explore the etiology of dental anxiety. This study helps to create awareness on the presence of dental anxiety amongst the existent population group and also to aid clinicians in identifying areas of dentistry where patients are most anxious about in order to come up with a suitable treatment plan.

Dental Visits and Predictors of Regular Attendance Among Female Schoolchildren in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

PurposeRegular dental visits are important for the maintenance of optimal oral health and improved quality of life. The purpose of the study was to evaluate patterns of dental visits and factors associated with routine dental attendance among female schoolchildren in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.Patients and MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 449 female primary schoolchildren (6–11 years old) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The study included clinical examination for decay in the first permanent molars in children and questionnaire administration among their parents. The World Health Organization’s oral health questionnaire was used to collect data about children’s dental visits, oral hygiene behaviors, dental problems, and dietary practices. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with routine dental visits.ResultsMost children (64.1%) visited the dentist during the past one year, 22.1% performed no dental visit during the past one year, and 8.3% never visited the dentist. Among children who visited the dentist, the pain was the most common reason for dental visits (39.10%, N=170), followed by routine dental check-ups (18.60%, N=81). In bivariate analysis, education of parents, family income, daily tooth brushing, no decay in the first permanent molar, no toothache, no consumption of soft drinks, biscuits, cakes, and cream were significantly associated with routine dental attendance (P <0.05). However, the final logistic regression model showed that university education of mothers (OR 2.52, P = 0.005), not having toothache or discomfort (OR 2.88, P = 0.001), tooth brushing once or twice daily (OR 2.43, P= 0.034), and not consuming soft drinks (OR 1.96, P= 0.027) were significant predictors of routine dental visits.ConclusionThe study found that higher education of mothers, daily tooth brushing, not having dental pain, and not consuming soft drinks were significantly associated with routine dental visits in this sample of female schoolchildren. Routine dental attendance may be used to improve oral hygiene and reduce dental pain and consumption of soft drinks in children.

Mothers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Fears About Dental Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study.

ABSTRACTObjectives:This study aimed to assess mothers’ knowledge of coronavirus disease 2019 and to evaluate their attitudes and fears about dental visits during the pandemic.Materials and Methods:A structured questionnaire, developed in English and Arabic, adapted from previous questionnaires was remotely applied to a sample of 833 mothers of children aged 17 years and younger, from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Eligible participants were encouraged to invite others. The questionnaire collected information on knowledge about COVID-19, dental visit patterns, willingness of mothers to take their children to the dentist, and factors affecting it during the pandemic. Frequencies and percentages of categorical variables were presented, and predictors of willingness to visit a dentist during the pandemic were examined by logistic regression.Results:Mothers who perceived the dental clinic to be of less or similar danger to public places were more willing to take their children to the dentist during the pandemic than were those who perceived it to be more dangerous (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–7.0; OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.1–4.8, respectively). Mothers who were willing to go to the dentist during the pandemic were more likely to take their children to the dentist compared with mothers who were not willing to go themselves, OR = 16.9 (6.0–47.1). The most commonly reported barrier to visiting the dental clinic was fear of contracting the virus from someone there (80%). Most parents did not take their child to the dentist during the pandemic (83%), and 24% of those who had an appointment did not allow their children to attend.Conclusion:Mothers were unlikely to take their children to the dentist except for an emergency and perceived the dental clinic as a risky place for contracting the virus. More reassuring information about infection control measures at dental clinics should be delivered to this population.

Ethnic Disparities in Dental Caries among Adolescents in China

Comprehensive research on ethnic disparities in dental caries in China is limited. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to compare the levels of dental caries in adolescents between the Han ethnic group and ethnic minority groups in China and to explore the risk indicators for dental caries within ethnic subgroups. Data from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey in 2015, which covered all 31 province-level administrative divisions in mainland China, were used. The dental caries status in the permanent dentition of adolescents aged 12, 13, 14, and 15 y was measured using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DFMT) score, and sociodemographic characteristics and oral health–related behaviors were also collected. A total of 118,601 adolescents were included, with ethnic minority groups accounting for 13.15%. Of the Han and minority groups, the standardized prevalence of dental caries experience was 40.58% and 47.67%, and the mean DMFT scores were 0.97 and 1.28, respectively. According to the multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis, the caries status of minorities was more severe than Han adolescents (adjusted prevalence rate ratio [PRR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.18). This disparity was greater among adolescents who lived in rural areas, had mid-level economic status, and frequently consumed sugary beverages. After propensity score matchings, Uygur (PRR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.25–1.67), Tibetan (PRR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.3–1.48), and Yi (PRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.04–1.48) adolescents were significantly more likely to have caries than Han adolescents. Subgroup analyses revealed that gender, age, location of residence, economic status, region, consumption of sweet snacks and sugary beverages, and dental visit pattern were significantly associated with dental caries within ethnic minorities.