Frequency Of Dental Visits Research Articles

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Dental Service Utilization of Korean Children and Adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of dental visits after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children and adolescents in comparison to that of adults. The data on the number of dental visits on the basis of different classification and treatment codes for all the age groups were provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from January 2017 to December 2020. To reduce the impact of the population change, dental visits per 1000 people was used. After the start of the pandemic, dental visits per 1000 people decreased in all age groups when analyzed for the diseases of pulp and periapical tissues classification code and dental visits per 1000 people decreased over 5 years age groups when analyzed for the pulp treatment code. Regarding the restorative treatment code, visits in the 0 - 19 years age group decreased after the pandemic. Based on the comparison of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to that of monthly dental visits by treatment codes, the change rate of pulp and restorative treatments gradually decreased after the waves of the pandemic in February and August 2020 in Korea. Furthermore, dental visits per 1000 people for gingivitis and periodontal disease classification code increased after the pandemic in all age groups. The rate of decrease in dental visits per 1000 people for restorative treatments in children and adolescents was higher than that in adults. The rate of decrease in the number of dental visits for multi-visit pulp treatments showed a rapid decrease as compared to that of 1-visit pulp treatments after the pandemic. This study identified changes in the number of dental visits of children and adolescents after COVID-19 transmission in comparison to that observed in adults.

Keeping your gums healthy

If you do not take care of your gums (Box), you can develop gum disease. Gum disease can develop when a thin layer of bacteria, called plaque, is allowed to collect along the gumline and between the teeth. This can cause your gums to swell and bleed and, if left untreated, can even cause tooth loss. There are mild forms of gum disease that may be reversed if caught early and more severe forms that involve specialized treatment from a dentist.Box.Caring for your gums.Here are some things you can do at home to help prevent gum disease:▪Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Using a toothpaste with fluoride will help reduce your risk of cavities, too.▪Clean between your teeth once a day with floss, floss holders, water flossers, or special sticks, brushes, or picks designed for cleaning between your teeth.▪Avoid tobacco.▪Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and an examination. Here are some things you can do at home to help prevent gum disease:▪Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Using a toothpaste with fluoride will help reduce your risk of cavities, too.▪Clean between your teeth once a day with floss, floss holders, water flossers, or special sticks, brushes, or picks designed for cleaning between your teeth.▪Avoid tobacco.▪Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and an examination. Mild gum disease is called gingivitis. It may cause your gums to become red and swell. They may even bleed. Fortunately, this form of gum disease can often be stopped in its tracks with a professional dental cleaning followed by improved care of your teeth and gums at home. More severe cases of gum disease are called periodontitis (pare-ee-oh-DON-tie-tis). Periodontitis develops when plaque builds up under the gumline and between the teeth. Sometimes this plaque hardens into a substance called tartar, which traps plaque beneath the gumline. The bacteria in the plaque produce acid and toxins that cause the gum tissue to become infected and inflamed. Your body reacts to this swelling, and the connection of the gum tissue to the supporting bone can break down. This forms pockets where plaque can collect further, and, if left untreated, the bone that holds your teeth can start to break down. Only a dentist can treat periodontitis. He or she uses a special tool that scrapes the tartar off your teeth and then smooths the bone, which allows your gum tissue to reattach. Once you have had periodontitis, you are at risk of developing it again. For this reason, you may need to schedule more frequent dental visits. In addition to red, swollen, and bleeding gums, other signs of gum disease may include the following:▪gums that have pulled away from the teeth, causing teeth to look longer▪bad breath or bad taste that will not go away▪permanent teeth that are loose or separating▪a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite▪a change in the fit of partial dentures Some things increase the risk of developing gum disease. In addition to poor care of your mouth at home, examples include the following:▪smoking or chewing tobacco▪crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean▪diabetes▪hormonal changes, like pregnancy▪medications, including steroids, certain types of antiepilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers, and oral contraceptives Gum disease is caused by plaque that builds up along your gumline, which can break down the tissues (including bone) that help hold your teeth in place. Left untreated, gum disease can cause teeth to become loose and fall out or to have to be removed. Taking care of your teeth and making regular visits to your dentist can help prevent gum disease.

Comparing the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and virulence factors cagA, vacA, and dupA in supra-gingival dental plaques of children with and without dental caries: a case–control study

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common infectious diseases in humans. Dental plaque is considered as a reservoir of this bacterium, which could play an important role in the development of gastrointestinal problems. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori and its virulence factors in dental plaques in children with and without dental caries.MethodsAmong children aged 6 to 12 years, a total of 72 children were enrolled in the study, including 36 cases with total DMFT/dmft > 3 (case group) and 36 participants with total DMFT/dmft < 1 (control group). After removing supra-gingival plaques from the lower first permanent molar teeth, the samples were examined using PCR method for the presence of H. pylori and some of its virulence factors. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square, Fisher' exact test, t-tests, and logistic regression.ResultsOf 72 participants, 40 cases were male, and 32 cases were female. The minimum and maximum values of total DMFT/dmft indices were zero and ten, respectively, and the mean ± SD value of total DMFT/dmft was 2.78 ± 3.22. Except for vegetable consumption (p = 0.045), there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding gastrointestinal disorders, feeding methods in infancy (p = 0.058), frequency of daily brushing (p = 0.808), frequency of dental visits (p = 0.101), and history of dental scaling (p = 0.246) and professional topical fluoride therapy (p = 0.5). Out of 72 samples, 15 cases were positive for H. pylori DNA (20.8%), and there was no significant association between the presence of this bacterium in dental plaque and dental caries (p = 0.281). The frequency of virulence factors detected in 15 H. pylori cases was as follows: cagA in six cases (40.0%), vacAm1 in three cases (20.0%), and vacAs1 in one case (6.7%). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the prevalence of virulence factors.ConclusionOur results indicate the presence of H. pylori along with some virulence factors in dental plaques as a reservoir of this bacterium in children in Iran. Although there was no significant association between this bacterium and the incidence of dental caries, dental health in children needs to be seriously taken into consideration.

COVID-19 Effects on Income and Dental Visits: A Cross-sectional Study.

In April 2020, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency owing to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which resulted in reduced workforce and job losses. Furthermore, income is one of the most consistent predictors of dental visits. Therefore, this study examined the association between income changes and dental clinic visits during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan. An online, self-reported cross-sectional survey about health activities including dental visits during the first COVID-19 state of emergency was conducted in Osaka, Japan (June 23 to July 12, 2020). Among participants with toothaches, the assessment for the association between "refrained from visiting a dentist despite wanting treatment for toothache during the state of emergency (refrained treatment)" and income changes before and after the state of emergency using a multivariate Poisson regression model adjusted for sex, age, self-rated health, frequency of regular dental visits, and employment status. Among 27,575 participants, 3,895 (14.1%) had toothaches, and 1,906 (6.9%) reported refrained treatment. Among people with decreased income (n = 8,152, 29.6% of overall participants), the proportions of the refrained treatment group were 8.0% (income decreased by 1%-49%), 9.9% (50%-99% decreased), and 9.1% (100% decreased). Among participants with toothache, after adjusting for all variables, compared with participants with no income change, we observed significantly higher prevalence ratios (PRs) for refrained treatment in those who experienced a decreased income owing to COVID-19 (1%-49% decrease: PR = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.005-1.17; 50%-99% decrease: PR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.06-1.32; 100% decrease: PR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.33). Decreased income was associated with refrained dental treatment during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Osaka, Japan. The economic damage related to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to oral health inequalities. Our study found that individuals with decreased income owing to COVID-19 before and after the state of emergency showed significantly higher prevalence ratios for refraining from visiting a dentist despite wanting treatment for toothache. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution because it provides novel, basic data that economic damages related to the COVID-19 pandemic might expand to oral health inequalities.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, and Self-efficacy Among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Poor oral health is recognized as a silent epidemic. Numerous individual and structural barriers are related to oral health status. Oral health promotion is essential for the general health and well-being of health professionals. Objectives: This study aimed to assess oral health-related knowledge, attitude, behavior, and self-efficacy among healthcare professionals. Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 404 participants from all health personnel (female = 234, male = 170) in Khuzestan, Iran, in 2021. The sample was obtained using the simple random sampling method. Data collection tools included a valid and reliable questionnaire, including items on demographics, knowledge, self-efficacy, attitude, and behavior regarding oral health. The questionnaire link was sent to employees via WhatsApp messenger. Data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, and SPSS version 24. Results: The mean age of the participants was 37.38 ± 6.75. About 91% of the respondents had bachelor’s degree, and 91% were office employees. The mean score of knowledge (P &lt; 0.001), attitude (P = 0.004), behavior (P = 0.023), and self-efficacy (P &lt; 0.001) of women was more than men. Regular dental visits were more observed in single employees compared to married (2.38 times) and employees with diploma qualifications compared to bachelor (10 times) and PhD degrees (10 times). Conclusions: Demographic characteristics, oral health knowledge, attitude, and behavior of employees are intercorrelated with the frequency of dental clinic visits. Oral health promotion programs should be more focused on the improvement of oral health behaviors and practices, especially among males. Moreover, oral health programs should shift from focus on employees’ education to oral health practices and actions.

Utilization of Dental Services by Rural dwellers: Case of two Communities hosting a tertiary health facility

Background: Oral diseases have a significant impact on people's appearance, quality of life, and self-esteem, despite the fact that frequent dental visits aid in early identification, and prevention. In the rural areas, people find it difficult to visit dental care for a variety of reasons, and most times access to dental care is blamed for non-use. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the level of dental service utilization in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) by inhabitants of the two host communities while highlighting the predisposing factors and barriers to the use of the services. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the villages of Ituku and Ozalla hosting the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu State. A minimum sample size of 138 was calculated for each community yielding a total of 276. Information obtained from 69 households (2 per household) using a 21-question semistructured questionnaire include demographic characteristics, oral health awareness, dental service utilization, and barriers to service utilization. Data analysis was done with SPSS software version 20, and the Chi-square test identified differences between groups with the level of significance set at p ≤0.05. Results: The study involved 278 villagers aged 18 to 80 years, 140(50.4 %) were from Ozalla and 138(48.6%) from Ituku Community; 119/138 (86.2%) and 130/140 (92.9%) were aware of a dental clinic respectively. Also, 58/278 (20.9%) of the participants had previously used dental services at UNTH: [22 (37.9%) Ituku and 36 (62.1%) Ozalla (p=0.045)], but only 12/58 visited the clinic in the year prior to the study, so the utilization rate was only 20.6%. Scaling and polishing 29/58 (50.0%), and filling 20/58 (34.5%) were the popular treatments/services. The main reasons for seeking care at UNTH were severe pain 41/58 (70.7%) and inability to eat 17/58 (29.3 %). Lack of perceived need was the most prevalent barrier 101 /220 (45.9%) to using dental services, followed by unawareness of a dental clinic in UNTH for 38/220 (17.3%). The Association between awareness of the dental clinic and its utilization shows that it was exclusively among those who were aware (p&lt; 0.001). Conclusion: There was a very low level of utilization of dental services at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital by dwellers of the host communities. However, awareness rather than access or distance to the hospital was key in influencing the visits with pain as the most compelling reason for attendance. Promotion of more platforms for enlightenment by all means with an emphasis on preventive approaches rather than symptom-driven visits is recommended.

The pathological oral cavity as a preventable source of postoperative pneumonia in thoracic surgery: a prospective observational study.

BackgroundPneumonia after thoracic surgery considerably contributes to perioperative morbidity and mortality. So far, the forced expiratory volume in one second and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon dioxide are the most common validated prognosticators to estimate individual risk. Beyond functional parameters, modifiable risk factors for respiratory complications like pneumonia are poorly investigated in a prospective way. Thus, we aimed to assess the impact of oral health status in patients undergoing thoracic surgery and its correlation to perioperative outcomes.MethodsA prospective observational study included adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery from October 2, 2018 to April 29, 2020. The day before surgery, patients were examined by a dentist. Oral health status (caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and regular dental visits) was correlated with perioperative outcomes.ResultsDuring the study period, 230 consecutive patients were included. Oral health status was poor in the study population. Postoperative complications were associated with active caries [odds ratio (OR) 2.5, P<0.03]. Patients with frequent dental visits and treated teeth had a lower risk for postoperative complications compared with patients without regular visits (OR 0.3, P<0.02). Patients with a high burden of caries had a significantly increased risk for pneumonia (OR 7.9, P<0.002). The forced expiratory volume in one second was a significant prognosticator for postoperative complications; however, no association between the forced expiratory volume in one second and oral health parameters was observed.ConclusionsA pathological oral health status is a modifiable factor predicting postoperative complications and pneumonia. A prospective randomized interventional study is warranted to clarify whether an improvement in oral health status can lead to a reduction of perioperative risk.

Oral health related quality of life in long-term survivors of head and neck cancer compared to a general population from the seventh Troms\xf8 study

BackgroundBoth the incidence and survival rate of head and neck cancer (HNC) is increasing, making quality of life of HNC survivors an important issue.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study we compared the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of long-term HNC survivors to that of a general population cohort from the seventh survey of the Tromsø study with the Oral Impact on Daily Performances questionnaire. Comparisons were done with frequency analyses and cross tabulation. We also assessed OHRQoL’s association to sociodemographic and oral health related variables in both cohorts as well as with cancer related variables in the HNC cohort with regression analyses.ResultsThe HNC survivors had four times the risk of reporting problems with daily performances compared with the general population cohort. The ability to eat and enjoy food was most frequently affected in both cohorts. Moderate-poor self-rated dental health and general health as well as high frequency of dental visits were significantly associated with poorer OHRQoL. To have a history of oral or pharyngeal cancer was associated with more problems than having a history of laryngeal cancer.ConclusionsOur study shows that HNC treatment is associated with a strong and lasting impairment of OHRQoL, highlighting the need to find less toxic, yet effective ways to treat the disease, and to provide easy access to expert dental care at all stages of the disease to minimize morbidity. Given the widespread side effects of cancer treatment, a multidisciplinary approach might be required to improve the OHRQoL of HNC survivors.

Sociodemographic Factors and Frequency of Dental Clinic Visits Associated with Oral Health Literacy in the Early Adolescence

The aim of this study is to evaluate the associations between oral health literacy and selected sociodemographic factors and frequency of dental clinic visits in early adolescents. Methodology: A cross sectional study has been conducted for the duration of six Months from April 2021 to September 2021. Students attending four universities of Lahore were selected as a target population for the study. Two universities were selected from government sector i.e. Forman Christian college (FC) and Punjab university (PU). Two universities were chosen from private sector i.e. Superior University and University of Lahore (UoL) for this purpose. A total of 400 students belonging to different departments participated in the study that were clinically examined and interviewed. The students belonged to the different departments of the under- survey universities. To measure oral health literacy REALD-30 was used as a tool. The validity of the tool is checked by Cronbach’s alpha (0.89). The variables were investigated using validated questionnaires: oral health literary (REALD-30), sociodemographic characteristics and frequency of dental visits. Result: The results summed up that REALD-30 score came out differently for those who visit dental clinics regularly (p-value 0.029) and those who don’t which show that the dentist visits have a significant effect on REALD-30 score. The department factor has a significant effect on REALD-30 score, as the department of students varies, the REALD-30 score differs. The F- statistics and the p-value are calculated and their significance is checked, that F=5.357 and the p-value is (.000&lt;0.05), that strongly support that the department factor has a significant effect on the REALD-30 score. Gender discrimination and age variation did not show any effects on REALD-30 score (p-value 0.1) Keywords: Dental Health, Oral Health Literacy, Public Health, Early adolescence

Did expansion of insurance coverage for major diseases in Korea induce a positive spillover effect on dental service utilization?

Although people with serious major diseases are disproportionately likely to have poor oral health, they are also more likely to defer treatment for oral health conditions due to financial constraints. The South Korean government introduced a comprehensive benefit expansion policy covering four major disease categories in 2013: cancer, cardiac diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and rare diseases. Meanwhile, a policy expanding benefits for dental prosthetic services for the elderly was also introduced during the same period. Using nationally representative Korean Health Panel data from 2012 to 2017, we performed a difference-in-difference (DID) analysis to examine the positive spillover effect of insurance expansion for the four major disease categories on encouraging dental service utilization (frequency of dental visits and dental out-of-pocket payments) or decreasing unmet dental needs. Additionally, a triple-difference (TD) analysis was performed to examine whether the effect of coverage expansion of dental prosthetic services on dental service utilization was larger among the beneficiaries of the expansion for the four major disease categories. Benefit expansion for the four major disease categories did not significantly affect dental service utilization among the beneficiaries (DID model) during all study years and slightly increased unmet dental needs in 2014 and 2015. However, the effect of expanded coverage for dental prosthetic services on encouraging dental service utilization was larger (TD model) among the beneficiaries of the policy for the four major disease categories than among non-beneficiaries when we defined the beneficiaries as individuals with two or more household members who had one of the four major diseases. Our results suggest a need to provide more intense coverage for those with comorbidities by embracing the concept of proportionate universalism in the coverage of dental services.

A qualitative exploration of decisions about dental recall intervals - part 2: perspectives of dentists and patients on the role of shared decision making in dental recall decisions.

Introduction Patients are sensitive to both the frequency and costs of dental recall visits. Shared decision making (SDM) is a principle of patient-centred care, advocated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and policymakers, whereby joint decisions are made between clinicians and patients.Aims To explore NHS dentists' and patients' attitudes towards SDM in decisions about recall interval.Methods Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 25 NHS patients and 25 NHS general dental practitioners in Wales, UK. Transcripts were thematically analysed.Results While many patients would be happy to accept changes to their recall interval, most wanted to be seen at least annually. Most patients were willing to be guided by their dentist in decisions about recall interval, as long as consideration was given to issues such as time, travel and cost. This contrasted with the desire to actively participate in decisions about operative treatment. Although the dentists' understanding of SDM varied, practitioners considered it important to involve patients in decisions about their care. However, dentists perceived that time, patient anxiety and concerns about potential adverse outcomes were barriers to the use of SDM.Conclusions Since there is uncertainty about the most clinically effective and cost-effective dental recall strategy, patient preference may play a role in these decisions.

Dental Caries Prevalence and Oral Health Status among 15-Year- Old Adolescents in Kosovo.

IntroductionCaries has a harmful impact on oral and general health and is a major public health problem among children and adolescents. The objective of present study was to investigate into dental caries, oral hygiene, the frequency of brushing habits and dental visits among 15- year- old adolescents.Material and methodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out on a random sample of 323 15- year- old adolescents in different schools and municipalities of Kosovo. Oral clinical examination and self-administered questionnaire were used to obtain information about dental caries and oral health practices. Oral hygiene and caries status in permanent dentition was assessed through the DMFT index and Oral Hygiene Index - Simplified (OHI-S). The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.ResultsThe total mean of the DMFT index was 3.21 ± 2.193, while component D of the DMFT index dominated in both genders, with slightly higher values in boys compared to girls (2.15±2.092, and 1.91±1.919). The mean OHI-S index of adolescents aged 15 was found to be 1.945±3.926. Over 50% of schoolchildren brush their teeth only once per day and they have visited the dentist only when it was necessary. Irregular tooth-brushing, dental visits and poor oral hygiene index were significantly related to dental caries.ConclusionThe results of the study showed poor oral health status among 15- year- old adolescents in Kosovo. There is an emergent need for caries-prevention programs focusing on oral health and healthy habits.

Quality of education and adolescents' oral health-related behaviours: a multilevel analysis.

The school environment may positively influence student health behaviours and learning. This study aimed to investigate the association between cities' quality of education and adolescent students' oral health-related behaviours. Cross-sectional study using data of the 2015 Brazilian National Adolescent School-Based Health Survey and other public databases. The sample was composed of adolescents (N = 23,674) from public schools of the 27 Brazilian state capitals. Outcomes were four oral health-related behaviours: toothbrushing, sweets and soft-drink consumption, and dental visits. The explanatory variable was the cities' quality of education, measured by the Brazilian Basic Education Development Index. Covariates were individual (sociodemographic) and contextual (socioeconomic, oral health coverage and oral health-promoting schools). Multilevel logistic regression was performed considering two levels: individual (adolescents) and contextual (city). The prevalence of the outcomes were: low daily toothbrushing frequency 6.7% (95% CI 6.0-7.4); high weekly sweets consumption 41.5% (95% CI 40.3-42.7); high weekly soft-drink consumption 28.5% (95% CI 27.2-29.9); and low frequency of annual dental visits 31.2% (95% CI 30.1-32.3). In the adjusted models, cities whose schools had higher scores of education quality were more likely to have students with low toothbrushing frequency and high frequency of sweets consumption. The cities' quality of education was associated with unhealthy oral health-related behaviours, particularly the frequency of toothbrushing and sweets consumption. Therefore, appropriate health promotion strategies as well as high-quality education are needed in schools.

Links between oral health-related quality of life in US adults and type 2 diabetes: structural equation modeling analysis.

To analyze the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), need for dental care, personal health practices and use of services on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in US adults. The sample included 2,945 participants (aged ≥ 20) selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004 stratified probability sample that represented 124,525,899 individuals in the weighted sample. Two-stage structural equation modelling (SEM) assessed interrelationships between T2DM regressions on factors associated with OHRQoL in a simplified three-factor Andersen Behavioral Model (ABM). SEM supported the hypotheses that T2DM directly predicted need (perceived need, evaluated need, general health condition) with a significant path coefficient of 0.49 (β=0.49, p⟨0.05). Need had direct (77%) and indirect (23%) effects on OHRQoL (βdirect=0.30, βindirect=0.09, p⟨ 0.001). Need predicted personal health practices including use of services (reason for dental visit, frequency of dental visits, smoking status) (β=0.46, p⟨0.001). Need, in turn, predicted OHRQoL (β=0.19, p⟨0.001). In the model, 23.8%, 59.7%, and 18.1% of the variance was explained by need, personal health practices including use of services, and OHRQoL, respectively. The results confirmed T2DM predicted need, which in sequence had direct and indirect effects on OHRQoL.

Dental care in children with medical complexity: A retrospective study.

Children with medical complexity (CMC) are defined by complex, chronic multi-system disease with significant medical fragility. Limited research exists on dental care in CMC, which is an important part of oral health and overall health. Objectives of this study were to (1) determine the frequency and type of dental visits at a tertiary paediatric hospital of all CMC between 2015 and 2020 and (2) identify the factors associated with dental visits. A retrospective chart review of the electronic records of CMC who were seen at a paediatric hospital from 2015 to 2020 was completed. The number and type of dental visits, demographic and clinical information were reviewed. Poisson regression models were used to test the association between the outcome (number of dental visits) and potential factors associated with receiving dental care. Four hundred and eighty-seven CMC (mean age=7.3±4.6 years, 43.7% female) were included in this study. CMC were seen by dentists at the hospital 4.4±3.8 times since 2015, which is approximately once per year over a 5-year period. Dental visits were mostly preventative (66.4% of all visits). CMC had more dental visits if they had dental care funding compared to no funding if they were living in a community with a population >100,000 people and if they were being followed by a greater number of sub-specialists. This study highlights the importance of funding, access to paediatric dental specialists, and care coordination support to improve access to dental care for CMC to optimize oral health.

Factors Associated with Tooth Loss in General Population of Bialystok, Poland.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for tooth loss in the population of the city of Bialystok, in north-eastern Poland, taking into account the entire population and different age groups. The study included 1138 subjects divided into three subgroups: 20–44 years, 45–64 years, and 65–79 years. Participants were classified according to the number of teeth lost (0–8 vs. 9–28). Socio-economic variables, smoking history, and dental habits were collected through a questionnaire. Medical examinations provided data on the body mass index and the fasting blood glucose level. Data were statistically analysed using Mann-Whitney U, Student’s t, chi2 tests, and binary logistic regression, p < 0.05. Results: For the general population, being female (OR 1.38, 1.07–1.79, p = 0.015), having secondary education (OR 4.18, Cl 2.97–5.87, p < 0.000), higher body mass index (OR 1.13, Cl 1.10–1.17, p < 0.000), higher fasting blood glucose level (OR 1.03 1.03–1.04, p < 0.000), being former smoker (OR 1.72, Cl 1.29–2.31, p < 0.000), ever smoker (OR 1.69, Cl 1.29–2.20, p < 0.000), current smoker (OR 1.62, Cl 1.15–2.29, p < 0.006), longer smoking period (OR 1.11, Cl 1.09–1.14, p < 0.000), last visit to the dentist over a year ago (OR 1.92, Cl 0.44–2.58, p < 0.000) and tooth brushing less than two times a day (OR 1.6, Cl 1.14–2.23, p < 0.006) were associated with losing more than 8 teeth. In the subgroup aged 20–44 years, only smoking duration was a risk factor for tooth loss (p = 0.02). For the middle-aged and oldest groups, education level (respectively p < 0.001, and p = 0.001), body mass index (respectively, p < 0.001, and p = 0.037), smoking status ever/former/current (respectively p < 0.001 and p = 0.002), smoking status never/ever (respectively p < 0.001 and p = 0.009), smoking duration (p < 0.001) were related to tooth loss. Additionally, in the elderly group, fasting blood glucose level (p = 0.044) and frequency of dental visits (p = 0.007) were related to tooth loss. We concluded that in the evaluated population, tooth loss was associated with socio-demographic, medical, and behavioural factors.

Perception of Oral and Dental Health Awareness and Assessment of Dental Habits in Preclinical Dentistry Students: A Questionnaire Study

Aim: The oral and dental hygiene behaviors of patients are affected by their dentists. Although dental students attend preclinical courses in their first and second years of education, they are expected to be knowledgeable about oral and dental health due to their future position as being role models for patients. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the oral and dental health awareness and oral health habits of preclinical dental students. Material and Methods: 127 preclinical dental students were included in this study. A questionnaire consisting of 39 questions about oral-dental health habits and knowledge levels was prepared. The results were analyzed with the SPSS 22.0 software. A p-value of smaller than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Frequency of daily tooth brushing, gingival bleeding, halitosis, toothpaste preference, satisfaction with tooth color and frequency of dental visits were found to be statistically significant. There was no significant difference between the 1st-year and 2nd-year student groups in terms of their responses to the questions (p&gt; 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the male and female groups for their responses to the questions on topics such as toothpaste preference, satisfaction with the color of their teeth, frequency of dental examination, frequency of tooth cleaning and toothbrushing time (p

Inequities in periodontal disease prevalence, prevention, and management.

Periodontal disease is highly prevalent and contributes to the global burden of chronic diseases. Inherent and institutional inequities contribute to the prevalence of periodontal disease by facilitating barriers to accessing dental care and maintaining good oral health. The aim of this paper is to review the inequities experienced in the dental field in relation to periodontal disease. Barriers to dental care are experienced in many countries globally. They include cost, insurance coverage, geography, physician availability, and oral health literacy. These barriers influence the frequency of dental visits, oral hygiene, and risk behaviors of individuals which impact an individual's oral health status. Most often, postponed or improper dental care leads to worsened dental conditions that are more costly and detrimental to one's wellbeing. These dental conditions, like periodontitis, fall back on the health care system for treatment through emergency department resource use and comorbidities that can develop or be worsened as a result. To reduce the global burden of chronic disease and the costs of treatments for preventable conditions, and increase oral health, corrective actions are required. Such actions may include the use of teledentistry, greater oral health education, emergency departments staffing dental practitioners, subsidies for rural or remote dental practitioners, and policy changes for universal coverage of basic dental needs.

Assessment of Dental Care Seeking Behaviour and Attitude among Adults in a Metropolitan City in Southern India- An Observational Study

Introduction: Understanding the factors that promote or impede dental visits is a prerequisite for devising healthcare changes because underuse of dental services is linked to an increased burden of oral disorders. Aim: The study aimed to comprehensively explore the factors that could have a positive or negative influence on oral health care seeking behaviour among adults in Chennai. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among patients visiting the outpatient Department, SRM Dental College, Ramapuram, Chennai, India from April 2019 to January 2020. A structured questionnaire was admistered via both printed and online Google forms to adult patients aged above 18 years. Google forms were shared via WhatsApp social media platform. A total of 503 completed responses were statistically analysed. The Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the association and the strength of association between the various factors and dental visits. Results: A total of 503 subjects were surveyed of which 75.94% had visited a dentist previously, of which males were 216 and females were 287. The most frequently cited reasons for not visiting a dentist were lack of time (60.23%), high cost (56.06%) and not having dental problems (52.88%). Respondents who thought that dental problems were serious or life threatening (65.80%), thought they had poor oral health (2.18%), felt they needed dental treatment (53.87%) and had better awareness on the benefits of regular dental consultations (62.02%) visited the dentist more frequently in the past. A significant association was observed between dental visits and educational qualification, family structure, time constraints, absence of dental problems, religious beliefs and perceived need for treatment (p-value &lt;0.05). Conclusion: Among Indian studies, the current study found the highest frequency of dental visits. Dental visits were hampered by the time constraints, high cost of dental treatment and a lack of dental problems. Awareness that regular dental visits enhance good oral health was comprehended and linked to a higher frequency of dental visits. The study highlights the importance of providing affordable, high quality dental care as well as promoting public awareness in order to overcome barriers to dental service utilisation.

Periodontal status and oral hygiene practices among adults in a peri-urban fishing community in Ghana.

Introductionfisherfolk play a major role in emerging economies such as Ghana. While many fishing communities are noted to be underdeveloped, fisherfolk are considered to neglect their oral hygiene, while being prone to certain conditions due to peculiar risks. The purpose of this study was to determine the periodontal health status of adults in a selected fishing community in Ghana.Methodsa descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the periodontal status of adults in Jamestown, a peri-urban area in Ghana. Data acquisition was by means of a structured questionnaire and periodontal examination. Information obtained consisted of demographic data (age, sex, education and occupation category) oral hygiene practices (type of teeth cleaning materials, methods of tooth cleansing, frequency of dental visits and reasons for the visit) and periodontal clinical parameters (plaque index, and community periodontal index of treatment needs).Resultsa total of 276 participants were included in the study, with ages ranging from 21 to 70 years. The participants were made up of 138 fisherfolk and 138 non-fisherfolk. Males had worse scores for periodontal disease compared to females. Plaque score did not vary among age groups, but changed significantly between educational level and occupational categories. CPITN varied significantly between educational levels, age categories and occupational categories.Conclusionthe study found inhabitants of the fishing community of Jamestown to have a generally unsatisfactory periodontal status, but worse for the fisherfolk in the community.