Need For Dental Care Research Articles

PREVALENCE OF CARIES AND THE NEED FOR URGENT DENTAL TREATMENT AMONG CHILDREN WITH NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT IN NORTHEASTERN BULGARIA

Introduction: Oral health is extremely important for the quality of life and well-being. Findings reveal that people with special needs have difficulties in getting dental care, which increases their risk of oral diseases. The recommendations for dental examination are identical for patients with and without neurological impairment. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of caries and overall dental health among children with motor and mental disabilities in Northeastern Bulgaria. Methods: A total of 53 children with neurological impairment under the age of 18 were selected from Varna and Ruse from April to October 2017. Data on age, gender, height, weight, caregiver education level were collected. Information on oral hygiene behavior and diet was gathered as well. The 2013 World Health Organization standards for dental caries were used to assess the oral health status. The data were analyzed with the statistical package Jamovi v.2.2.2.0. Results: Children were divided into two groups – with predominantly motor or mental impairment. Both groups had high rates of caries and need for urgent dental treatment with no significant difference observed. The CPITN correlated positively with motor impairment (Spearman's rho= 0.393; p= 0.043). It was discovered that children with motor impairment had a higher prevalence of malocclusion than children with mental impairment (rho= -0.331; p= 0.016). The number of caries correlated as well with the type of occlusion (Spearman's rho=0.378; p=0.005), the dentition type (rho=0.343; p=0.012) and the age (rho= 0.372; p= 0.006). Conclusion: The study findings indicate that both types of neurological impairments were associated with a high frequency of caries and a significant need for urgent dental care. More frequent dental examination is thought to improve oral health. Nevertheless, more studies are required to substantiate this theory.

Determinants of Dental Care Utilization, Unmet Dental Care Need, and Barriers among Women of Reproductive Age in the United States

Introduction: Dental care is integral to general health but is often isolated from the healthcare system nor discussed as part of overall health. The barriers to accessing needed dental care vary among socioeconomic and demographic groups. This study examined the disparities in dental care access and identified the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with dental health needs among United States women. Methods: Using data from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), we conducted a Chi-square to assess the differences in the proportions of women who reported not getting their needed dental care and computed a weighted multivariate logistic regression to examine the factors associated with access to dental care use, unmet dental-care need, and reported reasons for unmet need. Results: Race, income, and education played a significant role in surveyed participants regarding dental care use and unmet dental care needs. Non-Hispanic Blacks and other minority racial-ethnic groups, including multi-racial groups, were likelier to have never used dental care than non-Hispanic Whites. Furthermore, non-Hispanic Whites with less than a high school education were likelier to have never used dental care than those with a high school education. Groups more likely to report an unmet need were women with PIR < 1.00. Moreover, between 1.00 and 1.99 compared to PIR ≥ 2.00 and women without health insurance compared to those with health insurance. Conclusion: Expanding insurance coverage for dental care and improving access for women with poor health may improve racial-ethnic and education-level disparities, specifically in African American women's unmet dental care needs.

Oral health status treatment needs among 12 years old children living in orphanages and parental homes in Bangalore city: a cross sectional study

Background: Enjoying good oral health includes more than just having healthy teeth. Many children have inadequate oral and general health because of active and uncontrolled caries. In orphans the oral hygiene practices are usually neglected which may affect various aspects of life, including function, appearance, interpersonal relationships and even career opportunities. Aim of study was to assess oral health status, treatment needs among 12 years old children living in orphanages and compare with that of children living in parental homes and attending government school. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional comparative study was carried out among 460 twelve year old children living in orphanages and parental home. Oral health status and treatment needs was assessed using the World health Organization’s oral health assessment (tooth surface) form for children- 2013. Proportion was calculated using chi-square test and T-test. Results: Present study found mean decayed surface, mean missing surface and mean filled surface was higher in orphanage children (4.57±3.9), (0.17±0.91) and (3.2±0.37) and as compared to school children i.e. (3.88±3.91), (0.16±0.370) and (2.3±0.14). 68.7% school children required prompt treatment (including scaling) 24.3% required immediate treatment due to pain or infection of dental and oral origin, 5.7% required preventive or routine treatment. Conclusions: The study highlighted untreated caries, less filled component and high missing component among orphanage children compared to school children. There is need for dental care, primary prevention such as oral health education programmes in schools.

Oral health status and barriers to utilization of dental services among pregnant women in Sunsari, Nepal: A cross-sectional study.

This study was conducted to assess oral hygiene practices, oral health status and barriers to utilization of oral health care services among pregnant mothers attending two family health care clinics in Sunsari, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 139 women using a purposive sampling technique. The data collection was done using a pretested standard semi-structured questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews of the participants were done by a single investigator in the local language (Nepali). The examination was done using a mouth mirror and CPI probe for periodontal status, loss of attachment and dentition status, and treatment needs. The majority of pregnant mothers brushed their teeth once a day or less than once a day (n = 106, 76.3%) and self-reported perceived oral health status was poor/fair (n = 93, 66.9%). The prevalence of dental caries was found to be 69.8%. Bleeding on probing was present in all participants. DMFT, presence of bleeding on probing and increased periodontal pocket was significantly high among women who had self-reported their oral health problems in comparison to those who had not reported any problem. The most common barriers reported by the participants were a lack of knowledge of dental checkups and a lack of perceived need for dental care during pregnancy. There was a high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease. Lack of knowledge and perceived need for dental care were the major barriers found in this study. Hence, this directs towards the utmost need for improvement in awareness level as well as oral hygiene practices.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Provision of Dental Care by the Public Dental Services of Cyprus

Background: During 2020 dentists were included in the group of health professionals that were directly affected by the pandemic. This study aimed to capture the impact of the pandemic in the provision of dental care through the Public Dental Services (PDS) of Cyprus in 2020 and 2021 (during pandemic) compared to 2019 (pre pandemic). More specifically, it examined the consequences in the number of visits, the average number of patients per day, the proportion of new patients to the total number of visits, and the type of services provided. Methodology: Statistical data from the PDS were analyzed with the help of SPSS2. Results: Cyprus PDS statistics show a national decline in the number of visits of 41.3% in 2020 compared to 2019 (p < 0.01) and a further decline of 9.6% in 2021 (compared to 2020). The decline in the average number of patients per day (37.6%) in 2019-21 was less than the decline in the average number of visits (47.0%). Similarly, there was a 34.7% decrease in work volume (p < 0.01) between 2019 and 2020 and a further 2.8% decrease in 2021. These decreases were not consistent both between different types of centres and between different districts. In terms of treatments offered nationwide, the largest decrease in 2020 was in dental scaling (53.5%), followed by dental examinations (47.9%), composite fillings (47.5%) and amalgam (45.4%). The share of the most affected dental treatment (scaling, examination, composite and amalgam) in the total workload has decreased from 51% in 2019 to 40% in 2020 (p < 0.01). The least affected dental work in 2020 was temporary fillings, which increased by 6.6%. In 2021, the profile of care provision changed as there was an increase in composite fillings, up 45.7% compared to 2020 (p<0.01), while all other types of dental work continued to decline. The share of the most affected dental treatments (scaling, examination, composite and amalgam) in the total workload increased (from 40% in 2020 to 43.9% in 2021), but still significantly lower than in 2019 (pre-pandemic - 51%). Interestingly, the share of extractions in total workload increased from 16.6% in 2019 to 21.5% in 2021. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictive measures imposed had a negative impact on the provision and seeking of dental care by the PDS. The decline in the frequency of dental visits, if sustained over a longer period of time and not reversed, will have a negative impact on the level of oral health of people living in Cyprus and will increase the unmet need for dental care. The increase in extractions is expected to have a negative impact on the level of oral health, as it is the most radical dental treatment and the need for prosthetic rehabilitation will also increase. In addition, the economic impact of COVID-19 and the global economic instability, which has reduced family incomes, is expected to drive more patients to the public sector, where fees are quite low, adding to already burdened waiting lists. People with lower socio-economic status are expected to bear the highest burden, which will increase oral health inequalities.

Oral and Dental Needs and Teledentistry Applications in the Elderly: Real-Time Surveillance Using Google Trends

Considering the increasing need for oral and dental care in the elderly, teledentistry has been proposed to improve the education of elderly patients in oral health maintenance and risk factor control, identify patients’ concerns in advance, facilitate monitoring, and save time and money. The present cross-sectional analysis of Google search data through real-time surveillance with Google Trends aimed to determine Google users’ interest in oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications in the elderly, and to compare search volumes before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Extracted CVS data were qualitatively analyzed. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were performed between searches for “elderly” and “teledentistry”, and all the oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications. The Mann–Whitney U test compared search volumes in the 36 months before and after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Google users’ interest in the elderly and related oral and dental needs was diffusely medium–high, while teledentistry and its applications were of lower interest. Interest in teledentistry and its applications was strongly related to interest in the older population, which is consistent with the assumption that older adults represent the population segment that could benefit most from these tools. A positive correlation was also found between searches for “Elderly” and searches for almost all oral and dental needs typical of the geriatric population. Search volumes increased significantly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information about teledentistry should be disseminated to increase knowledge and awareness, especially among older patients, about its indications, applications, and advantages.

The urgent need for valid data on access to healthcare in Europe.

The probability of experiencing an unmet need for medical or dental care can be expressed either (a) as a proportion of the whole population studied or (b) as a proportion of those who had a need. Only (b) yields a valid measure of access to care. Using (a) combines access to care with state of health. Unfortunately, the main data source used by researchers (the European Union Survey of Income and Living Conditions, EU-SILC) uses method (a), rendering the literature to date subject to unknown errors. The authors argue that there is an urgent need for Eurostat to publish data using method (b).

Did Dental Insurance Expansion Improve Dental Care Needs Among Korean Adults? Difference in Difference Analysis.

In 2012, the Korean government expanded dental insurance for the elderly to promote improved access to dental care. We examined the causal effect of this policy on dental care needs, focusing on low-income older adults. We compared data before and after policy implementation using double difference (DD) and triple difference (DDD) analyses. We used the nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 and 2016-2018. Individuals aged ≥65 years were included in the treatment group, and individuals aged <65 years were included in the control group. Dental insurance expansion was associated with a paradoxical increase in perceived unmet dental needs among elderly individuals (8.8 percentage points increase, 95% CI: 4.7 to 13.0). However, there were improvements in dental prosthetics outcomes (denture wearing [4.0 percentage points, 95% CI: 0.2 to 7.9] and dental implants [5.0 percentage points, 95% CI: 2.1 to 7.9]; P < 0.01). Upon analyzing low-income elderly individuals using DDD analysis, we found that the insurance expansion led to a 21.6% smaller increase in unmet dental needs among low-income adults, compared to high-income adults (95% CI, -35.0 to -8.5; P < 0.01). Dental insurance expansion in South Korea resulted in improvements in access to dental prosthetic services overall. It also led to a smaller increase in unmet dental needs among low-income older adults, compared to high-income adults.

Voluntary health insurance for dental treatment of the population of Russia (literature review)

The need for dental care of the adult population varies in different countries from 35 to 82%. The state healthcare system provides the same level of medical care for the entire population of Russia, but does not fully satisfy the need for full-fledged and high-quality treatment. The existing system of compulsory medical insurance in our country, which allows the majority of the population to receive a certain amount of medical services free of charge for patients, provides an alternative – a system of voluntary medical insurance. This system guarantees the protection of the interests of patients and meets modern requirements for the provision of qualified medical dental services, but needs further development and requires changes and additions to the regulatory framework. The wide development of voluntary medical insurance in the regions is hindered by a number of factors: an undeveloped infrastructure for the provision of medical services, the slow development of medical institutions, poor adaptation of doctors to better work within the framework of voluntary medical insurance, as well as low effective demand of the population.

Exploring avoidance of dental care due to dental fear and economic burden -A cross-sectional study in a national sample of younger adults in Norway.

To assess the prevalence of dental avoidance due to dental fear and economic burden and its distribution by utilization of dental care and socio-behavioural characteristics. A sample of 9052 Norwegian adults aged 25-35 years was invited to participate, and 2551 completed electronic questionnaires regarding lifetime prevalence of dental avoidance due to fear and last year prevalence of dental avoidance due to economic burden. Cancelled- and avoided ordering appointments due to fear amounted to 14.7% and 30.5%, respectively. Avoidance of dental visits due to cost was 37.7%. Frequency of cancelled appointments due to fear was 30% and 16.6% among participants attending dental care several times annually and seldom, respectively. Multiple logistic regression revealed that avoiding dental visits due to cost was less likely among participants with higher household income (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3-0.5) and more likely among participants with dental care need (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.7). Cancelled and avoided appointments due to fear was most likely among those with need for dental care and lower education. Early unpleasant experience with dental care remained a covariate of avoidance behaviour due to fear. 14.7%, 30.5%, and 37.7% confirmed cancelled appointments due to fear, avoided ordering appointments due to fear, and avoided visiting the dentist due to cost. Avoiding dental care due to fear and economic burden was more and less common among participants with respectively, frequent and seldom use of dental care. Dental avoidance behaviours were highest among socially disadvantaged groups, indicating a hole in the welfare state model that needs political consideration.

Dental Care for Older Adults.

There is a global increase in the older population. Unfortunately, dental conditions in the older population can sometimes be poor as a result of worsened physical conditions and the cumulative damage caused by dental diseases in the past. Many suffer from oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease but receive no regular dental care. Oral conditions and systemic problems are interrelated. Chronic medical problems and polypharmacy are common among them. These conditions may lead to xerostomia with or without a decrease in saliva output. Additionally, many older adults have deteriorated masticatory function associated with physical health issues such as frailty. Preventive measures are crucial to stop oral diseases from progressing and the replacement of missing teeth is needed when masticatory function is impaired. Older adults also suffer a higher risk of oral cancer because of their less resilient but more permeable oral mucosa. With the increasing need for elderly dental care, dentists should equip themselves with knowledge and skills in geriatric dentistry. They should help older adults to develop and maintain the functional ability that enables well-being in older age. This communication article aims to discuss the relevant medical conditions, common dental diseases, and dental care for older adults.

Do preterm-born children and adolescents have greater need for dental care as compared to full term-born controls?

BackgroundPreterm birth has been shown to cause various long-term health issues. Children who were born preterm have also been observed to have more dental behaviour management problems (DBMP) during dental examinations and treatment than children born full term. It is known that dental radiographic examinations can be uncomfortable and cause anxiety in paediatric patients. Thus, our aims were to retrospectively compare dental care related examinations and treatments carried out in three different age intervals (3–6 years, 7–12 years, and 13–19 years) among preterm- and full-term born children and adolescents.MethodsThe present study included 311 patient files: 122 very preterm–born and 33 extremely preterm–born children and adolescents (< 32 gestational weeks). A matched control group of 156 full term–born children and adolescents (≥ 37 gestational weeks) was analysed for comparison. Various factors, including DBMP, missed appointments, dental caries, and radiographic examinations, were retrieved from the dental records for three age intervals: 3–6 years, 7–12 years, and 13–19 years.ResultsExtremely preterm–born children missed significantly more dental appointments and presented with more DBMP during dental examinations and treatment than full term–born children in the 3–6-year age group; the same was observed for the very preterm–born in the 7–12-year age group. No significant differences in DBMP during bitewing and periapical examinations or in number of bitewing, periapical and panoramic radiographs occurred between the groups in any age interval.ConclusionPreterm–born children and adolescents may need more flexibility in booking and receive reminders for scheduled visits with the general dental team. Due to the non-significant differences in dental care related oral examinations and treatments, the same dental care service may be applied to the preterm- and full-term born children and adolescents.

Relationship between Precarious Employment and Unmet Dental Care Needs among Korean Workers: A Longitudinal Panel Study.

Background and Objectives: Precarious workers experience certain conditions, such as low income, instability in employment, and lack of social security. Precarious employment has increased barriers to the use of dental care services, resulting in more unmet dental care needs. The aim of this study was to identify unmet dental care needs among precarious workers in Korea's labor market, using data from the Korea Health Panel Survey (2011-2017). Materials and Methods: Based on job and income security criteria, four groups were formed: Group A (individuals with job and income security), Group B (individuals reporting job security with income insecurity), Group C (individuals reporting job insecurity with income security), and Group D (individuals with job and income insecurity). We measured self-reported unmet dental need or the inability to receive necessary dental care owing to the past economic burdens. Panel logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the effect of precarious employment on unmet dental care needs for all participants. Results: Approximately 16% of the respondents reported having unmet dental care needs. Unmet dental care needs owing to economic reasons were higher among male workers in groups C and D than among male workers in Group A. In particular, male workers aged 50 years and above in Group B were 3.36 times more likely to have unmet dental care needs than those in Group A. In Group D, female workers showed a high probability of having dental care needs owing to economic reasons. Moreover, female workers aged 18-49 years witnessed an increase in unmet dental care needs. Conclusions: Korean workers with unstable employment and/or income are at a higher risk of having unmet dental care needs owing to financial factors. The findings suggest an urgent need to implement robust national health insurance policies to improve efforts aimed at reducing unmet dental care needs that potentially decreases the disparity in oral health among precariously employed workers. Furthermore, it is necessary to implement comprehensive labor market policies such as sickness benefits for those in precarious employment.

Periapical and endodontic status among 65-year-old Oslo-citizens

AimThis cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) and root-filled teeth in a 65-year-old population in Oslo, Norway, and to investigate associations of pathosis and endodontic treatment with selected individual risk indicators and technical quality of root fillings.Material and methodsA random sample of 450 65-year-olds in Oslo answered a questionnaire and underwent a clinical and radiological examination (52% men and 48% women). Periapical radiographs were taken of all root-filled teeth and of teeth with apical radiolucency, and periapical status was evaluated using the Periapical Index. Apex-to-filling distance and homogeneity were assessed for all root fillings. Analyses on individual level and tooth level were performed. The outcome variables were ‘non-root-filled tooth with AP’ (‘untreated AP’), ‘root-filled tooth’, and 'root-filled tooth with AP’. The explanatory variables were gender, education, dental attendance pattern, smoking, remaining teeth (n), tooth group, and root filling quality. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between outcome variables and explanatory variables. The level of significance was set to p < 0.05.ResultsThe mean number of remaining teeth was 26 (SD: 4). AP was present in 45% of the individuals. Sixteen percent of the individuals had untreated AP and 38% had at least one root-filled tooth with AP. Sixty-six percent of the individuals had one or more root-filled teeth. Untreated AP was significantly associated with a decreasing number of remaining teeth and smoking. All the outcome variables were significantly more prevalent in molars compared with premolars and anterior teeth. Thirty-five percent of the root-filled teeth had AP, and AP was more prevalent in teeth with too short apex-to-filling distance (53%) or unsatisfactory homogeneity (46%).ConclusionsThe remaining number of teeth was high, and AP and root-filled teeth were prevalent in the present young-elderly population. A notable amount of untreated AP was observed, especially in smokers. The findings in the present study indicate a substantial need for dental care associated with endodontic conditions in the future elderly.

Sequestration of Speciality Providers in California’s MediCal Dental Program

The California MediCal Dental Program is health coverage designed to fill the need for critical dental care for low-income patients. By analyzing patterns of enrollment and payment in health care services, research can shed light to the dental care that low-income patients are receiving, and will further support programs that raise the standard of care for DentiCal patients. While the number of registered dental specialists rises from year to year, this does not necessarily indicate that the providers are localized where they are needed, and might reflect a sequestration of providers in urban locations, leaving more rural patients at risk.

Factors Associated with Unmet Dental Care Needs among Korean Adult Cancer Survivors: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2016-2018 KNHANES.

This study aimed to identify the factors associated with unmet dental care needs among Korean adult cancer survivors. This cross-sectional study used data from the seventh (2016–2018) Korea National Health and Examination Survey. It included 339 adult cancer survivors. Participants’ experience of unmet dental care needs was assessed using a health questionnaire survey. Moreover, the subjective oral health status (i.e., toothache) and behavior (i.e., toothbrushing and oral examination) were assessed through oral health interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, and logistic regression analysis. The rate of experience of unmet dental care needs among cancer survivors was 29.5%. Cancer survivors with limitations in performing daily activities of living were more likely to experience unmet dental care needs than cancer survivors without activity limitations ([aOR] = 2.14, [95%CI] = 1.04–4.40). Moreover, cancer survivors who did undergo oral examination within the past year were more likely to experience unmet dental care needs than cancer survivors who underwent oral examination ([aOR] = 2.49, [95%CI] = 1.22–5.07). Korean cancer survivors experienced unmet dental care needs when they did not receive an oral examination or had activity limitations. This study’s findings provide insight into social and behavioral factors associated with unmet dental care needs among Korean cancer survivors.

Utilization of dental radiology services during the COVID-19 pandemic and factors that influence it in Banda Aceh

The COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide until it finally entered Indonesia in March 2020.Radiographic examination is used to make a diagnosis, make a treatment plan and evaluate optimal treatmentoutcomes. In March 2020, the Central Board of the Dental Medical Radiology Association (PPIRKG) appealed topostpone all radiological examinations except in emergency conditions. Still, the need for dental care continues toincrease. To determine the use of radiography services in dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factorsthat influence it in Banda Aceh. The total subjects in this study were 104 patients from the Dental Radiology sectionof RSGM FKG USK. Questionnaires were given through social media in the form of online questionnaires. Results:The results showed that the utilization of dental radiology at the RSGM FKG USK during the 2020-2021 COVID-19pandemic decreased. The utilization of dental radiology services at the RSGM during the COVID-19 pandemic hasreduced several factors. The number of patient visits to the radiology of the RSGM FKG USK has decreaseddramatically during 2020-2021. Most patients stated that they preferred to self-isolate at home and did not go to theRSGM during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they thought radiology services at the RSGM during thepandemic were going well. KEYWORDS: Pandemic, COVID-19, Radiology, Dental Clinic

Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia in Patients with Special Needs Provided by Private and Public Healthcare Services-A Retrospective, Comparative Study.

In special care dentistry, general anesthesia (GA) is considered as an alternative option to facilitate treatment for uncooperative patients with special needs (PSN) who require invasive dental interventions. Objective: to evaluate the profile of dental treatment procedures performed and the characteristics of PSN who underwent dental treatment under GA, provided by private and public healthcare providers. Methods: A retrospective, observational study involving a sample of 100 PSN treated in hospital and specialist secondary care settings. Demographic data and clinical information were collected. The analysis of data was performed using descriptive analysis and frequency statistical tests. Results: out of 100 participants, 63% of the PSN who received care in the private sector and the remaining 37% of PSN registered with public-funded care providers, aged 6 to 80 years old, were treated under GA. Autistic spectrum disorder was the most common medical diagnosis recorded (33%). More than half (52%) of the PSN treated by private care providers sought specialist care in an outpatient setting prior to GA vs. 5% of the PSN treated by public-funded providers. The utilization of sedation prior to GA was more common in the private sector. A vast majority (86%) of all subjects underwent multiple dental extractions (86%) and restorations (62%). Conclusions: comprehensive dental care under GA, which composes an integral part of special care dentistry, can be safely provided in a hospital setting, in both private and public sectors. While early intervention using sedation and behavioral management partially mitigates the need for dental care under GA, the vast majority of PSN may require dental treatment under GA in future to facilitate complex dental care.

Effect of the COVID-19 Mitigation Measure on Dental Care Needs in 17 Countries: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis.

ObjectivesThe effect of COVID-19 mitigation measures on different oral health care needs is unclear. This study aimed to estimate the effect of COVID-19 mitigation measures on different types of oral health care utilization needs and explore the heterogeneity of such effects in different countries by using real-time Internet search data.MethodsData were obtained from Google Trends and other public databases. The monthly relative search volume (RSV) of the search topics “toothache,” “gingivitis,” “dentures,” “orthodontics,” and “mouth ulcer” from January 2004 to June 2021 was collected for analysis. The RSV value of each topics before and after COVID-19 was the primary outcome, which was estimated by regression discontinuity analysis (RD). The effect bandwidth time after the COVID-19 outbreak was estimated by the data-driven optimal mean square error bandwidth method. Effect heterogeneity of COVID-19 on dental care was also evaluated in different dental care categories and in countries with different human development index (HDI) rankings, dentist densities, and population age structures.ResultsA total of 17,850 monthly RSV from 17 countries were used for analysis. The RD results indicated that advanced dental care was significantly decreased (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.47–0.85) after the COVID-19 outbreak, while emergency dental care toothache was significantly increased (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 0.99–2.37) 4 months after the COVID-19 outbreak. Compared to the countries with low HDI and low dentist density, the effect was much more evident in countries with high HDI and high dentist density.ConclusionsCOVID-19 mitigation measures have different effects on people with various dental care needs worldwide. Dental care services should be defined into essential care and advanced care according to specific socioeconomic status in different countries. Targeted health strategies should be conducted to satisfy different dental care needs in countries.

After More Than 50 Years, Pharmacare (and Dental Care) are Coming to Canada.

In March 2022, the New Democratic Party (NDP), Canada's social democratic party, and the centrist Liberal government signed a supply and confidence agreement. In return for the NDP agreeing to vote with the government on all crucial issues until June 2025, the Liberals pledged to bring in both pharmacare and dental care programs. Pharmacare, universal public insurance coverage for prescription drugs, had been promised for more than 50 years but never implemented, while public dental care was an almost completely neglected issue. This article explains the long genesis of pharmacare, the need for public dental care, and the political circumstances that led to the agreement. However, at this point, details about both plans are largely absent. As a result, how well those plans will serve the needs of Canadians is yet to be determined.