Oral Health Care For Patients Research Articles

Exploring Socio-Economics and Its Role in the Oral Health Care of Patients in A Philippine Government Hospital

Despite the availability of dental services and educational programs, as well as, established national health system responses, and oral health interventions and procedures, oral health problems (dental caries, gum diseases and unmet dental needs) persist in the Philippines. The aim of this study was to investigate the socioeconomic factors in terms of sex, age, marital status, educational attainment, occupation, and monthly income and their effect on the oral health awareness in terms of benefit and practices. A total of 100 patients from a selected government hospital were surveyed. The respondents were asked to answer a standardized questionnaire about their socioeconomic status, awareness on the benefits of oral health care, and awareness on the practices for oral health care. Chi-Square Test for Independence was used to identify which demographic and socioeconomic indicators determined the level of awareness of the respondents on the benefits of and practices for good oral health. The Chi-Square Test showed that only sex had a significant relationship with the awareness on the benefits of good oral health (p-value = 0.05). All the other indicators had insignificant effects; Age group (p-value = 0.435), Civil Status (p-value = 0.443), Education (p-value = 0.244), Employment status (p-value = 0.722), Income (p-value = 0.986). For the awareness on good oral practice, both sex and civil status showed a significant relationship (p-values 0.028 and 0.01). For the other indicators, null hypothesis was accepted; Age group (p-value = 0.61), education (p-value = 0.914), employment status (p-value = 0.334), income (p-value = 0.64). The results of this study are in line with the Andersen Healthcare Utilization Model, which holds that people's use of healthcare services is influenced by several predisposing, enabling, and need-related factors. The knowledge of, and observance of, good oral health is essential in determining the need for oral healthcare. Moreover, a variety of socioeconomic and personal factors (enabling and predisposing) are crucial in facilitating or impeding people's ability to access and make use of oral healthcare services. Addressing these issues and promoting education and knowledge about the value of excellent oral health practices are crucial for good oral health.

Model development of patient\'s dental and oral health care in raden mattaher hospital, Jambi Province

Dental and oral health care is the primary role and authority of the Dental and Oral Therapist. This study aims to develop a dental and oral health care model for patients in the dental polyclinic of Raden Mattaher Hospital. This quantitative study used an applied research design to develop a model of dental and oral health care. Eleven dental nurses were involved as informants, and three dentists as key informants. This research was conducted at the dental polyclinic of the Jambi Provincial Hospital from March to November 2022. The data were obtained through interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), observations, and trials of the draft model of the patient's dental health examination. Furthermore, a trial of the dental health care model was carried out on people with a mental health conditions. The total score on the questionnaire results of the HELISIDI dental and oral health care model was 546, with a presentation of 76% based on the eligibility criteria. These results mean that the HELISIDI Model is eligible but with revisions. The total score for the HELISIDI dental and oral health care status card was 546, with a presentation of 87% based on the eligibility criteria. According to the respondent, the HELISIDI Status Card is eligible but with revisions. After revision, the model and the HELISIDI status card were declared eligible without further revision. The model of dental and oral health care for patients at the dental clinic of Raden Mattaher Hospital is suitable for mental patients.

An Ethical Analysis Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Oral Healthcare in Patients with Mental Disorders.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive measures were imposed that significantly impacted the healthcare system in general, and the dental healthcare system in particular. The literature cites a possible association between mental and oral health, as psychiatric patients have decreased awareness of their oral health and, therefore, poor dental status. Moreover, several studies have found a positive association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and oral health conditions, as well as between SARS-CoV-2 infection and mental health status. This context generated multiple ethical dilemmas in the case of persons with mental health disorders who require dental treatment because they are more vulnerable in this respect. This article aims to analyze the ethical issues in dental care for patients with mental disorders concerning the COVID-19 restrictive measures. The ethical aspects involved here are the basic principles of bioethics and the related elements of accessibility, equity, consent, and confidentiality.

Advances in the study of dental caries and systemic diseases

Dental caries is a common chronic oral disease that seriously affects people's health and quality of life, while patients with systemic diseases often neglect oral health due to systemic disease conditions, leading to the occurrence of oral problems, and some systemic diseases may promote or aggravate the development of oral problems, therefore, the awareness of oral health care of patients with systemic diseases should be raised, oral hygiene should be improved and quality of life should be enhanced. In this paper, the mechanism of the link between dental caries and systemic diseases and the preventive measures of oral diseases are discussed.

Pacientų informuotumas apie dantų implantų priežiūrą ir sąsajas su burnos priežiūros įpročiais ir burnos sveikata

Many patients do not perform adequate individual oral hygiene after dental implantation due to the formation of inappropriate habits or a lack of knowledge about implant care (Abbasi Begum Meer Rownaq Ali et al., 2023). For these reasons, soft and hard plaques accumulate, gingivitis forms, and alveolar bone dissolves. Complications of the dental implant, perimucositis and periimplantitis, may begin, resulting in the loss of the dental implant (Rudeejaraswan et al., 2023). Informing the patient and changing bad habits are very important factors for preserving the dental implant. General dentists claim that they play an important role in the oral health care of patients with dental implants, but their clinical practice does not always bear this out (Cheung et al., 2021). Studies show that patients who only use a toothbrush for oral care have a higher risk of developing dental implant complications than those who use additional oral care products (Hopcraft et al., 2021). To reach the research aim, a qualitative research method was chosen, a written survey by filling in a questionnaire. An examination using simplified OHI-s and GI indices was also applied, with the help of which the informant’s oral hygiene and gingivitis conditions were determined. 10 participants took part in the research. After analysing the awareness of the research participants about the care of dental implants and the connections with oral health, it was found that the knowledge of four informants about the care of dental implants is good or average. Still, the state of oral hygiene is satisfactory, and they have moderate gingivitis. Five informants have satisfactory knowledge of dental implant care, of which three participants have poor oral hygiene and moderate or severe gingivitis. The rest have satisfactory oral hygiene and moderate gingivitis. Analysing the relationship between informants’ oral hygiene habits and oral health, the habits of six study participants are satisfactory, resulting in satisfactory oral hygiene and moderate gingivitis. The study results show that people with dental implants lack information about individual and professional oral hygiene. Oral care professionals should pay more attention to instructing patients. Based on scientific research, it can be stated that the oral hygiene of informants with dental implants is different. Some informants use additional oral care products and regularly visit oral care specialists, so their oral hygiene is good, while others do not have enough motivation to pay more attention to oral hygiene.

An update on oral clinical courses among patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection: A clinical follow-up (a prospective prevalent cohort) study.

Contemporary literature has revealed that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes acute sialadenitis and related symptoms, such as discomfort, pain, swelling, and secretory dysfunction in salivary glands. The secretory dysfunction is due to SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced xerostomia and other associated clinical courses such as sore tongue, mucosal ulcer, and gingivitis in the oral cavity. Furthermore, it has been reported that COVID-19 causes the development of other oral manifestations. A prospective clinical follow-up (a prevalent cohort) study was conducted to identify the possible oral manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients admitted toat the Eka General Hospital COVID-19 treatment center. Furthermore, the study aimed to calculate the prevalence rate of oral clinical courses in the cohorts. The study consisted of two follow-up phases: Hospital and patient-home-based. A total of 55 patients (36 males and 19 females) met the inclusion criteria and were followed for 7.5 weeks. The 3.5 weeks hospital-based prospective follow-up study documented an 18% (n = 10) prevalence rate of oral clinical courses among the cohorts. Twelve oral symptoms appeared in these ten patients. The manifested oral symptoms were oral mucosal lesions (n = 6), xerostomia (n = 5), and thickening of saliva (n = 1). The oral mucosal lesions per se consisted of aphthous lesions (n = 3), candidiasis (n = 1), geographic tongue (n = 1), and localized gingivitis (n = 1). The four weeks' home-based follow-up study disclosed four newly manifested oral symptoms: hemorrhagic crust, bulla, buccal mucositis, and petechiae. These manifestations appeared among six patients (four males and two females) who had not manifested any oral symptoms during the hospital-based follow-up. Accordingly, the overall prevalence of oral clinical courses among patients presented with SARS-CoV-2 is raised from 18% (n = 10) to 29% (n = 16). Similarly, the number of clinical courses increased from 12 to 16 after four additional weeks of follow-up. The study's findings suggest the importance of initiating oral health care for patients with COVID-19. Therefore, multidisciplinary healthcare approaches should be delivered to assure optimal health outcomes. Accordingly, oral health professionals must be a substantial part of the interdisciplinary approach in caring for patients with COVID-19.

Survey on Knowledge Toward Diabetic Periodontal Condition and Oral Health Among Medical Staff and Patients

The study was conducted to understand the cognitive status of medical staff and patients on the status of periodontal disease and oral health care in patients with diabetes, and to provide reference for the implementation and improvement of diabetes management and health education. Using the Diabetes Periodontal Status and Oral Health Knowledge Questionnaire, 108 doctors, 190 nurses, and 212 inpatients were investigated. This study demonstrated that, the total scores of doctors, nurses, and patients with diabetes periodontal status and oral health knowledge were (31.18 ± 5.14), (28.58 ± 4.09) and (18.67 ± 3.45) points, respectively. The results of regression analysis showed that education level, department, and related training experience (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) were the influencing factors of the diabetic periodontal status and oral health knowledge level of the medical staff, meanwhile the monthly income, department, and relevant training experience (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) were the factors influencing the diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge level of the patients. In summary, the cognitive level of diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge of the medical staff and patients’ needs to be improved. Medical staff should pay attention to the study of diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge, further perform a good job in the relevant health education of patients, which is helpful to maintain good oral hygiene.

Dental plaque and gingival bleeding in adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and controls: a multilevel analysis

Objective To explore whether plaque and gingival bleeding are more frequently experienced by adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to matched controls without JIA; explore whether surface- and site-specific periodontal outcomes vary between the two groups; and for participants with JIA, investigate associations between disease-specific features and periodontal outcomes. Material and methods In this comparative cross-sectional study, selected surfaces, and sites of index teeth in 10–16-year-olds with JIA and matched controls were examined by modified versions of Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI). Mixed-effects logistic regressions, reporting odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), were applied. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to quantify the degree of dependency of measures within the same individual. Results 144 and 159 adolescents with JIA were evaluated according to OHI-S and GBI; corresponding numbers of controls were 154 and 161. Plaque and gingival bleeding were more frequent in individuals with JIA than controls. Adjusted analyses showed association between JIA status and OHI-S > 0 (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.47 − 3.67, ICC = 0.45) and GBI > 0 (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10 − 2.16, ICC = 0.41 and 0.30). Surface-specific distribution of plaque varied among the two groups. Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of increased awareness of oral health care in patients with JIA and that surface- and site-specific differences in periodontal outcomes exist between individuals with JIA and controls. Few JIA disease-specific variables associated with plaque or gingival bleeding.

New-fangled conceptual perspectives and advances in the world of salivary gland

Understanding the pathogenesis and being familiar with diagnostic and management methods is critical in order to provide effective oral health care for patients. The current knowledge of the pathogenesis of each cancer subtype has made it possible to classify and define salivary gland tumors better. Specific treatment regimens for salivary gland tumors can be developed by studying molecular biology. Using immunohistochemistry in conjunction with gene analysis using PCR, specific defects can be identified, which provides insight into the most promising therapies. Hypofunctional salivary glands may benefit from organ replacement regenerative therapy using human adult stem cells.

Oral clinical courses of patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection: A clinical follow up (a prospective prevalent cohort) study

IntroductionContemporary literature has revealed that SARS-CoV-2 causes acute sialadenitis and related symptoms, such as discomfort, pain, swelling, and secretory dysfunction in salivary glands. The secretory dysfunction is due to SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced xerostomia and other associated clinical courses such as sore tongue, mucosal ulcer, and gingivitis in the oral cavity. Furthermore, it has been reported that COVID-19 causes the development of other oral manifestations.PurposeThis cohort study was initiated to identify the possible oral clinical manifestations of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted at Eka General Hospital COVID-19 treatment center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Materials and MethodsA prospective clinical follow-up (a prevalent cohort) study was conducted to identify the possible oral manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients admitted at the Eka General Hospital COVID-19 treatment center. Patients were followed for an average period of 3.5 weeks.ResultsThe findings of this cohort prevalent study were adjusted around the main objectives of the research. A total of 55 patients (36 males and 19 females) fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the cohort. The age of the cohorts ranged from 8 to 90 years. The overall prevalence of oral clinical courses in patients with SARS-CoV-2 was 0.18 (n=10). Oral mucosal lesions, xerostomia, thickening of saliva yielded prevalence data of 0.5 (n=6), 0.42 (n=5), and 0.08 (n=1), respectively. The oral mucosal lesions prevalence finding was further refined into aphthous lesions 0.5 (n=3), candidiasis 0.17 (n=1), geographic tongue 0.17 (n=1), and localized gingivitis 0.17 (n=1).ConclusionThe findings of the study suggest the importance of initiating oral health care for patients with COVID-19. Therefore, multidisciplinary healthcare approaches to management should be promoted to assure optimal health outcomes. Accordingly, oral health care should be a substantial part of the multidisciplinary approach.

A cross-sectional analysis of oral health care spending over the life span in commercial- and Medicaid-insured populations

BackgroundLife course theory creates a better framework to understand how oral health care needs and challenges align with specific phases of the life span, care models, social programs, and changes in policy. MethodsThe authors obtained data from the 2018 IBM Watson Multi-State Medicaid MarketScan Database (31 million claims) and the 2018 IBM Watson Dental Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Claims Database (45 million claims). The authors conducted analysis comparing per enrollee spending on fee-for-service dental claims and medical spending on oral health care for patients from ages 0 through 89 years. ResultsOral health care use rate and spending are lower during the first 4 years of life and in young adulthood than in other periods of life. Stark differences in the timing, impact, and severity of caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer are seen between those enrolled in Medicaid and commercial dental plans. Early childhood caries and oral cancer occur more frequently and at younger ages in Medicaid populations. ConclusionsThis life span analysis of the US multipayer oral health care system shows the complexities of the current dental service environment and a lack of equitable access to oral health care. Practical ImplicationsHealth policies should be focused on optimizing care delivery to provide effective preventive care at specific stages of the life span.

Oral Health Care for Patients With Microcephaly

AbstractPatients affected with microcephaly have a head circumference below the average for sex and age, and in most cases it is associated with altered brain structure, developmental problems and dysmorphic facial features. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the therapeutic approaches for dental care of patients with microcephaly. The selection of scientific articles for the study construction was carried out through the databases Scielo, Medline, Bireme and PubMed with a total selection of 16 scientific articles with years of cut-off between 2010 to 2019. Microcephaly affects not only the patient’s general health status, but also dental care, which is hampered by the small number of professionals qualified to care for special patients and the little knowledge of the craniofacial and dental characteristics of these individuals. In most cases, the dental surgeon is unprepared and insecure before these patients, which is hampered by the little knowledge they have of their main oral and craniofacial characteristics. Thus, the professional is unable to determine clinical procedures to be performed. Thus, it can be concluded that it is necessary for the dentist to have knowledge about microcephaly and provide instruction to the children’s parents and guardians in this condition, thus facilitating the dental procedures execution.Keywords: Disabled Persons. Dental Care for Disabled. Oral Pathology.ResumoOs pacientes acometidos com microcefalia possuem um perímetro cefálico inferior à média para o sexo e idade, e na maioria dos casos está associado à estrutura cerebral alterada, problemas de desenvolvimento e características faciais dismórficas. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever as condutas terapêuticas para atendimento odontológico de pacientes com microcefalia. A seleção dos artigos científicos para construção do trabalho foi realizada por meio de bases de dados Scielo, Medline, Bireme e PubMed, com seleção total de 16 artigos científicos com anos de corte entre 2010 a 2019. A microcefalia afeta não apenas o estado de saúde geral do paciente, mas também o atendimento odontológico, que se torna dificultado devido ao pequeno número de profissionais habilitados para o atendimento a pacientes especiais e ao pouco conhecimento das características craniofaciais e dentárias desses indivíduos. Na maioria dos casos, o cirurgião-dentista encontra-se despreparado e inseguro diante desses pacientes, o que é dificultado pelo pouco conhecimento acerca das principais características bucais e craniofaciais. Com isso, o profissional fica impossibilitado na determinação de procedimentos clínicos a serem realizados. Desta forma pode-se concluir que é necessário ao cirurgião-dentista um conhecimento sobre a microcefalia e proporcionar instrução aos pais e responsáveis pelas crianças nesta condição, facilitando assim a execução dos procedimentos odontológicos. Palavras-chave: Pessoas com Deficiência. Assistência Odontológica para Pessoas com Deficiências. Patologia Bucal.

Barriers to Oral health care in patients with special needs-A Cross-sectional study

Aim- This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the barriers to receive oral care among patients with special health care needs. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 patients seeking dental treatment in the special care unit of Oral medicine department. A self-administered questionnaire was employed for data collection. Results: It was found that nearly 56% of respondents listed fear towards dental treatment as an important barrier which in turn prevents them from gaining access to dental care. Around 52% of patients considered their underlying medical problem as a reason for not seeking dental care as their comorbid condition would increase their fear of dental treatment, 43% of patients considered physical barriers or in need of caretakers as a barrier to Dental care. 10% of the population stated that they do not have barriers to access Dental care. Conclusion: The major barriers to oral health care utilization among patients with special needs were fear-related and hence these patients need attention towards fear alleviation and make dental care painless and simple.

Oral Medicine And Its Classification

Oral medicine is a specialty of dentistry related to the oral health care of patients with chronic, recurrent and drug-related diseases of the oral and maxillofacial area, as well as their diagnosis and non-surgical management. The following article looks into the specific types of oral surgery and the procedures.

Perceptions of oral health education and practice among nursing students in Malaysia and Australia.

Representing the largest proportion of healthcare workers, nurses play a significant role in oral health (OH) maintenance as part of a larger effort to promote holistic patient care. The study aims to determine nursing students' perceptions of OH education and practice in Malaysian and Australian nursing schools. A self-administered questionnaire (content- and face-validated) survey was undertaken, classroom style, amongst final-year nursing students from selected Malaysian (n=122, Response rate=97.6%) and Australian (n=299, Response rate=54.7%) institutions. Quantitative data were analysed via Statistical Package for Social Science software (Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, p≤0.01). Significantly more Malaysian nursing students, compared to those in Australia, reported having encountered patients with OH issues (98.4% vs. 82.9%), namely halitosis (87.7% vs. 62.2%), oral ulcers (63.1% vs. 41.1%), oral/dental trauma (36.9% vs. 21.1%) and caries in children (28.7% vs. 7.7%). Less than half of Malaysian and Australian nursing students reported that they received adequate OH training (48.4% vs. 36.6%, p≤0.01), especially in detecting oral cancer (18.0.0% vs. 22.6%, p≤0.01) and preventing oral diseases (46.7% vs. 41.7%, p≤0.01). Students in both countries demonstrated positive attitudes and believed in their role in OH care. Most students agreed that they should receive training in OH, especially in smoking cessation and providing OH care for patients with special needs. They also opined that a standardized evidence-based oral hygiene protocol is needed. Support for education and practice in this area of patient care suggested positive implications for further development of nurses' roles in OH promotion and management.

Age- and Time-Related Trends in Oral Health Care for Patients Aged 60 Years and Older in 2007-2017 in Public Oral Health Services in Helsinki, Finland

BackgroundPopulation aging will likely have an impact on oral health care trends. The aim of this study was to describe age- and time-related trends in oral health care in people ages 60 and older in Public Oral Health Services (POHS) in Helsinki, Finland. Materials and methodsMaterial for the study comprised the electronic documentation of oral health care procedures performed on patients 60 years and older (N = 282,143) in POHS during 2007-2017. Patients were aggregated into 5-year age groups. The 5 most common treatment categories, restorations, periodontal treatment, extractions, endodontics, and prosthetics, were selected for analysis. Changes by time (calendar year) and differences by age group were shown as percentages and percentage points; corresponding trends were assessed by applying linear regression models to the data. ResultsThe attendance rate for these patients increased from 14.5% in 2007 to 23.1% in 2017, with the total number of visits increasing by 76.4% in the 11-year period. The average number of visits per patient decreased from 3.5 visits in 2007 to 3.0 visits in 2017. In 2007, 60.5% of patients received restorative treatment and 41.3% received periodontal care. In 2017, the corresponding figures were 55.5% and 49.8%, respectively. The older the patient, the fewer the visits and restorative, periodontal, and endodontic treatments and the greater the rate of tooth extractions and prosthetics. ConclusionA declining age group-related trend was recognized for restorative, periodontal, and endodontic treatments. Owing to ongoing population growth, POHS will be facing huge challenges in providing treatment for all individuals seeking services.

Oral Health-Related Awareness, Practices (Attitude) and Determination of the Level of Awareness of Periodontal Disease Risk among Diabetic Patients

Background: A comprehensive knowledge about the mutual influence between diabetes and periodontitis is decisive for the successful treatment of both diseases. The present study aimed at assessing the level of awareness of the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis among the diabetic patients.Material and Methods: This survey was conducted among one hundred and fifty two diabetic patients who were recruited using a systematic random sampling technique. Participants completed a self-administered, structured questionnaire each after obtaining institutional ethical approval. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions were used for demographic variables and chi squared test was used when comparing categorical data. Statistical significance was determined as p<0.05.Results: The knowledge of diabetes on their increased risk for oral diseases was low. Only 49.8% of the sample population knew about the mutual relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. Their attitude towards maintaining good oral health was also not up to the desired standard. Among the participants, only 63.2%, 11.8% and 15.8% brushed their teeth once daily, used dental floss regularly and visited the dentist once yearly respectively.Conclusion: There is an insufficient knowledge among the study group about the mutual relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. This lack of knowledge emphasized the need for more information about oral health care in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Serie: Onderwijs en de tandarts anno 2025. De externe praktijkstage: proeven aan de beroepsuitoefening als tandarts

The practical training in dental schools in the Netherlands is largely organised within the walls of the educational institution, while many other medical educational programmes provide practical training to a large extent in the professional environment. The external practical internship is a form of practical learning with which positive experience has been gained in foreign dental schools, both by students and dentist-supervisors. The Dutch dental schools have a joint plan to set up practical internships in dental practices for master's students in the final year of their education. The aim of such an internship is that students in the last phase of their programme learn to apply the acquired knowledge and skills in an actual professional environment. This includes both clinical and dental treatment and the ability to organise oral health care for patients and everything that comes with it. This article describes the outline of this programme.

Oral health care for patients undergoing therapy for head and neck cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: There is limited published evidence in KwaZulu-Natal on access to oral health care for patients undergoing cancer therapy in the head and neck region. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess patients' oral health-related perceptions, practices and needs during cancer therapy. METHODS: This was a descriptive case study. A semi-structured face-to-face interview was conducted with volunteers (n=12) undergoing cancer therapy in head and neck region. Purposive sampling was used to select study participants who were recruited from a public tertiary central referral hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. A semi-structured interview was also conducted with the eThekwini district coordinator for oral health services to gain better insight into oral health service delivery for patients with special needs. RESULTS: The results indicated that oral health care in the sample population was not prioritised. Some of the emergent themes included: participants' knowledge and oral health self-care practices, support for participants to cope with head and neck cancer, barriers in accessing facility-based oral health care (poor access to dental services, failure of the local clinic to provide appropriate care), lack of referral by oncology care practitioners for patients to access dental care, and existing gaps in oral health service delivery The reported non-existence of a specific oral health policy to address cancer and the absence of a risk factor intervention program highlighted some of the shortcomings for quality oral health service delivery in this population group. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that oral health care is important for patients undergoing cancer therapy. There is an urgent need for oral health planning in the province to take into account the specific oral health needs of this vulnerable population.

A critical synthesis of the role of the pharmacist in oral healthcare and management of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

ObjectiveTo consolidate extant published evidence in relation to the potential of integrating oral healthcare for patients at risk of developing medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).MethodsA critical synthesis and consolidation of five publications was undertaken. As a mechanism of situating the extant work within the context of primary healthcare provision, the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care was applied as a theoretical lens through which the conceptual findings could be collectively applied to practice.ResultsThe critical synthesis revealed a thematic emergence relating to both formative and normative integration. The most salient of these were the identification of limited shared clinical records, and disconnection of oral healthcare provision from patients’ general medical care. The three levels of the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care reflected a series of issues for address.ConclusionIn the context of collaborative, multi-disciplinary working for patients at risk of development of MRONJ, pharmacists are a professional group which this research reveals to be an underutilised resource. Reduction of oral health inequality at all levels of patient care is a key priority and this research highlights areas for address in relation to requirements for interprofessional education, optimal communication and policies reflective and facilitative of these.