Oral Health Practices Research Articles

Oral health-related knowledge and practices among a cohort of pregnant Portuguese women

Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding prenatal and infant oral health in a sample of pregnant women from Coimbra, Portugal. Methods: A self-applied questionnaire was administered to randomly selected pregnant women who attended prenatal check-ups at two public health institutions in Coimbra. Collected data included sociodemographic information, oral health knowledge and practices in pregnancy, and knowledge on oral health in children. All ethical requirements were met. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential methods. Variables were tested for independence using a chi-square test with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 120 women enrolled in the study. Although 68.9% of participants brushed their teeth twice daily, 36.4% reported not using floss, with a statistically significant association with age (p=0.004). Half of the respondents had not attended a dental appointment before pregnancy, and 59.2% believed pregnancy could be harmful to oral health. Findings showed limited knowledge of the possible consequences of gingivitis and periodontitis to the course of pregnancy and the importance of diet in oral health. Moreover, a low level of understanding was noted regarding the existence and prevention of early childhood caries. Conclusions: Oral health-related knowledge and practices of surveyed women were in general deficient. Considering pregnancy is a period of particular interest for acquiring knowledge and good oral health practices, which are decisive for both the expectant mother and the child, our results highlight an urgent need to implement prenatal oral health care programs in this study population.

Dietary Habits Dietary Habits and Oral Health Practices among Children with Early Childhood Caries and Caries Free Children: A Case-Control Study

Background: Dietary habits and practices affect dental health. Objective: To determine the dietary habits and oral health practices among children with early childhood caries and caries-free children. Methodology: Study Design: Case-control study. Study setting and duration: Department of Operative Dentistry and Oral Pathology HBS Medical and Dental College, Islamabad, from November 2018 to September 2021. Sample of 212 children (106 cases, 106 controls) having either sex, ages between 2 to 5 years with minimum of 12 erupted teeth (including lost) were enrolled in this study. Children's clinical examination was done on dental chair using explorer and mouth mirror. Current study focused on the relationship between oral practices, feeding habits, and early childhood caries. Results: Two hundred and twelve children, 90 (42.45%) male were included. Among these 106 were caries-free and 106 had early childhood caries. Children having early childhood caries (ECC) were mostly firstborn, 72.38% in contrast with children without ECC, 55.24%. (p=0.005). Mean of the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) of children with early childhood caries was 5.2 (3.9). A greater number of children with ECC were observed to visit the dental doctor as compared to children without ECC (31.3% vs. 7.54%; p=0.0001). Brushing was observed in 61.32% of children having ECC and in children without ECC it was 69.81%, p=0.71. Conclusion: In this study, the use of bottle feeding among children with early childhood caries, along with delay in starting oral practices in the form of dentists visits and first birth orders was significantly associated with the development of Early Childhood Caries.

Oral Health Status of Children with Thalassaemia in Melaka: A Pilot Study

Thalassemia is an inherited disorder that involves abnormal haemoglobin formation. This cross-sectional study with universal sampling was conducted from May 2018 to January 2019 to evaluate the oral health status of children with thalassaemia. The sample consisted of 54 transfusion-dependent patients between the ages of 3–17 years old, who were registered at the paediatric day-care centre of Hospital Melaka. Oral health status was evaluated which included soft tissue examination, recording of dental caries, malocclusion and oral hygiene status of the children, while their parents answered a pre-validated self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic and oral health practices and attitudes. The mean deft (decayed, exfoliated and filled teeth) among the 3–5 years old was 6.71±6.07. The mean DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) was 3.00±3.94 among the 13–17 years old and 1.12±1.42 among the 6–12 years old. Most of the 3–5 years old children exhibited good oral hygiene (71.4%). Dentofacial findings among the 3–5 years old were increased overjet (35.7%) and open bite (28.6%) predominantly. Fractured teeth (69.2%), increased overjet (46.2%) and discolouration (23.1%) were the common dentofacial findings among the 6–12 years old while increased overjet (71.4%), soft tissue lesions (57.1%) and posterior crossbite (28.6%) were seen among the 13–17 years old. In this cohort of children with thalassaemia, the prevalence of dental caries was high in preschool children and older children.

Oral Hygiene Awareness, Practices and Attitudes among Syrian Refugees in Zaatari Camp and Their Impact on Oral Health Status.

To characterise the oral hygiene habits, attitudes, and oral health practices in relation to sociodemographic factors among refugees in Jordan and to investigate their impact on the oral health status of these refugees. This cross-sectional study consisted of two parts. First, a face-to-face interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire including demographic and oral health-related questions. Second, clinical oral examination was performed using WHO criteria, DMFT and oral health indices (OHI-S). The participants were adults, aged 18 and older. All patients attending dental clinics and accompanying personnel in the waiting areas at Zaatari camp during the study period were invited to participate, with a sample size of 547 refugees (males = 212, females = 335). 547 adult refugees participated. 75.3% reported toothbrushing less than twice daily, while flossing was uncommon (9.5%). Toothbrushing habits were significantly associated with gender and smoking status. Untreated carious lesions had a high incidence (94.1%); the mean number of decayed teeth was 5.4 and was statistically significantly higher in males and smokers. The mean number of missing teeth was 3.2 and was significantly associated with males, age, smoking, and presence of chronic disease. Participants who reported conditions that had persisted 1 year or more and required ongoing medical attention or limited activities of daily living or both (e.g. diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart diseases, thyroid disease, chronic renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, peptic ulcer, or asthma) were recorded as having chronic disease. The mean number of filled teeth was 3.2 and was statistically significantly associated with age and presence of chronic disease. The mean DMFT was 11.8 and was statistically significantly higher in males, older people, smokers, and those with chronic disease. The OHI-S was 2.2. The most common complaint was pain (92.2%), and only 1.1% visited a dentist for a check-up. The prevalence of caries was extremely high, with poor oral hygiene practices among refugees, justifying the urgent need to develop and implement targeted oral health promotion, preventive programs and curative strategies and to enable collaboration of the oral healthcare providers and funding agencies to design the most appropriate interventions for this disadvantaged population. In addition, this information can be used as a basis upon which preventive programs can be assessed for efficacy.

Oral Health’s Transformative Impact on Diet and Systemic Health Outcomes

The 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identified dental caries as a major diet-related chronic disease of public health concern and suggested in the section for adults over 60, “Good dental health is critical to overall health, as well as the ability to chew foods properly." Poor oral health can lead to chronic diseases and impede one’s ability to chew fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other nutrient-rich foods across the life span. Almost 90 percent of adults ages 20 to 64 years and 96 percent of those over 65 years of age have dental caries. The overall prevalence of complete tooth loss is 2.2 percent among adults ages 20 to 64 years and jumps to 17.3 percent for those over age 65. As a result of COVID-19, some seniors are not seeking regular oral health services, which increases the need for preventive oral health practices and consuming a healthy dietary pattern recommended in the new Dietary Guidelines. Recent research will underscore the importance of saliva and oral health in cancer patients on radiation and in other chronic diseases. Saliva has also been shown to reduce specific infections that are related to influenza and HIV. Participants in this session will gain understanding of factors linking poor oral health and nutrition practices to chronic diseases and guidance on critical preventive oral health practices to increase saliva flow and decrease dental caries through all stages of the life cycle. Promoting oral health is the responsibility of the interdisciplinary team overseeing older adults.

Knowledge of Students as Orthodontic Users in Maintaining Dental and Oral Hygiene

Interest and awareness to take care of dental and oral hygiene is upstanding. Orthodontics besides filling and extraction in the practice of dental and oral health is in use. Maintaining oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment will greatly result in good gingival health, which can be seen in the final results of orthodontic treatment.This paper outlines the knowledge of maintaining oral and dental hygiene by orthodontic users among students in Poltekkes Kemenkes Banjarmasin. This study is descriptive research. The research was conducted with a cross-sectional approach. The research took place at Poltekkes Kemenkes Banjarmasin. Sixty students became the population. The research sample was selected by Total Sampling, namely all orthodontic users, totaling 50 students.Remarkably, the knowledge of maintaining oral and dental hygiene of orthodontic users are good, that is 5 students with a percentage of 10%, fair category as many as 32 students with a percentage of 64%, and a bad category as many as 13 students or 26%.In conclusion, the knowledge of most students of Poltekkes Kemenkes Banjarmasin as the users of orthodontics is fair in maintaining dental and oral hygiene. It is expected that students will pay more attention and expand their knowledge about how to keep their teeth and mouth clean while using orthodontics in order to obtain maximum orthodontic treatment results.

A qualitative study of orthodontic patients' experiences in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak

IntroductionCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the most formidable challenges that influenced all domains of health care delivery. This research explored the experiences and challenges orthodontic patients faced in quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak. The goal was to learn from patients about their oral health and general practices during this time to provide optimal delivery of orthodontic treatment care.MethodsA phenomenographic qualitative design involving semistructured face-to-face interviews. A purposive sampling strategy was deployed to collect qualitative data from 24 orthodontic patients who quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic. All interviews were digitally recorded, and afterwards, they were transcribed verbatim.ResultsFour main themes and associated subthemes were identified. The themes were (1) oral-health-related behavioral changes, (2) impact on treatment progression, (3) psychosocial impact and attitude changes, and (4) areas for future enhancements in health care delivery. Overall findings revealed both positive and negative behavioral changes in orthodontic patients regarding their adjustment during the quarantine and its implications to general health and well-being.ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest that COVID-19 impacted dental health care delivery to orthodontic patients during the quarantine. Patients reported psychosocial and behavioral changes as a consequence of treatment disruption and pandemic lockdown. The implications of these findings to the clinical dental environment and patient education are pivotal to further target areas in dental health care delivery that require strengthening. As such, clinicians could expect behavioral changes from orthodontic patients and identify better strategies to mitigate clinical challenges resulting from such changes.

An Assessment of Impact of Higher Education on Oral Health Knowledge, Practices and Lifestyle habits

Aim: To assess impact of higher education on oral health related knowledge, practices, and lifestyle habits among faculty of King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this descriptive study, a self-administered questionnaire including socio-demographic, oral health awareness, practices, and oral health status questions was distributed among faculty. Descriptive statistics, linear correlation, ANOVA, Independent t-test and logistic regression analysis were used using SPSS. A two-sided significance level of ≤ 5% was implied. Results: Fifty eight percent were males and 91% married. Mean age was 42.8±8.07 years. 66.5% had PhD, 42% were assistant professors. 22% had hypertension, 13.5% diabetes mellitus and elevated cholesterol (23%) and 10% were current smokers. 21% consumed soft drinks, 67% dairy products and 71% fruits daily. Most of the faculty (≥81%) showed a robust oral health related knowledge and 75% practiced oral hygiene measures and 65.5% visited dentist regularly. Almost half (49%) reported dental caries, 66% fillings, 31% gum bleeding, 55% missing teeth, and 24% had artificial teeth. There was a statistically significant difference between females and males regarding lifestyle habits and oral hygiene practices with a mean difference of (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant difference (p<0.001) with respect to gender, income. Conclusion: In this study, majority of the University faculty had an acceptable oral health related knowledge, and demonstrated good oral hygiene practices with a significant impact of gender on oral hygiene practice and life style. Key words: higher education, oral health knowledge, practices, lifestyle, university faculty.

Sugar in your diet: kino te pai! an evaluation of oral health science outreach and community impact

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the impact of a combined science outreach, oral health education and tooth brushing initiative introduced into a New Zealand Māori immersion primary school. Participants completed questionnaires on dental anxiety, oral health practices and dental knowledge before and after the intervention. Pre- and post-intervention responses were compared to determine if knowledge and outcomes had improved. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six students 18 -months later to determine long term retention of information and subsequent oral health practices. Improvements in good oral hygiene habits and diet were observed in several areas. Interview participants comments showed that although students may be aware of recommended oral health practices, they will not necessarily implement them. A decline in the number of sugary drinks consumed daily was observed, alongside an increase in participants’ understanding of the effect of fluoride on teeth. Not all dental terminology and scientific knowledge was retained long term because of this initiative; however, improvements were observed when reinforcement of messages was delivered regularly throughout the duration of the study. Scientific outreach and dental initiatives need to be ongoing to ensure long term retention of information provided, and to encourage regular oral health practices.

Anti-bacterial activity of Corchorus olitorius L. and Acmella caulirhiza Del. on Streptococcus mutans, a cariogenic bacterium.

Dental caries remains a global oral health challenge with the prevalence reported as high as 66.7% in adults. Despite the use of modern medicines, the prevalence of dental caries remains high. This has led to extensive screening of natural products particularly from plants such as Corchorus olitorius L. and Acmella caulirhiza Del. for anti-cariogenic activity. To assess the anti-bacterial activity of Corchorus olitorius L. and Acmella caulirhiza Del. on Streptococcus mutans, a cariogenic bacteria. Plant materials of C. olitorius L. and A. caulirhiza Del. were extracted using diethyl ether, methanol, distilled water by cold maceration. Agar well diffusion method was used for sensitivity and susceptibility tests on S. mutans (ATCC 6519). The aqueous plant extract of C. olitorius L. and the ether plant extract of A. caulirhiza Del. had the highest zones of inhibition (16.10mm and 12.03mm respectively) at a concentration of 1000mg/ml. The lowest MIC and MBC were 62.5mg/ml and 250mg/ml respectively. Both C. olitorius L. and A. caulirhiza Del. as used in oral health practices have been found to have antibacterial activity against the cariogenic S. mutans. Further studies should be conducted to isolate bioactive compounds against S. mutans.

An approach to developing oral health knowledge for allied health students.

Oral health competency-based education approaches have been proposed as a mechanism to address oral health outcomes and equity issues. Recommendations for oral health education for allied health professional students include practices to increase team members' knowledge and skills in the integration of oral health and primary care practice (IOHPCP) initiative's oral health clinical competencies for primary care providers. This study aimed to examine changes in self-reported knowledge of occupational students in the topics of oral health, the dental profession, and dental healthcare systems following participation in a series of webinars and a community-engaged learning project. This study utilized an oral health education program through webinars and a community-engaged learning project for occupational therapy students. Program evaluation measures were utilized to assess the oral health education activities through self-reported knowledge in oral health topics aligned with IOHPCP domains along with topics identified by the community partner organization. Findings demonstrate that asynchronous webinars can increase self-reported knowledge in occupational therapy students. Recommendations for inclusion of oral health education for allied health students related to knowledge of oral health, the dental profession, and dental healthcare systems are shared. Asynchronous webinars have the potential to increase self-reported oral health knowledge for allied health professionals.

Oral Health, Diabetes, and Inflammation: Effects of Oral Hygiene Behaviour

IntroductionThe aim of this research was to assess the association between inflammation and oral health and diabetes, as well as the mediating role of oral hygiene practice in this association. MethodsData were from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The analytical sample consisted of 2,191 respondents aged 50 and older. Poor oral health was clinically defined by significant tooth loss (STL) and periodontal disease (PD). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was determined by glycemic levels. The outcome variable was serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, dichotomised as ≥1 mg/dL (elevated CRP) vs <1 mg/dL (not elevated CRP). Two path models, one using STL and DM as the independent variable, the other using PD and DM as the independent variable, were estimated to assess the direct effects of having poor oral health and DM on elevated CRP and the mediating effects of dental flossing. ResultsIn path model 1, individuals having both STL and DM (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30–2.82) or having STL alone (AOR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.68–3.15) were more likely to have elevated CRP than those with neither STL nor DM; dental flossing (AOR, 0.92, 95% CI, 0.88–0.96) was associated with lower risk of elevated CRP. In path model 2, no significant association was found between having both PD and DM and elevated CRP; dental flossing (AOR, 0.91; 95% CI:, 0.86–0.94) was associated with lower risk of elevated CRP. ConclusionsFindings from this study highlight the importance of improving oral health and oral hygiene practice to mitigate inflammation. Further research is needed to assess the longer-term effects of reducing inflammation.

Implementation of oral hygiene practices in nursing homes – the view of supervisor nurses

Objectives The aim of our study was to analyse the implementation of oral health-related practices in private enhanced service housing units and nursing homes in Finland reported by supervisor nurses. Methods We sent an anonymous, voluntary Webropol-questionnaire to the supervisor nurses of private enhanced service housing units and nursing homes (N = 245). The questionnaire included items about the implementation of oral healthcare-related practices in the care units and items based on the Nursing Dental Coping Beliefs index (DCBS index). Five dimensions of the implementation of oral healthcare-related practices, Oral hygiene practices and Favourable diet for oral health, Oral hygiene equipment, Professional dental services, and Knowledge and opinions were used as outcomes. The factors in the nursing DCBS index and background variables were used as explanatory variables. Results Our main results showed that in care units, Oral hygiene practices, Favourable diet for oral health, Oral hygiene equipment, and Professional dental services were partly implemented. Furthermore, according to Knowledge and opinions supervisor nurses had challenges in oral health-related knowledge and difficulties in managing oral care. In the DCBS index, better self-efficacy in “Managing bleeding gums” was associated with better implementation of oral health practices. Furthermore, supervisor nurses’ better own oral health habits were associated with better implementation of oral health-related practices. Conclusions It can be concluded that based on the responses of the supervisor nurses, oral health-related practices were partly implemented in private enhanced service housing units and nursing homes in Finland.

Perspectives of community-dwelling older adults with dementia and their carers regarding their oral health practices and care: rapid review

AimTo review evidence on oral health practices, beliefs/views and experiences of community-dwelling older adults living with dementia, including their carers.Materials and methodsA search of key terms across six databases including Pubmed, Web of Science and OVID (Embase, MEDLINE [R] and PsycINFO) and Google Scholar was conducted, supplemented by reference screening. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018 was used to assess the methodological quality.ResultsEighteen studies reported across 19 papers were included in the review. Papers largely focused on normative needs (n = 13), whilst also reporting oral health-related experiences (n = 2), practices (n = 7), and beliefs/views (n = 9), of community dwellers with dementia. Generally, people living with dementia presented with poor oral and dental health, the exception being one study where dental care was integrated with memory clinic services. Maintenance of oral health focused only on toothbrushing. Overall, people living with dementia have reduced capacity for self-performed oral hygiene and high reliance on caregivers. There was a paucity of evidence on their perceptions of oral health and quality of life, the findings of which were equivocal, with weak evidence suggesting possible difficulty in identifying and communicating their needs. Experiences of accessing dental care, when explored, appear to be system dependent.ConclusionThere was limited research evidence on oral health-related practices, beliefs/views and experiences of people with dementia. Recommendations for future research are presented.

Critically engaging vulnerability: Rethinking oral health with vulnerabilized populations.

This paper is the third in a series of narrative reviews challenging core concepts in oral health research and practice. Our series started with a framework for Inclusion Oral Health. Our second review explored one component of this framework, looking at how intersectionality adds important complexity to oral public health. This current manuscript drills into a second component of Inclusion Oral Health, exploring how labels can lead to 'othering' thereby misrepresenting populations and (re)producing harms. Specifically, we address a common oral public health label: vulnerable populations. This term is commonly used descriptively: an adjective (vulnerable) is used to modify a noun (population). What this descriptor conceals is the 'how,' 'why,' and 'therefore' that leads to and from vulnerability: How and why is a population made vulnerable; to what are they vulnerable; what makes them 'at risk,' and to what are they 'at risk'? In concealing these questions, we argue our conventional approach unwittingly does harm. Vulnerability is a term that implies a population has inherent characteristics that make them vulnerable; further, it casts populations as discrete, homogenous entities, thereby misrepresenting the complexities that people live. In so doing, this label can eclipse the strengths, agency and power of individuals and populations to care for themselves and each other. Regarding oral public health, the convention of vulnerability averts our research gaze away from social processes that produce vulnerability to instead focus on the downstream product, the vulnerable population. This paper theorizes vulnerability for oral public health, critically engaging its production and reproduction. Drawing from critical public health literature and disability studies, we advance a critique of vulnerability to make explicit hidden assumptions and their harmful outcomes. We propose solutions for research and practice, including co-engagement and co-production with peoples who have been vulnerabilized. In so doing, this paper moves forward the potential for oral public health to advance research and practice that engages complexity in our work with vulnerabilized populations.

Aspirations and Worries: The Role of Parental Intrinsic Motivation in Establishing Oral Health Practices for Indigenous Children.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (respectfully, subsequently referred to as Indigenous) children in Australia experience oral disease at a higher rate than non-Indigenous children. A history of colonisation, government-enforced assimilation, racism, and cultural annihilation has had profound impacts on Indigenous health, reflected in oral health inequities sustained by Indigenous communities. Motivational interviewing was one of four components utilised in this project, which aimed to identify factors related to the increased occurrence of early childhood caries in Indigenous children. This qualitative analysis represents motivational interviews with 226 participants and explores parents’ motivations for establishing oral health and nutrition practices for their children. Findings suggest that parental aspirations and worries underscored motivations to establish oral health and nutrition behaviours for children in this project. Within aspirations, parents desired for children to ‘keep their teeth’ and avoid false teeth, have a positive appearance, and preserve self-esteem. Parental worries related to child pain, negative appearance, sugar consumption, poor community oral health and rotten teeth. A discussion of findings results in the following recommendations: (1) consideration of the whole self, including mental health, in future oral health programming and research; (2) implementation of community-wide oral health programming, beyond parent-child dyads; and (3) prioritisation of community knowledge and traditions in oral health programming.

Validation of an instrument to determine oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices during pregnancy

BackgroundOral health of the mother-infant dyad is important to preserve general health. However, there are few instruments in Spanish for the evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and practices that determine this construct. Therefore, this research aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Maternal Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Questionnaire (CAPSOM in Spanish).MethodsIn this instrument development study that carried out in 2018–2019, involving pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 45 in the city of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. The sample size was calculated based on 10 women per questionnaire item (n = 10 k). The study used Cronbach’s alpha, the modified Lawshe test of validity criteria, factor analysis, and the level of difficulty and discrimination of the items.Results207 women took part with their signed, informed consent (25 ± 6 years). The internal consistency of the instrument, both total and by dimension was α = 0.70, α = 0.66 knowledge, α = 0.74 attitudes, and α = 0.66 practices. Values of Content Validity Ratio’ ≥ 0.60 were obtained for the final 10 items and Content Validity Index’ = 0.90. The average difficulty index of items was 0.40, and there were significant differences (Kruskall–Wallis, p < 0.001) in the discrimination test. Factor analysis demonstrated three main components.ConclusionsA valid and reliable 10-item Spanish questionnaire was designed to measure pregnant women’s oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Designing and validating a questionnaire on oral health care knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental staff

Objective: This study aimed to design a valid questionnaire to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of Mashhad Dental school staff about oral health care and to assess the validity and reliability of this instrument. Methods: The "Dental Staff Awareness of Oral Health Care” (DSAOHC) was divided into three concepts; knowledge, attitude and practice. Ten experts of Mashhad Dental School contributed to design the questionnaire and assessed the face and content validity (I-CVI and S-CVI/AV) in two rounds. The necessity of each item was evaluated according to Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratio (CVR). Construct validity, internal consistency, and reliability were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, homogeneity coefficients, and test-retest by distributing the instrument among 207 dental staff working in other dental schools and private clinics. &nbsp;&nbsp; Results: Based on the acceptable results of I-CVI, S-CVI/AV (&gt;0.7), and CVR (&gt; 0.62), the final version of DSAOHC was approved with 34 questions, including 10 questions about background information, 8 questions for the knowledge, 5 questions for attitude and 11 questions related to practice. Cronbach's&nbsp;alpha&nbsp;coefficients&nbsp;were&nbsp;acceptable for&nbsp;all&nbsp;domains. The RMSEA criterion was ≤ 0.05 and its upper band confidence interval (CI 90%) was ≤ 0.1. Also, CFI indicated the suitability of the model (the desired value of CFI&gt; 0.9). Inter-Class Correlation/ICC revealed the appropriate measure (ICC=0.998). Conclusion: The measures showed that this instrument is valid and reliable, also culturally adjusted to and acceptable for this community. It may adequately evaluate staffs’ knowledge, attitude, and practice toward oral health.

Oral Health Knowledge and Practice of Caregivers of Institutionalized Elders

Background: Caregivers play an important role in maintaining adequate oral health of elders. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral health knowledge and practice of caregivers of institutionalized elders in Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 27 caregivers from a long-term care institution in the city of Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, between July and October, 2016. A form was used to assess the following characteristics of caregivers: profile, training, knowledge, practice and prevention related to oral health. All data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: The predominant profile of the caregivers was: female (63%) and 81.5% were trained to work with elders. Although most of them knew the necessity of tooth brushing at least three times a day to prevent dental caries and periodontal disease (88.9%); 44.5% said that the caregivers performed oral hygiene for the elderly under supervision only once a day. Regarding the hygiene of dentures, only one caregiver mentioned the use of a specific chemical agent; 40.7% declared themselves unaware of any oral care protocol at the institution; 85% believed in a correlation between general health and the presence of oral diseases; 70% declared they did not know about oral diseases that could affect elders with dentures in function, and 59.3% answered that the type of food may influence oral health. Conclusions: Caregivers acknowledged and recognized the importance of oral health, but their practice was not consistent with their declared knowledge.

Early childhood caries, primary caregiver oral health knowledge and behaviours and associated sociological factors in Australia: a systematic scoping review

BackgroundEarly childhood caries disproportionately affects vulnerable groups and remains a leading cause of preventable hospital admissions for Western Australian children. The Western Australia State Oral Health Plan seeks to improve child oral health through universal and targeted health promotion initiatives with primary caregivers. These initiatives require evidence of primary caregiver oral health knowledge and behaviours and baseline data on early childhood caries. The objective of this systematic scoping review was to understand current oral health knowledge and practices of primary caregivers of children aged 0–4 years, identify influential socioecological determinants, and identify data on early childhood caries in the Western Australian context.MethodsA systematic scoping review framework identified articles published between 2010 and 2021, using Scopus, PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, selected article reference lists, and oral health websites. The lack of Western Australian specific literature prompted the inclusion of Australia-wide articles. Articles were screened via author consensus, with eight selected.ResultsWestern Australia and nation-wide data on early childhood caries are limited and mostly dated. WA data from children aged 2–3 years, collected in 2006, suggests the prevalence is 2.9% in this state, with national data of children from 0 to 3 years, collected from 2006 and 2008, suggesting an early childhood caries prevalence of 3.4–8% of children aged 18 months, rising sharply by 36 months of age. Nationally, fewer than half the primary caregivers reported following evidence-based oral health recommendations for their young children. Perceptions of the role of dental services for young children tends to be focussed on treatment, rather than surveillance and prevention. Knowledge of dietary and oral hygiene practices is inconsistent and awareness of the Child Dental Benefit Schedule low. Young children’s oral health status is clearly associated with socioecological factors, including socioeconomic status.ConclusionsRecent early childhood caries data and evidence of primary care-givers’ oral health knowledge and behaviours are unavailable in Western Australia, a similar situation exists nationwide. To realise the Western Australian and National Oral Health Plans, research is required to address this knowledge gap.