Regular Dental Check-ups Research Articles

Association between dental caries and Helicobacter pylori infection in Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is widely known as a cause of gastric disorders. Presence of H. pylori in dental pulp has been reported. Dental caries may influence the presence or absence of systemic H. pylori infection by serving as a source of H. pylori. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether H. pylori infection in blood were associated with dental caries in Japanese adults. The participants were 752 individuals (513 males and 239 females, mean age 53.8 years) who underwent both H. pylori testing (H. pylori antibody test and pepsinogen test) and dental checkups at the Asahi University Hospital Human Health Center between April 2018 and March 2019. Those diagnosed as positive for H. pylori antibody test or positive for serum pepsinogen test as H. pylori test in the human health checkup were judged as those with H. pylori infection in the blood. In our study, 83 participants (11%) were determined to be infected with H. pylori in the blood. The proportion of those with decayed teeth was higher in participants with H. pylori infection in blood than in those without H. pylori infection in blood (p< 0.001). The logistic analysis showed that presence of H. pylori infection in blood was positively associated with those with decayed teeth (OR, 5.656; 95% CI, 3.374 to 9.479) after adjusting for age, gender, gastric disease, regular dental checkups, antibiotic medication history, and decayed teeth. Furthermore, the proportion of H. pylori infection in blood increased according to number of decayed teeth (p< 0.001). The results indicate that H. pylori infection in blood were associated with decayed teeth. Untreated dental caries may have an impact on systemic H. pylori infection.

Does the socioeconomic status predict health service utilization in persons with enhanced health care needs? Results from a population-based survey in persons with spinal cord lesions from Switzerland

BackgroundEvidence suggests that the socioeconomic status (SES) affects individuals’ health service utilization. Spinal cord injury is a condition that often leads to physical impairments and enhanced health care needs. It therefore presents an informative and yet under-researched case in point to investigate social inequalities in health service utilization. This study aims to describe associations between SES and health service utilization in adults with spinal cord injury from Switzerland.MethodsWe use cross-sectional data from 1,294 participants of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study community survey 2017. SES was operationalized with education, household income, perceived financial hardship, subjective status, and granting of supplementary financial benefits. Health service utilization was assessed with information on visits to 13 different health care providers and four health care institutions (inpatient stays, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, specialized spinal cord centers) during the past 12 months. The dichotomized outcomes on service utilization (visited vs. not visited) were regressed on SES indicators, including adjustments for sociodemographics, lesion characteristics, and health status.ResultsPersons with higher SES reported higher likelihood for specialist, dentist, and dental hygienist visits and reported utilizing a larger number of different care providers. Further, specific SES indicators were associated with certain care provider visits (i.e., higher education and subjective status: higher odds for pharmacist visits; higher income: higher odds for natural healer visits; higher subjective status: higher odds for chiropractor visits; supplementary benefit granting: higher odds for general practitioner and home care service visits). We found statistically non-significant trends towards lower likelihood for inpatient stays, outpatient clinic and emergency department visits and enhanced likelihood for specialized spinal cord-center visits in higher SES groups.ConclusionsThis study generally supports the claim that basic health care provision is guaranteed for all patients with spinal cord injury in Switzerland, independently of their SES. However, social inequalities were still observed for the utilization of specific providers, such as oral health care providers. Given that oral health is key for health maintenance in persons with spinal cord injury, specific interventions to enhance regular dental check-ups in lower SES groups are highly recommended.

A Survey of Oral Hygiene Habits of Patients Presenting to Rehman College of Dentistry

Background and Objectives: Wide range of oral hygiene maintenance practices exist in this part of world. Whilegenerally modern techniques of maintaining oral hygiene have become a norm in the society, no data existsregarding correct use of these practices and the frequency in which they are employed. This study is an attempt toquantify these techniques and record their usage.Methodology: A cross sectional analytical study was planned and a questionnaire was developed. A total of 200 adultpatients presenting to Rehman College of Dentistry were interviewed. Data was recorded and analyzed using SPSSsoftware.Results: Results in general show that people are using modern techniques along with traditional methods like Miswakon regular basis to clean their teeth.Conclusion: Further awareness regarding oral hygiene practices and their correct use needs to be created. Peoplealso need more guidance regarding alternative oral hygiene techniques, and the importance of regular dentalcheckups and scaling.

Gingival Crevicular Blood as a Diagnostic aid for the Detection of Diabetes Mellitus: an in-Office Chairside Test in Dental Practice

Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease because of the elevated levels of glucose in the blood. And usually most of the diabetic patients are left undiagnosed in their early stages of the disease because of the unnoticeable symptomsby the patients&#x0D; which could lead to the severe damage to the body system, hence an early diagnosis is very important and life saving indiabetic patients.&#x0D; Aim: aim of the present study is to evaluate the accuracy of gingival crevicular blood as a diagnostic tool in diabeticpatients.&#x0D; Methods: This study involves total 50 patients 25 diabetic and 25 non diabetic patients, with moderate to severe periodontitis. Regular dental check-up is done including periodontal pocket depth probing. Blood oozing from the gingival crevice was collected with the strips of glucose self monitoring devise. To the same patient finger stick Blood glucose level and venous blood[ VB] glucose level with standardized laboratory method was taken.&#x0D; Results: The results showed significant strong correlation between all three groups. With p value (P &lt; 0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Blood oozing during the pocket detection can be used for diagnosing aid in diabetes.&#x0D; Keywords: gingival crevicular blood, Finger stick blood, venous blood, diabetes mellitus, Glucometer, chronicperiodontitis.

FACTORS OF CARIES DEVELOPMENT AND WAYS TO REDUCE THEI IMPACT IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

Topic relevance. Dental diseases in children, particularly dental caries, are still requiring approaches and methods of their effective prevention and treatment. Analysis of caries rates in 7 – 9 year children has revealed a probable increase in the prevalence and intensity of caries in permanent teeth over the past 20 years.&#x0D; The aim of the study. Epidemiological studies indicate that the intensity of dental caries among children and adolescents in Ukraine varies from 2 to 5.8 depending on the region of residence. We conducted dental clinical-laboratory examination and performed a questionnaire survey of 223 schoolchildren and their parents in order to determine the main factors of caries occurrence and possibility to influence them.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The statistical significance of the differences between the results obtained for different data groups with normal distribution was determined using Student's t-test. The correlation coefficient was considered significant when the error probability was p&lt;0.05.&#x0D; Results and discussion. The results of the study revealed the greatest increase in the prevalence and intensity of caries in permanent teeth in 7-8 year old children (by 17.3% and 2.4 times respectively) and in 910 year old children (by 21.5% and 2.5 times, respectively). The course of caries in children aged from 7 to 12 occurs against the background of the decrease of pH value and microcrystallization of the oral liquid and is caused by the lowering teeth resistance to caries that is supported by the results of the enamel acid resistance test. In order to reduce the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in children, there is an urgent need to elaborate a proper approach to preventive measures aimed at enhancing the resistance of hard dental tissues. The developed scheme of preventive activities with children is based on regular dental checkups, fostering skills of proper tooth brushing and oral care, providing basic information about caries development and health consequences when it left untreated, options of caries treatment and the basics of good nutrition.&#x0D; Conclusion. Taking control of caries factors will contribute to the strengthening healthy dental tissues and creating favourable conditions for healthy functioning of teeth that will result in the strengthening of oral and general health in children. The application of the elaborated schemes of prognostic assessment of cariesogenic situation and caries prevention measures for children and their parents will reduce the dental caries rates.

1190-P: Oral Health Status among U.S. Adults with and without Diabetes, 2020

To reduce the risk of gum disease, the American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes brush twice and floss once daily and see the dentist twice a year. But only about two-thirds of all US adults seek dental care within a year. Regular dental checkups are more important for those with diabetes. Thus, we studied the current oral health status (visiting a dentist or a dental clinic in the past year and the number with permanent tooth loss) in US adults aged ≥ 18 years with and without diagnosed diabetes using data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Both diabetes and oral health-related information were self-reported. We computed overall and state-specific age-adjusted estimates by diabetes status. In 2020, 64.4% (95% CI 64.0%-64.8%) of US adults had a dental visit within the past year. Annual dental checkups were more common among women, older people, non-Hispanic White persons, and those having higher education, better income, and health insurance. The proportion of US adults with diabetes seeing a dentist in the past year was significantly lower compared to those without diabetes (56.7% [95% CI 54.8%-58.5%] vs. 65.4% [95% CI 65.0%-65.8%]) . Both men (56.3% [95% CI 53.6%-58.9%] vs. 62.4% [95% CI 61.9%-63.0%]) and women (57.1% [95% CI 54.6%-59.6%] vs. 68.2% [95% CI 67.7%-68.8%]) with diabetes were also significantly less likely to get dental care than their counterparts. The frequency of annual dental visits among adults with diabetes also varied by state; Texas had the lowest percentage (39.8% [95% CI 32.5%-47.6%]) while Alaska had the highest (77.1% [95% CI 68.8%-83.7%]) . Adults with diabetes (34.1% [95% CI 32.4%-35.9%]) were also more likely to have a history of one or more permanent teeth removed due to tooth decay or gum disease than those without diabetes (26.5% [95% CI 26.1%-26.8%]) . Without having regular dental checkup and adequate oral hygiene, adults with diabetes are at increased risk for gum disease. These findings highlight a gap in preventive oral care among adults with diabetes. Disclosure P. Cho: None. I.A. Hora: None. K.M. Bullard: None.

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries and the Related Factors among 3-5- Year-Old Children in Babol, Iran.

Statement of the Problem: Regular dental checkups to diagnose early childhood caries (ECC) are critical for maintaining and improving children's oral health and well-being. The prevalence of ECC is important for planning proper oral health programs.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ECC and its related factors in children aged 3 to 5 years at Babol, Iran.Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 children aged 3-5 years in the kindergartens of Babol. Children were examined for dental caries according to World Health Organization criteria. The variables such as age, gender, health, nutritional habits, parents' educational level, parents' job status, and level of dental care were recorded in the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square and ANOVA and p< 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Average decayed-missing-filled teeth (dmft) were 4.03±3.6 and 73.2% in children with ECC, while 26.8% were caries-free. A significant association was found between age, snack consumption, father’s education, mother’s job, nocturnal drinking milk, tooth-brushing, and a history of dental check up before age 2 with ECC.Conclusion: The results of this analysis showed a high prevalence of ECC in Babol. Therefore, educational and interventional programs in prevention and dental health care, especially for mothers, nurses, and teachers of these age groups, should be considered.

Promoting the Importance of Recall Visits Among Dental Patients in India Using a Semi-Autonomous AI System.

In many developing countries like India, there is a widespread lack of general awareness about the importance of good oral health, which causes dental patients to neglect their oral hygiene, thus precipitating many long-term ailments. We developed an application that promotes the significance of regular dental checkups and oral health care by explaining to patients how these are intrinsic to overall health. Our application, in essence, extracts relevant health information from published scientific studies according to a patient's medical history and shares it with the patient at the discretion of the supervising dentist, thereby empowering patients to make more informed decisions. We present a detailed overview of our semi- autonomous machine learning-based solution, along with the complex challenges involved in the design, development, and real-world deployment of our application. Finally, we conducted a randomized parallel-group study in India with 224 dental patients over two years to assess the utility of our proposed solution. Results show our application improved the patient recall rate from 21.1% to 37.8% (p-value = 0.024).

Preventive prosthodontics – An overview

Preventive dental care is an important part of comprehensive dental care, preventive dental procedures are employed in the practice of dentistry and community dental health programs, that prevents the occurrence of oral diseases and oral abnormalities. It combines regular dental check-ups along with developing good oral hygiene habits. The effective prosthetic prophylaxis includes not only prevention of causes for alveolar bone loss leading to tooth loss but also preventing the defects of oral tissues. As a clinician our aim should not be just treating the area of interest, instead it should include the evaluation of mouth as a whole. This article brings out various concepts regarding preventive aspects of prosthetic dentistry such as prevention at every stage with special considerations in preventing alveolar bone loss.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of Oral Hygiene among School Children

Poor oral health can have a profound effect on the quality of life. Pain, tooth abscess endurance, eating and chewing difficulty, embarrassment over the form of teeth or missing, discolored, or broken teeth can all have a negative impact on people's everyday life and well-being. In the current study majority of respondents practised appropriate oral hygiene habits such as brushing twice a day using a toothbrush and toothpaste for 2 to 3 minutes. Almost 88 percent were aware of the unhealthy gingival condition and the effects of plaque formation. Approximately 53.14 percent were aware of gum illnesses, and 50.14 percent believed that gum diseases might be avoided if proper oral hygiene practices were followed. Nearly half of the youngsters (52.1 percent) said they would only go to the dentist if they were in pain, despite the fact that the majority (79.4 percent) said regular dental checkups were vital. Fear was stated as the primary reason for not attending the dentist (67.28 percent). The study concluded that the most frequent oral hygiene device used for cleaning teeth is a toothbrush with toothpaste; it was discovered that a larger proportion of students cleansed their teeth in the morning. The primary reason for seeing a dentist was for dental discomfort. Further studies related to knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the students about oral health can be encouraged. Keywords: Oral health; knowledge; Attitude; Practice; Questionnaire; Students

Attitudes toward and knowledge of collaboration of dental and medical practice among medical students in Southern India: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Background: Enhancing oral health care services provided through inter-professional collaboration between medical and dental practitioner is important, and even essential. The purpose of this study is to assess the attitude toward and knowledge of medical-dental collaborative practice among medical students attending colleges in Southern India. Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among medical students and interns of medical colleges in coastal South India with prior information and permission. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions to assess attitude toward and knowledge of medical-dental collaborative practice. The demographic backgrounds of participants were also recorded. Chi square test was employed for data analysis. The responses obtained were correlated with age, gender and year of study of participants using Pearson’s correlation test Results: A total 250 questionnaires were distributed and 234 responses were appropriately completed. Most of the students agreed that oral health was an integral part of systemic health, however participants disagreed on attending compulsory rotation in dentistry at a statistically significant level (p&lt;0.05), moreover participants did not agree with physicians having an active role in motivating their patients for regular dental check-up. 82% of the medical students believe that dental check-up should be included in health packages under health insurance. A statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) difference was observed among 3rd year &amp; 4th year students and interns and also it was found that female students provided more positive responses towards medical-dental collaboration. Conclusions: Even though medical students showed fairly positive attitudes and knowledge towards dentistry, the analysis within the study groups showed that knowledge and attitudes regarding the collaborative practice worsened over the academic years among the medical students. In order to destigmatize and foster interdisciplinary collaboration which would contribute to higher resource efficiency and the standard of care, continuing education in both the disciplines would be highly beneficial.

Relationship of family related factors with dental caries prevalence in 5 years old children of different schools of Hyderabad.

Introduction: The habits children have included in life; continues to make the choices they make as adults. According to social learning theory these habits are derived through supervision, learning and modelling. For a child, most significant are primarily father and mother and their immediate family members. All these factors have the collective ability to influence the child's oral health outcomes.&#x0D; Objective: To examine the dental caries rate in 5 year’s old school children and influence of their family related habits and socio demographic factors on child’s dental caries experience and their oral health behavior.&#x0D; Methodology: This study conducted upon sample of 600 school children selected through random sampling from primary private and Government primary schools of Qasimabad Hyderabad Sindh during period of October 2015 to December 2015. &#x0D; Results: shows that out of 600 children 330 (55%) were boys and 270 (45%) were girls. Boys 245 (40%) were affected from caries and 85 (14%) were free from caries. In relation to parental education; 44 (7.3%) child boys whom parents were highly educated were found affected by caries 44(7.3%), while 3 (0.5%) boys were free from caries. Girls whose parents were highly educated affected by caries were 44(7.3%), caries free were 12(2%) Boys whose parents have incomplete secondary education/ vocational school were affected by caries 162(27%) and caries free were 82(13.6%). Girls whose parents have incomplete secondary / vocational school were affected by caries 145 (24.1%). Boys whose parents were having low level of education affected by caries were 39(6.5%) while caries free were 0 (0%). Girls whose parents have low level of education were affected by caries were 69 (11.5%) while caries free were 0 (0%) .&#x0D; Conclusion: Life style choices are the habits that are formed in childhood and dictated as in adult hood. Thus, assessing family related risk factor regarding oral health is essential when conducting preventive treatment programs for children because education on oral hygiene maintenance and regular preventive dental health checkups are very important in order to prevent oral diseases.&#x0D; Key words: Dental Caries, primary dentition.&#x0D;

A Study of Dental Caries Status in Relation with Dental Check-up among Children in Rajshahi

Background: The study aimed to assess the importance of dental check-ups for preventing dental caries among children 5-12 years of age in Rajshahi. Materials &amp; Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in Dental Unit, Rajshahi Medical College, Different Dental Clinics, Dental Chambers in Rajshahi City Corporation from January 2018 to December 2019. A total number of 370 participants were allocated to detect dental caries and history of visiting dental clinics or hospitals for a dental check-up. A cross-sectional survey using a self-structured questionnaire and clinical examination of the oral cavity were conducted among participants to detect dental caries. Results: 8.92% of participants visited dentists for a regular dental check-up, whereas 49.73% visited dentists only when they had pain or problems with their teeth. 40.81% of participants had dental caries who never visited dentists, and 47.57% of participants were suffering from dental caries who went to the dental clinic or hospital only when there were necessary or emergency. Conclusion: Regular dental check-up reduce the possibility of dental caries among children. TAJ 2021; 34: No-2: 90-94

Orofacial conditions and oral health behavior of young athletes: A comparison of amateur and competitive sports.

This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate oral health status (dental, periodontal, and functional) and oral health behavior in young German athletes including the comparison of competitive (CA) and amateur sports (AA). Data of CA (German national teams, perspective, and youth squads) and AA aged between 18 and 30years with an available oral examination in 2019 were included. caries experience (DMF-T), non-carious wear (erosion, BEWE), partially erupted wisdom teeth, gingival inflammation (PBI), plaque index, periodontal screening (PSI), and temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) screening. Questionnaires: oral health behavior and periodontal symptoms. 88 CA (w=51%, 20.6±3.5years) of endurance sports and 57 AA (w=51%, 22.2±2.1years) were included. DMF-T was comparable (CA: 2.7±2.2, AA: 2.3±2.2; p=0.275) with more D-T in CA (0.6±1.0) than AA (0.3±0.7; p=0.046; caries prevalence: CA: 34%, AA: 19%; p=0.06). Both groups had low severity of erosion (BEWE about 3.5). CA had more positive TMD screenings (43% vs. 25%; p=0.014). In both groups, all athletes showed signs of gingival inflammation, but on average of low severity (PBI <1). More CA needed complex periodontal treatment than AA (maximum PSI = 3 in 40% vs. 12%; p<0.001). Oral health behavior was comparable (daily tooth brushing; regular dental check-ups in >70%). Young German athletes (CA and AA) generally showed signs of gingival inflammation and needed to improve their oral health behavior. CA showed slightly increased oral findings (more D-T, periodontal and TMD screening findings) than AA, but similar oral health behavior. This may imply an increased dental care need in competitive sports.

Factors Associated with Regular Dental Checkups' Discontinuation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey in Japan.

Managing oral health through regular dental checkups (RDCs) can help prevent dental diseases. Our study aimed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of those who stopped receiving RDCs owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A nationwide web-based survey in Japan in September 2021 (3556 participants) revealed that 62.4% of participants had habitually received RDCs before COVID-19. Of these (n = 2219), 71.5% had received RDCs since the pandemic and 28.5% had not. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the following characteristics of those without RDCs since the pandemic: female (male, OR: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.45–0.74), lower household income (<2000 K JPY, OR: 1.45, 95%CI: 0.94–2.23; 2000 K–< 4000 K JPY, OR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.08–1.98), fewer teeth (20–27, OR: 0.63, 95%CI: 0.39–1.03; ≥28, OR: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.36–0.98), and no interdental cleaning habits (OR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.41–0.63). These results suggest that the disruption to RDCs owing to the pandemic is related to individual socioeconomic factors. Additionally, these individuals have poor oral health, which may be worsened by such barriers.

Relationship between dental experiences, oral hygiene education and self-reported oral hygiene behaviour.

Many preventive approaches in dentistry aim to improve oral health through behavioural instruction or intervention concerning oral health behaviour. However, it is still unknown which factors have the highest impact on oral health behaviours, such as toothbrushing or regular dental check-ups. Various external and internal individual factors such as education, experience with dentists or influence by parents could be relevant. Therefore, the present observational study investigated the influence of these factors on self-reported oral heath behaviour. One hundred and seventy participants completed standardized questionnaires about dental anxiety (Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), and dental self-efficacy perceptions (dSEP)). They also answered newly composed questionnaires on oral hygiene behaviours and attitudes, current and childhood dental experiences as well as parental oral hygiene education and care. Four independent factors, namely attitude towards oral hygiene, attitude towards one's teeth, sense of care and self-inspection of one's teeth were extracted from these questionnaires by rotating factor analysis. The results of the questionnaires were correlated by means of linear regressions. Dental anxiety was related to current negative emotions when visiting a dentist and negative dental-related experiences during childhood. High DAS scores, infantile and current negative experiences showed significant negative correlations with the attitude towards oral hygiene and one's teeth. Dental anxiety and current negative dental experiences reduced participants' dental self-efficacy perceptions as well as the self-inspection of one's teeth. While parental care positively influenced the attitude towards one's teeth, dental self-efficacy perceptions significantly correlated with attitude towards oral hygiene, self-inspection of one's teeth and parental care. Dental anxiety, dental experiences, parents' care for their children's oral hygiene and dental self-efficacy perceptions influence the attitude towards oral hygiene and one's own oral cavity as well as the autonomous control of one's own dental health. Therefore, oral hygiene instruction and the development of patient-centred preventive approaches should consider these factors.

A Cross-Sectional Study for Association between Periodontitis and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Data

Recently, several studies have suggested the relationship between periodontitis and prostatic disease. However, epidemiological studies on the association between periodontitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are scarce. Hence, we aimed to identify the association between the two diseases using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Among the 173,209 participants, 3297 men with periodontitis and 35,292 controls (without periodontitis) were selected. The history of BPH in participants with periodontitis and the controls were also investigated. Two-tailed analyses, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for BPH was 1.50 (95% confidence interval, 1.35–1.68; p &lt; 0.001) after adjusting for past medical histories. The adjusted OR for BPH was 1.57 (95% confidence interval, 1.41–1.76; p &lt; 0.001) after adjusting for anthropometric and laboratory data. Collectively, this study provides evidence that periodontitis is associated with BPH. This finding supports the use of regular dental checkups and periodontal treatments to reduce the prevalence and progression of BPH.

Comparative analysis of some parameters of social and dental statuses, behavioral habits of patients presented to a dentist for different reasons

Relevance. The health of the population is an essential criterion of the well-being of society. The high prevalence of dental diseases, which reduce the quality of life, dictates a broader implementation of preventive measures. Correcting the regularity of oral hygiene and consumption of fast digesting carbohydrates can achieve significant results. Purpose – to study some parameters of socio-hygienic, dental statuses and habits of patients who presented to the Health Center.Materials and methods. To achieve the purpose, we interviewed and examined 550 people: 196 men and 354 women aged 18-85 who presented to the Health Center of Krasnoyarsk Interdistrict Hospital No. 3. The study analysed the structure of patients' visits to dentists and determined dental caries prevalence and intensity. The following definition was chosen to assess the behavioral habits of patients: the frequency of oral care during the day, the frequency of consuming fast digesting carbohydrates, the rate of toothbrush replacement. Statistical data was processed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 18.0 software package.Results. 9.45% of patients exhibited low motivation for dental check-ups, most pronounced at a young age – 30,02 ± 2,00 years. The best motivation to visit a dentist for a dental check-up was among young people with higher or incomplete higher educa-tion – 57,7%. Visits to dentists for unspecified reasons were most pronounced in patients with primary or secondary education – 63,8%. The patients who presented for a dental check-up and prophylaxis exhibited the lowest caries intensity rate – 9,27 ± 1,01, and there were statistically significant differences in the DMF index depending on the education of the respondents (p = 0,016), including the components of the "F" and "M" (p &lt; 0,001). Patients, who come for regular dental check-ups, have better oral hygiene, but very few of them limit the consumption of fast digesting carbohydrates.Conclusions. The patient motivation for dental check-ups is extremely low and depends on age and education. Patients, who visit dentists for a check-up, have the lowest intensity of dental caries and statistically significant differences in the components of the DMF index depending on education.The establishing of health centres in the domestic health care system to promote a healthy lifestyle in Russian citizens, including smoking and alcohol consumption reduction, allows using their organisational, methodological and material and technical capabilities for further studying the issues of dental disease prevention, creating the most balanced questionnaires and other tools for assessing and monitoring dental health.

Oral Health-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours of Arab Dental Students: Multi-National Cross-Sectional Study and Literature Analysis 2000-2020.

Dental students are the future leaders of oral health in their respective communities; therefore, their oral health-related attitudes and behaviours are of practical value for primary disease prevention. The present study aimed to evaluate oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of dental students in Arab countries and explore the potential sociodemographic predictors of their oral health outcomes. A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic year 2019/2020 in three Arab countries: Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia. The study used a validated Arabic version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) composed of original twenty items that assess the level of oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, and four additional dichotomous items related to tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, problematic internet use, and regular dental check-up The HU-DBI score ranges between 0 and 12. A total of 1430 students took part in this study, out of which 60.8% were females, 57.8% were enrolled in clinical years, 24.5% were tobacco smokers, 7.2% were alcohol drinkers, and 87% reported internet addiction. The mean HU-DBI score was 6.31 ± 1.84, with Lebanon having the highest score (6.67 ± 1.83), followed by Syria (6.38 ± 1.83) and Tunisia (6.05 ± 1.83). Clinical students (6.78 ± 1.70) had higher HU-DBI scores than their preclinical peers (5.97 ± 1.86). The year-over-year analysis revealed that dental public health and preventive dentistry courses had significantly and positively impacted the undergraduate students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. The gender-based differences were not statistically significant, with a modest trend favouring males, especially oral health behaviours. Tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and problematic internet use were associated with lower HU-DBI scores. In the Arab world, the economic rank of the country where the dental students live/study was weakly correlated with the students’ mean HU-DBI score.

Prevalence of and factors associated with dental service utilization among early elderly in Lithuania

BackgroundThere is no recent information about dental service utilization (DSU) among elderly in Lithuania. We examined DSU and its associated factors in Lithuanian early elderly based on the Andersen’s behavioural model.MethodsThe cross-sectional study conducted in 2017–2019 included a nationally representative stratified sample of 370 Lithuanian early elderly aged 65–74 years (response rate of 54.5%). Information on predisposing factors (age, sex, nationality and education), enabling factor (residence), need-based factors (status of teeth, oral pain or discomfort, and dry mouth), general health, personal health practices and perceived stress was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Clinically-assessed need-based factors included number of missing teeth and dental treatment need. Multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimates was used.ResultsA total of 239 study participants (64.6%) reported a dental visit during the last year and 338 (91.4%) needed dental treatments. A higher level of education (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.04–1.40), pain or discomfort in teeth/mouth (aPR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.13–1.62) and lower number of missing teeth (aPR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.98–1.00) were associated with DSU.ConclusionsEven though majority of early elderly needed dental treatments, only two-thirds visited a dentist during the last year. Predisposing and need-based factors were significant predictors of having a dental visit in the last year. A national oral health program for Lithuanian elderly with the focus on regular preventive dental check-ups is needed. More studies, both quantitative and qualitative, are warranted to investigate in depth the barriers for DSU among elderly in Lithuania.