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Objective: Disturbances in the oral mucosa is a major concern among patients undergoing chemotherapy. One of the most significant barriers in the implementation of oral care is the lack of knowledge. The aim of the study was to assess gingival and periodontal health status of chemotherapy patients before and after the provision of oral hygiene instructions., Methods: A single group, pre-post test was conducted to assess oral health status of patients at the daycare chemotherapy, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Oral hygiene instructions were given with study models and leaflets. Patients were followed for 6-weeks. Oral health was assessed by using Simplified-Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Differences in indices were analyzed in STATA version-15.0 using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) and Wilcoxon Signed-rank test., Results: Out of 74, 53 (72%) patients completed study follow-up. Improvement in the OHI-S was found in 14 (26%) patients (p-value < 0.001). GEE showed that age [adjusted OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03-1.11], current chemotherapy cycle [adjusted OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.98-1.46], highest education level [Adjusted OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.08-12.7] and cancer therapy [Adjusted OR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.24-0.55] were significantly associated with the change in OHI-S. Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed positive changes in the CPI (p-value < 0.001)., Conclusions: Basic oral hygiene instructional intervention can be effective in improving the oral hygiene of chemotherapy patients. Nurses should also play a key role in providing psychological and nutritional support to patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The professional dental cleaning (PDC) is an effective supplement that can make up for the lack of self-oral health care. Everyone should develop the habit of regular PDC. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, behaviors and medical compliance of dentists, medical doctors and non-medical staffs about the PDC, identify the gaps, and provide information to help individuals develop healthy oral hygiene habit., Materials and Methods: A web-based survey with 21 questions designed based on the characteristics, the PDC knowledge, behaviors, and medical compliance of respondents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the main districts of Chongqing, China, in the period of September-November 2020. A total of 456 respondents including 153 dentists, 137 medical doctors and 166 non-medical staffs in 3 communities and 4 hospitals were sampled online with multistage sampling and surveyed. The data was analyzed by chi-square test using IBM SPSS Statistics v. 21.0., Results: The cognitive level and behavior of dentists on the PDC was significantly better than that of medical doctors and non-medical staffs (p = 0.000-0.044). The rates of not knowing "dental plaque" were 32.85% and 61.45%, of the medical doctors and non-medical staffs. Meanwhile, most of them had misunderstanding about effects of the PDC. They thought it would whiten teeth (72.99%, 80.72%), damage gums (16.79%, 19.88%) and teeth (15.33%, 21.69%), and create bigger gaps between teeth (24.82%, 33.13%). In terms of gum health and the PDC behavior, significant differences were observed, 23.53% of dentists experienced irritated gum bleeding in the last 12 months, 42.28% did not have their teeth cleaned professionally in the last 12 months, even 7.84% never had it before. Compared with it, in the same situation, the ratios of medical doctors and non-medical staffs were about 60% experiencing irritated gum bleeding, 69.34% and 77.71% not experiencing the PDC in the last 12 months, up to 33.58% and 45.18% never experienced it before. 41 respondents (8.99%) disagreed with the reasonable and necessary medical behaviors before the PDC., Conclusion: People's understanding about the PDC was insufficient, and many people, included some dentists, had not developed the habit of regular dental cleaning. Our study provided a new understanding of the PDC among dentists, medical doctors, and non-medical staffs, which may help to improve their awareness and behavior of oral hygiene health, and establish the multidisciplinary collaborations between dentists and medical doctors., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To study the practices of general dentists, periodontists and dental hygienists who are members of the European Federation of Periodontology, regarding oral hygiene education, plaque control assessment, recommended dental and interdental hygiene tools, and antimicrobial agents., Materials and Methods: A web-based survey was sent to 13,622 members of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) through its 29 national member societies. It targeted general dentists (GD), specialists in periodontology (DSP) and dental hygienists (DH). Data were collected between 24 April and 17 May 2015. A data-driven statistical analysis was conducted and differences between professions were explored., Results: A total of 2076 answers were collected. Only the 2009 answers originating from GD, DSP and DH were analysed (67 answers originated from other professions and were excluded). Among those 2009 respondents, 43.2% were DSP and 37.2% were GD. Overall, DH, DSP and GD reported spending 17.1 minutes for the initial teaching of OH, with differences between professions (p < 0.0001). DH, GD and DSP exhibited differences in the type of toothbrushes they recommend (p < 0.0001). DSP recommended electric and manual toothbrushes (TB) equally. DH predominantly recommended electric TB (56.8%). Overall, 95% of DH, DSP and GD recommended interdental brushes, with no statistically significant differences between professions. Low concentration chlorhexidine was considered the most relevant antimicrobial agent for daily oral care of periodontitis patients. Half of GD prescribed antimicrobial mouthrinses for long-term use in 70%-100% of their patients with periodontitis., Conclusion: EFP-affiliated practitioners allocate a significant amount of time to educating patients on oral health. Their practices are mostly in line with the current scientific evidence. Some discrepancies were found between the different professions. Similar surveys could be conducted over time to monitor the evolution of practices.

Background: Recently, there is a resurgence in the practice of oral hygiene with charcoal-based oral hygiene products such as charcoal based dentifrices, toothbrushes and mouthwashes. Dental professionals need to be aware of these products to rightly educate patients on acclaimed merits and demerits., Objective: To elicit the awareness, knowledge and opinion of dental professionals on the use of activated charcoal oral health products., Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out among dental professionals. Data was collected using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire that sought information on respondents' demography, their awareness, knowledge and opinion on charcoal-based oral health care products. Descriptive and comparative analyses were done using SPSS version 21.0. and statistical significance were set at p <0.05., Results: One hundred and three dental professionals participated with a slight female predominance and a F:M of 1,1:1. Forty-six (44.7%) and 10 (9.7%) respondents respectively were aware of charcoal-based toothpaste and toothbrush (p= 0.02, p=0.04). Sixteen (15.5%) of those who were aware got information from friends/colleagues. Only 19 (54.3%) of dentists knew that charcoal-based toothpaste can be used in tooth whitening and in the prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases (p=0.01). There was generally a low knowledge about the uses, side effects and sequalae of the use of charcoal toothpastes and toothbrushes among all dental professionals. Attitude to use and willingness to recommend these products was also poor among them., Conclusion: There was a low awareness and knowledge of the uses and sequalae of charcoal-based oral health products among dental professionals.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) continues to spread globally. It has become a major cause of concern for health care professionals all over the world., Objective: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, awareness and hygiene practices regarding COVID-19 among private dental practitioners practicing in Tricity (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali) in India during these critical times., Materials and Methods: A total of 245 private dentists participated in this cross-sectional survey and finally 215 constituted the final sample size. A self-administered, multiple choice type questionnaire (verified by a specialist) was administered to obtain information from the subjects. The questionnaire was divided into two parts and included 15 questions on knowledge and awareness regarding COVID-19. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and Student’s t-test., Results: Percentage of subjects who answered correctly regarding main symptoms of COVID-19 and primary mode of transmission was 87% and 82.5% respectively. One-third of the subjects were not aware regarding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used while rendering dental treatment. 75% of subjects were of the opinion that supportive care is the current treatment regime for COVID-19. Less than one-third of subjects (30.2%) reported high scores. Education level (p=0.018) and health sector profile (p=0.024) of the subjects were significantly associated with mean knowledge scores., Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that some notable deficiencies in knowledge existed among dental professionals regarding some vital aspects of COVID-19. Therefore, there is an urgent need for improving dentists’knowledge via health education and training programs. Further studies on the subject are also warranted once the situation normalizes., (© Copyright by the National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene)

Introduction: In certain communities patients may struggle to find access to adequate dental treatment. One proposed strategy to help meet population need is to train more dental hygiene-therapists. However, established attitudes and hierarchies, along with a lack of clear understanding of different roles within some general practice environments has led to underutilised shared-care approaches. Integrating dentists and dental hygiene-therapists in undergraduate education may be an effective approach to promote inter-professional education, dispel inappropriate biases and hierarchies, and nurture team working from an early career stage. As such, we have developed a novel BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene (BDHT) curriculum, which is integrated with the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme., Aims: The aim of this paper is to describe how two separate BDHT and BDS undergraduate programmes have been uniquely integrated, and to share areas of best practice., Design: The BDHT curriculum was developed based on our established BDS programme introduced in 2013 and is novel in two respects: BDHT students complete their academic and clinical training jointly with BDS students, and are assessed and trained to the same standards; and our patient-centred, primary care clinical training model is designed to prepare BDHT graduates to work under direct access., Results: Key success indicators of the integrated BDHT-BDS programmes are: award of GDC sufficiency; 100% BDHT graduate employment; and 100% BDHT final year pass rate., Conclusion: Inter-professional education is an established pedagogic approach to inhibit the formation of hierarchy and barriers that impede collaborative care. Our BDHT programme is the first of its kind to embed inter-professional education through the entirety of both the BDHT and BDS course structures and be entirely integrated. Further studies are required to provide quantitative and qualitative data to validate the success of our new integrated training programme. This paper presents our curriculum journey, from conception, to design, implementation and review. It describes our vision and its relevance for the future of inter-professional dental education.

Aims: Though patients have been shown to have difficulties in achieving oral cleanliness after self-performed oral hygiene, scientifically and empirically justified standards for the degree of oral cleanliness they should achieve are lacking. Oral cleanliness of dental staff was therefore assessed as an indicator of what might be an upper limit of what can be expected by patients., Materials and Methods: In a multicentre study, N = 64 university dentists, N = 33 dental students and N = 30 dental assistants were asked to perform manual oral hygiene to the best of their abilities. The presence or absence of dental plaque adjacent to gingival margins was assessed by the marginal plaque index (MPI). As full-crown index, the Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein Index (QHIm) was applied., Results: Only three participants showed papillary bleeding and only one a clinical pocket depth of more than 3.5 mm. After self-performed oral hygiene, no differences between groups were observed with respect to plaque nor did results differ between those who habitually used a powered toothbrush only and those who did not. Most participants (96%) achieved oral cleanliness at more than 70% of their gingival margins and QHIm levels below .63. Half of the participants showed QHIm levels below .17 and oral cleanliness at 96% of gingival margins., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Considering that half of the dental professionals achieved oral cleanliness at 96% of gingival margins and QHIm levels below .17 after thorough oral hygiene, this might reflect an upper limit of what can be expected by patients.

'...... private practice becomes a barrier to delivering dental care in residential settings'.

Patients with special needs often must rely on inadequately trained caregivers for oral health maintenance. Consequently, full compliance is often not achieved. It is crucial that dentists carefully consider restorative materials and restoration design to maximize durability and facilitate cleansing in these challenging circumstances. This article discusses materials selection, prosthetic design, and oral hygiene techniques for caregivers to ensure longevity and maintenance of oral health in the special needs population., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: Direct access care provided by dental hygienists can reduce oral health disparities for the underserved, yet legal, regulatory, and ethical considerations create complexities and limits., Background and Purpose: Individual state dental practice acts regulate the scope of practice and level of supervision required when dental hygienists deliver care. Yet, inconsistent state practice act regulations contribute to ethical and legal limitations and dilemmas for practitioners. The dental hygienist is positioned to assume an increasingly larger role in the management of oral health disparities. However, there are several legal and ethical considerations that impact both dental hygienists and dentists providing care in complex community settings. This article informs dental hygienists and other related constituencies about conundrums that are encountered when providing care 'beyond the operatory.', Methods: An evidence-based view of ways in which dental hygienists are reducing oral health disparities illustrates the complex issues involved in providing such care. Potential scenarios that can occur during care provision in underserved settings provide the basis for a discussion of legal and other associated issues impacting dental hygiene practice., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Repetition and reinforcement have been shown to play a crucial role in the sustainability of the effect of Oral Health Education (OHE) programs. However, its relevance to school-based OHE imparted by different personnel is not depicted by the existing dental literature. The present study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the repeated and reinforced OHE (RR-OHE) compared to one-time OHE intervention and to assess its role in school-based OHE imparted by dentist, teachers and peers., Methods: The study was a cluster randomized controlled trial that involved 935 adolescents aged 10-11 years. Twenty four boys' and girls' schools selected at random in two towns of Karachi, Pakistan were randomly assigned to three groups to receive OHE by dentist (DL), teachers (TL) and peer-leaders (PL). The groups received a single OHE session and were evaluated post-intervention and 6 months after. The three groups were then exposed to OHE for 6 months followed by 1 year of no OHE activity. Two further evaluations at 6-month and 12-month intervals were conducted. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire preceded by a structured interview and followed by oral examination of participants., Results: The adolescents' oral health knowledge (OHK) in the DL and PL groups increased significantly by a single OHE session compared to their baseline knowledge (p < 0.05) and the increase was sustained over 6 months. Although one-time OHE resulted in a significant improvement in adolescents' oral health behavior (OHB) related to the prevention of gingivitis in the two groups (p < 0.05), no significant change was observed in their behavior towards prevention of oral cancer. One-time teacher-led OHE was ineffective in improving adolescents' OHK and OHB. The oral hygiene status (OHS) of the participants in all three groups did not change statistically after one-time OHE. The OHK, OHB and OHS indices increased significantly 6 months after RR-OHE than the initial scores (p < 0.001) irrespective of OHE strategy. Although the OHK scores of the DL and PL groups decreased significantly at 12-month evaluation of RR-OHE (p < 0.05), the said score of the TL group; and OHB and OHS scores of all three groups remained statistically unchanged during this period., Conclusions: The repetition and reinforcement play a key role in school-based OHE irrespective of educators. The trained teachers and peers can play a complementary role in RR-OHE.

Purpose: To assess California dental hygiene educators' perceptions of an application of the American Dental Hygienists' Association's (ADHA) advanced dental hygiene practitioner model (ADHP) in medical settings where the advanced dental hygiene practitioner collaborates in medical settings with other health professionals to meet clients' oral health needs., Methods: In 2014, 30 directors of California dental hygiene programs were contacted to participate in and distribute an online survey to their faculty. In order to capture non-respondents, 2 follow-up e-mails were sent. Descriptive analysis and cross-tabulations were analyzed using the online survey software program, Qualtrics™., Results: The educator response rate was 18% (70/387). Nearly 90% of respondents supported the proposed application of the ADHA ADHP model and believed it would increase access to care and reduce oral health disparities. They also agreed with most of the proposed services, target populations and workplace settings. Slightly over half believed a master's degree was the appropriate educational level needed., Conclusion: Among California dental hygiene educators responding to this survey, there was strong support for the proposed application of the ADHA model in medical settings. More research is needed among a larger sample of dental hygiene educators and clinicians, as well as among other health professionals such as physicians, nurses and dentists., (Copyright © 2015 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association.)

Design: Cluster randomised controlled trial., Intervention: Clusters of adolescents (classrooms of 15- to 16-year-olds) in each school were allocated either into a control group or into an intervention group. The interventions consisted of peer cooperation (peer support) and peer interactive learning (observational learning) facilitated through feedback from a dentist (professional support). Three intervention sessions with preselected pairs of adolescents were delivered in the first three weeks. Gender, family socio-economic status (baseline) and different social-cognitive domain variables (baseline, six, and 12 months) were assessed using a questionnaire., Outcome Measure: Dental plaque levels were the primary outcome measure and they were measured at baseline, after the intervention measured only in the social-cognitive theory-guided group, at six and 12 months., Results: At the six-month follow-up there was a statistically significant difference in means ± SD between the social-cognitive intervention group (27.4 ± 19.4) and the control group (35.1 ± 20.0). At the 12-month follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in means ± SD between the social-cognitive intervention group (27.4 ± 18.5) and the control group (31.9 ± 17.8). Variations in dental plaque levels at different time periods were explained by the following predictors: family's socio-economic status, social-cognitive domain variables, group affiliation and baseline plaque levels., Conclusions: Social-cognitive theory-guided interventions improved oral self-care of adolescents in the short term. This improvement lasted only for five months after the intervention was discontinued.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the oral health professionals' (OHPs') perspectives regarding their strategies, considerations and methods when teaching their patients the most effective way of toothbrushing with fluoride (F) toothpaste., Methods: A qualitative research method was used to collect data. To stimulate interactivity among the participants, interviews were performed in focus groups. Five groups of OHPs, including dentists, dental hygienists and dental nurses, were interviewed a total of 23 individuals. The interviews were analysed using manifest and latent qualitative content analysis. Data were systematically condensed and coded to the relevant phrases that identified their content., Results: Three categories were identified in the manifest and latent content analysis: (i) strategies and intentions, (ii) providing oral hygiene information and instruction and (iii) barriers to optimal oral healthcare education. Health promotion and seeing to the patients' best interest were driving forces among the OHPs as well as personal success in their preventive work. They focused on toothbrushing techniques more than on how to use F toothpaste. Barriers to oral health information were cost to the patients and, to some extent, the opinion of the OHPs that some patients were impossible to motivate or that patients already know what to do., Conclusion: The OHPs described toothbrushing with F toothpaste as very important, although the plaque removal perspective dominated. They did not focus on how to use F toothpaste, because they believed that knowledge about and appropriate behaviour concerning F toothpaste were already familiar to their patients., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Oral health education (OHE) in schools has largely been imparted by dental professionals. Considering the substantial cost of this expert-led approach, the strategies relying on teachers, peer-leaders and learners themselves have also been utilized. However the evidence for comparative effectiveness of these strategies is lacking in the dental literature. The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of dentist-led, teacher-led, peer-led and self-learning strategies of oral health education., Methods: A two-year cluster randomized controlled trial following a parallel design was conducted. It involved five groups of adolescents aged 10-11 years at the start of the study. The trial involved process as well as four outcome evaluations. The present paper discusses the findings of the study pertaining to the baseline and final outcome evaluation, both comprising of a self-administered questionnaire, a structured interview and clinical oral examination. The data were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations., Results: All the three educator-led strategies of OHE had statistically higher mean oral health knowledge (OHK), oral health behavior (OHB), oral hygiene status (OHS) and combined knowledge, behavior and oral hygiene status (KBS) scores than the self-learning and control groups (p<0.001). The mean OHK, OHS and KBS scores of the three educator-led strategies did not differ significantly. The peer-led strategy was, however, found to have a significantly better OHB score than the respective score of the teacher-led strategy (p<0.05). The self-learning group had significantly higher OHB score than the control group (p<0.05) but the OHK, OHS and KBS scores of the two groups were not significantly different., Conclusions: The dentist-led, teacher-led and peer-led strategies of oral health education are equally effective in improving the oral health knowledge and oral hygiene status of adolescents. The peer-led strategy, however, is almost as effective as the dentist-led strategy and comparatively more effective than the teacher-led and self-learning strategies in improving their oral health behavior. SRCTN39391017

There is little information about health professionals' behavior regarding oral health care during pregnancy. We evaluated attitudes of obstetricians/gynecologists, nurses, and dentists working at a public community service towards pregnant women's oral health. Health professionals responded to a self-applied questionnaire. Cluster analysis identified two clusters of respondents; Chi-square, Student's t test, and logistic regression were used to compare the two clusters in terms of the independent variables. Respondents were categorized into cluster 1 'less favorable' (n = 159) and cluster 2 'more favorable' (n = 124) attitudes. Professionals that had attended a residency or specialization program (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.15-3.77, p = 0.016) and worked exclusively at the public service (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.10-4.20, p = 0.025) presented more favorable attitudes. Obstetricians/gynecologists (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.09-0.54, p = 0.001) and nurses (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.29-0.86, p = 0.013) showed less favorable attitudes than dentists. Health care providers' attitudes regarding pregnant women's oral health were related to their occupation, qualification, and dedication to the public service.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and progression/regression of gingival recession in a population sample with a high standard of oral hygiene and broad knowledge of the role of traumatic tooth brushing in the aetiology of gingival recession., Material & Methods: Forty dental students in their final year at Dental School were examined for gingival recession in 1994 and 10 years later by the same examiner. Tooth brushing habits were ascertained in a questionnaire. Clinical parameters recorded for each recession were: recession height, probing depth, width of keratinized gingiva and bleeding on probing. Full-mouth plaque index was recorded using the modified Quigley & Hein index., Results: The prevalence of gingival recession was 85% and did not change after 10 years. A total of 210 recessions found at the initial examination and 299 at the second were valid for longitudinal evaluation. Statistical differences between recessions at both examinations were found in several clinical parameters. Subjects had a significant increase in the plaque index at the second examination despite very few changes in their oral hygiene habits (p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: In dentists, after 10 years, mean number of gingival recession per person and mean recession height increased while plaque control decreased., (© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Objective: To evaluate the self-care level of dental and healthcare providers regarding prevention of oral diseases, Methods: Healthcare providers (dental assistants and surgeons, laboratory personnel, biologists, medics, paramedics, corpsmen, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, speech therapists, X-ray technicians) and non-health care providing adults (the general population) were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding their routine measures for maintaining oral health., Results: Three hundred and twenty-six healthcare providers and 95 non-healthcare providers participated in the study. Regarding toothbrushing, flossing, undergoing periodic dental examinations and professional scaling/polishing, dental practitioners have better, but not perfect, maintenance habits than other healthcare providers. Non-dental healthcare providers have better dental habits than the general population, and nurses and medical practitioners have better dental habits than medics, paramedics, corpsmen and para-medical professionals. Among non-dental healthcare providers, nurses have a relatively high frequency of toothbrushing and flossing but a low frequency of periodic examinations and scaling/polishing. Generally, females reported significantly higher frequencies of toothbrushing and flossing than males did. The toothpaste selection of the participants was primarily influenced by dentists' recommendations, the flavour of the toothpaste, and its anti-malodour effect were the most dominant factors., Conclusion: The compliance of health professionals, especially dental practitioners, with appropriate oral health measures is relatively high. However, the dental team cannot always assume that the dental patient, who also happens to be a healthcare provider, has meticulous oral habits. The dental hygienist and surgeon have to educate and motivate their patients, especially healthcare providers because of the influence of the latter on their own patients.

Objectives: This study was done to find out the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding oral health care and oral hygiene products in Chennai city., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey among a sample of the pharmacists in Chennai city was done and data regarding their knowledge and attitudes towards oral health care and oral hygiene products were obtained using a closed-ended questionnaire., Results: Among the 60 pharmacies approached, 50 pharmacists participated in the study and completed the questionnaire. Though 48% of the participants gave a positive answer when asked whether they had met the dentist practicing close to their pharmacies, the frequency with which they met the dentist ranged from once a week (24%) to once a month (28%). Most of the pharmacists stocked oral health-related products, which comprised 15-25% of their total stock. Of these products toothpaste was the most common (62%), followed by mouth rinses (12%). Toothache or painful teeth was the most common dental problem (78%) for which patients approached the pharmacists for advice. With regard to the advice given, 38.5% of the pharmacists asked the patient to consult a nearby dentist after dispensing medications, while 22.4% of the pharmacists dispensed antibiotics and painkillers without any referral. Seventy percent of the pharmacists expressed interest in giving oral health care advice to patients. However, many of them (38%) felt that lack of proper knowledge is a barrier to providing oral health care advice., Conclusion: It is clear from the present study that pharmacists are presently an underutilized resource, and there is a definitive need to improve their training and access to information on available dental services.

Purpose: To investigate the sources of information on oral self-care and the content of professional guidance received on it as reported by dentate elderly patients in Lithuania, and to relate such guidance to their self-assessed knowledge of oral self-care., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out at two public dental offices, among dentate patients aged > or = 60. In total, 174 dentate elderly responded; mean age was 69.2 years (SD = 6.6). The self-administered questionnaire covered sources of information on and self-assessed knowledge of oral self-care, and the content of professional guidance received. Age, gender, education, and number of teeth served as background information. Statistical evaluation was by Chi-square test, correlation analysis, ANOVA, and logistic regression., Results: Most of the elderly (82%) named the dentist as the source of information. For the professional dental guidance received, 53% of our elderly reported being told how to brush, and 31% how to floss their teeth. Furthermore, 44% assessed their knowledge of oral self-care as poor, 22% as moderate, and 34% as good. At least a moderate level of knowledge of oral self-care was associated with a greater extent of professional guidance (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.5; p < 0.001), a better dental state (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.2; p = 0.03), and a higher level of education (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0-3.5; p = 0.04) in the logistic regression model, controlling for background information., Conclusions: To increase the awareness of oral self-care among the elderly, dentists play an important role as providers of versatile and regular professional guidance.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder (ED) identified using DSM-IV criteria. Eating disorders are occurring increasingly earlier in childhood and can lead to a series of oral manifestations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between stomatognathic lesions and eating disorders in 80 young patients (76 females and 4 males aged 9-18 years) with restricting or binge-eating/purging AN. The results confirm the close correlation between ED and oral lesions, the most common of which were dental erosion, dentinal hypersensitivity, the extrusion of amalgam restorations and xerostomia. The authors conclude by emphasising the importance of involving dentists in the diagnosis and treatment of ED.

The influence on patient compliance of the dentist's attitudes to his or her job and to his or her patient was studied in a sample of 82 patients. The dentist's attitudes were assessed at the beginning of dental treatment. Treatment consisted of cleaning, depuration and motivation. At follow-up examination after six months, attendance at follow-up and the development of plaque, calculus and gingivitis were significantly predicted by the dentist's attitudes. A causal model, which also included factors of patient involvement, was developed. The compliance-producing factors were, primarily, the establishment of sympathy and an informal relationship between dentist and patient. The patient's habit of regularly making visits to a dentist, in a complex way, also contributed to compliance.

The age and maintenance of dentures, and denture-cleaning habits, were studied by an interview survey. The material represented nation-wide the Finnish population aged greater than or equal to 15 years old, and there were 957 interviewees, of whom 328 were denture wearers. In total, 45% of the upper and 40% of the lower dentures were over 10 years old. More than one-third of the dentures more than 5 years old had never been maintained during that time. Individuals whose dentures had been made and fitted by dental technicians visited dentists less frequently than individuals whose dentures had been made by dentists. Over 80% of the denture wearers reported cleaning their dentures by brushing at least once a day, and women cleaned them more frequently than men. The present findings suggest that denture wearers should be a special target group for dental health education, for the development of the latter, and for the development of dental health care services in the future.

The extent to which adolescents' self-appraisals of dental status agree with the dentist's evaluation is analyzed. The dentist's evaluation was expressed in standard dental status indicators (DMF, OHI-S, Russell Index) and in a rating of overall status as "excellent," "good," "fair," "poor." The relationship between the adolescents' self-reported dental care practices and the dentist's evaluation is also examined.

Why you should read this article: • To identify the importance of prioritising oral and dental health education for children, starting from birth, to prevent tooth decay and promote overall well-being • To be aware of advice that can be shared with parents to improve their child’s oral and dental health • To recognise the crucial role of nurses, midwives and community practitioners in promoting oral health in early childhood, particularly as children’s exposure to dentists is usually delayed. Tooth decay remains one of the most common preventable oral health concerns in children. After birth, advice to caregivers predominantly focuses on medical health with little attention paid to dental health. Before discharge from the maternity unit and during future hospital and community appointments, opportunistic dental advice should be provided by midwives, nurses and health visitors where possible, with the aim of preventing early onset dental disease. Registering with a dentist at birth is crucial due to long NHS dental waiting lists. Simple advice on toothbrushing should be offered, including brushing twice a day with a soft toothbrush using an age-appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste. Mothers should be provided with information on the benefits of breastfeeding for oral health alongside tailored preventive care. Appropriate advice on bottle-feeding and weaning is required, including minimising the use of added sugar, drinking from free-flow cups after six months of age, and discouraging the use of milk bottles at bedtime and in general after one year of age. Written visual summaries can be shared with parents to consolidate verbal advice on oral and dental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food impaction can contribute to a variety of oral health problems. However, the prevalence of food impaction in the population and patient awareness of these issues are poorly reported on. Methods: A questionnaire about food impaction was designed and uploaded to an online platform (Sojump) which was then circulated among the study participants using various social media platforms. Participants were asked to anonymously respond to the questionnaire regarding the prevalence of food impaction, its influence on their quality of life, their consultation rates and their oral cleaning methods. The survey was conducted through an online survey portal. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and GraphPad. The Chi-Square test, Bonferroni test and the Kruskal–Wallis H test were used to measure categorical variables from the survey. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of food impaction in non-dental professional participants was 86.9%. Among these patients, 12,157 pairs/cases of proximal contacts were affected. The number of food impaction cases in posterior teeth was significantly higher than in anterior teeth. Approximately 81.9% of patients believed that food impaction could affect their lives. However, the consultation rate for these patients was only 17.7%. Conclusions: This study revealed that food impaction continued to have a high rate of incidence and a low rate of consultation, potentially due to a lack of awareness regarding its influence on oral health. To effectively prevent and address problems resulting from food impaction, both dentists and society need to enhance oral health knowledge in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between the microbiome and oral health is intricate, yet there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the microbiome's impact on oral health. Integrating knowledge regarding the oral microbiome and its significance in oral and systemic diseases holds profound implications for dental professionals in patient care and professional development. This study assessed dental professionals' oral microbiome comprehension and knowledge levels in Saudi Arabia and its implications for oral healthcare. Methods: Data were gathered using a cross-sectional design by administering a comprehensive online questionnaire to 253 dental professionals from diverse demographic backgrounds. The questionnaire, administered in English, was divided into four sections: (1) Microbiome awareness and understanding, (2) Diet, nutrition, and microbiome relationship, (3) Microbiome and oral and systemic diseases, and (4) Counselling, education, and implications. Statistical analyses were used to identify and understand underlying patterns, including descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, ANOVA, and post hoc tests. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was applied to assess self-rated knowledge. Results: Of the 253 participants, 94.6% were familiar with the term "microbiome." Merely 13% of participants considered the oral microbiome to be the second most diverse, following the gut microbiome. About 39.9% of participants knew the connection between oral mucosal diseases and the oral microbiome. Furthermore, only 6.7% thought there was a connection between systemic diseases and the oral microbiome. Participant comprehension of oral microbiome questions averaged 9.19 out of 13, with 83.7% scoring "good". There were significant differences in knowledge scores among dental specializations (F = 7.082, P < 0.001) and years of professional experience (F = 4.755, P = 0.003). Significantly, 53.8% of participants had uncertain self-perceptions of their knowledge of the oral microbiome, while only 0.8% rated their understanding as 'very good'. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that dental professionals have varying levels of awareness and comprehension of the oral microbiome. Despite widespread awareness, understanding its diversity and implications for oral and systemic health remains limited. It is essential to address these gaps in knowledge through future research and educational interventions, considering the vital part that dental professionals play in promoting oral health through personalised dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and hygiene practices. These initiatives may promote a robust oral microbial community, enhance patient outcomes, and advance oral healthcare locally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the reasons why adults seek orthodontic treatment, their perceived treatment risks, oral hygiene habits, and awareness of oral health. Materials and Methods: This study, which involved 246 adults, used a self-report questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and examine the participants' understanding of oral health, self-assessment of oral health status, adherence to oral hygiene routines, and use of oral hygiene products. In addition, the reasons for opting for orthodontic treatment, negative associations, and expected outcomes were examined. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis, including descriptive and regression methods. Results: The results showed that factors such as previous oral health education and regular use of specialized toothbrushes, including rotary toothbrushes, were significantly associated with higher knowledge levels (p < 0.05). However, daily oral hygiene practices were suboptimal, with the low utilization of aids: only 58.9% reported using interdental brushes, and 36.6% used dental floss regularly. Commonly reported dental problems included food debris between teeth (46.3%), tartar (35.4%), and tooth sensitivity to cold (26.4%). The primary motivations for orthodontic treatment were aesthetic improvement (63.8%), enhancements in oral function (49.6%), and addressing psychosocial concerns (42.7%). In contrast, the most frequently mentioned negative aspects associated with fixed orthodontic treatment were aesthetic concerns (30.9%), treatment duration (27.6%), and mouth ulcers (24.0%). Conclusions: Based on the research findings, regular oral hygiene education is recommended for adult patients considering fixed orthodontic therapy, including the use of additional tools such as interdental brushes and floss to improve oral health and reduce the risk of complications during treatment. The importance of chemical compounds in dentifrices and mouthwashes cannot be overstated, as they play a crucial role in addressing various dental issues. In addition, it is crucial to carefully weigh the pros and cons of therapy and to visit a dentist regularly to maintain oral health and monitor progress during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The implant's supporting structure differs from that of the teeth when plaque accumulates, making it more prone to inflammation and bone loss. To ensure the implant's longevity, an effective maintenance protocol should be followed. This study aimed to evaluate the information on oral hygiene procedures at home for implant‐supported fixed prosthesis. Methods: The keywords 'cleaning dental implant,' 'how to clean dental implant,' and 'dental implant hygiene' used to search for videos on YouTube™. Following the exclusions, two researchers independently analysed the remaining 100 videos for demographic data and content usefulness. Results: In terms of usefulness score distribution, 53.52% of the videos were considered slightly useful, 38.4% moderately useful and 8.1% very useful. The video content had the least quantity of knowledge about toothpaste choice (11.1%), but the greatest quantity of knowledge on flossing (68.7%). Conclusions: According to the study's findings, there is presently no evidence‐based information on YouTube™ on dental implant oral hygiene protocols for home care procedures hygiene education. Therefore, dental care professionals should analyse the information's quality and reliability before recommending it to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this questionnaire‐based survey was to evaluate information on frequencies, instructions and products relating to oral hygiene (OH) in orthodontic practices. Methods: Using a computer‐generated randomization list, 1000 orthodontists were selected and sent a questionnaire. The size and number of inhabitants of the federal states of Germany were considered. The federal states with the highest return rate (Baden‐Wuerttemberg [BW], Bavaria [B], Hesse [H], Lower Saxony [LS], Nordrhein‐Westphalia [NRW]) were considered and differences between the 16 federal states were divided into North, South, East and Central Germany. Results: The response rate of the questionnaires was 52.4%. The majority (53.8%) worked in one practice alone. Most (59.1%) have been orthodontists for 5–25 years. For vestibular multibracket appliances (MBA) in BW, B, H and LS over 90% recommended interdental brushes (IDB). In NRW 91.4% recommend fluoride gel. In B and H more than 80% chose electric toothbrush (ETB), in BW, LS and NRW more than 80% manual toothbrush (MTB). For lingual MBA (LMBA) in BW, H, LS and NRW with approximately 50% each fluoride gel, IDB and MTB were chosen. In B fluoride gel, IDB and ETB. For removable apparatus (RA), five federal states recommended MTB (>80%) and ETB (BW, B, H > 80%; NRW > 70%; LS > 60%). Conclusion: Electric toothbrushes are recommended for the use with all appliances, only with removable appliances manual toothbrushes are favoured. For vestibular MBA it is strongly advised to use IDB additionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the prevalence, distribution pattern, and development/progression of gingival recession in a population of dentists, followed up over an additional 15 years, after an initial and previously published follow‐up of 10 years. Methods: This 25‐year longitudinal gingival recession investigation started in 1994 at the Dental School with 60 final‐year dental students; among them, 40 were re‐examined in 2004, and 27 of those 40 were further examined in 2019 by the same examiner. A questionnaire session provided information on toothbrushing habits at each appointment. Results: In this study, 27 individuals aged 31–44 years (724 teeth) were followed up. The prevalence of gingival recession was 100% after 15 years. A total of 204 and 317 recessions found in 2004 and 2019, respectively, were valid for the longitudinal evaluation. The highest recession incidence was observed in the molars during both examinations (p < 0.0001). The mean recession heights were 1.66 ± 0.87 mm and 1.85 ± 1.08 mm, respectively (p = 0.024). The difference between the means was 0.19 mm after 15 years. The mean probing depth and bleeding on probing at the point of the maximum recession decreased (p < 0.0001). A multiple regression analysis on the tooth level was performed and indicated that the keratinized gingival width was negatively associated with the severity of the buccal recession height. Conclusions: Fifteen years after the initial follow‐up, the mean number of gingival recessions per dentist and the mean recession height increased, while toothbrushing habits remained nearly unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and the attitude in oral health (OH) of nurses (NUR) and auxiliary health technicians (AHT) belonging to the Long‐term Care Units (LTC). Methods: Observational cross‐sectional study. A survey was applied in five MLTC in Porto (Portugal) to 145 healthcare works (HCW). Data were collected using structured questionnaires with questions about knowledge and attitude regarding oral care. Data analysis comparison was performed using non‐parametric tests (α = 0.05). Results: Out of a total of 259 HCW, 145 responses were obtained (55.98% response rate). The median number of correct answers was significantly different for NUR and AHT without oral health training (OHT) (p =.035).AHT with OHT had a significantly lower number of correct answers compared to NUR with OHT (7 vs. 9, p <.001). There was no significant difference in the number of correct answers in NUR with or without OHT (p =.391) and that the AHT without OHT have a median of correct answers significantly higher than those who they have OHT (8 vs. 7, p =.020) Conclusions: Despite the positive attitude of the HCW, the knowledge is scarce. HCW recognized the urgence to update the protocols. Practical Implications: Integrating dentists in the LTC team, implementation of OH protocols and providing OH training should be considered to bridge existing gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate a modular didactic training intervention called Keep My Teeth designed by special care dentists, for a range of healthcare students to provide oral homecare for people with intellectual developmental disorders (PwIDD). Methods: To evaluate the intervention a one‐group pre‐test post‐test pre‐experimental research design was utilized. The intervention was delivered by virtual platforms or face‐to‐face, with a sub‐sample of participants also receiving practical training. Healthcare students included Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability (RNID), Dental Science (DS), Dental Nursing (DN), and Dental Hygiene (DH). Results: Sixty‐three of the 147 trainees completed all surveys. A significant change in perspective on barriers was seen for most groups post‐training, with an increase in confidence in delivering oral care to PwIDD across disciplines; 67% of DH/DN students who took part in the practical training felt that the didactic training was just as effective without the practical training, while 42% of the DS students felt that was true. Conclusions: The training interventions provided seem to have increased the awareness of study participants in relation to barriers to care, and increased their self‐efficacy towards, and intention to perform, oral homecare behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Awareness of mothers about oral health and their oral hygiene practices may benefit both maternal and infant oral health. This study assessed the oral health awareness and oral hygiene practices among married females. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 430 females using a self-administered close-ended questionnaire that was distributed through WhatsApp application. Chi-squared test and t -test were applied with significance level of p- value less than or equal to 0.05. Results Three hundred and fifty-six females responded to the survey. Ninety percent women brushed their teeth daily, 52% used dental floss, and 58% used mouthwash. Seventy-nine percent patients visited a dentist when had a dental problem. Females more than or equal 75% think that dentist visit is important or consider it safe and 34% had visited the dentist during pregnancy. Sixty-eight percent women think that incidence of oral disease increases during pregnancy, and 42% agreed that oral disease affect the baby's oral health. Sixty-seven percent were aware that women could develop pregnancy gingivitis and 8% think that poor oral health can lead to birth of premature baby. Mothers with less than or equal to 10 years of married life have shown significantly (≤0.04) higher knowledge and good oral hygiene practices than other older mothers. Regression analysis showed a significant (p ≤ 0.035) relationship between incidence of oral disease in pregnancy with married life years; effect of oral disease on baby' health with age and occupation; use of dental floss with income and living area; knowledge of pregnancy gingivitis with number of children; effect of bad oral hygiene on pregnancy outcome with income; and dentist visit during pregnancy with married life years. Conclusion Females with higher education, less years of married life, and higher number of children were better aware of oral health and oral hygiene practices and its effect on their baby's oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Child maltreatment, the abuse or neglect of children aged 0–18 years, is a severe and underreported global problem. Compared with other body parts, the orofacial region displays more signs of child maltreatment. Dentists and dental hygienists are therefore well situated to identify orofacial signs of child maltreatment. Aim: To map the current literature on orofacial signs of child maltreatment identified by dentists or dental hygienists. Design: A scoping review was conducted based on systematic searches of Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and CINAHL (EBSCOhost) for primary qualitative and quantitative studies through June 6, 2022. Results: Twenty‐nine studies were included in this scoping review. Though all child maltreatment types were identified in dental settings, physical abuse and dental neglect were most commonly identified. Reports of caries dominated the orofacial signs, followed by bruises (intra‐ and extraoral), poor oral hygiene, dental trauma, and lacerations (intra‐ and extraoral). Case reports were used most commonly to describe orofacial signs of child maltreatment. Conclusion: Dental clinicians identify orofacial signs of all child maltreatment types intraorally. Dentists identify the same extraoral signs as do other healthcare professionals, with bruising being the most common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This cross-sectional online questionnaire-based study evaluated the knowledge, awareness, and behaviors of dentists and senior dental students regarding oral cancer (OC). Materials and methods: This study included 168 dentists and senior dental students who had completed all theoretical educations and clinical practices. An online survey was administered to all participants to assess their awareness of the risk factors for OC, clinical knowledge, and behaviors. The participants' demographic characteristics and knowledge of OC were analyzed. Results: Of the participants, 48.8% were female and 51.2% were male. Their mean age was 27.04 ± 5.56 years (range: 21–51). In addition, 59.5% were dentists, and 40.5% were senior dental students. The dentists' mean time since graduation was 6.38 ± 5.64 years (range: 1–27). Routine oral mucosa examination for OC was significantly more frequent among the dentists than the senior dental students (p < 0.05). Among all participants, 33% of dentists and 51.5% of senior dental students had poor knowledge of OC-related or possibly predisposing factors. Routine evaluation of OC-related and predisposing risk factors, including human papillomavirus infection, smoking, alcohol use, trauma-related non-healing oral lesions caused by long-term incompatible prostheses, and poor oral hygiene, was significantly more frequent among the dentists than the senior dental students (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Educating dental students about a more comprehensive oral examination and early diagnosis of OC would help overcome the current lack of adequate knowledge and attitudes in OC prevention and early detection. A core curriculum compatible with the global standards on OC should be provided to dental students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peri-implant disease and health are associated with microbial dental plaque. Therefore, oral hygiene plays a role in preventing and treating these diseases. This study aimed to determine the relationships among knowledge of peri-implant status, oral hygiene habits, and peri-implant disease and health. Methods: A total of 144 implants in nonsmokers with controlled systemic disease were included in the study. Peri-implant disease and the conditions of the implants were determined with periodontal indices and radiographs based on the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions and The EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. Individuals were asked 66 questions regarding demographic information, oral hygiene habits and history, and knowledge of peri-implant diseases. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the three peri-implant disease and condition categories. Results: There was a significant difference between groups regarding toothpaste type (p < 0.05). Gum protection toothpaste was greater in the peri-implant health group. Patients' use of interdental products was very low; often, no products were used for implant prosthesis. There was no significant difference among the groups regarding oral hygiene product use or oral hygiene habits (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference between groups regarding frequency of visit (p < 0.05). The frequency of visits to the dentist for pain was greater for individuals with peri-implantitis. There is a significant difference between the groups' answers for the causative and initiating factors of peri-implant disease (p < 0.05). The peri-implant health group answered that microbial dental plaque is the most crucial initiating factor of peri-implant diseases, and bleeding on probing is the most critical determinant of peri-implant diseases at a higher rate than the other groups. Conclusions: Patients' oral hygiene habits and knowledge levels are almost similar according to peri-implant status. Knowledge does not reflect a patient's oral hygiene behavior. Clinicians should ensure that individuals' oral hygiene practices align with their increased awareness regarding peri-implant illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess and evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and usage of inter‑dental aids among the patients visiting a dental hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional descriptive study was conducted among patients using a questionnaire for evaluation of routine oral hygiene regimens. Results: 89% of patients brush their teeth only once a day. 77% of patients do not use any inter‑dental aid, while 76% of patients are unaware about inter‑dental aids. Conclusion: A very small part of the population is aware about the importance of using inter‑dental aids in maintaining proper oral hygiene. Dentists play a key role in educating the society and encouraging them to use other aids apart from toothbrushes to prevent oral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal disease has been associated with various systemic diseases including kidney disease. However, a causal relationship is yet to be established. One possible association is that periodontitis may cause an increased inflammatory response in kidney disease patients which in turn destroys endothelial vasculature. This may contribute to development of risk factors of kidney disease such as diabetic neuropathy and cardiovascular events leading the progression and mortality in kidney disease patients. The role of periodontal inflammation driving kidney disease is still under investigation. This review article highlights the role of periodontal inflammation in the development and progression of kidney disease. It is crucial that dental practitioners and nephrologists understand the association between periodontal and kidney disease. Early periodontal screening and educating patients about the importance of good oral hygiene may play an important role in prevention of progression of kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The success of composite restorations relies on material selection and practitioner-related factors that shape the overall outcome. This study explores the practices of Palestinian general dental practitioners in placing posterior composites, examining the impact of work sector, experience, and gender on their choices. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as an online cross-sectional questionnaire and involved 351 participants, with a response rate of 69.8%. The survey comprised 18 closed-ended questions covering demographics, material selection, and composite placement in special cases, techniques, and factors influencing the choices. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Composite was the predominant choice for small-size (83.7%) and large-size posterior cavities (60.4%). Practitioners commonly opted for composite restorations in cases involving occlusal parafunctional activity (60%), poor oral hygiene (78%), and subgingival cavities (72.2%). Only 19.6% and 5.3% reported occlusal and gingival beveling, respectively. Rubber dams for isolation stood at 30%, one-step self-etch adhesives at 44.9%, and the oblique layering technique at 51%. Light-emitting diode curing units were popular (97.55%), but monitoring output with a radiometer was infrequent (93.5%). Tofflemire metal matrix usage was 46.1%, whereas a sectional matrix system was employed by 29.8%. A 2 mm layer exposure to light curing for 20 s was reported by 62%, and 27.75% utilized additional light-curing postmatrix band removal. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for Palestinian dental professionals to update their clinical approaches in placing composite restorations in posterior teeth. Gender, work sector, and experience influence practitioners' choices, emphasizing the importance of tailored continuing education programs for improving clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyzes the dental hygiene habits of schoolchildren from parents' perspectives, using the STEPS approach recommended by the World Health Organization. The key points of oral health care in children include the role of the family in encouraging and maintaining proper oral hygiene practices. This study aimed to assess the oral hygiene practices of schoolchildren with on-site dentists in Romania. Additionally, it sought to establish correlations between these behaviors and the educational levels of the adults with whom they live with. The participants were selected from the zero grade to the eighth grade, totaling 3843students. Statistical analysis involved the application of Fisher's Exact Test and Z-tests with Bonferroni correction. Multinominal and binominal logistic regression models were employed to predict the impact of parents' education on children's oral health status and behavior. The oral health status of children evaluated by parents as poor was more frequent in children whose parents had a primary or gymnasium education (p < 0.001). Female adults with a university education evaluated the gum health of their children as very good to a much greater extent (41.7%, p < 0.001). Regarding the use of auxiliary means, the majority of parents with a university education mentioned that their children use dental floss (26.4% females/27.4% males) (p < 0.001), compared to those with primary education, where the percentage was only (1.2% males/3.5% females) (p < 0.001). The results of this study highlight that the education level of the adults with whom the children live with influences the perception of the teeth and gums health status, the frequency of oral hygiene, the use of fluoride toothpaste, and auxiliary brushing aids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dentistry plays a significant role in the supportive care of hospitalized children in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) as these patients arrive in this environment with altered immune systems and compromised oral health. This paper aims to present an integrative literature review on the role of dentists in the hospital setting, particularly in the PICU, and discuss the challenges encountered in this environment. A free search was conducted on the electronic platforms PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Sciences (Lilacs), and Virtual Health Library (BVS) from January to February 2023, with no defined publication period and including all types of studies. Health Science descriptors (DeCS/MeSH) were used in English and Portuguese, applying Boolean operators. According to the data collected, among the conditions requiring admission to the PICU, respiratory disorders, heart and kidney failure, neurological disorders, severe metabolic diseases, infections, injuries, traumas, near-drowning incidents, and post-operative care after complex surgeries stand out. Dental care in this environment reduce hospitalization time, costs, and improve the quality of life of pediatric patients. However, the integration of these professionals into the PICU is still limited. Dentists in the hospital setting optimize multidisciplinary work through protocol-based measures derived from studies conducted in adult patients in intensive care units. Due to the lack of robust evidence related to oral care practices in pediatric intensive care settings, further research is mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Oral health care is a leading unmet health care need of children with special health care needs (CSHCNs). The purposes of this study were to: (1) compare the responses of parents (parents, caregivers) of children with versus without special health care needs (SHCNs) concerning their child's functioning, oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior; and (2) assess which information parents received/wanted to receive from dentists. Methods: A total of 122 parents of CSHCNs and 115 parents of children without SHCNs responded to the surveys. Results: Parents of CSHCNs reported that their children had lower functioning (per a four-point scale, with zero indicating worst functioning; means without SHCNs/CSHCNs equal 1.98/2.70; P<0.001) and nonverbal interactions (2.24/2.77; P<0.001), flossed and used mouth rinse less frequently (per a fivepoint scale, with one indicating never: 2.23/2.70; P=0.002; 1.82/2.27; P=0.004) than parents of children without SHCNs. They reported more oral carerelated challenges (43.4 percent versus 21.7 percent; P<0.001), were less comfortable helping with oral care (per a five-point answer scale, with five indicating very comfortable: 3.92/4.48; P<0.001) and less interested in receiving information (3.13/3.71; P<0.001) than parents of children without SHCNs. Conclusions: Parents of children with or without special health care needs do not differ in their knowledge and attitudes. However, parents of CSHCNs are less comfortable in helping with oral care and less interested in receiving information than parents of children without SHCNs. Understanding the obstacles parents of CSHCNs face when providing oral care for their children can help dentists better support their oral healthrelated efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is common in children and has numerous extra-oesophageal manifestations which dental practitioners should be aware of. This article illustrates the role of the dentist in recognizing the signs and symptoms of GORD in children. A risk-based management system is illustrated to guide clinicians in managing children exhibiting erosive tooth wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]