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Backgound: Preformed metal crowns (PMCs) and zirconia crowns (ZCs) are commonly used for the treatment of primary molar caries. However, there have been no reports on factors influencing parental awareness, willingness to use these treatments, and the associated discomfort after crown placement in children.This study is the first to report factors influencing preformed crowns, providing a reference for the prevention and treatment of deciduous carious teeth. Methods: Parents whose children's posterior caries were restored with preformed crowns at Shenzhen Children's Hospital from October 2021 to October 2023 were recruited. A questionnaire gathered data on multiple variables, including basic information about the participants, their oral health behaviors, and their attitudes toward oral health. Results: Approximately two-thirds of the surveyed parents were aware of preformed metal crowns (PMCs) (67.8%), whereas over half were hardly aware of prefabricated zirconia crowns (ZCs) (59.6%). In terms of discomfort symptoms, 105 (76.7%) and 102 (76.1%) cases were reported after PMC and ZC placement respectively; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Among the surveyed parents, 19 (8.7%) expressed that they could not accept the PMC color, whereas all could accept the ZC color, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). A total of 217 parents (99.5%) could accept PMCs to protect or repair primary carious teeth; 29.8% of the parents stated that they were reluctant to use ZCs to protect or repair their children's deciduous teeth, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). In terms of location selection, the majority of surveyed parents chose comprehensive hospitals (58.7%) and stomatological hospitals (41.3%). In terms of institution selection, priority was given to the doctor's qualifications (90.4%). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that "acceptance of the PMC color", "oral health awareness", and "parental willingness to use PMCs" were positively correlated (P < 0.05) and that "non-nuclear family status" was negatively related to "parental willingness to use PMCs" (P < 0.05). The logistic multiple regression analysis revealed that oral health awareness and restoration awareness significantly affected the duration of discomfort symptoms after PMC placement (P < 0.15). Children with higher annual family incomes, families with fewer children, lower consumption of desserts, better oral health awareness, and teeth brushing under the assistance of their parents showed a dramatic decline in untimely PMC repair (P < 0.15); children who brushed their teeth less and whose parents had a poorer perception of restoration methods showed an increase in untimely PMC repair (P < 0.15). Conclusions: This discrepancy is reflected in the cognition and willingness to use PMCs and ZCs. PMCs are more accepted due to cost, whereas ZCs are preferred for aesthetics. The factors affecting PMC restoration are oral health awareness, manner of restoration, family income, number of children, consumption of desserts, and toothbrushing frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This prospective clinical study examined the effects of fixed orthodontic appliances on oral hygiene and assessed changes in the oral microflora structure of orthodontic patients using high-throughput sequencing technology. Methods: A total of 45 patients undergoing initial fixed orthodontic treatment were recruited from three hospitals in Beijing, China. Clinical parameters and oral hygiene habits questionnaire were recorded at pre-treatment (T0) and at a 6-month follow-up (T1). Saliva samples were collected for DNA extraction, PCR amplification, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. Microbial diversity and structural changes in abundance were evaluated. Results: After six months of orthodontic treatment, patients' daily brushing frequency increased (P ≤ 0.01), while the plaque index and the debris index decreased. A total of 3,344,549 valid tags were obtained from 90 saliva samples. After the six-month follow-up, the microbial diversity in patients' saliva samples increased significantly. High-throughput sequencing identified 3,662 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), with the dominant phyla being Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Fusobacteriota, Patescibacteria, Campylobacterota and Spirochaetota. At the phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes_C and Spirochaetota at T1 significantly increased compared to T0. Conclusion: During fixed orthodontic treatment, although patients' oral hygiene habits improved, significant changes in the oral microbiota structure were still observed, with an increase in anaerobic and pathogenic bacteria that may potentially impact oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct and indirect associations have been identified among health literacy, health behavior, and health status. Thus, we aimed to investigate the influence of oral health literacy and behaviors in parents on their children's oral health status. Moreover, we aimed to analyze the mentioned mediating effects through oral health behavior management. Methods: Oral health information of 1,102 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years was collected from five primary schools in Jinjiang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China. The decay-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) index and soft scale plaque index (PI) were used by professional dentists aided by school teachers to assess caries and periodontal health among the children. Simultaneously, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey among the parents to determine their oral health literacy and health behavior and their children's oral health behavior. The probit model, instrumental variables, and mediation effect model were used to evaluate the association of parents' oral health literacy and behavior with their children's oral health status. Results: The DFMT index was 1.58 among the children, with zero caries in 646 (58.6%) children. The PI was 0.68, with zero gum disease in 517 (46.9%). The univariate analysis suggested that the parents' health literacy and behavior were correlated with their children's oral health status (P < 0.01). Parents' oral health behavior significantly affected their children's oral health status. Simultaneously, a stronger correlation was observed upon using parents' health literacy as an instrumental variable to assess the endogeneity, indicating endogeneity problems. Parents' health-related behaviors exerted a mediating effect on children's oral health, with parents helping children brush their teeth demonstrating the strongest effect. Conclusion: Parents' oral health-related behaviors can affect their children's oral health status. We recommend enhancing parents' oral health literacy to improve children's oral health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of self-management interventions based on the COM-B model on peri-implant conditions in older adults with periodontitis. Materials and methods: The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 (control group) received only an oral health education (OHE) pamphlet. Group 2 (test group) performed a self-management intervention based on the COM-B model. Each patient was examined for the most inflammatory implant. The measurement parameters included self-efficacy, self-management ability, and clinical indicators such as probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), modified gingival index (mGI), modified plaque index (mPI), and peri-implant mucositis severity score (PMSS). The data was collected at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results: 42 patients underwent testing for 3 months. After 12 weeks, the improvement of self-efficacy, self-management ability, and the reduction of BOP, mPI, and PMSS in the test group was significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion: The study suggests that self-management interventions based on the COM-B model can enhance the self-management ability of older adults with periodontitis and reduce peri-implant inflammation. This method is more effective than distributing OHE pamphlets. Trial registration: The randomized controlled clinical trial was registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2400082660, Date: 03/04/2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-17A, is efficacious and well tolerated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. However, there are limited data on the real-world safety of ixekizumab in Chinese patient populations. We performed an observational study of ixekizumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in routine clinical practice in China. Here we present a further safety analysis of this study. Methods: In this prospective, observational, single-arm, multicenter, post-marketing safety study, adults (≥18 years) with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis receiving ixekizumab were enroled at dermatology departments in hospitals across China and prospectively followed for 12 weeks or until their last dose of ixekizumab. In this analysis, we evaluated adverse events (AEs) of special interest (AESIs) identified using MedDRA® search strategies. We also analyzed AEs and AESIs occurring in greater than ten patients in subgroups by age (< 65/≥ 65 years), sex, body weight (< 60/60 kg to < 80/≥ 80 kg), renal impairment, hepatic impairment, history of tuberculosis, history of HBV infection, recent or active infection, history of allergic reaction/hypersensitivity, and number (0–1/2–4/5–7) of ixekizumab 80 mg injections after baseline until day 105. Results: This analysis included 663/666 patients enrolled in the primary study. At least one AESI was reported in 224 (33.8%) patients and considered related to ixekizumab in 181 (27.3%); the most common were injection site reactions (n = 131, 19.8%), infections (n = 80, 12.1%), and allergic reactions/hypersensitivity events (n = 59, 8.9%). The proportion of patients with ≥ 1 AE was higher for females versus males (99/186, 53.2% versus 184/477, 38.6%, p = 0.0006). The proportion of patients with ≥ 1 AE increased with the number of ixekizumab injections after baseline [61/188 (32.4%) for zero to one injection, 151/338 (44.7%) for two to four injections, and 61/106 (57.5%) for five to seven injections; p = 0.0001]. Conclusions: In this real-world study, ixekizumab was well tolerated in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with no difference in safety across most patient subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental caries in young children is a difficult global oral health problem. In the last decade, China has put a great deal of effort into reducing the prevalence of dental caries. This study, which is part of the China Population Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance 2021, aimed to investigate the prevalence of dental caries among children aged 5 in Shanghai, China, and its associated factors. Methods: A total of 1281 children aged 5 years from 6 districts in Shanghai were selected by a stratified sampling method. The survey consisted of an oral health questionnaire and an oral health examination. The questionnaire included questions on oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. The oral health examination used WHO standards. After screening, the data were input and analysed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to study the relevant factors affecting dental caries. Results: The prevalence of dental caries among 1281 children was 51.0%, the dmft index score was 2.46, the Significant Caries Index (SiC) score was 6.39, and the SiC10 score was 10.35. Dental caries experience was related to the frequency of sweet drink consumption, the age of starting tooth brushing, eating habits after brushing, whether the children had received an oral examination provided by the government (p < 0.05), and the mother's education level but was not related to sex, the use of fluoride toothpaste, the frequency of brushing, whether the parents assisted brushing, or the frequency of flossing (p > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the region of residence, eating after brushing and the age of starting brushing were associated with dental caries. Conclusions: Dental caries remained prevalent among 5-year-old children in Shanghai, China. Prevention strategies that target the associated factors including region of residence, eating after brushing, and the age of starting brushing should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental data can reveal evidence for a past population's oral health, nutrition, and certain cultural activities. This study aims to explore oral health and dental attrition during the late Bronze Age in order to explore health outcomes in different subgroups as well as aspects of foodways and changes in subsistence strategies during the second millennium BCE in northwest China. To do this, the skeletal remains of adult individuals associated with the Siwa material culture (1400–1100 BC) from the Mogou site (n = 28) were macroscopically assessed and compared with previously published data derived from a subsample of individuals associated with Qijia period material culture complex (1750–1400 BC) from the same site. The results show that the Siwa‐period population experienced a high frequency of carious lesions and antemortem tooth loss associated with advanced attrition (of both molars and nonmolar teeth), which did not vary significantly by sex. Females had a higher prevalence of carious lesions and antemortem tooth loss than did males, while males had a higher prevalence of dental calculus. These male/female health outcomes are also attested during the earlier Qijia period at the Mogou site. The Siwa period differs from the Qijia in that females experienced slightly worse attrition than their predecessors. Overall, oral health does not diverge significantly between the Qijia and Siwa periods, suggesting that the factors that contributed to oral health including dietary practices may have persisted diachronically for individuals buried at this site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the diagnosis and treatment of hemophilic children in China has significantly improved. However, oral health conditions, which affect quality of life, haven't received attention in this population. To explore the oral health status and oral hygiene of children and adolescents with hemophilia in the Children's Hemophilia Comprehensive Care Center of China. Dental and oral hygiene examinations were performed in children and adolescents with hemophilia who visited Beijing Children's Hospital. DMFT/dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth in permanent and primary teeth) was assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) was used to evaluate the oral hygiene condition of the subjects. Questionnaires were completed by their parents. SPSS 21.0 was used for statistical analysis. A total of 114 children and adolescents were enrolled. The caries prevalence was 57.4%, 72.2% and 41.2% in primary, mixed and permanent dentitions respectively. The filling rates were 14.4%, 13.9%, and 11.4%, respectively, and the OHI-S scores of the three dentition groups were 1.49 ± 0.46, 1.57 ± 0.43, and 1.76 ± 0.46, respectively. A total of 103 valid questionnaires were collected. Sixty-nine children (67%) didn't brushed their teeth 2 times a day. Nearly half of the parents knew little about fluoride toothpaste. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that brushing teeth with the help of parents had a significant positive impact on OHI-S. Conclusion: Dental health was unsatisfactory among hemophilic children and adolescents. The caries filling rates were low. Patients and their parents did not give much attention to oral health. What is Known: • Caries and gingivitis are the two main oral diseases that affect children with hemophilia. • However, the oral health conditions of children and adolescents with hemophilia have not received much attention in China. What is New: • This is the first study concentrating on the dental health of children with hemophilia in China. • Dental health was unsatisfactory among children and adolescents with hemophilia in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of caries and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and try to investigate their common risk factors among adult residents in Guangxi province. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted on a sample of 2993 adults from five different areas of Guangxi province. The sociodemographic data, history of personal habits such as diet and physical activities, physical measurements, oral examination results and biochemical laboratory test data were collected to establish a database and prepare a sound research model. Chi‐square test and multiple logistic regression were used to analyse the risk factors for dental caries and IGR. Results: The prevalence rate for caries was 85.9%, and the mean DMFT score was 7.35. In multiple logistic regression, after adjustment, education level, occupation, daily consumption of vegetables, weekly consumption of carbonated beverages and weekly exercise were associated with caries (odds ratio [OR]: 2.10, OR: 1.80, OR: 1.40, OR: 2.45, OR: 2.38). The prevalence of IGR was 33.5%, and after adjustment, results showed that occupation, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high‐density lipoprotein‐C levels and low‐density lipoprotein‐C levels were significantly associated with IGR (OR: 0.80, OR: 1.70, OR: 1.56, OR: 1.88, OR: 1.60, OR: 1.43, OR: 1.48). The strength of association between caries/IGR and risk factors was a weak association or moderate association. Conclusions: We have not found common risk factors between dental caries and IGR. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore these common risk factors to prevent caries and IGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the effect of oral comprehensive healthcare on the prevalence of early childhood caries in urban areas of China.Materials and Methods: A total of 398 children aged 4-5 years from six different kindergartens in Qingdao were recruited to participate in a 1-year single-blind randomised controlled clinical trial. They were randomly assigned into either an experimental group (187 children) or a control group (211 children). The experimental group received comprehensive oral healthcare including oral health examinations, oral health education for children and their guardians, and local fluoride application and dental treatment, whereas children in the control group only received oral health examinations twice a year. The children's parents finished a comprehensive oral health questionnaire before and after the experiment. After a year, the oral health status of two groups of children was statistically analysed to determine the effect of oral comprehensive healthcare on early childhood caries.Results: After 1 year, the numbers of decayed teeth (dt), decayed tooth surfaces (ds), filled teeth (ft), and filled tooth surfaces (fs) in the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group (p <0.001). The dmft and dmfs were also significantly different between the two groups (p <0.05). Statistically significant differences were additionally shown in oral hygiene habits and eating habits of both the children and their parents in the two groups compared with 1 year before (all p <0.001).Conclusion: Implementation of comprehensive oral healthcare measures both prevents and reduces early childhood caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of oral health status and swallowing function with cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults from Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data of 215 participants aged ≥ 50 years which were retrieved from the Xiangya and Panasonic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) Study, a community-based study conducted among the residents of the urban areas of Hunan province in China. Demographic information of all participants was collected. We determined oral function by evaluating oral hygiene, oral dryness, occlusal force, tongue pressure, chewing function, swallowing function, remaining teeth number, and other indicators. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to screen for cognitive function. The relationship between each oral function evaluation item and cognitive function was investigated using correlation analysis. The associations between oral health status and swallowing function with cognitive impairment were inferred using multiple regression analysis. Results: The general characteristics of participants showed statistically significant correlation coefficients in number of teeth remaining (p = 0.003) and number of teeth lost (p < 0.0001). Almost half of the 25 participants (48%) were aged from 70–80 years. Only 25 older adults (11.6% of the participants) were determined to have cognitive impairment by MMSE sores less than 24. Tongue pressure in male participants was the only significant independent variable that was associated with cognitive impairment (p = 0.01971). The results indicate that male participants with lower MMSE scores had a relative deficiency in tongue pressure. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study, the oral health status and swallowing function of participants were in relatively good condition and showed low correlations with cognitive impairment. However, lower tongue pressures were associated with lower MMSE scores in males, indicating it could serve as a novel oral function index for evaluating cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the impact of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in its outbreak stage (Spring Festival in 2020) on oral emergency services. Methods: Oral emergency cases in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, during the Spring Festival after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 were collected and compared with those in 2018 and 2019. Electronic medical records including the visited department, age, sex, time, date, region, and diagnosis were collected and analyzed. The results were statistically analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Compared with that in 2018 and 2019, the total number of patients decreased during the Spring Festival in 2020 (p < 0.001), but the proportions of patients visiting Oral Surgery and Oral, Head, and Neck Oncology Emergency departments increased. The average age of patients increased, and the number of night visits decreased. Toothache diseases involving endodontic and periodontal diseases increased, while the proportion of maxillofacial trauma decreased. The wasn't a linear association between diagnosis or genders (P > 0.001) across years. However, a linear-by-linear association between age groups and years, visited departments and years were observed (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The study revealed that the transmission of COVID-19 affected the patient population and structure of disease types and oral services in 2020 during the Spring Festival, compared with those in the previous two years. The visits to oral emergency departments and the proportions of patients who were children and adolescents reduced; meanwhile, the percentage of the elderly people increased during the outbreak of COVID-19. The clear trend of age groups and visiting divisions could be used as a marker to reflect the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. These results may serve as a reference for dental practitioners involved in oral emergency services and to allocate the limited emergency health resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 and the subsequent intermittent lockdown measures from 2020 to 2022 in China critically disrupted regular medical activities, including dental care. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on long-term follow-up at the Stomatology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and to evaluate potential causes of loss to follow-up. Methods: A total of 1062 patients with periodontitis who visited the hospital from January 2019 to June 2022 were included in this study, and patient information was collected retrospectively in the form of a telephone questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 19 questions in four areas: demographic characteristics, clinical periodontal parameters, oral hygiene habits, and follow-up-related open-ended questions (specific reasons for loss to follow-up, attitudes toward follow-up and suggestions for increasing participation in future follow-ups). Regression analysis of factors influencing the follow-up of patients with periodontitis were analyzed by regression analysis using R (v4.2.3) software. Results: A total of 536 (50.47%) valid questionnaires were collected from 1062 patients. Personal factors (42.5%), instead of the COVID-19 epidemic (20.0%), were the main factors that impacted the loss to follow-up in long-term periodontal treatment, while work factors (19.8%), hospital factors (16.4%), and transportation or distance factors (14.7%) were all important factors. A family history of periodontitis [odds ratio (OR) = 0.567, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.393, 0.817, p = 0.002], as well as frequent use of dental devices (OR = 0.540, 95% CI: 0.375, 0.777, p = 0.001), were significantly associated with a "negative" attitude toward follow-up visits. Conclusion: This survey suggests that the COVID-19 epidemic factor was an important cause contributed to the loss to follow-up during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) among a variety of potential factors. Majority of patients had negative attitudes toward subsequent continued participation in supportive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tooth brushing with fluoridated toothpaste has become the most important way to provide the anti-caries effect of fluoride around the world. China has promoted the use of fluoridated toothpaste since 1989. However, there are few studies on the national profile of use of fluoridated toothpaste and related factors in Chinese adolescents. We carried out this study to investigate oral hygiene behaviours, especially the status of tooth brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and its correlates among adolescents, based on data from the latest Nation Oral Health Survey in mainland China. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 118,601 participants aged 12–15 years using multistage stratified sampling. Questionnaires were completed by students at school. Data employed in analyses were extracted from the questionnaire, including information on tooth brushing, fluoridated toothpaste, dental floss, sociodemographic factors, fluoride knowledge and attitude towards regular dental check-ups. A binary logistic regression was performed to compute the odds ratios (OR). Tooth brushing twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste was the dependent variable. Sociodemographic factors, fluoride knowledge, attitude towards regular dental check-ups, dental visit experience and perceived oral health were the independent variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 32.6% of participants brushed their teeth twice daily, 7.4% used fluoridated toothpaste, and 3.9% cleaned their teeth twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste. The logistic regression showed the probability of twice-a-day tooth brushing with fluoridated toothpaste was higher among these groups: females (OR: 1.141; 95%CI: 1.072–1.214), 15-year-olds (OR: 1.786; 95%CI: 1.634–1.952), from urban areas (OR: 1.389; 95%CI: 1.288–1.497), without siblings (OR: 1.351; 95%CI: 1.259–1.450), with an educated father (OR: 1. 605; 95%CI: 1.442–1.788) and mother (OR: 1.706; 95%CI: 1.530–1.903), having dental visit experiences (OR: 1.702; 95%CI: 1.589–1.823), rating one's oral health as good (OR: 2.341; 95%CI: 2.083–2.631), having fluoride knowledge (OR: 4.345; 95%CI: 4.034–4.678) and having a positive attitude towards regular dental check-ups (OR: 1.589; 95%CI: 1.460–1.729). Conclusions: The oral hygiene behaviours of Chinese adolescents were undesirable. Twice daily tooth brushing with fluoridated toothpaste was significantly associated with sociodemographic factors, fluoride knowledge, and attitudes towards regular dental check-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of powered and manual tooth brushing on gingival inflammation in a Chinese population with mild to moderate gingivitis. Methods: The present randomised, single-blind, parallel clinical trial was conducted in five cities in China. Generally healthy participants aged 18 to 65 years, who were non-smokers and had at least 20 sites of gingival bleeding, were included as eligible subjects. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the powered tooth brushing (PTB) group or standard manual tooth brushing (MTB) group. All subjects were supplied with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), Modified Gingival Index (MGI) and the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (MPI) were used to evaluate the outcomes. Results: A total of 235 subjects completed the study, 118 in the PTB group and 117 in the MTB group. The mean age and sex distribution for the PTB and MTB groups were 34.40 ± 9.99 years, 89 women and 29 men, and 34.20 ± 10.14 years, 82 women and 35 men, respectively. After 6 months, the percentage decrease in MGI was 26.150% ± 26.897% for the PTB group and 14.768% ± 38.544% for the MTB group (P = 0.0092). Statistically significant differences between types of tooth brushing were also observed at 6 months for GBI, and at all time points for MPI. Conclusion: Tooth brushing with a powered toothbrush twice a day was shown to be more effective than use of a manual toothbrush in reducing gingival inflammation, gingival bleeding and surface plaque after a 6-month period. Both kinds of toothbrushes were safe for the oral tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To investigate the oral health literacy (OHL) of nurses and explore the factors affecting their OHL. Background: OHL is important for improving the oral health outcomes. Nurses' OHL may affect the oral health of themselves, families, and patients. Few studies have examined the OHL and its related factors among nurses. Design: A cross‐sectional design following the STROBE guideline. Methods: A total of 449 nurses were recruited from tertiary hospitals in the minority areas of southwest China. The participants completed an online questionnaire, which contained questions related to the OHL, sociodemographic factors, general health, oral health and related behaviours, oral health knowledge, attitudes, and oral health‐related quality of life. OHL was measured using the validated Chinese version of the short‐form Health Literacy of Dentistry (HeLD‐14) scale. Descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyse the data. Results: The median HeLD‐14 score (p25–p75) was 50.0 (44.0–54.0). The regression model for OHL was found to be significant. The factors that influenced OHL included oral health knowledge, oral health attitudes, self‐reported oral health, annual household income, and dental flossing; these factors accounted for 13.9% of the variance in OHL. Conclusions: The nurse' OHL has room for improvement. Nurses' OHL could be improved by enriching their oral health knowledge, promoting their positive oral health attitudes, increasing their household income, and helping them build correct oral health behaviours. Relevance to clinical practice: The findings of the study could be used to make a case for changing nursing curricula. Oral health knowledge curriculum or programmes targeted towards nurses should be developed to improve their OHL. Patient or public contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of children's migration on their oral health outcomes in multi-beneficial kindergartens in Jiangnan District, Nanning, China, and to provide a basis for improving the oral health of migrant children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 470 children aged 5 years in Jiangnan District, Nanning, Guangxi. A questionnaire was used to collect information on their demographic and socioeconomic background, migration experience, eating habits, oral hygiene behaviours and utilization of dental care services. Dental caries of primary teeth was examined using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index recommended by the World Health Organization. Dental caries experience and oral health-related behaviours were compared between migrant and resident children. The impact of children's migration attributes on their oral health outcomes was examined by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Among the examined children, 52.3% were migrant children. The prevalence of caries among the children in multi-beneficial kindergartens was 78.3%, and the mean number of dmft was 5.73 ± 5.00. The prevalence of caries was 81.7% for migrant children and 74.6% for resident children (p = 0.060). No significant difference was found in the mean numbers of DMFT between migrant children and resident children (5.96 ± 4.81 vs. 5.47 ± 5.20, p = 0.139). There were significant differences in the frequency of tooth brushing (p = 0.023) and parental help with tooth brushing (p = 0.008), typical use of fluoride (p = 0.012), regular dental check-ups (p = 0.003) and experience of dental fillings for caries (p < 0.001) between migrant and resident children. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that among the children with caries, the proportion of resident children who had regular dental check-ups was 1.720 times higher than that of migrant children (95% CI = 1.155 ~ 2.560), and resident children were more likely to have caries filled than migrant children (OR = 3.313, 95% CI = 1.585 ~ 6.927). Conclusion: Oral health status and oral health behaviours were poor among children in multi-beneficial kindergartens in Nanning, China, and migration might be a significant predictive indicator for the poor utilization of dental care services by children. The government departments should make special policy to promote the children's oral health in multi-beneficial kindergartens, and invest more to cover the migrant children's utilization of oral health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visual or hearing impairments in students seriously affect their quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify oral hygiene status and its influencing factors on visual or hearing impairments in students in Northeast China. Methods: This study was conducted in May 2022. A total of 118 visually impaired students and 56 hearing impaired students from Northeast China were included in this study via census. Oral examinations and questionnaire-based surveys of students and their teachers were conducted. The oral examinations included caries experience, prevalence of gingival bleeding and dental calculus. The questionnaires included three parts: Social demographics (residence, sex and race) and parents' educational level; Oral hygiene habits and medical treatment behaviors; Knowledge and attitudes towards oral health care. This questionnaire was selected from the Fourth China National Oral Health Survey and the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were previously tested. T tests, one-way ANOVA, χ2 tests and multivariate logistic analyses were conducted to evaluate the differences and dependent variables of dental caries. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in visually impaired and hearing impaired students were 66.10% and 66.07%. The mean number of DMFT, prevalence of gingival bleeding and dental calculus in visually impaired students were 2.71 ± 3.06, 52.08% and 59.38%, respectively. The mean number of DMFT, prevalence of gingival bleeding and dental calculus in hearing impaired students were 2.57 ± 2.83, 17.86% and 42.86%, respectively. The results of the multivariate logistic analysis showed that fluoride use and parents' educational background had an impact on the caries experience of visually impaired students. The daily toothbrushing frequency and parents' educational background had an impact on the caries experience of hearing impaired students. Conclusions: The oral health situation of students with visual or hearing impairments remains severe. It is still necessary to promote oral and general health in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dysphagia is one of the common complications caused by stroke, leading to poor oral health. Oral health is often neglected after stroke by clinical care providers and the patients. Identifying the status of oral health in hospitalised stroke patients with swallowing disorders will facilitate the attention of clinical care providers. Aim: To investigate the differences in the oral health status between hospitalised post‐stroke patients with dysphagia and non‐dysphagia. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Methods: A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants. Participants included hospitalised post‐stroke patients with dysphagia and without dysphagia. Stroke patients were recruited from the Department of Neurology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital in China. A total of 120 stroke patients completed the survey. The data collected included their demographics, the scores on the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT), Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), and the Eating Assessment Tool‐10 (EAT‐10). The study was compliant with the STROBE checklist. Results: The average age of the dysphagia group was 67 (64~76) vs the participants without dysphagia group 67 (65~76), (p =.610). The mean standard deviation (SD) OHAT score of participants with dysphagia was 5.28 (2.33) compared to participants without dysphagia 8.89 (3.07), (p <.05). This result indicates post‐stroke dysphagia (PSD) patients had worse oral health than stroke patients without dysphagia. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that oral health status was the independent influencing factor of swallowing function (p <.01). Conclusion: The participants with dysphagia had worse oral health status compared to those without dysphagia, illustrating the critical importance of improving attention to oral health management in patients with post‐stroke swallowing disorders. Relevance to clinical practice: Oral health was often omitted when comparing to other functional impairments resulting from stroke. Health caregivers of post‐stroke patients with dysphagia should be aware of the importance of evaluating patient's oral condition and implementing oral care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate caries risk assessment (CRA)-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dentists in China, to describe their subjective ratings of the significance of specific caries risk factors and to identify factors associated with the level of knowledge, attitudes, and use of CRA in routine clinical practice. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional anonymous online questionnaire survey was performed. The questionnaire was distributed via WeChat (Tencent, Shenzhen, China) to practicing dentists between November 25 and December 25, 2021. For participant recruitment, we employed purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected using a specialized web-based survey tool (www.wjx.cn) and analyzed with descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Results: A total of 826 valid questionnaires were collected. Only 292 (35.4%) respondents used CRA in routine practice, among whom a majority (243, 83.2%) did not use a specific CRA tool. The routine use of CRA was associated with the type of practicing office, attendance of caries-related lectures, the habit of reading caries-related literature, geographic location, and the total knowledge score. The mean total knowledge score was 3.13 (score range: 0 to 6). Knowledge levels were related to several sociodemographic characteristics, including geographic location, the type of practicing office, attendance of caries-related lectures and the habit of reading caries-related literature. The risk factor deemed most important was "current oral hygiene." Conclusions: Caries risk assessment has not widely entered clinical practice in China. The level of CRA-related knowledge among dentists was generally suboptimal. Clinical relevance: Strengthening CRA-related education may allow practitioners to develop a better understanding of caries risk assessment and hence promote its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite poor oral hygiene, the Baiku Yao (BKY) ethnic group in China presents a low prevalence of dental caries, which may be related to genetic susceptibility. Due to strict intra-ethnic marriage rule, this ethnic has an advantage in studying the interaction between genetic factors and other regulatory factors related to dental caries. Methods: Peripheral blood from a caries-free adult male was used for whole genome sequencing, and the BKY assembled genome was compared to the Han Chinese genome. Oral saliva samples were collected from 51 subjects for metabolomic and metagenomic analysis. Multiomics data were integrated for combined analysis using bioinformatics approaches. Results: Comparative genomic analysis revealed the presence of structural variations in several genes associated with dental caries. Metabolomic and metagenomic sequencing demonstrated the caries-free group had significantly higher concentration of antimicrobials and higher abundance of core oral health-related microbiota. The functional analysis indicated that cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance and the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway were enriched in the caries-free group. Conclusions: Our study provided new insights into the specific regulatory mechanisms that contribute to the low prevalence of dental caries in the specific population and may provide new evidence for the genetic diagnosis and control of dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate nurses' self‐efficacy and attitudes of providing oral care in geriatric care facilities (GCFs) and compare differences between individuals, facilities and countries. Design: A cross‐sectional and multicentre study. Methods: Data were collected from 852 nurses in 42 GCFs using two scales, "Self‐Efficacy for Providing Mouth Care" (SE‐PMC) and "Attitudes for Providing Mouth Care" (A‐PMC), and analysed using t‐test and ANOVA. Results: Totally 852 nurses (844 females, 99%) participated in this study with an effective response rate of 85.2%. Scores of SE‐PMC and A‐PMC of nurses varied significantly among GCFs with different sizes, types and years of establishment and differentiated among staff about the length of employment (p <.05). Nurses (N = 434) in North Carolina scored higher than nurses in Shanghai both in SE‐PMC and A‐PMC (p <.05). Establishment and implementation of Oral health promotion programmes were desired based on characteristics of different institutions and nurses' clinical ladder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Situated in the middle Hexi corridor, a vital passage of the ancient Silk Road, the Heishuiguo site was a military town on the northwestern frontier of the Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE). To understand the lifestyle of the Heishuiguo population, levels of dental caries and tooth wear were assessed. Archaeological findings and historical records revealed a mixed subsistence strategy dependent upon agricultural production and domesticated animals at Heishuiguo. This was also supported by evidence from stable isotope analysis. Teeth are an excellent material for the reconstruction of ancient diet, subsistence strategies, and social behavior. The rate of dental caries in the Heishuiguo population fell into the range of mixed economic population. Tooth wear analysis, however, shows a conflicting result. Anterior tooth wear is particularly severe at Heishuiguo, indicating subsistence practices similar to hunter‐gatherers and modern Xinjiang Kazakhs. As a major Han garrison, the majority of the Heishuiguo populace were either immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. Their diet, with rich nutritional value, portability, and adapted to long‐term preservation needs, suited environmental requirements at Heishuiguo. However, these foods generally required heavier use of cutting and tearing motions with the anterior teeth. Frequent occlusion (alignment) as a result of such actions resulted in severe tooth wear. Such tooth wear may be attributed to a preference for tough, dry foods, such as nang cake along the Heishuiguo population, as well abundant meat consumption. Such a dietary culture resulted from the hot and dry climate, complex geographical conditions, and abundant resources at Heishuiguo. The result was that a unique lifestyle and dietary culture gradually formed at Heishuiguo due to this creative adaptation to the local environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity and dental caries among children and adolescents are growing worldwide public health problems. They share some common and modifiable influences. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and dental caries among children and adolescents in Huizhou and explore the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) category and dental caries. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 105,181 students (55,500 males and 49,681 females) from 87 schools in Huizhou. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. Based on Chinese BMI standards, students were classified into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity groups. Dental caries was diagnosed according to criteria recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). We used the Chi-square test to compare proportions of groups and performed Association Rules Mining to identify patterns and combinations of BMI categories and dental caries. Finally, a multilevel logistic regression model was applied to analyze the association between BMI category and dental caries when confounders were considered. Results: The prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among children and adolescents was 7.56%, 8.85%, and 2.95%, respectively. The overall prevalence of dental caries was 58.10%, with a lower prevalence among boys than girls. Students from primary schools and remote towns more easily suffer from dental caries. Caries prevalence of students belonged to underweight, normal, overweight, and obesity was 65.6%, 58.8%, 49.6%, and 46.1% individually. With increasing BMI levels, the prevalence of dental caries decreased. Further, this trend still exists in each subgroup of gender, educational stage, school type, and area. Association rules indicate underweight has a positive effect on the occurrence of dental caries, while overweight or obesity has a negative impact on the occurrence of dental caries. The three-level logistic regression model results show that BMI category is inversely associated with dental caries after adjusting confounders. Conclusion: Obesity is negatively associated with dental caries among children and adolescents in Huizhou. Further research is required to investigate how dietary habits, oral hygiene habits, and parental socioeconomic status mediate the association between BMI and dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke patients have poor oral hygiene, experience oral dysfunction due to disease factors, and have impaired oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to determine the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of stroke inpatients, assess the OHRQoL of these patients, and identify their correlates. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 281 stroke inpatients aged between 22 and 88 years (57.94 ± 10.94) were conveniently selected from three hospitals in Guangzhou, China. OHRQoL was measured among these stroke patients using a Chinese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. Mean scores, standard deviations, and frequency distributions were obtained. The Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal‒Wallis H test, Spearman's correlation, and multiple linear regression were used in the analysis. Results: The mean score of the patients' OHRQoL was 8.37 ± 6.67, with the highest score in the pain or discomfort of the mouth dimension (3.11 ± 2.13) and pain being the most common negative effect (13.5%). In multiple linear regression analysis, significant differences were found between patients only in age (P = 0.008), toothache (P < 0.001), self-rated oral health (P < 0.001), time since last dentist visit (P = 0.037) and reason for not having visited a dentist in the past year (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The OHRQoL of patients hospitalised with stroke was moderate, and oral conditions still need to be improved. Increasing age, toothache, a longer time since the last dental visit and the reason for not visiting a dentist in the past year had a negative effect on OHRQoL, and better self-rated oral health had a positive effect. Therefore, in clinical work, greater attention should be given to elderly stroke patients, patients with poor oral status and poor oral health behaviours, timely assessment of patients' swallowing function, nutritional function, and self-care ability, and early and targeted oral health interventions and guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical incision, endotracheal intubation, structural changes in the oral cavity, and other factors lead to a divergence in oral care between patients after oral surgery and ordinary inpatients. High-quality oral care can reduce the incidence of incision infection and ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, there is a lack of guidelines or expert consensus on oral care after oral cancer surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the practicing situation of nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU) for postoperative patients with oral cancer and their need for training. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study design was conducted in 19 ICUs of 11 tertiary hospitals from Henan province in China. Data were collected from 173 nurses and 19 head nurses online using a structured questionnaire. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were performed to analyze the data using SPSS (Version 25.0). Results: Seven ICUs (36.8%) developed evaluation regulations for the oral care of postoperative patients with oral cancer, and eight ICUs (42.1%) described the operating standards. A total of 173 nurses completed the questionnaire, and the median score was 75 (68, 78). Almost all of the examined nurses (91.2%) assessed patients' oral hygiene at a fixed time, while in 52.0% and 28.3% of nurses, the first oral care and frequency of oral care after surgery was determined based on the individual patient's situation. More than half of the nurses (55.5%) spent approximately 5–10 min conducting oral care for patients. Physiological saline solution (82.7%), swabbing (91.9%), and oral care package with cotton ball (86.1%) were the most popular oral care mouthwash, method, and tool, respectively. Nurses sought help from senior nurses (87.3%) and doctors (83.8%), mostly to solve difficulties of oral care. Moreover, 76.9% of the nurses believed that the lack of knowledge and skills surrounding oral care was the main barrier for nurses to implement oral care. The majority of participants (69.4%) had never received continuing education or training in oral care for postoperative patients with oral cancer, and almost all (98.8%) of the respondents stated their preference to receive training in standardized oral care skills. Indications and contraindications (84.4%), tools (81.5%), and mouthwash (80.9%) of oral care were the items that the respondents were most eager to learn about. Approximately three quarters of nurses preferred scenario simulation practice as the training method. Conclusion: Although the participants had high oral care scores for postoperative patients with oral cancer, there was great diversity in the practice. The lack of oral care knowledge was deemed the main barrier in delivering quality oral care, and the educational need was stated by almost all participants. We suggest that a standard protocol or clinical practice guidelines for oral care for postoperative patients with oral cancer should be developed, and nurses should be educated to equip them with professional knowledge and skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, oral care for older people has received extensive attention in long-term care facilities. The Self-Efficacy for Providing Mouth Care (SE-PMC) and Attitudes for Providing Mouth Care (A-PMC) scale evaluated the self-efficacy and attitude of nursing staff while providing oral care. However, whether this scale is valid and reliable for Chinese nursing staff in China remains unverified. This study aims to translate the English version of SE-PMC and A-PMC into Chinese and determine their reliability and validity. Methods: After obtaining the author's consent, the procedure for a double-back translation and cross-cultural adaptation was conducted to develop the Chinese version of SE-PMC and A-PMC. The validity and reliability of the Chinese version of SE-PMC and A-PMC were evaluated in a cross-sectional observational study with 852 nurses from 42 Geriatric Care Facilities (GCFs). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 427) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 425) were conducted to test the construct validity and quality of the factor structures. We applied the item discrimination test and homogeneity test for item analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and split-half coefficient were adopted to evaluate internal consistency. Results: The Chinese version of SE-PMC (11 items, 3 factors) and A-PMC (11 items, 2 factors) included 22 items, reflecting adequate construct validity and reliability. In addition, test-retest reliability was 0.809 for SE-PMC and 0.811 for A-PMC, evincing good stability. The Cronbach's α coefficient of SE-PMC was 0.831, with each factor ranging from 0.793~0.906. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the A-PMC was 0.768, with each factor ranging from 0.814~0.824. Item-Content Validity Index (I-CVI) of SE-PMC and A-PMC ranged from 0.84 ~1.00 and 0.82~1.00, respectively. Conclusion: The Chinese version of SE-PMC and A-PMC was validated as a reliable assessment tool to evaluate the self-efficacy and attitude of nursing staff in GCFs for providing oral care in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comparatively assess the periodontal condition and oral hygiene of children and adolescents at different ages presenting with different types of orofacial clefts (OFCs). A total of 1608 patients aged 6-18 years who had not previously undergone periodontal treatment were enrolled in this study. Participants were categorized into two age groups: 6-12 years (Group I) and 13-18 years (Group II). Participants in both age groups were further classified into one of the three OFC-type subgroups: cleft lip only (without or with alveolar cleft), cleft lip and cleft palate, and cleft palate only. Periodontal health was determined by evaluating plaque formation and gingival status with reference to the Silness and Loe plaque index (PI), Loe gingival index (GI), and community periodontal index (CPI). Periodontal health and oral hygiene were not significantly different between Groups I and II for cleft type ( p > 0.05). A significant difference was not observed in PI for cleft type among the groups ( p > 0.05). In Group II, GI and CPI were significantly higher than in Group I ( p < 0.05). According to our results, cleft type does not influence periodontal health of children and adolescents with OFCs. Age, however, influences periodontal diseases' prevalence and severity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2024 The Author(s). Published by MRE Press.)

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Accumulating evidence has shown that poor oral hygiene is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases in Western populations. However, its relevance about the relationships in Chinese adults remains unclear. The China Kadoorie Biobank enrolled 512 715 adults aged 30‐79 years in China during 2004‐2008. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for each disease associated with measures of oral hygiene. Overall 9.3% of the participants reported rarely or never brushing teeth at baseline. Participants who rarely or never brushed teeth had adjusted HR of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.15) for MVE, with similar HRs for stroke (1.08, 1.05‐1.12), intracerebral haemorrhage (1.18, 1.11‐1.26) and pulmonary heart disease (1.22, 1.13‐1.32) compared with those who brushed teeth regularly. Those who did not brush teeth also had increased risk of cancer (1.09, 1.04‐1.14), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1.12, 1.05‐1.20), liver cirrhosis (1.25, 1.09‐1.44) and all‐cause death (1.25, 1.21‐1.28) but not type 2 diabetes (0.94, 0.86‐1.03) and chronic kidney disease (0.98, 0.81‐1.18). Among Chinese adults, we found that poor oral hygiene is associated with higher risks of major vascular disease, cancer, COPD, liver cirrhosis and all‐cause deaths, but not type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This study aimed to understand the oral hygiene habits and oral health status of young people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Henan province of China. Methods: Randomized stratified cluster sampling strategy was used to select young people who were receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HARRT) from 6 towns. A total of 104 participants were enrolled and divided into 2 groups, adolescence group and young adult group. By face-to-face oral interview and examination, well-trained dentists collected general information, oral hygiene habits and oral health status of the participants. Results: Fifty-eight of them were adolescence group and 46 of them were young adult group. In two groups, most of them brushed their teeth once a day (55.20%, 67.40%), and half of them basically brushed their teeth for 2 minutes (51.7%, 50.0%). Majority of participants did not use dental floss (93.1%,91.3%) and also never visited a dentist (81%,78.3%). One-third of participants had spontaneous bleeding, and  about half of them had gingival bleeding when brushed their teeth. The most frequent mucosal disease was oral ulcers. Moreover, the prevalence of caries remained very high in both groups, which was 82.76% and 84.8%, respectively. Most of the participants in both groups had low education level and received less than 9 years of education (65.5%, 63%). Conclusion: The participants had poor oral hygiene habits. The economic and educationlevel may associate with the awareness of oral health and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the 21st century, dental caries remains a global burden, particularly severely affecting the growth and quality of life of 12-year-old children. Fortunately, pit and fissure sealing (PFS) procedures can effectively prevent molars from caries. Hence, this study focused on the relationship between PFS and oral epidemiological factors in 12-year-old children., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 12-year-old children from 11 cities in Zhejiang Province. Their dental conditions were collected through questionnaires, as well as basic information such as relevant family information, oral health knowledge and behavior. Then, logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors associated with PFS., Results: A total of 1204 children were included, with 252 in the PFS group and 952 in the non-PFS group. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) score, first permanent molar DMFT score, residential area, educational level of parents, tooth-brushing frequency, use of dental floss, oral examination in a medical institution, having taken courses on oral health care, as well as having knowledge that tooth brushing could effectively prevent gingival inflammation, PFS could protect teeth, and oral disease may affect general health. According to further logistic regression analysis, the independent factors influencing PFS included use of dental floss [odds ratios (OR) = 1.672, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.235-2.263, P = 0.001], having taken courses on oral health care (OR = 0.713, 95% CI = 0.515-0.988, P = 0.042), having knowledge that tooth brushing is effective in preventing gingival inflammation (OR = 0.627, 95% CI = 0.389-0.987, P = 0.044) and having knowledge that PFS can protect teeth (OR = 0.589, 95% CI = 0.438-0.791, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: PFS can reduce the mean DMFT score of 12-year-old children. Independent influencing factors of PFS consist of use of dental floss, having taken courses on oral health care, oral health behavior and knowledge level., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background. Dental caries is one of the most common chronic diseases observed in elderly patients. The development of preventive strategies for dental caries in elderly individuals is vital. Objective. The objective of the present study was to construct a generalized regression neural network (GRNN) prediction model for the risk assessment of dental caries among the geriatric residents of Liaoning, China. Methods. A stratified equal-capacity random sampling method was used to randomly select 1144 elderly (65-74 years) residents (gender ratio 1 : 1) of Liaoning, China. Data for the oral assessment, including caries characteristics, and questionnaire survey from each participant were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was then performed to identify the independent predictors. GRNN was applied to establish a prediction model for dental caries. The accuracy of the unconditional logistic regression and the GRNN early warning model was compared. Results. A total of 1144 patients fulfilled the requirements and completed the questionnaires. The caries rate was 68.5%, and the main associated factors were toothache history, residence area, smoking, and drinking. We randomly divided the data for the 1144 participants into a training set (915 cases) and a test set (229 cases). The optimal smoothing factor was 0.7, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the GRNN model was 0.626 (95% confidence interval, 0.544 to 0.708), with a P value of 0.002. In terms of consistency, sensitivity, and specificity, the GRNN model was better than the traditional unconditional multivariate logistic regression model. Conclusion. Geriatric (65-74 years) residents of Liaoning, China, have a high rate of dental caries. Residents with a history of toothache and smoking habits are more susceptible to the disease. The GRNN early warning model is an accurate and meaningful tool for screening, early diagnosis, and treatment planning for geriatric individuals with a high risk of caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This work aims to exploring the risk factors related to ECC by investigating oral health status, related behaviours and habits of children and their parent's knowledge regarding oral hygiene. Method: A total of 2700 children aged 3‐5 years and their parents from Zhejiang province were examined. Chi‐square test or U test was used to analyse the difference of caries incidence among different groups. Logistic multiple factor stepwise regression model was used to analyse the risk factors influencing ECC prevalence. Results: ECC prevalence rate in these children was 70.7%. The mean decayed missing filled teeth(dmft) scores were 4.33. Through analysis of logistic multiple factor stepwise regression model, risk factors related to the prevalence of ECC in children include: older age, region (coastal or mountainous area), higher frequency of bedtime dessert consumption and poor care of children's oral health by parents. In the questionnaire, 5 of 14 questions showed parents' poor oral knowledge or awareness. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of ECC in children aged 3‐5 in this study was high and associated with older age, region (coastal or mountainous area), higher frequency of bedtime dessert consumption and poor care of children's oral health. Parents need to strengthen their understanding and action of dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene is the property of Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous findings concerning gastric atrophy as a potential risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have been inconsistent. We aimed to test whether gastric atrophy and, further, its interaction with poor oral health elevated the risk of ESCC in a high-risk region of China. Our population-based case-control study in Taixing, China (2010–2014), recruited cases from local hospitals and the local cancer registry. Controls were selected randomly from the local population registry. Ultimately, 1,210 cases and 1,978 controls answered questionnaires and provided blood samples for assay of pepsinogens. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Gastric atrophy (defined as a serum level of pepsinogen I of <55 μg/L) was associated with an increased risk for ESCC (odds ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval: 1.33, 1.96), even after full adjustment for potential confounding factors. In addition, suggestion of an additive interaction between gastric atrophy and poor oral health was observed (relative excess risk due to interaction = 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 0.39, 2.18). We conclude that gastric atrophy appears to be a risk factor for ESCC in a high-risk region of China, and there is a suggested additive interaction with poor oral health that increases this risk even further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To measure the validity and reliability of a Chinese version of Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) and to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with regard to gender, age, and cleft types in Chinese children with orofacial cleft (OFC). Design: A total of 120 patients with OFC (8-15 years old) and their parents were investigated with COHIP in the West China Hospital of Stomatology. Items were divided into oral symptoms, functional well-being, emotional well-being, school, and peer interaction subscales, and scores on all subscales were compared between and within groups. Results: The internal consistency measured by Cronbach α was satisfactory in children's sample (0.85) and parents' sample (0.90). The correlation between children's and parents' questionnaires was moderate to weak (Pearson r = 0.34), which was also supported by moderate intraclass correlation coefficients. The OHRQoL of children differed significantly from parents on the overall COHIP, functional well-being, emotional well-being, and school subscales. Older children had poor OHRQoL, functional well-being, and emotional well-being. Girls had poor emotional well-being. Children with cleft lip and palate and cleft palate performed worse on the overall COHIP, functional well-being, and school subscales. Parents, boys, and younger children had better treatment expectations and global health perceptions. Conclusion: The Chinese version of COHIP is a reliable and valid tool to assess OHRQoL in Chinese children with OFC. Parents' reports could not replace children's answers but add complementary information. Children's gender, age, and cleft types should be considered in OHRQoL assessment and individual treatment plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children aged 6–7 years are in the early mixed dentition, which is a period of high prevalence of dental caries and other dental diseases and a critical period for the formation of oral health behaviors. Therefore, good oral hygiene habits of children and oral health knowledge of parents are very important. This study sought to explore the relationship between children's oral health behaviors, parental oral health knowledge, parental choices of pit and fissure sealants, and parents' education levels based on a large-scale sample size for the first time, and to compare the influences of parental education levels between parents. Methods: Families of the first and second graders of primary schools in Wuhan Hongshan District were included in this study. A total of 8446 questionnaires were collected to obtain comprehensive information on children's oral health behaviors, parents' oral health knowledge and parents' pit and fissure sealants-related choices. The relationship between these outcome variables and parents' education levels were studied using logistic regression analysis and chi-square test. Results: Parents who reported good educational background had more favorable oral health knowledge than those of other parents, and their children had better oral hygiene behaviors. Four indicators of five measures to children's oral health behaviors were significantly associated with mother's education level (P < 0.05), and three of them were related to father's education level (P ≤ 0.01). Moreover, seven indicators of eight measures to parents' oral health knowledge were significantly related to mother's education level (P < 0.05) and four of them were affected by the father's (P < 0.05). In addition, parents with higher educational attainments paid more attention to the completeness of medical facilities, the environment of dental practice, the distance to treatment sites, and took less concern of children's willingness when choosing the pit and fissure sealants sites. Conclusions: In families with children at the early mixed dentition stage, parents with higher education levels tend to have better oral health knowledge and more oral health care needs, such as pit and fissure sealants. In addition, children of parents who have better educated parents tend to perform better oral hygiene practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to examine the associations among immigrant status, resilience, and perceived oral health fo r Chinese American older adults in Hawaii. Method: Data derived from 430 Chinese American adults aged 55 years and older residing in Honolulu, HI. We compared the self-rated oral health and oral health problems between U.S.-born Chinese Americans and foreign-born Chinese Americans by using o rd ered logistic regression and ord in a ryleast squares regression models. Results: Findings suggest that immigrant status and lower levels of resilience are associated with poorer self-rated oral health and more oral health problems for Chinese American older adults in Hawaii. Resilience is more strongly associated with self-rated oral health for U.S.-born Chinese American than for foreign-born Chinese Americans, but this pattern was not evident for oral health problems. Discussion: Older Chinese American immigrants in Hawaii are disadvantaged in terms of their oral health. Understanding their susceptibilities may lead to targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The high prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) is widespread around the world, and oral health education (OHE) plays a vital role in preventing ECC. Numerous studies on ECC risk factor assessment have assisted us in enriching the content of OHE. The objective of this study was to further assess independent risk factors for ECC at different ages to provide evidence and insights for OHE. Methods: Children aged 3–5 years old (N = 1301) in Shandong Province were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Data about oral health status and caregivers' oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) were extracted from the 4th National Oral Health Survey of China. The associations between ECC prevalence and various KAP variables were tested with chi-square tests, bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: The ECC prevalence in Shandong Province was 64.6%, and the dmft mean was 3.15. The independent variables with an increased risk for ECC were age, feeding method within 6 months of birth, bedtime sugar frequency, experience of toothache over the past year and dental visits (P < 0.05, chi-square tests). Complete breastfeeding within 6 months of birth primarily contributed to the high ECC risk of the 3-year-old group (OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.41–8.17), while high frequency bedtime sweet consumption mainly contributed to that of the 5-year-old group (OR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.03–10.06; logistic regression analysis). Tooth brushing was not associated with ECC in this study, and some positive knowledge and attitude variables were positively correlated with a high risk of ECC. Conclusion: These data provide evidence to suggest that the ECC-related risk factors at different ages are inconsistent, which provides some insights for OHE. We should highlight the effects of feeding methods in the early stages of deciduous dentition and sugar habits in the late stages of deciduous dentition on ECC, as well as encourage preventive dental visit and supplemental training for oral health practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The financial burden of oral diseases is a growing concern as the medical expenses rise worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the dental expenditure, analyze its progressivity and horizontal inequality under the general health finance and insurance system, and identify the key social determinants of the inequality for Chinese adults. Methods: A secondary analysis used the data of 13,464 adults from the 4th National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey (NOHES) in China was undertaken. The dental expenditure was collected and divided into out-of-pocket and health insurance payments. Horizontal inequality index and Kakwani index were used to analyze the horizontal inequality and progressivity, respectively. The decomposition model of the concentration index was set up to explore the associated socioeconomic determinants. Results: The results showed that a mean dental expenditure per capita of Chinese adults was $20.55 (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 18.83,22.26). Among those who actually used dental service, the cost was $100.95 (95%CI: 93.22,108.68). Over 90% of dental spending was due to out-of-pocket expenses. For self-reported oral health, the horizontal inequality index was − 0.1391 and for the decayed tooth (DT), it was − 0.2252. For out-of-pocket payment, the Kakwani index was − 0.3154 and for health insurance payment it was − 0.1598. Income, residential location, educational attainment, oral hygiene practice, self-reported oral health, age difference were the main contributors to the inequality of dental expenditure. Conclusion: Dental expenditure for Chinese adults was at a lower level due to underutilization. The ratio of payments of dental expenditure and utilization was disproportional, whether it was out-of-pocket or insurance payment. Individuals who were more in need of oral care showed less demand for service or not required service in time. For future policy making on oral health, it is worth the effort to further promote the awareness of the importance of oral health and utilization of dental service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess and compare the oral health status of children with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in China. Methods: This study recruited 144 children with ASD and 228 unrelated children with typical development (TD) aged 3–16 years from China. Data were collected using parent-reported questionnaires. Oral problems (oral symptoms and habits), oral health measures (oral hygiene practice and dental care experience), and the impact on the child's quality of life (based on a modified version of the Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire) were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: Children with ASD had worse oral health status than children with TD. Oral symptoms were more prevalent in the ASD group, especially halitosis (p < 0.001), food impaction (p < 0.001), and oral lesions (p < 0.001), than the TD group. The rate of damaging oral habits, including mouth breathing (p < 0.001) and object biting (p < 0.05), was also high in the ASD group. Compared with the TD group, more children with ASD did not brush their teeth independently and frequently (p < 0.001), had difficulty accessing dental care (p < 0.01), and reported unpleasant dental experiences (p < 0.001). The presence of ASD was associated with decreased oral health-related quality of life (p < 0.001) in these children and their families. Conclusion: Oral problems such as halitosis and bad oral habits are more prevalent among children with ASD. These children also lack oral hygiene practice and dental visits. This situation negatively impacts their quality of life, and must be brought to the attention of their treating dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Frailty and poor oral health are both common age-related conditions. However, the association between oral health and frailty has not been explored thoroughly among older Chinese adults. We aimed to investigate the associations between number of teeth, denture use, and frailty among older adults in western China. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Community-based. Participants: Participants were 4037 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 and older from the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study. Measurements: Frailty was assessed using the physical frailty phenotype (PFP) and categorized as non-frail, prefrail and frail. In addition, number of teeth and denture use were examined by calibrated dentists. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed to examine the association between number of teeth, denture use, and frailty. Results: The overall prevalence of frailty was 6.7% among 4037 participants aged 60 and older in western China. Participants with no more than 20 teeth were associated with higher odds of being prefrail or frail whether wearing dentures or not. Denture using could not help lower the odds of being prefrail or frail for older adults with fewer teeth. Conclusions: This study suggested that frailty was associated with having fewer teeth (≤20 teeth) among older Chinese adults. Future research involving targeted interventions addressing number of teeth may help provide information to establish effective strategies for frailty prevention in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study oral health conditions, diabetic medical complications and their association in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 364 type 2 DM patients (63.6 +/- 10.1 years, 54% female) and 161 controls (64.1 +/- 10.6 years, 53% female) with or without essential hypertension, predominantly low-income, attending a hospital were recruited. Periodontal disease (Community Periodontal Index [CPI]) and dental status (decayed, missing and filled teeth [DMFT]) were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose and, for DM patients, HbA1C and DM complications were recorded on enrolment and follow up, respectively.Results: Many DM subjects had fair diabetic control. Both groups (control/DM) had poor oral health: DMFT = 14.5/16.8, CPI 4 = 36%/50%, (P < 0.02) while DM subjects had less DT(adjusted) = 2.1/1.4 (P < 0.01). Of the follow-up DM individuals, 294 (81%) had medical complication(s). Regression analyses showed association between advanced periodontal attachment loss (ALoss) and age, male gender, smoking and DM; MT and DMFT were associated with age, female gender, smoking, DM and hypertension. ALoss and DMFT were not associated with DM complications.Conclusions: The oral health of the surveyed Chinese subjects was poor. Type 2 DM subjects were affected more by ALoss and MT but less DT. Subjects with hypertension had higher odds for MT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the current prevalence and severity of caries in primary dentition in a preschool population in 2 provinces in China, and to investigate the relationship between caries experience and sociodemographic factors, parental characteristics, dietary habits, and oral hygiene practice. Method and Materials: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a representative sample of Chinese preschool children aged 3 to 5 years. Clinical examinations were carried out on 2,014 children using the method and criteria established by the World Health Organization. Structured questionnaires for information related to the sociodemographic background, oral hygiene practices, and dietary habits of the children were completed by their mothers. Results: Overall, 45% of children were caries free, and 14% had rampant caries. The mean dmft and dmfs values were 2.57 and 4.25, respectively. The caries prevalence and severity increased with age. The children from rural areas brushed their teeth less regularly and had a higher level of caries experience than those from urban areas. Significant predictors of caries experience were location, area, age, mother's education level, and consumption of fruit juice from a feeding bottle. Conclusions: These data indicate that a high proportion of young Chinese children had dental caries and that most decayed teeth were left untreated. The prevalence and severity of caries was associated with socioeconomic status and dietary factors in this sample of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the factors associated with utilization of oral health services among Chinese adults and older adults according to the Andersen Behavior Model. Methods: Data from the 4th National Oral Health Survey (2015‐2016) in China were used. A total of 7206 people (3669 adults aged 35‐44 years and 3537 older adults aged 65‐74 years) were included in our analysis. Oral health service utilization in the past 12 months was the outcome variable. Explanatory variables were selected according to the Andersen Behavior Model. Descriptive statistics and bivariate associations (chi‐square tests) were analysed, followed by hierarchical Poisson regression models, which were conducted to determine the factors associated with oral health service utilization. Results: In total, 21.4% (95% CI: 19.4%‐23.7%) of adults (35‐44 years old) and 20.7% (95% CI: 18.6%‐22.9%) of older adults (65‐74 years old) utilized oral health services in the past 12 months. Nearly 80% of adults (78.7%, 95% CI: 74.0%‐82.7%) and more than 90% of older adults (93.7%, 95% CI: 91.0%‐95.6%) visited a dentist for treatment. Adults aged 35‐44 years old who were female (IRR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00‐1.33, P =.047), had good oral health knowledge and attitudes (IRR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06‐1.59, P =.011), perceived their oral health status as fair (IRR:1.51, 95% CI:1.24‐1.85, P <.001) or poor/very poor (IRR:2.52, 95% CI:2.01‐3.18, P <.001) and had a decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index >0 (IRR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.11‐2.09, P =.009) were more likely to report dental visits in the past 12 months. Older adults who utilized oral health services tended to be female (IRR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.09‐1.59, P =.004); to be covered by Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI) (IRR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.18‐2.05, P =.002), Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) (IRR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.32‐2.16, P <.001) or government medical insurance (GMI) (IRR: 1.03, 95% CI:1.01‐2.16, P =.044); to have a high education level (IRR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.08‐1.74, P =.010); to have an income level in the 2nd tertile (IRR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.13‐1.84, P =.003) or 3rd tertile (IRR:1.52, 95% CI:1.18‐1.95, P =.001); and to perceive their oral health status as poor or very poor (IRR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.21‐1.95, P =.001). Conclusions: Sex and self‐perceived oral health status were associated with oral health utilization among Chinese population. Additionally, for older adults, education level, household income and insurance coverage were determinants of dental service use. These findings can aid in creating more targeted policies to increase the use of dental services by Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study sought to evaluate dental utilization among 3-,4-, and 5-year-old children in China and to use Andersen's behavioural model to explore influencing factors, thereby providing a reference for future policy making. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. Data of 40,305 children aged 3–5 years were extracted from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey, which was performed from August 2015 to December 2016. Patient data were collected using a questionnaire, which was answered by the child's parents, and clinical data were collected during a clinical examination. Stratification and survey weighting were incorporated into the complex survey design. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations and hierarchical logistic regression results were then analysed to find the factors associated with oral health service utilization. Results: The oral health service utilization prevalence during the prior 12 months were 9.5% (95%CI: 8.1–11.1%) among 3-year-old children, 12.1% (95%CI: 10.8–13.5%) among 4-year-old children, and 17.5% (95%CI: 15.6–19.4%) among 5-year-old children. "No dental diseases" (71.3%) and "dental disease was not severe" (12.4%) were the principal reasons why children had not attended a dental visit in the past 12 months. The children whose parents had a bachelor's degree or higher (OR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.97–2.67, p < 0.001), a better oral health attitude ranging from 5 to 8(OR: 1.64, 95%CI: 1.43–1.89, p < 0.001), annual per capital income more than 25,000 CNY (OR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.18–1.65, p < 0.001),think their child have worse or bad oral health (OR: 3.54, 95%CI: 2.84–4.40, p < 0.001), and children who often have toothaches (OR: 9.72, 95%CI: 7.81–12.09, p < 0.001) were more likely to go to the dentist in the past year. Conclusion: The prevalence of dental service utilization was relatively low among preschool children. It is necessary to strengthen oral health education for parents and children, thereby improving oral health knowledge as well as attitude, and promoting dental utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the association between childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and edentulism. Methods: The edentulous status of Chinese in mid-late adulthood was determined using self-reported lost all of teeth from the Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Childhood SES was determined based on the following parameters: the education, occupation and working status of the parents; financial situation of the family; relationship with the parents; care, love and affection from the mother; quarrels and fights between parents; primary residence; neighbors' willingness to help and with close-knit relationships. Adulthood SES was assessed by educational achievements. This study used principal component analysis (PCA) to select variables and binary logistic regression models to determine the association between childhood SES and edentulism. Results: Data were available from a total of 17,713 respondents, 984 of whom were edentulous (2.9%). The prevalence of edentulism in mid- to late-age Chinese individuals was higher in those with poor childhood SES. In final regression model, edentulism was significantly associated with willingness of neighbors to help with close-knit relationships (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.79–0.99), parents with high school education or above (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.01–1.39) and drinking and smoking habits of the father (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.97–1.24). Conclusion: Childhood SES was significantly associated with the prevalence of edentulism in mid- to late-age Chinese individuals. In particular, parents with high school education or above, unwillingness of neighbor to help with close-knit relationships, drinking and smoking habits of the father independent of adulthood SES were significantly associated with edentulism. Accordingly, the development of optimal recommendations and more effective intervention strategies requires considering the experiences in early life associated with poor SES contributes to poor oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The objective of this study was to compare a stannous fluoride (SnF2) dentifrice (Colgate TotalSF) stabilized with zinc phosphate with a sodium fluoride control dentifrice for gingivitis and plaque control over a 6-month period. Methods. One hundred adult participants were enrolled in this study conducted in Chengdu, China. After random assignment and blinding of examiners and patients, enrolled participants received instructions for use of the assigned dentifrice. At 3 visits (baseline and 3 and 6 months), the authors measured various gingival and plaque indexes to determine the clinical efficacy of the stabilized SnF2 dentifrice compared with those of the control fluoride dentifrice (2 groups). Results. Ninety-eight participants completed the study. Both groups (test and control) had statistically significant reductions in gingival inflammation and improvement in plaque control at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. In addition, the test dentifrice showed statistically significant reductions in all indexes compared with the control dentifrice (P < .001). Conclusions. This study's results show statistically significantly improved clinical outcomes for reduction of gingival inflammation and improvement in biofilm control over a 6-month period through the use of a SnF2 dentifrice stabilized with zinc phosphate when compared with results with a fluoride control dentifrice. Practical Implications. This newly formulated dentifrice improves gingival health and plaque control and thereby may aid patients in attaining improved oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]