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Introduction: Oral hygiene instruction performed by different personnel in various manners is a necessity for prevention and treatment of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Since dentists are the majority of personnel who deliver oral hygiene instruction to patients, this study was designed to evaluate dentists' attitude towards oral hygiene instruction in their private office in Yazd. Methods: A questionnaire including demographic information and various oral hygiene instruction methods was prepared and delivered to 151 dentists who were working in their private office in Yazd. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16 software and Fisher exact test was performed. Results: Results revealed that 95.3% of dentists gave oral hygiene instruction to their patients. This training included dental flossing techniques followed by tooth brushing. Therefore, using an oral model was the most common way of patient's instruction. Conclusion: Results obtained from this study showed that the majority of dentists in Yazd gave oral hygiene instruction to their patients through various methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the study is to estimate the knowledge, attitude and practise of the oral hygiene,and dental treatment, and its correlation with everyday oral hygiene practices among the health care professionals of south canara district (Karnataka) th th Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted on 200 health care professionals between Jan 20th to Feb 20th 2013. Two hundred health professionals were asked to answer a questionnaire containing 15 questions. Data once collected was analysed using SPSS software. Results: 56.3% health professionals visited the dentist once in six months. 26% health professionals felt that unavailability of time is the main factor influencing dental visits. Main cause of taking a dental appointment in 33% subjects was found to be dental caries. 54.6% obtained information on oral hygiene practices through mass media followed by 22.3 % who obtained it directly from the dentist. 59.2% brushed their teeth twice daily.50% used medium bristle tooth brush. 48.5 % had a brushing time of 3-5 min. 41.5% did not use any other oral hygiene aid. 28.64% got scaling done in the last 3-6 months. 56% did not have an habit of using a tooth pick. 43.3% used combination of circular, vertical and horizontal method of brushing. 45.5% felt that scaling caused loss of enamel. Conclusion: It appears that knowledge, attitude, and behaviour attitude, practice and knowledge of oral hygiene practices and dental treatment in health care professionals in South Canara district is gud. Though more information needs to be provided about other oral hygiene aids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Approximal surfaces are a challenge to caries lesions control. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a simple,low-cost and promisor intervention for arresting caries lesions, but it has never been tested on approximal surfaces. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy and cost-efficacy of SDF in arresting initial lesions compared to resin infiltration and exclusively flossing (control group). Our second aim is to assess discomfort and satisfaction regarding interventions. Methods/design This is a randomized clinical trial, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Children/adolescents presenting at least one approximal initial caries lesion in primary molars/permanent premolars and molars will be included. Surfaces with advanced dentine lesions identified by radiography and participants who refuse to participate or present negative behaviors will be excluded. A minimum sample size of 504 surfaces will be required for each subgroup. Individuals will be randomly allocated in three groups of interventions: SDF, resin infiltration, and control group. Depending on the allocation, the patients will receive the active treatment and respective placebo therapies. All patients will be oriented to daily flossing the studied surfaces. Our primary outcome will be caries progression by clinical and radiographic examinations. Appointments will be timed and costs of materials will be considered to calculate cost-efficacy.. Patient discomfort will be assessed after interventions. Parent and patient satisfaction with the treatment will be collected after treatment and in the last follow-up visit. Individuals will be assessed at 1 and 3 months after treatment to evaluate dental biofilm and at 6, 12, and 24 months to assess caries progression by visual examination and/or radiography Multilevel analyses will be used to verify if the type of treatment influenced on the tested outcomes. Costs will be compared and analyses of cost-efficacy will be performed. Poisson analysis will test the association between intervention and reported discomfort and satisfaction. Discussion Our hypothesis is that SDF is the most cost-efficacious option from all tested interventions. If our hypothesis is confirmed, the use of SDF in private and public contexts could represent an easier and effective option in the treatment of enamel approximal caries in children/adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the effectiveness of a novel sonic toothbrush in reducing plaque and in maintenance of gingival health when compared to a standard manual brush. Methods This study was a block-randomized, examiner-blind, two-treatment, parallel group, single centre clinical investigation. A total of 84 subjects were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either the Panasonic EW-DL90 or an American Dental Association-endorsed manual toothbrush. Subjects were instructed to follow a twice-daily brushing regimen without flossing. Plaque levels and gingival health were assessed at baseline and after 1 and 3 weeks of treatment using the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index and the Papillary Bleeding Score. Results Subjects assigned to the EW-DL90 group had significantly lower plaque levels after 1 and 3 weeks of treatment than those in the manual group ( P = 0.003 and 0.0035, respectively). Both groups showed a reduction in plaque levels at Week 3 relative to baseline. The EW-DL90 group had significantly lower gingival inflammation scores after 1 week of treatment ( P = 0.0293), but there was no difference between groups after 3 weeks of treatment. Conclusion The EW-DL90 toothbrush safely and effectively removes more plaque than a standard manual toothbrush. Improvement in gingival inflammation was observed after 1 week of treatment. There was no difference in Papillary Bleeding Score between the two groups after 3 weeks of treatment. Clinical significance The newly developed sonic brush (Panasonic EW-DL90) tested in this study was found to be more effective than a manual toothbrush at plaque removal. The papillary bleeding scores were significantly lower in the sonic brush group after 1 week of product use. After 3 weeks of product use, both treatment groups had similar papillary bleeding scores almost returning to baseline values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study examined the joint effects of message framing (gain vs. loss) and visual image (image vs. no image) on persuasion as it related to the use of dental floss and the use of sunscreen (N = 252). For both topics, the results revealed a Frame × Image interaction effect on fear. The interaction was such that the presence (vs. absence) of an image produced more fear in the loss-framed conditions. The corresponding results for gain-framed messages were inconsistent. Covariance analyses showed that fear mediated the effect of the interaction on persuasion, whereas dominant cognitive response did not. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition ofCommunication Quarterlyfor the following free supplemental resources:sunscreen and flossing messages of gain-visual and loss-visual.] [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Adolescents from minority groups are particularly susceptible to poor oral hygiene behaviors, including lack of daily flossing. This cross-sectional study aimed to conduct an exploratory behavioral research to identify evidence-based (theory-based) approaches to promote flossing behavior among African American/Black and Latinx/Hispanic (minority) adolescents. A 39-item psychometrically valid web-based questionnaire was used to collect responses from a nationwide sample of minority adolescents aged 10-17 years residing in the United States. The data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate statistical methods. Of 520 minority adolescents (260 African American/Black and 260 Latinx/Hispanic adolescents), the proportion of flossing was nearly equally split in the sample. A significantly higher proportion of minority adolescents who were flossing had access to floss as opposed to those who were not flossing (86.8% vs. 69.8%, p < 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of minority adolescents who were not flossing did not visit the dentist over the past year as opposed to those who floss (25.2% vs. 14.7%, p < 0.001). Among the participants who were not flossing, gender, grade level, instruction in school regarding flossing, and multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change constructs were the significant predictors ( p < 0.001) of initiating and sustaining flossing. The findings of this study will serve as baseline data for developing and evaluating effective evidence-based interventions using the MTM.

Background: A teenage boy who had been stabbed in the neck presented with an extracranial traumatic functional carotid artery occlusion that could not be crossed in an antegrade fashion. Endovascular repair depends on obtaining catheter access proximal and distal to an injury within the true lumen., Observations: The occlusion was treated with flossing technique via the posterior communicating artery. After successful recanalization from a retrograde approach, the carotid artery occlusion was treated with a covered stent., Lessons: The flossing technique is well established in peripheral vascular disease and may be beneficial in certain cases in the neck vasculature when antegrade access is difficult to obtain. Recanalization of an occluded carotid artery from retrograde approach may be successful in cases of trauma from knife wounds.

Aim (1) Investigate incidence, magnitude and bacterial diversity of bacteraemia due to flossing compared with scaling and root planing ( SRP) and (2) Identify any associations with clinical parameters. Materials and Methods Full-mouth flossing and single quadrant SRP were performed at separate visits for 30 patients with chronic periodontitis. Baseline blood samples and at 30 s and 10 min. after completion of flossing, 5 min. after initiation of SRP and 30 s and 10 min. after completion of SRP were obtained. Total bacteraemia and viridans streptococcal bacteraemia ( VSB) were investigated. Results Total bacteraemia incidence was 30% for flossing and 43.3% for SRP (no significant difference; p = 0.21). Flossing and SRP caused the same incidence of VSB (26.7%). Flossing caused a higher mean magnitude of total bacteraemia than SRP (7.4 ± 16.2 CFU/ml versus 2 ± 3.4 CFU/ml), but the difference was not significant ( p = 0.2). Flossing caused a higher mean magnitude of VSB than SRP (1.2 ± 1.6 CFU/ml versus 0.4 ± 0.2 CFU/ml), but the difference was not significant ( p = 0.09). Viridans streptococci comprised 11.4% of flossing bacteraemia isolates and 7.6% in SRP. No correlations were found between clinical parameters and incidence or magnitude of bacteraemia following flossing. Gingival inflammation was significantly associated with incidence of total bacteraemia ( p = 0.01) and VSB ( p = 0.001) following SRP. No correlations were found for any parameter and magnitude of total bacteraemia or VSB following SRP. Conclusions No differences were found between flossing and SRP in the incidence or magnitude of total bacteraemia or VSB. This finding is important in the ongoing re-evaluation of antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infective endocarditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the incidence of bacteraemia following flossing in subjects with chronic periodontitis or periodontal health; (2) identify the micro-organisms in detected bacteraemias; and (3) identify any patient or clinical factors associated with such bacteraemia. Material and Methods: Baseline blood samples were obtained from 30 individuals with chronic periodontitis (17 M:13 F, 29–75 years) and 30 with periodontal health (17 M:13 F, 28–71 years) following a non-invasive examination. Each subject's teeth were then flossed in a standardized manner and blood samples obtained 30 s and 10 min. after flossing cessation. Blood samples were cultured in a BACTEC™ system and positive samples subcultured for identification. Results: Forty per cent of periodontitis subjects and 41% of periodontally healthy subjects tested positive for bacteraemia following flossing. Viridans streptococci, which are commonly implicated in infective endocarditis (IE), were isolated from 19% of positive subjects and accounted for 35% of microbial isolates. Twenty per cent of subjects had a detectable bacteraemia at 10 min. post-flossing. No patient or clinical factors were significantly associated with post-flossing bacteraemia. Conclusions: Dental flossing can produce bacteraemia in periodontally healthy and periodontally diseased individuals at a rate comparable with that caused by some dental treatments for which antibiotic prophylaxis is given to prevent IE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in dental research test the efficacy of interventions on more than one outcome variable. Univariate methods, such as the t test or analysis of covariance, cannot evaluate the efficacy of interventions on multiple outcomes simultaneously. The aim of this study was to use structural equation modeling (SEM) to re-analyze a RCT, comparing the effects of pre-curved interdental brushes and flossing on probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque indices, and bleeding on probing (BOP) measured at baseline, intermediate, and final examinations. Results of SEM showed that the observed greater reduction in PPD and BOP in persons using interdental brushing than in those flossing is due mainly to the greater efficiency in plaque removal with the interdental brushes (indirect effect) rather than to the compression of the interdental papillae (direct effect). In contrast, smokers showed less BOP at baseline but also less improvement in BOP through direct effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a prospective design and a representative sample of 25-yr-old Norwegians, this study hypothesized that action planning and coping planning will add to the prediction of flossing at 4 wk of follow-up over and above the effect of intention and previous flossing. This study tested the validity of a proposed 3-factor structure of the measurement model of intention, action planning, and coping planning and for its invariance across gender. A survey was conducted in three Norwegian counties, and 1,509 out of 8,000 randomly selected individuals completed questionnaires assessing the constructs of action planning and coping planning related to daily flossing. A random subsample of 500 participants was followed up at 4 wk with a telephone interview to assess flossing. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the proposed 3-factor model after respecification. Although the chi-square test was statistically significant [χ2 = 58.501, degrees of freedom (d.f.) = 17), complementary fit indices were satisfactory [goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.99, root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.04]. Multigroup CFA provided evidence of complete invariance of the measurement model across gender. After controlling for previous flossing, intention ( β = 0.08) and action planning ( β = 0.11) emerged as independent predictors of subsequent flossing, accounting for 2.3% of its variance. Factorial validity of intention, action planning and coping planning, and the validity of action planning in predicting flossing prospectively, was confirmed by the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to ascertain how frequently toothbrushing and flossing are practiced among schoolchildren in Kuwait and whether life- and school-satisfaction and self-esteem indicators are associated with oral hygiene habits. Methods: A sample of 2312 schoolchildren between 11 and 13 years old filled out a structured questionnaire anonymously in school classrooms during 2002 and 2003. For this study, nationally representative samples of children were drawn from all six governorates of Kuwait. Only government schools were included. The questionnaire of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study was used in this study after it was modified to suit Kuwait. A chi-squared test and logistic regression model were used for analyzing the data. Results: Over half of the pupils reported brushing their teeth more than once a day; girls reported brushing more frequently than boys did. One-fifth of the pupils did not brush their teeth even on a daily basis. The life- and school-satisfaction and self-esteem indicators were associated with more-than-once-a-day toothbrushing frequency. The strongest predictors for recommended brushing were: feeling very happy (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.38–2.77), feeling that other pupils always accept him/her (1.5; 1.16–2.02), never/sometimes feeling lonely and feeling that it is very easy to make friends (1.4; 1.06–1.94). The summary variables of life-satisfaction, school-satisfaction and self-esteem seemed to be strongly associated with brushing. Dental floss was never used by 45% of the children, weekly by 18% and daily by 17%; 20% did not even know what dental floss was. Conclusions: Among intermediate schoolchildren in Kuwait, oral hygiene practices were far behind the international recommendations. Special emphasis should be placed on children who have personal problems with their life, school and self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the oral health behavior of Turkish non-dental university students. Study design and methods: A sample of 610 non-dental university students attending the University of Ondokuz Mayis in Samsun were randomly selected from the whole student population (n = 12604) via the random number method. The students were asked to fill out a standardized self-completion questionnaire about daily frequency of toothbrushing, kind of toothbrush, frequency of toothbrush replacement, frequency of dental flossing, use of antibacterial rinse, or any other oral hygiene aid, receiving of oral hygiene instruction and frequency of oral checkup. The data were analysed using the SPSS version 12.0.1 statistical software package. Results: Sixty-eight per cent of the students brushed their teeth two or more times per day. Two or more times a day toothbrushing was more common among females than males (P<0.001). Few subjects (3%) used dental floss daily. Forty per cent of students used only the toothpick as an interdental oral hygiene device. Thirty per cent of the students visited a dentist for preventive treatment at least once a year. There was no significant difference in regularity of visits to the dentist between females and males (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that self-preventive oral behaviour of the Turkish university student is at a tower level than in industrialized countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with increased oral health awareness may also have increased general health awareness, and vice versa. Such associations between oral and general health awareness has the potential to induce spurious associations in oral epidemiological research. Objective: To assess the extent to which oral self-care patterns and general health awareness are confounded, we investigated the association between flossing and obesity, two lifestyle factors that are unlikely to be causally related. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1497 individuals presenting for an initial periodontal exam by the specialist. Self-reported flossing behaviors and body mass index (BMI) categories were related using logistic regression models. Results: After adjustment for confounding variables, lack of daily flossing was associated in a dose-dependent way with morbid obesity (odds ratio (OR), 20.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.7–154.0), obesity (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.5–2.9), and being overweight (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3–2.2). When restricting to never smokers, a significant relationship between obesity and lack of flossing remained. Conclusion: The strong associations between two causally unrelated oral and general lifestyle characteristics indicate that simplistic epidemiologic methodology is unlikely to provide insights into causal mechanisms of oral diseases or oral-systemic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have in two earlier studies evaluated the effect of professional flossing with chlorhexidine (CHX) gel treatment, in 4- to 7-year-old preschool children and in 12- to 15-year-old teenagers. The mean caries reduction after 3 years was around 40% compared to placebo gel or no gel treatment. The aim of the present investigation was to follow up these two clinical studies. The preschool children were followed up to the age of 16 years and the teenager group to the age of 19. Of the total number of original children, 71 and 80% were available at the age of 16 and 19 years, respectively. At the 9-year follow-up, when the children were 16 years old, the former CHX group had still significantly lower mean DFS than the control group (p < 0.05). The differences in caries increment occurred between 7 and 12 years of age, whereas the number of new caries lesions during the next 4 years were almost the same in the three groups. At the 4-year follow-up, when the teenagers were 19 years old, DFS was 6.9 in the former CHX group compared to 10.4 in the control group (p < 0.05). The main conclusion of these two follow-up studies after 9 and 4 years, respectively, is that caries reductions obtained at the end of professional flossing with a 1% CHX gel were maintained. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of a school-based plaque removal program arc presented. Children in grades 5-8 were included in a study which was designed to determine the effect on oral hygiene, gingival inflammation and dental caries of removing dental plaque through supervised daily flossing and toothbrushing in school. A fluoride-free dentifrice was used. Controls did not receive instruction in plaque removal procedures nor did they engage in plaque removal activities at school. For three school years the students in the treatment group practiced daily plaque removal, supervised by trained personnel. All participants were examined initially for plaque (PHP), gingival inflammation (DHC) and dental caries (DMFS). Girls in the treatment group showed a significant reduction (28%) in mean plaque scores and, for girls and boys, the mean changes in gingivitis scores were significantly reduced (40% and 17%, respectively). Adjusted mean incremental DMF surface scores were 13% lower in the treatment group than in the control group. The difference between groups was not statistically significant and was accounted for entirely by the findings in mesial and distal surfaces (26%). This difference approached statistical significance (P= 0.07). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relation between some dental health behaviours and 2 measures of self-concept in adolescents. Data from a survey of 41142, 12-16-year-old children from 244 secondary schools thoughout England were analysed to obtain information about their frequencies of toothbrushing, use of dental floss and dental attendance, and whether they recalled advice about toothbrushing, in relation to self-esteem and health locus of control (HLOC). Subjects completed a questionnaire, anonymously, in school class. The results showed a significant positive correlation (Spearman) between the frequencies of flossing and toothbrushing, in both sexes, and between social group and toothbrushing frequency, where brushing frequency increased as socio- economic status improved. Some association between use of floss and social group emerged, but this was smaller and less consistent than that observed with toothbrushing brushing frequency. Self-esteem was positively correlated with toothbrushing frequency at ages 12-15 years, while HLOC showed correlations at some ages but not others. Use of dental floss showed no relation to self-concept. Subjects with more favourable self-concept were more likely to make more frequent dental visits than those with a poorer self-view. There was a strong and consistent correlation between recalled advice about toothbrushing and lower self-esteem and external locus of control. The results are in agreement with our earlier reports and suggest that self-concept may play a significant role in mediating changes in dental health behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current recommendations for periodontal health maintenance emphasize toothbrushing, flossing and periodic dental checkups. The purposes of this study were to examine (1) the effects of these practices on periodontal health and (2) the relationships of demographic and socioeconomics variables with these behaviors and with periodontal health. Adults (n=319) in the Detroit, Michigan tri-county area were asked how frequently they performed the 3 preventive behaviors. Levels of plaque, gingivitis, calculus, and periodontal attachment were then assessed during in-home dental examinations. There were no statistically significant differences in these health measures between those with acceptable and unacceptable brushing behavior. About 20% of the subjects reported acceptable flossing behavior, and these individuals had significantly less plaque and calculus than other participants. Over 3/4 of subjects reported having a dental checkup at least 1 × a year, and these persons were found to have significantly less plaque, gingivitis, and calculus compared to less frequent attenders. Acceptable brushing behavior was not associated with any particular demographic or socioeconomic characteristic, while differences in acceptable flossing behavior were found among age groups. Frequencies of yearly dental checkups varied significantly within every demographic and socioeconomics characteristic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental dentifrice containing zinc citrate and Triclosan was used by student nurses for 12 months without supervision, while a corresponding group used a control dentifrice. Dental flossing was not permitted during the first 6 months. Gingival health achieved in a pre-experimental period, during which oral hygiene instruction was given, was maintained by users of the experimental dentifrice for 12 months but not by users of the control dentifrice. About 1/3 of the control group used floss daily during the 2nd 6 months and significantly improved their gingival health to a level comparable to that of the experimental group. Flossing brought no extra benefit for the latter group. In the control group, approximal regions were less healthy than buccal or lingual sites. The gingival health of these sites improved significantly with daily flossing. The experimental dentifrice maintained gingival health in all sites irrespective of the use of floss. The study has confirmed that oral health can be maintained by the use of the experimental dentifrice for at least 12 months in a habitual toothbrushing regime, and that the dentifrice would be as effective and simpler than relying on the combination of brushing and regular flossing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healing of the dento-epithelial junction following the use of dental floss was studied on 28 first premolars in seven children who were under orthodontic treatment. On the mesial surfaces the floss was brought to the depth of the pocket and moved back and forth three to five times, while being pressed against the tooth surface. After observation periods varying between 15 min and 3 weeks, the teeth were extracted and stained in a 1 % solution of Water Blue and examined under the stereomicroscope. All the distal surfaces (control) were found to be covered with a more or less continuous layer of junctional epithelial cells, whereas on the mesial surfaces (experimental), these cells were absent after 15 min and 24 h, i. e. they had been detached by the floss. New epithelial cells were found to reattach to the enamel after 3 days, and after 2 weeks and more, the cell population on the experimental surfaces could not be distinguished from that on the control surfaces. In one patient in whom the floss had been used daily for 3½ months, there had for obvious reasons been no reattachment of junctional epithelial cells to the enamel, but there was nothing to indicate that the flossing had had unfavorable consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This review updates the mechanical oral hygiene practices discussed at a 1986 State-of-the-Science Workshop. Methods: The 1984-1995 MEDLINE database was searched and appropriate studies that used disease outcome measurements were located and selected. Recommendations were made based on the levels of evidence concept. Recommendations: 1) There is good evidence to recommend: toothbrushing twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste; using oscillating-rotating or counter-rotational-rotating or counter-rotational-action electric toothbrushes; flossing for adults; personal supragingival irrigation as an adjunct to toothbrushing; and scaling of disease active sites for the treatment of periodontal diseases. 2) There is moderate evidence to recommend: using any soft-bristled manual toothbrush; using wooden interdental cleaners; scaling of disease active sites every three to four months for patients with histories of moderate/severe periodontitis; scaling of disease active sites at intervals of ≥6 months for most patients, based on patient need; and removal of restoration overhangs 3) There is moderate evidence to not recommend: use of vibrating, rotating or sonic action electric toothbrushes; using foam brushes; flossing for children; using interdental brushes; gingival massage; and tongue brushing or scraping. 4) There is good evidence to not recommend: subgingival scaling for patients with no signs of active disease; and polishing for disease prevention. Conclusions: Consistent with the 19896 workshop report, the 1996 recommendations emphasize the importance of personal oral hygiene and the provision of professional treatment when personal care fails to prevent disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is part of the Cross-National Survey on Health Behaviour in School-aged Children--a WHO Collaborative Study, which started in 1982. The aim of the study was to describe the oral hygiene habits (toothbrushing and flossing) of 11-year-old schoolchildren in 22 European countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scotland, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, and Wales) and Canada. The data were collected from standardized anonymous questionnaires in school classrooms during the 1993-1994 school year. At least 1300 schoolchildren, representing the whole country, participated in the study in each country. Oral hygiene habits were analyzed according to gender, age, country, school performance, and family economy. The children brushed most favorably in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, and Norway (83-73% brushed twice a day). More-than-once-a-day toothbrushing was especially uncommon (from 26 to 33%) among boys in Finland, Lithuania, Russia, Estonia, and Latvia. Toothbrushing frequency differed significantly according to school performance in Canada, the Czech Republic, Scotland, Poland, Northern Ireland, and Wales and between different socio-economic groups in Northern Ireland, Wales, the Czech Republic, Scotland, Poland, and Russia. Use of dental floss was rare. In general, flossing was less frequent among boys than among girls. Daily flossing was most common among Canadian adolescents (25%). In conclusion, there are considerable differences in toothbrushing frequency among children in European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article describes a new product for long-term retention of the lower dental arch. The LingLock™ is a fixed bonded retainer from canine to canine in the lower front made up of separate, but co-working retention elements in the ceramic material aluminium oxide (A1203). The LingLock™ retainer enables the patient to floss the teeth in a regular manner in the actual retention area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Toothbrushing and interdental cleaning are critical to maintaining good oral health. Literature is beginning to suggest that these behaviours may be conducted automatically, although the instigation ('deciding to do') and execution ('doing') of these behaviours has never been examined separately. The objective of this study was to test a theoretically informed supposition that oral hygiene behaviours in adults are automatic behaviours., Methods: One hundred and fifty participants attending three types of dental providers covering emergency and routine dental services, completed a questionnaire. The self-reported behavioural automaticity index scale (SRBAI) was used to measure behavioural automaticity., Results: Morning toothbrushing SRBAI scores were higher than evening scores (Z=-3.315, p = 0.001). Automaticity scores for instigating both toothbrushing and interdental cleaning were also higher compared to execution (toothbrushing: Z=-2.601, p = 0.009 and interdental cleaning: Z=-2.256. p = 0.024). Toothbrushing automaticity scores were associated with age, gender and self-efficacy, whereas interdental cleaning automaticity scores were associated with intention. Individuals in lower socio-economic status (SES) occupations had significantly higher automaticity scores for interdental cleaning compared to those with higher SES roles., Conclusions: A high proportion of people undertake toothbrushing and interdental cleaning automatically, especially in relation to embarking on these behaviours. This is most pronounced in morning toothbrushing., Clinical Significance: Promoting improvements in oral hygiene behaviour toothbrushing and interdental cleaning are key strategies in preventing caries and periodontal disease. A greater understanding of what prompts and sustains these behaviours helps inform how behaviour change efforts should be approached., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study assessed the differences between immigrants and natives in terms of combined effects of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) or snack consumption and preventive behaviors for severe early childhood caries (SECC) through a large-scale survey of 31,565 native and 1046 immigrant child⁻parent pairs in Taiwan. Children aged 3⁻5 years underwent dental examinations, and parents completed structured questionnaires. Immigrants had a significantly higher SECC prevalence than native children (32.3% vs. 19.4%). A combined effect of SECC was observed in native children who did not receive assistance when brushing teeth at night before sleep and those who consumed SSBs more than four times weekly (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.8). Moreover, native children who did not use dental floss and who consumed snacks more than four times weekly had an aOR of 4.1 for SECC. The combined effects of children with immigrant parents who did not receive assistance when brushing their teeth at night before sleep and those who consumed snacks more than four times weekly had an aOR of 8.2 for SECC. The results suggest the necessity of cross-cultural caries prevention programs for immigrants. Parents must limit children's SSB and snack intake, and implement preventive measures to reduce SECC development.

Extruded cement during dental implant crown cementation may cause peri-implant diseases if not removed adequately. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of removal of cement after cementation of implant crowns using an experimental circular crisscross flossing technique (CCFT) flossing technique, compared to the conventional "C"-shape flossing technique (CSFT). Twenty-four patients rendered 29 experimental and 29 control crowns. Prefabricated abutments were secured to the implant such that the margins were at least 1 mm subgingivally. The abutments were scanned using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology and Emax crowns were fabricated in duplicates. Each crown was cemented individually and excess cement was removed using the CSFT and the CCFT techniques. After completion of cementation was completed, the screw access holes were accessed and the crown was unscrewed along with the abutment. The samples were disinfected using 70% ethanol for 10 minutes. Crowns were divided into 4 parts using a marker to facilitate measurement data collection. Vertical and horizontal measurements were made for extruded cement for each control and experimental groups by means of a digital microscope. One-hundred and seventeen measurements were made for each group. Mann-Whitney test was applied to verify statistical significance between the groups. The CCFT showed a highly statistically significant result (104.8 ± 13.66, P < .0001) for cement removal compared with the CSFT (291.8 ± 21.96, P < .0001). The vertical measurements of the extruded cement showed a median of 231.1 μm (IQR = 112.79-398.39) and 43.62 μm (IQR = 0-180.21) for the control and the experimental flossing techniques, respectively. The horizontal measurements of the extruded cement showed a median of 987.1 μm (IQR = 476.7-1,933.58) and 139.2 μm (IQR = 0-858.28) for the control and the experimental flossing techniques, respectively. The CCFT showed highly statistically significant less cement after implant crowns cementation when compared with the CSFT.

Background: The goal of this study was to determine the application of health belief model in oral health education for 12-year-old children and its effect on oral health behaviors and indexes., Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out on twelve-year-old girl students (n-291) in the first grade of secondary school, in the central district of Tehran, Iran. Research sample was selected by a multistage cluster sampling. The data was obtained by using a valid reliable questionnaire for measuring the perceptions, a checklist for observing the quality of brushing and dental flossing and health files and clinical observation. First, a descriptive study was applied to individual perceptions, oral behaviors, Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth Index (DMFTI). Then an educational planning based on the results and Health Belief Model (HBM) was applied. The procedure was repeated after six months., Results: After education, based on HBM, all the oral health perceptions increased (P<.05). Correct brushing and flossing are influenced by increased perceptions. A low correlation between the reduction of DMFTI and increased perceived severity and increased perceived barriers are found (r= -0.28, r = 0.43 respectively). In addition, there was a limited correlation between OHI and increased perceived benefits (r = -0.26)., Conclusion: Using health belief model in oral health education for increasing the likelihood of taking preventive oral health behaviors is applicable.