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Background: An increasing number of care‐dependent older people living at home need external support to receive regular dental care. Objectives: To investigate the use of oral health care services among old home care clients who participated in an intervention study focusing on oral self‐care and nutrition. Materials and Methods: This study employed data from the multidisciplinary Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication (NutOrMed) intervention study with a population‐based sample of 245 home care clients (74% female) aged 75 or more divided in intervention (n = 140) and two control groups (n = 105). The data were collected through interviews at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up. Results: At baseline, 43% of participants reported visits to oral health care within the previous year. At 6‐month follow‐up, this proportion was 51%. In the intervention group, the corresponding figures were 46% and 53%, and in the controls 39% and 48%. Adjusted regression analyses showed that this change was statistically significant (p = 0.008). In addition, higher education and toothache or other discomfort related to teeth or dentures at baseline were associated with increased use after the 6‐month follow‐up (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.0–1.2; OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.5–7.9) but being edentulous indicated the opposite (OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1–0.4). Belonging to the intervention group was not associated with increased use. Conclusions: In older adults, any efforts to raise awareness of oral health are of great potential to increase use of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common metabolic disorders during pregnancy and is associated with adverse outcomes in both mothers and their children. After delivery, women who experience GDM are also at higher risk of both subsequent GDM and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than those who do not. Therefore, healthcare providers and public health practitioners need to develop targeted and effective interventions for GDM. In this study, we aimed to explore the perceptions regarding health behaviors and related factors during the inter-pregnancy period among Chinese women with a history of GDM through the lens of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods: Between December 2021 and September 2022, 16 pregnant Chinese women with a history of GDM were purposively recruited from a tertiary maternity hospital in Shanghai for face-to-face semi-structured interviews. They were asked questions regarding their health behaviors and related factors. The transcribed data were analyzed using a directed qualitative content analysis method based on the theory of TPB. Results: The health-related behaviors of the women varied substantially. We identified five domains that influenced women's behaviors according to TPB constructs and based on the data collected: behavioral attitude (perceived benefits of healthy behaviors and the relationship between experience and attitude towards the oral glucose tolerance testing); subjective norms (influences of significant others and traditional cultural beliefs); perceived behavior control (knowledge of the disease, multiple-role conflict, the impact of COVID-19, an unfriendly external environment and difficulty adhering to healthy diets), incentive mechanisms (self-reward and external incentives); preferences of professional and institutional support (making full use of social media platform and providing continuous health management). Conclusions: The health-related behaviors of women with a history of GDM were found to be affected by multiple factors. Healthcare professionals are recommended to provide women with sufficient information regarding the disease and to take advantage of the power of the family and other social support networks to improve women's subjective norms and to promote the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In suckling piglets, the third incisors and canines are already formed at birth. This can lead to bite injuries when suckling on the sow's teats and during hierarchy formation among littermates. For this reason, some farms routinely grind the teeth with a rotating grinding head. However, grinding can lead to tooth injuries, inflammation and pain. The aim of this study was to compare the common roller grinding head with a so-called teacup grinding head (a teacup-shaped attachment that is supposed to adapt better to the individual tooth) and with a control group that was not ground at all. Therefore, dental injuries, weight gain, skin lesions, mortality and behaviour of piglets were determined. The teacup method caused significantly fewer opened tooth pulps than the roller head method. Nonetheless, no difference was found with regard to growth, lesions, mortality and behaviour when comparing the two grinding methods and the control group. It can be concluded that the teacup method is a more animal-friendly option. Nevertheless, it must be considered individually for each farm whether there is a need for grinding at all. If grinding cannot be dispensed with, the use of the teacup method is recommended in the interest of animal welfare. Teeth grinding in suckling piglets is performed on many farms to protect the piglets' littermates and the sow's udder from injuries caused by the piglets' canines and third incisors. In this study, the effects of two teeth-grinding methods on the piglets' dental health and welfare were investigated. The piglets of a litter were evenly assigned to a treatment: one-third of littermates were ground with a roller grinding head (RG), one-third with a teacup grinding head (TCG), and one-third were not ground at all (CG). A random sample of 100 animals each from the RG and TCG treatment was examined for tooth injuries, i.e., dental pulp openings. Additionally, behavioural analysis was performed (n = 650 piglets), and skin lesions, growth and mortality were determined (n = 1565 piglets). TCG piglets had a lower risk (p < 0.001) of pulp opening than RG piglets (0.08 ± 0.31 vs. 2.67 ± 1.67 opened pulps per piglet). Mortality, growth, skin lesions and behaviour of piglets were not influenced by treatment (p > 0.05). This study showed that both teeth-grinding methods led to pulp openings. If teeth grinding cannot be avoided on a farm, using the teacup grinding head is recommended concerning animal health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with communication and swallowing disorders often exhibit poor oral health and hygiene (OHH), that can lead to further complications. OHH assessment and management is a part of scope of practice of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). The study aims to determine the level of awareness, knowledge and practice patterns of OHH amongst the SLPs in India. A questionnaire with 20-item and three sections was developed to assess the awareness and knowledge regarding OHH among SLPs. A total of 162 participants responded to the survey. 93.2% participants were aware of the importance of OHH, however 42.6% participants did not feel confident enough to assess the same. A majority (82.7%) agreed that poor OHH can lead to different health complications. 38.8% of the participants responded that they assessed oral health only sometimes and 54.3% reported that they never used any standard screening/assessment tools to assess oral health. Only a very small percentage of participants (28.65%) counselled the patients for maintenance of oral hygiene and more than 40% never recommended appropriate OHH practices during management. Though a vast majority were aware of the importance of OHH and consequences of poor OHH, they did not feel confident and consequently did not incorporate OHH during clinical practice. Though the scope of SLP includes oral care assessment and management, Indian SLPs were not practicing this. Hence, the clinical and academic curriculum should focus on topics pertaining to oral health assessment and management, which will improve the quality-of-service delivery of the SLPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Multiple studies have reported a positive association between missing teeth and cognitive impairment. While some authors have postulated causal mechanisms, existing designs preclude assessing this. Methods: We sought evidence of a causal effect of missing teeth on early-onset cognitive impairment in a natural experiment, using differential exposure to fluoridated water during critical childhood years (ages 5–20 years) in England as the instrument. We coded missing teeth from 0 (≤ 12 missing) to 3 (all missing) and measured the association with cognitive impairment in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing data (2014–5), covering 4958 persons aged 50–70 years. Results: We first replicated previous evidence of the strongly positive association of missing teeth with cognitive impairment (β = 0.25 [0.11, 0.39]), after adjusting for socio-demographic covariates, such as age, gender, education, and wealth. Using an instrumental variable design, we found that childhood exposure to water fluoridation was strongly associated with fewer missing teeth, with being exposed to fluoridated water during childhood (16 years) associated with a 0.96 reduction in the missing teeth scale (β = − 0.06 [− 0.10, − 0.02]). However, when using the instrumented measure of missing teeth, predicted by probability of fluoride exposure, we found that missing teeth no longer had an association with cognitive impairment (β = 1.48 [− 1.22, 4.17]), suggesting that previous oral health-cognitive impairment associations had unobserved confounding. Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the possibility that unobserved confounding leads to the oft-observed association between missing teeth and early-onset cognitive impairment, suggesting that the relationship is spurious rather than causal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to investigate oral health status and its relationship with oral health-related quality of life in the elderly in Isfahan, Iran, in 2022. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Isfahan, with 460 elderly participants. During interviews with the participants, their demographic information, their medical and dental history, oral health-related behaviors, self-perceived oral health, and clinical examinations were collected, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) was completed. The final conclusions were made using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) test. Results: The mean (sd) scores were 45.05 (8.62) for GOHAI, 5.44 (2.96) for self-perceived oral health, and 18.11 (5.76) for DMFT (Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth). Moreover, the number of remaining teeth on average was 11.78 (11.89), 39.56% of the participants did not brush their teeth, 40% of the elderly had complete dentures, and 27.17% had dental insurance. After adjusting and modifying the variables, the GLM test revealed that strong predictors for higher GOHAI scores were the higher levels of education (p < .001), the higher frequency of remaining teeth (p = 0.002), more pleasant self-perceived oral health (p < .001), and dental insurance (p = 0.04). Conclusions: According to the findings, the elderly's oral health-related quality of life in Isfahan was low, which was caused by the following factors: edentulism, few numbers of remaining teeth, high DMFT score, elderly' non-adjustment with dentures and their low quality, inappropriate oral health-related behaviors, lack of complementary insurance for dentistry, and non-using dental services, and low levels of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated water and food are the main sources of documented per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in humans. However, other sources may contribute to the overall PFAS intake. While several studies documented the presence of PFAS in consumer products, PFAS evaluation in dental products has been limited to floss and tape to date. This study estimated PFAS exposures from a convenience sample of leave-in dental products (night guards and whitening trays), which remain in contact with the mouth for longer durations than previously evaluated dental products. This analysis evaluated whether consumer usage of these dental products meaningfully contributes to oral exposure of PFAS. Leaching of PFAS upon disposal of products was also considered. Out of 24 PFAS measured, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA; 3.24–4.17 ng/product or 0.67–0.83 ng/g) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS; 7.25–16.45 ng/product or 1.2–2.3 ng/g) were detected in night guards, and no PFAS were detected in whitening trays. Non-targeted analysis showed additional possible PFAS, which could not be characterized. The findings showed that PFOS and/or PFBA present in night guards were unlikely to pose a health concern. From an ecological perspective, the dental products examined were shown to constitute a negligible contribution to environmental PFAS. In conclusion, the examined dental products do not represent a significant source of exposure to PFAS for humans or the environment. The study demonstrates how risk assessment can be integrated by the industry into product stewardship programs to evaluate the potential health and environmental impacts of chemicals in consumer products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020 led to the suspension of several clinical practices globally, including dentistry. This study investigates the impact of these restrictions on dental caries experience. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Egas Moniz University's dental hospital in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area from June 2019 to June 2021. The study involved 3380 participants who were divided into two cohorts: after and before COVID-19 restrictions. Data collection included a questionnaire, full-mouth clinical examinations, and radiographs (panoramic X-rays, bitewings). Results: Before the COVID-19 restrictions, the prevalence of dental caries was 91.8%, with an average DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index of 12.13. Post-restrictions, the prevalence decreased to 84.5%, with a DMFT index of 10.99. There was an increase in missing teeth and a decrease in decayed and filled teeth. Additionally, the frequency of toothbrushing declined among participants. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have significantly impacted dental caries experiences and oral health, highlighting a decrease in dental caries, but also a concerning reduction in oral hygiene practices. These results emphasize the importance of customized dental healthcare during public health emergencies to reduce impacts and maintain oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the oral and dermal health risks of potentially toxic elements in water samples collected from Ojoto area in southeast Nigeria were studied using HHRISK code and water quality index. The water samples were analysed for physicochemical parameters based on standard guidelines. Average concentration of the potentially toxic elements in the water was in the order: Pb2+ > Fe2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+ > Cr3+. To assess the level of surface and groundwater pollution, water quality index was calculated. Results of the water quality index suggest that 11% of the water samples are in good condition; 25% have poor quality, 3% have very poor quality, and 53% have quality that is unfit for human consumption. The HHRISK code was used to quantify the health risks associated with the use of the water resources. Results revealed that most of the water samples expose their users to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. Cumulative non-carcinogenic risk scores (for both children and adults) and the majority of cumulative carcinogenic risk values were found to be above regulatory limits. The adult population is exposed to lower non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks, implying that children are more vulnerable. The water supplies are of substandard quality and could cause serious health issues when ingested than when used for bathing and washing purposes. Simple linear regression models showed positive agreement between the results of the WQI and HHRISK code. To safeguard the water resources, avoid additional water contamination, and reduce public health hazards associated with poor water quality, strategic mitigation strategies are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic reduced access to medical services and led to an increase in complications and exacerbation of many diseases that occurred during and after the pandemic, including deterioration in oral health. One of the main oral health indicators is the index of the number of decayed, extracted, and filled primary teeth (deft) or decayed, extracted, and filled permanent teeth (DEFT). The aim of this study was to determine whether restricted access to dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a deterioration in oral health among schoolchildren. METHOD: Data of oral systematic examinations before (school year: 2018-2019) and after (school year: 2021-2022) the pandemic were used for the study. Systematic oral examinations were conducted for all primary school students from the first to ninth grades at Murska Sobota Public Health Center, and the number of decayed, filled, and extracted (due to caries) primary and permanent teeth were recorded for each student. The deft and DEFT index values before and after the pandemic were calculated and compared for students in first (age range: six to seven years) to fifth (age range: 10-11 years) grades and students in fifth to ninth (age range 14-15 years) grades, respectively. RESULTS: We found that the median deft index of the whole population before the pandemic was 3, whereas it was 2 afterwards (p < 0.01). For students in the first and second grades, the median deft index was 3 before the pandemic and 2 afterwards (p = 0.01), and for students in the third grade, it was 4 (p = 0.02) before the pandemic and 2 afterwards (p < 0.01). The median DEFT index of the whole population was 1 before the pandemic and 0 afterwards (p < 0.01). For students in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades, the median DEFT index values were 1, 2 and 2, respectively, before the pandemic and 0, 0 and 1, respectively, afterwards (p < 0.01 for seventh and eighth grades and p = 0.02 for ninth grade). CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed a lower deft/DEFT index after the pandemic, which could be explained by increased health and hygiene awareness during the pandemic, as children/parents were mostly responsible for maintaining good oral health. Limited access to dental services does not necessarily imply poor oral health (Tab. 1, Ref. 25). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The communication skills of clinicians are very crucial in providing better health outcomes for patients. Therefore, this study aimed to assess undergraduate dental students' communication skills in relation to their demographics and clinical setting using a three‐perspective approach; the student, the patient and the clinical instructor perspective. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted using validated modified‐communication tools; Patient Communication Assessment Instruments (PCAI), Student Communication Assessment Instruments (SCAI) and Clinical Communication Assessment Instruments (CCAI) which included four communication domains. One hundred and seventy‐six undergraduate clinical year students were recruited in this study whereby each of them was assessed by a clinical instructor and a randomly selected patient in two settings: Dental Health Education (DHE) and Comprehensive Care (CC) clinic. Results: Comparing the three perspectives, PCAI yielded the highest scores across all domains, followed by SCAI and CCAI (p <.001). SCAI exhibited a better score in Year 5 compared to Year 3 and Year 4 (p =.027). The male students perceived they performed better than females in all domains (p <.05). Patients rated the students higher in the DHE clinic as compared to the CC clinic for the team interaction domain. Conclusion: There was an upward pattern of the communication skills score rated from the clinical instructor perspective to the student and patient perspectives. The use of PCAI, SCAI and CCAI collectively gave a complementary view of students' communication performance in all the domains assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

We evaluated a school dental health education on the oral hygiene status in Quilombolas of the Brazilian Amazon. This is a prospective study. We included schoolchildren aged from 5 to 12 years and carried out an oral health education program for 4 months, totaling eight workshops held in the community school that provided physical structure and material resources for their development. We evaluated oral hygiene before and after the intervention period through clinical examination with the instrument Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S) is the combination of bacterial plaque indices. Before the intervention, all schoolchildren were instructed to use the plaque-revealing tablet after unsupervised toothbrushing and before any oral hygiene guidance given by the dentist who conducted the playful workshops on the premises of the school. Quantitative variables (OHI-S and age) with normal distribution (p > 0.05, Shapiro-Wilk test) are presented as means and standard deviations. Those with non-normal distribution (p < 0.05, Shapiro-Wilk test) are presented as medians and 25–75 percentiles. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for within-group comparisons. We observed a significant difference in the mean scores of the oral hygiene index simplified (p < 0.001) before and after the intervention and 56.25% of the participants improved their oral hygiene condition. The results of this study provide evidence to support the importance of personalized educational initiatives to promote oral health in marginalized groups. However, it is important to recognize the limitations of the study, such as the relatively small sample size and the lack of a control group, which may require further investigation in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the oral health statuses of children and adults within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) population through an umbrella review approach. The prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease, and associated variables were investigated across selected studies. A systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, Science Direct, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Wiley Online Library to identify relevant studies. The assessed variables included dental caries prevalence, periodontal disease prevalence, oral hygiene indicators, and the necessity of dental treatment. The pooled prevalence rates, odds ratios, and standardized mean differences were calculated where applicable. The pooled prevalence of dental caries among ASD individuals ranged from 60.6% to 67.3%, while the periodontal disease prevalence ranged from 59.8% to 69.4%. High rates of dental treatment under general anesthesia were reported. Heterogeneous dental caries and periodontal disease prevalence rates were identified, highlighting the need for collaboration and preventive care. Several studies also reported higher prevalence rates of dental trauma and self-inflicted oral injuries among individuals with ASD. However, the review also identified significant methodological limitations in the included studies, including inconsistency in oral health assessment methods and potential bias. The necessity for targeted policies due to high prevalence rates and the requirement for integrated care systems in high DMFT regions were also observed. The umbrella review synthesized diverse findings, revealing variations in dental caries and periodontal disease prevalence among ASD individuals. This review underscores the need for tailored interventions and policies to address oral health disparities. It highlights the necessity of integrated care systems, methodological improvements, and longitudinal studies to comprehensively address the multifaceted oral health challenges within the ASD population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes daily oral health care in private enhanced service housing units and nursing homes in Finland using a qualitative method. Nineteen supervisor nurses were interviewed in the six largest cities in Finland. The interviews consisted of semi-structured questions. The interviews were then transcribed and analyzed using inductive content analysis. The qualitative content analysis revealed five main categories: diet, education in the oral health of older people, oral care equipment and taking care of them, caring for the mouths of residents, and professional oral health care. The results revealed that sugary snacks were given daily in the units and there was a need for oral health care education. The dental equipment of residents was taken care of well and the oral health of the residents was taken care of moderately well. Furthermore, there was a need for co-operation between dental professionals and only half of the residents had an individual oral care plan. It can be concluded that based on this qualitative study, the implementation of daily oral health care in most nursing homes and enhanced housing units seems to be at a sufficient level and more oral health-related practical and theoretical education is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse adolescents' self‐reported experiences and behavioural outcomes of a person‐centred, theory‐based intervention in comparison with conventional information/instruction for improved oral hygiene. Materials and Methods: Data were derived from a prospective, multi‐centred, two‐arm, quasi‐randomized field study focusing on the effectiveness of educational interventions for improved oral hygiene. Dental hygienists working within the Public Dental Service, Västra Götaland, Sweden, provided treatments, and adolescents with poor oral hygiene conditions were eligible for participation. The person‐centred test intervention was based on social cognitive constructs, and motivational interviewing was used as an approach in communication. The control intervention included conventional information/instructions. Clinical examinations were performed, and questionnaires were distributed at baseline and at 6 months. Three‐hundred and twelve patients were enrolled, and data from 276 patients, following treatment per protocol, were analysed. Results: The test group was more satisfied with the education about gingivitis (very good: 61% vs. 37%) and communication during therapy (very good: 69% vs. 50%) and reported to a larger extent that they were much more careful regarding their oral hygiene after the treatment (30% vs. 15%) and had higher confidence about keeping up healthy gingival conditions, in comparison with the control group (all p <.01). Conclusions: The person‐centred, theory‐based intervention was superior in terms of adolescents' experiences of education and communication during therapy and self‐reported oral hygiene behavioural outcomes at 6 months, in comparison with conventional information/instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Realist methods offer a novel approach to intervention design. Such novelty is needed for effective oral health promotion interventions with people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) and their carers because existing interventions are poorly described and lack theoretical underpinning. In this study, the steps between inception and final intervention development are presented, with an aim to expand understanding of how realist theorizing can be used to develop interventions, and to demonstrate theory‐driven intervention development in the field of oral health promotion. Methods: In this intervention development study, the use of realist methods to develop an intervention aiming to improve the oral hygiene of people with IDD is presented. Realist theories (RTs) arising from a mixed synthesis were used to develop the Keep My Teeth intervention. The use of realist theory in intervention development was mapped across seven domains and 18 actions with emphasis on how theory informed key actions. Results: Realist theories informed many but not all actions in the development process. Where gaps arose, this was augmented with other systems of intervention development, such as the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and Behaviour Change Technique (BCT) systems. The resulting intervention and underlying theory are presented using TiDieR criteria. Conclusions: It is demonstrated how realist methods could be integrated with substantive theory when developing an intervention. RTs enhanced the contextualization of the intervention that was developed but were insufficient in their own right to guide the development process from conception to intervention. This was overcome by augmenting with substantive theory, in this case, using the BCW and BCT behaviour change systems, to select and specify the behaviours that needed to change. In essence, the BCTs guided which techniques to select, while the RTs guided how to develop and intervene. Robust intervention development in the field of oral health promotion is also presented in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-thermal plasmas (NTPs), known as cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs), hold great potential for diverse medical applications, including dentistry. However, traditional linear and rigid dielectric barrier discharge reactors used for NTP generation encounter limitations in accessing oral cavities and root canals. To address this issue, we have developed an innovative NTP reactor featuring an angled end for improved accessibility. The central copper electrode, with a 0.59 mm diameter and adjustable length for desired angulation, is coated with zircon powder (ZrSiO4) to ensure stable NTP generation. This central electrode is housed within a stainless steel tube (3 mm internal diameter, 8 mm external diameter, and 100 mm length) with a 27° angle at one end, making it ergonomically suitable for oral applications. NTP generation involves polarizing the reactor electrodes with 13.56 MHz radio frequency signals, using helium gas as a working medium. We introduce plasma-treated water (PTW) as an adjunctive therapy to enhance biofilm eradication within root canals. A synergistic approach combining NTP and PTW is employed and compared to the gold standard (sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl), effectively neutralizing Enterococcus faecalis bacteria, even in scenarios involving biofilms. Moreover, applying NTP in both gaseous and liquid environments successfully achieves bacterial inactivation at varying treatment durations, demonstrating the device's suitability for medical use in treating root canal biofilms. The proposed NTP reactor, characterized by its innovative design, offers a practical and specific approach to plasma treatment in dental applications. It holds promise in combatting bacterial infections in root canals and oral cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) are subjected to microbe-containing aerosols and splatters in their everyday work. Safer work conditions must be developed to ensure the functioning of the healthcare system. By simulating dental procedures, we aimed to compare the virus-containing aerosol generation of four common dental instruments, and high-volume evacuation (HVE) in their mitigation. Moreover, we combined the detection of infectious viruses with RT-qPCR to form a fuller view of virus-containing aerosol spread in dental procedures. The air–water syringe produced the highest number of aerosols. HVE greatly reduced aerosol concentrations during procedures. The air–water syringe spread infectious virus-containing aerosols throughout the room, while other instruments only did so to close proximity. Additionally, infectious viruses were detected on the face shields of DHCP. Virus genomes were detected throughout the room with all instruments, indicating that more resilient viruses might remain infectious and pose a health hazard. HVE reduced the spread of both infectious viruses and viral genomes, however, it did not fully prevent them. We recommend meticulous use of HVE, a well-fitting mask and face shields in dental procedures. We advise particular caution when operating with the air–water syringe. Due to limited repetitions, this study should be considered a proof-of-concept report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an oral health mobile application on the oral health knowledge, behavior, and practices (KBP) of child-parent dyads. Methods: This was a pre-post, single-arm, hospital-based pilot study. Fifty-two dyads were assessed for KBP using a selfstructured questionnaire. The oral hygiene of children was evaluated using the plaque index (PI). The Healthy-Smile Swasth-Muskaan mobile application was installed on the phones of participants, and they were encouraged to use the application regularly. After one month of the app instalation, post-KBP and PI were assessed. Results: A significant improvement was seen in the parents' total knowledge, behavior, and oral hygiene practices of the children (P<0.001). A significant reduction was observed in the mean plaque scores of the children (P<0.001). Conclusions: The Healthy-Smile Swasth-Muskaan mobile app is associated with improved oral health knowledge and behavior of the child-parent dyads and improved oral hygiene of children. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the impact of mobile apps on the oral health knowledge, behavior, and practices of parents and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Access to hospital operating rooms (HORs) for pediatric dental patients worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of hospital operating room denials for dental patients on service and teaching missions in selected US children's hospitals (CHs). Methods: A 12-question online survey was sent to administrative heads of 34 CH dental departments. Results: Twentytwo surveys were completed. All respondent CHs were engaged in pediatric dentistry training. The majority (68 percent) reported that access to HORs worsened since 2017, resulting in longer wait times for hospital dental service cases (82 percent), decreased ability to achieve and maintain oral health for special needs patients (64 percent), more caries-related emergency department visits (50 percent), and delays in medical surgery for children needing dental clearance (45 percent). A quarter (27 percent) reported HOR availability somewhat affected resident training. Conclusion: Lack of access to hospital operating rooms in training hospitals had a negative impact on the quality and timeliness of care and the quality of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methacrylate-based polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is one of the new composites used as a dental resin. Both monofunctional methacryl isobutyl POSS (MIPOSS) and multifunctional methacryl POSS (MAPOSS) are reported to be possible resins that possess the desired properties for using them as dental resins. Our group's previous comparative study on these two resins showed that the MAPOSS composite has superior mechanical properties compared with the MIPOSS composite. In this article, molecular dynamic simulations (MD simulations) are performed to study the water sorption in these two composites. Water sorption in dental composites can have several effects on the material properties, performance, and longevity of dental restorations. Water sorption in MAPOSS and MIPOSS composites is analyzed by studying the hydrogen bonding, cluster analysis, density projection calculations, and diffusion coefficient calculation of water molecules within the resin matrix. MD simulations results are further used to understand the interaction of water molecules with the resin matrix comprehensively, which governs the composite's mechanical properties. The water sorption study showed that the MAPOSS composite has less water sorption capacity than the MIPOSS composite. The practical significance of this study is to find properties that affect dental restoration and longevity, which can help in the design of better materials for dental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor oral health during pregnancy has significant implications across the life course, including increased risk for adverse pregnancy, birth outcomes, and the development of early childhood caries. In efforts to improve perinatal oral health in the United States, a set of national interprofessional guidelines were developed that include recommended practice behaviors for both oral health providers and prenatal providers. The purpose of this study was to examine guideline awareness, familiarity, beliefs, and practice behaviors among both provider types. Methods: Prenatal providers and oral health providers in Florida were recruited via random and convenience sampling to complete an online survey guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Cabana Framework. The present analysis focused on the Individuals Involved domain (CFIR), awareness and familiarity with the guidelines (Cabana Framework), confidence, and practice behaviors as recommended by prenatal oral health guidelines (assess, advise, refer, share/coordinate). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analyses were conducted in SPSS. Results: Prenatal and oral health providers did not differ significantly in their awareness of the guidelines, but awareness was significantly associated with three of the four practice behaviors for prenatal providers. Familiarity with the guidelines was significantly higher among oral health providers and was associated with all four practice behaviors for both provider types. Five out of ten oral health belief items were significantly associated with practicing the guidelines among prenatal providers, but only two among oral health providers. Confidence in performing the practice behaviors was significantly associated with guideline implementation among both groups. Years in practice was significantly associated with performing practice behaviors for prenatal providers, but not for oral health providers. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of professional organizations and the role of clinical guidelines on practice behaviors. Although provider education is a key implementation strategy, organizational and policy-level system changes could also be critical in supporting practice behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The study aimed to assess the awareness, perception, and practices regarding oral health among school-going adolescents in Ahmedabad City, Gujarat, India. Materials and methods. A total of 600 school-attending adolescents with a mean age of 14.2 ± 1.19 years were enrolled. Ten schools (five public and five private schools) were selected randomly. They were interviewed by using a face-to-face questionnaire which comprised 13 items. Out of 13 questions four questions were related to awareness, four questions were related to attitude, and five questions were related to the practice of oral health. The statistical association between the two genders, age groups, and between public and private schools was determined using the Chi-square test. Results. Most of the participants were aware of the number of permanent teeth present; however they were unaware of the number of primary teeth, and the effect of sugar and tobacco consumption on oral health. Male and private school-going students had better knowledge compared to females and government school students... A total of 73% of the participants brushed their teeth twice daily. Tooth pain was the most common reason (49.7%) for visiting a dentist. 44.7% of them visit the dentist only when needed while 23.5% visit the dentist every 6 months for regular check-ups. Conclusion. The findings of the study conclude that oral health-related awareness, perception, and practices of adolescent students were not satisfactory. Hence, there is a need for regular oral health education for adolescents, as well as their parents and school teachers, which could impart a better and long-lasting understanding of oral health awareness, which in turn will reflect better oral health-related practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wetlands are swamps with a water pH of 3.5-4.5. There are also cariogenic bacteria, including Streptococcus sp. Parents living in wetlands have a habit of using wetland water for their daily routine, such as for gargling after toothbrushing. Oral health problems in intellectual disabilities children include gingivitis, periodontitis, and rapid dental caries. Dental Health Education can increase the awareness of people in wetlands. Purpose: to analyse the effectivity of parent education program about dental health education for intellectual disability children in Wetland Methods: A quasi-experiment study with pretest and posttest without control design that used a simple random sampling technique. Results: Thirty-eight parents of intellectual disabilities children filled questionnaires for pretest, then asked to watch an animated video of Dental Health Education for moderate intellectual disabilities children living in wetlands concerning dental caries prevention. As for the posttest, the samples were asked to fill the same questionnaire after 20 days. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon statistical test. The results of the Wilcoxon test prove value = 0.000 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is an effect of the parent education program through Dental Health Education video for intellectual disabilities children in wetlands on dental caries prevention. This video can be applied to parents of children with intellectual disabilities as promotive action for dental health education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern sharks have an evolutionary history of at least 250 million years and are known to play key roles in marine systems, from controlling prey populations to connecting habitats across oceans. These ecological roles can be quantified based on their functional traits, which are typically morphological (e.g., body size) or behavioural (e.g., feeding and diet). Nonetheless, the understanding of such roles of extinct sharks is limited due to the inherent incompleteness of their fossil record, which consists mainly of isolated teeth. As such, establishing links between tooth morphology and ecological traits in living sharks could provide a useful framework to infer sharks' ecology from the fossil record. Here, based on extant sharks from which morphological and behavioural characteristics are known, the authors assess the extent to which isolated teeth can serve as proxies for functional traits. To do so, they first review the scientific literature on extant species to evaluate the use of shark dental characters as proxies for ecology to then perform validation analyses based on an independent data set collected from museum collections. Their results reveal that 12 dental characters have been used in shark literature as proxies for three functional traits: body size, prey preference and feeding mechanism. From all dental characters identified, tooth size and cutting edge are the most widely used. Validation analyses suggest that seven dental characters – crown height, crown width, cutting edge, lateral cusplets, curvature, longitudinal outline and cross‐section outline – are the best proxies for the three functional traits. In particular, tooth size (crown height and width) was found to be a reliable proxy of all three traits; the presence of serrations on the cutting edge was one of the best proxies for prey preference; and tooth shape (longitudinal outline) and the presence of lateral cusplets were among the best indicators of feeding mechanism. Overall, the authors' results suggest that in the absence of directly measurable traits in the fossil record, these seven dental characters (and different combinations of them) can be used to quantify the ecological roles of extinct sharks. This information has the potential to provide key insights into how shark functional diversity has changed through time, including their ecological responses to extinction events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at higher risks of developing chronic oral health conditions. This trial compared the efficacy of two tooth-brushing educational interventions on the oral hygiene status {Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S)} among 7–15-year-old students with ASD in Tehran. Four schools were divided to intervention (video modeling) and comparison (social story) school groups. The OHI-S of 137 participants had been evaluated at baseline and 133 were analyzed finally after one month. Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups. OHI-S improvement was significantly higher in intervention group. We concluded that tooth-brushing educational intervention using video modeling based on modern technologies would improve oral hygiene status more than traditional social stories (standard education) in individuals with ASD. Trial registration number: IRCT20200208046413N1, Registration date: 2020–07-05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the relationship between oral health and chronic disease among adults aged 45 years and older in Rhode Island, U.S. It highlighting the prevalence of chronic conditions and oral health issues in this population; discusses the impact of tooth loss on individuals' functioning and psychosocial well-being; and suggests integrating oral health risk assessments into chronic disease management plans to improve overall patient care and quality of life.

Background: Community water fluoridation is a well-recognized public health initiative known for its efficacy in preventing dental cavities. The positive effects of fluoride on tooth enamel have led to widespread implementation of water fluoridation programs. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1,000 participants from diverse age groups, spanning children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, residing in both fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. Comprehensive periodontal assessments included measurements of probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and the presence of gingival inflammation. Participants were categorized into "fluoridated" or "non-fluoridated" groups based on their residential history. Results: Fluoridated communities consistently displayed lower mean PDs, CALs, and rates of gingival inflammation across all age groups. Notably, the reduction in PD and CAL reached approximately 0.5 millimeters and 0.3 millimeters, respectively, while the decrease in gingival inflammation ranged from 3% to 5%. Conclusion: This study suggests a potential link between community water fluoridation and enhanced periodontal health, as evidenced by improved PDs, CALs, and reduced gingival inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a chronic disease with global, epidemic spread. The worldwide prevalence of obesity is a considerable source of concern, given its potential impact on morbidity, mortality, and cost of health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized obesity as a predisposing factor to major chronic diseases ranging from cardiovascular diseases to cancers. Once considered a problem only in developed nations, the WHO estimates now show that obesity is on the rise, dramatically, even in low- and middle-income countries. Both obesity and dental caries have common determinants and require a comprehensive, integrated, and multidisciplinary approach. In this context, dental health-care professionals should promote healthy diets not only to prevent dental caries but also to reduce the risk of obesity, provided that obesity and dental caries share common lifestyle factors starting from childhood and adolescence. There are very few literature evidences wherein significant attention has been drawn toward the prevention of this global health burden. The present review focuses on a similar lacuna in the literature and emphasizes the role of primary health-care providers including dental professionals who are well-trained to address this public health concern at grassroots levels. Thus, the improvement of dental health and general well-being of individuals requires an active collaboration between dental and general health-care providers and the implementation of health promotion strategies targeting management of both obesity and dental caries by using a holistic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plaque biofilms play critical roles in the development of dental caries. Mechanical plaque control methods are considered to be most effective for plaque removal, such as brushing teeth or using flosser. Recently, water flosser has been paid much attention. Here, we tested the ability of a water flosser to remove the adhered sucrose and the dental plaque biofilms formed by Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Actinobacillus viscosus. We found that the residual sucrose concentration was 3.54 mg/mL in the control group, 1.75 mg/mL in the syringe group (simulating the ordinary mouthwash), and 0 mg/mL in water flosser group. In addition, the residual bacterial concentration was 3.6 × 108 CFU/mL in the control group, 1.6 × 107 CFU/mL in the syringe group, and only 5.5 × 105 CFU/mL in the water flosser group. In summary, water flosser is effective for cleaning the teeth, which may have significant potential in preventing dental caries and maintaining oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral health knowledge ensures that the person has all the requisite information to find out which oral diseases are and how they occur and recognize the security measures that must be taken. This knowledge can lead to changes in attitude, which leads to changes in the person's everyday life. This study aims to evaluate oral health-related knowledge and determine its associated factors among Universiti Putra Malaysia staff. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 207 UPM staff. The study included the UPM Malaysian staff (permanent, temporary, contract), and excluded foreigners and staff on leave. Stratified random sampling was used to select a representative sample with five selected faculties. Oral health knowledge was assessed with a validated and pretested questionnaire. Results: The total respondents were 162 from 207 subjects, giving a response rate of 78.3%. In this study, more than half of the participants have satisfactory knowledge (56.2%). The results show a significant association between oral health knowledge and each of: level of education, monthly income, faculty, type of staff, and smoking. It is observed that postgraduate staff are more knowledgeable towards oral health with 63.2% compared to graduate level and below with 39.6% only. In addition, the staff with higher incomes are more likely to have satisfactory knowledge compared to the working staff with lower incomes with percentage up to 20%. Regarding the source of information association, none of the factors is found to have a significant association. Conclusion: More than half of the participants have satisfactory knowledge on oral health. Despite this, a significant proportion of staff have unsatisfactory knowledge, which suggests initiating an awareness program for the staff members to increase their knowledge of oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: A light curing unit (LCU) is a heat-intolerant instrument. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of dental healthcare providers about the disinfection of LCUs. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 350 consented dental clinicians and clinical dental students from Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, India, for the questionnaire part of the study. Bacterial load and debris on the LCU tips were studied in 27 LCUs from different clinics and we studied the relationship between debris and bacterial load. Results: The survey included 334 healthcare providers. Only 51.8% agreed that LCUs should be disinfected after every patient. A significant proportion of the participants (62.3%) had no information about the type of disinfectant used in the clinic. Microorganism cultures were positive in approximately 80% of the 27 LCUs evaluated. Most of the LCU tips (67%) had visible debris. The numbers of colony-forming units (CFU)/cm2 on blood agar and mitis salivarius agar were 57.94±92.28 and 28.56±40.63, respectively. Culture positivity was significantly lower on LCU with visibly clean tips (p<0.001) (0.33±7.83 CFUs/cm2 on blood agar and 0.78±1.39 CFUs/cm2 on mitis salivarius agar). Conclusions: This study showed insufficient knowledge and practice in reprocessing heatsensitive semi-critical items among dental healthcare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the years, there has been an increase in the practice of self-medication (SM) with over-the-counter drugs for dental conditions. Regarding paediatric patients, it is important for parents to have proper knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding SM for their children. Aim: To assess the parental KAP towards SM for various oral health-related problems of children below 15 years of age. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at schools in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, between March 2021 and January 2022. A total of 323 parents of children aged up to 15 years were included in the study. Data were collected from parents through a prevalidated questionnaire to record their demographic details and KAP of SM. Fisher's exact test was used to compare KAP of SM with the age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status (SES) of parents. Results: The most common medicine and reason for which SM was practiced were pain relievers (85%) and expensive dental treatment (39.8%), respectively. The pharmacist was the most common source of information for SM (46.9%) and drug dosage (46%). There was a significant association (p=<0.001) between children age groups and the presentation form of medicine. Additionally, statistically significant differences were found when comparing parents' educational level and SES with dosage difference (p=0.01, p=<0.001), route of administration of medicine (p=0.04, p=<0.002), preference for expensive medicine (p=<0.001, p=<0.001), and reasons for not visiting the dentist (p=<0.01, p=<0.001), respectively. Furthermore, when SES was compared with course completion, a statistically significant difference was found (p=<0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge regarding SM practice was lower in the low educational and low SES groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a xenoestrogen widely used as a synthetic precursor of resin monomers. There is arise need to acquire BPA-free resin-matrix composites to prevent the health effects of BPA. Six composites with distinctive manufacturer specifications were considered to evaluate the degree of release of BPA and bisphenol A-Diglycidyl Methacrylate (Bis-GMA) in a dental composite. The light-cured resin-matrix specimens (n = 5 for each composite type) were incubated at 37 °C in 1 mL of a 75% ethanol–water solution in a sealed amber glass vial for 7 days. The 75% ethanol–water solution was replaced daily and immediately frozen (−20 °C) until liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. BPA was not detected in any studied resin-based materials. However, Bis-GMA was detected in almost all the studied samples during the experiment, except AF and BF. The highest Bis-GMA concentration was released from ED at 67.43 ng/mL, followed by BE, FS, and NC with 40.75 ng/mL, 8.30 ng/mL, and 0.94 ng/mL, respectively. There is a clear need for more precise and standardized analytical methods to assess the short- and long-term release of resin-based materials. Furthermore, manufacturers should be obliged to provide complete details of the chemical composition of dental products and to promote the development of materials without estrogenic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hormonal and behavioral changes during pregnancy may impact the oral health of women, which can influence the pregnancy course. Prenatal care practitioners (PCP) must be aware of this bidirectional relation in order to include an oral assessment in routine prenatal care. Objectives: To characterize the knowledge and attitudes of PCP regarding oral health in pregnant women. Search Strategy: The search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs, Scopus, and Embase on May 2022. Selection Criteria: Peer‐reviewed cross‐sectional studies published in English within the last 5 years that assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of PCP towards oral health in pregnancy were selected. Data Collection and Analysis: Data were standardly extracted by the three reviewers from the selected articles and their bias was assessed. Main Results: From a total of 996 articles, 24 were selected. Overall, most PCP have an adequate level of knowledge regarding the importance of oral health during pregnancy. Although several professionals reported referring their patients to a dentist, the attitudes and practices of the majority of PCP were still inadequate. Conclusions: PCP are aware of the importance of oral health during pregnancy but still lack translating this knowledge into clinical practice. Synopsis: Prenatal care practitioners are aware of the importance of oral health during pregnancy but still lack its translation into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal of the Swedish child healthcare system is to reach all children with health-promotive actions and to create equal health opportunities for all children. In that context, an extended home-visit program – called Grow Safely – for first-time parents, with an interprofessional collaboration between child healthcare nurses, midwives, social workers, and dental assistants, was initiated. The current study aims at illuminating and evaluating the health, social, and dental professionals' experiences of working within this program and how such collaboration could benefit the professions. Methods: A qualitative method was chosen, and 13 interviews were carried out with professionals working within child healthcare centers that participated in an extended home-visit program in the southernmost part of Sweden. The interviews were analyzed via Burnard's approach to content analysis. Results: The results showed that it was satisfying for the health, social, and dental professionals to work with the home-visit program and that they encountered positive feelings among the parents receiving it. The creation of deep conversations and parents opening up about feelings that could otherwise be shameful to express, was a positive aspect of the home visits. A negative aspect was the difficulty of handling the (sometimes necessary) interpretation over the phone during the visits, and another one was the fact that the visits were time-consuming and required logistical planning. Overall, the professionals were positive about the home-visit program in that they felt that they were able to give the families what they needed and to have discussions on sensitive issues. They also appreciated the fact that different professions collaborated in order to reach the same goal. Conclusions: This study showed that the health, social, and dental professionals enjoyed working with the home-visit program and that they encountered positive feelings among the parents regarding the collaborative visits being conducted within the home, where the families felt safe and relaxed. The professionals expressed that the home visits, despite the extended time they required and the logistical challenges involved, created a deeper collaboration between the professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been a noticeable trend of younger people being diagnosed with oral cancer, particularly among those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Poor knowledge on risk factors toward oral cancer and the growing fashion of using tobacco also identified among younger generation. Present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a health promotion intervention to improve the knowledge and encourage positive practices associated with oral cancer among a group of vulnerable youth in Sri Lanka. Methods: The study was a community based quasi experimental study, conducted in urban slums in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sample size for one group was 120 youth participants aged between 15 and 24 years. Health promotion intervention was implemented to the intervention group and follow up period was 6 months. The control group did not receive the intervention. Awareness of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders, tobacco chewing practice (betel quid chewing and commercially prepared tobacco and areca nut packet (CPTAP) chewing) and self-mouth examination practice were assessed at the beginning and after 6 months in both groups using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Changes in the knowledge, self-mouth examination practice, quit rate and fresh up take rate were computed to determine the effectiveness. Results: There was no loss to follow up. No significant difference was observed between the groups in pre intervention assessment regarding the knowledge, tobacco chewing and self-mouth examination practices. Knowledge score was significantly differed between the groups P = 0.000 in the post intervention assessment as well as among females P = 0.001. Quit rate of the tobacco chewing practice, betel chewing practice and CPTAP chewing practice among intervention group was 33%, 70%, and 13% respectively while control group did not have any quitters, P = 0.001. Fresh up take rate of tobacco chewing in the intervention group was 6.7% compared to the 37.5% in the control group, P = 0.001. Practicing self-mouth examination was significantly higher in intervention group in post intervention assessment, P = 0.000. Conclusion: Multicomponent health promotion intervention (Advocacy, Interactive discussions, IEC materials and Community mobilization) was significantly effective in enhancing the knowledge, increasing self-mouth examination practice, and reducing tobacco chewing practice among a vulnerable group of youth in Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral health beliefs and practices have changed over the years for humans. Despite adequate advancements in global oral health, problems persist in many communities worldwide, particularly among the underprivileged. The tribal gypsies are one among the underprivileged group without any knowledge of oral health & hygiene. The present study explores oral health beliefs and behavior among the tribal gypsies of Tamil Nadu. Aim & Objectives: The objective of the present study was to assess the oral health beliefs and behavior among the tribal gypsies of Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods: The list of tribal gypsy colonies was obtained from the "Department of tribal welfare," and tribal gypsy colonies of certain areas in Tamil Nadu were identified for the study. A total of 458 subjects were selected. Informed consent was obtained from each participant, and ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethical Committee / IRB. The survey instrument, a questionnaire, was designed and reviewed many times to produce a questionnaire that would be friendly and easy to follow. Results: The perceived severity and perceived benefits are high, and the perceived barriers and perceived importance are low, which increases the cues for action and increased participation. Conclusion: The study results suggest that the tribal gypsies might have favorable compliance for oral health promotional programs. Further research is needed to investigate the oral health of the various ethnic tribes of Tamil Nadu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral health is an integral component of overall health and well-being, with a profound interplay between the health of the mouth and its impact on the rest of the body. The human body is a complex and interconnected system, where each part influences and interacts with others to maintain optimal functioning. In this intricate web of health, oral health plays a vital role, extending beyond the confines of the mouth to impact various aspects of general health. Many diseases of the oral cavity often are neglected and not attended for. To address this concern, we conducted a study aimed at identifying the common oral health conditions for children during the mixed dentition stage attending a tertiary care hospital in western Tamil Nadu, India. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the common oral health conditions among children of mixed dentition stage. Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was done among 246 children of mixed dentition stage attending Paediatric Outpatient Department (OPD) of KMCH IHSR, Coimbatore, Western Tamil Nadu, India, between June 2023 to July 2023. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data Results: When assessed for common oral health conditions 64.2% of the study population had Dental carries. 35.8% had periodontal disease. 9.3% had oral mucosal lesions. 15% had malocclusion, 9.3% had unerupted teeth and 6.1% had deleterious oral habits. Conclusion: The data presented in the current study highlights the prevalence of various dental conditions in the study population, emphasizing the need for comprehensive oral health care and preventive measures. Addressing these dental issues through regular dental check-ups, proper oral hygiene practices, and early intervention is essential in promoting optimal oral health and overall well-being for the children. Incorporating all these measures through the school dental health program will help in effective implementation and improving the dental status of the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Dietary pattern and diet quality can influence the incidence of dental caries and can be indicated by decay missing filled (Dmf) scores in the primary dentition. This study aims to find the relationship of nutritional status and oral hygiene practices on Dmf scores of preschool children. Materials and methods: Semi-structured and self-administered questionnaires, distributed among 60 preschoolers' parents, were used to assess the demographic and diet related data. Anthropometric measurements of the preschoolers were taken following universally accepted protocols. The relationship between dietary supplement consumption and the presence of dental caries was evaluated by chi -square test employing SPSS 22. Results: The anthropometric measurements among 4-year-old children were on par with the standard values and that of 5-year-olds were below the reference range. All the measurements except head to chest circumference were higher than normal range among 3-year-old subjects. Regular and periodic dental check-ups significantly influenced dental caries prevention (p = 0.030). Statistically, there was no significant association between Dmf scores and thumb-sucking habits (p = 0.568), brushing teeth and usage of tooth floss (p = 0.96), consumption of nutrient supplements (p = 0.744), and BMI (p = 0.564) of the subjects. Furthermore, the correlation between z scores and Dmf scores was found insignificant. Conclusion: Long-term as well as short-term malnutrition initiated 2 years after the start of the pre-schooling. With severity of undernutrition there was a trend to have high Dmf scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among attitudes and practice about oral health, socioeconomic status, subjective oral symptoms, self-rated oral health, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a group of people from eastern China.Methods: Between January 2021 to February 2022, 2502 (87.4%) of the 2863 participants completed an online questionnaire. OHRQoL, Socio-demographics characteristics, attitudes and practice toward oral health, self-rated oral health and subjective oral symptoms were all covered by the questionnaires. Based on the hypothetical model, structural equation modeling with the bootstrap method was used to examine the interactions and the strength of the correlations between the measured variables.Results: The final model demonstrated acceptable data fit. Socioeconomic status (β = − 0.051), attitudes (β = − 0.100) and practice (β = − 0.127) toward oral health, self-rated oral health (β = − 0.493) and subjective oral symptoms (β = 0.294) were all significantly correlated with OHRQoL. Socioeconomic status was directly linked to attitudes (β = 0.046) and practice (β =0.070) about oral health, and attitudes play the role of intermediary between practice and socioeconomic status (β = 0.018). OHRQoL was indirectly linked with attitudes mediated by practice (β = − 0.092), practice mediated by subjective oral symptoms (β = − 0.107), subjective oral symptoms mediated by self-rated oral health (β = 0.031). OHRQoL was correlated with income, educational level, and socioeconomic status. Self-rated oral health was related to educational level and socioeconomic status.Conclusion: In a sample of eastern China residents, OHRQoL was influenced by socioeconomic status, attitudes and practice toward oral health, subjective oral symptoms, and self-rated oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oral health of older individuals can be negatively impacted by various systemic health factors, leading to rapid oral health deterioration. This paper aims to present an overview of the published evidence on systemic health factors that contribute to rapid oral health deterioration in older individuals, and to explore the implications of these factors for both general healthcare and oral healthcare provision. Older people are at risk of experiencing adverse reactions to medications due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Hyposalivation, a significant side effect of some medications, can be induced by both the type and number of medications used. Frailty, disability, sarcopenia, care dependency, and limited access to professional oral healthcare can also compromise the oral health of older people. To prevent rapid oral health deterioration, a comprehensive approach is required that involves effective communication between oral healthcare providers, other healthcare providers, and informal caregivers. Oral healthcare providers have a responsibility to advocate for the importance of maintaining adequate oral health and to raise awareness of the serious consequences of weakened oral health. By doing so, we can prevent weakened oral health from becoming a geriatric syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In support of the benefit of the nurse + engineer collaborating as community health workers, a recent systematic review [for a description of review types, see Page et al. ([21])] by Berini et al. ([5]) noted that "community health workers can improve access to care in rural settings and may represent a cost-effective investment for the healthcare system." As part of this review, one study was identified where education was delivered by community health workers resulting in improved dental health ([23]). As environmental engineers work to expand our current technological solutions for drinking-water fluoridation, nurses are a natural ally when we foster informed action including behavioral change at the level of individuals, families, communities, and populations. While the public often associates engineers with driving trains or building things ([9]), in fact, according to the Code of Ethics for Engineers, the first fundamental canon of engineering is to "hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the I public i " ([11] emphasis added). [Extracted from the article]

Fossil camelids (Artiodactyla, Camelidae) record for Mexican Late Pleistocene is constituted by Camelops hesternus, Hemiauchenia macrocephala, Hemiauchenia gracilis, and Palaeolama mirifica. It analysed dental microwear and carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in teeth enamel of C. hesternus, H. macrocephala and H. gracilis from two fossil sites (LC-PT, and LP-SA) in west-central Mexico, gaining knowledge about camelids palaeoecology (diet and habitat). Microwear and δ13C values indicate that C. hesternus from both sites had a browser diet with a preference for C3-C4 plants, while H. macrocephala from LC-PT was browser with a predilection for C3 plants, and H. gracilis from LC-PT had a mixed feeder diet with a preference for C3 plants. The δ18O and the aridity index show that camelids in central Mexico were evaporation-sensitive taxa. The results suggest that LC-PT had a heterogeneous environment composed of open areas and closed zones, temperatures between 13.95°C and 19.9°C and extreme seasonal changes. The environment in LP-SA was dominated by open areas, with small closed vegetation patches, a temperature of 16.29°C, and less seasonal variation. The aridity index indicates relatively drier conditions at LP-SA than at LC-PT. Camelid dietary ecology provides an initial reconstruction of a regional paleoenvironment, with diverse ecosystems present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Oral and dental health plays an important role in people's general health and is affected by various factors such as knowledge and attitude of a person regarding oral and dental health. Improving people's Knowledge and attitude in this regard will lead to more attention towards oral and dental health. therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the rate of tooth decay and its relationship with knowledge, attitude and performance in high school students in the Islamabad-eGharb city. Methods & Materials This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 348 high school students in Islamabad-e-Gharb. Which were selected through sampling in two stages, cluster and random. Data were collected using clinical examination and standard questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Sheffe post hoc test and Spearman's correlation coefficient at a significance level of less than 0.05 using SPSS software, version 22. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.KUMS.REC.1397.548). Results The Mean Decay-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMFT) index 6.07±3.47 and Mean teeth decayed were 5.31± 2.90 respectively and 96.3 percent of the students had dental carries. Both DMFT index (r=-0.124, P=0.021) and teeth decay (r=-131, P=0.015) had a significant relationship with students' performance regarding oral and dental health. There was no significant difference between DMFT index and the number of teeth decayed with students' knowledge and attitude regarding oral and dental health (P<0.05). No significant relationship were found between either DMFT index (P=0.749) and teeth decay (P=0.614) with gender. Conclusion In this study, DMFT index and teeth decay were relatively high and this shows the need to design educational interventions in adolescents to prevent teeth decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed the near-infrared photometric monitoring observations of two TeV gamma-ray binaries with O-stars (LS 5039 and 1FGL J1018.6−5856), using IRSF/SIRIUS at SAAO, in order to study the stellar parameters and their perturbations caused by the binary interactions. The whole orbital phase was observed multiple times and no significant variabilities including orbital modulations were detected for both targets. Assuming that the two systems are colliding wind binaries, we estimate the amplitude of flux variation caused by the difference in the optical depth of O-star wind at inferior conjunction, where the star is seen through the cavity created by pulsar wind, and other orbital phases without pulsar-wind intervention. The derived amplitude is <0.001 mag, which is about two orders of magnitude smaller than the observed upper limit. Also using the upper limits of the near-infrared variability, we for the first time obtain the upper limit of the dust formation rate resulting from wind–wind collision in O-star gamma-ray binaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]