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This study evaluated the impact of a combined science outreach, oral health education and tooth brushing initiative introduced into a New Zealand Māori immersion primary school. Participants completed questionnaires on dental anxiety, oral health practices and dental knowledge before and after the intervention. Pre- and post-intervention responses were compared to determine if knowledge and outcomes had improved. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six students 18 -months later to determine long term retention of information and subsequent oral health practices. Improvements in good oral hygiene habits and diet were observed in several areas. Interview participants comments showed that although students may be aware of recommended oral health practices, they will not necessarily implement them. A decline in the number of sugary drinks consumed daily was observed, alongside an increase in participants' understanding of the effect of fluoride on teeth. Not all dental terminology and scientific knowledge was retained long term because of this initiative; however, improvements were observed when reinforcement of messages was delivered regularly throughout the duration of the study. Scientific outreach and dental initiatives need to be ongoing to ensure long term retention of information provided, and to encourage regular oral health practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ11-14) is a self-report instrument developed to measure oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in 11-14-year-olds. Earlier reports confirm that the 16-item short-form version performs adequately, but there is a need to determine the measure's validity and properties in larger and more diverse samples and settings. Aim The objective of this study was to examine the performance of the 16-item short-form impact version of the CPQ11-14 in different communities and cultures with diverse caries experience. Method Cross-sectional epidemiological surveys of child oral health were conducted in two regions of New Zealand, one region in Brunei, and one in Brazil. Children were examined for dental caries (following WHO guidelines), and OHRQoL was measured using the 16-item short-form item-impact version of the CPQ11-14, along with two global questions on OHRQoL. Children in the 20% with the greatest caries experience (DMF score) were categorised as the highest caries quintile. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing the mean scale scores across the categories of caries experience; correlational construct validity was assessed by comparing mean scores and children's global ratings of oral health and well-being. Results There were substantial variations in caries experience among the different communities (from 1.8 in Otago to 4.9 in Northland) and in mean CPQ11-14 scores (from 11.5 in Northland to 16.8 in Brunei). In all samples, those in the most severe caries experience quintile had higher mean CPQ11-14 scores than those who were caries-free (P < 0.05). There were also greater CPQ scores in those with worse self-rated oral health, with the Otago sample presenting the most marked gradient across the response categories for self-rated oral health, from 'Excellent' to 'Fair/Poor' (9.6 to 19.7 respectively). Conclusion The findings suggest that the 16-item short-form item impact version of the CPQ11-14 performs well across diverse cultures and levels of caries experience. Reasons for the differences in mean CPQ scores among the communities are unclear and may reflect subtle socio-cultural differences in subjective oral health among these populations, but elucidating these requires further exploration of the face and content validity of the measure in different populations.

Background: The Hall Technique (HT) is a method of restoring decayed primary teeth using stainless steel crowns (SSCs) without tooth preparation, caries removal, or local anaesthetic. Aim: To investigate the ultrastructural, biomechanical, and chemical characteristics of teeth managed with the Hall Technique in comparison with conventional SSC (controls). Design: Twelve HT‐treated primary molars and four controls were analysed. Teeth were dehydrated in ethanol, embedded in methylmethacrylate, mesio‐distally sectioned, X‐rayed, mounted, and polished. Biomechanical, ultrastructural, and chemical characterisation was performed for carious lesion and sound areas of each specimen. Results: Pre‐treatment and post‐treatment X‐rays showed evidence of little to no caries progression over time. In carious lesions, mean hardness and elastic modulus values were lower in HT‐treated teeth than in controls. In both controls and HT‐treated teeth, carious lesions had the lowest %wt of Ca and P of all tissues sampled. Conclusions: Although the retained carious tissue was biomechanically more compromised in HT‐treated teeth, the Ca and P values were higher than reported elsewhere for carious lesions in primary molars, suggesting remineralisation may have occurred in caries in HT‐treated teeth. Future investigations will help elucidate the processes involved with carious lesion arrest under SSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:The term social accountability has gained increased interest in medical education, but is relatively unexplored in dentistry. Aims:The aim of this study is to explore dental students’ attitudes towards social accountability. Methods:A qualitative study utilizing focus groups with University of Otago final year (5th year) Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students was carried out. A questionnaire designed to measure medical students’ attitudes towards social responsibility was used as a guide. Following data collection, framework analysis was used to analyze each of the three focus groups, and repeating themes were noted. Results:Analysis of the focus groups discovered recurring themes, such that participants believed that dentists should be accountable to society in a professional context and that they are responsible for patients who present at their clinic but that there is no professional obligation to help reduce oral health inequalities by working with populations facing inequalities. There was strong agreement that there needs to be change to the dental health care system from a structural and political level to address oral health inequalities, rather than individual dentists assuming greater responsibility. Conclusion:Our findings show that dental education may not be accountable to society in the sense that it is not producing graduates who believe that they have an obligation to address the priority oral health concerns of society. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]