Community dental health最新文献

Objective: This study evaluated the readability level (RL) and textual content quality (TCQ) of Turkish websites providing information about "gingival recession" (GR) to understand their implications for public health, specifically concerning health literacy and access to care. Ensuring online health information is accessible is crucial for promoting informed decision-making and preventive health behaviors.

Basic research design: Cross-sectional and assessment of RL and TCQ on Turkish websites.

Subjects: After excluding ineligible websites, a total of 46 websites about GR obtained from the first 10 search result pages on Google were analyzed.

Main outcome measures: RL was assessed using Ateşman's and Bezirci-Yılmaz's formulas, validated as Turkish formulas. TCQ was scored using six criteria. Analyses compared the mean values and revealed the associations between variables.

Results: The Bezirci-Yılmaz formula indicated a master's degree RL (17.96 ± 4.95), suggesting high reading difficulty for the public. The Ateşman formula indicated moderate readability (57.08 ± 12.74). The mean TCQ was low (2.89 ± 1.08), indicating insufficient information content. RL were positively associated with word count (p < 0.001 for both) but not with TCQ (p > 0.05 for both).

Conclusion: Turkish websites on GR are significantly harder to read than recommended for public health materials and the average literacy level in Turkiye. This, combined with low content quality, creates a barrier to understanding essential dental health information, potentially worsening health disparities. Addressing this issue is a public health imperative to improve equitable access to crucial dental health information, empower individuals to take proactive steps for their oral health, and advance national oral health objectives.

Children's dental health is closely linked to the knowledge and practices of parents and caregivers, especially regarding caries prevention. This study aims to assess their knowledge and attitudes toward fluoride treatments and dental sealants for children aged 6 to 12 in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling to recruit parents and caregivers from the Eastern Province. Participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire shared via social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat. A total of 336 parents and caregivers from the Eastern Province participated. Most parents demonstrated good knowledge of caries prevention, especially regarding regular toothpaste use (97%), brushing (96.4%), and filling decayed teeth (85.4%). Awareness of fluoride mouthwash, fluoridated water, flossing, and professional fluoride application was lower (<70%). Regular dental visits (69.6%) and brushing children's teeth (88.4%) were common, while daily flossing (53.3%), professional fluoride application (59.2%), fluoride mouthwash use (51.8%), and consumption of fluoridated water (49.1%) were less frequent. Sealant application was reported by 61.3% of participants. While parents show strong engagement with basic dental care, gaps remain in understanding and utilizing additional preventive measures. Targeted educational efforts are recommended to raise awareness about fluoride applications, promote daily flossing, and encourage the establishment of a dental home by age one.

Objectives: This study examines variations in access to dental care and oral health outcomes by residence for children and adolescents in the United States (US). Methods: This cross-sectional study of 50,277 children and adolescents derived child residence, child and caregiver demographic characteristics, as well as access to dental care and oral health from the 2021-2022 National Survey of Children's Health. Access measures include dental care receipt, preventive dental visit, forgone dental care, and fluoride treatment; oral health outcomes include teeth condition, oral health problems, and tooth decay status. All descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses consider sampling weights for population-based estimates. Results: Rural versus urban children had lower rates of reporting excellent/very good teeth condition (71.1% vs 74.4%, p = 0.0015), higher rates of one or more oral health problems (18.7% vs 15.6%, p = 0.0009) and tooth decay (16.6% vs 13.5%, p = 0.0008), and lower rates of receiving fluoride treatment (18.3% vs 15.5%, p = 0.0043). Regarding access to dental care, in the unadjusted analysis, rural children were less likely to receive preventive dental care (81.7% vs 84.5%, p = 0.0012) and more likely to forgo needed dental care than urban children (2.6% vs 1.6%, p = 0.0082). After adjusting for other child and caregiver characteristics, there was no significant difference between residence and preventive dental care. Conclusions: This study provides updated and timely information for policymakers and community partners and shows that rural US children were both more likely to experience oral health problems and less likely to receive needed dental care.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to investigate the association between depression and oral health outcomes, including periodontitis, gingivitis, dental caries, partial tooth loss, and edentulism (complete tooth loss). Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across seven major databases and two gray literature sources, including only studies with probabilistic samples, clinical assessment of oral outcomes, validated measuring of depression, and analyses statistically controlled for confounders. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment (Newcastle-Ottawa scale), and evaluation of evidence certainty. Results: From 5865 unique records identified, 53 studies were included (44 cross-sectional and 9 cohort studies), with low risk of bias in 45 studies. Depression was significantly associated with the outcomes of periodontitis (OR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.07-1.57, I² = 56%), dental caries (PR = 1.32, 95%CI 1.12-1.52, I² = 0%), and edentulism (OR = 1.26, 95%CI 1.16-1.37, I² = 35%). Individuals with edentulism were more likely to have the outcome of depression compared to controls (OR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.15-1.64, I² = 69%). Meta-analyses demonstrated very low to low certainty of evidence. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis found significant associations between depression and oral health outcomes, such as periodontitis, dental caries and edentulism. These findings reinforce the interconnection between oral health and psychological factors.

Objective: This study assessed dental professionals' perceptions of the benefits, barriers, and educational strategies for digital dentistry in Southeast Asia, focusing on low- and middle-income nations.

Methods: A questionnaire assessing perceptions of digital dentistry was developed and distributed via a multi-country survey of dental professionals in Southeast Asian countries. The questionnaire explored the perceived benefits of digital technologies, barriers to adopting digital workflows, and preferred methods for digital dentistry education. The survey included five-point Likert scale items and multiple-choice questions. Responses were collected anonymously online and stratified by country and participant characteristics. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U tests (with Bonferroni correction), and regression analyses (α = 0.05).

Results: Overall, 113 dentists from six Southeast Asian countries participated. Participants rated accuracy, productivity, and communication as key benefits. Most benefit ratings showed no significant cross-country differences except for profitability (p = .007). Clinical experience was positively associated with perceived communication benefits (p = .040). Cost was identified as the primary barrier to digital system adoption. Preferred educational methods included workshops, physical centers, and mentorships. A marginal association was observed between the country and likelihood of receiving on-site training (p = .065).

Conclusion: Although expectations for the clinical value of digital dentistry were high across Southeast Asia, economic and infrastructural challenges remain significant barriers to adoption. Tailored education strategies should be developed considering each country's context and practitioner needs.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the causal inference underlying this association through the application of Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Basic research design: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Clinical setting: NA. Participants: This study uses summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of seven antibodies targeting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and periodontal diseases, employing a two-sample MR design. It analyzed 97,830 cases and 272,252 controls for gingivitis, 4784 cases for chronic periodontitis, and 367 cases for acute periodontitis. Interventions: NA. Main outcome measures: This study aimed to overcome the limitations of observational studies and provide insights into whether H. pylori plays a causal role in the development of periodontal disease (PD). Results:The genetic prediction results indicate a statistically significant association between H. pylori UREA antibody levels and the risk of acute periodontitis (OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.50-0.98, p = 0.035). In the Weighted Median method, comparable results were obtained (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39 - 0.95, p = 0.028). However, we did not identify a causal association between genetically predicted levels of other H. pylori antibodies and periodontal disease. For sensitivity analysis, heterogeneity was detected in studies of CagA antibody and acute periodontitis through Cochran's Q tests, and one outlier was identified using MR-PRESSO. Upon exclusion of outliers, the results remained robust and were not influenced by other factors. Conclusions:The study results revealed a causal relationship between H. pylori UREA antibody levels and acute periodontitis, indicating that H. pylori UREA antibody levels are a protective factor against acute periodontitis.

Objective: Nonadherence to recommended twice daily toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste increases the risk of dental caries and periodontal diseases in children. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and demographic and behavioural correlates of toothbrushing practices among Albanian children. Design and Setting: Cross-sectional study in Albania in 2022. Participants: A nationwide representative sample of 5454 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years. Measures: Information on toothbrushing habits, other behavioural factors, and sociodemographic characteristics. Statistical Analysis: Binary logistic regression to assess the association of toothbrushing with demographic characteristics and behavioural factors. Results: Half (56%) of schoolchildren reported brushing their teeth more than once per day (46% in boys vs 66% in girls). Inadequate toothbrushing (≤once/day) was associated with male gender (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 2.3, 3.0), age 13 (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.5), lower family affluence (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.4, 1.8), smoking (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.7), inadequate physical exercise (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.3, 1.7), non-daily breakfast consumption (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.4), and non-daily fruit consumption (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.6, 2.1). Conclusions: Adequate toothbrushing (at least twice/day) among Albanian children is low compared with most European countries, which should be a cause of serious concern for policymakers and decisionmakers in this post-communist country. There is an urgent need to implement oral health promotion programs in Albania targeting especially boys and children from low socioeconomic families.

Objectives: Family context is recognised as a critical determinant of children's health, with family functioning identified as a significant influence on children's oral health outcomes. However, its association with oral health literacy (OHL) remains unclear. This study aims to examine the relationship between family functioning and OHL in 12-year-old Malaysian schoolchildren. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 375 12-year-old schoolchildren from public primary schools in Malaysia, selected through multistage random sampling. Two validated instruments were administered in a classroom setting: the Malaysian version of the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) and the Malay version of the FACES-IV package to evaluate family functioning. Results: Only 28% of schoolchildren demonstrated adequate OHL. Higher mean scores were observed for balanced cohesion (25.9, SD = 4.01) and balanced flexibility (26.09, SD = 4.46) compared to unbalanced family functioning scales. Weak but positive correlations were found between OHL and balanced cohesion (r = 0.242), balanced flexibility (r = 0.324), and family satisfaction (r = 0.292). Rigidity, an unbalanced scale, also showed a positive correlation (r = 0.231). Predictors of high OHL included rigid family functioning, lower family communication, greater family satisfaction, and being female. Conclusion: Participants demonstrated low OHL levels, with some associations observed between OHL and family functioning. This study highlights the value of family-centred approaches, underscoring the need for policies and interventions that promote positive family dynamics to support OHL in children.

Objectives: To examine the associations of the trajectory (changes over time) and clustering (co-occurrence) of exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with caries treatment experience among British young adults. Methods: Data from 4244 participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were analysed. Eight ACEs were assessed via questionnaires completed by mothers and their partners at nine time points from birth to age 17 years. Mixture modelling was used to identify distinctive trajectories and clusters of exposure to ACEs. Caries treatment experience was indicated by the number of missing and filled teeth (MFT score), which was determined via participant-reported questionnaires at age 17 and 23 years. Mixed-effects Poisson regression was used to test the associations of ACE trajectories and clustering with the MFT score adjusting for covariates. Results: Four ACE trajectories were identified. Participants in the always-high trajectory had higher MFT score than those in the always-low trajectory (Rate ratio: 1.22, 95%CI: 1.07-1.38). No differences were found between participants in the increasing and decreasing trajectories and those in the always-low trajectory. Three clusters of ACEs were identified: unexposed, simultaneous experience of parental mental illness and parental separation and simultaneous experience of physical abuse, emotional abuse and parental mental illness. No differences in MFT score were found between clusters after adjustment for covariates. Conclusion: This longitudinal study showed that a trajectory of high exposure to ACEs was associated with greater caries treatment experience in young adulthood. Clustering of ACEs was not associated with caries treatment experience.

ObjectivesCaring for oral health is especially important during adolescence because the habits formed at this age tend to persist throughout life. This study was performed to assess adolescents' use of dental care, the reasons for avoiding dental visits, and the reasons for their most recent visit.Materials and MethodsThe research included a clinical assessment of dentition and periodontal tissues, along with questionnaire-based studies. The number of teeth (T) and tooth surfaces (S) with carious lesions - ICDAS code 1 and 2 (D_1-2) and ICDAS code ≥3 (D _≥3) - as well as teeth missing due to caries (M), fillings (F), the presence of gingival bleeding, and periodontal pocket depth were assessed for all teeth. Values for D_1-2D_≥3MFT/S indices and their components, along with the frequency of caries and periodontal problems, were calculated.ResultsIn total, 1611 18-year-olds from both rural and urban areas were included in the study. Dental caries were observed in 94% of participants, with a mean D_1-2D_≥3MFT value of 7.07 ± 4.52. Gingival bleeding was the most common periodontal issue, affecting 31% of the group. One in four respondents had not visited a dentist in the past year or longer. Fear of pain was the most frequently reported reason for avoiding dental visits.ConclusionsFear of pain associated with dental treatment and the belief that dental problems will resolve on their own highlight the need for education targeting young people. Such education should emphasize the benefits of regular dental care and dispel the myth that dental treatment is inherently painful.