International journal of dental hygiene最新文献

Objectives

To investigate the effects of a smartphone-based oral and whole-body exercise programme on oral function in older adults.

Methods

Individuals aged 65 years or above were randomized into three groups (non-app use, app use and control group), and a combined oral and whole-body exercise programme was conducted for 5 weeks. Oral muscle strength, saliva flow rate, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) were measured before and after the intervention. The changes in each group were analysed at the end of the programme using paired sample t-tests, and the differences among the groups were analysed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and ANOVA.

Results

The anterior tongue strength increased by 2.80 kPa after the intervention in the non-app use group; however, the change was not statistically significant. In the app use group, the anterior tongue strength significantly increased by 4.48 kPa. The saliva flow rate increased by 0.54 and 0.71 g/min in the non-app and app use groups, respectively, after the intervention (p < 0.05), and the change was greater in the app use group than in the other groups (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in the posterior tongue strength, cheek strength, OHIP-14 or GOHAI scores over the course of the study.

Conclusions

A smartphone-based combined oral and whole-body exercise programme can improve anterior tongue strength and saliva flow rate in older participants. The programme, however, did not result in significant changes in posterior tongue strength, cheek strength and perceived oral health.

Aim

This systematic review synthesizes and evaluates the literature regarding the effect of manual toothbrushes (MTBs) with cross-angled bristle tufts (CA-TB) compared to flat-trim (FT-TB) configurations on plaque scores and parameters of gingival health in adult patients.

Materials and Methods

PubMed-MEDLINE and Cochrane-CENTRAL databases were searched, from their insertion up to August 1st, 2023, to detect appropriate papers. Clinical trials involving adult patients without periodontitis who performed self-brushing were eligible for inclusion. Primary outcome parameters included plaque, bleeding, and gingival scores. Secondary outcomes encompassed signs of soft and hard tissue abnormalities. A descriptive analysis was conducted. When feasible, a meta-analysis was performed using either the ‘fixed’ or ‘random effects’ model, as appropriate.

Results

Nine eligible papers were retrieved, presenting 20 comparisons. There was considerable heterogeneity in the clinical and methodological design aspects of the included studies. In the descriptive analysis, eight out of 12 comparisons demonstrated a difference in plaque removal performance in favour of the CA-TB. However, data regarding bleeding and gingival index scores were inconclusive. A meta-analysis was performed on plaque, bleeding, and gingival index scores, including different indices used for scoring. The meta-analysis of short-term studies showed a medium effect statistically significant difference in the reduction of plaque scores in favour of the CA-TB (SMD = 0.75; 95% CI (0.51; 0.99)), but this was not substantiated in longer-term studies (SMD = −0.06; 95% CI(−0.44; 0.31)). No adverse events were described in any group.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of the present study design, short-term evaluations, as assessed with various plaque indices, show a weak certainty in favour of the cross-angled toothbrush over the flat-trim toothbrush. However, based on longer-term evaluations, there is insufficient support due to the inconsistent outcomes of the analysis.

Aim

To identify toothbrushing patterns among schoolchildren with no prior dental hygiene training and associate them with effectiveness for eliminating dental biofilm.

Materials and Methods

Eight calibrated dentists assessed dental biofilm, toothbrushing procedure and dental status and registered: grip, bristle angle with respect to tooth, type of movement, surfaces brushed, simultaneous brushing of both jaws, including all six sextants and duration of brushing dental biofilm before and after brushing was determined in 944 children. Frequency distribution was calculated for nominal variables and central tendency and dispersion for quantitative variables of the toothbrushing procedure. Effectiveness was evaluated in 236 children by calculating differences between biofilm levels before and after brushing using Student's test. A cutoff value was established for the difference in reductions in biofilm levels by means of an ROC curve.

Results

The variables including all 6 sextants and bristle angle showed positive association with biofilm reduction. The cutoff point for biofilm reduction for including all 6 sextants was 66.85% (OR 6.4 [3.6–11.38]). The cutoff value for biofilm reduction for bristle angle was 68.35% (OR 3.2 [1.83–5.8]).

Conclusion

The variables associated with biofilm reduction can be used to optimize the modality of future educational interventions in schoolchildren.

Objective

Assess the periodontal health literacy of German adolescents, adults and senior residents.

Background

The prevalence of periodontitis is high. One explanation for this may be that people lack periodontal health literacy (PHL).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Former participants of the 5th German Oral Health Study (n = 333 16-year-olds, n = 307 39–48-year-olds, n = 332 69–78-year-olds) participated in a computer-assisted telephone interview. Open-ended questions (OEQs) were used to assess the participants' current knowledge. Corresponding single- and multiple-choice questions (SCQs and MCQs) supplemented the OEQs to allow detailed analyses of the nature of the knowledge gaps.

Results

Less than 10% of the participants in the three age groups could explain the term ‘periodontitis’ or select the correct answer in an SCQ. Responding to the OEQs, 89% of 16-year olds, 64% of 39-48-year-olds, and 59% of 69–78-year-olds, could not name any consequence of periodontitis, and 83%, 51%, and 60%, respectively, could not name any risk factors. The OEQs regarding proper oral hygiene behaviour revealed that participants lacked awareness regarding important aspects of oral hygiene (e.g., systematics) or areas to which they should pay attention to (e.g., interdental spaces and gingival margins).

Conclusions

The survey revealed PHL deficits in German adolescents, adults, and seniors and a need for community-based measures to improve PHL in all age groups. Dental teams should be aware that their patients might lack the PHL necessary for understanding and adherence to professional dental advice, and that they might even lack PHL regarding the proper use of oral hygiene devices.

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the effect of prolonged hospitalization on the maintenance of dental health and to assess the nursing staff's approach to addressing these concerns.

Methods

A survey questionnaire explored changes in the routine dental care of patients hospitalized for over a month. The involvement of nursing staff in addressing dental care was also evaluated.

Results

Fifty adult patients aged 18–89 years (mean age 62.4 ± 20.54 years), 27 (54%) males, completed the survey. During hospitalization (mean 58.59 ± 38.63 days) 26% and 18%, increased consumption of sweets and sugary beverages, between meals, respectively; 26% and 20% of the patients reduced the frequency of tooth brushing in the morning and in the evening, respectively, and 42.2% of them, reduced the quality of their toothbrushing during hospitalization. Nevertheless, 95.9% and 93.9% of them were never instructed during hospitalization to limit their consumption of sweets and sugary beverages and 83.3% and 62.5% of them had never been reminded or offered assistance during hospitalization in performing toothbrushing, respectively. The lower frequency of morning toothbrushing was significantly correlated with a lack of nurses' assistance (p = 0.004). In contrast, 62.6% reported they were reminded every day to shower. Patients in the rehabilitation and geriatrics departments reported a greater need for a brush/toothpaste (p < 0.0001) and assistance in toothbrushing (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Prolonged hospitalization leads to significant deterioration in inpatients' dental health maintenance. Raising awareness among nurses regarding their inpatient's oral health maintenance is warranted. Providing patients with toothbrushes, toothpaste and educational materials upon hospitalization is recommended.

Introduction

Health-risk behaviours tend to co-occur among the same sectors of the population. The aim of this study is to examine the association between an aggregate of multiple health-risk behaviours and tooth loss among American Adults.

Methods

We used data from the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2022, a nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized American. We included participants aged 18 years and older. An aggregate variable of health-risk behaviours which included smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, lack of physical activities, overweight/obesity, infrequent dental visits and infrequent medical check-up was created. Tooth loss was indicated by losing one tooth or more. Logistic Regression analysis was conducted to test the association between the aggregate of behaviours and tooth loss adjusting for income, education, ethnicity and health insurance.

Results

The analysis included 326,561 participants. The mean number of health-risk behaviours was 2.13 and 1.72 among participants with tooth loss and without tooth loss, respectively. The aggregate of health-risk behaviours was significantly associated with tooth loss with odds ratios 1.23 (95% CI, 1.21, 1.26) in a model adjusting for age, gender, education, income ethnicity and health insurance.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that an aggregate of health-risk behaviours, with some not directly linked to oral health, is associated with tooth loss among American adults. The study highlights the importance of considering different risk factors when planning health promotion policies to tackle oral health.

Objectives

To evaluate the most effective method for mechanical inter-dental plaque removal between inter-dental brushes (IDB) and dental floss (DF), in addition to toothbrushing in patients affected by peri-implant mucositis (PIM); to identify possible factors related to the patient or to the single implant-supported element that could influence plaque accumulation and inflammation of peri-implant tissues.

Methods

Forty patients with PIM were recruited. They were randomly assigned to two different groups depending on inter-dental device used (IDB or DF).

At baseline (T0), interproximal area (IA), interproximal emergence angle of the implant crown (A°) and manual dexterity (evaluated with Purdue Pegboard) have been recorded. At 14 days (T1), the inter-dental cleaning devices have been inverted between groups. After 14 days (T2), the Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) have been recorded. A questionnaire has been submitted to a patient for the analysis of preferences at T0, T1 and T2.

Results

Both inter-dental cleaning devices were effective in reducing PI and GI in the inter-dental area after 14 days of use. GI reduction was influenced by manual dexterity of the dominant hand. No significant differences were found for PI and GI at the variation of IA and A°.

Conclusion

IDB was the most effective method for inter-dental plaque removal in all subjects regardless of their manual dexterity. DF seems to be more effective than IDB only in subjects with good dexterity.

Objectives

To study changes in oral health with focus on reported dental fear prevalence and interrelationships between dental fear and prevalence of dental caries and performed restorative dental treatment in preschool child populations attending regular public dental health care between 1983 and 2013.

Methods

Every 10 years, random samples of about 100 children aged 3 and 5 years, respectively, took part in cross-sectional studies based on oral examination and a questionnaire. One question, put to the child and answered by the parent, mirrored dental fear: “What do you feel at the prospect of an appointment with a dentist?”. Agreement to at least one of three alternatives, ill at ease, frightened and sick, indicated dental fear. Frightened and/or sick mirrored severe dental fear. 79%–94% of the samples answered the question and constituted the study group. Prevalence of caries and number of filled tooth surfaces were recorded. Dental parameters were presented in mean values.

Results

During the 30 years, dental fear prevalence was fairly constant. 21% of 3-year-olds and 15% of 5-year-olds reported dental fear in 2013. Positive relationships between dental fear prevalence and caries prevalence and number of filled tooth surfaces were found. Dental caries was reduced during the study time, but to a lesser degree in children with dental fear compared to children without dental fear.

Conclusions

Although children were offered public dental health care, the prevalence of dental fear remained high. Children with dental fear are caries risk individuals.

Aim

This survey aimed to investigate a range of topics relating to the employment of dental hygienists in European countries, whose National Dental Hygienists Associations (NDHAs) were members of the EDHF.

Methods

During 2020/2021, an online questionnaire and participant information leaflet were distributed by email in each of the 24 countries, whose NDHA is a member of the EFDH or to an EADPH member who was likely to respond.

Results

The broad term employment of dental hygienists was taken to include current numbers, place of work (public or private clinics and other locations), whether they were currently working as dental hygienists, their pay, any planned changes in their employment and their participation in continuing education. Twenty-four countries (92%) responded. Hungary and Poland reported that fewer than 35% of their qualified dental hygienists were working as dental hygienists. In 10 countries, often for family reasons, over 40% worked part-time. In 14 countries, over 70% worked in private clinics. Average annual pay ranged from €8400 in public clinics in Poland to €106,000 in dental hygienist-owned clinics in Denmark Regular participation in continuing education was mandatory in only nine countries.

Conclusions

Dental hygienists play a different role within the oral healthcare system in each European country. There is a wide variation in their education, places of employment, annual pay and continuing education requirements.