Evidence based dental public health

PURPOSE: The internet is increasingly used to seek health information. A dental condition of increasing concern and public interest is molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH), why we evaluated the information quality of German dentists 'websites on the topic of MIH. METHODS: A systematic search was performed by two independent investigators using three search engines. The information content of websites on MIH and technical, functional aspects, overall quality, and risk of bias were assessed using validated instruments (LIDA, DISCERN)...

IMPORTANCE: Process-based quality measures are generally intended to promote evidence-based practices that have been proven to improve outcomes. However, due to lack of standardized implementation of diagnostic codes in dentistry, assessing the association between process and oral health outcomes has been challenging. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association of adhering to dental quality measures with patient oral health outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Using a target trial emulation, a causal inference framework, this retrospective cohort study estimated the difference in the risk of developing tooth decay between US children who adhered to process-based dental quality measures (receiving topical fluoride and sealant [treated groups]) and those who did not (control groups)...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review to examine and summarize the characteristics of research related to mental health (MH) screenings and/or referrals to treatment in dental practices. METHODS: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for Scoping Reviews and searched multiple databases for terms connected with dental care, MH concerns, screening, and referral. Included articles: (1) described care provided in a dental practice, (2) described a situation where the patient is experiencing the potential MH problem, (3) did not involve dental anxiety exclusively, and (4) involved some form of MH screening and/or referral to treatment...

DATA SOURCES: The search strategy involved three sequential stages. Initially, MEDLINE/PubMed was explored for relevant articles, identifying pertinent terms for formal searching. Using the terms ethnic, race, minoritised and dental caries, a strategy was formed and nine databases searched. Finally, hand-searching of reference lists of included articles and sourcing grey literature from relevant government reports, national oral health surveys, and registries which had comparative data for dental caries between racial groups, completed the search...

Objectives This review aimed to investigate the effect of water fluoridation on the dental health of Scottish people by comparing results of starting and discontinuing fluoridation in Scotland.Data sources Data sources were retrieved from electronic databases. The grey literature was also searched. Articles were selected if the population of interest was Scottish. The objective was to evaluate the influence of water fluoridation on dental caries using the dmft/s, DMFT/S (decayed, missing and filled teeth/surfaces) or deft/s indices (decayed, extraction needed, filled teeth/surfaces)...

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review was conducted to explore the factors influencing access to oral health services and to identify and examine the strategies to improve the access. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases were searched. Studies except editorials reported in English regardless of the study design were included. Risk of Bias assessment was carried out using Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Newcastle Ottawa Scale and The Joanna Briggs Institute tool for cross-sectional, case-control and cohort and qualitative studies, respectively...

Introduction Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) play an important role in evidence-based decision-making. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the social impact of CSRs in dentistry and the inclusivity and diversity of researchers contributing to one of the largest databases in health care research.Methodology The Altmetric and bibliometric data for CSRs in dentistry were obtained through Altmetric Explorer and the Dimensions database and were analysed to determine the trends. Furthermore, the correlation between the number of citations and the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) was identified using Spearman's correlation co-efficient...

INTRODUCTION: The number of surgical extractions performed in hospitals in England remains unclear. This study reports the volume of surgical extractions conducted in hospitals and change in activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide observational cohort study using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) in England for patients undergoing surgical removal of a tooth (defined using OPSC-4 code F09) between April 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020...

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between access to fluoridated drinking water and area-level socio-economic status in Queensland. STUDY DESIGN: Ecological, geospatial data linkage study. SETTING: Queensland, by statistical area level 2 (SA2), 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of SA2s and of residents with access to fluoridated drinking water (natural or supplemented); relationship at SA2 level between access to fluoridated water and socio-economic status (Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, IRSAD; Index of Economic Resources, IER)...

BACKGROUND: Community education programmes are vital tools for teaching skills, such as understanding the larger cultural, economic and social determinants of health and how these factors impact people's health. It is currently unclear whether community education programmes in the field of dentistry deliver adequate value. This review aims to scope, collate and analyse globally published evidence concerning community education programmes in dentistry from inception, to gain an understanding of the intentions for these programmes and establish whether outcomes have shifted over time from the original intentions...

OBJECTIVES: U.S. and global estimates indicate that over 30% of adults fear receiving dental care, including over 20% who have visited a dentist in the last year, leading to avoidance and degraded oral and systemic health. Although evidence-based cognitive-behavioral treatments for dental fear (CBT-DF) exist, they have little impact on the millions who seek dental care annually because they are not disseminable (6 h of in-chair time, delivered only in person at a few sites). We developed a disseminable CBT-DF stepped-care treatment comprising (Step 1) a mobile-health application and, for those who remain fearful, (Step 2) a 1-h, one-on-one psychological treatment session that allows practice during exposure to the patient's most-feared stimuli...

The adoption of Universal Health Coverage for oral health care will not be sufficient to ensure that health care resources are accessible in accordance with needs for care. Government intervention in planning and allocating resources will be required to replace traditional market forces if market failure is not to be replaced by government failure. In this paper we explore the limitations of current 'fixed in time' approaches to planning the oral health care workforce and present an enhanced dynamic model for workforce planning that responds directly to changes in population, evidence-based best practice and new models of care...

The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe brings together five European organizations (Council of European Chief Dental Officers, Association for Dental Education in Europe, European Association of Dental Public Health, Pan European-International Association For Dental Research, Oral Health Foundation-UK) along with eighteen other associated European or national organizations. The platform aims to encourage oral health promotion and the prevention of oral diseases as fundamental components of good general health...

BACKGROUND: Oral health is an integral aspect of overall well-being and quality of life. Population groups such as two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, including other sexual and gender minorities (2SLGBTQ+), have reported poor oral health outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this review was to investigate the extent and scope of the literature describing 2SLGBTQ+ oral health outcomes, including unmet oral health needs and patterns of oral health care service utilization, as well as the risk factors affecting both...

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study examined the dental unit waterline (DUWL) testing practices of Saskatchewan dental clinics over a period of 11 years, with an emphasis on their responses after identification of high microbial levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental clinics (n = 137) aseptically collected samples of output water from their air/water syringes, handpieces, and ultrasonic scaler lines using Sigma-Aldrich® waterline test kits and delivered them to a quality assurance laboratory...

Evidence-based treatment recommendations are gaining importance within the framework of both medical and dental quality management systems. The scientific findings, which have been evaluated critically by expert committees with regard to their methodological quality, are summarized in easy-to-understand guidelines. All guidelines are evaluated qualitatively in accordance with a balance between consensus and evidence during the drafting process regarding their stages of scientific development. The publication of guidelines and the coordination of guideline development has been carried out by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) since its foundation in the 1960s...

As of September 2023, thirty-seven states and Washington, D.C., had adopted the option in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to extend pregnancy Medicaid eligibility to one year postpartum. To inform state initiatives to support this newly covered population, we conducted a representative survey of postpartum people in six states and New York City from January 2021 to March 2022. Compared with respondents who had commercial insurance at the time of childbirth, Medicaid respondents were less likely to have a usual source of care and reported less use of primary, specialty, and dental care in the postpartum year...

Fluorosis, a chronic condition brought on by excessive fluoride ingestion which, has drawn much scientific attention and public health concern. It is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite decades of scientific research elucidating the causes, mechanisms, and prevention strategies for fluorosis, there remains a significant gap between scientific understanding and public health implementation. While the scientific community has made significant strides in understanding the etiology and prevention of fluorosis, effectively translating this knowledge into public health policies and practices remains challenging...

OBJECTIVE: An important part of Norwegian welfare policy is to provide subsidized orthodontic treatment for children and adolescents. The objective of this policy is that dental services should be allocated according to children's need for treatment, and not according to parents' ability to pay. The probability of receiving orthodontic treatment independent of parent's household income was examined. METHODS: The study population encompassed children and adolescents aged 10-18 years in 2019 (n = 354 439)...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to systematically and critically appraise the available scientific evidence concerning the prevalence of edentulism among diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic people. METHODS: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-CENTRAL databases were comprehensively searched up to April 2023 to identify appropriate studies. The inclusion criteria were observational studies conducted in human subjects ≥18 years of age with the primary aim of investigating the prevalence of edentulism among diabetic patients...