Does Preventive Care Reduce Severe Pediatric Dental Caries?

INTRODUCTION: Tertiary oral health services (caries-related surgery, sedation, and emergency department visits) represent high-cost and ineffective ways to improve a child's oral health. We measured the impact of increased Texas Medicaid reimbursements for preventive dental care on use of tertiary oral health services. METHODS: We used difference-in-differences models to compare the effect of a policy change among children (≤9 y) enrolled in Medicaid in Texas and Florida. Linear regression models estimated 4 outcomes: preventive care dental visit, dental sedation, emergency department use, and surgical event. RESULTS: Increased preventive care visits led to increased sedation visits (1.7 percentage points, P < .001) and decreased emergency department visits (0.3 percentage points, P < .001) for children aged 9 years or younger. We saw no significant change in dental surgical rates associated with increased preventive dental care reimbursements. CONCLUSION: Increased access to preventive dentistry was not associated with improved long-term oral health of Medicaid-enrolled children. Policies that aim to improve the oral health of children may increase the effectiveness of preventive dentistry by also targeting other social determinants of oral health.

Summary of: Differences by age and sex in general dental practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in delivering prevention.

PURPOSE: To assess sex and age differences in NHS dentists' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in providing preventive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with dentists working in North London, UK. RESULTS: The sample displayed limited knowledge in certain key aspects of prevention, but expressed generally positive attitudes towards preventive care. More female and younger dentists reported that a child should attend the dentist before the age of 3 years (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). No other differences in knowledge or attitudes were found by age and sex. The majority of the sample reported routinely providing oral hygiene (95.7%), diet (85.4%) and smoking cessation advice (76.7%), but provision of alcohol advice was much less common (38%). A significantly higher proportion of younger dentists were more likely to give diet advice (p = 0.03) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.009) than their older colleagues. Female dentists were more likely to provide fissure sealants (p = 0.04), diet advice (p = 0.02) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.03). The main perceived barriers were related to organisational factors including insufficient remuneration (86.3%), lack of time (84%) and poor patient compliance (66%). There were no significant differences in perceived barriers by sex, but younger dentists were significantly more likely to identify poor patient compliance as a barrier (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Although dentists in this study may lack some core preventive knowledge, many expressed very positive attitudes towards prevention and reported to be routinely offering a range of preventive measures. Younger and female dentists tended to engage more frequently in preventive activities.

Differences by age and sex in general dental practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in delivering prevention.

PURPOSE: To assess sex and age differences in NHS dentists' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in providing preventive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with dentists working in North London, UK. RESULTS: The sample displayed limited knowledge in certain key aspects of prevention, but expressed generally positive attitudes towards preventive care. More female and younger dentists reported that a child should attend the dentist before the age of 3 years (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). No other differences in knowledge or attitudes were found by age and sex. The majority of the sample reported routinely providing oral hygiene (95.7%), diet (85.4%) and smoking cessation advice (76.7%), but provision of alcohol advice was much less common (38%). A significantly higher proportion of younger dentists were more likely to give diet advice (p = 0.03) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.009) than their older colleagues. Female dentists were more likely to provide fissure sealants (p = 0.04), diet advice (p = 0.02) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.03). The main perceived barriers were related to organisational factors including insufficient remuneration (86.3%), lack of time (84%) and poor patient compliance (66%). There were no significant differences in perceived barriers by sex, but younger dentists were significantly more likely to identify poor patient compliance as a barrier (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Although dentists in this study may lack some core preventive knowledge, many expressed very positive attitudes towards prevention and reported to be routinely offering a range of preventive measures. Younger and female dentists tended to engage more frequently in preventive activities.

Treatment provided in the Public Dental Service in Finland in 2009.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse treatment measures provided in the Public Dental Service (PDS) and to discuss the therapy given against treatment needs as expressed in the national clinical epidemiological studies. METHODS: In 2009, the Chief Dentists of the PDS units collected data from their local registers on patients and treatment provided. Data were obtained from 166 PDS units (86%). Treatment patterns were compared between age groups, provider groups and geographical areas using chi-square tests. RESULTS: Altogether 8.9 million treatments were provided for 1.7 million patients. Examinations, restorative treatment and anaesthesia accounted for 61.3% of all treatments. Preventive measures (8.4%) and periodontal treatment (6.3%) were small proportions of the total. Prosthetic treatment was uncommon (0.5%). Working age adults received half of all treatments (53.2%), the young a third (36.4%) and the elderly 10.4%. Dental hygienists or dental assistants provided 29.7% of all treatment for children and adolescents, 11.1% for adults and 14.1% for the elderly. CONCLUSION: Relatively healthy children had plenty of examinations and preventive measures, and adults had mostly restorative care when their needs were more periodontal and prosthetic care, indicating that treatment given was not fully in line with needs.

Counterpoint: Risk factors, including genetic information, add value in stratifying patients for optimal preventive dental care.

BACKGROUND: There is disagreement as to whether patient stratification by a combination of diabetes, smoking, and genetic test results is useful for informing the frequency of dental prophylaxes. METHODS: The authors appeal to basic tenets of clinical study design and statistical analysis of clinical investigations, and highlight how secondary ad hoc analyses, such as those of Diehl and colleagues, are frequently underpowered and inconclusive. They also provide evidence from numerous studies supporting the use of genetics to identify risk. RESULTS: The authors believe the conclusions reached from their original analyses are valid and the analyses of Diehl and colleagues serve to simply reinforce the authors' specific intent of avoiding such underpowered analyses altogether with the Michigan Personalized Prevention Study. CONCLUSIONS: Until full genome sequencing in many people with highly specified disease phenotypes is feasible, experimental approaches based on biological findings and hypothesis testing should not be summarily discounted. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Stratification of patients to provide "personalized" treatment remains an important, yet elusive, goal. The current debate serves to highlight the need for large, clinical utility studies that can adequately determine how phenotypic and genotypic data can be best used to improve oral health in the US population.

Preventive and clinical care provided to adolescents attending public oral health services New South Wales, Australia: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Dental Therapists and Oral Health Therapists (Therapists) working in the New South Wales (NSW) Public Oral Health Service are charged with providing clinical dental treatment including preventive care for all children under 18 years of age. Adolescents in particular are at risk of dental caries and periodontal disease which may be controlled through health education and clinical preventive interventions. However, there is a dearth of evidence about the type or the proportion of clinical time allocated to preventive care.The aim of this study is to record the proportion and type of preventive care and clinical treatment activities provided by Therapists to adolescents accessing the NSW Public Oral Health Service. METHODS: Clinical dental activity data for adolescents was obtained from the NSW Health electronic Information System for Oral Health (ISOH) for the year 2011. Clinical activities of Therapists were examined in relation to the provision of different types of preventive care for adolescents by interrogating state-wide public oral health data stored on ISOH. RESULTS: Therapists were responsible for 79.7 percent of the preventive care and 83.0 percent of the restorative treatment offered to adolescents accessing Public Oral Health Services over the one year period. Preventive care provided by Therapists for adolescents varied across Local Health Districts ranging from 32.0 percent to 55.8 percent of their clinical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Therapists provided the majority of clinical care to adolescents accessing NSW Public Oral Health Services. The proportion of time spent undertaking prevention varied widely between Local Health Districts. The reasons for this variation require further investigation.

Expanding oral health preventative services for young children: a successful interprofessional model.

Progressive solutions are needed to solve the oral health chronic disease problem in the U.S. The importance of oral health coupled with urgent community oral health needs, shortage of primary providers, and emphasis on interprofessional collaboration make the timing ripe for allied health training and practice in oral health preventative services. A successful model is described that addressed the unmet oral health care needs of low-income and at-risk children. The model is a guide for integrating an oral health screen, fluoride varnish, anticipatory guidance, and dental referrals into allied health practice. An alternative oral health provider approach was used to address the low rate of early caries detection, preventative oral care, and access for underserved children. A comprehensive system for the administrative and clinical components of the project, including implementation plan, clinical protocols, prescriptive authority, a dental home referral system, clinical training and competency testing, was developed. The interprofessional project increased oral health services capacity and practice acceptance of oral health screening and fluoride varnishing among dietitians. Oral health care services provide allied health practitioners with unique opportunities to impact the poor access and unmet needs of at risk children and adults and to improve overall health.

Patient stratification for preventive care in dentistry.

Prevention reduces tooth loss, but little evidence supports biannual preventive care for all adults. We used risk-based approaches to test tooth loss association with 1 vs. 2 annual preventive visits in high-risk (HiR) and low-risk (LoR) patients. Insurance claims for 16 years for 5,117 adults were evaluated retrospectively for tooth extraction events. Patients were classified as HiR for progressive periodontitis if they had ≥ 1 of the risk factors (RFs) smoking, diabetes, interleukin-1 genotype; or as LoR if no RFs. LoR event rates were 13.8% and 16.4% for 2 or 1 annual preventive visits (absolute risk reduction, 2.6%; 95%CI, 0.5% to 5.8%; p = .092). HiR event rates were 16.9% and 22.1% for 2 and 1 preventive visits (absolute risk reduction, 5.2%; 95%CI, 1.8% to 8.4%; p = .002). Increasing RFs increased events (p < .001). Oral health care costs were not increased by any single RF, regardless of prevention frequency (p > .41), but multiple RFs increased costs vs. no (p < .001) or 1 RF (p = .001). For LoR individuals, the association between preventive dental visits and tooth loss was not significantly different whether the frequency was once or twice annually. A personalized medicine approach combining gene biomarkers with conventional risk factors to stratify populations may be useful in resource allocation for preventive dentistry (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01584479).

Impact of dental visiting trajectory patterns on clinical oral health and oral health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown variation in long-term dental visiting but little is known about the oral health outcomes of such variation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the association of different dental visiting trajectories with dental clinical and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) indicators. METHODS: This study utilized data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a continuing longitudinal study of 1,037 babies born in Dunedin (New Zealand) between April 1, 1972 and March 31, 1973. Data presented here were collected at ages 15, 18, 26, and 32 years. Three categories of dental attendance were identified in earlier research, namely: regulars (n = 285, 30.9 percent of the cohort), decliners (441, 55.9 percent), and opportunistic users (107, 13.1 percent). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant association between opportunistic dental visiting behavior and decayed missing and filled surfaces score (Beta = 3.9) as well as missing teeth because of caries (Beta = 0.7). Nonregular dental visiting trajectories were associated with higher Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) scores (Beta = 2.1) and lower self-rated oral health scores (prevalence ratio = 0.8). CONCLUSION: Long-term, postchildhood dental attendance patterns are associated with oral health in adulthood, whether defined by clinical dental indicators or OHRQoL. Improving dental visiting behavior among low socioeconomic status groups would have the greatest effect on improving oral health and reducing oral health impacts.

Impacto das condições bucais na qualidade de vida de adolescentes brasileiros: um estudo populacional / Impact of oral conditions on quality of life of brazilian adolescents: a population study

A saúde bucal relacionada à qualidade de vida em crianças e adolescentes tem sido um tema frequentemente relatado na literatura nacional e internacional. Isso se deve ao fato de que as crianças e adolescentes são capazes de fornecer informações precisas sobre saúde bucal. Vários instrumentos têm sido propostos para se analisar a percepção de saúde bucal dessa população. Dentre eles, o mais utilizado tem sido o Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL), um conjunto de instrumentos desenvolvidos no Canadá que avaliam a percepção da criança/adolescente sobre sua saúde bucal (Child Perceptions Questionnaire - CPQ), o relato dos pais/responsáveis sobre sua saúde bucal (Child Perceptions Questionnaire - CPQ), o relato dos pais/responsáveis sobre a saúde bucal de seus filhos (Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire- P-CPQ) e o impacto que a saúde bucal dos menores acarreta para a família (Family Impact Scale - FIS)...

Aspectos epidemiológicos da saúde bucal de crianças em um município brasileiro / Epidemiological aspects of children’s oral health in a Brazilian city

As ciências da saúde adotam previamente ao planejamento dos programas preventivos, os instrumentos de análise do perfil populacional chamados de levantamentos epidemiológicos para obtenção de dados sobre a necessidade de cuidados e a possibilidade de tratamento dos eventos em saúde. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a condição dentária de crianças de 5 a 14 anos pertencentes a escolas da rede pública de ensino do município de Américo Brasiliense, SP, por meio da obtenção dos índices ceod e CPOD, porcentagem de crianças sem experiência de cárie e prevalência de fluorose dentária. Para esse levantamento epidemiológico participaram 1137 escolares. Os exames clínicos foram realizados por 4 cirurgiões-dentistas calibrados de acordo com os critérios de diagnóstico recomendados pela OMS em 1997. Para análise das informações obtidas foi elaborado um banco de dados no programa Excel e realizada estatística descritiva mediante a elaboração de tabela. Os resultados mostraram que 94% dos escolares de 5 anos não tinham experiência de cárie, no entanto, o índice ceod encontrado foi de 1,44. No que se refere à idade de 12 anos, o valor do CPOD foi 1,19. No que diz respeito à fluorose na faixa etária entre 05 e 14 anos, os resultados mostram menor prevalência aos 8 anos (0,00%) e maior prevalência aos 14 anos (6,19%). Dessa forma, concluiu-se que o município de Américo Brasiliense-SP tem desenvolvido programas educativo-preventivos nas escolas e unidades básicas de saúde com sucesso, haja vista os resultados satisfatórios do levantamento epidemiológico.

Acesso a serviços odontológicos e auto-percepção da saúde bucal em adolescentes, adultos e idosos / Access to dental services and self-perception of oral health in adolescents, adults, and the elderly

Conhecer e identificar as condições e a auto-percepção da saúde bucal dos indivíduos contribui favoravelmente para o planejamento e implementação de ações e programas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a experiência de cárie, condições de acesso a serviços odontológicos no Estado de São Paulo,e verificação da auto-percepção da saúde bucal de adolescentes, adultos e idosos, associada às condições clínicas encontradas. Um total de 1824 adolescentes (15 a 19 anos), 1612 adultos (35 a 44 anos) e 781 idosos (65 a 74 anos) participaram deste estudo. Os exames odontológicos foram realizados em domicílios, seguindo critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde. As informações sobre acesso a serviços e autopercepção foram obtidas por meio de entrevistas. Os dados foram descritos e analisados com uso do teste Qui-quadrado, com 95% de confiança. O índice CPOD correspondeu a 28,6 para os idosos, 20,9 para os adultos e 6,5 para os adolescentes. Quanto ao acesso aos serviços odontológicos e tempo da última visita ao dentista, a maior frequência foi há menos de 1 ano para adolescentes (60,1%) e adultos (47,9%), e há mais de 3 anos (58,5%) para idosos. Os adolescentes com menos experiência de cárie, ou seja, com CPOD abaixo da média, representaram 54,8%; a proporção de adultos com 20 ou mais dentes presentes foi de 64,3% e a prevalência de idosos edêntulos foi de 59,9%. A auto-percepção foi semelhante entre os grupos; com exceção dos idosos. A auto-percepção apresentou dados positivos para os adolescentes e adultos que apresentaram condições clínicas mais favoráveis. Diante destes resultados, torna-se necessária a implantação de ações de programas efetivos para educação e prevenção, com enfoque na manutenção dos dentes para adultos e idosos. Para adolescentes, há necessidade de controle e manutenção da saúde bucal para que futuramente estes apresentem melhores condições de saúde bucal que as encontradas dentre os adultos e idosos.

Atitutes de cirurgiões-dentistas quanto à importância da avaliação do risco de cárie e adoção de medidas preventivas e de controle: análise da realidade na rede pública odontológica de Barbacena- MG / Dentist's attitudes regarding the importance of the assessment of the risk of caries and the adoption of preventive and control measures: analysis of the reality of public health dentistry in Barbacena-MG

A saúde bucal coletiva vem se expandido pelo país nos últimos anos. Em virtude desse crescimento, se faz necessário um serviço dinâmico, com profissionais integrados ao Sistema Único de Saúde, para alcançar o sucesso do atendimento. Em relação à doença cárie, observa-se que a avaliação do risco possibilita melhor diagnóstico, plano de tratamento e adoção de medidas de prevenção e controle. Para isso, é necessário conhecimento dos fatores de risco pela cárie, sejam eles biológicos, socio-econômicos, ambientais, ou comportamentais. Devido a essa necessidade, o presente trabalho objetivou conhecer a realidade do atendimento público odontológico de Barbacena- MG...

Oral Health Public has been expanding in Brazil in recent years. Due to this growth, a dynamic service thereby becomes necessary, with professionals directly linked to SUS (Brazilian Unified Health System), to achieve success in patient treatment. As regards caries disease, it could be observed that early risk assessment makes it possible for a better diagnosis, treatment plan, and adoption of measures for prevention and control. For this, it is necessary to understand the risk factors related to the formation of caries, be they biological, socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral. Considering this need, the aim of the present study is to observe the reality of patient treatment within the public health dentistry sector in the city of Barbacena/MG...

Changing clinicians' behavior: a randomized controlled trial of fees and education.

The fissure-sealing of newly erupted molars is an effective caries prevention treatment, but remains underutilized. Two plausible reasons are the financial disincentive produced by the dental remuneration system, and dentists' lack of awareness of evidence-based practice. The primary hypothesis was that implementation strategies based on remuneration or training in evidence-based healthcare would produce a higher proportion of children receiving sealed second permanent molars than standard care. The four study arms were: fee per sealant treatment, education in evidence-based practice, fee plus education, and control. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted. Analysis was based on 133 dentists and 2833 children. After adjustment for baseline differences, the primary outcome was 9.8% higher when a fee was offered. The education intervention had no statistically significant effect. 'Fee only' was the most cost-effective intervention. The study contributes to the incentives in health care provision debate, and led to the introduction of a direct fee for this treatment.

[The suitability of orthodontical groups of indications (OGI) for preventive dental examinations of the public health service]. / Die Eignung der "Kieferorthopädischen Indikationsgruppen" (KIG) für die zahnärztliche Vorsorgeuntersuchung des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (OGD).

In the context of the dental preventive medical examinations of the public health service, the orthodontical data-gathering in children's day-care centre and schools, in contrast to the diagnoses of caries disease, was made was based so far on a non-uniform methodology. In order to provide in future, also in the orthodontical sector, data material that is usable for comparative national and local health reporting, a uniform methodology should form the basis for the data acquisition. The present study makes a contribution to this objective. A goal of the work was to test two different collection instruments for their suitability as objective tools in the context of the preventive dental medical examinations. The occurrence and the severity level of dentofacial anomalies as well as the orthodontic treatment status of Thuringian school children of defined age groups (9 to 11 years old, 12 to 13 years old) were recorded and the orthodontic treatment need was determined. In the younger age group valid the orthodontical groups of indications (OGI) were found for the first time in Germany; in the older group we tested the already long established Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and equipment application recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The work was a component of the task spectrum of the WHO Collaboration Centre "Prevention of Oral disease" of the Health Centre for Preventive Dentistry at the Centre for Tooth, Mouth and Jaw Dentistry of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena in Thuringia. As investigation region, a rural area ("Landkreis Eichsfeld") of Thuringia was choosen. The study was arranged into a sociological and a clinical-epidemiological part. Altogether 1845 pupils were recruited from national schools. The questionnaire was based on the WHO-initiated "International Collaborative Study of Oral Health Outcomes" (ICS II study). The investigations took place in the context of the preventive medical examinations of the public health service. The results were based on the answers and findings of 691 probants of the group of the 9-11 years old (AG 1) and 774 probants of the group of the 12-13 years old (AG 2). The sociological results of both age groups reflected social restrictions regarding the presence of dentofacial anomalies in an order of magnitude of 20% in the AG 1 and 7.3% in the AG 2. In the AG 1 11.4% confirmed an orthodontical treatment and 47.9% of the probants examined indicated a desire for treatment. On the other hand, the proportion of orthodontically treated in AG 2 amounted to 31.1% and 37.8% expressed a desire for treatment. Dentofacial anomalies determined with the help of the OGI in the AG 1 as the most frequent were in the form of a distal bite (sagittal stage/group of D) with 55.5% of the examined pupils being documented. However here severity development stages 1 and 2 outweighed. Proportionally followed: confining (group E) with 21% and the vertical stage/deep bite (group T) with 7.8%. All other groups were represented by only small proportions, craniofacial anomalies (group A) were not diagnosed. Anomalies with severity development 1 and 2 were determined in 64.1% of the examined children. In the AG 2 examined with the DAI, the anomalies of space conditions with 58% exceeded anomalies of occlusion conditions with 38.9% and anomalies of dentition with 9.8%. An urgent orthodontical treatment need was determined in the AG 1 with 35.9% of the probants (severity development 3 to 5) and in the AG 2 with 16.8% (DAI values over 32). In the AG 2 too, over 60% DAI values from 13 to 25 were determined, 26% exhibited DAI values between 26 and 31. During the statistic evaluation the "Statistical Package found for Social Sciences (SPSS)" version 11.51 S with a significant level of 5% was used. Derived from the results of our analysis, the recommendation can be made that the methodology of the Orthodontical Groups of Indications for the employment is to be regarded as a possibility with dental preventive medical examinations in the public health service as a suitable equipment and so far allows the subjective estimate of the orthodontical treatment necessity to be made.

Determinantes individuais e contextuais da prevalência de cárie dentária não tratada no Brasil / Individual and contextual determinants of the prevalence of untreated caries in Brazil

OBJETIVO: Descrever a prevalência de cárie dentária não tratada em adolescentes no Brasil e analisar a associação da cárie com fatores individuais e contextuais nos municípios onde esses adolescentes residem. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se um banco de dados gerado pelo Ministério da Saúde (projeto SB-Brasil) que inclui informações de 16 833 adolescentes (15 a 19 anos). A presença de ao menos um dente permanente com cárie não tratada foi a variável de estudo. As variáveis explicativas, em nível individual, foram: sexo, grupo étnico, local de residência e situação escolar. As variáveis referentes ao município foram: índice de desenvolvimento humano municipal (IDH-M), proporção de domicílios com ligação de água e presença de flúor na água de abastecimento há 5 anos ou mais. Para ajustar o desfecho às condições individuais e municipais de interesse, foi realizada uma análise multinível para estimação em modelos multivariados de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Ser negro ou pardo (razão de chances ajustada, ORajust = 1,79; 1,68 a 1,92) e residir em área rural (ORajust = 1,31; 1,19 a 1,45) foram determinantes individuais de maior probabilidade de apresentar cárie não tratada. Ser estudante foi identificado como fator de proteção (ORajust = 0,67; 0,62 a 0,73). As variáveis de segundo nível, IDH-M (coeficiente ajustado beta = -0,213), flúor na rede de água (beta = -0,201) e proporção de domicílios com ligação de água (beta = -0,197) foram identificadas como determinantes contextuais de cárie. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados mostram que existe desigualdade na distribuição dos serviços de saúde nas diferentes regiões brasileiras e sugerem que pode haver desigualdade também na efetividade dos serviços prestados. Políticas de expansão do acesso à água fluoretada e inclusão escolar podem contribuir para evitar a doença cárie em adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of untreated caries among adolescents in Brazil and to analyze the association between caries and individual and contextual factors in the municipalities where these adolescents live. METHODS: A Ministry of Health database (projeto SB-Brasil) provided health records on 16 833 adolescents from 15-19 years of age. The study variable used was the presence of at least one permanent tooth having been lost to caries. The individual variables considered were: sex, ethnic group, living in an urban versus a rural area, and being a student or not. Contextual variables related to the municipality were: municipal human development index (MHDI), proportion of households connected to the water system, and water fluoridation for 5 years or more. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was carried out to adjust the outcome to the individual and contextual variables. RESULTS: Individual determinants related to a higher probability of untreated caries were: the ethnic group described as "black or brown," (adjusted odds ratio, ORadjust = 1.79; 1.68 to 1.92); and living in a rural area (ORadjust = 1.31; 1.19 to 1.45). Being a student was identified as a protective factor (ORadjust = 0.67; 0.62 to 0.73). Secondary variables identified as contextual determinants of caries were MHDI (adjusted coefficient beta = -0.213), water fluoridation (beta = -0.201), and households connected to the water system (beta = -0.197). CONCLUSIONS: The results show inequalities in the distribution of health services in the various Brazilian regions, and suggest that inequalities may also be present in the effectiveness of the services provided. Policies to increase access to fluoride-treated water and school enrollment may contribute to preventing caries in adolescents.

Demanda de atención y estado dentario en servicios y consultorios odontológicos de Rosario / Care demand and dental status in dental services and offices of Rosario city

La población de mayores recursos de Rosario puede acceder a la atención privada, los sectores medios y carenciados se atienden con obras sociales y servicios públicos. Esto últimos carecen de programas para el cuidado bucal de los adultos, realizando prioritariamente extracciones. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer el grado de adhesión a cuidados para la conservación de las piezas dentarias en tres subpoblaciones. Los concurrentes de 15-45 años fueron invitados a participar respondiendo una anamnesis estandarizada sobre edad, sexo, tipo de servicio, índice CPO, tiempo transcurrido entre consultas y pieza extraida el día de entrevista. En los servicios públicos hubo mayoría de piezas perdidas y en el privado de obturaciones. El tiempo transcurrido entre visitas fue menor en el privado (p=0,04) y la causa más frecuente fue por obturación, mientras que en los públicos lo fue por extracción (p=0,01). Las piezas más extraidas fueron premolares y molares en todos los servicios.

[Prevention of oral cancer: practice patterns in a dentists' group]. / Prevenzione del cancro orale: la pratica odontoiatrica in un campione di operatori.

Annually, 3000 people in our country die for oral cancer. Contrarily to other forms of cancer that require the use of instrumental diagnostic tools, the oral cavity is easy to examine and the cancer is usually preceded by precancerous conditions. The problem of the diagnostic delay can be explained through a underestimation of the lesions of the oral cavity by patients and a lack of sensibilization to prevention topics from dentists. Our work has inquired in the activity of a group of dentist with more than ten years than experience on accuracy of the anamnesis, objective exam and appropriate of the resource to specialists, and that with the aim not to measure the clinical abilities but to estimate the attitude towards the Prevention topics, in special way in the field of the malignant tumors of the oral cavity.

An analysis of dental visits in U.S. children, by category of service and sociodemographic factors, 1996.

PURPOSE: Data from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were analyzed to determine the distribution of diagnostic and preventive, surgical, and other dental visit types received by U.S. children, aged 0-18 years. METHODS: Weighted point estimates and standard errors were generated using SUDAAN and stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and poverty status. RESULTS: Overall, 39.3% of children had a diagnostic or preventive visit, 4.1% had a surgical visit, and 16.2% had a visit for a restorative/other service. Diagnostic and preventive services were most common, across age categories. For all types of service, utilization was higher among white and non-poor children, but there were no differences by gender. Age-specific associations were mixed, with diagnostic and preventive service and surgical service utilization having a different distribution than other service type. Poverty status was generally not associated with service-specific utilization among African-American children. CONCLUSIONS: There are profound disparities in the level of dental services obtained by children, especially among minority and poor youth. Findings suggest that Medicaid fails to assure comprehensive dental services for eligible children. Improvements in oral health care for minority and poor children are necessary if national health objectives for 2010 are to be met successfully.

Dentists and oral cancer prevention in the UK: opinions, attitudes and practices to screening for mucosal lesions and to counselling patients on tobacco and alcohol use: baseline data from 1991.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the opinions, attitudes and practices towards oral cancer prevention among UK dentists as a baseline from which to measure the need for continuing education efforts in this area. DESIGN AND METHOD: Postal questionnaire survey carried out in August 1991. A questionnaire with 13 test items was piloted at continuing education courses then distributed to all subscribers of the British Dental Journal with a postage paid return envelope. The aspects inquired into were recent attempts by dentists at updating their knowledge on oral cancer, their practical approaches to screening for oral mucosal diseases and follow-up actions after oral screening, their questions to patients regarding the major risk factors for oral cancer, their efforts towards behavioural counselling for patients and any constraints felt or experienced in this regard. RESULTS: The questionnaire was circulated to 15,836 dentists. The response rate of 16% was poor but due to the many dentists circulated, 2519 responses were available for analysis. This large sample, though presumptively biased towards those interested in professional matters, showed an encouraging 84% claiming to perform screening of the oral mucosa routinely. Among these, 74% reported referral of screen detected cases to a hospital for further attention and only 4% would adopt a wait and see policy. Disturbingly, half of the respondents did not enquire about risk habits related to oral cancer and, among the other half who claimed to make such enquiries, only 30% routinely provided brief health education advice concerning these. Seventy-one percent agreed that giving advice against tobacco use is desirable but major constraints were identified, notably a lack of training, and frustration regarding patient compliance. There was even greater reluctance on the part of the respondents to enquire into the alcohol use of their patients and to provide advice on alcohol moderation. CONCLUSIONS: Most of this large but unrepresentative sample of UK dentists were carrying out screening of the oral mucosa as a part of their prevention activities in 1991. However, the survey indicated a considerable need for improvement in the manner and extent of provision of health advice in respect of the major risk factors for oral cancer: such a substantial need amongst the presumptively better motivated implies that the need amongst the practitioner population at large is even greater.