Scoping review on the link between economic growth, decent work, and early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent chronic non-communicable disease that affects millions of young children globally, with profound implications for their well-being and oral health. This paper explores the associations between ECC and the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8). METHODS: The scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. In July 2023, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using tailored search terms related to economic growth, decent work sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and efforts to eradicate forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking and ECC all of which are the targets of the SDG8. Only English language publications, and publications that were analytical in design were included. Studies that solely examined ECC prevalence without reference to SDG8 goals were excluded. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 761 articles. After removing duplicates and ineligible manuscripts, 84 were screened. However, none of the identified studies provided data on the association between decent work, economic growth-related factors, and ECC. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review found no English publication on the associations between SDG8 and ECC despite the plausibility for this link. This data gap can hinder policymaking and resource allocation for oral health programs. Further research should explore the complex relationship between economic growth, decent work and ECC to provide additional evidence for better policy formulation and ECC control globally.

Legislation in Hospital Dentistry: Gaps, Perspectives and Desires

Abstract Objective: To analyze the existing state legislation, including not only the ordinary laws, but also their infralegal regulation and the state legislation on Hospital Dentistry. Material and Methods: A survey was carried out in the databases of the Legislative Assemblies of the Brazilian States and the Federal District, as well as the Regional and Federal Councils of Dentistry in Brazil. Subsequently, a survey was carried out in the databases of the Ministry of Health, State Dental Councils and Federal Dental Council in Brazil. Results: Only 8 Brazilian states have legislation in force regarding hospital dentistry, which represents 29.63% of the federative units. Among the Brazilian regions, the Midwest presented the highest prevalence of the laws found (37.50%), followed by the North (25%) and the other regions with the same coverage (12.50%). Also, an orientation and an ordinance from the Ministry of Health, six resolutions from the Federal Council of Dentistry, and a technical note from the National Health Surveillance Agency were found. Conclusion: Several States do not have rules on the subject, making it imperative to create a federal rule that not only imposes the presence of the dentist, but also regulates the proportion of the team, workload, and availability.

Rede de cuidados à pessoa com deficiência: o direito à saúde bucal e a implementação da assistência odontológica especializada / Care network for persons with disabilities: the right to oral health and the implementation of specialized dental care

A implementação de políticas públicas depende das interrelações entre Estado, sociedade, política e economia, as quais produzem efeitos que irão repercutir na vida das pessoas. Na literatura, diferentes modelos teóricos estão disponíveis para estudo da implementação de políticas públicas. A relevância das necessidades de saúde da pessoa com deficiência cresceu, após a aprovação da Declaração dos Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência (PcD), elevando a consciência sobre a necessidade da implementação de políticas públicas efetivas e duradouras de inclusão das PcD. Esta tese objetivou estudar o processo de implementação da Rede de Cuidados à Pessoa com Deficiência (RCPD) a partir do Modelo de Coalização de Defesa e da teoria da Burocracia do Nível de Rua; e descrever a extensão da integração sistêmica que orienta a conformação do cuidado da RCPD, no âmbito da saúde bucal, em seis regiões de saúde brasileiras, bem como produzir uma síntese de recomendações/expectativas sobre a assistência odontológica às PcD, adicionalmente. Para a viabilização dos resultados, foram utilizados dois métodos de pesquisa: o estudo de caso (único e múltiplo) e a revisão integrativa. Os resultados foram a elaboração de quatro artigos que tratam sobre: a descrição, sob o Modelo de Coalizão de Defesa, das condições que favoreceram a conformação do subsistema da política pública e o processo de implementação da RCPD em duas regiões de saúde brasileiras semelhantes (Artigo 1); a descrição da influência da discricionariedade dos profissionais e organizações da linha de frente na implementação de diferentes formas de acesso à assistência odontológica especializada na RCPD (Artigo 2); a produção de uma síntese da literatura científica sobre as expectativas/recomendações a respeito da assistência odontológica como direito à saúde bucal para pessoas com deficiência no âmbito internacional (Artigo 3); e a descrição da extensão da integração sistêmica da assistência odontológica na RCPD, em seis regiões de saúde brasileiras (Artigo 4). No contexto internacional, o direito à saúde bucal para PcD atravessa um cenário complexo e por vezes contraditório, afetado pelo modelo de proteção social dos países abordados pelos pesquisadores. No Brasil, os estudos de caso mostraram que a implementação da RCPD sofreu influência das crenças/convicções dos seus implementadores, bem como do poder discricionário deles. Além disso; a extensão da integração sistêmica foi influenciada pela indução federal, e pelas características do contexto loco-regional no processo de implementação da RCPD no âmbito da saúde bucal.

The implementation of public policies depends on the interrelationships between the State, society, policy and economy, which produce effects that will have repercussions on people's lives. In the literature, different theoretical models are available to study the implementation of public policies. The relevance of the health needs of people with disabilities grew after the approval of the Declaration of the Rights of People with Disabilities (PwD), raising awareness of the need to implement effective and lasting public policies for the inclusion of PwD. This thesis aimed to study the implementation process o f the Care Network for People with Disabilities (CNPD) based on the Defense Coalition Model and the Street Levei Bureaucracy theory; and describe the extent of systemic integration that guides the shaping of CNPD care, within the scope of oral health, in six brazilian health regions, as well as producing a synthesis of recommendations/expectations regarding dental care for PwD, in addition. To make the results viable, two research methods were used: the case study (single and multiple) and the integrative review. The results were the elaboration o f four articles that deal with: the description, under the Advocay Coalition Framework, o f the conditions that favored the conforrnation ofthe public policy subsystem and the process of implementing the CNPD in two similar Brazilian health regions (Article 1); the description ofthe influence ofthe discretion offrontline professionals and organizations in the implementation of different forms of access to specialized dental care in the CNPD (Article 2); the production of a synthesis of the scientific literature of expectations/recommendations regarding dental care as a right to oral health for people with disabilities at the international levei (Article 3); and the description of the extent of the systemic integration of dental care in the CNPD, in six Brazilian health regions (Article 4). At international context, the right to oral health for PwD has been crossed by a complex and sometimes contradictory scenario, affected by the social protection model o f the countries addressed by the researchers. In Brazil, the case studies showed that the implementation o f the CNPD was influenced by the beliefs/convictions of its implementers, as well as their discretion. Moreover, the extent of systemic integration was influenced by federal induction, in addition to characteristics o f the loco-regional context in the process of implementing the CNPD in the field of oral health.

The Seychelles Dental Service.

The Seychelles Dental Service dates back to the 1920s, growing from rudimentary dentistry to the evidence-based dentistry of today. Until the 1970s, dental care was provided by a small number of dentists. However, since the establishment of the School Dental Service (SDS) in the 1980s, child oral health has been the responsibility of Dental Therapists (DTs). Today Seychelles has a well organised oral health care system in place with modern infrastructure and equipment and trained personnel. Locally trained DTs constitute 85% of the SDS workforce. A national oral health plan serves as a guide to ensure that programmes are developed in accordance with WHO global oral health goals, guided by periodic reviews. We present a resume of the major strengths and challenges of the Seychelles Dental Service, concluding with recommendations for staff development. Findings and recommendations of reviews and assessments of various dental health issues conducted in the country between 1977 and 1999 are summarised in the appendix.

Oral Health Care in Rural America.

(1) Rural Americans are twice as likely to lose their adult teeth as their urban counterparts. (2) Seventy-two percent of the country is classified as rural, but is home to only 15 percent of the population (46.2 million people). (3) According to the Pew Center on the States, rural residents are more likely to use emergency departments for their oral health needs because of a lack of dental insurance and a shortage of dental providers.

Considerations in identifying pediatric dental neglect and the legal obligation to report.

BACKGROUND: Dental health care professionals play an important role as mandated advocates when health care neglect is suspected in children; however, there is some confusion around what constitutes child neglect. METHODS: The authors reviewed the dental literature for descriptors and definitions of neglect. They studied the individual state statutes to learn the protection afforded for both victims of neglect and for health care providers acting on behalf of such children. They also reviewed methods of action to address suspected neglect. RESULTS: The authors found confusion around what is or is not child neglect. Yet, dental professionals are tasked by the law, and by a moral code, to protect children from neglect. The authors offer a definition of neglect and suggested practice guidelines to assist the practitioner acting as a child's advocate. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians can use strategies to address the problem of child neglect. A digital data treatment registry may provide additional views of a child's health status. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: With a better understanding of the definition of neglect, strategies can be implemented for use by the dental team to address this problem of neglect and reduce its incidence.

Salud bucal poblacional, una prioridad en todas las políticas / Oral health of the population, a priority in all policies

La salud bucal de las poblaciones debiera ser una prioridad de los estados, gobiernos, sectores de la sociedad, la economía y de la propia población en los diferentes contextos; pero la realidad es que este aspecto de la salud continúa relegado en muchos ámbitos donde se considera principalmente un asunto estético-cosmético, ajeno a la salud pública y por consiguiente, se hayan marginado de las políticas públicas orientadas a la protección de la salud. Se manifiestan débiles, desintegradas y efímeras las acciones destinadas a su desarrollo integral en cuanto a promoción y participación social. Se compromete así, la incorporación de la salud bucal al enfoque de Salud en todas las políticas, basado principalmente en los derechos humanos y la justicia social, según Declaración de Helsinki...

Extending dental nurses' duties: a national survey investigating skill-mix in Scotland's child oral health improvement programme (Childsmile).

BACKGROUND: Childsmile is Scotland's national child oral health improvement programme. To support the delivery of prevention in general dental practice in keeping with clinical guidelines, Childsmile sought accreditation for extended duty training for dental nurses to deliver clinical preventive care. This approach has allowed extended duty dental nurses (EDDNs) to take on roles traditionally undertaken by general dental practitioners (GDPs). While skill-mix approaches have been found to work well in general medicine, they have not been formally evaluated in dentistry. Understanding the factors which influence nurses' ability to fully deliver their extended roles is necessary to ensure nurses' potential is reached and that children receive preventive care in line with clinical guidance in a cost-effective way. This paper investigates the supplementation of GDPs' roles by EDDNs, in general dental practice across Scotland. METHODS: A cross-sectional postal survey aiming to reach all EDDNs practising in general dental practice in Scotland was undertaken. The survey measured nurses': role satisfaction, perceived utility of training, frequency, and potential behavioural mediators of, preventive delivery. Frequencies, correlations and multi-variable linear regression were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of practices responded with 174 eligible nurses returning questionnaires. Respondents reported a very high level of role satisfaction and the majority found their training helpful in preparing them for their extended role. While a high level of preventive delivery was reported, fluoride vanish (FV) was delivered less frequently than dietary advice (DA), or oral hygiene advice (OHA). Delivering FV more frequently was associated with higher role satisfaction (p < 0.001). Those nurses who had been practising longer reported delivering FV less frequently than those more recently qualified (p < 0.001). Perceived difficulty of delivering preventive care (skills) and motivation to do so were most strongly associated with frequency of delivery (p < 0.001 for delivery of FV, DA and OHA). CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided insight into EDDNs' experiences and demonstrates that with appropriate training and support, EDDNs can supplement GDPs' roles in general dental practice in Scotland. However, some barriers to delivery were identified with delivery of FV showing scope for improvement.