Oral health promotion for rural adolescents: A process evaluation of a co-designed pilot program.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents living in rural areas are more likely to have poorer oral health compared with their metropolitan counterparts. Co-design is emerging as an effective method for developing health promotion programs that meets the needs of stakeholders; however, little evidence exists to inform successful co-designed oral health promotion programs for rural adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to understand the value of a co-designed oral health promotion program undertaken with rural adolescents in northeast Victoria with objectives to: Co-design an oral health promotion program with rural adolescents. Evaluate the program for appropriateness, acceptability, and feasibility. Make recommendations for program refinement and scalability. DESIGN: Study participants included year 11 and 12 students in a rural secondary school in Northern Victoria (n=2), who collaboratively along with schoolteachers, and the local health service staff led by an oral health therapist, co-designed, and delivered an oral gealth promotion program in their schools. This qualitative study used semi-structured group interviews (n = 8) to evaluate the co-design process and impact. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed using a co-design evaluation toolkit as a framework for analysis. FINDINGS: Qualitative inductive analysis revealed three main thematic categories around participant benefits (intended and unintended learning outcomes; interpersonal skills), the quality of the process (value of co-design, qualities of facilitators, and engagement); and scalability and replicability. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that co-design was both acceptable and appropriate for designing an oral health promotion program for rural adolescents delivering unexpected benefits. Building the capacity of schoolteachers could offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions for scalability.

Preparedness for practice of newly qualified dental practitioners in the Australian context: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: The current study explored the perspectives of preparedness for dental practice from a range of relevant stakeholders (i.e., educators, employers, final-year students, graduates, practitioners, and professional associations) using an anonymous online survey in which participants described either their preparedness for practice, or the preparedness of graduates they have encountered, across six domains. RESULTS: A total of 120 participants completed the survey. Participants were from several Australian states and territories; regional, rural, and urban locations; and working in the public and private sector. Students and new graduates generally felt prepared for activities in all the identified domains. Stakeholders reported consistently that the knowledge of dental profession graduates was at the required level to enter practice in Australia in a safe way. Activities involving the knowledge of clinical entrepreneurship and financial solvency were the dimensions where students and graduates felt least prepared (e.g., explaining fees, negotiating finances). In the domains involving clinical and technical competencies, students and new graduates self-assessed as less prepared around managing dental trauma and medical emergencies. On the other hand, activities around social and community orientation, and to a lesser extent professional attitudes and ethical judgements, were the dimensions where students and graduates felt the most prepared. CONCLUSIONS: Present findings indicate that there appear to be good standards of preparedness for practice for graduate dental professionals. This exploratory study provides insights into the nature of preparedness for Australian dental professionals and provides a basis for targeting education and professional development to address areas of need.

The Indigenous Adolescent Oral Health Partnership Study: A Co-Design Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: in this protocol we outline a method of working alongside Aboriginal communities to learn about and facilitate improvement in the oral health habits in Aboriginal adolescents. By facilitating positive oral health in Aboriginal adolescents, we hope to achieve lifelong improvement in oral health and general wellbeing. METHODS: this paper outlines a co-design methodology through which researchers and Aboriginal communities will work together to create a custom oral healthcare program aimed at Aboriginal adolescents. Researchers, a youth advisory group, Aboriginal community-controlled health services and three regional NSW communities will together devise an oral health strategy focused on five components: application of topical fluoride, increasing water consumption, improving nutrition, daily toothbrushing, and enhancing social and emotional wellbeing. Capacity building is a key outcome of this program. DISCUSSION: as the gap in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people remains wide, it is clear that new approaches and attitudes are needed in Aboriginal public health research. This protocol is representative of this shifting approach; giving power to Aboriginal communities who seek to have sovereignty and self-determination over their healthcare. TRIAL REGISTRATION: TRN: ISRCTN15496753 Date of registration: 20 October 2021.

Motivational interviewing versus conventional caries prevention strategies in high-caries-risk children and families: a non-randomised trial.

Background This study compared the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) and conventional caries prevention (CCP) for primary (caries increment) and secondary outcomes (caries intensity, gingival health, caregiver-reported oral health-related knowledge, behaviours and attitudes) over 12 months.Methods High-caries-risk children and caregivers received CCP or MI with comprehensive dental care. Fidelity was monitored using MI treatment integrity code 4.2.1. Caries increment, intensity and gingival health were measured at baseline, six and twelve months. Readiness Assessment of Parents Concerning Infant Dental Decay questionnaires recorded oral health-related knowledge, behaviours and attitudes.Results In total, 86 caregiver-child dyads (CCP = 51; MI = 35) were recruited. The mean difference (95% confidence interval [CI]) in caries increment (ΔdICDAS1-6mfs + DICDAS1-6MFS) was significantly higher with MI compared to CCP at six (MI 2.3 [1.2, 3.5] vs CCP 0.6 [0.1, 1.0]; p <0.001) and twelve (MI 4.3 [2.5, 6.0] vs CCP 1.2 [0.6, 1.8]; p <0.001) months. Multivariate analysis with CCP as reference group, odds ratio (95% CI) for new/progressed caries (Δdecayed, missing and filled surface score [permanent] + decayed, missing and filled surface score [primary] >0) at six and twelve months were 18.2 (4.0, 81.7); p <0.001 and 12.6 (3.3, 47.8); p <0.001, respectively. The MI group reported positive behaviours and attitudes.Conclusions CCP was more effective in reducing caries increment when behaviour change technique was incorporated into the preventative strategies as per current paediatric dentistry guidelines.

Consulting a Victorian Aboriginal community about their oral health.

BACKGROUND: The legacy of colonisation, assimilation, racism and victim blaming has created inequality in health for Aboriginal people, reflected in their oral health status. Despite the existence of community dental services, oral disease levels continue to be of concern. This study, initiated by a rural Victorian ACCHO (Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation), aimed to consult their community about the barriers to and enablers of oral health and understand their lived experiences with dental services. METHODS: Using an Aboriginal knowledge framework and collaborative approach involving an Aboriginal researcher and Community Mentor, this study consulted an ACCHO community about their oral health. Following community engagement, 21 community members participated in digitally recorded yarning circles and semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Themes emerging from the data included dental care history and past experiences involving pain and shame, the value of having community-centred services and engagement with patients and the community. DISCUSSION: Experiences of dental care are often related to pain driving attendance resulting in experiences that multiply fear and anxiety. While community-based care was considered a strength, approaches to individual dental care often resulted in increasing shame and diminishing trust. Increasing cultural safety and participatory approaches to designing and delivering dental care may increase engagement and trust. CONCLUSIONS: Important gaps in cultural and clinical understanding between the community and dental service providers have been identified. These findings will be used to inform the delivery of dental services and to develop oral health promotion programs at the ACCHO, and cultural safety preparation for student dental practitioners.

Preparedness for practice of newly qualified dental professionals in Australia - educator, employer, and consumer perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Limited data regarding the perspectives of other observers (i.e. those who educate, employ or receive care from) of new graduates' preparedness to practice is available. The present study aimed to explore perceptions of different observers regarding the preparedness to practice and work readiness of newly qualified dental professionals. This broader range of perspectives is crucial to inform the development of educational programs, including continuing professional development, for newly qualified dental professionals, by clarifying the skills, knowledge and behaviours expected by the dental profession and wider public. RESULTS: Nineteen individual qualitative interviews were undertaken. Interview participants included clinical demonstrators (n = 9; 2 Oral Health Therapists; 5 Dentists; and 2 Prosthetists), dental course convenors (n = 4), representatives of large employers (n = 2), and consumers (n = 4). According to this diverse group of respondents, dental students receive adequate theoretical and evidence-based information in their formal learning and teaching activities, which prepares them for practice as dental professionals. There were no specific clinical areas or procedures where preparedness was highlighted as a major concern. Notwithstanding this, specific graduate skills which would benefit from further training and consolidation were identified, including areas where higher levels of experience would be beneficial. Nonetheless, respondents indicated that new graduates were aware of their limitations and had developed self-discipline and ethics that would allow them to identify conditions/situations where they would not have the experience or expertise to provide care safely. CONCLUSIONS: From an observer perspective, dental students appeared to have gained adequate theoretical and evidence-based information in their formal learning and teaching activities to prepared them to commence practicing safely as dental professionals. Areas were identified in which new graduates were underprepared and when transitional support may be required.

Empathetic, persistent and female: A snapshot of oral health therapy students in Australia and New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION: Dental therapists, hygienists and oral health therapists constitute up to a third of the dental workforce in Australia and New Zealand. Personality is often explored in health professions to provide insights into traits that are conducive to workforce retention and to assist in planning and training. This study aimed to investigate the current demographic and personality characteristics of oral health students in Australia and New Zealand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Students in years one to three of all eight undergraduate Bachelor of Oral Health programs in Australia and New Zealand were invited to complete an online survey. The survey measured activities prior to entering into oral health, career intentions and included a personality questionnaire, the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). RESULTS: Three quarters of participants (n = 336; 30% response rate; females = 90%) were single, from an urban area and 20-29 years of age. Oral health students overall portrayed high trait levels of Persistence and Cooperativeness. Cluster analysis of TCI traits identified three groups. Groups of students with high Persistence and Cooperativeness tended to be older, were working in non-dental and dental careers prior to their degree and were interested in working in regional areas after graduation. CONCLUSIONS: Students with high levels of persistence and cooperativeness were interested in working in regional areas after graduation, highlighting the importance of industriousness and persistence in overcoming barriers to practicing in regional areas. Further research is warranted to investigate barriers and enablers in recruitment and retention of males in a primarily female dominated profession.

What do dental students value about their rural placements-Is clinical experience enough?

OBJECTIVES: Melbourne Dental School's (MDS) rural dental clinical placement program operates in two Victorian rural areas and offers final year dental students an integrated program of practical clinical experience and rural lifestyle exposure. The objective of this study was to understand the student's experiences to determine whether they increased the likelihood of them seeking rural employment after graduation. DESIGN: The University of Melbourne final year dental students attended 5-week mandatory rural clinical placements in 2018 and 2019. At the completion of their placement, students were invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire about their experiences, which had both quantitative and qualitative questions. This study examined the qualitative data using thematic analysis to identify common themes. SETTING: Rural clinical dental placements at Goulburn Valley Health and Latrobe Community Health Service. PARTICIPANTS: Final year Dentistry and Oral Health students. INTERVENTIONS: Clinical placementevaluation questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To examinedentalstudents interest in rural practicepost rural clinical placement. RESULTS: Of the 129 students who completed the survey, 116 completed the open-ended questions and four themes were identified. Rich clinical experience; social capital; rural life and infrastructure. High levels of satisfaction were reported across all themes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the rural clinical program to be a positive and enjoyable placement which increased dental students' clinical practice experience and their interest in considering rural practice upon graduation. Exposure to rural lifestyle and supportive clinical and social relationships were shown to be important influences. The current survey can benefit from refinement and further research following up MDS graduate workplace locations is recommended.

Cultural competence of Australian dental students.

BACKGROUND: Australia possesses a highly multicultural demographic, and thus dental practitioners are likely to regularly encounter culturally and linguistically diverse individuals. It is important for dental practitioners to be culturally competent, however, cultural competency education is highly variable in the curricula of dentistry and oral health courses in Australia, and research is largely limited to dentistry students. This study aims to investigate and compare perceived attitudes, beliefs and practices of cultural competence amongst first and final year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) students at the University of Melbourne Dental School. METHODS: Following ethics approval, anonymous questionnaires were completed by 213 participants. The questionnaire was adapted from Schwarz's Healthcare Provider Cultural Competence Instrument and consisted of five scales. Data was analysed using SPSS V 24.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 213 students participated in this study (response rate = 88%) The majority of participants were female (n = 114, 53.5%) and the mean age of 23.5 years (range 18-40). The majority of participants were Australian born (n = 110) with 74.6% (n = 159) first generation Australians. Participants who identified as Australian represented 35.7% (n = 76) with 66.1% (n = 141) identified as partly Australian. Multivariate analysis indicated that, after controlling for other independent variables in the model, those who had the highest cultural competence score were female, who self-identify as "Australian", who were in the final year. Furthermore, those who were in the final BOH year scored significatively higher than final year DDS students. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that there is a significant difference in students self-reported cultural competence at different stages of their education. This may be attributed to differences in cultural competence education, scope of practice and the type of patient encounters and role modelling that students may experience. Future research should involve follow up to create longitudinal data, as well as research at other dental schools in Australia and overseas.

Oral health promotion practices of Australian community mental health professionals: a cross sectional web-based survey.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the oral health promotion practices of Australian community mental health professionals working with people living with severe mental illness (SMI). METHODS: An anonymous cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed to all Community Rehabilitation and Support Workers (CRSWs) working at Neami National (n = 471), an Australian community mental health service. The validated questionnaire assessed participants' self-rated oral health knowledge and confidence (7 questions); their perceived barriers (9 questions) and attitudes (5 questions) to oral health promotion; and their oral health promotion practices (7 questions). Differences in responses between groups were analysed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests. Logistic Regression Analysis served to explore the probability of providing oral health support to mental health consumers. RESULTS: A total of 141 CRSWs were included in this study, achieving a response rate of 30 percent. Roughly two-fifths (39.0%) of participants had oral health training in the previous 12-months. The majority of CRSWs (89.3%) believed ('Agreed' or 'Strongly agreed') that mental health support workers have a role to play in promoting oral health. However, less than half (44.0%) of CRSWs practiced oral health promotion activities when working with mental health consumers. When asked about barriers to promoting oral health, 'lack of consumer interest' was the most prevalent issue. CRSWs who had oral health training were over three-times (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.25-9.83, p = 0.017) more likely to provide oral health support. Results showed the provision of oral health support was most strongly associated with self-rated knowledge and confidence (OR 4.089, 95% CI 1.629-10.263, p = 0.003) and attitudes to oral health promotion (OR 3.906, 95% CI 1.77-8.65, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that mental health support workers who have more positive attitudes to oral health promotion and who have higher self-rated oral health knowledge and confidence are more likely to provide oral health support in their professional role. Training for community mental health professionals is essential to build confidence and skills to promote oral health for mental health consumers.

Fidelity of motivational interviewing with families in high-caries-risk children.

OBJECTIVES: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a promising behavioural intervention for prevention of dental caries in children. Few studies have reported on fidelity of MI delivered in dental settings. The aim of this paper is to explore the fidelity of implementing MI in a clinical dental practice setting, as part of an intervention study investigating caries-preventive effects of MI delivered to high-caries-risk children and their primary caregivers. METHODS: Three oral health therapy clinicians trained in MI (counsellors) provided MI to high-caries-risk children and their primary caregivers. All MI sessions (n = 34) were audio-recorded and analysed using the MI Treatment Integrity code 4.2.1. Qualitative analysis of counsellor self-reflections identified barriers to MI delivery. RESULTS: All counsellors were found to adhere to the MI process and demonstrated fair to good MI proficiency for global scores, with a mean (95% CI) of 3.3 (3.1-3.4) recorded for technical scores and 3.6 (3.5-3.8) for relational scores. The mean (95% CI) per cent complex reflections was 23% (19.4-27.1) and the mean reflection:question ratio was 0.7 (0.6-0.9). No significant differences were observed between counsellors for MI proficiency. Cultural barriers, environmental distractions, participant dental anxiety and counsellor tendency towards prescriptive advice-giving were identified by counsellors as hindrances to effective MI. CONCLUSIONS: Motivational interviewing is a skill which requires multifaceted training, practice and mentoring to meet accepted proficiency thresholds. Monitoring of MI using a validated tool is essential to ensure delivery as intended and accurately attribute outcomes to the intervention. Dental organizations intending to implement MI for caries prevention should be aware of the demands on time and resources required to deliver proficient MI and monitor fidelity.

The role of community mental health services in supporting oral health outcomes among consumers.

People with a lived experience of mental illness are at a higher risk for developing oral diseases and having poorer oral health than the broader population. This paper explores the role of Australian community mental health services in supporting the prevention and management of poor oral health among people living with mental illness. Through focus groups and semi-structured interviews, participants identified the value of receiving oral health support within a community mental health setting, in particular the delivery of basic education, preventive strategies, assistance with making or attending appointments and obtaining priority access to oral health services. Engagement with Community Health Services and referrals generated through the priority access system were identified as key enablers to addressing oral health issues. This study provides new insight into the importance of undertaking an integrated approach to reducing the oral health disparities experienced by those living with mental illness.

Variations in Australian dental therapy practice by practitioner and workplace characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding dental therapy practice across clinical settings is useful for education and service planning. This study assessed if dental therapy service provision varied according to practitioner and workplace characteristics. METHODS: Members of professional associations representing dental therapists (DT) and oral health therapists (OHT) were posted a self-complete survey collecting practitioner and workplace characteristics, together with clinical activity on a self-selected typical day of practice. Differences in service provision according to characteristics were assessed by comparing mean services per patient visit. Negative binomial regression models estimated adjusted ratios (R) of mean services per patient. RESULTS: The response rate was 60.6%. Of practitioners registered as an OHT or a DT, 80.0% (n = 500) were employed in general clinical practice. Nearly one-third of OHT and nearly two-thirds of DT worked in public sector dental services. Patterns of service provision varied significantly according to practice sector and other characteristics. After adjusting for characteristics, relative to private sector, public sector practitioners had higher provision rates of fissure sealants (R = 3.79, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.84-5.06), restorations (R = 3.78, 95% CI: 2.94-4.86) and deciduous tooth extractions (R = 3.58, 95% CI: 2.60-4.93) per patient visit, and lower provision rates of oral health instruction (R = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76-0.98), fluoride applications (R = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.56), scale and cleans (R = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.34-0.45) and periodontal services (R = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.14-0.28) per patient visit. CONCLUSION: Differences in service provision according to sector indicate that OHT and DT adapt to differing patient groups and models of care. Variations may also indicate that barriers to utilising the full scope of practice exist in some settings.

A review of the global literature on dental therapists.

OBJECTIVE: Access to adequate oral health care is deficient in many parts of the world. Many countries are now using dental therapists to increase access, particularly for children. To inform the discussion on dental therapists in the workforce, particularly in the United States, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded a review of the global literature to identify as many documents as possible related to the practice of dental therapists since the establishment of the School Dental Service in New Zealand in 1921. METHODS: Consultants in each of the countries considered to have a substantive literature on dental therapists were asked to participate in the research; seventeen in total. In addition to identifying and reviewing published articles, a focus of the research was on identifying 'gray' documents. Standard databases were searched for key words associated with dental therapists. In addition, searches were conducted of the governmental and dental association websites of all countries known to have dental therapists in their oral health workforce. RESULTS: Fifty-four countries, both developing and developed, were identified where dental therapists are members of the workforce. Eleven hundred documents were identified from 26 of these countries, with over 2/3 of them cited in the published monograph. Reliable evidence from the related literature and verbal communication confirmed the utilization of dental therapists in an additional 28 countries. Thirty-three of the countries were members of the Commonwealth of Nations, suggesting a mechanism of spread from New Zealand. Variable lengths of training/education existed for dental therapists with the tradition being 2 years postsecondary. In a few countries, the training of therapists and hygienists is now being combined in a three academic year program. Historically, dental therapists have been employed by government agencies caring for children, typically in school-based programs. Initiatives in some countries allow limited care for adults by dental therapists with additional training. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence indicates that dental therapists provide effective, quality, and safe care for children in an economical manner and are generally accepted both by the public and where their use is established, by the dental profession.

Body mass index and dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review of literature published 2004 to 2011.

THE OBJECTIVE: The authors undertook an updated systematic review of the relationship between body mass index and dental caries in children and adolescents. METHOD: The authors searched Medline, ISI, Cochrane, Scopus, Global Health and CINAHL databases and conducted lateral searches from reference lists for papers published from 2004 to 2011, inclusive. All empirical papers that tested associations between body mass index and dental caries in child and adolescent populations (aged 0 to 18 years) were included. RESULTS: Dental caries is associated with both high and low body mass index. CONCLUSION: A non-linear association between body mass index and dental caries may account for inconsistent findings in previous research. We recommend future research investigate the nature of the association between body mass index and dental caries in samples that include a full range of body mass index scores, and explore how factors such as socioeconomic status mediate the association between body mass index and dental caries.

Parental influence and the development of dental caries in children aged 0-6 years: a systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: A well established body of research documents the role of individual factors, such as biology and diet, in the aetiology of early childhood caries (ECC). Recently empirical attention has shifted to the relationships between broader ecological influences (e.g., education, ethnicity and income) and ECC; however, how such determinants interplay in the aetiology of ECC remains unclear. An intermediary mechanism that warrants greater empirical attention is parental influences. This oversight is interesting given the primacy of the parent in governing the child's proximate environment and the likelihood of the child endorsing adaptive or maladaptive health attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. The objective of this paper was to conduct a systematic review of the evidence for parental influences on the development of caries in children aged 0-6 years. DATA: All studies testing associations between dental caries and socio-demographic factors, feeding practices, parent attributes, behaviours, oral health, attitudes, knowledge and beliefs in children aged 0-6 years, published between 2006 and 2011. SOURCE: Medline, ISI, Cochrane, Scopus, Global Health and CINAHL databases. STUDY SELECTION: Fifty-five studies were included from an initial identification of 1805 studies. CONCLUSIONS: To date, most research has focused on the association between caries and socio-demographic and feeding factors with few studies exploring parents' attributes, attitudes, knowledge and beliefs, and none exploring possible pathways between the multiple layers of influences potentially accounting for how determinants of ECC operate and traverse individual, familial, community, and socio-cultural contexts. Collaboration between Psychologists and Dentists may accelerate the identification and understanding of mechanisms that underlie risk associated with ECC.

Oral hygiene and periodontal disease in Victorian nursing homes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate oral hygiene and periodontal disease in residents of Victoria nursing homes. BACKGROUND: The Australian population is ageing with a growing proportion of elderly Australians living in nursing homes. With declining edentulism rates, periodontal disease is becoming more prevalent in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 275 dentate residents from 31 Victorian nursing homes had a questionnaire and clinical examination using the Visual Plaque Index and a modified Community Periodontal Index. RESULTS: Self-reported oral hygiene habits of residents were poor, with less than one-third of residents cleaning their teeth twice daily or more. Periodontal health was found to be extremely poor, and the prevalence of 4 mm+ periodontal pockets was 35.6%, with 10.2% having 6 mm+ pockets. Logistic regression found that age, gender, number of teeth present and oral hygiene were all strongly associated with the prevalence of 4 mm+ periodontal pockets. CONCLUSION: Poor oral hygiene and the presence of significant plaque and calculus were common findings in this study. Periodontal diseases are a significant problem for residents in nursing homes. Addressing this health issue will require improved training for carers and better access to appropriate dental services.

Edentulism and dental caries in Victorian nursing homes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this project was to investigate edentulism and dental caries in nursing home residents in Victoria, Australia. BACKGROUND: The Australian population is ageing with a growing number of people living in nursing homes. These residents are at increased risk for dental caries, have more teeth present now than at any time in the past 50 years and often have difficulty maintaining adequate oral hygiene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical dental examinations were conducted at 31 nursing homes in Melbourne and regional Victoria between May 2005 and June 2006. A total of 510 residents were examined out of 1345 eligible participants. Socio-demographic and medical history was collected via questionnaire. RESULTS: Just over half of the residents were dentate (53.9%), and dentate residents had a mean of 14.4 teeth present and 2.66 untreated decayed teeth. Residents who required total assistance with oral hygiene had more decayed teeth and fewer filled teeth than residents who did not require assistance. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing home residents in Victoria are retaining an increasing number of natural teeth and have more tooth surfaces at risk for dental caries. Untreated dental caries was a significant problem for residents, particularly for those who are dependent on others for their daily oral hygiene care.

The capacity of dental therapists to provide direct restorative care to adults.

INTRODUCTION: In Victoria, dental therapists are restricted to treating patients under the age of 26 years. Removing this age restriction from dental therapists' scope of practice may assist significantly in addressing workforce shortages, particularly in rural Victoria. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the capacity of dental therapists to provide direct coronal restorations (dental fillings) to patients older than 25 years, on the prescription of a dentist. Its objectives include determining the success rate of restorations placed by dental therapists six months post placement; and patients' and dental therapists' satisfaction with the services provided. METHODS: The project was carried out in 2007 at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne. Seven dental therapists participated in the study, placed 356 restorations (115 patients) with the support of a dentist. These restorations were reviewed six-months post placement by dentists blinded as to which restorations were placed by the dental therapists. Patients' age ranged from 26 to 82 years (82% were >40 years). RESULTS: At six months post-treatment, 258 restorations (80 patients) were reviewed. At review, 94.6% of the restorations were successful. Patients and dental therapists were satisfied with the experience. CONCLUSIONS: The standard of restorations provided by dental therapists was considered to be at least similar to that expected of a newly graduated dentist. IMPLICATIONS: Broadening the dental therapists scope of practice would create opportunities to design more flexible 'oral health' clinical teams enabling dentists to provide more complex procedures for patients most in need. This is significant in the public sector and rural areas where workforce shortages are most acute.

Patterns of dental therapists' scope of practice and employment in Victoria, Australia.

In Australia, dental therapists have practiced only within the state-operated School Dental Services (SDS) for around forty years providing preventive, diagnostic, restorative, and health promotion services to children and adolescents in a collaborative and referral relationship with dentists. Changes to legislation in 2000 have seen limits to dental therapists' employment removed, allowing private sector employment. This study examines the changes to dental therapists' employment since 2000 using a self-completed questionnaire with a response rate of 82 percent. Approximately one-third of responding dental therapists reported that they spent some time employed outside the SDS in community health services and private orthodontic and general practices, which indicates an acceptance of this type of dental care provider in these areas. The clinical services that dental therapists are currently providing are a complex mix with significant variations according to type and geographical location of practice, but include high levels of patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and the restoration of teeth. The findings from this study indicate that when legislative restrictions on employment settings are removed, there is a demand and demonstrable role for dental therapist-delivered services in nongovernment dental practices.