The effect of individuals' oral hygiene habits and knowledge levels on peri-implant health and disease: a questionnaire-based observational study.

BACKGROUND: Peri-implant disease and health are associated with microbial dental plaque. Therefore, oral hygiene plays a role in preventing and treating these diseases. This study aimed to determine the relationships among knowledge of peri-implant status, oral hygiene habits, and peri-implant disease and health. METHODS: A total of 144 implants in nonsmokers with controlled systemic disease were included in the study. Peri-implant disease and the conditions of the implants were determined with periodontal indices and radiographs based on the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions and The EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. Individuals were asked 66 questions regarding demographic information, oral hygiene habits and history, and knowledge of peri-implant diseases. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the three peri-implant disease and condition categories. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between groups regarding toothpaste type (p < 0.05). Gum protection toothpaste was greater in the peri-implant health group. Patients' use of interdental products was very low; often, no products were used for implant prosthesis. There was no significant difference among the groups regarding oral hygiene product use or oral hygiene habits (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference between groups regarding frequency of visit (p < 0.05). The frequency of visits to the dentist for pain was greater for individuals with peri-implantitis. There is a significant difference between the groups' answers for the causative and initiating factors of peri-implant disease (p < 0.05). The peri-implant health group answered that microbial dental plaque is the most crucial initiating factor of peri-implant diseases, and bleeding on probing is the most critical determinant of peri-implant diseases at a higher rate than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' oral hygiene habits and knowledge levels are almost similar according to peri-implant status. Knowledge does not reflect a patient's oral hygiene behavior. Clinicians should ensure that individuals' oral hygiene practices align with their increased awareness regarding peri-implant illnesses.

Preoperative oral hygiene treatment reduces bacterial transport and colonization during intubation for orthopedic surgery.

PURPOSE: The process of infection by bacteria and viruses involves invasion, establishment, growth, and parasitization. Poor oral hygiene and dysbiosis are significant risk factors for pneumonia. The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial transport into the trachea during intubation for orthopedic surgery and the impact of oral hygiene treatment. METHODS: The study cohort included 53 patients with fracture who underwent surgical procedures under general anesthesia and were divided into two groups: an oral hygiene treatment (OHT) group (n = 27) and a control group (n = 26). Before intubation, the OHT group underwent preoperative oral hygiene treatment. Microbiological culture was used for detection and counting of bacteria from the oropharynx, trachea, and tip of the endotracheal tube (ETT). RESULTS: Patients in the OHT group had a lower pathogen detection rate and lower degree of bacterial colonization in the oropharynx, trachea, and ETT tip. CONCLUSION: Preoperative oral hygiene treatment is able to reduce bacterial transport and colonization during orthopedic surgery, thus providing an important adjunct to pre-anesthesia care.

Integrating community service-learning into a dental hygiene curriculum: a document analysis.

Background: Community service-learning (CSL) aims to promote civic engagement among students and deepen their understanding of social issues, connecting students to communities where they may practise as future health care providers. This study's aims were two-fold: first, to determine whether incorporating a non-dental community service-learning experience into a fourth-year behavioural science course can develop abilities related to the dental hygiene baccalaureate competencies; second, to examine the overall student learning experience. Methods: Seven community agencies presented projects to the dental hygiene class, and students individually selected their top 3 choices. Projects were diverse, ranging from literacy tutoring to creating a program plan or hosting a public virtual event with an interprofessional health panel discussing nutrition. Dental hygiene students participated in a 20-hour placement with one community project and completed individual reflection journals that focused on their experience. Using a document analysis approach, the authors examined the reflection journals through an iterative process to identify themes. Results: Ten student reflections were analysed and three themes emerged: 1) increased social awareness; 2) application of dental hygiene core competencies; and 3) the challenges of the learning experience. Students consistently discussed how the project allowed them to apply 5 dental hygiene core competencies and how their learning experience aligned with their future professional role as a dental hygienist. Students articulated increased understanding of their individual privilege and awareness of social issues in their community. Conclusions: Participation in non-dental CSL increased dental hygiene students' social awareness of local communities. Students demonstrated an ability to apply their learning to their developing competencies as future dental hygienists.

Contexte : L'apprentissage axé sur les services communautaires vise à promouvoir l'engagement civique des étudiants et à approfondir leur compréhension des enjeux sociaux, en mettant les étudiants en contact avec les communautés où ils peuvent exercer en tant que futurs fournisseurs de soins de santé. Cette étude avait 2 objectifs : premièrement, déterminer si l'intégration d'une expérience d'apprentissage par service communautaire non dentaire à un cours de quatrième année de science du comportement peut permettre de développer des capacités liées aux compétences du baccalauréat en hygiène dentaire; deuxièmement, examiner l'expérience d'apprentissage globale de l'étudiant. Méthodes : Pour l'étude, 7 organismes communautaires ont présenté des projets à la classe d'hygiène dentaire et les étudiants ont chacun sélectionné leurs 3 premiers choix. Les projets étaient diversifiés, allant du tutorat en alphabétisation à la création d'un plan de programme ou à l'organisation d'un événement public virtuel avec un panel interprofessionnel de la santé qui discutait de la nutrition. Les étudiants en hygiène dentaire ont participé à un stage de 20 heures dans le cadre d'un projet communautaire et ont consigné leurs réflexions dans un journal individuel axé sur leur expérience. À l'aide d'une approche d'analyse documentaire, les auteurs ont examiné les journaux de réflexion lors d'un processus itératif pour cerner les thèmes. Résultats : Les réflexions de 10 étudiants ont été analysées et 3 thèmes sont ressortis : 1) une sensibilisation sociale accrue; 2) l'application des compétences de base en hygiène dentaire; et 3) les défis de l'expérience d'apprentissage. Les étudiants ont systématiquement discuté de la façon dont le projet leur a permis d'appliquer 5 compétences de base en hygiène dentaire et de la façon dont l'expérience d'apprentissage s'harmonisait avec leur futur rôle professionnel d'hygiéniste dentaire. Les élèves ont noté une meilleure compréhension de leurs privilèges individuels et une meilleure sensibilisation aux enjeux sociaux dans leur communauté. Conclusion : La participation à un apprentissage axé sur les services communautaires non dentaires a accru la sensibilisation sociale des étudiants en hygiène dentaire aux communautés locales. Ils ont démontré leur capacité à appliquer leur apprentissage à leurs compétences en développement en tant que futurs hygiénistes dentaires.

Nation-wide survey of oral care practice in Japanese intensive care units: A descriptive study.

Oral care for critically ill patients helps provide comfort and prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, a standardized protocol for oral care in intensive care units is currently unavailable. Thus, this study aimed to determine the overall oral care practices, including those for intubated patients, in Japanese intensive care units. We also discuss the differences in oral care methods between Japanese ICUs and ICUs in other countries. This study included all Japanese intensive care units meeting the authorities' standard set criteria, with a minimum of 0.5 nurses per patient at all times and admission of adult patients requiring mechanical ventilation. An online survey was used to collect data. Survey responses were obtained from one representative nurse per intensive care unit. Frequency analysis was performed, and the percentage of each response was calculated. A total of 609 hospitals and 717 intensive care units nationwide participated; among these, responses were collected from 247 intensive care units (34.4%). Of these, 215 (87.0%) and 32 (13.0%) reported standardized and non-standardized oral care, respectively. Subsequently, the data from 215 intensive care units that provided standardized oral care were analyzed in detail. The most common frequency of practicing oral care was three times a day (68.8%). Moreover, many intensive care units provided care at unequal intervals (79.5%), mainly in the morning, daytime, and evening. Regarding oral care methods, 96 (44.7%) respondents used only a toothbrush, while 116 (54.0%) used both a toothbrush and a non-brushing method. The findings of our study reveal current oral care practices in ICUs in Japan. In particular, most ICUs provide oral care three times a day at unequal intervals, and almost all use toothbrushes as a common tool for oral care. The results suggest that some oral care practices in Japanese ICUs differ from those in ICUs in other countries.

Factors associated with oral hygiene compliance in patients treated with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients who are oral hygiene noncompliant (OHNC) are more likely to lose teeth after radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC), which increases the risk of developing osteoradionecrosis. A previous study revealed that patients who were OHNC at baseline (BL) who became oral hygiene compliant during follow-up had the best tooth-failure outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with oral hygiene compliance (OHC), overall, and among those who were BL OHNC. METHODS: This was an observational, prospective, cohort study of 518 patients with HNC assessed before RT and at post-RT follow-up visits every 6 months for 2 years. Patient and treatment-related information was collected at BL and during follow-up, including self-reported OHC. OHC was defined as toothbrushing at least twice daily and flossing at least once daily. RESULTS: Of the 296 patients who self-reported being BL OHNC, 44 (14.9%) became oral hygiene compliant at all follow-up visits. Among this group, those who had dental insurance (P = .026), surgery before RT (P = .008), limited mouth opening before RT (P = .001), compliant fluoride use (P = .023), primary RT site of oral cavity (P = .004), and primary surgical site of larynx and hypopharynx (P = .042) were more likely to become oral hygiene compliant post-RT. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons for the cohort of patients with HNC in this study being OHNC are multifaceted and relate to socioeconomic factors and cancer characteristics. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Finding ways to increase OHC and fluoride use among patients with HNC who are at greatest risk of being OHNC should be explored.

How often should implant-supported full-arch dental prostheses be removed for supportive peri-implant care to maintain peri-implant health? A systematic review.

PURPOSE: To systematically screen and summarise the available literature on when and how often it is advisable to perform supportive peri-implant care on implant-supported full-arch dental prostheses to maintain peri-implant health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes tool. A literature search was conducted on PubMed for randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and cohort studies, reporting results on supportive peri-implant care for full-arch dental prostheses with a follow-up period of at least 1 year. The studies were selected in a blind process with an agreement rate of 100%. For all the included studies, quality assessment was performed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. RESULTS: The application of the search terms on PubMed led to the selection of 915 results. Only 11 studies were included in the review. Eight of these reported the frequency of supportive peri-implant care, and three detailed the procedures adopted. The number of patients included ranged from 15 to 85, with a mean age from 60.4 to 68.4 years. None of the included studies were judged to be at low risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of implant-supported prostheses is a crucial aspect in the long-term care of patients rehabilitated with full-arch restorations. Although no specific indications can be drawn with respect to the frequency at which supportive peri-implant care should be delivered and the regime used to do so, practitioners should consider performing professional oral hygiene measures every 6 months and removing prostheses at least once per year. All interventions should be tailored to the patient's risk profile and characteristics.

Powered or manual toothbrushes for people with disabilities - which is better?

DESIGN: A systematic review. AIM: Assess the effectiveness of manual toothbrushes (MTB) and powered toothbrushes (PTB) for people with physical or intellectual disabilities. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: The following data sources (MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL and EMBASE) were searched from the date of creation to February 2022 for papers which met the inclusion criteria. There were no language limitations set. The included studies were then hand-searched for relevant studies to be included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers screened the studies from the searches using Rayyan web application (Artificial-Intelligence search engine). Studies which met the inclusion criteria were selected. The studies were independently screened for the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Disagreement was resolved by discussion and consensus, or by a third party. Studies were then classified as low/moderate/high risk of bias. Analysis was performed on four subgroups; individual performing the brushing - (1) caregiver or (2) participant, main disability of the participant - (3) physical or (4) intellectual disability. Due to insufficient numerical data, a descriptive analysis was completed in place of the planned meta-analysis. RESULTS: In total, 16 publications were included within the results. There was no significant difference between manual or powered toothbrushing in both disability groups for the removal of plaque or gingival health. This applied to both self-brushing and caregiver brushing. CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant difference between powered and manual toothbrushes for effective oral hygiene maintence for people with physical or intellectual disabilities.

Anamnestic risk factors for erosive tooth wear: Systematic review, mapping, and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Erosive tooth wear is a multifactorial condition. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify key risk factors for erosive tooth wear in permanent dentition. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies reporting anamnestic risk factors for erosive tooth wear. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cross-sectional studies. Risk factors were visually presented in a heatmap, and where possible, random-effects meta-analyses were performed for the odds ratios (ORs) of risk factors. SOURCES: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) and manual searches in February 2023. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD4202339776). DATA: A total of 87 publications reporting on 71 studies were included in the systematic review. The studies examined a variety of anamnestic risk factors (n = 80) that were categorized into ten domains (socio-demographics, socio-economics, general health, oral diseases, medication, oral hygiene, food, beverages, dietary habits, and leisure-related risk factors). Meta-analyses revealed significant associations between erosive tooth wear and male gender (padj.<0.001; OR=1.30, 95 % CI: 1.16-1.44), regurgitation (padj.=0.033; OR=2.27, 95 % CI: 1.41-3.65), digestive disorders (padj.<0.001; OR=1.81, 95 % CI: 1.48-2.21), consumption of acidic foods (padj.=0.033; OR=2.40, 95 % CI: 1.44-4.00), seasoning sauces (padj.=0.003; OR=1.28, 95 % CI: 1.13-1.44), nutritional supplements (padj.=0.019; OR=1.73, 95 % CI: 1.28-2.35), and carbonated drinks (padj.=0.019; OR=1.43, 95 % CI: 1.17-1.75). Most included studies exhibited low bias risk. CONCLUSIONS: Observational studies investigated a variety of anamnestic risk factors for erosive tooth wear. Future studies should employ validated questionnaires, particularly considering the most important risk factors. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Erosive tooth wear is a prevalent condition. Clinicians should concentrate primarily on symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and dietary factors when screening patients at risk for erosive tooth wear.

Mouthguard-Type Wearable Sensor for Monitoring Salivary Turbidity to Assess Oral Hygiene.

Salivary turbidity is a promising indicator for evaluating oral hygiene. This study proposed a wearable mouthguard-type sensor for continuous and unconstrained measurement of salivary turbidity. The sensor evaluated turbidity by measuring the light transmittance of saliva with an LED and a phototransistor sealed inside a double-layered mouthguard. The sensor was also embedded with a Bluetooth wireless module, enabling the wireless measurement of turbidity. The mouthguard materials (polyethylene terephthalate-glycol and ethylene-vinyl acetate) and the wavelength of the LED (405 nm) were experimentally determined to achieve high sensitivity in salivary turbidity measurement. The turbidity quantification characteristic of the proposed sensor was evaluated using a turbidity standard solution, and the sensor was capable of turbidity quantification over a wide dynamic range of 1-4000 FTU (formazine turbidity unit), including reported salivary turbidity (400-800 FTU). In vitro turbidity measurement using a saliva sample showed 553 FTU, which is equivalent to the same sample measured with a spectrophotometer (576 FTU). Moreover, in vivo experiments also showed results equivalent to that measured with a spectrophotometer, and wireless measurement of salivary turbidity was realized using the mouthguard-type sensor. Based on these results, the proposed mouthguard-type sensor has promising potential for the unconstrained continuous evaluation of oral hygiene.

Efficacy of Visual Oral Health Reinforcement in Reducing Plaque Accumulation and Gingival Bleeding: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

AIM: To compare oral hygiene (OH) differences during verbal or video OH instructions with or without images displaying poor oral health consequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one healthy females (18-30 years) were randomly and equally divided into three intervention OH instruction groups: (1) verbal, (2) video-based, (3) video-based with image displaying the consequences of poor OH. Gingival bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival bleeding index (BI), and plaque score (PS) were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks. Within- and between-group differences were assessed by non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Plaque score only showed a statistical group difference after follow-up [H(2) = 9.214, p = 0.01]. The post hoc test revealed that group III showed a significantly lower PS than groups I and II (p = 0.04 and p = 0.017, respectively). No differences were observed in PS between groups I and II. Group I showed no follow-up reduction in PS, BI, and BOP, while group II showed a statistically significant reduction in BI only after follow-up (p = 0.028). However, group III showed a statistically significant reduction in BOP and PS (p = 0.023 and p = 0.045, respectively) but not BI. CONCLUSIONS: Verbal and video-alone OH instructions similarly affect gingival health, while participants who were exposed to images displaying the severe OH consequences had lower PS than verbal or video-alone groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The mode of OH instructions is not influential for optimum oral health. However, employing visuals highlighting the severe consequences of poor OH leads to short-term reduction of plaque accumulation. How to cite this article: Aleid AA, Alnowaiser A, AlSakakir A, et al. Efficacy of Visual Oral Health Reinforcement in Reducing Plaque Accumulation and Gingival Bleeding: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(2):186-190.

Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Poor oral hygiene affects the overall health and quality of life. However, the oral hygiene practice in rural communities and contributing factors are not well documented. Accordingly, this study was conducted to assess oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1190 households. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire, prepared based on a review of relevant literature. The questionnaire comprises socio-demographic information, access to health and hygiene messages, oral hygiene practices, and water quality. We assessed oral hygiene practices with these criteria: mouth wash with clean water in every morning, mouth wash with clean water after eating, brushing teeth regularly, and avoiding gum pricking. Gum pricking in this study is defined as sticking needles or wires into gums to make the gums black for beauty. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with oral hygiene practices. Significant associations were declared on the basis of adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-values < 0.05. RESULTS: Results showed that all the family members usually washed their mouth with clean water in everyday morning and after eating in 65.2% and 49.6% of the households, respectively. Furthermore, 29.9% of the households reported that all the family members regularly brushed their teeth using toothbrush sticks and one or more of the family members in 14.5% of the households had gum pricking. Overall, 42.9% (95% CI: 39.9, 45.6%) of the households had good oral hygiene practices. Health and/or hygiene education was associated with good oral hygiene practices in the area (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.21). CONCLUSION: More than half of the households had poor oral hygiene practices in the area and cleaning of teeth with toothpastes is not practiced in the area, where as gum pricking is practiced in more than one-tenth of the households. The local health department needs provide community-level oral health education/interventions, such as washing mouth with clean water at least twice a day, teeth brushing using indigenous methods such as toothbrush sticks or modern methods such as toothpastes, and avoiding gum pricking to promote oral health.

Entrevista motivacional como estrategia de mejoramiento de la salud bucal de niños y cuidadores. Revisión en sombrilla / Motivational interviewing as a strategy to improve the oral health of children and caregivers. Umbrella review

Objetivo: demostrar la efectividad de la entrevista motivacional (EM) en el mejoramiento de algunos indicadores de salud bucal en niños de 0 a 12 años y sus cuidadores. Material y métodos: estudio de revisión en sombrilla (umbrella review). Se realizó búsqueda en bases de datos electrónicas (PubMed, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EBSCO) y Google Scholar desde el año 2010 hasta el año 2020, con las siguientes palabras clave: ('motivational interviewing' OR 'motivational interview' OR 'motivational interviewing style' OR 'motivational intervention' OR 'motivational counseling' OR 'brief motivational counseling' OR 'maternal counseling' OR 'behavioral intervention') AND (“caries” OR 'dental caries' OR 'tooth decay' OR 'dental decay' OR 'carious lesions' OR 'DMFT index' OR “ICDAS”) AND ('gingival diseases' OR “gingivitis” OR “CPITN” OR 'gingival bleeding' OR 'dental calculus') AND (“children” OR “families” OR “caregivers”). Se incluyeron artículos originales sobre la efectividad de la entrevista motivacional en salud bucal (EMSB) en niños de hasta 12 años y cuidadores, tipo revisión sistemática de la literatura y metanálisis, desde el año 2010 hasta el 2020. Resultados: 69 artículos (2 revisiones sistemáticas y 4 metanálisis). Los indicadores encontrados fueron: cambios en la presentación de caries de la infancia temprana, higiene bucal, condiciones gingivales y frecuencia de visitas a la consulta odontológica, con resultados alentadores y, en otros, contradictorios. Conclusiones: la evidencia sobre la efectividad de la entrevista motivacional en comparación con la educación convencional muestra cambios positivos en indicadores de salud bucal, como mejoramiento de la higiene dental y de la presentación de la caries en la primera infancia. (AU)

Objective: to demonstrate, the effectiveness of motivational interviewing in improving oral health indicators in children aged 0 to 12 years and their caregivers. Material and method: an umbrella review design. Search in electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EBSCO) and Google Scholar since 2010 to 2020, with the following keywords: ('Motivational interviewing' OR 'motivational interview' OR 'motivational interviewing style' OR 'motivational intervention' OR 'motivational counseling' OR 'brief motivational counseling' OR 'maternal counseling' OR 'behavioral intervention') AND (“caries” OR 'dental caries' OR 'tooth decay' OR 'dental decay' OR 'carious lesions' OR 'DMFT index' OR “ICDAS”) AND ('gingival diseases' OR “gingivitis” OR “CPITN” OR 'gingival bleeding' OR 'dental calculus') AND (“children” OR “families” OR “caregivers”), original articles on the effectiveness of motivational interviewing in oral health (EMSB) in children between 0 and 12 years of age and caregivers, type systematic review of the literature and metaanalysis. Results: 69 articles were found (2 systematic reviews and 4 metaanalysis). The indicators found: change in early childhood caries, oral hygiene, gingival conditions and frequency of visits to the dental office with promise results and others contradictories. Conclusion: the evidence on the effectiveness of motivational interviewing compared to conventional education shows positive changes in oral health indicators such as improvement in dental hygiene and the presentation of caries in early childhood, among others. (AU)

The oral health impact of dental hygiene and dental therapy populations: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is pivotal in patient care, reflecting oral health through dental patient-reported outcomes (dPROs). This systematic review aims to outline the 4-dimensional (4-D) impact of OHRQoL within patient populations routinely treated by dental hygiene and/or dental therapy providers, as there is limited literature present for these oral health care professionals. METHODS: The study extracted and analyzed characteristics and multidimensional impact of OHRQoL, using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) as the primary dental patient-reported outcome measure (dPROM). The search strategy spanned 7 databases: Medline via the Ovid interface (Ovid MEDLINE(R) ALL), Embase via Ovid, Cinahl, APA PsycINFO via Ovid, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Search, Scopus, and Web of Science (Core Collection). It commenced September 2, 2022, with a refinement search on July 5, 2023. English language criteria yielded 645 articles postduplication removal. A screening procedure involving 3 reviewers encompassed title, abstract, and full-text review. RESULTS: After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 5 articles were subjected to data extraction, capturing domain-specific information including baseline and follow-up OHRQoL data. An additional set of 13 articles containing summarized OHRQoL data underwent separate analysis. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools were utilized for risk bias assessment of the included articles. The 4-D impact scores reported for baseline OHRQoL data, ranged from 3.10 to 4.20 for Oral Function, 0.84-2.70 for Orofacial Pain, 1.70-4.50 for Orofacial Appearance, and 0.44-2.50 for Psychosocial Impact. In follow-up OHRQoL data, the range for Oral Function was 1.52-3.60, Orofacial Pain 0.60-2.10, Orofacial Appearance 0.91-2.25, and Psychosocial Impact 0.10-0.60. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights a critical call for standardization in OHRQoL data collection for dental hygiene and dental therapy patient populations as only 26% of the predetermined distinct populations were found to have studies completed with 4-D impact of OHRQoL. Moreover, the presence of limited research in describing the multi-dimensional impact in patients routinely treated by these providers shows the urgency of substantive research in this area.

Dental implant failure possibly attributed to embedded pencil graphite: first clinical report.

Implant failures have been associated with a diversity of etiologic processes, predominately arising from bone loss (peri-implantitis) due to inadequate maintenance of oral hygiene or excess luting agents. The aim of this article is to report a novel case of the apparent failure of a dental implant to undergo osseointegration in the presence of submerged pencil graphite. Practitioners are advised to carefully evaluate the clinical and radiographic site of a proposed implant for occult foreign substances. Embedded pencil graphite in the jawbone may promote a foreign body reaction and should be considered in the list of possible contributing factors to dental implant complications.

A new way to approach ASD children in Dentistry.

AIM: To present an innovative dental approach for children with autism spectrum disorder to the scientific community, along with the 3 questionnaires formulated to evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: Development of the 3 questionnaires occurred in five stages: observation of the behaviours of ADS children and their caregivers attending the Dental Department in the year 2021; issues detection: anxiety in parents, crying, difficulty in waiting and hyperactivity of the children, fear of both parents and children; formulation of the questionnaires in order to obtain all the information necessary to assess the patient's psychological well-being; validation with submission of the questionnaires to two specialists; modification and final drafting. CONCLUSION: Using the 3 questionnaires, the dentist will be able to assess the wellbeing of the patient and his/her family when attending the dental environment, monitor oral hygiene manoeuvres and verify the usefulness of the orthodontic approach to ADS child while creating a trusting relationship with the patient and his/her caregivers.

Dental Hygiene Students' Knowledge, Understanding and Intended Use of Caries Preventive Regimens and Community Water Fluoridation.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine dental hygiene students' perspectives regarding their knowledge and understanding about caries prevention strategies and their intention to use these regimens in clinical practice. Dental hygienists' knowledge and understanding of caries prevention is critical because they are the primary providers of these regimens and the relevant education.Methods This 2019 national cross-sectional online survey was designed by the University of Maryland (UMD), structured by the ADA staff for online administration, distributed and collected by the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) to 9533 email addresses, and de-identified response data were analyzed by UMD. The survey included questions on three caries preventive regimens: fluoride varnish, dental sealants, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and items on community water fluoridation (CWF), respondent's demographics and intent to use the regimens. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Significance was set at p<0.05.Results Of the 235 surveys returned (response rate 2.5%) the majority were female, White and born in the United States. Over half were in associate degree programs; nearly a third were in baccalaureate programs. Respondents reported greater knowledge/understanding and intention to use fluoride varnish and dental sealants than SDF. Less than half (44.7%) reported knowledge/understanding of SDF and only 22.6% had a high level of confidence regarding applying it. Additionally, only 31.1% indicated they were extremely likely to use SDF upon graduation.Conclusions To reduce the prevalence of caries, dental hygiene graduates must be well-versed with the latest science-based preventive procedures, including non-invasive caries prevention and control therapies. The results of this survey, albeit non representative of the general population of dental hygiene students, suggest a need for a more extensive review of the caries preventive regimen content, especially for silver diamine fluoride, of dental hygiene curricular programs.

[A preliminary study on compliance of supportive treatment of patients with periodontitis after implant restoration therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To find out factors influencing the compliance of supportive treatment of patients with periodontitis who have received implant restoration therapy. METHODS: Patients who had completed periodontal and implant restoration treatment for more than 5 years in Department of Periodontology, Peking University Hospital of Stomatology were subjected to inclusion between March 2022 and August 2023.A questionnaire was compiled to gather the information including patients ' basic information (gender, age, and educational background etc.), smoking habits, general health conditions, oral hygiene habits, willingness to undertake periodontal and dental implant supportive treatment, actual fact on supportive treatment recorded in medical records, whether medical advices were correctly remembered, and reasons affected them to implement supportive therapy. The questionnaires were handed out to the above patients and filled during the process of follow-up treatment. Chi-square test, univariate and multivariate analysis of Logistic regression were employed to explore the correlations of these factors and the patients' compliance. RESULTS: In the study, 92 patients and questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The results indicated that oral hygiene habits and whether medical advices were correctly remembered had significant correlation with compliance (P < 0.05). Time constraint (47.0%) and difficulty in appointment registration (24.8%) were the top 2 reasons obstructed them to undertake supportive treatment. Although the vast majority of the patients indicated willingness to perform follow-ups, 55.4% of them wouldn't come back until the dentist called them back. The results of our study also indicated that the patients placed significantly less importance on the health of natural teeth than implants. CONCLUSION: In order to improve the compliance of supportive treatment, we suggest that dentists should put more emphasis on oral hygiene instruction, and knowledge regarding periodontitis should also be added as part of patient education contents. In the early stages of treatment, the patient should develop the habit of regular follow-up checks, More attention and patience should be given to elderly patients and those with lower level of education; use language that is easy to understand and printed medical instructions to help them remember. Patients can memorize better from refined doctors' advice, reinforcing care knowledge and refining medical advices can promote better follow-up treatment results. Motivating patients based on their characteristics is critical to improving compliance.

Evaluation of oral-health related knowledge and attitudes among mothers of children under 4 years old.

AIM: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of mothers of children under 4 years old about oral health in Turkey. MATERIALS: This study is a cross-sectional questionnaire submitted to 401 mothers with children aged under of 4 years who came to the Pediatric Dentistry Clinics of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa and Altinbas University Faculty of Dentistry. The questionnaire comprised of 3 sections with total of 33 closed questions regarding socio-demographic information and knowledge and attitudes of the mothers about the oral health of their children. The independent t-test and the Pearson's correlation test were used. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it has been noted that mothers who regularly visit the dentist have a greater understanding of oral hygiene. Additionally, mothers who possess knowledge about oral care are more likely to prioritize scheduling appointments for their children with a paediatric dentist for check-up purposes.