Machine Learning to Identify Behavioral Determinants of Oral Health in Inner City Older Hispanic Adults.

We applied machine learning techniques to a community-based behavioral dataset to build prediction models to gain insights about minority dental health and population aging as the foundation for future interventions for urban Hispanics. Our application of machine learning techniques identified emotional and systemic factors such as chronic stress and health literacy as the strongest predictors of self-reported dental health among hundreds of possible variables. Application of machine learning algorithms was useful to build prediction models to gain insights about dental health and minority population aging.

Types of dental fear as barriers to dental care among African American adults with oral health symptoms in Harlem.

To examine the types of dental fear experienced by African American adults and the role of these fears in the utilization of dental care, in-depth interviews were conducted with a street-intercept sample of 118 African Americans living in Harlem, New York City, who had experienced at least one oral health symptom in the past six months. Despite their oral symptoms, participants delayed or avoided dental care (often for years) due to a variety of dental fears, including fears of: 1) pain from needles; 2) the dental drill; 3) having teeth extracted; 4) contracting an illness (e.g., HIV/AIDS) from unsanitary instruments; 5) X-rays; 6) receiving poor quality care or mistreatment. These findings provide insights into the situations that provoke fears about dental treatment among African Americans and suggest strategies to address these fears in order to remove these barriers and increase the utilization of dental care by African American adults.

Insurance-related barriers to accessing dental care among African American adults with oral health symptoms in Harlem, New York City.

Although ability to pay is associated with dental care utilization, provision of public or private dental insurance has not eliminated dental care disparities between African American and White adults. We examined insurance-related barriers to dental care in interviews with a street-intercept sample of 118 African American adults in Harlem, New York City, with recent oral health symptoms. Although most participants reported having dental insurance (21% private, 50% Medicaid), reported barriers included (1) lack of coverage, (2) insufficient coverage, (3) inability to find a dentist who accepts their insurance, (4) having to wait for coverage to take effect, and (5) perceived poor quality of care for the uninsured or underinsured. These findings provide insights into why disparities persist and suggest strategies to removing these barriers to dental care.

Maternal periodontitis treatment and child neurodevelopment at 24 to 28 months of age.

BACKGROUND: Some maternal infections are associated with impaired infant cognitive and motor performance. Periodontitis results in frequent bacteremia and elevated serum inflammatory mediators. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if periodontitis treatment in pregnant women affects infant cognitive, motor, or language development. METHODS: Children born to women who had participated in a previous trial were assessed between 24 and 28 months of age by using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Third Edition) and the Preschool Language Scale (Fourth Edition). Information about the pregnancy, neonatal period, and home environment was obtained through chart abstractions, laboratory test results, and questionnaires. We compared infants born to women treated for periodontitis before 21 weeks' gestation (treatment group) or after delivery (controls). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, associations between change in maternal periodontal condition during pregnancy and neurodevelopment scores were tested by using Student's t tests and linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 411 of 791 eligible mother/caregiver-child pairs participated. Thirty-seven participating children (9.0%) were born at <37 weeks' gestation. Infants in the treatment and control groups did not differ significantly for adjusted mean cognitive (90.7 vs 91.4), motor (96.8 vs 97.2), or language (92.2 vs 92.1) scores (all P > .5). Results were similar in adjusted analyses. Children of women who experienced greater improvements in periodontal health had significantly higher motor and cognitive scores (P = .01 and .02, respectively), although the effect was small (∼1-point increase for each SD increase in the periodontal measure). CONCLUSION: Nonsurgical periodontitis treatment in pregnant women was not associated with cognitive, motor, or language development in these study children.

The role of enrichment programs in strengthening the academic Pipeline to dental education.

Academic enrichment programs can be essential to efforts by dental schools to recruit and enroll underrepresented minority students (URM). Many summer academic enrichment programs provide additional preparation and support to URM students in the sciences. They often address barriers to student achievement such as unevenness in academic preparation, less rigorous educational background, family influence on preparation aspiration and success, unease in a new setting, and lack of professional role models. To be successful, these programs must address both the academic and social complexities of URM students and often require a range of programs to meet the specific needs of different student groups.

Serum inflammatory mediators in pregnancy: changes after periodontal treatment and association with pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) if periodontal treatment in pregnant women before 21 weeks of gestation alters levels of inflammatory mediators in serum; and 2) if changes in these mediators are associated with birth outcomes. METHODS: A total of 823 pregnant women with periodontitis were randomly assigned to receive scaling and root planing before 21 weeks of gestation or after delivery. Serum obtained between 13 and 16 weeks, 6 days (study baseline) and 29 to 32 weeks of gestation was analyzed for C-reactive protein; prostaglandin E(2); matrix metalloproteinase-9; fibrinogen; endotoxin; interleukin (IL)-1 beta, -6, and -8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Cox regression, multiple linear regression, and the t, chi(2), and Fisher exact tests were used to examine associations among the biomarkers, periodontal treatment, and gestational age at delivery and birth weight. RESULTS: A total of 796 women had baseline serum data, and 620 women had baseline and follow-up serum and birth data. Periodontal treatment did not significantly alter the level of any biomarker (P >0.05). Neither baseline levels nor the change from baseline in any biomarker were significantly associated with preterm birth or infant birth weight (P >0.05). In treatment subjects, the change in endotoxin was negatively associated with the change in probing depth (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Non-surgical mechanical periodontal treatment in pregnant women, delivered before 21 weeks of gestation, did not reduce systemic (serum) markers of inflammation. In pregnant women with periodontitis, levels of these markers at 13 to 17 weeks and 29 to 32 weeks of gestation were not associated with infant birth weight or a risk for preterm birth.

Systemic immune responses in pregnancy and periodontitis: relationship to pregnancy outcomes in the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy (OPT) study.

BACKGROUND: Our previous studies reported on the obstetric, periodontal, and microbiologic outcomes of women participating in the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy (OPT) Study. This article describes the systemic antibody responses to selected periodontal bacteria in the same patients. METHODS: Serum samples, obtained from pregnant women at baseline (13 to 16 weeks; 6 days of gestation) and 29 to 32 weeks, were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans), Campylobacter rectus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia (previously T. forsythensis), and Treponema denticola. RESULTS: At baseline, women who delivered live preterm infants had significantly lower total serum levels of IgG antibody to the panel of periodontal pathogens (P = 0.0018), to P. gingivalis (P = 0.0013), and to F. nucleatum (P = 0.0200) than women who delivered at term. These differences were not significant at 29 to 32 weeks. Changes in IgG levels between baseline and 29 to 32 weeks were not associated with preterm birth when adjusted for treatment group, clinical center, race, or age. In addition, delivery of low birth weight infants was not associated with levels of antibody at baseline or with antibody changes during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Live preterm birth is associated with decreased levels of IgG antibody to periodontal pathogens in women with periodontitis when assessed during the second trimester. Changes in IgG antibody during pregnancy are not associated with birth outcomes.

Change in periodontitis during pregnancy and the risk of pre-term birth and low birthweight.

AIM: Determine whether periodontitis progression during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: We used clinical data and birth outcomes from the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy Study, in which randomly selected women received periodontal treatment before 21 weeks of gestation (N=413) or after delivery (410). Birth outcomes were available for 812 women and follow-up periodontal data for 722, including 75 whose pregnancies ended <37 weeks. Periodontitis progression was defined as >or=3 mm loss of clinical attachment. Birth outcomes were compared between non-progressing and progressing groups using the log rank and t tests, separately in all women and in untreated controls. RESULTS: The distribution of gestational age at the end of pregnancy (p>0.1) and mean birthweight (3295 versus 3184 g, p=0.11) did not differ significantly between women with and without disease progression. Gestational age and birthweight were not associated with change from baseline in percentage of tooth sites with bleeding on probing or between those who did versus did not progress according to a published definition of disease progression (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In these women with periodontitis and within this study's limitations, disease progression was not associated with an increased risk for delivering a pre-term or a low birthweight infant.

Increasing minority enrollment utilizing dental admissions workshop strategies.

Oral Health in America, the landmark U.S. surgeon general's report, inextricably connects oral health disparities with poor access to oral care by vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the report associates an insufficiently diverse dental workforce with oral health disparities among some minority groups. Successful strategies to curtail oral health disparities and remedy work-force issues require collaboration among all involved in dental education. As gatekeepers to dental programs, admissions committees are significant stakeholders in diversifying the dental workforce. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that a workshop on diversity in admissions can modify the perceptions of individuals involved in the student recruitment and admissions processes and lead to increased matriculation of underrepresented minority students. Emerging from the workshop were key concepts and action steps for promoting a holistic review of dental applicants. Results since implementing the workshop recommendations have been positive, with underrepresented minority dental student acceptances increasing sixfold. The workshop was cosponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and facilitated by two nationally recognized dental educators.

Examining the safety of dental treatment in pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Although clinicians generally consider it safe to provide dental care for pregnant women, supporting clinical trial evidence is lacking. This study compares safety outcomes from a trial in which pregnant women received scaling and root planing and other dental treatments. METHODS: The authors randomly assigned 823 women with periodontitis to receive scaling and root planing, either at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation or up to three months after delivery. They evaluated all subjects for essential dental treatment (EDT) needs, defined as the presence of moderate-to-severe caries or fractured or abscessed teeth; 351 women received complete EDT at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation. The authors used Fisher exact test and a propensity-score adjustment to compare rates of serious adverse events, spontaneous abortions/stillbirths, fetal/congenital anomalies and preterm deliveries (<37 weeks' gestation) between groups, according to the provision of periodontal treatment and EDT. RESULTS: Rates of adverse outcomes did not differ significantly (P> .05) between women who received EDT and those who did not require this treatment, or between groups that received both EDT and periodontal treatment, either EDT or periodontal treatment alone, or no treatment. Use of topical or local anesthetics during root planing also was not associated with an increased risk of experiencing adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: EDT in pregnant women at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation was not associated with an increased risk of experiencing serious medical adverse events or adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data from larger studies and from groups with other treatment needs are needed to confirm the safety of dental care in pregnant women. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study provides evidence that EDT and use of topical and local anesthetics are safe in pregnant women at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation.

The oral health status of adolescents in northern Manhattan.

Objectives. This study was designed to describe the oral health status of adolescents residing in northern Manhattan. Methods. Clinical, demographic, and behavioral data were collected from 3,282 youths who ranged in age from 12 to 16 years. Clinical examinations were performed by two trained examiners. Demographic and behavioral data were self-reported. Results. The adolescents were predominantly Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American (94%), with 6% falling into other racial categories. Caries were discovered in a significant proportion of these youths (52% of Hispanics, 54% of Blacks and 54% of others). Despite similar caries experiences, the oral health disease burden was not evenly distributed across groups. In many cases, Hispanic youths demonstrated less disease and more frequent engagement in oral health promoting behaviors than their non-Hispanic peers. Gender differences were less consistent. Conclusions. Economically disadvantaged and minority youths, such as those residing in northern Manhattan, continue to be unduly burdened by untreated dental disease. Further, our data suggest that certain subpopulations may be particularly vulnerable to dental disease. This vulnerability underscores the need for accessible services addressing the oral health needs of these segments of the population. Finally, effective community-based oral disease prevention and health promotion programs are sorely needed to improve these youths' oral health.

Increasing the enrollment of underrepresented minority dental students: experiences from the dental pipeline program.

Dental educators have been trying to increase enrollment of underrepresented minority (URM) students for many years with limited success. The Pipeline, Profession, and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education program has developed or been affiliated with several innovative strategies for increasing the enrollment of URM students in U.S. dental schools. In March 2005, three promising approaches were discussed at an American Dental Education Association symposium and are described in this article: 1) collaborative recruitment programs based on groups of regional schools; 2) workshops that focus on the effective operation of admissions committees; and 3) a new summer enrichment program for college students interested in dentistry and medicine.

Treatment of periodontal disease and the risk of preterm birth.

BACKGROUND: Maternal periodontal disease has been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. We studied the effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on preterm birth. METHODS: We randomly assigned women between 13 and 17 weeks of gestation to undergo scaling and root planing either before 21 weeks (413 patients in the treatment group) or after delivery (410 patients in the control group). Patients in the treatment group also underwent monthly tooth polishing and received instruction in oral hygiene. The gestational age at the end of pregnancy was the prespecified primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were birth weight and the proportion of infants who were small for gestational age. RESULTS: In the follow-up analysis, preterm birth (before 37 weeks of gestation) occurred in 49 of 407 women (12.0%) in the treatment group (resulting in 44 live births) and in 52 of 405 women (12.8%) in the control group (resulting in 38 live births). Although periodontal treatment improved periodontitis measures (P<0.001), it did not significantly alter the risk of preterm delivery (P=0.70; hazard ratio for treatment group vs. control group, 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63 to 1.37). There were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups in birth weight (3239 g vs. 3258 g, P=0.64) or in the rate of delivery of infants that were small for gestational age (12.7% vs. 12.3%; odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.58). There were 5 spontaneous abortions or stillbirths in the treatment group, as compared with 14 in the control group (P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of periodontitis in pregnant women improves periodontal disease and is safe but does not significantly alter rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, or fetal growth restriction. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00066131 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

Addressing health care disparities and increasing workforce diversity: the next step for the dental, medical, and public health professions.

The racial/ethnic composition of our nation is projected to change drastically in the coming decades. It is therefore important that the health professions improve their efforts to provide culturally competent care to all patients. We reviewed literature concerning health care disparities and workforce diversity issues--particularly within the oral health field--and provide a synthesis of recommendations to address these issues. This review is highly relevant to both the medical and public health professions, because they are facing similar disparity and workforce issues. In addition, the recent establishment of relationships between oral health and certain systemic health conditions will elevate oral health promotion and disease prevention as important points of intervention in the quest to improve our nation's public health.

Models for delivering school-based dental care.

School-based health centers (SBHCs) often are located in high-need schools and communities. Dental service is frequently an addition to existing comprehensive services, functioning in a variety of models, configurations, and locations. SBHCs are indicated when parents have limited financial resources or inadequate health insurance, limiting options for primary care and preventive services, or within low-access areas such as dental health professional shortage areas. Poor health and concomitantly poor oral health can lead to attendance problems. Oral health services in school-based setting are often the only access to services a child may have. Children who attend schools with SBHCs have immediate access to services that are coordinated with the student'sfamily and school personnel or administrators. Comprehensive services can be collaborative, with support or administration provided by more than 1 organization. For example, the Children's Aid Society (CAS), Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery (CUSDOS), and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health developed, implemented, and currently operate SBHCs in 2 communities in the northern Manhattan section of New York City (Central Harlem and Washington-Heights/Inwood). The clinics operate in or are affiliated with public schools in New York City. All CAS and Columbia University sites include dental components, using a variety of delivery models. Determining which dental delivery system to use for a particular community or population is a complex decision. The models, reasons for selection, and sustainability of each system are described.

Cultural diversity and its role in reducing oral health disparities.

African-American, Hispanic and Native-American/Alaskan Native dental students and professionals are often referred to as underrepresented minorities (URMs) because of their poor representation in the profession compared to their proportion in the U.S. population. Disparities in oral health services may, in part, be attributable to minority and economically disadvantaged patients' lack of confidence in the dental profession's ability to provide care in a culturally sensitive manner. Increasing diversity within the oral health workforce is one way to address this perception. However, an effective remedy will require all oral health professionals to devote additional attention to diversity and cultural competency issues.

Dental caries experience in northern Manhattan adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The study sought to document dental caries among adolescents residing in northern Manhattan, New York, by race, sex, and community. METHODS: Clinical and demographic data were collected from children aged 12-17 years at five school-based dental clinics in northern Manhattan. Data on dental caries were collected by calibrated examiners using the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research criteria for oral examinations. RESULTS: A total of 566 children participated in the study. They were predominantly Hispanic (64%) or African American (28%). Compared to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, mean DMFT (3.36 vs 2.53; P<.01) and the prevalence of untreated disease (36% vs 16%; P<.01) were significantly higher for northern Manhattan adolescents. Of the adolescents evaluated, 13 percent had at least one severely carious tooth with pulpal involvement that required either extraction or endodontic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents in northern Manhattan have higher caries prevalence and higher levels of untreated caries than their national counterparts. Carious lesions progress to pulpal involvement in a high percentage of northern Manhattan children and require extraction or root canal therapy as treatment. There is an urgent need for affordable and available dental primary care services targeted to economically disadvantaged communities.

Dental caries among disadvantaged 3- to 4-year-old children in northern Manhattan.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC), untreated caries, and the ratio of posterior to anterior caries in a disadvantaged predominantly Hispanic or African-American urban population. Data are compared to NHANES III to assess the caries burden in our cohort. Comparisons are made to the aggregate and to minorities within the national database. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for children enrolled in a Head Start or day care program in the communities of Washington-Heights and Central and East Harlem and seen on the community organization's mobile dental van between 1995 and 1997. The study included only children 3 to 4 years of age at the initial examination (n=1,605). A single examiner provided all the examinations. The mean number of decayed and filled surfaces (dfs), decayed surfaces (ds) and filled surfaces (fs), the percentage of decayed of total decayed and filled surfaces (%d/dfs), decayed and filled teeth (dft), decayed teeth (dt) and filled teeth (ft), and the percentage of decayed of total decayed and filled teeth (%d/dft) were calculated. Posterior vs anterior d, f, dft, dfs and d-anterior/total d, and d-posterior/total d were tabulated. Northern Manhattan data was tabulated and compared to NHANES III (1988-1994) in the aggregate and for subpopulations categorized by gender and ethnicity. All results are also reported for children with at least one decayed or filled tooth. T-tests were used to assess for significant differences. RESULTS: There was even representation of males (50%) and females (50%). Mean dft was 1.08 overall, and 3.14 for children with dft>0. The level of untreated decay, %d/ dft, was 91%, significantly higher than the US national population which is 76% overall, and 76% for African Americans and Mexican Americans within the US national population. CONCLUSIONS: The children in this population have higher caries prevalence and a higher level of untreated caries than the national means as reported in NHANES III. The high level of untreated decay found in this particularly disadvantaged community suggests that enhanced dental services targeting the very young are needed in these communities.