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Background: Patients with high dental anxiety are found to visit dental offices less frequently and have a higher number of severely diseased teeth so they are at a greater need for intensive oral care and rehabilitation., Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental anxiety and its impact on the dental status of Nepali adult patients., Material and Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in the Nepali version was used for data collection. The data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS IBM, Chicago, IL, USA, version 24). Variables were calculated as frequency and percentage, while the comparisons of different factors were done using the ANOVA and t-test. A difference with p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: The study population consisted of 446 subjects, among them 205 were male (45.96%), 241 were female (54.04%), 357 (80.04%) were married, and 222 (49.78%) were employed. The mean age of the patients was 41.24 years (ranging between 18 and 79 years). Only 41 subjects (9.19%) showed high dental anxiety (MDAS ≥ 19). The mean MDAS for the total study population was 10.81. The highest mean MDAS was seen in the age group 30-39 (11.78) and the lowest mean MDAS was seen in the age group 40-49 (9.64). While comparing dental anxiety among genders, dental anxiety was higher in females (mean MDAS = 11.78) compared to males (mean MDAS = 9.67). Patients having high dental anxiety had a significantly higher number of decayed teeth (p-value = 0.001, t-test)., Conclusion: Oral health and dental status both are negatively affected by dental anxiety. It interferes with dental attendance, service delivery, prevention of dental diseases, and early diagnosis. Thus, dental practitioners have a major role to play in the management of dental anxiety., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: An aging population, combined with increasing tooth retention, could significantly impact the dental care delivery system. The purpose of this study was to assess self-reported oral health and the factors associated with oral health outcomes among a random sample of older adults in Washington State. Methods: A telephone survey of adults 55+ years was used to collect information on factors associated with oral health, plus four outcome variables; substantial tooth loss (6+ teeth lost), oral problems, oral pain, and poor health of teeth. Data were weighted to reflect the state's age and gender statistics. Results: A total of 2,988 older adults completed the survey during 2017. Substantial tooth loss (18%), oral problems (17%) and oral pain (13%) were the most frequently reported issues. Of the adults with teeth, 17% reported fair/poor health of teeth. Compared to adults with an income of $75,000 or more, adults with an income less than $25,000 were twice as likely to have substantial tooth loss and oral problems (OR=2.1 and 2.2, respectively) and were three times more likely to report oral pain and poor health of teeth (OR=3.1 and 3.3, respectively). The oldest old (adults 75+ years), as compared to those 55-64 years, were significantly more likely to have substantial tooth loss (OR=2.6) but were less likely to report oral problems (OR=0.6), pain (OR=0.3), or poor health of teeth (OR=0.5). Conclusions: Although the majority of Washington's older adults report having good oral health, a small subgroup has oral problems which may have a negative impact on quality of life., (Copyright © 2020 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association.)

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the oral health and the prevalence of pre-existing oral colonization with respiratory pathogens in dependent elderly, and whether these factors influence pneumonia development., Materials and Methods: Participants residing in a long-term care facility received bedside oral examinations, and information on their oral health (caries status, calculus index and debris index) was obtained. Samples from the tongue and teeth were collected at baseline and at time of pneumonia development. Sputum was collected at the time of pneumonia diagnosis. Samples were assessed for Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction., Results: This was a 1-year longitudinal study of 60 dependent elderly (mean age: 64.2 ± 14.1 years). Seventeen patients (28.3%) developed pneumonia. The mean Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth and Simplified Oral Hygiene Index were 22.8 ± 9.2 and 4.0 ± 1.0, respectively. At baseline, 48.3% were orally colonized with ≥1 respiratory pathogens. The presence of H. influenzae (P = .002) and P. aeruginosa (P = .049) in the sputum was significantly associated with their colonization on the tongue at baseline. In the bivariate analyses, pneumonia development was associated with naso-gastric feeding tube (P = .0001), H. influenzae (P = .015) and P. aeruginosa (P = .003) tongue colonization at baseline and calculus index (P = .002). Multivariate analyses revealed that calculus index (P = .09) and the presence of tracheostomy (P = .037) were associated with pneumonia., Conclusions: The calculus amount and tongue colonization with respiratory pathogens are risk factors for pneumonia development. Oral hygiene measures to remove tongue biofilm and calculus may reduce pneumonia development., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Many psychological disorders are associated with comorbid physical illness. There are less data on dental disease in common psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety in spite of risk factors in this population of diet, lifestyle or antidepressant-induced dry mouth., Methods: We undertook a systematic search for studies of the oral health of people with common psychological disorders including depression, anxiety and dental phobia. We searched MEDLINE, PsycInfo, EMBASE and article bibliographies. Results were compared with the general population. Outcomes included partial or total tooth-loss, periodontal disease, and dental decay measured through standardized measures such as the mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) or surfaces (DMFS)., Results: There were 19 papers on depression and/or anxiety, and seven on dental phobia/anxiety (total n=26). These covered 334,503 subjects. All the psychiatric diagnoses were associated with increased dental decay on both DMFT and DMFS scores, as well as greater tooth loss (OR=1.22; 95%CI=1.14-1.30). There was no association with periodontal disease, except for panic disorder., Limitations: Cross-sectional design of included studies, heterogeneity in some results, insufficient studies to test for publication bias., Conclusion: The increased focus on the physical health of psychiatric patients should encompass oral health including closer collaboration between dental and medical practitioners. Possible interventions include oral health assessment using standard checklists that can be completed by non-dental personnel, help with oral hygiene, management of iatrogenic dry mouth, and early dental referral. Mental health clinicians should also be aware of the oral consequences of inappropriate diet and psychotropic medication., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dental disease is more extensive in adults with chronic kidney disease, but whether dental health and behaviors are associated with survival in the setting of hemodialysis is unknown., Study Design: Prospective multinational cohort., Setting & Participants: 4,205 adults treated with long-term hemodialysis, 2010 to 2012 (Oral Diseases in Hemodialysis [ORAL-D] Study)., Predictors: Dental health as assessed by a standardized dental examination using World Health Organization guidelines and personal oral care, including edentulousness; decayed, missing, and filled teeth index; teeth brushing and flossing; and dental health consultation., Outcomes: All-cause and cardiovascular mortality at 12 months after dental assessment., Measurements: Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models fitted with shared frailty to account for clustering of mortality risk within countries., Results: During a mean follow-up of 22.1 months, 942 deaths occurred, including 477 cardiovascular deaths. Edentulousness (adjusted HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10-1.51) and decayed, missing, or filled teeth score ≥ 14 (adjusted HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.33-2.17) were associated with early all-cause mortality, while dental flossing, using mouthwash, brushing teeth daily, spending at least 2 minutes on oral hygiene daily, changing a toothbrush at least every 3 months, and visiting a dentist within the past 6 months (adjusted HRs of 0.52 [95% CI, 0.32-0.85], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.64-0.97], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.58-0.99], 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-0.99], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65-0.95], and 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65-0.96], respectively) were associated with better survival. Results for cardiovascular mortality were similar., Limitations: Convenience sample of clinics., Conclusions: In adults treated with hemodialysis, poorer dental health was associated with early death, whereas preventive dental health practices were associated with longer survival., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: People with motor neurone disease (MND) may present with physical limitations impacting on oral health and access to oral health care. This study aimed to assess the oral health status and treatment needs of people with MND in Victoria, Australia., Methods: Patients with advanced MND attending a multidisciplinary MND clinic in Melbourne were recruited. Data collection included self-reporting questionnaires on previous dental experience, current oral hygiene practices and current dietary habits, a medical questionnaire, and a clinical examination charting participants' dentition, restorations, caries and periodontal status, plaque and gingival indices, and assessment of oral health., Results: Thirty-three participants took part in the study with eight self-reporting regular dental visits. No participant exhibited probing depths of more than 3 mm. Ten out of 27 dentate participants required extractions and restorations for retained roots and caries, while three presented with non-carious cavities, lost restorations and fractured cusps. Oral health status was not affected by MND presentation in these participants., Conclusions: The study found that oral health was not affected by advanced MND. Participants' and clinical teams' motivation towards oral health care may have contributed to oral health. The dental profession should be involved as part of the multidisciplinary effort towards ongoing care., (© 2014 Australian Dental Association.)

Objective: To examine the relationship of poor dental health and depression, controlling for markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein; CRP) and adiposity (body mass index; BMI)., Method: Data from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2005-2008) were utilized (n=10214). Dental health was assessed using the Oral Health Questionnaire (OHQ). Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), where cases were identified using a cut off score of 10 or above. Logistic regression was applied to measure magnitude of associations, controlling for a range of covariates including CRP and BMI., Results: After adjustment for covariates, a significant dose-response relationship between number of oral health conditions and likelihood of PHQ-9 defined depression was observed. Compared with individuals without an oral health condition, adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for depression in those with two, four and six conditions were 1.60 (1.08-2.38), 2.13 (1.46-3.11) and 3.94 (2.72-5.72), respectively. Level of CRP and being underweight or obese were associated with being depressed., Conclusions: A positive association exists between poor dental health and depression that is independent of CRP and BMI., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Early childhood is a crucial developmental phase of a child's well-being, which lays the foundation for their future growth. Lack of good oral practices may cause dental issues during this fundamental phase of development and have a long-lasting impact on a child's overall well-being. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, to explore oral health knowledge and practices among the caregivers of young children. A sample of 94 participants, including parents, caregivers, early childhood educators, and healthcare professionals (HCPS), was included through a convenient sampling technique. An online survey questionnaire was administered, which covered various aspects of oral hygiene practices to prevent common oral diseases among children. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0. Statistical significance was accepted as p ≤0.05. Results of the study revealed no significant differences in oral health knowledge and practices based on age and gender. However, comparisons based on profession and roles showed a significant difference. Most participants agreed on the importance of regular oral hygiene practices. However, their opinions differed on certain oral hygiene practices, including the frequency of brushing and the timing of the first dental visit. This study underscores the importance of targeted education and interventions to improve oral health outcomes during the critical developmental phase of childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary : Periodontal disease and increased missing teeth were associated with incident vertebral fractures. In contrast, professional dental cleaning and frequent tooth brushing, was associated with a lower risk of vertebral fracture. Better oral hygiene care attenuated the risk associated with dental diseases. Purpose: To investigate the association between oral health and the risk of vertebral fractures. Methods: We included 2,532,253 individuals aged ≥40 years who underwent the Korean National Health Insurance Service health examinations in 2008 and followed up until December 31, 2017. We performed multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses to evaluate the association between dental diseases and oral hygiene care and the risk of vertebral fractures. Results: Over the 9.3-year median follow-up, 1.46% (n = 36,857) experienced vertebral fractures. Individuals with dental diseases had a higher risk of vertebral fracture than those without (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.07 for periodontal diseases; 1.02, 1.00–1.05 for dental caries; 1.12, 1.05–1.20 for ≥15 missing teeth). Good oral hygiene care was associated with a lower vertebral fracture risk (HR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.86–0.91 for ≥1 time/year [vs. <1 time/year] of professional dental cleaning; 0.90, 0.87–0.93 for ≥2 times/day [vs. 0–1 time/day] of toothbrushing). The combined dental diseases was significantly associated with an increased vertebral fracture risk, whereas combined oral hygiene care was associated with further risk reduction. Better oral hygiene care reduced vertebral fracture risk associated with dental diseases (all P <0.001). Conclusion: Periodontal disease, dental caries, and an increased number of missing teeth were independently associated with higher risks for vertebral fractures. Conversely, improved oral hygiene care, such as personal dental cleaning and frequent tooth brushing, may modify vertebral fracture risks associated with dental disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naval armed forces are commonly prone to stressors during military activities which are associated with their working environment. This can adversely impact the oral health of these personnel. This scoping review aimed to explore the literature concerning oral health among naval personnel. Relevant articles that reported oral health among naval armed forces published from 1990 to December 2022 were retrieved from five main databases. Of the 641 articles searched, 15 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Occurrences of caries, periodontal disease and barodontalgia were high among the naval armed forces, with a significant number of dental emergencies during deployment and training operations. The dental diseases and emergencies experienced by the naval personnel on duty may influence their performance during missions. Given the far-reaching effects of dental diseases among personnel in the naval armed forces, further prospective studies with standardised report investigating oral health and dental diseases are recommended. Oral health services in the naval armed forces can also be improved by increasing the dentist-to-navy personnel ratio both at the military bases and on board the vessels during missions, as well as designing preventive strategies to improve oral health among the naval personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tooth decay and gum disease, the main dental diseases affecting Australians, can cause pain and deformity as well as affecting eating and speech. Dental practitioners are efficient and effective in relieving dental pain, and they can effectively restore oral function. There is good evidence that better health care outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients are associated with care from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals. Unfortunately, the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the dental practitioner workforce is very low. We argue that a strategic approach, along with additional investment, is needed to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people qualified as dental practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an optimal nanoemulsion formulation for Curcuma xanthorrhiza oil (Xan) was investigated using different sonication times. The antimicrobial effects of the nanoemulsion, the original emulsion, distilled water (DW), and Listerine, on Streptococcus mutans biofilms were compared. The optimum ultrasonic time, determined in terms of droplet size and stability, was found to be 10 min. Cell viability was the lowest on exposure to the nanoemulsion, and significantly different compared with exposure to DW or Listerine. The emulsion's effect was similar to that of the nanoemulsion, but was non-uniform with a high interquartile range. Confocal microscope analysis revealed that the live/dead cell ratio in the nanoemulsion was 50% and 40% less than those in DW and Listerine, respectively. Biofilm treated with the nanoemulsion was thinner than biofilms exposed to the other treatments. Xan nanoemulsions exhibited stable and strong antimicrobial effects due to nano-sized particles, highlighting their potential use in oral health treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental disease continues to be one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States. Although oral self-care behaviors (OSCB), involving systematic twice-a-day tooth brushing, can prevent dental disease, this basic behavior is not sufficiently practiced. Recent advances in digital technology offer tremendous potential for promoting OSCB by delivering Just-In-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs)— interventions that leverage dynamic information about the person's state and context to effectively prompt them to engage in a desired behavior in real-time, real-world settings. However, limited research attention has been given to systematically investigating how to best prompt individuals to engage in OSCB in daily life, and under what conditions prompting would be most beneficial. This paper describes the protocol for a Micro-Randomized Trial (MRT) to inform the development of a JITAI for promoting ideal OSCB, namely, brushing twice daily, for two minutes each time, in all four dental quadrants (i.e., 2x2x4). Sensors within an electric toothbrush (eBrush) will be used to track OSCB and a matching mobile app (Oralytics) will deliver on-demand feedback and educational information. The MRT will micro-randomize participants twice daily (morning and evening) to either (a) a prompt (push notification) containing one of several theoretically grounded engagement strategies or (b) no prompt. The goal is to investigate whether, what type of, and under what conditions prompting increases engagement in ideal OSCB. The results will build the empirical foundation necessary to develop an optimized JITAI that will be evaluated relative to a suitable control in a future randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the associations of dental diseases and oral hygiene care with the risk of dementia. Retrospective longitudinal cohort study. We conducted a population-based study of individuals in the Korean National Health Insurance System. A total of 2,555,618 participants who underwent cardiovascular and dental screenings in 2008 were included. Dental diseases including periodontal diseases, dental caries, and tooth loss were assessed by dentists. Information on oral hygiene care, including professional dental cleaning and the frequency of tooth brushing, was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Study outcomes were all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD). Periodontal diseases [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.09], dental caries (aHR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), and 8-14 missing teeth (aHR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12) were associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia. In contrast, either professional dental cleaning or frequent tooth brushing were associated with decreased risks of all-cause dementia (aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.89-0.93 each; aHR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80-0.86 for both). The increased risks by dental diseases were reduced by oral hygiene care: periodontal diseases with professional dental cleaning (aHR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.98) or tooth brushing ≥2 times/day (aHR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.00) and 1 to 7 missing teeth with professional dental cleaning (aHR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.98) or tooth brushing ≥2 times/day (aHR 0.92, 95% CI 0.89-0.95). Consistent results were noted for AD and VaD and in various subgroup analyses. Periodontal disease, dental caries, and a high number of missing teeth were independently associated with a higher risk of dementia. Conversely, improved oral hygiene care, such as professional dental cleaning and frequent tooth brushing, may modify the risk of dementia associated with dental diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental disease restricts activities in school, work, and home and often significantly diminishes the quality of life for many children and adults, especially those who have low income or are uninsured. Though the overall dentist population ratio in India is 1:10,000, at present in rural India, one dentist is serving 2.5 lakhs of people. Only 15-20% of people in India are able to get dental services through national schemes, and 80-85% are spending money from their pockets, providing an ideal breeding ground for quackery into dental practice in India. Dental quacks cater to the lower-middle and lower socioeconomic classes that cannot afford qualified dental practitioners. A large number of people visiting these quacks seek care only when in pain, have a restricted budget, and are not very quality conscious. Dentistry has come a long way in the last one and a half century; today it is ranked as one of the most respected professions. It is incumbent upon dentists everywhere to protect this hard-earned reputation by weeding out quacks from among them. The government should urge fresh graduates to practice in rural areas and provide more incentives to them. Public health dentists should take the initiative of adopting more community-oriented oral health programs to increase the awareness among rural populations.

The poor physical health faced by people with mental illness has been the subject of growing attention, but there has been less focus on the issue of oral health even though it is an important part of physical health. This article discusses the two-way association between oral and mental health. In one direction, the prospect of dental treatment can lead to anxiety and phobia. In the other, many psychiatric disorders, such as severe mental illness, affective disorders, and eating disorders, are associated with dental disease: These include erosion, caries, and periodontitis. Left untreated, dental diseases can lead to teeth loss such that people with severe mental illness have 2.7 times the likelihood of losing all their teeth, compared with the general population. Possible interventions include oral health assessments using standard checklists that can be completed by nondental personnel, help with oral hygiene, management of iatrogenic dry mouth, and early dental referral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determines the mean concentrations of free amino acids in stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva in healthy young adults. Standardised salivary amino acids as a substitute for their counterpart in blood, searched for the source of free amino acids in saliva, the probable correlation between particular amino acids with caries experience. Stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva were collected by the draining method in 31 dental students. Saliva was purified, and amino acids were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. DMFT scores were recorded, and the relation of amino acids to caries experience was explored by generalised linear model. Almost all amino acids had higher concentration in unstimulated whole saliva than in stimulated saliva. The normal range of amino acids (95% CI) and their natural logarithm were defined. There was a significant relationship between caries experience and threonine ( P < 0·008), citrulline ( P < 0·023) and ornithine ( P < 0·001) as a detrimental factor, whereas serin ( P < 0·026), glutamine ( P < 0·015) and phenylalanine ( P < 0·014) had an inhibiting effect on caries. However, in comparison, salivary flow rate ( P < 0·013) was a more preventive factor than amino acids. Amino acids in saliva contribute as a marker, instead of their counterpart in blood. Unstimulated saliva had higher concentration of amino acids. Amino acids have different impact on caries and may be one of underlying risk factors for caries experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This column critiques the findings from a retrospective medical record review, "Doctor, my tooth hurts, the costs of incomplete dental care in the emergency room," by E. Davis, A. Deinard, & E. Maiga (2010). The study was designed to examine characteristics of patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with dental related problems and their associated costs of care. The study also looked at the frequency of dental related return visits speculated to represent ineffective ED treatment of underlying dental problems. We discuss the findings from this study in the context of growing concern about dental health disparities within the United States, including implications for advanced practice nurse management of dental related problems in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Injection drug use is a major public health problem. Oral health problems and the appearance of dental disease among injection drug users (IDUs) are caused by their lifestyle. The aim of the present study was to examine the relations between socioeconomic factors, drug use, and oral hygiene habits on the oral health of heroin drug users. Methods A cross-sectional survey on oral health was carried out as part of UNICEF's research on the biological and behaviours survey among injection drug users in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Zenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A sample of 519 IDUs participated in the survey. Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) was used to obtain the sample. The data were obtained through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire related to sociodemographic characteristics, duration of drug injection, frequency of drug injection in the last month and oral health. Results Older participants (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.02-1.10), part-time employment (OR = 3.57; 95% CI = 1.02-12.20) and unemployment (OR = 3.23; 95% CI = 1.23-8.33) in comparison to full-time employment as the referent category, and longer duration of drug injection (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.003-1.12) were predictors of bad oral health. A higher level of education (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.39 - 0.79), more frequent tooth brushing (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.49-0.71), and regular dental checkups (OR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.42-7.67) were predictors of good oral health. Conclusions Socioeconomic characteristics of IDUs as well as their lifestyles may contribute to oral health problems. Heroin drug users have specific dental needs, and programmes to improve their oral health should be an integral part of strategies to prevent addictions including treatments and harm reduction programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although major improvements have been made in oral health during the 20th century, many children in minority groups, from families with low-income, and with special health care needs still do not receive the oral health services that they need. To address the problem, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), working with the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), has launched the Oral Health Initiative. The initiative seeks to strengthen oral health service-delivery systems, enhance collaboration among federal agencies, and provide states with the resources needed to improve the oral health of hard-to-reach children. HRSA's activities include enhancing programs, services, and training, such as expanding the number of direct-service dental programs; establishing or enhancing graduate training programs in pediatric and general dentistry and in dental public health; and funding training programs in dentistry to train dental public health leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]