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Aim: To explore the association between oral conditions and their interaction with salt taste disability among American adults. Methods: Data from the 2013–2014 NHANES cycle were used (n = 2373). The exposures were periodontitis, defined by the 2017 EFP‐AAP classification, dental caries, missing teeth, and edentulism, as per the DMF‐T index, and xerostomia. The outcome was salt taste disability, objectively assessed. Covariates included sex, age, educational level, poverty index, obesity, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, and medications related to mouth dryness. Weighted multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the relationship between oral conditions and their interaction and salt taste disability. Results: Participants who reported xerostomia were more likely to have salt taste disability (OR 2.42; 95%CI 1.44–4.07), especially those older than 60 years (OR 3.63; 95%CI 1.72–7.63). Among participants aged 40–59, xerostomia increased the chance of salt taste disability; however, the confidence interval included the null value. The interactions between xerostomia and edentulism increased the chance of salt taste disability. Conclusion: Oral conditions seem to influence the ability to taste salt. Dental professionals may help identify individuals with taste alterations and raise their awareness of the risk of systemic diseases that require the reduction of salt intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on pediatric sore throats in the emergency department, highlighting the need to differentiate viral and bacterial causes, identify life-threatening conditions like epiglottitis, and implement effective diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Objective: To investigate pathways from micronutrient intake and serum levels to Chronic Oral Diseases Burden. Methods: We analyzed cross‐sectional data from NHANES III (n = 7936) and NHANES 2011–2014 (n = 4929). The exposure was the intake and serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. Considering the high correlation of those micronutrients in the diet, they were analyzed as a latent variable dubbed Micronutrient intake. The outcome was the Chronic Oral Diseases Burden, a latent variable formed by probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, furcation involvement, caries, and missing teeth. Pathways triggered by gender, age, socioeconomic status, obesity, smoking, and alcohol were also estimated using structural equation modeling. Results: In both NHANES cycles, micronutrient intake (p‐value < 0.05) and vitamin D serum (p‐value < 0.05) were associated with a lower Chronic Oral Diseases Burden. Micronutrient intake reduced the Chronic Oral Diseases Burden via vitamin D serum (p‐value < 0.05). Obesity increased the Chronic Oral Diseases Burden by reducing vitamin D serum (p‐value < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher micronutrient intake and higher vitamin D serum levels seem to reduce Chronic Oral Diseases Burden. Healthy diet policies may jointly tackle caries, periodontitis, obesity, and other non‐communicable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies on multimorbidity have largely excluded oral diseases in multimorbidity prevalence estimates. The reason behind this is somewhat unclear, as chronic oral conditions are highly prevalent, affecting over half the global population. To address this gap, we examined the relationship between social disadvantage and multimorbidity, stratifying by the inclusion and exclusion of oral conditions. For participants aged 30 y and over (n = 3,693), cross-sectional analysis was carried out using the US National Health and Nutrition Survey (2013–2014). Multimorbidity was defined as having 2 or more chronic conditions. Five medical conditions were examined: diabetes, asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and depression, as well as 4 oral health conditions: caries, periodontal disease, number of teeth, and edentulousness. Education and income poverty ratio were selected as measures of social disadvantage. Multimorbidity prevalence estimates according to social disadvantage were analyzed on an absolute and relative scale using inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW), adjusting for age, sex, and ethnicity. The inclusion of oral health conditions in the assessment of multimorbidity increased the overall prevalence of multimorbidity from 20.8% to 53.4%. Findings from IPTW analysis demonstrated clear social gradients for multimorbidity estimates stratified by the exclusion of oral conditions. Upon inclusion of oral conditions, the prevalence of multimorbidity was higher across all social groups for both education and income. Stratifying by the inclusion of oral conditions, the mean probability of multimorbidity was 27% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23%–30%) higher in the low-education group compared to the high-education group. Similarly, the mean probability of multimorbidity was 44% (95% CI, 40%–48%) higher in the low-income group. On a relative scale, low education was associated with a 1.52 times (95% CI, 1.44–1.61) higher prevalence of multimorbidity compared to high education. Low income was associated with a 2.18 (95% CI, 1.99–2.39) higher prevalence of multimorbidity. This novel study strongly supports the impact of chronic oral conditions on multimorbidity prevalence estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral disorders are still a major global public health challenge, considering their perpetuating and chronic nature. Currently, there is no direct index to measure the quality of care on a population scale. Hence, we aim to propose a new index to measure the quality of care for oral disorders worldwide. Methods: We generated our database using the data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2017. Among different variables such as prevalence, incidence, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years, we utilised principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the component that bears the greatest proportion of information to generate the novel quality of care index (QCI) for oral disorders. Results: Global QCI for oral disorders gradually increased from 1990 to 2017 (from 70.5 to 74.6). No significant gender disparity was observed during this period, and the gender disparity ratio (GDR) was considered optimal in 1990 and 2017. Between 1990 and 2017, the age-standardised QCI for all oral disorders increased in all the SDI regions. The highest QCI for all oral disorders in 2017 belonged to high-middle SDI countries (=80.24), and the lowest YLDs rate was seen in the low SDI quintile. In 1990, the quality of care in European, Central Asian, and Central and South American countries was in the lowest quintiles, whereas the North American, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and some African countries had the highest quality of dental care. Maynmar (=100), Uganda (=92.5), Taiwan (=92.0), China (=92.5), and the United States (=89.2) were the five countries with the highest age-standardised QCI. Nicaragua (=41.3), Belgium (=40.2), Venezuela (=38.4), Sierra Leone (=30.5), and the Gambia (=30.3) were the five countries with the least age-standardised QCI values. Conclusion: The quality of care for all oral disorders showed an increasing trend on a global scale from 1990 to 2017. However, the QCI distribution was not homogenous among various regions. To prevent the exacerbation of imminent disparities in this regard, better attention to total tooth loss in high-income countries and prioritising primary healthcare provision in low-income countries are recommended for oral disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tooth decay remains the most prevalent chronic disease in children and adults, even though it is largely preventable. Studies show that mothers' oral and overall health is linked to children's oral health and pregnancy outcomes. This paper examines achievements during the last 20 years, assesses current challenges, and discusses future priorities. Oral health status: Data show a modest improvement in children's oral health during the last 20 years; however, tooth decay still affects more than half of adolescents. According to national survey data, about 26% of working-age adults had untreated tooth decay. Overall, significant oral health disparities by race/ethnicity and income persist. Dental service utilization: The annual dental visit rate for children in the 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was 48%. Among children enrolled in Medicaid, dental visit rates increased from 18% in 1993 to nearly 50% in 2018. About 46% of women are estimated to receive teeth cleaning during pregnancy. Over the years, race or ethnicity and income-level differences in dental visits observed in the early 2000s have narrowed substantially in children but not among pregnant women. Discussion: Many effective interventions are available at the community and individual levels but are underutilized. Lack of integration of oral health into the overall health care system and programs, community conditions, poverty, and limited health literacy make it difficult for families to engage in healthy habits, use preventive interventions, and access treatment promptly. Conclusion: To further improve oral health, policy and system reforms are needed to address the factors mentioned above. Therefore, we urge the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau to take steps to convene a workshop to develop a framework for future actions. Significance: What is already known on this subject? Existing publications discuss the extent to which women, children, and adolescents experience oral health problems, effective policies and programs, and the need to integrate oral health care into the overall health care system. What does this study add? This manuscript provides a historical perspective on efforts and progress made to address the causes of high oral disease rates, unmet oral health treatment needs, and profound oral health disparities. It also discusses challenges that four major programs have encountered in working to achieve better oral health outcomes. In addition, it makes recommendations for improving oral health and calls for a national workshop to develop a framework for future actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a significant moment in oral health as all World Health Organization member countries, including the U.S., unite for the first time to address global oral diseases. It discusses about the acknowledgment of oral diseases as major health burdens with shared risk factors in the context of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs); and the commitment to integrate oral health into universal health coverage (UHC) to enhance prevention and control of NCDs.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of medial vascular calcifications in the oral and maxillofacial region and their association with systemic diseases. Materials and Methods: The study included 211 consecutive patients with systemic diseases (January 2015–May 2016). Medical history and radiographic images were evaluated. Univariate analysis (t‐test) was performed for continuous variables (age). The Chi square test was applied for the categorical variables (Mönckeberg medial arteriosclerosis [MMA], gender). Results: There was a 6.2% prevalence of MMA. The mean age of patients with MMA was 65.46 ± 13.38. The prevalence of kidney disease in patients with MMA was significantly higher than in those without MMA (p < 0.001). This finding was maintained even after adjusting for other systemic diseases (OR = 31.84 [8.63–136.78]). Conclusion: A significant prevalence of MMA in kidney disease patients was observed in this pilot study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the oral health status of the United States (U.S.) population has improved over the years, racial/ethnic inequities are pervasive with Black Americans carrying a greater burden of oral diseases in most measured outcomes. Access to dental care is a major structural and societal determinant of oral health inequities rooted in structural racism. From post‐Civil War‐era to present day, this essay presents a series of examples of racist policies that have shaped access to dental insurance for Black Americans both directly and indirectly. Additionally, this essay explains the unique challenges of Medicare and Medicaid highlighting the specific disparities that these public insurance programs face, and proposes policy recommendations aimed to reduce racial/ethnic inequities in dental coverage and access to advance the nation's oral health with comprehensive dental benefits in public insurance programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive studies have explored the factors affecting caregiving stress, but how oral health of care recipients (CRs) associates with caregiving stress and the mechanism behind it are not well‐known. Guided by Stress Process Theory, this study addressed such research gaps. Caregiver services dataset came from the 13th National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants in the United States (N = 1289). Caregiving stress included physical, emotional, and financial stress. The oral health of CRs was self‐rated by a single item. The functional ability of CRs was assessed by activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). PROCESS 3.4 for SPSS 26.0 was used to conduct the mediation analyses. Results from the study showed that caregivers reported slightly high levels of physical (M = 3.06, SD = 1.33, Range = 1–5), emotional (M = 3.43, SD = 1.28, Range = 1–5), and financial (M = 2.83, SD = 1.43, Range = 1–5) stress. The results from hierarchical linear regression revealed that poor oral health of CRs was significantly associated with higher levels of physical (B = 0.11, p < 0.001), emotional (B = 0.09, p < 0.01), and financial (B = 0.12, p < 0.001) stress, respectively. The functional ability of CRs mediated such relationships between the oral health of CRs and the caregiving stress of their family caregivers. Findings from this study enrich our theoretical and practical understanding of caregiving stress in aged care and offer programs and policy implications of oral and physical healthcare for community‐dwelling older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency department (ED) use for oral health care is a growing problem in the United States. The objective of the study was to describe spending on ED visits due to nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) in the United States and to quantify changes in spending and its drivers. Spending estimates for ED visits due to NTDCs according to type of payer were analyzed for the period from 1996 through 2016 and estimates about the drivers of change were analyzed for the period from 1996 through 2013. NTDCs included caries, periodontitis, edentulism, and other oral disorders. Estimates were calculated according to age, sex, and type of payer (that is, public, private, and out of pocket), adjusted for inflation, and expressed in 2016 US dollars. The estimate of expenses was decomposed into 5 drivers for the period from 1996 through 2013 (that is, population, aging, prevalence of oral disorders, service use, and service price and intensity). The total change in spending from 1996 through 2016 amounted to $540 million, an increase of 216%. The drivers of changes in spending from 1996 through 2013 were price and intensity ($360 million), service use ($220 million), and population size ($68 million). Spending on ED visits due to NTDCs more than tripled during the study period, with price and intensity representing the main drivers. This increase was primarily in adults and paid via the public sector. Possible solutions include strengthening the oral health care safety net, especially for the most vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural background influences how migrants and ethnic minority populations view and assess health. Poor oral health literacy (OHL) may be a hindrance in achieving good oral health. This systematic review summarizes the current quantitative evidence regarding OHL of migrants and ethnic minority populations. The PubMed database was searched for original quantitative studies that explore OHL as a holistic multidimensional construct or at least one of its subdimensions in migrants and ethnic minority populations. 34 publications were selected. Only 2 studies specifically addressed OHL in migrant populations. Generally, participants without migration background had higher OHL than migrant and ethnic minority populations. The latter showed lower dental service utilization, negative oral health beliefs, negative oral health behavior, and low levels of oral health knowledge. Due to its potential influence on OHL, oral health promoting behavior, attitudes, capabilities, and beliefs as well as the cultural and ethnic background of persons should be considered in medical education and oral health prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examined health preference utility weights and utility decrements associated with different types of chronic conditions in the United States.Methods: We used the 2010-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data for persons aged ≥ 18 years with 12-Item Short-Form Survey Physical and Mental Component Summary scores. 12-Item Short-Form Survey scores were converted to Short-Form Six-Dimension (SF-6D) preference scores to measure utilities of different chronic diseases. We used the Clinical Classification Code to identify 30 chronic diseases from 12 categories, such as cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, cancers, musculoskeletal diseases, endocrine or metabolic diseases, oral diseases, respiratory diseases, and mental disorders. A generalized linear model was used to quantify the utility decrements for 30 chronic diseases, controlling for demographic characteristics.Results: We identified 132 737 adults (mean age 47.2 years, 52.2% female, 80% white); 73% had at least one identified chronic disease, and the mean SF-6D was 0.786. Among 30 chronic diseases, the unadjusted mean SF-6D scores of patients with cognitive disorder (0.607) were the lowest, followed by congestive heart failure (0.629), rheumatoid arthritis (0.654), and lung cancer (0.662). After controlling for demographic variables (ie, age, sex) and comorbidities, cognitive disorders (-0.116), mood disorders (-0.099), rheumatoid arthritis (-0.090), liver cancer (-0.078), and stroke (-0.063) showed the highest decrements in the SF-6D scores (P < .05).Conclusions: This study provides a nationally representative catalog of utility weights for major chronic diseases in the US general population. The utility decrements will enable researchers to calculate the health utilities of patients with multiple comorbid diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory condition with an undefined malignant transformation potential. There have been many attempts at providing a specific definition of OLP without conclusive outcomes. A new set of diagnostic criteria was proposed in 2016 by the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (AAOMP) in an endeavour to resolve this issue, and this has not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the utility of AAOMP proposed criteria for the diagnosis of OLP.Methods: Five pathologists blindly assessed a cohort of 215 digital whole slide images (WSI) obtained from haematoxylin and eosin-stained microscopic slides. Forty-six WSI were included twice to assess the intra-observer agreement. Included cases were diagnosed clinically as either OLP or oral lichenoid reaction. Each pathologist was asked to utilize the AAOMP histopathological criteria while assessing slides. The variations in diagnoses were assessed by unweighted kappa statistics.Results: The level of intra-observer agreement was very good (0.801 to 0.899). The level of inter-observer agreement among the observers varied from good (0.658) to very good (0.842) when the responses were categorized as evident/compatible OLP versus no OLP and was good (0.62 to 0.725) when the responses were categorized as evident OLP, versus compatible OLP, versus no OLP. The clinico-pathological correlation was 87.6%.Conclusion: A reliable level of agreement can be achieved by pathologists for the diagnosis of OLP using the AAOMP criteria for differentiation between lichenoid and other conditions. There are still limitations in discriminating OLP from oral lichenoid lesions microscopically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been recommended for young adult men who have sex with men (MSM) since 2011.Methods: The Vaccine Impact in Men study surveyed MSM and transgender women aged 18-26 years in 3 US cities during 2016-2018. Self-collected anal swab and oral rinse specimens were assessed for 37 types of HPV. We compared HPV prevalence among vaccinated and unvaccinated participants and determined adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results: Among 1767 participants, 704 (39.8%) self-reported receiving HPV vaccine. Median age at vaccination (18.7 years) was older than age at first sex (15.7 years). Quadrivalent vaccine-type HPV was detected in anal or oral specimens from 475 (26.9%) participants. Vaccine-type HPV prevalence was lower among vaccinated (22.9%) compared with unvaccinated (31.6%) participants; aPR for those who initiated vaccination at age ≤18 years was 0.41 (CI, 0.24-0.57) and at age >18 years was 0.82 (CI, 0.67-0.98). Vaccine effectiveness of at least 1 HPV vaccine dose at age ≤18 years or >18 years was 59% and 18%, respectively.Conclusions: Findings suggest real-world effectiveness of HPV vaccination among young adult MSM. This effect was stronger with younger age at vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A systematic bibliometric analysis of the structure of knowledge was performed to investigate the co-word analysis, the co-citation analysis, and the social network analysis regarding complex oral sensitivity disorder (COSD).Methods: Web of Science database from 1985 to 2018 was systematically searched to identify all relevant articles using the MeSH terms "complex oral sensitivity disorder" and all synonyms used in the literature. We included original articles, review articles, letters to the editor, and book chapters in the English language and in 27 different ISI categories of medical sciences. Several bibliometric indicators were used.Results: The co-word analysis identified 741 KeyWords Plus (KWP) grouped into 4 different clusters. The terms "pain," "management," "prevalence," and "efficacy" reached the highest centrality, whereas the top 10 KWP had a frequency of 7%-29% in 443 articles. Over a period of 32 years, a complex thematic evolution occurred, going from 2 to 6 different themes, and the KWP migration rate from one cluster to another ranged from 11% to 100%. The co-citation network analysis based on the complete reference list (5932 references) of 443 articles identified only 2 clusters for journals, authors, and articles. The most prominent co-cited journal was "Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology" (centrality: 171.75), the most co-cited author was "Grushka M" (centrality: 330.95), and the most co-cited article was "Grushka M. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol (1987) 63:30-36" (centrality: 269.79). On the other hand, the direct citation network revealed that "Scala A et al, 2003" reached both the highest global citation score (GCS = 231) and local citation score (LCS = 161). Lastly, the social network analysis revealed an isolated collaboration among groups of authors, or countries or institutions. The worldwide collaboration analysis indicated that United States-Israel and United Kingdom-Italy were the most collaborative countries.Conclusions: The structure of knowledge of publications on COSD revealed that research in this field has been dominated by few core topics and a limited collaboration among authors and institutions from different countries. More multicenter studies on COSD are warranted in the near future when launching new projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the differences in oral HPV infection and sexual behaviors by race in the US. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from the 2011–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during which participants aged 18–69 years completed oral rinse exam for HPV detection (n = 8,229). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations of race with various types of oral HPV infection and sexual behaviors. Results: The prevalence of overall oral HPV infection and HPV type16 infection was 7.5% [95% CI: 6.6–8.4] and 1.1% [95% CI: 0.7–1.3], respectively. Blacks were more likely to have any oral HPV infection [OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01–1.47] and Asian Americans were less likely to have any oral HPV infection [OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.24–0.49] than Whites. In a multivariate model, Whites were less likely to have any oral HPV infections than Blacks while having higher order of impact by the number of lifetime sex partners. Overall, Asian Americans were less likely to have type16 infection [OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06–0.67] than Whites; however, that difference disappears when adjusting for sexual behaviors. Conclusions: In this nationally representative sample of US adults, the prevalence of overall oral HPV infections was higher among Blacks and lower among Asians in comparison to Whites. Further analysis with sexual behavior data suggested that the racial differences in prevalence are likely due to different sexual behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations occur in approximately 13% of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a relatively uncommon cancer with a poor clinical outcome. The aim of this international phase 3 study was to assess the efficacy and safety of ivosidenib (AG-120)-a small-molecule targeted inhibitor of mutated IDH1-in patients with previously treated IDH1-mutant cholangiocarcinoma.Methods: This multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study included patients from 49 hospitals in six countries aged at least 18 years with histologically confirmed, advanced, IDH1-mutant cholangiocarcinoma who had progressed on previous therapy, and had up to two previous treatment regimens for advanced disease, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0 or 1, and a measurable lesion as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) with a block size of 6 and stratified by number of previous systemic treatment regimens for advanced disease to oral ivosidenib 500 mg or matched placebo once daily in continuous 28-day cycles, by means of an interactive web-based response system. Placebo to ivosidenib crossover was permitted on radiological progression per investigator assessment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival by independent central review. The intention-to-treat population was used for the primary efficacy analyses. Safety was assessed in all patients who had received at least one dose of ivosidenib or placebo. Enrolment is complete; this study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02989857.Findings: Between Feb 20, 2017, and Jan 31, 2019, 230 patients were assessed for eligibility, and as of the Jan 31, 2019 data cutoff date, 185 patients were randomly assigned to ivosidenib (n=124) or placebo (n=61). Median follow-up for progression-free survival was 6·9 months (IQR 2·8-10·9). Progression-free survival was significantly improved with ivosidenib compared with placebo (median 2·7 months [95% CI 1·6-4·2] vs 1·4 months [1·4-1·6]; hazard ratio 0·37; 95% CI 0·25-0·54; one-sided p<0·0001). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse event in both treatment groups was ascites (four [7%] of 59 patients receiving placebo and nine [7%] of 121 patients receiving ivosidenib). Serious adverse events were reported in 36 (30%) of 121 patients receiving ivosidenib and 13 (22%) of 59 patients receiving placebo. There were no treatment-related deaths.Interpretation: Progression-free survival was significantly improved with ivosidenib compared with placebo, and ivosidenib was well tolerated. This study shows the clinical benefit of targeting IDH1 mutations in advanced, IDH1-mutant cholangiocarcinoma.Funding: Agios Pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, people are more likely to have poor oral health if they are low-income, uninsured, and/or members of racial/ethnic minority, immigrant, or rural populations who have suboptimal access to quality oral health care. As a result, poor oral health serves as the national symbol of social inequality. There is increasing recognition among those in public health that oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease and general health conditions such as obesity and diabetes are closely linked by sharing common risk factors, including excess sugar consumption and tobacco use, as well as underlying infection and inflammatory pathways. Hence, efforts to integrate oral health and primary health care, incorporate interventions at multiple levels to improve access to and quality of services, and create health care teams that provide patient-centered care in both safety net clinics and community settings may narrow the gaps in access to oral health care across the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous randomized trials found that treating periodontitis improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), thus lowering the risks of developing T2D-related microvascular diseases and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some payers in the U.S. have started covering nonsurgical periodontal treatment for those with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. We sought to identify the cost-effectiveness of expanding periodontal treatment coverage among patients with T2D.Research Design and Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to estimate lifetime costs and health gains using a stochastic microsimulation model of oral health conditions, T2D, T2D-related microvascular diseases, and CVD of the U.S.Population: Model parameters were obtained from the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2009-2014) and randomized trials of periodontal treatment among patients with T2D.Results: Expanding periodontal treatment coverage among patients with T2D and periodontitis would be expected to avert tooth loss by 34.1% (95% CI -39.9, -26.5) and microvascular diseases by 20.5% (95% CI -31.2, -9.1), 17.7% (95% CI -32.7, -4.7), and 18.4% (95% CI -34.5, -3.5) for nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy, respectively. Providing periodontal treatment to the target population would be cost saving from a health care perspective at a total net savings of $5,904 (95% CI -6,039, -5,769) with an estimated gain of 0.6 quality-adjusted life years per capita (95% CI 0.5, 0.6).Conclusions: Providing nonsurgical periodontal treatment to patients with T2D and periodontitis would be expected to significantly reduce tooth loss and T2D-related microvascular diseases via improved glycemic control. Encouraging patients with T2D and poor oral health conditions to receive periodontal treatment would improve health outcomes and still be cost saving or cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Despite an increasing, yet still limited amount of research on social determinants of oral health, the influences of neighborhood characteristics remain understudied, especially within the context of immigration. Acculturation is multidimensional, and its influences on the oral health of immigrants vary across age and ethnic groups. This study investigated the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and oral health problems among older Chinese American immigrants, and whether and to what extent acculturation indicators moderate the relationship between such cohesion and oral health. Methods The research design and working sample included 3,157 older Chinese American immigrants aged 60 years or older from the baseline of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Neighborhood cohesion was measured by a six-item scale. Oral health problems were measured by the presence or absence of such problems. Acculturation included residence in ethnic enclaves, length of stay, and behavioral acculturation. Stepwise logistic regression models with interaction terms (Neighborhood cohesion × Acculturation) were conducted to examine the association between neighborhood cohesion and oral health problems, accounting for sociodemographics, health conditions, and health behaviors. Results Individuals experiencing higher levels of neighborhood cohesion reported a lower likelihood of having oral health problems. The protective effect of neighborhood cohesion against having oral health problems was stronger when individuals resided in ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown. Discussion and Implications To promote optimal oral health, interventions need to account for individuals' perceptions and levels of integration into their neighborhoods and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral disease is a serious public health issue, and Hispanic children in the United States (US) are more likely than children of other racial/ethnic groups to experience dental caries. Although Hispanic children are a growing segment of the US population there is limited research on the association between acculturation and oral health outcomes in this population. This study examined the associations between household acculturation and pediatric oral health in the Hispanic population using a nationally representative sample of children.Methods: Data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health were analyzed; analyses included Hispanic children ages 1 to 17. Household acculturation was assessed with a combination of language and parental nativity, while oral health was assessed via parents'/guardians' reports of children's dental caries. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between acculturation and oral health, adjusting for other demographic and social determinants of pediatric oral health. We assessed significance at the p < 0.05 level, and all analyses accounted for the survey's complex sample design.Results: Analyses included 9143 Hispanic children. In total, 24.9% (95% CI: 22.9-27.0%) experienced dental caries, and there were significant associations between household acculturation and oral health. In unadjusted analyses, 32.0% (95% CI: 28.9-35.4%) of children in low acculturation households, 20.3% (95% CI: 16.0-25.4%) of children in moderate acculturation households, and 16.9% (95% CI: 14.2-20.0%) of children in high acculturation households experienced dental caries (p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, children in high acculturation households were significantly less likely than those in low acculturation households to experience dental caries (p < 0.001; OR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.35-0.70). The difference between children in moderate and low acculturation households approached but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.057; OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.48-1.01).Conclusions: A dose-response relationship was observed between household acculturation and the oral health of Hispanic children in the US. As acculturation increases, the likelihood of a child experiencing dental caries decreases. These findings suggest that public health and community-based interventions intended to reduce oral health disparities in Hispanic children would likely be most impactful if the acculturation levels of the children's households are considered during program development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory policy toward tobacco significantly affects oral health because tobacco use is a driver of diseases that manifest themselves in or near the oral cavity. Tobacco use in the United States has been associated with millions of cases of periodontal disease. Researchers have identified the role of combusted and noncombusted tobacco products in promoting cancers of the head and neck, leading to disease and premature death. Tobacco companies have moved increasingly toward so-called next-generation products (NGPs)—products that may emit fewer toxins than combustible forms of tobacco. Although NGPs may negatively affect the lungs and other bodily systems, they shift the injection site of nicotine from the lungs to the oral cavity and oral tissues. Because the long-term effects of NGPs are unknown, this tobacco marketing development has profound implications for oral disease. The US Food and Drug Administration exercises regulatory authority over tobacco products. The tobacco industry has avoided meaningful regulation of its products, especially smokeless forms. By publishing new research, oral health scientists can meaningfully shape the climate in which the administration's policy making occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About one in two adults in the United States has periodontal disease. Chronic periodontitis is an oral disease affecting the supporting structures of the teeth leading to progressive loss of the attachment apparatus and bone around teeth. It is characterized by gingival pocket formation and/or gingival recession. The disease is initiated by bacteria and their components like lipopolysaccharide and causes a heightened host inflammatory response. This cascade of inflammatory response ultimately leads to an increased osteoclastic activity and bone loss. Individuals with periodontitis have increased systemic levels of acute phase proteins, plasma antibody levels, coagulation factor, total white blood cell count, neutrophils, C reactive protein (CRP), and cytokines such as INF- gamma (Interferon gamma), TNF-α (Tumor necrosis Factor- Alpha), IL (Interleukin)-1β, IL-2 and IL-6. As periodontitis works on the same chronic inflammation model seen in systemic diseases, there is sufficient evidence to suggest a bi-directional link between the two. This article summarizes the established associations between periodontal disease and systemic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Use of hospital emergency department (ED) for dental care is on the rise. This study estimates the total ED dental visits and determines mean charges by the type of disease and other patient characteristics. Methods. Using the first-listed diagnosis from the 2014 National Emergency Department Sample, the number and types of dental visits in the ED were identified and descriptive statistics were summarized. Using bivariate analyses, we determined the mean ED charges for adults and children by the type of dental disease and other sociodemographic correlates, comorbidity index, income, disposition, and payer. Results. There were 2.43 million dental-related ED visits in 2014 with average charge of $992: $994 for adults and $971 for children under age 18. Bivariate analyses suggested that ED visits were higher among adults aged 19 through 45, those from urban areas, low-income neighborhoods, with higher comorbidity index, or those uninsured/Medicaid. A P-value of < .05 was considered significant. Conclusions. High number of ED visits result due to dental problems. Our results provide most current estimates of volume and charges of dental-related ED visits. Practical Implications. Dental treatment in emergency room is costly. Collaborative care approaches need to be identified and tested to provide effective care for dental patients in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Specialty-based practice is a fundamental component of US medicine and dentistry, yet the recognition of new dental specialties has markedly diminished in the past 50 years while medical specialization has flourished. Methods. This article reviews the history of specialty development while focusing on the underlying scientific, educational, and cultural changes in both professions. The process of dental specialty recognition is also examined. Results. The current dental specialty recognition process provides a set of criteria aspiring specialties need to fulfill at the time of application, yet the relationship between the criteria and the sequence for attaining them is undefined. Scientific development and evidence-based practice have grown to become the cornerstone of contemporary health care specialization. Conclusions. A new paradigm for specialty and subspecialty development in dentistry is needed. A model is presented herein that recognizes scientific development as the basis for specialization and describes a formal, sequenced process for the development of emerging specialties and subspecialties. Practical Implications. This new paradigm for dental specialty recognition builds on the current criteria for specialization while encouraging cross-disciplinary interaction and nurturing the development of emerging specialties and subspecialties in dentistry. Doing so will allow dentistry to maintain its lead role in the maintenance of oral health and oral disease treatment in the US population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professor Robert J. Genco made extraordinary research advances in immunology, periodontology, and microbiology research, pioneering major advances in oral science. In addition to his extraordinary research advancements in oral biology, his pioneering advances in oral science leadership at the local/university, national, and international levels are recognized worldwide, as are his educational advancements. In his era, he is truly the "father" of oral science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver has a long history of use in medicine, even before its antimicrobial properties were fully understood. Dentistry's recent paradigm shift to medical management of oral disease elevates the use of medicaments. After years of use in the developing world, silver diamine fl uoride has emerged as a successful alternative to invasive dental treatment in the United States. This medicinal option to bridge primary prevention and surgical treatment holds exciting promise for future development and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a learning strategy using critical thinking to teach dental students how to assess the risk of rapid oral health deterioration (ROHD) among elderly patients. A learning guide was developed using risk factors identified in the literature and the steps that expert faculty members apply in their clinical decision making, summarized in a set of ten steps. A new system of labeling risk was developed for the elderly population, which correlates the level of risk with the amount of disease. Participants in the study were all 91 fourth-year dental students in two subsequent classes who took part in a five-week Geriatrics and Special Needs Clinic rotation in the spring of 2015 and 2016. The students were introduced to the ROHD concept and asked to use the guide in a presentation during their rotation. The students were graded on an A, G, or M scale (Applied concept, Grasped and applied concept, or Missed application of concept). Students were also asked to assess their learning experience, and their answers were thematically grouped and analyzed. For eight of the ten steps, at least 93% of the students were graded A or G. The exceptions were the steps about developing a communications plan, which was missed by 23.1%, and self-assessment, which was missed by 30.8%. Interexaminer agreement on students' applying (A + G grades) versus missing the step was moderate or high on six of ten items. Nearly all the students (98.7%) considered assessing the risk of ROHD an important or very important skill. In this study, a learning strategy to teach dental students how to assess the risk of ROHD among elderly patients was developed and successfully implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews trends in dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss for the United States along with population dynamics and risk factors that might influence these trends going forward. Dental caries experience remains high in the primary dentition. Caries severity in permanent teeth of children has declined to historically low levels, and long-standing inequalities in untreated caries appear to be narrowing. Declines in caries severity of children's permanent teeth have stabilized at a low level, but likely will contribute to future reductions in dental caries severity in adults. The prevalence of periodontal disease is high in adults, and only a small percentage have severe forms of the disease. Countervailing trends in determinants would suggest little change in the prevalence of periodontal disease in the future, but the lack of an obvious trend over the last two decades makes projections uncertain. Tooth loss as a consequence of dental disease has declined markedly over the last half century and has been all but eliminated in high-income groups. However, notable exceptions to these favorable trends are evident. Progress in prevention policies and programs that affect disease experience appears slower than progress in meeting population-level caries treatment needs. Clearly, long-standing inequities related to political and social determinants remain for all dental diseases, and income disparities in dental disease are widening for some indicators. Growing inequalities raise ethical and public health concerns that should be prominent in discussions of dental workforce needs and strategies for the next 25 years. This article was written as part of the project "Advancing Dental Education in the 21st Century." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ever-present challenge for the oral health profession is to reduce the extent of oral disease among racial and ethnic minority populations. Adding to this complex dilemma is the linkage between oral health and systemic health. We describe enhanced cultural competency, in the context of individual cultural beliefs, values, language, practice, and health behaviors, among dental professionals, as one approach to meeting the dental care needs of the underserved. An overview and examples of teaching methods used by University of Florida dental educators to enhance student cultural competency is provided. Evidence-based evaluation results provide evidence of methodology efficacy. We conclude by describing actions that can be implemented by academic dental institutions to facilitate development of culturally competent practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Oral diseases are very prevalent across the lifespan and impact overall health, yet are largely preventable. The Smiles for Life (SFL) curriculum was created to educate healthcare providers about oral disease and support integration of oral health and primary care. This study examines SFL's influence on clinical practice and education.Methods: Surveys were sent to registered users of SFL. Users who self-identified as direct care providers (DCPs), or educators, were included in the analysis.Results: Survey response rate was 18 percent, with 87 percent identifying as DCPs and 13 percent as educators. Across professions, 85 percent of DCPs reported SFL influencing their practice to some degree, with variance among profession type and experience. DCPs most commonly reported that SFL led them to improve how they conduct oral health activities, with 60 percent performing the activity more skillfully following completion of SFL. Fluoride varnish application was the most common practice behavior initiated, and caries risk assessments was the oral health activity affected to the greatest degree. A majority of educators (94 percent) reported that SFL led them to incorporate or enhance oral health in their teaching. SFL helped educators emphasize the importance of oral health, improved their ability to teach content, raised motivation, and reduced barriers to teaching oral health.Conclusions: Data supports that SFL is positively influencing oral health practice across professions, especially in areas of caries risk assessment and fluoride varnish application. SFL improves the frequency and quality with which DCPs and educators participate in oral health activities, and facilitates oral health inclusion in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with multiple genotypes in the United States.Methods: Data were from the nationally representative 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This analysis comprised 9257 participants for whom data on oral HPV (37 genotypes) and associated risk factors were available.Results: The weighted prevalence of multitype (2-6 types) oral HPV infection was 1.5% (2.5% for men, 0.4% for women) in the whole sample and 19.7% (22.0% for men, 12.1% for women) in those who had any type of oral HPV positivity. Most multitype oral HPV cases (83.8%) harbored one or more oncogenic types. In the adjusted multinominal logistic regression model, being male (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 3.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-8.65), being a current cigarette smoker (RRR = 2.57; 95% CI, 1.23-5.36), and having a new sex partner in the past year (RRR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.03-4.28) were associated with an increased risk of multitype oral HPV infection over single-type HPV infection.Conclusions: Men, smokers, and those who had new sexual partners were at a significantly higher risk for multitype oral HPV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate changes in oral human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence attributable to vaccination vs herd immunity, this national survey study uses National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data to compare oral HPV prevalence for 4 types targeted by HPV vaccine and 33 nonvaccine types in unvaccinated US adults aged 18 to 59 years from 2009 to 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the association between physical intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and reports of prenatal oral health problems among a sample of mothers in the United States. Data were obtained from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System from 7 sites (Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Puerto Rico, Utah, West Virginia) for 2016 through 2020. The authors used multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationship between physical IPV and respondent self-reports of whether they needed to see a dentist for several oral health problems during pregnancy: (1) needing to have a tooth restored; (2) painful, red, or swollen gingivae; (3) toothache; (4) needing to have a tooth extracted; (5) having an injury to the mouth, teeth, or gingivae; or (6) another problem with teeth or gingivae. Women who experienced physical IPV during pregnancy had elevated rates of oral health problems during pregnancy compared with women who did not experience IPV. The findings detailed associations between physical IPV and oral health problems that may stem from physical violence, including painful, red, or swollen gingivae; toothache; and mouth, teeth, or gingivae injury. The results of this study highlight a connection between physical IPV during pregnancy and oral health problems consistent with orofacial injuries. The association between physical IPV and elevated rates of oral health problems and orofacial injuries highlights the critical role of oral health care providers in screening for, detecting, and intervening in IPV among pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Maternal periodontal disease is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Anxiety and depression adversely impact oral health in nonpregnant women; however, this association has not been evaluated during pregnancy, a time characterized by higher rates of anxiety and depression. Therefore, we examined the association between these factors and oral disease and oral healthcare utilization among 402 pregnant respondents to the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.Methods: Self-reported lifetime diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and current depression were assessed. Oral health outcomes included self-reported tooth loss and dental visits in the past year.Results: One-fifth (21.2 percent) of respondents reported a tooth loss and 32.5 percent reported nonuse of oral health services. The prevalence of lifetime diagnosed anxiety and depression was 13.6 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively, whereas 10.6 percent reported current depression. After adjusting for risk factors, pregnant women with diagnosed anxiety had increased odds of one or more tooth loss [odds ratio (OR) = 3.30; 95 percent confidence interval (CI): 1.01-10.77] compared with those without the disorder. Similarly, after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, women with anxiety had increased odds of nonuse of oral health services (OR = 2.67; 95 percent CI: 1.03-6.90); however, this was no longer significant after adjusting for health behaviors and body mass index. We observed no significant association with depression.Conclusions: In this population-based sample, we found a two- to threefold increased odds of tooth loss and nonuse of oral health services among pregnant women with a lifetime diagnosis of anxiety. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine these associations among pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the nonprofit American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's policy on substance abuse in teenage patients. It provides definitions for binge drinking, substance abuse, and withdrawal syndrome. It suggests dental personnel have a high probability of finding signs of substance use in some of their teenage patients and provides a list of symptoms. It talks about possible drug interactions of sedatives, anxiolytics, and nitrous oxide with teens with a history of substance abuse.

Allergic diseases have reached epidemic proportions in Western populations in the last several decades. The hygiene hypothesis proposed more than twenty years ago has helped us to understand the epidemic and has been verified with numerous studies. However, translational measures deduced from these studies to prevent allergic diseases have not proven effective. Recent studies on immigrants' allergies and any potential association between oral infection and allergic diseases prompt me to propose a specific hygiene hypothesis to explain how oral hygiene practices might have contributed to the uprising of hay fever, the most common allergic disease. The historic oral hygiene level in US is closely associated with the emerging allergic epidemic. Future studies to test the hypothesis are needed and verification of the hypothesis can potentially yield highly effective measures to prevent allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate education and treatment access make Hansen's disease a global problem. Carville, LA, was an internationally renowned USDHHS Hansen's disease medical/treatment facility that found a cure. The purpose was to verify and summarize 28 archived oral histories of patients/staff from the National Hansen's Disease Museum and record more. The procedure analyzed, classified, chronologized, and summarized unpublished oral histories validated by Garraghan's historical methods. The verified category results were the stigma (contagion; fear; disfigurement) and human rights' discriminations (quarantine law; pseudonyms; no marriage). The is is a unique historical manuscript of patient/staff life at the last U.S. leprosarium for posterity and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: Oral human papillomavirus genotype 16 (HPV16) infection causes oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and the prevalence of oropharyngeal SCC is higher among men than women in the United States. In a cohort study of oral HPV infection among 409 individuals aged 18-25 years, the risk among men but not among women significantly increased as the number of recent (ie, within the prior 3 months) oral sex partners increased (Pinteraction = .05). In contrast, the risk among women but not among men significantly decreased as the lifetime number of vaginal sex partners increased (Pinteraction = .037). Men were also significantly less likely than women to clear oral HPV infection. Our data contribute to understanding sex differences in risk for HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC.Clinical Trials Registration: NCT00994019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Most existing measures of oral health focus solely on negative oral health, illness, and deficiencies and ignore positive oral health. In an attempt to commence exploration of this challenging field, an innovative instrument was developed, the "Positive Oral Health and Well-Being" (POHW) index. This study aimed to validate this instrument and to explore an initial model of the pathway between oral health attributes and positive oral health.Methods: A cross-sectional, multicenter study (Israel, USA, and Germany), was conducted. Our conceptual model suggests that positive oral health attributes, which integrate with positive unawareness or positive awareness on the one hand and with positive perception on the other hand, may result via appropriate oral health behavior on positive oral health. The 17-item self-administered index was built on a theoretical concept by four experts from Israel and Germany. Reliability, factor, and correlation analyses were performed. For external correlations and to measure construct validity of the instrument, we utilized the oral health impact profile-14, self-perceived oral impairment, life satisfaction, self-perceived well-being, sociodemographic and behavioral data, and oral health status indices.Results: Four hundred and seventy participants took part in our three-center study. The combined data set reliability analyses detected two items which were not contributing to the index reliability. Thus, we tested a 15-item construct, and a Cronbach's α value of 0.933 was revealed. Primary factor analysis of the whole sample indicated three subconstructs which could explain 60 % of variance. Correlation analyses demonstrated that the POHW and OHIP-14 were strongly and negatively associated. The POHW correlated strongly and positively with general well-being, moderately with life satisfaction, and weakly with the perceived importance of regular dental checkups. It correlated moderately and negatively with perceived oral impairment, and marginally and negatively with dental caries experience (DMFT) and periodontal health status (CPI) scores. When DMFT and CPI clinical measurements were categorized, a higher score of POHW was revealed for better oral health.Discussion: Our study introduced a new instrument with good reliability and sound correlations with external measures. This instrument is the first to allow measurability of positive instead of impaired oral health. We utilized subjective-psychological and functional-social measures. The current results indicate that by further exploring our conceptual model, POHW may be of importance for identifying patients with good and poor oral health, and building an effective and inexpensive strategy for prevention, by being able to evaluate the effect of interventions in a standardized way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ AN) experience significant health disparities relative to the general U.S. population. In particular, oral diseases affect the majority of the AI/ AN population and their prevalence is significantly greater than observed in other demographic sectors of the U.S. population. The reasons for these disparities are multiple but lack of access to dental care is clearly a contributing factor. The dentist- to-population ratio in many AI/ AN communities is less than half the U.S. average. A solution has been developed in Alaska by AI/ AN leaders: dental therapists, i.e., local people trained for two years to provide basic dental services. This solution is being fought by organized dentistry that sees the approach as an economic threat, but AI/ AN organizations are committed to implementing this Native solution to their access problem. The Alaska experience indicates that access to oral health services can be improved through the addition of dental therapists to the dental team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented which addresses oral health disparities in relation to the work of the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) organization as of 2017. Efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral diseases in America are examined, along with data from the 2009 to 2012 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The 2000 "Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General" is assessed, along with children's oral health.

Background. Untreated dental conditions may progress to lesions that are severe enough to necessitate emergency visits to hospitals. The authors conducted a study to investigate nationally representative trends in U.S. hospital-based emergency department (ED) visits involving dental conditions and to examine patient-related characteristics associated with ED charges. Methods. The authors used the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, for the years 2008 through 2010. They selected all ED visits involving patients with a diagnosis of either dental caries, pulpal or periapical lesions, gingival or periodontal conditions, or mouth cellulitis or abscess. Outcomes examined included post-ED disposition status and hospital ED charges. Results. During the study period, 4,049,361 ED visits involved diagnosis of a dental condition, which is about 1 percent of all ED visits occurring in the entire United States. Uninsured patients made about 40.5 percent of all dental condition-related ED visits. One hundred one patients in the study died in EDs. The mean hospital ED charge per visit was approximately $760 (adjusted to 2010 dollars), and the total ED charges across the entire United States during the three-year study period was $2.7 billion. Conclusions. Patients without insurance are a cohort at high risk of seeking dental care in hospital-based ED settings. A substantial amount of hospital resources are used to treat dental conditions in ED settings. Patients with mouth cellulitis, periodontal conditions and numerous comorbidities are likely to incur higher ED charges. Practical Implications. Dental conditions can be treated more effectively in a dental office setting than in hospital-based settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses children's oral health and dental care agency American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry‘s (AAPD) guidelines on oral health care for dental patients with special health care needs (SHCN). Topics include risk of oral diseases in patients with SHCN, disabled population in America and pediatric dentistry. Patient assessment, behavior guidance and preventive strategies are also mentioned.