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Background: Little is known about dental healthcare workers reported suspected child maltreatment to and received inquiry from the child welfare services (CWS). Aim: Assess time lag differences in public dental healthcare workers' information sharing with CWS and identify sociodemographic and attitudinal covariates of information sharing with CWS in 2014 and 2019. Design: In 2014 and 2019, a national census of 1542 and 1791 Norwegian dental health care workers, respectively, were invited to participate in an electronic survey. Of them, 1200 (77.8%) and 1270 (70.9%) replied to the questionnaires. Time trends of reported child maltreatment and received inquiries were estimated and adjusted for sociodemographics, attitudes, trust, and collaborative routines in logistic regression analyses. Results: The likelihood of reported child maltreatment to and received inquiry from CWS was higher in 2019 than in 2014 (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.2–1.7] and OR 1.1 [95% CI 0.9–1.4]). Significant associations occurred with sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes, and collaborative routines. The likelihood of receiving inquiry about whether being employed long versus short term was higher in 2019 than in 2014. Conclusion: Information sharing between dental healthcare workers and CWS improved across time and might promote beneficial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Most children and adolescents in Norway attend the Public Dental Service (PDS) where they are treated free‐of‐charge until the age of 19 years. Thus, general dentists employed in the PDS are the primary care providers for traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in young patients. This cross‐sectional study assessed the knowledge of PDS general dentists on the acute management and follow‐up of TDI and its socio‐demographic and attitudinal covariates. Materials and Methods: All general dentists employed in the Vestland County PDS, Western Norway, (N = 170) received an online questionnaire. Socio‐demographic and professional profiles of respondents as well as attitudinal indicators were queried. Clinical case scenarios on emergency treatment and further follow‐ups of TDI were used to calculate a dental trauma knowledge score (DTKS; range: 0–21). Mann–Whitney U tests and Kruskal–Wallis tests determined differences between the demographic subgroups. Logistic regressions determined the potential of single factors in explaining the variability in dental trauma knowledge. Results: The response rate was 46%. Most participants (60.5%) had not participated in a TDI course after graduation but would like such a course (84.2%). Mean DTKS was 13.82 (±2.6). Knowledge scores differed significantly between age groups (p =.014) and years since graduation (p =.0018). Younger dentists and recently graduated dentists scored highest. Dentists under the age of 30 years scored higher than 30–39‐ and 40–49‐year‐old dentists in these areas: emergency treatment of crown fractures with pulp exposure, identification of complications after avulsion, and management of severe intrusive luxation injury. Conclusion: Younger dentists had a higher theoretical knowledge of TDI. Continuing professional development among dentists in the Norwegian PDS is needed for emergency treatment and complication management after TDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies on the effect of feeding practices and sucking habits on malocclusion traits in the primary dentition of pre-schoolchildren from developing countries are scarce. Purpose: Assessing the association of feeding and sucking habits with malocclusion traits, and the association of malocclusion traits with observed oral functional problems. Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey of children aged 3-5 years residing in Kinondoni and Temeke Districts of Dar es Salaam region in Tanzania. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists, SPSS version 21.0. Univariate analysis was applied to generate frequencies of different variables. Cross tabulations and Chi-square statistics were used to assess bivariate relationships and multivariate analyses were performed by multiple logistic regression. Results: Most pre-schoolchildren (82.5%) were breastfed for less than two years. A history of non-nutritive sucking habits was reported in 28.1% of the children, mostly in boys than girls (33.6% versus 21.8%, respectively. The current non-nutritive sucking habits were reported in 17.8% of the participants. Overall, malocclusion traits were most significantly seen in children who were breastfed for less than two years, compared with those who were breastfed for two years or more (48.5% versus 27.3%, respectively). The presence of various malocclusion traits was significantly found among most of the children who had a history of non-nutritive sucking habits, compared with those who had never performed the habits (65.9% versus 38.6 %, respectively). In the logistic regression analyses, children who were breastfed for a shorter duration (<2 years), their probability of being found with different traits of malocclusion in the primary dentition was almost three times that for those who were breastfed for a longer duration (= two years). Also, children who were not actively performing non-nutritive sucking habits were less likely to have an open bite compared with those who were actively performing non-nutritive sucking habits. An open bite in children was significantly associated with speech problems (p<0.01) and swallowing with tongue thrusting (p=0.000). Conclusion and recommendations: Most of the children who were breastfed for a shorter duration and children who had non-nutritive sucking habits were found with various malocclusion, compared with those who were breastfed for a longer duration and those who had no non-nutritive sucking habits. It is crucial to recommend exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months and continuation of breastfeeding practice, possibly for up to 2 years of age due to its nutritional, immunological, and stomato-gnathic system developmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe inequalities in tooth loss and dissatisfaction with teeth related to time‐invariant and time‐variant socio‐demographic characteristics and use of dental care across the middle and older life course and to assess whether oral health inequalities remain stable, widen or narrow from age 50 to 75. Materials and Methods: In 1992, 6346 residents, aged 50, consented to participate in a prospective cohort study including postal questionnaire follow‐ups every fifth year until age 75. Tooth loss and dissatisfaction with teeth were assessed at each survey wave in addition to socio‐demographic factors and use of dental care. Multivariable logistic regression, generalised estimating equations, GEE, and random intercept logistic mixed models were used for estimation of population‐averaged and person‐specific odds ratio. Interaction terms of each covariate with the time indicator were added to test whether inequalities changed across time. Results: Person‐specific OR and 95% CI estimates for tooth loss varied from 1.29 (1.09‐1.53) (unmarried vs married) to 9.20 (6.07‐13.94) (foreign country vs native). Estimated ORs for tooth dissatisfaction ranged from 1.33 (1.15‐1.55) (unmarried vs married) to 2.59 (2.15‐3.11) (smoking vs no smoking). Inequalities in tooth loss according to sex, educational level and country of birth were smaller in magnitude in 2017 than in 1992. Inequality estimates in dissatisfaction with teeth according to use of dental care and perceived health were, respectively, smaller and greater at older than at younger age. Conclusion: Socio‐demographic inequalities in oral health persisted from age 50 to 75 and varied in magnitude across time. Both convergence and widening of disparities in oral health occurred towards older ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the prevalence of dental avoidance due to dental fear and economic burden and its distribution by utilization of dental care and socio‐behavioural characteristics. Method: A sample of 9052 Norwegian adults aged 25–35 years was invited to participate, and 2551 completed electronic questionnaires regarding lifetime prevalence of dental avoidance due to fear and last year prevalence of dental avoidance due to economic burden. Results: Cancelled‐ and avoided ordering appointments due to fear amounted to 14.7% and 30.5%, respectively. Avoidance of dental visits due to cost was 37.7%. Frequency of cancelled appointments due to fear was 30% and 16.6% among participants attending dental care several times annually and seldom, respectively. Multiple logistic regression revealed that avoiding dental visits due to cost was less likely among participants with higher household income (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3–0.5) and more likely among participants with dental care need (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2–2.7). Cancelled and avoided appointments due to fear was most likely among those with need for dental care and lower education. Early unpleasant experience with dental care remained a covariate of avoidance behaviour due to fear. Conclusion: 14.7%, 30.5%, and 37.7% confirmed cancelled appointments due to fear, avoided ordering appointments due to fear, and avoided visiting the dentist due to cost. Avoiding dental care due to fear and economic burden was more and less common among participants with respectively, frequent and seldom use of dental care. Dental avoidance behaviours were highest among socially disadvantaged groups, indicating a hole in the welfare state model that needs political consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the association between aspects of the dentist-patient relationship at age 65 and Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) at ages 65 and 70 and to examine whether dental avoidance behaviours play a role in explaining that association.Background: Information about the quality of the dentist-patient relationship is important for dental care provision and healthy ageing.Method: Secondary data analysis of a cohort study of Norwegians born in 1942. The participation rate in 2007 (age 65) and 2012 (age 70) was, respectively, 58.0% (n = 4211) and 54.5% (n = 3733). A total of 70.0% (n = 2947) of the baseline participants responded in 2012. Dentist-patient relationship aspects were assessed in terms of communication with the dentist, satisfaction with dental care, unpleasant experiences and changes of dentist. Generalised Estimating Equations (GEEs) were used to account for repeated measurements.Results: Prevalence of oral impacts (OIDP) was 29.0% in 2007 and 28.4% in 2012. Participants who received communication on oral hygiene during dental visits had a higher likelihood, whereas participants who reported satisfaction with dental care, no unpleasant experience and did not change dentist had a lower likelihood of reporting oral impacts over these 5 years. Corresponding odds ratios were: 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5), 0.4 (95% CI 0.3-0.5), 0.6 (95% CI 0.5-0.7) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.6). Associations between dentist-patient relationship aspects and OIDP remained unchanged after adjustment for avoidance behaviours.Conclusion: Training dentists in relationship skills might improve social interaction with patients and the oral health-related quality of life of older people in Norway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assess the association between oral and general health related quality of life using oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) and the quality of life tool EQ-5D-5L from EuroQoL among patients with substance use disorder (SUD) who receive opioid agonist therapy. 609 patients with SUD completed the EQ-5D-5L. A dental sub-study of 167 patients completed OIDP and an oral examination when attending outpatient clinics in Western Norway for their opioid agonist therapy. The merged analytical sample consisted of 165 patients. The association between OIDP and EQ-5D-5L was assessed by Spearman's rho and a linear multiple variable regression analysis. A line graph and a Pen's parade displayed the distributions of OIDP sum scores and EQ-5D-5L index values. Overall mean summary- and index EQ-5D-5L scores were 9.97 (sd 3.25) and 0.69 (sd 0.22). Mean score for OIDP was 9.75 (sd 9.59). Spearman's rho was 0.34 (p <.01) between OIDP and EQ-5D-5L summary scores. Linear regression revealed an association adjusted for sex and age of 0.12 (95% CI 0.07–0.17) and a coefficient of determination of 0.1460. This study reveals a strong association between OIDP and EQ-5D-5L reflecting the importance of oral health to general health for patients with SUD. Health care professionals should pay attention to oral health. Effective interventions might improve patients' oral and health related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]