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MCN. the American Journal of Maternal...Oral health is an important aspect of overall health and should be maintained during pregnancy. Due to complex physiological changes during pregnancy, the pregnant woman...
BACKGROUND
Oral health is an important aspect of overall health and should be maintained during pregnancy. Due to complex physiological changes during pregnancy, the pregnant woman is at risk for developing periodontal disease and dental caries which are associated with poor birth outcomes including preterm births and low birthweight infants. Evidence-based guidelines developed by several professional organizations recommend oral screening be included in the first prenatal visit. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a dental screening tool during prenatal care to identify pregnant patients with oral health needs and provide subsequent referrals to a dentist.
METHODS
The project was implemented over a 14-week period and included an oral health screening using a valid and reliable tool to identify oral health needs. Patients were screened and received a referral for dental care.
RESULTS
N = 826 pregnant women were screened. Of those screened 36.3% (n = 300) had not had their teeth cleaned in the past 12 months. More than 30% of pregnant patients (n = 316) reported some type of dental problem, 29.5% (n = 244) were screened during the first prenatal visit, and 36.7% (n = 303) were enrolled in Medicaid. At project completion, 74.6% (n = 616) of patients received dental referrals.
CONCLUSION
Conducting oral health screenings during the first prenatal visit is important for identifying pregnant women at risk for oral health problems and improving birth outcomes and allows the patient time to visit the dentist prior to birth. Integration of an oral health screening and referral process can be successfully implemented during prenatal care to meet the needs of childbearing women.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Prenatal Care; Dental Caries; Pregnant Women; Oral Health; Referral and Consultation; Dental Care
PubMed: 37840202
DOI: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000957 -
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics... Feb 2024Head and neck vascular pathology is routinely encountered by the maxillofacial surgeon. Although these anomalies have been traditionally managed by surgical means,... (Review)
Review
Head and neck vascular pathology is routinely encountered by the maxillofacial surgeon. Although these anomalies have been traditionally managed by surgical means, adjunctive therapies have been popularized in recent years. The use of laser therapy has gained attention for its ability to better access and to provide more predictable outcomes in the highly intricate and vascular areas of the head and neck. Laser therapy allows for the selective targeting of diseased tissue while maintaining the integrity of surrounding healthy tissue.
Topics: Humans; Lasers; Dental Care; Neck; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
PubMed: 37813707
DOI: 10.1016/j.coms.2023.09.005 -
Journal of Dental Hygiene : JDH Oct 2023The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) defines direct access as the ability of a dental hygienist to initiate treatment based on their assessment of...
The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) defines direct access as the ability of a dental hygienist to initiate treatment based on their assessment of patient's needs without the specific authorization of a dentist, treat the patient without the physical presence of a dentist, and maintain a provider-patient relationship. In 2000 there were nine direct access states; currently there are 42 states that have authorized some form of direct access. The ADHA has been instrumental in these legislative initiatives through strong advocacy efforts. While research and data support the benefits of direct preventive/therapeutic care provided by dental hygienists, many barriers remain. This paper chronicles key partnerships which have influenced and advocated for direct access and the recognition of dental hygienists as primary health care providers. The National Governors Association (NGA) released a report in 2014 suggesting that dental hygienists be "deployed" outside of dental offices as one strategy to increase access to oral health care along with reducing restrictive dental practice acts and increasing the scope of practice for dental hygienists. The December 2021 release of the National Institutes of Health report, Oral Health in America, further supports greater access to dental hygiene preventive/therapeutic care. This paper also reflects on opportunities and barriers as they relate to workforce policy, provides examples of effective state policies, and illustrates an educational curriculum specifically created to prepare dental hygienists to provide oral health services in settings outside of the dental office. Dental hygiene education must ensure that graduates are future-ready as essential health care providers, prepared to deliver direct access to dental hygiene care.
Topics: Humans; Oral Hygiene; Dental Hygienists; Oral Health; Curriculum; Health Services Accessibility; Dental Care
PubMed: 37816618
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Dentistry Jul 2024
Topics: Humans; Primary Health Care; Dentistry; Dental Care
PubMed: 38616009
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.104995 -
International Journal of Oral Science Dec 2023Digital guided therapy (DGT) has been advocated as a contemporary computer-aided technique for treating endodontic diseases in recent decades. The concept of DGT for... (Review)
Review
Digital guided therapy (DGT) has been advocated as a contemporary computer-aided technique for treating endodontic diseases in recent decades. The concept of DGT for endodontic diseases is categorized into static guided endodontics (SGE), necessitating a meticulously designed template, and dynamic guided endodontics (DGE), which utilizes an optical triangulation tracking system. Based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images superimposed with or without oral scan (OS) data, a virtual template is crafted through software and subsequently translated into a 3-dimensional (3D) printing for SGE, while the system guides the drilling path with a real-time navigation in DGE. DGT was reported to resolve a series of challenging endodontic cases, including teeth with pulp obliteration, teeth with anatomical abnormalities, teeth requiring retreatment, posterior teeth needing endodontic microsurgery, and tooth autotransplantation. Case reports and basic researches all demonstrate that DGT stand as a precise, time-saving, and minimally invasive approach in contrast to conventional freehand method. This expert consensus mainly introduces the case selection, general workflow, evaluation, and impact factor of DGT, which could provide an alternative working strategy in endodontic treatment.
Topics: Humans; Consensus; Endodontics; Tooth; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Dental Care; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Root Canal Therapy
PubMed: 38052782
DOI: 10.1038/s41368-023-00261-0 -
BMC Oral Health Nov 2023The primary objective of this study was to validate an Urdu translation of Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey (DFS) for use in Pakistan and to explore which items...
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study was to validate an Urdu translation of Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey (DFS) for use in Pakistan and to explore which items contribute the most to the variance in dental fear scores based on patient perceptions and lived experiences during dental care.
METHODOLOGY
This mixed-method study was conducted at Dow Dental Hospital from February 2022 to June 2022. For quantitative analysis, a total of 273 participants were enrolled through convenience sampling. After obtaining signed consent, participants were asked to self-report their dental fear. In-depth interviews with 25 patients displaying moderate to high dental fear were conducted to clarify the elements of dental fear scores through the lens of individual perceptions and experiences.
RESULTS
The prevalence of moderate dental fear was significantly higher among female participants than males. The mean dental fear score was higher among females (39.47 ± 14.23) as compared to males (30.83 ± 10.50). Most of the female participants reported an increase in breathing rate and heartbeat during dental treatment. The highest mean fear score was reported by participants who underwent oral surgical treatment (42.98 ± 14.21), followed by participants who received restorative care (36.20 ± 12.60). Approaching the dentist's office was the significant factor that contributed the most to the variance in dental fear scores. Four themes were generated through the content analysis of the interviews: physical reactions to dental procedures, perceptions and fears about surgical and restorative procedures, and gender and environmental factors in dental fear and interaction with dentists.
CONCLUSION
The Urdu translation of DFS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing dental fears in Pakistan based on the findings of this study. Patients perceive surgical and restorative procedures as unpleasant and threatening. It was noted that "the heart beats faster" and "the breathing rate increases." were the top two physiological responses.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Dental Anxiety; Research Design; Dental Care; Heart Rate; Surgery, Oral
PubMed: 37981667
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03626-3 -
Gerodontology Sep 2023To determine factors influencing regular dental attendance in aged adults 65 and over according to Andersen's Behavioural Model. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To determine factors influencing regular dental attendance in aged adults 65 and over according to Andersen's Behavioural Model.
BACKGROUND
Regular attendance for dental visits is vital to improve and maintain oral health, quality of life and general well-being. Aged adults 65 years and older experience barriers to regular dental attendance, which in turn leads to an increased risk for oral diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An electronic search was undertaken in April 2021 in Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Cinahl, Dentistry & Oral Science Source via EBSCOhost and Embase for papers on factors influencing the frequency of attendance by older people. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort and case-control studies, and with modified version of this tool for cross-sectional studies. Frequency effect size was calculated for factors described in Andersen's Behavioural Model (predisposing, enabling and needs-related).
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies were eligible for inclusion. Factors frequently investigated affecting regular dental attendance included: age, gender, education (predisposing); income, and social support (enabling); and remaining teeth, pain, perceived health (needs-related). Income was the only factors with a 100% positive association with regular dental attendance.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review confirms the complex interconnectedness of several factors and dental attendance in older adults. A number of factors were identified which warrant further investigation to improve access to dental care to socio-economically vulnerable older populations.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Cross-Sectional Studies; Oral Health; Income; Case-Control Studies; Dental Care
PubMed: 36271656
DOI: 10.1111/ger.12661 -
Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi =... Dec 2023has gone through 70 years of ups and downs, witnessing the development of periodontics in China from a faltering start to twists and turns, and finally innovative... (Review)
Review
has gone through 70 years of ups and downs, witnessing the development of periodontics in China from a faltering start to twists and turns, and finally innovative development. This article aims to review the periodontology-related papers published in the . Based on the characteristics of the times, they are summarized into five stages: staggering start, forced stagnation, vigorous development, standardized innovation, and disciplinary integration. Researches on periodontal diseases in China initially focused on learning and reference, gradually caught up with the international level, and finally created in-depth insights and innovations. Eventually, Chinese periodontology has formed a research system with Chinese characteristics and achieved substantial achievements in clinical diagnosis and treatment, basic research, periodontal medicine, and disciplinary integration. Although the current status of Chinese periodontology still lags behind that of developed countries, these representative studies demonstrate the unremitting efforts and hard work of periodontists for generations, laying a solid foundation for the innovation and development of periodontology in our country.
Topics: Humans; China; Dental Care; Dentists; Periodontal Diseases; Periodontics
PubMed: 38061862
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112144-20231013-00192 -
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial... Nov 2023Mandibular second molar (M2M) impaction is a serious eruption disorder. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the therapeutic approaches for M2M... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Mandibular second molar (M2M) impaction is a serious eruption disorder. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the therapeutic approaches for M2M impaction. The objective of the meta-analysis was to summarize the success of the surgical, surgical-orthodontic, and orthodontic treatment.
METHODS
A PRISMA-guided search strategy was conducted by 2 authors in 5 databases up to January 2023. Randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials were considered. Case reports, case series with<5 patients, and reviews were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa scale and Cochrane Collaboration tool for nonrandomized and randomized clinical trials, respectively. Outcomes were as follows: 1) treatment success rate defined by the repositioning of impacted M2M in the dental arch with normal functional occlusal relationship and periodontal health; 2) time-to-repositioning as time-to-event analysis; and 3) complications. Meta-analysis examined treatment success differences with 3 approaches: orthodontic (uprighting maneuvers/traction), surgical (surgical procedures/strategic extractions), and surgical-orthodontic (combined surgical and orthodontic procedures) as the exposure variable. The quantitative analysis also compared the success rate using third molar removal as the secondary predictor variable. The χ test determined the statistical heterogeneity (I2); a cut-off of 70% was used to select the common or random effects model. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were recorded.
RESULTS
A total of 1,102 articles were retrieved. After full-text reading, 16 articles were included and 1008 M2Ms were analyzed. Nine studies had fair quality, 6 studies had good quality, and 1 had unclear risk of bias. Managing impacted M2Ms showed a moderate to high success rate (66.7 to 100%). Significant differences favoring surgical treatment over orthodontic treatment were observed for M2M uprighting (OR = 4.97; CI: 1.49 to 16.51; P = .01).No differences were detected comparing surgical and surgical-orthodontic treatment (OR = 1.00; CI: 0.03 to 37.44; P = .99), or orthodontic and surgical-orthodontic treatment(OR = 4.14; CI: 0.43 to 40.14; P = .22).Third molar removal showed no significant correlation with M2M uprighting (OR = 1.98; CI: 0.24 to 16.03; P = .5).
CONCLUSION
Despite study limitations, both orthodontic and surgical management of impacted M2M can be effective suggesting that clinicians are able to choose best treatment for most cases.
Topics: Humans; Molar; Tooth Extraction; Dental Care; Tooth, Impacted; Molar, Third
PubMed: 37699532
DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2023.08.168 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Sep 2023To (1) investigate dental anxiety (DA) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) and (2) determine...
OBJECTIVES
To (1) investigate dental anxiety (DA) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) and (2) determine correlations between these patient-reported measures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Demographics, smoking habits, dental pain, Modified Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) were assessed in eighty-two participants.
RESULTS
Mean age was 48.3 years ± 11.5. At baseline, 8.5% reported being active smokers. Of non-smokers, 11% reported being an ex-smoker. After NSPT, 11.0% reported smoking. Patients' maximal pain in the last month decreased after therapy. Before treatment, participants reported higher DA. Extreme DA was observed in 8.5% of participants before therapy. Afterwards, 2.4% of participants reported extreme DA. Fear of having a foreign object in the mouth decreased after NSPT. All OHIP-14 scores, except functional limitation, improved post-treatment. Higher DA was associated with worse OHRQoL before treatment. After treatment, total MDAS score was associated with OHIP-14 global score, physical pain, psychological disability, and social disability. Worse MDAS sub-scores were associated with a higher OHIP-14 global score. Individuals with "normal/slight anxiety" had a significant improvement in OHRQoL, whereas people in the "moderate and extreme anxiety" group did not report a significant improvement. Patients diagnosed with generalized periodontitis (GP) stage III grade B and GP stage IV grade B reported less anxiety after NSPT.
CONCLUSIONS
Associations of MDAS subcategories with OHIP-14 domain scores were found before and after therapy. DA decreases and OHRQoL enhances after NSPT in patients with "normal/slight" anxiety to dental treatment. Dental practitioners should plan strategies to cope with anxiety to dental treatment and prevent decreases in OHRQoL.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Within the limitations of this study, DA and OHRQoL were positively correlated in patients with periodontitis, before and after NSPT, using the MDAS and OHIP-14 questionnaires. The results of our study suggest that treatment is effective in terms of alleviating DA and improving oral health, along with quality of life, in patients that report "normal/slight" anxiety to dental treatment. Nonetheless, results must be interpreted with caution since patients are generally anxious before any type of dental treatment. DA may not just be confined to NSPT per se. According to our results, evaluation of both outcomes should be an integral part of routine periodontal clinical evaluation and periodontal reevaluation of initial therapy. It is important that clinicians learn to identify patients that suffer from anxiety and take time to explain the treatment procedures to the patient, to strive for patient's emotional well-being before, during, and after dental care services. The use of specific questionnaires for both DA and OHRQoL may be more appropriate to demonstrate the psychological and quality of life differences due to periodontal disease and NSPT.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Dental Anxiety; Quality of Life; Dentists; Professional Role; Oral Health; Periodontitis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Dental Care
PubMed: 37488334
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05165-1